Article
Courtesy of THE FORT LAUDERDALE CITY NEWS
By
Grayson Walker, Ph.D.
Published
January 2007
The word gulag is an
acronym for the former Soviet Union’s penal
system. Since then, it has come into common use
to describe any repressive system. Thus, the name of
my column is the Galt Gulag.
In this regular column,
I write about the lives of Owners of Florida
condominiums.
Your response to my
inaugural column in the December issue of the Fort
Lauderdale City News has been incredible. Thank
you! I have received many telephone calls and emails
and met with many of you and heard your stories of
graft, corruption, violence, and intimidation. All
of you are unhappy with the actions of your Board.
The adjectives used to describe them ranged from
abusive to criminal. In future columns I will
try to tell all your stories and shine the light of
truth on the illegal actions of your Boards.
One person suggested
that my column reduces the value of the Galt’s
condominiums. I explained to him that it
is the graft, corruption, violence, and intimidation
that reduces the values on the Galt. We are a nation
of laws, and we must demand that our condominium
laws be enforced.
Einstein said, “The
world is a dangerous place to live — not because
of the people who are evil, but because of
the people who don’t do anything about it.”
It is time to do
something about the evils in our condominiums. I
hope that our new Governor and Legislature pay
attention to our complaints and take action
to correct these evils. While we all miss former
Ombudsman, Dr. Virgil Rizzo, we all hope that our
new Governor will appoint a new Ombudsman and
empower the office to act. We have all had enough of
the lip service paid to the abuses we suffer at the
hands of our Boards.
AARP’S CONDOMINIUM OWNERS
BILL OF RIGHTS
The Governor and
Legislature should realize that an 800-pound gorilla
has entered the room. I refer to the AARP, an
organization of 36-million members. The AARP has
recognized the extensive problems that face owners
in condominiums and homeowner associations. They
have published a Bill of Rights for owners, and have
asked all fifty-states to adopt this fundamental
document to protect the rights of the owners. About
one-half of Florida’s two-million-plus condominium
owners are over fifty. The AARP is asking Florida’s
Legislature to pass laws to protect owners from
abusive boards.
State Representative
Ellyn Bogdanoff supports the AARP and the necessary
reforms to make things better at the
state level. During an interview on December 18, Ms.
Bogdanoff told me she supports the educating and
informing owners and their Boards concerning
Florida Law. Ms. Bogdanoff believes better education
of owners and members of Boards will lead to fewer
problems.
State Representative
Julio Robaina of Miami is leading the grass roots
movement for condominium reform. In a
recent interview, Mr. Robaina said, “a lot of
reform needs to take place.”
CONDOMINIUM LAW ENFORCEMENT --
PILOT PROGRAM
State Representative
Robaina has created a pilot program with the State
Attorney’s Office, the Florida Department Of
Law Enforcement (FDLE), and the Department of
Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) to train
all Detectives in Miami/Dade County on “condo
crime.” Effective on January 2, 2007, callers to
the local police will no longer be given a blanket
statement that condominium crime is a civil matter.
Instead, the local
police will respond to the report of violations of
Florida law. The Miami/Dade pilot program will be
extended into Broward and Palm Beach Counties.
Unlike the violation
letters from the DBPR, if the Detectives determine
there is probable cause, they will arrest Board
members, Condominium attorneys, and
Condominium staff. No longer will owners be required
to pay for forensic audits. Given probable cause
that a violation has been committed, the
investigation will conduct the necessary forensic
audit of condominium books and records.
SOUTHPOINT CENSORSHIP AND CONTROL
If you have ever seen a
City Council or School Board meeting, you know
that citizens are given the opportunity to
address the body, and given a podium and microphone
so they can be seen and heard.
This is not the
case at Southpoint. The Board passed a rule
that you must request, in writing, permission
to add an item to the agenda. The Board has
exclusive right to control the agenda. If
you fail to get permission to add an item to
the agenda, you may attempt to address the
Board by raising your hand during the meeting.
You
are forbidden to use the microphone, so most
of the owners cannot hear you speak. Unless
you agree with the Board, the Glazerites will
hiss at you, and tell you |
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to
be quiet. If you ask a challenging question, the
answer from the Board will be, “next question.”
Southpoint’s Richard Berman
Richard Berman was
introduced to us by Marty Glazer at the first
meeting after Hurricane Wilma as working for Southpoint
free. The truth is that “free” was a lie. I have copies of the bills
sent to Southpoint by Berman’s law firm. As
an owner, you are entitled to see all bills, so
ask for a copy of the bills and checks in the
office. You will discover that Richard E. Berman
charged us $700 to prepare and attend that meeting.
Our “free” lawyer’s firm has charged us over $8,000!
