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Homeowners Association’s Crackdown on Obama Lawn Sign Tears Community Apart: ‘It’s Like We Weren’t Living in America’

Feb. 11, 2013 7:53am Billy Hallowell

Many housing developments have homeowners associations (HOA) that impose strict rules and regulations. While some of the stipulations seem silly, abiding by them is a necessity for those who wish to live within these groups’ bounds. A Fairfax, Va., family learned this lesson after they posted a yard sign in support of Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential run and the board ruled that it violated HOA standards. What resulted was an epic legal battle between the Farran family and the housing authority — one that inevitably led the board to bankruptcy, splintering the community and creating ongoing division among its residents.

While there is certainly no ban on the placement of political signs at Olde Belhaven, the development at the center of the debate, the placard that was posted by Sam and Maria Farran was four inches taller than allowed by the rules and regulations. When the board approached the family in the heat of the highly-contentious election season and told them to remove the Obama sign, the Farrans decided to simply cut the placard in half, with one side reading “OBA” and the other reading “MA.”

The couple knew that their signs were too large, but they felt that the attack was, more than anything else, an assault on free speech. As they doubled-down with their sign-cutting prank, the board, too, geared up for a fight. After passing a rule that residents in violation of HOA policies could be fined up to $900.00, the situation intensified.

Obama Yard Sign Sparks Fight Between Sam and Marcia Farran and Olde Belhaven Homeowners Association

Photo Credit: Flickr/animantis

The Farrans believed that the fining action was illegal, however HOA leaders held that they were entirely within their bounds to take such action against the family. After the fine was levied and the board subsequently rejected the family’s proposed deck and roof projects, Sam and Marcia decided to take action. They sued, arguing that the fines were not legal and that the projects they proposed were rejected out of retaliation over the Obama sign debacle.

“It’s like we weren’t living in America,” Maria told the Washington Post. “You are always one board election away from a tyranny. They wield enormous power.”

The Post has more about the legal battle’s ongoing impact on the community:

The legal fight consumed Olde Belhaven.

The Farrans said HOA backers told them to move. They found bullets in their yard. Someone implored a priest at their church to prevail on the Farrans to stop the lawsuit. A local real estate agent said the infighting was scaring off some home buyers.

“It was a crusade,” a supporter of the Farrans said.

On the other side, board members said that the Farrans were unreasonable and that they declined numerous offers to begin settlement discussions. And as the case ground on, the HOA increased dues from $650 a year to about $3,500, mostly to cover legal fees.

The board’s former president, Jim LeBlanc, said the situation put a strain on some elderly residents living on fixed incomes. “Some had their health impacted,” LeBlanc said. “There’s a sense of, what is it going to take to resolve this? This was a tragic nightmare.”

Of course, there are two sides to every story. Just as the HOA claims to made attempts to settle, so do the Farrans. Both sides clearly believed that they were in the right, though, leaving little room for negotiation and agreement. The stalemate brought the entire community into the ugly battle — one that has financially-ruined the HOA.

In 2010, the Farrans won their case surrounding the fines and in 2011, a judge ruled that the decision to reject the deck and roof was improper, because the determination was made at a closed meeting that didn’t follow protocol. In the end, the HOA was forced to pay the Farrans’ legal fees as well as hundreds of thousands of their own court costs. To settle these debts and stay afloat, the HOA has been forced to put the community square, land where residents would gather to celebrate holidays and have picnics, up for sale.

Currently, the sale of this land is up in the air and the board is in bankruptcy. Residents hope that a sense of community will return, but, for now, the debate that was sparked over an Obama yard sign has left Olde Belhaven fractured.

(H/T: The Atlantic)

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Comments (236)

demsrtraitors
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:49am
many HOA’s are just like the police. They selectively enforce.

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- The_Almighty_Creestof
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:02am
  Most HOA’s are run by geriatric nazi’s who nitpick about everything in an attempt to convince others (and especially themselves) that they still matter. They get the power because nobody else wants to have their time wasted with such nonsense.
  
  It’s just sad that they let their lives become so worthless in their “golden” years…and have to resort to this garbage.
  
  Report this comment
- americangrammy
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:17am
  Mr. Almighty You are exactly right! The HOA in the suburban hell around our farmlet is packed with old men who just want to arrange their world to their satisfaction, and to hell with what anyone else wants. Mean old devils!
  My land is still zoned for agriculture but has lots of natural wooded areas. I’m considering raising hogs…..
  
