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Article
Courtesy of The Sun Sentinel
By Daniel
Vasquez
Published
October 28, 2009
Record
foreclosures. Rising assessments. A real estate market on life support. Complex
and confusing state laws. Association board vs. owner squabbles.
There's no shortage of issues confronting those living and working among Florida
community associations, be it condominium, homeowner, cooperative or time share.
We get it.
The Sun Sentinel is responding with unprecedented coverage of community
association news in print and online. If you missed it, on Tuesday
SunSentinel.com hosted its first online chat dedicated to condos and HOAs. About
300 visitors participated, and while we could not answer every question, we plan
to answer what we missed in upcoming blogs and columns.
And on Thursday, the newspaper will host a town hall meeting at Nova
Southeastern University, with a panel of experts representing owner advocates,
association attorneys, state officials and lawmakers.
These forums aim to help all kinds of homeowners manage the difficulties and
challenges of condo living and community neighborhoods. We want to hear directly
from you. We want to inform our coverage by learning more about what you want to
know.
In the past year, I have heard from people, those with jobs as well as those who
recently lost them, who can no longer afford to pay rising assessments -- the
unforgiving result of growing numbers of neighbor owners who fall into
foreclosure and delinquency.
I've heard from scores of owners who believe they are targets of uneven or
unfair enforcement of association rules, bullied by board members on personal
power rampages. And I've heard from the volunteer directors who spend many
thankless hours trying to keep their communities in physical and fiscal shape,
working with dwindling revenues and facing ever-increasing water, electricity,
landscaping and other bills.
The town hall meeting offers an opportunity to be heard by a panel of experts
who know the territory. For my part, I will share what we learn from you in
coming columns and blogs as we to strive to provide help one question at a time.
Town hall meeting
Who: Panelists Jan Bergemann, president of Cyber Citizens for Justice;
Donna D. Berger, executive director of Community Advocacy Network; Gary A.
Poliakoff, attorney with Becker & Poliakoff; William Raphan, of the Fort
Lauderdale office of the Condominium Ombudsman of Florida; and Rep. Julio
Robaina, R-Miami.
What: The Sun Sentinel will host a special town hall meeting
dedicated to the subject of condos and HOAs. Among the issues to be discussed
are foreclosures, insurance, new laws and proposed legislation.
When: Thursday, October 29, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Miniaci Performing Arts Center at Nova Southeastern University,
3100 Ray Ferrero Jr. Blvd., Davie, FL 33314.
RSVP:
Visit condotownhall.eventbrite.com.
Seating is limited.
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