US

Homeowners Association Orders Cop to Remove ‘God Bless America’ Sign

On Saturday, the Palm Beach Post reported that the assistant police chief in Delray Beach, Joe Milenkovic, was ordered by his homeowners association to remove the “God Bless America” sign magnetically attached to his garage door.

The HOA is pointing to its rules that state that “no signs shall be displayed without written approval by the Association.”

Mr. Milenkovic is fighting back.

He tells the Palm Beach Post, “I’m a compliant person; I’m a rule-oriented person. But sometimes you have to say, ‘this is a rule that makes no sense.‘ Somebody’s got to stand up and say this isn’t right. We’re giving away our wonderful country one day at a time.”

On Monday morning, Mr. Milenkovic appeared on ‘Fox and Friends’ to discuss the controversy.

Comments (27)

  • Libertarian Infidel
    Posted on September 8, 2010 at 12:32pm

    How much money does this guy make? I made nothing when I was an officer.

    Report Post » Libertarian Infidel  
  • Sunnyr
    Posted on September 6, 2010 at 4:35pm

    I couldn’t deal with a HOA. We have flown the American flag in our front yard for 22 years and will continue till the day we die. We have a very patriotic neighborhood in a rural area and you will see lots of beautiful stars and stripes flying from the porches and yards and fences of our neighbors. God Bless America. We are so lucky to live in this country.

    Report Post » Sunnyr  
  • suran
    Posted on September 5, 2010 at 8:04pm

    HOAs do have rules. We have the “no signs” rule. During the ‘08 campaign election signs began popping up touting Obama. I didn’t hear of any complaints. However, when a few McCain/Palin signs appeared the Obama backers went wild screaming that the “no sign” rule must be followed. It was. EVERYBODY had to take their signs down!

    Fair IS fair, after all and we do have to follow the rules if that’s what we sign up for. The Federal Government should take the hint.

    Report Post » suran  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:22pm

    as soon as WE take out country BACK, let’s push for OUR politicians to pass laws ASAP for total AMERICAN FLAG and SENTIMENT to be SAFE from these anti-American democrat MORONS.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
  • IX-XI
    Posted on August 31, 2010 at 10:55pm

    The guy should plant topiaries across his yard, ask the HOA if they are appropriate, then when he gets their approval in his hot little hand, TRIM THEM TO SAY, “GOD BLESS AMERICA” and flip them off if they try to do anything about it.

    Report Post » IX-XI  
  • IX-XI
    Posted on August 31, 2010 at 10:51pm

    HOAs ARE GOING DOWN THE TUBES. Given two identical properties, one where you get to put your shed where you want, have a fence or not, arrange your flowerbeds and trees to please your own eye and not some busybody, have a light or dark colored roof as you please, paint your house as you wish, park your motorcycle in the back, put stepping stones to your garden, have a satellite dish, etc. etc. etc., where you have to say ‘mother may I’ for any of the above situations and will probably be turned down…

    …GUESS WHICH HOUSE IS GOING TO SELL AND WHICH ONE STAYS ON THE MARKET, IN THIS MARKET?

    You guessed it. If you foresee a need to sell in the near future, with the housing market as in the toilet as it is, you may want to consider the growing unpopularity of HOAs and the drag they are beginning to exert on home sales in neighborhoods they rule, and vote your HOA out of existence.

    Report Post » IX-XI  
  • GeeWhiz
    Posted on August 31, 2010 at 2:46pm

    I understand the concept of HOAs being allowed to make basic rules, but I always find it entertaining what they thinks is appropriate and what is problematic.

    If someone doesn’t like the God Bless America decals, wouldn’t it be fun to vote against all of those hideously ugly ball bushes and topiaries people think are the bomb? I am offended by butchering live plants and trying to make them into structures that are cute, but in reality, look stupid and if possible, can make some gorgeous plants look boring. Shrubs don’t look like balls and Christmas trees are the only things that should look like a pyramid. It’s not clever, it ruins the plant, shortens it’s lifespan, makes it susceptible to disease and really isn’t attractive.

    Ban ball bushes, that’s my opinion on this matter. Oh wait, you’re free to trim your bushes as you see fit? Then this guy should put his non-permanent God Bless America decals on his garage door.

    We really really really spend far too much in the business of other people. It wont’ hurt his property values, the neighbors more than likely don’t give a damn, and there are far more important things to worry about.

    But like kids who were hall monitors and loved it, HOAs are those same folks and never got beyond it. Their job is really to keep people from parking abandoned cars on front lawns, keep the roads paved and plowed, and to maintain the upkeep of common ground in the neighborhood. Beyond that, they need to concern themselves with their own lives.

    Report Post »  
  • travlr1954
    Posted on August 31, 2010 at 10:30am

    I will never submit to living in the mentally protected confines of a HOA. I love my freedoms too much. In Arizona another man is having an issue with flying the Gadsden flag, which was the flag at the first mustering of the United States Marine Corps and was used as one of the flags of the Revolution. The fact that it now represents Americans who believe in the values of our founding fathers only gives it more credance to be flown. My home, wherever I am, will always have the American flag and God Bless America. I am a retired American soldier. Try to remove my flag or my God Bless America.

    Report Post »  
  • Cemoto78
    Posted on August 31, 2010 at 8:56am

    I have to agree with ANTH, this is a contract issue. If you don‘t like the rules you try to change them you just don’t break them and then play on everyone’s sympathies to after-the-fact change them. I am all about flying the flag and being patriotic, but this is why I bought a home without the HOA crap.

