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Article
Courtesy of the Sun Sentinel
By
Patty Pensa
Published December 25, 2005
The
newly formed statewide Coalition of Community Associations is readying for its
first descent on Tallahassee.
With representatives from nine counties, including Palm Beach and Broward, the
coalition is looking to spread its influence to legislators who write
homeowner and condo association law. The group formed earlier this year as a
way to counteract the influential consumer group Cyber Citizens for Justice,
which advocates for homeowners battling their association.
Coalition leaders say they represent association leaders and homeowners alike,
and they are intent on opposing "efforts to tear at the fabric of
neighborhoods."
"People have no idea what it takes to be on a board and run a
community," said Bob Schulbaum, a coalition member and president of the
Alliance of Delray Residential Associations.
For a coalition that believes in less state intervention, this spring's
legislative session will be the first test of its political prowess.
Some of the issues the group will pursue: ensuring a board's ability to place
a lien on owners who fail to pay dues, eliminating mandatory mediation for
homeowners and boards and adding standards of objectivity to the condo
ombudsman's office.
"How it's going to play out remains to be seen," said Charlotte
Greenbarg, a coalition member and president of the Broward Coalition.
"This will be a learning experience."
The success of the group could hinge on bringing Democrats and Republicans to
its side. Considering South Florida leans Democratic and northern Florida goes
Republican, there might be something to this loose network of community
leaders, coalition members said.
Three influential groups from southern Palm Beach County -- the Delray
Alliance, West Boca Community Council and Coalition of Boynton West
Residential Associations -- are members. Together, they represent more than
200,000 residents.
The coalition's strategy will be face-to-face contact with legislators, said
Spears, who criticized Cyber Citizens for bombarding Gov. Bush and legislators
with e-mails about home- and condo-owner issues across the state.
Cyber Citizens president Jan Bergemann had his own criticisms for the new
coalition. He contended the group does not represent homeowners because its
members are not elected by homeowners.
"In this country, people should speak for themselves," he said.
"There should be nobody there that says, 'I'm the big yahoo and I speak
for you.'"
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