  Report this comment
- UnkleBuck
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:36am
  Freedom for me…Screw thee! While I detest the tyranny of HOA’s, this irony is DEE-LISH-US! How does it feel, you Progressive Leftists!? You never lifted a finger, or whimper of protest with your conservative co-citizenry when they tried to ring the bell of freedom against your Leftist tyranny. Now, that you’ve tasted a tiny morsel of what they have endured you cry like a little school girl. SO LEFTIST TYPICAL!
  
  Report this comment
- 000degrees
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:50am
  Much as I hate what the current admin stands for I will still stand on the side of freedom and liberty even though in this case it would mean one of o’s signs being displayed. Who knows? Maybe the lefty o supporters had a light bulb moment and realized the irony…..
  
  Report this comment
- 00100111
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:53am
  Regardless of who the homeowners support, and how stupid they are for supporting Dear Leader, they can display their ignorant support of him all they want. I despise HOAs. A disgusting communist organization if there was one.
  
  Report this comment
- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:10am
  I know of few to almost no people who think HOA’s are a great idea, yet these things keep popping up like nobody’s business. Why is that, and how can it be stopped? Freedom of speech, especially on your own property, should always apply. Who cares if these are leftists or not, these people are still Americans and still have their rights.
  
  Report this comment
- LogCabinRepublican
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:22am
  Suing the HOA is like suing yourself – what MORONS! Now after all this I’m sure everyone hates them and the HOA won’t be able to pay expenses now because they sucked up the reserve account in legal fees. It will be a difficult time selling because I sure as hell wouldn’t want to buy.
  
  Report this comment
- pdw
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:25am
  Here in the Houston, Tx area we had a HOA that went wayyyyyyyyyyy tooooooooo far when they took a elderly woman’s home away from her and sold it for not paying her HOA payment. She owed $800 and they sold her $ 185 thousand plus home along with all her belongs. For once our State government stepped in and made them buy everything back everything, plus about $150 thousand for pain and suffering. They know that most people will not take them to court plus our fees pay for them to retain a lawyer to defend them against the homeowners. Our homeowners regulations are as large as our telephone book. My first week here they sent me a letter stating that I had weeds in my garden and the grass was too tall, 4 inches. There were no weeds in my flower bed and we has just moved in but they do love to play their game. They have people that ride around in golf carts to find someone to complain about. We are in the middle of a wondering golf course and have to watch out for golf carts on the streets all the time.
  
  Report this comment
- The_Jerk
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:32am
  HOA’s are everything that you say they are, HOWEVER, stupid people knowingly agreed to the conditions. The ‘I am special’ Farran family knowingly broke the rule concerning yard signs. Where’s the consequence? There was none. This is the problem with America.
  
  Report this comment
- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:35am
  Why yes, Logcabinrepublican, people should just take abuse by HOA’s, not sue, sit back and enjoy it, all so you retain your fictional property value.
  
  Report this comment
- JRook
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:55am
  n 2010, the Farrans won their case surrounding the fines and in 2011, a judge ruled that the decision to reject the deck and roof was improper, because the determination was made at a closed meeting that didn’t follow protocol. In the end, the HOA was forced to pay the Farrans’ legal fees as well as hundreds of thousands of their own court costs. Good for them… most HOA should be sued out of existence. I was actually sent a letter once to remove a garden I had put in front of our townhouse in NJ. Seems I forgot to send the HOA a detailed description and drawing of the garden. HOA’s are comprised of both conservative and liberal members who feel they have a moral or intellectual right to tell other people how to live their lives. All under the guise of keeping the community the way they want it. And let’s not forget the wonderful money grab it is for attorney’s.
  
  Report this comment
- MadeintheUSA2
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 11:07am
  We live in a condo complex and obviously have an HOA. If we are ever able to sell, I will never be a part of an HOA again. We went to 1 meeting and will be our last. There were 2 people who took over the meeting, not letting anyone else talk or bring up a concern. The people elected to the board do as they please in regards to their property and disregard the few and very basic standards of continuity.
  
  Report this comment
- Clive
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 11:17am
  if you wanted to post a GWB or “Mitt” sign, and somebody was trying to force you to take it down, you’d tell them to eff off. can’t have it both ways. i don’t agree with them, but these people are free to express their political thoughts.
  
  Also, don’t people have bigger things to concern themselves with?
  
