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Tyr-Ziu Saxnot
08-04-2019, 12:48 PM
https://www.yahoo.com/news/hoa-tells-veterans-widow-american-100012677.html

U.S.

HOA tells veteran's widow American flag has to go. It doesn't fit neighborhood's 'look.'
USA TODAY Opinion Laurie Roberts,USA TODAY Opinion 7 hours ago


To look at her, Donna Cordero doesn’t look like much of a rebel.

She’s 5-foot-nothing, an 82-year-old grandmother and a great-grandmother six times over. She’s also a proud American.

One who can’t understand her homeowners association’s objection to her American flag.

Cordero lives in a retirement community in Peoria, Arizona, with nearly 4,000 houses in a multitude of colors, all of them brown. And an aversion to red, white and blue — at least, if it’s painted on the curb.

The HOA says it’s not about the flag but about forbidden “decorative additions.”

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Back to the beginning of the story.

For $20, a company painted the curbs
In February, Cordero struck up a conversation with a firefighter, called to her street by a neighbor’s medical emergency. The firefighter asked her why no one in the neighborhood had their house numbers painted on the curb.

She called her homeowners association and says she was told the HOA had no responsibility for painting addresses on the curb, that she would have to hire someone to do it.

A month or two later, a company came through the neighborhood offering to do the job. For $20, it would paint on the numbers, along with her choice of accompanying artwork.

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Cordero is the widow of two veterans, one of them wounded in World War II. Both are buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. So, naturally, she chose the American flag.

“I thought, wouldn’t that be nice to let people know that the person who lives here still believes in the flag,” she told me.

The HOA didn’t find it all that nice. During a routine patrol “to observe the aesthetic appearance of the properties and to ensure they are maintaining ‘the look’,” an HOA inspector noticed Cordero’s flag.

HOA: This isn't about the flag
In June, Cordero was notified: “picture on your curb numbers must be removed.”

"I couldn't believe it," she told me recently. “I’m thinking, ‘Are you joking?’ Of all the things they pay attention to in this community, they’re looking at my little flag? It absolutely upset me. My neighbors that I’ve talked to can’t believe it either.”

Representatives of the homeowners association told me it’s not about the flag. It’s about putting “decorative artwork” on the curb which is a distinct no-no. Says so right there in the covenants, conditions and restrictions.

Donna Cordero, 82, of Peoria is fighting her homeowner's association's order to paint over the American flag displayed on her curb.

“This has nothing to do with being anti-American,” said Tom Canepa, the HOA’s vice president who also chairs the architectural control committee. “We have many residents who fly the flag properly and proudly and the HOA itself has been recognized for our appropriate displaying of the American flag. It has nothing to do with the flag. It has to do with fact that the standard is very clear in saying no decorative additions on the curb.”

The rationale for the rule, Canepa told me, is to avoid trouble.

“No decorative additions for everyone is probably the best way to be able to keep people from doing things that would not be appropriate,” he explained.

The HOA has told Cordero she must paint over the flag. Some of her neighbors already have complied, leaving an ugly blotch of mismatched white paint where a flag used to be. Some haven’t.

Canepa wouldn’t tell me what dire punishment will ensue if Cordero refuses to paint over her flag.

'You've got to stand for something'
Cordero says she’s not going to do it.

"(The HOA) said, well, some of them (her neighbors) already are in compliance and I said, 'Well, this old lady isn’t going to be one of them,'” she told me. “I think they are trying to oppress me and I don’t like it.

“You’ve got to stand for something or you will fall for nothing and I’m not going to fall for nothing. This is my property and I just can’t believe anybody would find that flag offensive.”

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I get it. People move into HOAs because they want to protect their investment from a neighbor who might paint his garage purple or allow a weed to pop up through the rocks. The rules are the rules and you agree to follow them when you buy into the neighborhood.

But is it possible we've taken this whole HOA thing too far when a small painting of the American flag has got to go?

Oh I know, it’s not the flag the HOA finds offensive. It’s just the freedom it represents that cannot be tolerated.

Allow the Old Glory on the curb today and tomorrow, chaos.

