I have never been big on declaring “never.” I mean it only took me a hundred or so “never” to quit smoking and I did vote for Jimmy Carter after declaring to never vote for a Leftie again. So my batting average on “never” isn’t the greatest. In fact, it took me two “never” on buying a home in a neighborhood with a Home Owners Association.
The first happened in Seattle. I was summoned home by my spouse to find a guy wearing Rockport shoes and driving an itty bitty pick up with a “Save the Whales” sticker on the back bumper standing resolutely in front of the D4 Cat owned and operated by the guy who I had hired to finish off rough landscaping in my backyard. By rough I mean leveling, pushing some rocks around to where I wanted them and burying a huge stump and other tree trash… But I digress.
“Where’s your permit?” he demanded.
“Start your machine,” I told the Cat driver. “Since I am within the greenbelt I don’t need one.”
That seemed to satisfy the Cat driver. He cranked it up and after a few seconds the HOA Nazi stepped aside. We had further conversations at that time, and indeed we exchanged some registered letters. The upshot of it all was that I was correct, but the board was appalled that I hadn’t came to them for discussions and their approval, thus eliminating all the confusion.
That I wasn’t confused seemed to be of interest only to me.
In our next transfer and purchase I had no problems with the board, but attending a few board meetings soon showed me that my Seattle dude had all kinds of relatives in my new neighborhood. Fortunately we had a board that shut the nuts down with firm applications of common sense. But that was enough to make “never” stick when I purchased the palatial retirement compound.
And my guess is that this HOA board in Dallas will shut this down, probably in a special meeting this weekend.
DALLAS - Frank Larison is a disabled veteran with more than 14 years of service, including more than a year of combat duty in Vietnam.
The 58-year-old former Marine now finds himself under attack by his Dallas homeowners association for displaying seven decals on his vehicle supporting the Marine Corps.
"To me, it's being patriotic, and it shows that I served," the veteran told FOX 4.
The board says the decals are advertisements that violate HOA rules, and must be covered or removed.
One board member said he was unaware the HOA presidents sent the letter and did not know of any issue with Larimore's vehicle.
"I will be looking into it," said board member Art Bradford. "I didn't know anything about this. I haven't seen this."
The board president was out of town and unavailable. The condo management company did not want to comment.
In the video (see link) Bradford looks embarrassed. And he should be. Especially since the video shows all sorts of vehicles with stickers that actually are advertisements.
Anybody want to bet that the person complaining isn't anti-military????
Link to story and video.Picture Link
