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.
Scuttlebutt has it that you can’t fight City Hall. I wonder who started that rumor? City Hall perhaps? The same is being said about HOAs. “You’ll never win so don’t bother, the HOA always wins”. Whoever started that rumor must have had his fingers crossed behind his back because the homeowners have been winning and they have been winning big.
This week we talk to another homeowner who also won his case against his Homeowners Association and the developer. I guess you could say it is a double whammy. But it gets better.
Joining us On The Commons this week we have Bill Davis. Bill, a frequent guest and a friend of the show, is a Texas attorney who, because of his experiences, has become an expert in HOA law. Join us as he explains the twists and turns and all the complex nuances that took place over the last 6 years in his case against his association. Along the way we discover some of the hidden treasures that added spice to his story and wonder how it will all end when the dust finally settles.
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.
Home is where the heart is and when that home is part of a homeowner association, sometimes it is very hard to find the heart.
The Landing Condominium in EL Largo, Texas is a perfect example of a housing development without a heart. The Landing had water views from most of the units and was home to 150 families until hurricane Ike came along and damaged some of the homes. But what happened next cannot be blamed on Ike.
Joining us On The Commons this week we have Mitchell Katine. Mitch is an attorney in Houston Texas who represents both homeowner associations and homeowners. He likes to say he represents the law. Mitch. Along with attorneys Andy Taylor and Gregory Cagle represented a dozen homeowners in what is a huge jury award. Join us this week as Mitch takes us through three cases in The Landings and explains how the condominium development went from being a dream home to 150 families to being a big hole in the ground and why the jury awarded the homeowners $1,356,880 in damages PLUS $616,678 in attorney fees. Mitch has a web site at www.lawkn.com
Something really sinister seems to happen to people when they are put in a position of perceived power, especially if they are not emotionally and mentally mature enough to handle the responsibilities that go along with the position. We’ve all heard and read about the horror stories in mandatory membership residential associations but can that really be happening? I mean, this is America, right? People do have rights, don’t they?
Joining us On The Commons is Ward Lucas. Ward is an award winning investigative journalist who came face to face with the beast that resides deep in the heart of every HOA. Shocked at first, he decided to use his talents as an investigative journalist to see if what he experienced was “an isolated incident”. What he discovered prompted him to write Neighbors at War; The Creepy Case Against Your Homeowners Association. Join us as we take an all too quick peek into what is a must read for every American.
Ward also has a website NeighborsAtWar.com and you can email him at ward@neighborsAtWar.com and his book is available at Amazon.
In this day and age of communication we have almost unlimited access to phones, cells, the internet. But what happens when all these modes of communication fail, are blocked or are on overload. Have you ever wondered what would happen if disaster strikes and you can’t get help? How do you let your loved ones know you are OK? How do you find out if your loved ones are OK?
Joining us On The Commons is Don Schellhardt. Don (Don Schellhardt (djslaw@gmail.com) is an attorney and the founder and president of HAMS for Action. HFA has been working to end the bans on HAM radio antennas in HOAs. Find out what happened when they went to Washington recently. Join us On The Commons as we talk about the need for HAMS, even in the age of communication, and ponder the possibilities of getting the legislators to understand that need.
Mahmoud Hindi, a 55 year old Spring Creek homeowner in Louisville, Kentucky, is accused of shooting and killing two board members. The shooting occurred during a board meeting in the Springdale Community Church. According to reports, Mr. Hindi had been having ongoing disputes with his HOA over alleged rules violations. Some reports claim the HOA sued Mahmoud Hindi over a fence, satellite dish and a sign that were installed without permission. Records also indicate that Mr Hindi had filed a motion asking a judge to put a stop to the association harassing him and his children.
The Kentucky shooting is not the first incident of a homeowner shooting and killing board members. Will it be the last? What triggers such violence and what can be done about it?
Joining us On The Commons is Dr. Gary Solomon. Dr. Solomon is a published author, tenured psychology professor at the College of Southern Nevada, a psychotherapist, researcher, an expert witness and a human rights advocate. Dr. Solomon is also the first psychologist to recognize the problems in HOAs as a very real health issue. He is researching the risks that he calls “The HOA Syndrome”. Join us as we discuss this latest shooting of HOA Board members and try to understand what happens to people who are under constant stress that seems to be part and parcel of HOA living.
Problems with associations are legendary and the horror stories, legion. For as long as there have been residential associations, people have been trying to tweak them to make them work. So far the problems have multiplied like rabbits and the horror stories have intensified by the day. Legislation, training sessions, licenses, tomes of scholarly works have failed to find a solution that would work. Notwithstanding the fact that some of the best minds in the country have offered their thoughts, ideas and possible solutions to the dilemma of what has happened in the residential America, the situation just seems to go from bad to worse.