  Report this comment
- TIME_TO_DO_SOMETHING
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 11:22am
  I can agree that HOA’s can be a little tyrannical, but I sought out a strong HOA when buying my last home because an HOA is all that stands between me and all the Obama supporters tuning my very nice niegborhood into a run down, gang infested, horrible place to live, which would happen if not for my HOA enforcing the rules about not trashing the neighborhood and turning it into a “hood”.
  
  Report this comment
- Jloyoyo
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 12:57pm
  Got to agree with ‘The_Jerk’. If you live in a neighborhood with a HOA, you signed up for that. It is not like a HOA pops up after you move into an area, the HOA was there first. Do not move into that neighborhood if you do not want to deal with their BS. However, the Farran’s did move into the area, and I am sure they signed on the dotted line saying they would follow the HOA’s rules and regulations. However, in the end the Farran’s won their legal dispute, b/c they are good members of the Leftist Party, supporting O through thick and thin.
  
  The Farran’s broke the rules, and they end up winning the case. The HOA should have just kept fining them at whatever the normal fine was, or kicked them out for not following the HOA’s rules. All parties look like idi ots in this case.
  
  Report this comment
- AINT_SKEERT
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 1:09pm
  They had better let this one go… Or risk drone attack.
  
  Report this comment
- chfields62
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 1:20pm
  The bottom line is, you signed a paper agreeing to follow the rules, if you don’t follow the rules you get punished. If you don’t like the rules, you shouldn’t have moved into the neighborhood.
  
  Report this comment
- macksfield
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 1:26pm
  In a kind of symbolic way, this is exactly what an Obama agenda does, separates folks.
  
  Report this comment
- matamoros
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 1:29pm
  @PDW
  Why on earth would you subject yourself to that? Didn’t you know what HOA’s were like?
  
  Report this comment
- turbo
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 1:32pm
  …just like the Obama administration.
  
  Report this comment
- coalms
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 1:33pm
  The problem with HOA’s is NOT that they selectively police – it is the fact that a few want to control the lives of many. Those that want to live in a community with an HOA are obviously the kind of people that want the government telling them how to live their lives. Any sales contract on a home that does not provide an “opt-out”option for an HOA should be illegal. Residents already have to live with covenants in place, local zoning codes and a host of other rules and regulations. Why should they be forced to join an HOA they don’t want to belong to and pay their dues just because they buy a house in the neighborhood. After all, it is an ASSOCIATION not a government entity.
  
  The beauty of a neighborhood is the individuality of its members, their ability to live freely as they desire. Sure, some have messy yards or paint houses an odd color, but that is what gives a neighborhood great character. If you don’t like the character of your neighborhood – MOVE. Don’t force others to live the way you want them to.
  
  While I am not an Obama guy, I wholeheartedly support the Farrans in fighting for their 1st amendment rights. A small sign like that can not hurt property values or damage the neighborhood. It adds character. It lets you know about your neighbors.
  
  Just like Obama, this HOA raised fees to pay for unnecessary spending (a lawsuit). What’s the old saying – “Don’t sweat the small stuff”! Yea, bankruptcy is better!
  
  Report this comment
- ArmedPatriot
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 2:10pm
  True, and it was a stupid affair that got way out of hand. But, on the other hand, the Farrans support Obama so they should be right at home and down with onerous and tyrannical regulations, usurpation of powers, the arbitrary exercise thereof, and forced compliance with unconstitutional laws by fines and penalties.
  
  Report this comment
- DogsLoveFreedom
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 3:05pm
  A lady that looked like that woman on a bicycle in the Wizard of Oz showed up at my house in a gated community in Florida (I lived there only 9 months..I was 28 and I hated it) told me my new Toyota pickup truck was an eyesore and to get it out of the driveway and put it in the garage. What a surreal moment, my mouth just hung open…why? It detracts from the aesthetics we’ve decided for the community. Huh? I would never live in one of those communities again.
  
  Report this comment
- scottq60
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 3:57pm
  Agreed…I was on the HOA board in a community in Maryland…it REALLY opened my eyes to human nature…it was the whim of a few being forced on the community. I had people pandering to me because I was a board member…wanting to cozy up to my wife and I and ask for special favors (like ignoring their broken down, unlicensed VW bug that was an eyesore on the curb in front of their duplex townhome). One member felt that another family shouldn’t be allowed to have a children’s swingset in their back yard be visible from the road because she said it would eventually “rust and become an eyesore to any visitors and other residents.
  
