Idaho HOA Apologizes for Flag Controversy: ‘It Was a Misunderstanding’
- Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:33am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
- Print »
- Email »
It was all a misunderstanding.
That’s how the homeowners association of an Idaho condominium complex is describing a local American flag controversy that garnered national attention. Now, the association has admitted it could have handled the situation better and has dropped its opposition to residents flying American flags.
Last week, the HOA at Copper Ranch Condominiums in Hailey, ID told Steve and Robin Perfect that flying an American flag violated an association rule prohibiting items in “common areas.”
But after fully investigating the situation, and receiving calls and e-mails from angry and concerned people nationwide, the HOA apologized to the Perfects on Friday, and told them they can fly an American flag in honor of their deployed son Sgt. Edward Nadler.
“It was a misunderstanding about what what was hanging,” Copper Ranch HOA board member J. Edward Smith told The Blaze, adding that the group was also confused about where the flag was hanging. “Never was the intent to deny the flying of the American flag.”
While HOA rules generally prohibit flag and banner flying, and even window stickers and “for sale” signs, American flags like the Perfect’s have always been allowed, he said.
So what prompted the controversy?
Smith said it started when the condominium’s California-based office (Lido Equities) received a complaint from one of the Perfect’s neighbors. The neighbor, he explained, led the office to believe the Perfects were displaying excessive flags and banners, even pro-war messages, in the “common area.” That prompted an initial call to the Perfects, when a representative reportedly told the couple their display appeared to be “supporting the war.” Smith contended the representative was only quoting the neighbor’s complaint.
The situation escalated when the Perfects refused to remove the flag (citing the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act) and property manger Brian Emerick stepped in to enforce the HOA’s “common area” rule.
“It’s unfortunate it involves the American flag,” Emerick told The Blaze last week, “but from the HOA‘s perspective it’s not about the flag, it’s about the rules.” Smith defended Emerick, saying he was only enforcing the will of the HOA.
But there was one problem: the information Emerick and the board based their actions on was incorrect.
Not only was the Perfect’s flag not excessive or offensive, but it was also not in “common area.” According to Smith, there’s a difference between “common area” and “limited common area.” The former, which the neighbor alleged, includes areas such as the street or the roof. The latter includes the area outside a residents door, or “the area where [the Perfects] have their flag.”
“It’s perfectly fine,” Smith said of the Perfect’s flag and location.
Yet neither Smith (who lives in California), Emerick (who doesn’t live on site), or any other board member went to the Perfects to investigate the neighbor’s claims. That, Smith admitted, was a mistake.
“We definitely should have [investigated],” he said. “This was not handled right from the beginning. Absolutely it wasn’t.” He believes information could have been relayed better, and more accurately, to the HOA, and told Emerick that everyone could have been “more diligent in looking at what was actually there.”
“We take responsibility for that,” he added, but made it clear that the HOA’s intent was never to disgrace the American flag.
The HOA realized the mistake after seeing pictures of the Perfect’s flag and its location. On Friday, then, Smith called the Perfects, apologized, and told them their flag was not violating any policy and they should display it proudly.
“It is a very patriotic little town,” Smith said. “We are proud Americans and we’re gladly allowing them to display their flag.”
With that now clear, the Perfects are at ease. “This takes a lot of stress off of us, and our son, especially at this time,” Robin said in an e-mail to The Blaze.
“I cannot express my gratitude enough to everybody for their support,” she said later during a phone call. “I’m speechless at the overwhelming support we have received.”
That support included a letter from a stranger whose son is also deployed in Iraq. Among other things, the fellow mother’s message was clear: Thank you for defending the flag.
“My whole family can feel at peace now knowing that our son can continue on his mission without having the added stress or worry of what’s going on over here,” she explained, and added that Smith “was very sincere and very apologetic.”
Her soldier son “Eddie” also had some sincere words for her:
“Congratulations momma.”
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 694 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 517 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 353 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 342 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 340 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 340 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 342 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 260 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 340 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (96)
CaptGregg
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 10:54am“It was a misunderstanding about what what was hanging,” Copper Ranch HOA board member J. Edward Smith told The Blaze, adding that the group was also confused about where the flag was hanging.
So the morons took action without even taking the effort to stroll over and look? PATHETIC!!!
Report Post »MsMonsoon
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 11:46amI don‘t believe that for one minute and I’d like to see the original letter written by the complaining neighbor.
This is a very small development. How do you not walk over and take a look? Rediculous!