It is not nice to profit from your neighbors. Be a
mensch and return our money.
Reserve Funds
It is time to address
the money issues the Board evaded in their letter
sent to owners dated February 24, 2006. The Board
has not produced the documentation that shows where
the $347,686 that was in the reserves on December
31, 2005 was spent on the necessary repairs
dictated by Hurricane Wilma.
What was repaired with
this money? Southpoint’s owners have a right to
know. Did the Board forget they already assessed
$280,000 in 2006 reserves in the November 21, 2005
statements to owners? The entry on that statement
under “Annual Assessment-Reserve” is the
2006 reserve assessment that was already paid. Did
the Board double charge Southpoint’s owners on
their 2006 reserves? Southpoint’s owners have
a right to an accounting of this money.
Liens on Board Members
On May 8, 2006, McIntare
Associates placed liens on the apartments of Marty Glazer, Murray
Moskowitz, and Bob Rozema. Even worse, liens were placed on three innocent
Southpoint owners! I interviewed Don McIntare, and he told me the liens
were filed because Southpoint failed to pay him. According to McIntare,
Southpoint made an initial payment and then refused to pay the rest. The
liens appear to mean that Glazer and Moskowitz are no longer in “good
standing,” and are not eligible to be on the Board. We need a Board that
is financially responsible, not one that made Southpoint the laughing
stock of the Galt Mile.
WINDOWS, DOORS, AND THE LAW
In 2004, Florida changed
the insurance requirements for condominiums. Florida
law supercedes any condominium’s documents.
Florida law now requires that condominiums insure our windows
and patio doors.
DBPR
Declaratory Statement
In
January 2006, the DBPR issued Declaratory Statement
DS2005-055, stating that all Florida condominiums
are responsible to repair and/or replace anything
they are responsible for insuring.
A DBPR Declaratory
Statement is like a court ruling. It establishes
legal policy for Florida.
Southpoint’s Windows – The Truth
The Florida Building
Code was passed in October 2004 and became effective
January 2005. For high-risk coastal areas, the
Florida Building Code of 2005 requires special
high-impact window frames and two-layer laminated
glass. About 150 apartments have the
original windows, about 200 have 1998 windows, and
about 50 have windows installed after 2000.
It is highly unlikely, perhaps
impossible, that any window installed before 2005 could meet the current
Florida Building Code. Thus, it seems that 350 Southpoint apartments have
windows that do not meet the 2005 Florida Building Code. In order to meet
the 2005 Florida Building Code, it will be necessary for most windows at
Southpoint to be replaced.
Southpoint’s Windows -- Who
Is Responsible?
Your windows are owned by, and
must be insured by Southpoint. If your windows/door need to be repaired,
Southpoint is responsible. If your window/ door cannot be repaired to
current Code, Southpoint is responsible. What is called the Southpoint
window policy appears to be in violation of Florida Law, the DBPR’s
Declaratory Statement on Windows, and cannot be enforced. Southpoint, like
Palm-Aire, must repair or replace your windows and doors. This was
confirmed by a DBPR letter of violation.
Southpoint’s Violation -- Again
In August 2006, Southpoint
Owners filed DBPR complaints that Southpoint was in violation of the
Florida Law, and DS 2005-055. The DBPR found the complaints to be true,
and issued a letter of violation that Southpoint is in violation of
Florida Law, and of the DS 2005-055.
Southpoint – Glazer’s Excuses
After I put this column
to bed, Southpoint’s Glazer used the owner’s
money to send another of his political letters.
At the Board meeting of December 11, 2006, Glazer
and his followers denounced this newspaper as a “rag.”
They disparaged publisher
Steve Kelley and me. They accused us of attacking Rozema after his death,
in ignorance of the truth and the lead times for this column.
However, Glazer’s denials
are hollow, ignore the facts, and are simply a weak attempt to smear those
who work to bring the truth to you. This newspaper only presents
documented facts. In contrast, Glazer whines that mystery people spread
rumors and slow him down. He makes excuses about city inspectors,
mysterious emails and letters.
Violence at Southpoint
Consider the following
facts about the Glazerites and Southpoint.
On October 1, 2004,
during a Board Meeting, former Board member Rebecca
Bond’s life was threatened by Board member Murray
Moskowitz. Present were Rozema, Glazer, etc., who
did nothing. See Police Report 04-119992.
On July 5, 2005, my car
was keyed while locked in the “secure”
Southpoint garage. The cars of Nico Minardos and
Rebecca Bond were keyed earlier that year.
See Police Report 05-83392.
On December 24, 2005,
Leonard Champagne was attacked and beaten by
Southpoint’s former Security Head.