  These folks (HOA boards) can VERY QUICKLY become “nazi-like” in their oppressive behavior toward other residents. After we left that neighborhood in ’01, I swore we would NEVER live in another community if there’s an HOA. I vow to keep that promise! That experience taught me that HOA’s are very much a microcosm of the state and federal governments in many respects.
  
  Report this comment
- Obama_In_PeePee_Is_Becks_Art
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 4:40pm
  “Currently, the sale of this land is up in the air and the board is in bankruptcy. Residents hope that a sense of community will return, but, for now, the debate that was sparked over an Obama yard sign has left Olde Belhaven fractured.”
  
  Tyranny (regardless of it’s pettiness) … “and a lesson for us all” (with apologies to Felix Unger).
  
  The only thing that DOESN’T make sense is … Obama supporters? Being concerned about “You are always one board election away from a tyranny”?
  
  “DICTATORSHIP For America IMPLEMENTED!! :: Glenn Beck Named THE TRAITORS & Exposed THEIR CONSPIRACY!!”
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAu_-UmERuo
  Duh!
  
  Report this comment
- PR-WY
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:02pm
  All this crap over a sign four inches too high? Insanity! I despise groups of people left or right who are so damn legalistic they have to push their issues come hell or high water, to everyone’s detriment. Serves the HOA right, they lost big time, something that didn’t have to happen at all.
  
  A little leniency goes a long way, despots are always around asserting their ‘power’, left or right, and it sucks big time no matter what.
  
  Report this comment
- Whitrb23
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:20pm
  No one is forced to live in a HOA; if people don’t like the rules they should live elsewhere – LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT.
  
  Report this comment
- Linreis
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:26pm
  @timetodosomething; what you were smart in is exactly what we are battling…an HOA and management company that is not strong, not active and in result: the entire complex is going south fast…trash all over, more and more of the neighbors are less than appealing…inoperable cars with expired plates parked in valuable parking places, or just on the roadway…the screaming and shouting at all hours of the night are truly frightening…and the disrespect for the property is appalling…I’ll take a strong and active HOA over the one we have anyday…and these people who are whining are the ones who SHOULD HAVE READ THE RULES FIRST before signing on the dotted line…the rules apply to all, not just a few, all the time, not just a few days out of the year…these people destroyed their entire neighborhood by their law suit, financially, and morally, because they are some that feel the rules shouldn’t apply to them, and then to get smart assed about it was the final straw…I’ll bet they are those ‘hard to get along with neighbors’ who don’t think any thing applies to them if they don’t want it to…I’ll bet they are just waiting for that cup of hot coffee to spill in their laps so they can sue
  I HOP…
  
  Report this comment
- Touche Turtle
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 9:00am
  What a sad waste of time, resources and energy when there is so much that is wrong with our country. May all the ADULTS involved receive their just desserts!
  
  Report this comment
- LaBelle
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 4:04pm
  One has to wonder what the outcome would have been had this been an American flag instead of an obama sign.
  
  Report this comment
bannedfromCNN
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:46am
HOAs can be instrumental in maintaining the integrity of a neighborhood and thereby protecting the value of the homes in that neighborhood.
Or, as I experienced…
We had purchased a new home in an HOA neighborhood. Shorty thereafter, we submitted plans (drawn on our plat map, including sizes, types of plants, locations, etc ) to the HOA for approval before starting.
3 weeks later, we received a note from the HOA that stated “Rejected – official form for submission not used. Form included.” That ‘form’ they included was a blank sheet of 8 1/2 x 11″ printer paper.

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- Mojoron
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:52am
  Out HOA does not allow any political signs either. I don’t have a problem with that. In fact, the law against signage can cut both ways, that is why it is a good law. Nothing stops you from placing a sticker on your car or a sign in your window. So shut up!
  
  Report this comment
- booger71
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:07am
  I served on the board of our HOA, and told the rest of the board that most of rules they have do not conform with local city laws, and would not be winnable in court. This is true of most HOA rules.
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:11am
  MOJO: Agree. Religion and politics ( which IS a religion for many ! ) should be kept out of neighborhood battles. Also, why can’t people READ the covenants BEFORE they buy the property ?? All of this ” I AM too special to follow any rules ” starts all of the chaos . Am sure the neighbors would rather NOT have that jerk in their neighborhood – after all it is a neighborhood..not an I-hood.
  
  Report this comment
- leetpriest
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 11:07am
  A HOA has a single purpose, to control a neighborhood, and all of the inhabitants of the neighborhood. A HOA is useless in protecting property values since a city can build section 8, subsidized, limited-income housing around the neighborhood effectively destroying housing values.
  