Joining us On The Commons is Bill Davies. Bill is an attorney in Texas who has, by necessity and as a means of self protection, become an expert on residential associations. Join us in this casual and breezy discussion where we ask whether associations protect property values, as they are rumored to and whether associations will ever work or if the concept of a happy association is a canard.
Few people would argue that there really are problems in mandatory membership homeowner associations. Even the most ardent supporter of associations will admit that not all is as rosy as it should be. Over the years we have heard and read about problems from serious to the ridiculously petty but have we been scratching the surface to this point? How bad can things really be in residential America?
The FBI has been investigating corruption in Nevada for the last 4 years and they are still digging. As I write this there have been 20 plea bargains with an additional 14 guilty pleas expected to be heard today. There has been one severely beaten defendant and four alleged suicides tied to this investigation already. What else is being dug up and just how bad are things in the HOA underworld?
Joining us On The Commons is Senator Mike Schneider of Nevada. Mike is a long time legislator who has tried to regulate associations and bring some balance to the construction defect racket that has been abused. We’ll find out what is going on Nevada today and talk about where this investigation might end. You’ll want to catch this one.
Technology has revolutionized the way we communicate today. Internet, Skype, cell phones as well as regular home phones, can cross oceans and connect friends and loved ones in a matter of seconds. Staying in touch has never been so accessible to so many – or so vulnerable. While we take our communication tools and methods for granted, we hardly ever give a thought to what would happen if we could no longer just “reach out and call someone”. But the reality is that phone lines can be cut, the world wide web can go dark and cell phones silenced due to acts of war, terrorism or even a natural disasters. And then how do we keep in touch?
One way is through Amateur Radio, or HAM radio operators who could still send and receive information over the air – or would be able to, IF they were allowed, by their HOA, to have their HAM radio antennas. Currently the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) is seeking public comments on whether the Federal Government should intervene and propose legislation easing the restrictions on antennas in Homeowner Associations.
Whether you are a HAM radio operator or not, or plan on taking it up in the future, your life may depend on there being one in your neighborhood. Take a minute to make your voice heard.
Joining us On The Commons is Don Schellhardt. Don is the President and founder of HAMS for Action, (HFA). Don and his organization are writing to the FCC. Join us and hear what Don has to say and if you would like to add your name to this comment:
“We are not Amateur Radio operators ourselves, but we would like to see ALL neighborhoods enjoy the kind of Emergency Communications protection that ham radio operators can provide. Therefore, we strongly advocate vigorous and well-defined Federal Government action, in ALL American communities, to override the total prohibition of ham antennas by Homeowners’ Associations and landlords. We do not propose DEregulation of ham antennas — but rather REASONABLE regulation of ham antennas. Mandatory Federal standards, for REASONABLE regulation of ham antennas, should replace the current practice — in many, many neighborhoods — of not allowing any kind of ham antenna at all.”
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.
The papers, TV news reports, radio news and talk shows and blogs the world over have been reporting on the horror stories, tragedies and financial problems facing America’s millions of homeowners trapped in association controlled dwelling units. You can read and listen to many versions of the suicides in Las Vegas, the fatal shooting of a teenager by a “volunteer” patrolling the neighborhood for Neighborhood Watch, the condo owner being fined and sued for having the temerity to plant flowers in front of her unit, the homeowner threatened with fines for placing a small religious symbol on her front door. And the list goes on, from the horrendous to the insanely stupid and petty. Regardless of how horrible or hideous the news from associations is, proponents of controlled living insist associations protect you, the unit owners. But do they?
Joining us On The Commons is Bill Davis. Bill is a Texas attorney who has been digging a little deeper into all the ramifications of housing associations. We’ll talk about the latest pitfalls not generally known and understood by unit owners and what to look for to determine whether or not you are adequately protected or….? You won’t want to miss this one.
On a recent trip to Las Vegas Nevada I was interviewed by Rodney Gray. I audio recorded the interview, with Rodney’s permission, with the idea of sharing it with my listeners. It is a little strange to be interviewed on my own show, but here it is, showcasing Rodney’s skills and talent as an interviewer.
The second portion was a casual, impromptu interview in the car on the ride back into the city with Dr Gary Solomon and Robin Hune. They are both passionate advocates for individual homeowner rights so it was a privilege to be able to talk to them. Again, I share the audio clip with you. They will both be back but in the meantime enjoy eavesdropping in on our conversation.
