An Opinion By Jan Bergemann Published September 6, 2005
This is not a sick joke! This is actually a flyer distributed by the board of the Majestic Oaks Homeowners Association of Ocala, Inc. over the weekend! While a whole country is scrambling to help the many people in need after losing their homes to hurricane Katrina, a board of a homeowners' association is threatening their neighbors with enforcement action if they dare to open their homes to people who lost their homes and their belongings.
I had to read it three times before it finally clicked: This flyer told homeowners that deed restrictions supersede humanitarian ideas and the willingness to reach out and help people in need! The irony: The author of this flyer actually encourages the neighbors to make financial contributions to the cause! BUT DON'T YOU DARE TO LET THEM IN OUR PRECIOUS COMMUNITY!
Even well known dictatorship have shown more understanding for the problems of such catastrophes -- and the need to help people losing their homes!
This year it's a board telling homeowners not to take in people who lost their homes to a hurricane. Last year we saw condo associations prohibiting units to be rented out to emergency workers -- with no other rooms available! What's next?
This is just another example for a system gone bad. Homeowners' associations may have their advantages -- no argument! But without oversight and accountability of the people in charge, we will continue to see this kind of extreme behavior from certain people -- people in charge of the welfare of their neighbors! When will legislators -- meaning our government -- finally step in and stop these shenanigans?
We Americans are known for a big heart and our willingness to help people in need. Should we stop now because we live in a homeowners' association ruled by a condo commando? Or is our government willing to stop these condo commandos? According to Public Record this is the board of Directors of the Association:
|
PLEASE READ: Majestic Oaks says 'no' to evacuees |