  HOAs are allowed to exist because morons continue to purchase houses in deed-restricted neighborhoods. Furthermore, HOAs are crucial to the implementation of Agenda 21.
  
  So to sum it all up: If you purchased a deed-restricted house, you are an idiot, and you’re part of the problem. Enjoy slavery.
  
  I, however, will continue to live out in the country, where I can do whatever I please, however I please, whenever I please within the confines of my property.
  
  Report this comment
- WalkThePath
  Posted on February 12, 2013 at 5:03pm
  Its racism pure and simple. Conservative racism, which makes me think we need to register all the guns quickly. Why cant we all just move on? Babylon is going to be swell.
  
  Report this comment
Slowman101
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:45am
Some HOA’s have way to much power. This one got what it deserved. I feel you should have a right to put a regular political sign in your yard if you so choose. A touch ironic 2 idiots that want more of big government get stepped on by big government and don’t like it. LOL!

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- termyt
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:59am
  They could have a sign, they just ignored the size restriction so theirs could be bigger than everyone else’s.
  
  Yes, some HOA’s wield way too much power and many of them use it selectively to punish or reward, but that is immaterial.
  
  The right answer is, if you don’t like a rule, work to change it. Get a majority of propety owners to agree with you and change it. To simply ignore the rule and then drive the HOA into bankruptcy for foolish pride is the height of arrogance, aristocratic thinking and absolutely shameful.
  
  Report this comment
- ertdfg
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:29am
  So you should be able to put up a political sign WITHOUT SIZE RESTRICTION if you want?
  
  Hope your yard doesn’t like sunshine; I’m putting up a billboard size political sign… you shouldn’t be allowed to stop me.. right?
  
  Following rules you agreed to when you moved in is so unfair; breaking those rules is the only option.
  
  Report this comment
- integrican
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 4:25pm
  It is NOT about sign size it is about belligerence. If the rule was a sign that measured 300ft.x 100ft. They would have made theirs 301ft. x 101ft. Because they are textbook belligerent liberals.
  As much as I hate the idea of HOAs, if one lives under one’s rule, get on the board and change it!!!
  Just remember most HOA rules restrict one’s pursuit of happiness.
  “Yes your Honor. living in a yellow house with a smiley face painted on it, makes me happy!” FLOL!
  
  Report this comment
Patoweem
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:43am
While I have distain for those who support Obama, I find it difficult to believe that there wasn’t a way to find a workable solution. I am on a HOA Board and would never let something this petty drive the Board to bankruptcy. That’s cutting off your own nose. The article said that the sign was 4″ too tall. So push it in the ground further. Yet, the article suggests that the sign was 4″ too long and thus, they tried to cut it in half. Maybe there was a rule that you could only have one sign? A simple solution was to get a little bit smaller sign. Another simple solution was for the HOA to ammend the rule as it relates to political signs during political season. I suspect that this sign was a standard size for political signs, so an ammendment is probably warranted.

While I have absolute distain for Idiots for Obama and believe that the majority of his supports are racist since their main reason for voting for him is the color of his skin (by definition, that’s racism), I also fully support their right to be stupid and heard. We have railed against HOAs that try to have residents take down the American Flag, etc. We can’t be the hypocrites that the left is and pick and choose when we want to do the right thing. We have to do the right thing ALL the time and let the chips fall where they may.

I totally blame the HOA for trying to make an example out of a stupid Obamabot. But in the end, guess who was the one that proved to be the most stupid?

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- Ranba Ral
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 12:36pm
  My family’s experience with HOA’s has been mostly negative until recently. Back in Maryland we had a swing set for my sister and I, HOA approved it and the blue cloth roof. About 2 months after it was erected they started bugging us to change it, which would require taking down 1/2 the top of the swing set. Tried to fine us and put a lein on the house on top of it, until dad brought in the JAGs. There was also an overall protest about what the HOA was doing by the majority of the neighborhood…turns out nobody had a problem with it since almost all of them had kids too and with literally everyone there being Special Forces except the HOA board the neighbors all banded together with us.
  