Report Post »aaak
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 10:46amThis person across the hall complaining about an American Flag hanging, which no doubt provides these terrified parents with some solace while their beloved son fights for our freedom and safety in places unknown, represents to me a perfect example of socialism gone wild. And I am so glad that We The People are awake now and will not let it go on another minute. The socialists and America-haters all lie, just keep calling them out, and don’t be asleep for a minute ever again.
Report Post »wizardhill
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 10:42amI would like to hear from the HOA what comments were made by the person complaining and what they have now told them. We all know that the Perfects were right in what they did. Does the complainer now know they were wrong to complain??
Report Post »Rhoadrash
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 10:41amThe HOA should have checked the facts before they took any action. Typical knee-jerk appease the whiner reaction.
Report Post »VoiceofReason
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 10:34amThat shows WE CAN make a difference by letting our voices be heard.
Report Post »FreedomIQ
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 1:41pmThose unfortunate to live in HOA‘s need to send a message to lawmakers that new developments don’t automatically have to be HOA communities. It seems that it is all they build nowadays. We can also check our bylaws and start the process of abolishing the HOA in our neighborhoods.
Report Post »Shawn-GA
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 10:27amlet this add to the lesson we need to learn. We need to not use violence or name calling, expose all of these and the right thing happens, we have seen example after example. We have been to complacent so the people who want to take away our liberties and change our country thought we would not notice or stay quite. Let us no longer be the SILENT majority and take our country back.
Report Post »nostromo
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 10:20amIt was only a “misunderstanding” because it came to the public’s attention. No publicity, no misunderstanding.
Report Post »dablooz
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 10:16amThe ‘neighbor’ needs a good butt-kickin’!
Report Post »bookofwisdom
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 10:08amI applaud those people who fly the flag in honor of their son/daughter serving our Country. Too bad there is always somebody (hidden) always trying to cause trouble. May God Bless.
Report Post »The_Big_Z
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 10:01amI don’t care if it was a mistake or they just got caught and caved to outside pressure. Let’s just celebrate that sanity won in the end. Three cheers for The Blaze and the loyal patriots who made themselves heard!
Report Post »DSTSS2010
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 10:00amI saw the previous article where one neighbor (the one who complained) used abusive language when Mr. Perfect was trying to find out how she felt about the flag. I bet if you made her recite the Pledge of Allegiance she’d burst into flames.
Report Post »jamesctheman
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:58amI like this new America that is being formed. We’re waking up to the fact that we can stand against the people who want to limit our Liberties & they will fold. As Cass Sunstein might say, we had to give them a little nudge to move them in the right direction. We need to confront these attacks unified & head-on because the Libs are in backtrack mode. We need to take advantage of these of these smaller causes because ultimately they will begin to send the message if we come out in numbers against their policies they will back down. We need to increase the pressure so we can effect the larger isssues that are facing the Nation. Congrats to the Perfect family & my family is PROUD to have your son defending our country. While he is out defending us we should as Americans defend his family.
Report Post »emeegreen
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 10:40amI agree with your assessment.
Report Post »FormerLib
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:56am[Smith said it started when the condominium’s California-based office (Lido Equities) received a complaint from one of the Perfect’s neighbors. The neighbor, he explained, led the office to believe the Perfects were displaying excessive flags and banners, even pro-war messages, in the “common area.”]
I‘m dying to know what these busybodies consider a ’pro-war message’. I don‘t know anyone with a child in the military who is ’pro-war’.
Report Post »Ronko
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:52am1st Amendment wins again
Report Post »neverending
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:50amYeah and I have a bridge in NY to sell you – AGAIN they just got caught. People are sick and tired of just rolling over and doing what these socialists/marxists/commies demand – need to keep on exposing them and maybe something will change.
Report Post »Paul G
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:46am“…We’re gladly allowing them to display their flag”??? Hmmmm, WOW! TYTYTY!
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:45amthese anti-Americans living in America and making baseless anti-American complaints against the American Flag should be FINED. BIG fines. and the fines should go to the Military charities. why isn’t there a law about THAT.
Report Post »Deutscher
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:45amI’m not sure how a HOA story, that was resolved, is news. HOAs are notorious for having restrictive rules. That’s not really news to anyone I think.
Report Post »LadyLiberty
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:44amFlying the flag is not promoting war, it is promoting Patriotism. Whomever complained should be flatly ashamed of themselves – their ignorance is stunning.