The attacker was here as
a registered overnight guest of a Board Member. See
Police Report 05-160285 and State Attorney Intake
NC-061602.
On January 26, 2006,
Robert Coopchik and I were assaulted by Marty
Glazer. See Police Report 06-132373. February
3 through February 7, I was stalked and
harassed by former Board member Alan Zeldman. See
Police Report 06- 16998. On February 7, 2006, Marty
Glazer turned off the lights and stalked out
of a Board meeting when the owners preferred to
listen to Howard Berman and not Marty. On June 19,
2006, Grayson Walker and other Insurgents’ lives
were threatened by anonymous letter. See Police
Report 06-77458.
With the violence at
Southpoint, some by the Board, and the numerous
DBPR findings of violation by the Board, it
is time for Glazer and the Board to resign. It is
time for a forensic audit ofSouthpoint’s books and an end to this
sordid Southpoint saga.
Help for Owners
A ttorney Inger
Garcia can be reached at www.IngerGarcia.com
or by telephone at 954-752-1213.
Jan Bergemann’s Cyber
Citizens For Justice is an organization of Owners,
for Owners, to protect Owners’ rights. For more
information, please visit them at www.CCFJ.net or
telephone 386-740-1503.
The AARP’s Bill of
Rights for Homeowners is available online at http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/consume/2006_15_homeowner.pdf
The local office of the
DBPR is located at 1400 West Commercial Boulevard
in Fort Lauderdale. Their telephone number
is 954-202-3982.
Your State
Representative is Ellyn Bogdanoff. She can be
reached at 954- 762-3757 or by email at [email protected].
State Representative Julio
Robaina can be reached at 305-762-3757 or by email at [email protected]
Southpoint – The Election
On March 6, 2007, Southpoint
will elect five members of its nine-member board of directors. At this
election, you have the opportunity to clean house and elect a new majority
on the Southpoint Board. This is the first chance to do so in two-years.
This is a critical election to preserve your property rights. This
election is your chance to restore integrity to the governance of
Southpoint.
Who we elect will have a great
impact on our quality of life at Southpoint as well as reducing our
expenses. With a proper board operating in the open, with no secrets, your
condo expenses could actually go down. A new board will conduct a
comprehensive audit and precisely determine where our association dues
have gone, where they are going now and whether or not past and present
expenditures are legal. Government in the sunshine is the law of Florida,
but unfortunately, not at Southpoint. Southpoint’s board controls a
budget of about $2.5 million dollars and must act with great fiscal
discretion as our fiduciary. We need the openness and access of government
in the sunshine at Southpoint. We must all work together to bring
government in the Sunshine to Southpoint.
There is a slate of
outstanding candidates for the new Southpoint board, led by Robert
Coopchik. Many do not know this, but Robert is the recipient of the Silver
Star for heroism during World War II. This is the highest honor other than
the Congressional Medal of Honor.
He was also the head of the
board of one of New York’s most exclusive condominiums.
Until his retirement, Robert
was New York City’s premier furrier. It is important to note that the
fur business is based upon trust and integrity, and hundred thousand
dollar agreements on the strength of a handshake.
Many of you know Nico Minardos
as a successful actor in movies and on television. His list of acting
credits is much too long to list here, few know that Nico was also a
highly successful businessman and bank board member. It is his expertise
as an entrepreneur and businessman that Nico brings back to the board.
Vivian Xenos also brings to the Southpoint board her extensive experience
in business. She has experience as a successful entrepreneur, and hands-on
management of finances and people. Barry Leeds brings that entrepreneurial
zeal with years of hands on management experiences in his career as an
executive.
Southpoint’s board has
been in power too long and it is time to replace
them. Help restore ethics, honor, safety and
integrity to Southpoint. We endorse the candidacy of
the Southpoint Insurgents who have been fighting for
your rights for years.
Please
vote to protect your property rights. Vote to
restore democracy to Southpoint. Please help us rid
Southpoint of the Glazerites and vote for Robert
Coopchik, Barry Leeds, Nico Minardos, Grayson
Walker, and Vivian Xenos.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I own an apartment in the Galt
Gulag, at the Southpoint condominium, on the Galt Mile in Fort Lauderdale.
Many people do not realize how many rights they give up when they buy an
apartment in a condominium association. I have taught various forms of
American Government for over twenty-years, but I was not prepared for life
in the Galt Gulag.
At the June 2005 Board
meeting, Board President Marty Glazer called the critics of the Board “insurgents.”
I am an insurgent in the Galt Gulag. I have been assaulted, battered,
stalked, had my car keyed, and had my life threatened because I believe in
American democracy.
I
can be reached at [email protected]
or 954-567-0520.
TALES
FROM THE GALT GULAG -- PART I
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