Laurie Roberts is a metro columnist for The Arizona Republic, where this column originally appeared. Follow her on Twitter: @LaurieRoberts.

HOA's are nothing more than gestapo type liberal set ups.
I'd never buy and be subject to such anti-american bullshit. And I hope this old lady tells them to --go straight to hell.
I know I would and would fight to death to maintain that freedom, that right.
Pisses me off every time I read about these types of gestapo type organizations and how most people do not truly understand
what they are signing away when getting involved with the socialistic types of worthless ffing people.-- :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:-----Tyr

Elessar
08-04-2019, 05:18 PM
Simple reply: Farkin' ridiculous!

Who is flag hurting?

On second thought, the symbol painted on a street curb may be in
violation the the U.S. Flag Code. It gives haters a chance to walk on it.

Thoughts?

Kathianne
08-04-2019, 07:21 PM
The whole 'HOA' thing is simple enough. Don't like it? Sell and move.

Don't like your job? Quit and find another.

The HOA actually did respond and say the reason for no decorations with the address on the curb is for first responders. The owners can fly a flag and the American flag is flown at 3 separate areas of the association.

I do understand why she likes the curb, I had the same in IL at one of my homes, but I didn't live in a HOA.

Gunny
08-05-2019, 10:07 AM
The whole 'HOA' thing is simple enough. Don't like it? Sell and move.

Don't like your job? Quit and find another.

The HOA actually did respond and say the reason for no decorations with the address on the curb is for first responders. The owners can fly a flag and the American flag is flown at 3 separate areas of the association.

I do understand why she likes the curb, I had the same in IL at one of my homes, but I didn't live in a HOA.It isn't that simple and you know it. Bad mood today, or what?

Why should anyone's freedoms be restricted by neighborhood Nazi's when your alternative is move into a shitty neighborhood with no HOA or be wealthy enough to insulate yourself from society. Most of us mere mortals don't have that luxury.

Sam with the job. Nobody I know can just quit and find another. Not that easy with bills to pay and mouths to feed.

Kathianne
08-05-2019, 10:10 AM
It isn't that simple and you know it. Bad mood today, or what?

Why should anyone's freedoms be restricted by neighborhood Nazi's when your alternative is move into a shitty neighborhood with no HOA or be wealthy enough to insulate yourself from society. Most of us mere mortals don't have that luxury.

Sam with the job. Nobody I know can just quit and find another. Not that easy with bills to pay and mouths to feed.


You seem the one having a bad day.

Personal responsibility:

1. Buy a home in HOA, you are buying into the rules.

2. I didn't say quit without another job, I wouldn't. People do, they are stupid. If not happy, do something about it.

STTAB
08-05-2019, 10:15 AM
It isn't that simple and you know it. Bad mood today, or what?

Why should anyone's freedoms be restricted by neighborhood Nazi's when your alternative is move into a shitty neighborhood with no HOA or be wealthy enough to insulate yourself from society. Most of us mere mortals don't have that luxury.

Sam with the job. Nobody I know can just quit and find another. Not that easy with bills to pay and mouths to feed.

Because she knew the rules of the HOA when she moved in and joined Gunny. It really is that simple. This isn't a flag issue. Well, unless another neighbor has something different on THEIR curb and it's allowed, then that's a problem.

I personally couldn't deal with someone else telling me what I can and can not do on my property. So I live in the country, where a man can walk out his front door and take a piss if he wants.

High_Plains_Drifter
08-05-2019, 12:43 PM
If I was house hunting, I'd tell the realtor to NOT show me ANYTHING in an HOA.

Someone dictate to me what I can and can't do with MY OWN PROPERTY... ummm, no... go pound sand.

Gunny
08-05-2019, 05:00 PM
Because she knew the rules of the HOA when she moved in and joined Gunny. It really is that simple. This isn't a flag issue. Well, unless another neighbor has something different on THEIR curb and it's allowed, then that's a problem.

I personally couldn't deal with someone else telling me what I can and can not do on my property. So I live in the country, where a man can walk out his front door and take a piss if he wants.HOAs change rules depending on which way the wind blows. OR they have that "at the discretion of the HOA" line in it for just about everything and definitely aesthetics.