  Had troubles with the current neighborhood’s HOA, but that’s slackened since they came to an understanding with dad. When we moved in there were only 2 other houses in the development and a plan to have an HOA. They never gave us the rules and regs, the contract once they drew it up, and when we tried to pay the fees and get all that stuff they just ignored us. So dad just got everything he did (like the deck, storage shed, small pond) permitted by both the city and the county. HOA tried to start stuff about it about 10 years ago. Got a lawyer who pointed out we didn’t ever get any of the rules/regs/contract etc, so it wouldn’t apply to us. Agreement dad made with them is that if the city didn’t permit something, he wouldn’t do it.
  
  Report this comment
gs425
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:40am
While I hate HOA and would never even consider living in a community that had one ever again, It is clear the Homeowners tried to comply with the rules of the Association.

What is ironic though is how the homeowners cried about ““It’s like we weren’t living in America,” and “You are always one board election away from a tyranny” while supporting a party hell bent on doing just that.

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- RemoteCoderz
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:03am
  One could have said the same thing for the republicrats. “You are only 2 elections away from tyranny”.
  
  Report this comment
- gryffn
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:42am
  Ironic huh? But they will learn…
  
  Report this comment
HOLYSMOKES
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:31am
HOA’s are like unions. At one time they served a purpose but now are nothing but bullies. the people on HOA boards are always run by mini tyrants or as I like to call them, commissars. I’m no Obama fan but I agree with the homeowners. I would love to live in a community that did not have an HOA but it is nearly impossible to find one anymore unless you want to live in the boondocks. there is something un-American about having someone tell you what you can do and can’t do on your own property. Another law suit would be filed by me if The HOA tried to raise my dues from 650 to $3500 because of someone else. the problem could have been solved by dropping the whole thing. A rational human being would not care about a yard sign being a couple inches too big.

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- SLAPTHELEFT
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:42am
  haha. They said theyre only one board election away from tyranny!
  
  What a bunch of of idiots- they just voted for tyranny- twice. This is just a taste of what you asked for. Didnt you approve of obama limiting peoples free speech? Oh, now its you and you dont feel like this is America?
  
  Maybe they should do a little more research before they inject their low information voting preferences into the neighborhood. Welcome to the America you asked for.
  
  Report this comment
- Primekid
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:47am
  I have no use whatsoever for HOAs despite the arguments in favor of. I do not believe in these little private organizations wielding powers like demagogues in conflict with individuals constitutional rights. They should be illegal as they fundamentally violate the constitution. The problem with the argument of not moving into an area that has an HOA is that even if you find a location to live which does not have one, often you can find yourself in a situation where, after the fact, one is formed in your area whether you agree to it or not.
  
  Report this comment
- Patoweem
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:01am
  Oh Holy one,
  Not all that serve on HOA Boards are commies or mini-tyrants. I am one and I serve so that I can have a seat and help make sure that sanity remains at the table. Every Board in every community is different. The convenants are there to help protect property values. Just as you rail against not being able to do exactly what you want on “your” property (if you think that you own your land, try not paying your property taxes and see what happens) becuase of HOA rules, it’s those same rules that PROTECT you from neighbors who want to do exactly what they want to do on theirs. Nice neighborhoods don’t want cars up on blocks, pig pens and the like driving down the value of the houses. Just like the Constitution, there are parts that you love and parts that you aren’t so fond of, but it’s there to protect everyone. (When actually followed that is. Probably pre-1900)
  If you don’t like who is on your Board, fight to get new members on it. If you don’t like the rules, fight to get them changed. If you don’t like living in a neighborhood that has a HOA, then don’t live there. But please don’t be so childish as to move there, knowing that there are covenants and then cry about it after the fact. Grow up, take control of your life and take responsibility for the choices you made. If you don’t like the outcomes of those choices, then make new ones.
  
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- pizzaman87
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:34am
  PRIMEKID, it is really hard to form a HOA in an neighborhood that doesn’t have one unless everyone agree to it in the first place. which is why most neighborhood when form by a developer they start it so when you buy, you are also agreeing to joining the HOA.
  
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- dnewton
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:41am
  HOA’s are more like planning commissions. I wish everyone who voted for Obama would put a sign in their yard but our state laws don’t allow signs to remain after elections and they allow illegally placed signs to be removed by anyone at any time.
  
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- stumpy68
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:09am
  @Patoweem
  Why should you constantly fight to enjoy
  the house and land you chose to live in on
  do you enjoy arguing/ fighting ?
  