    Report Post » Cemoto78  
  • mab5677
    Posted on August 31, 2010 at 8:18am

    I’m standing right beside you on this Joe! I wonder what people around me would say if i put a huge “God Bless America” sign in my dorm room window? You’ve inspired me to practice my first amendment rights! Stand strong Joe.

    Report Post »  
  • banzai
    Posted on August 31, 2010 at 7:45am

    I would NEVER buy in a HOA. And i hear that more and more. If eventually most people stopped buying in HOAs the sales i HOA areas would drop and they would have to either change their rules or deal with sitting on vacant houses. I say we put the HOAs out of business. If you buy a home and pay hundreds of thousands of dollars of your own hard earned money , no one should ahve a say with what you do to your home. As long are you are not breaking any city or state laws

    Report Post » banzai  
    • Brooke Lorren
      Posted on September 8, 2010 at 4:02pm

      Unfortunately, in some parts of the country, non-HOA homes that aren’t trailers are hard to find.

      Report Post »  
  • Silo13
    Posted on August 31, 2010 at 6:44am

    More power to him.
    People have got to start standing up for what they believe in.
    It‘s time for armchair ’believers’ to get off the butts and open up their mouths and raise their hands for what is right.
    peace

    Report Post » Silo13  
    • anth
      Posted on August 31, 2010 at 8:26am

      “Believers” in what? Your right to ignore contracts you sign? If the guy didn’t want to follow those rules (and hey, I’d never sign on to those sorts of restrictions), he shouldn’t have bought there.

      Report Post »  
    • saneromeo
      Posted on September 4, 2010 at 6:56pm

      Christians (armchair or otherwise) should not lie…which means honoring a contractual agreement. I’m all for the bumpersticker and the car parked in the driveway though, that way he could communicate his message without violating his word and his honour.

      Report Post » saneromeo  
  • chrism
    Posted on August 31, 2010 at 1:29am

    The constant struggles between home owners and various HOAs is why I don‘t give much thought to buying a home that falls under an HOA’s regulations. With that said, however unfortunate it may be, he did buy into it, and he should be willing to follow the rules of his contract. Now, most of those contracts will allow for some type of petition, and if he’s willing to do the work (and probably make sure he has a good design) he could probably get some variant of the sign allowed without all of the publicity. This screams out to me as an attempt at 15 minutes.

    Report Post »  
  • FCoxUSMC
    Posted on August 30, 2010 at 11:03pm

    There afraid you might a fend someone. According to sharia law non muslims are not allowed to display symbols of there religion. Try putting up a sign that says “ May praise be to alah” see if they tell you to take that down. While your at it ask them where they stand on the words on our money “In God We Trust”

    FCoxUSMC  
    • anth
      Posted on August 31, 2010 at 8:24am

      The entire religion aspect here is a red herring; the guy put up big sign, which is against the rules. The content of that sign is irrelevant. There’s absolutely no evidence to support believing the HOA would have behaved any differently if the sign ad read “Praise be to Allay” or “Eat at Joe’s”.

      Report Post »  
  • Matthew
    Posted on August 30, 2010 at 11:01pm

    You buy into an HOA-ruled neighborhood to have some say in community standards. I wholeheartedly agree that display of U.S. flags should not be constrained but I’m sorry, tacky decals on a garage door is a bit much. I really don’t care what the message is, this is not conducive to a nicer neighborhood and I would object as a neighbor. Get some class, this is Florida, what’s wrong with a couple pink flamingos in the front yard?

    Report Post » Matthew  
    • Silversmith
      Posted on August 30, 2010 at 11:55pm

      I‘ve never been much for HOA’s for this very reason. But wether you think it’s tasteful or not the nature of this expression is a first amendment issue. Pink Flamingoes? not so much. JMO

      Silversmith

      Report Post » Silversmith  
    • buffyj1
      Posted on August 31, 2010 at 7:27am

      I have to agree with you Matthew. Fly the flag or whatever as I do but I would not want to have a house next to me with huge decals on it. !! I much prefer the neat and clean look. I don’t like bumper stickers either but I do have a magnetic Support our troops and a God Bless America magnetic sticker on my car. Fly the flag man !! Forget the decals on the garage door !!

      Report Post »  
    • anth
      Posted on August 31, 2010 at 8:19am

      Silversmith, this most certainly is not a first amendment issue; it’s a contract law issue. The first amendment restricts actions by governments; none is involved here. This guy signed up to abide by the rules of the HOA, and now objects when the rules don’t say what he wants.

      Report Post »  
  • ItsOnlyTV
    Posted on August 30, 2010 at 10:40pm

    I can’t do the HOA thing. It would drive me crazy. Common sense seems to be lacking.

    Report Post »  
  • StickerHog
    Posted on August 30, 2010 at 9:37pm

    I own a decal company and I will give this guy at no charge a “God Bless America” decal package for his car so he can put it on his car and park it in his driveway.

     
    • jarjen
      Posted on August 30, 2010 at 10:39pm

      You are AWESOME Stickerhog!

       
    • Jim Livingston
      Posted on August 31, 2010 at 8:15am

      Consusing when comment is stated as Post Reply. The sign is ugly and in your face as it appears in photo. Be that as it may. Did the man follow rules and petition the association before puting up sign? It’s important if we are to get unbiased truth that we get the basics at least. I am a conservative Beck supporter, but this sign coverage does more harm than good.
      Jim

       
    • Jim Livingston
      Posted on August 31, 2010 at 8:22am

      I do not put heated comments on my car. Don’t want to elevate my insurance charges.
      Jim

       

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