On the Commons with Brenda Johnson
Hosted and produced by Shu Bartholomew, On The Commons is a weekly radio show dedicated to discussing the many issues surrounding mandatory homeowner associations, the fastest growing form of residential housing in the nation.
HOAs, once billed as mini democracies where residents have greater control over their immediate environment, gradually morphed into representative democracies where homeowners had one day and one day only to "take control" and let their wishes be known. The only life line thrown to unhappy homeowners is to "throw the bums out". That, of course, would mean the owners would be allowed to vote, have their votes count, participate in the politics of the association. But what happens when owners go to the work of getting signatures on a petition to recall a bad board? Who stands to lose when the owners have a say in the direction the association take?
The latest Zogby poll commissioned by CAI, not surprisingly, found that HOA owners are very happy with the association. Zogby apparently missed talking to any of the over 260 owners who signed petition in the Ventura Homeowners Association in San Antonio Texas to recall the board. On The Commons this week we are joined by Brenda Johnson. Brenda, a disabled vet, had the unmitigated gall to attend a meeting in the association and attempt to ask a question. Far from the idyllic, almost Rockwellian neighborhood paintings of yesteryear, Brenda's HOA called law enforcement who cuffed her and kept her locked up in the back of the cruiser till the meeting was over. Please join us On The Commons. We'll get the details of what happened in this hamlet of horror and maybe we'll understand why Zogby never called anyone there.
HOAs, once billed as mini democracies where residents have greater control over their immediate environment, gradually morphed into representative democracies where homeowners had one day and one day only to "take control" and let their wishes be known. The only life line thrown to unhappy homeowners is to "throw the bums out". That, of course, would mean the owners would be allowed to vote, have their votes count, participate in the politics of the association. But what happens when owners go to the work of getting signatures on a petition to recall a bad board? Who stands to lose when the owners have a say in the direction the association take?
The latest Zogby poll commissioned by CAI, not surprisingly, found that HOA owners are very happy with the association. Zogby apparently missed talking to any of the over 260 owners who signed petition in the Ventura Homeowners Association in San Antonio Texas to recall the board. On The Commons this week we are joined by Brenda Johnson. Brenda, a disabled vet, had the unmitigated gall to attend a meeting in the association and attempt to ask a question. Far from the idyllic, almost Rockwellian neighborhood paintings of yesteryear, Brenda's HOA called law enforcement who cuffed her and kept her locked up in the back of the cruiser till the meeting was over. Please join us On The Commons. We'll get the details of what happened in this hamlet of horror and maybe we'll understand why Zogby never called anyone there.
Download | Duration: 00:57:48
Do you people at the on the commons.net ever check the whole story before you put anything out there? I was at that meeting and the meeting was over when Brenda and her group took over the Community Center. They were told that the meeting was over and to leave and they refused. That is when the Sheriff's Dept. was called by the Association President. Brenda Johnson challenged the Deputies to handcuff her. She said that that she pays dues and taxes and it was her building and she would leave when she wanted to so they handcuffed her. The Oncommons.net people might want to check out why she is a disabled vet. She has admitted to several people that she has psychiatric problems. Also you might want to check out the Ventura website. Check out their depositions and the latest entry about the lawsuits the Brenda and her group have filed against the Association. The Ventura website is:
Venturahoa.com. This group lost their counterclaim to replace the board and to receive compensation for legal fees. They also lost their Summary Judgement which they filed. The HOA has a right to defend itself and did so.
Maybe if these people would stop and think before they act, they wouldn't be in the legal mess they are in today. So to Shu Bartholomew, maybe you should check out both sides of the story and not try to go for sensationalism.
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I accidentally found this comment by Bunnell as I was looking for our HOA's website January 15, 2012. Mr. Bunnell undoubtedly has a different spin now. Mr. Bunnell's account of my actions on the night I was detained are totally skewed, as many witnesses attest. In his account, he omits the part about being part of the bullying board, with an obvious interest in how my story is received by the public. His comments were premature, often the case with those drunk with power, and ultimately proved wrong. But it's all water under the bridge at this point. Our community regained control, kicked Pfeiffer, Bunnell and their cohorts out and dropped the suit against me and my other defendants. We ultimately received compensation for our legal fees last fall for this unwaranted suit. Now Mr. Bunnell is facing legal woes of his own as the community seeks restitution for the damage he helped cause. As Mr. Bunnell said so well himself, "Maybe if these people would stop and think before thy act, they wouldn't be in the legal mess they are in today." Thank you Shu Bartholomew, for all you do for homeowners.
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In a 1999 Gallup poll commissioned by the Community Associations Institute, 75 percent of respondents said they were ''very or extremely satisfied'' with their associations. ''People are moving to communities like that because they are looking to create a lifestyle for themselves,'' said Paul D. Grucza, president-elect of the institute.
But only 40 percent of those surveyed said they would buy their next home in a community governed by an association.
source: "Homeowner Boards Blur Line Of Just Who Rules The Roost" New York Times. July 27, 2003
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Another survey, from 3 1/2 years ago:
latimesblogs.latimes.com/pardonourdust/2007/09/two-thirds-anno.html
Two-thirds of people who live in the jurisdiction of a homeowners association are "annoyed" by them, or worse, and 19% have been in what they call a "war" with their HOA. This is according to a survey of more than 3,000 customers by Service Magic.
On the upside, 24% responded positively about HOAs. However, while a primary purpose of HOAs is to force neighbors to keep up the appearance of their homes, 54% of respondents said they’d rather live with a “sloppy neighbor” than deal with an HOA. Here are the results to this question:
What is your opinion of homeowners associations?
They’re great 8%
They’re okay 16%
Minor annoyance 21%
Major headache 48%
No opinion 7%
Plus, 78% of those responding to the poll said they might consider NOT buying a home because it would be under the jurisdiction of an HOA. So why do HOAs seem to be flourishing?
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Link to a video about the Service Magic survey mentioned in the previous comment:
www.servicemagic.com/videos/at-odds-with-your-hoa/
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Forgot to address the "psychiatric problems" Mr. Bunnell made so much of in his comments about me, as though it was a character flaw that rendered my point of view moot. As I stated in the interview, I am a veteran with Post Traumatic Distress Disorder, and I have a lot of company. Mr. Bunnell's poke at my "psychiatric problems" is a disservice to so many veterans, police and firefighters who end up with this condition as a result of serving others.
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