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- Hmschlmom
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 2:03pm
  We rented a condo at one point, which had a HOA. I couldn’t BELIEVE those people! Got a notice about storing a ladder on the balcony…I WAS ON THE LADDER, CHANGING THE LIGHT BULB!!! Put the ladder away when I was done, and there was a note on the door about the “VIOLATION”!
  Good grief!
  The people downstairs had old tires sitting on their balcony!
  We got notices about my FLOWERS (in pots…nicely tended).
  My toddler would ride his trike (with me watching) and need to go up to our unit for a potty break. If I left his tricycle (out of the way) because we were coming right back…I could count on a nasty note on the door when we headed back down.
  One thing it taught me? NEVER buy a property with a HOA! Those people are CRAZY!
  
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Apple Bite
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:30am
Reap wha’ cha’ Sow.

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- MDECKER
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:07am
  This is precisely the America, people like the Farrans have created, by supporting such politicians as their sign suggests.
  
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PATTY HENRY
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:29am
ALL HOA’s across the USA should have a clause that prevents them from incurring legal fees over X dollars; That’s #1. Number 2 is that there should be a time limit for all political signs and if someone wishes to break their agreed upon rules and regulations, (what is written) then they automatically agree
to pay all the legal costs of both sides. You go into an HOA to protect your property values, so no yard becomes a waist high trash dump, so people retain some consistency in the quality of neighborhoods. If you don’t want to adhere to the rules, move…but never, ever, ever should one person’s actions and the inability of the property management company and/or Board to solve it, cost the other members money. The only people who got rich on this one is the Board’s Attorneys and the lawyers from the home owners. Why didn’t someone just get these people a smaller sign?
HOA’s can be the best or the worst community idea ever – it all depends upon the CC&R’s. IF you are in one, check and make sure that there is a limit on legal fees and the other clause about “if you break existing HOA codes, you pay the legal” IF you want to change the codes, then do it by HOA elections, vote as a group on changing the codes. DUH. This was pure Attorney Heaven.

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- HOLYSMOKES
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:45am
  how about we do away with HOA’s. I’ve got enough to worry about without keeping an eye on HOA’s and what their up to. I’ m also tired of having someone always watching what I’m doing as well.
  
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- PATTY HENRY
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:00am
  HolySmokes: I sort of agree, however it’s nice to have the gated aspect and lovely lawns etc. There are 55,000 HOA’s in CA alone and in the past 20 years, unscrupulous attorneys have discovered the pots of gold that are the HOA budgets…along with Property management companies who have their own (check out yours folks) associated companies do the landscaping, pool maintenance etc. – kick back heaven – the gig when home prices were way up was to fine some elderly owner x dollars for a stupid infraction (bush over grown or door painted wrong color) and then 6 months later hit same owner with gargantuan bill (five figures) and say pay up or we’ll foreclose..of course the atty’s for the management companies also happened to be foreclosure attys too…so they forced this elderly person out of their house, bought it for butkus on court house steps or just before..it was a license to steal. Then the housing market hit rock bottom..but this will happen again when the prices normalize. Just like our National Politics… Owners have to be involved…don’t have to go to meetings perhaps but they have to be aware of what’s going on. The temptation to cheat is too big if no one is watching…HOA or no HOA, in local Govt. etc. Look what happened in 2012!! The only place you don’t have to be involved is on 100 acres in the middle of nowhere with your own well and power source!! And even then, they’ll try to infringe. Libertarian Pary anyone?
  
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BehindBlueEyes
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:26am
Sounds like Farran’s are using the method the commie in chief uses when things don’t go their way. If you don’t like the rules go around them. If you don’t like the Constitution go around it. If something gets in your way rename it, isolate it, demonize it and create a new definition for it.

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- stablepar
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:35am
  did obama just ruin something else?
  
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- old white guy
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:43am
  stable…. you were not paying attention, were you????
  
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- BehindBlueEyes
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:10am
  @STABLEPAR
  What hasn’t he ruined? He has the Sidam Touch.
  
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- BehindBlueEyes
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:19am
  Her’s what I mean- http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/02/11/heres-how-obamas-using-executive-power-to-bylass-legislative-process-plus-a-brief-history-of-executive-orders/
  
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ReallySeriouslyNoWay
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:25am
HOA got what they deserved, I don’t support Obama, but I support the rights of my neighbors to do so, as long as it doesn’t deprive me of enjoyment of my property (huge lights on the signs, inability to see oncoming traffic, etc) The HOA was wrong, before they let it get out of hand they should have put it to a vote of the other property owners to see if they felt as strongly about it. I’m sure the answer would have been “election over, let it go”

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- Mommy Venting
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 11:01am
  If there is a HOA where you reside you must follow the rules. You are the one who chose to live there right? So, If you know the rules, and break them, there are consequences. My suggestion to those who don’t like HOA’s is to Not live in a community with one. Solved.
  