I don't have a problem with reasonable ones with reasonable rules. I DO have a problem when a HOA getting paid in US coin to do nothing much I ever see but collect fees, that tells an American homeowner in the United States they cannot fly the US flag. Not like it's a pot leaf. Which they'd probably be ok with.

Gunny
08-05-2019, 05:02 PM
You seem the one having a bad day.

Personal responsibility:

1. Buy a home in HOA, you are buying into the rules.

2. I didn't say quit without another job, I wouldn't. People do, they are stupid. If not happy, do something about it.My day has been fine. I haven't insulted anyone yet but Pete.

Day's not over.

Kathianne
08-05-2019, 05:07 PM
If I was house hunting, I'd tell the realtor to NOT show me ANYTHING in an HOA.

Someone dictate to me what I can and can't do with MY OWN PROPERTY... ummm, no... go pound sand.

That certainly would be your choice, one thousands make every day. You are free to do whatever you like, as long as you keep within the city/town restrictions. Most suburbs for instance will not allow a trailer to be parked on your front lawn, whereas a HOA may not allow a trailer-even a $350k recreational mobile home. You have to store it off site.

You make such choices when and where you choose to move.

Personal responsibility and choices.

Kathianne
08-05-2019, 05:11 PM
HOAs change rules depending on which way the wind blows. OR they have that "at the discretion of the HOA" line in it for just about everything and definitely aesthetics.

I don't have a problem with reasonable ones with reasonable rules. I DO have a problem when a HOA getting paid in US coin to do nothing much I ever see but collect fees, that tells an American homeowner in the United States they cannot fly the US flag. Not like it's a pot leaf. Which they'd probably be ok with.

They may or not be a good choice for some. Depends on what you want and in some cases what you can do.

They do lawn care; snow removal.
They do painting and color schemes throughout community.
They replace roofs, siding, gutters, landscaping on a timely schedule.
They may keep and maintain swimming pools, community center, golf courses, parks, etc.

It all depends upon ones wants and needs.

SassyLady
08-05-2019, 07:31 PM
I personally would never live in an HOA controlled community unless I was on the board.
:coffee:

HOA rules can be changed but members have to be active and get majority support. If not willing to go down that road, time to move.

I am definitely country girl that needs to live on acres of land ... the more acres the better.

High_Plains_Drifter
08-05-2019, 08:25 PM
That certainly would be your choice, one thousands make every day. You are free to do whatever you like, as long as you keep within the city/town restrictions. Most suburbs for instance will not allow a trailer to be parked on your front lawn, whereas a HOA may not allow a trailer-even a $350k recreational mobile home. You have to store it off site.

You make such choices when and where you choose to move.

Personal responsibility and choices.
Yep... choices... I made mine clear.

Kathianne
08-05-2019, 08:25 PM
I personally would never live in an HOA controlled community unless I was on the board.
:coffee:

HOA rules can be changed but members have to be active and get majority support. If not willing to go down that road, time to move.

I am definitely country girl that needs to live on acres of land ... the more acres the better.

Yep. My townhome had HOA and it was good for me raising 3 kids and while living there I worked anywhere between 40-90 hours a week. Not the time or money to deal with upkeep on the house. While the kids could take care of things like snow/lawn, the rest would have been beyond them and my budget.

There was trade-off though, no growing vegetables and they did all flowers so unless pots on deck, I had no choice. But, was worth it at the time.

STTAB
08-06-2019, 08:17 AM
HOAs change rules depending on which way the wind blows. OR they have that "at the discretion of the HOA" line in it for just about everything and definitely aesthetics.

I don't have a problem with reasonable ones with reasonable rules. I DO have a problem when a HOA getting paid in US coin to do nothing much I ever see but collect fees, that tells an American homeowner in the United States they cannot fly the US flag. Not like it's a pot leaf. Which they'd probably be ok with.

But no one can make you live in a neighborhood that has an HOA . And yes , rules can change if enough members vote to change them.