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- tnman65
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 12:08pm
  You tell ‘em Mommy.
  
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700P
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:25am
Sounds like a job for…Organizing for America! (cue the theme music) Badabadabadada Badadabababadabada “FORWARD! “

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qpwillie
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:24am
If I lived in that neighborhood, I think I would want all the homes that were occupied by idiots to identify themselves. Putting out a sign that states as much is as good a way as any.

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OldSurfRat
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:24am
Ok let me get this right you vote for tyranny and then you cry about being a subject of tyranny?
Might I suggest that you educate yourself.

BTW I would never live anywhere that there is a HOA.

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Ben__Franklin
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:23am
How ironic. Big Government Lovers sue over being told what to do…..LoL

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- Bamagal0007
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:46am
  Very good point.
  
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- termyt
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:04am
  Typical liberals. The rules don’t apply to them – they just tell the unwashed masses how to live. They will be just as incredulous when the secret police arrest them for failing to follow some government mandate.
  
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dodgedart1966
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:22am
If you sign an agreement that says someone else can tell you how to paint your house, you deserve what you get. I have no sympathy for either side.

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- RedSpotinaBlueState
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 12:28pm
  I’m with you. I would NEVER live in a neighborhood with an HOA.
  
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safetharbor
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:16am
BODs are unpaid volunteers, usually doing the best they can. However if they did not employ a trained and certified property manager they were not very smart. For a dispute to go on this long and escalate to these proportions is rediculous. (sp) My neighbors had every Mitt sign trashed and vandelized, Gotta luv those ‘O’ supporters. So friendly and open minded. If they still live there it would be wise to lock & load. Oh wait – Dem Gun Control.

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mikem1969
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:14am
So the morons that voted for commiebama did not want a commie run HOA. Hmm, maybe they should look at the political choices they have made because as the nanny state continues to grow, so will things like this across the country.

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freenj
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:12am
Sometimes you just can’t fix stupid.

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- harley3
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:25am
  no kidding. I am on the board of my HOA and I would like to think that if something like this came up, our board would stop way before it got to the point that this situation did. Thank God we don’t have many rules that are as stupid as the one about a sign.
  
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- satotbs
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 9:20am
  I too am a HOA board member. What I would have done, just issue an Executive Order banning all signs. End of problem. Then raise the dues to cover the additional costs of enforcement, form a new paid “study group” of cronies, then ignore their findings and create a Department of Signage.
  
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lgccac
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:09am
Socialists like the idea of government telling others how to live their lives, just not them.

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DougHuffman
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:08am
I was HOA pres through H. Hugo and recovery. That’s a lose lose proposition. It would be interesting to see their governing covenant and statutes. Where the law is graved on men’s hearts there is no sin – and no need for statutes. MOLON LABE Lord of Flies Lies

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piper60
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:08am
This is why my husband and I would NEVER buy a house in a neighborhood that has a HOA.

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DZ-015
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:06am
It’s a D.C. Suburb with liberal ‘crats sucking at the government teat, Any wonder that their little experiment with ultra local governance in the form of their HOA came up with this result? No sympathy for their situation from this quarter!

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- circleDwagons
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:25am
  I wonder what their opion of obama is now. Hopefully this was an eye opening experience for all involved.
  
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101stIraqVet
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:03am
They should be ok with the HOA telling them how to run their lives since they are fine with Obama doing it.

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- Gonzo
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:07am
  It’s like putting a sign in your yard that says: “I’m A Dumbass!”
  
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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 7:59am
.
Should have just burnt their house down…..

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- safetharbor
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:28am
  Probably in the planning right now. Taking up a collection for gasoline.
  
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Gonzo
Posted on February 11, 2013 at 7:57am
There were only two Obama signs in my neighborhood among a sea of Romney signs. Oddly, my dog found it necessary to take a dump each time we passed on our walks.

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- SpankDaMonkey
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:17am
  .
  Hey Gonzo give that dog a treat….
  
  Do you have a UGA lookalike?….
  
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- Gonzo
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:28am
  She was a Rottie Monkey. Died 2 days before Christmas. 13 years old.
  
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- SpankDaMonkey
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 8:42am
  .
  Sorry for your loss Gonzo. Hate it when a good dog dies……
  
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