Report Post »biggreenboo
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:01pmThat’s what I was thinking… We really need to bring back “Tar and Feathering” as a nation.
Report Post »Shurmus
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:44amRock on…Crow is delicious!
Report Post »libertyordeath87
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:42am“It was a misunderstanding about what what was hanging,” Copper Ranch HOA board member J. Edward Smith told The Blaze, adding that the group was also confused about where the flag was hanging. “Never was the intent to deny the flying of the American flag.”
I’m getting tired of people like this guy, Obama, and most politicians, just blatantly lying. Does he really expect anyone to believe that garbage? What ever happened to admitting you were wrong and letting it go at that.
Report Post »HouseNegro
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:41amI understand the operation to pull the HOA’s collective head out their butt took several hours and a heavy duty tow truck.
Report Post »marksman234
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:41amI think the only reason they are apologizing is because they got all the angry letters and emails
Report Post »ChrisHennigan
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 10:36amExactly! People like this will try to get away with it unless they’re called out on it.
Report Post »barbaraw62
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 11:32amBelieve me….. I was one of the angry emailers… and boy did they back down fast… must have been one of thousands and they were soooooooo apologetic! Too bad that the family was put under such aggravation and had to fight them to do it….. Thank God for the Blaze bringing this out and all of us jumping on the company…… God Bless you all! And God Bless America!
Report Post »seanpatriot
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:40am“It was a misunderstanding about what what was hanging”
I call BS on that.
Report Post »Voice-O-Reason
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:52amI do to.
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 11:37amNo kidding, the complaint as I understood it was that an American flag was in the common area, not much to misunderstand there. I double dog dare anyone to tell me to take down mine.
Report Post »JayCee
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 11:57am” .. a representative reportedly told the couple their display appeared to be “supporting the war.”
I would guess one of ANSWER‘s ’War Is Not The ANSWER’ flag or sign would please the complaining neighbor.
Report Post »seanpatriot
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:40amThey got called out. See what happens when you expose unamerican behavior in our free country. They cave like little school girls.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:51amNo, they caved in like school bullies confronted by someone they could not intimidate, and who is backed by many friends in the community. Thank God that Americans, not DC, still know what it means to be a AMERICAN!!!
May God grace this land with his light, guidance, and grace in the times ahead.
We will lose the land of ours only by choosing to do nothing. I will not let her pass into the night without doing everything possible to keep the nation aware.
Report Post »Shurmus
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:56amYepper…like roaches to a flipped light switch.
Report Post »drbage
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:58amThat sound just like Axelrod and his comments and then walkback about the Bush tax cuts, or any other Dem flip-flopper. What is truly sad is that it was necessary to pass a law giving us the right to fly the flag!
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 10:12amHope the b _ _ _ h across the way moves her unpatriotic backside out. It was no mistake, the just got deluged with calls, as well they should have. God bless America.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 11:05amThere should be a law that NO ONE can deem it inappropriate to fly the flag of this country
Report Post »Strictlybusiness
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 11:09amYea, I thought you would SEE IT OUR WAY! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Semper Fi
Report Post »White Devil
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:43pmYet there was no blanket party for the un-American neighbor? Why are they skating on this?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:40pm@SEANPATROIT …
Right—- let’s keep exposing and keep the heat on these tyrants … I hate HOA’s! They can be “fine” when you move in and it only takes one election and a couple of bullies to ruin life for the rest.
Report Post »TNT1
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:56pmI agree with with the basic idea of alot of commentors on this site but you all are doing what they want with all the hateful comments , I would do this or I would do that crap.They want the anger don’t give it to them. You can express youslf without sounding like Van Jones.I’m just saying be better and more mature than the left.
Report Post »The Giver
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 4:19pmThey caved but wanted to keep some face… “It is a very patriotic little town,” Smith said. “We are proud Americans and we’re gladly allowing them to display their flag.”
ALLOWING them! Patriotic little town. How condescending! WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE ?!!!!! ALLOWING? Bunch of nosy bodies with no lives. Their insignificant laws and bylaws don’t trump local, state and federal law.
The condo where my parents live in South Beach doesn’t allow Christmas lights to show from the balcony. My parents hang up their lights every year and no one has dared to object.
ALLOW?
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 9:28pmAnother pile of gutless turds. Thats what happens when you give lefties a little power. It releases their inner filthy hippie. This will not stand anywhere. Next time……..leave it at- you’ve been warned.
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 10:45pmI guess they caught a glimpse of the California Cody Controversy, they didn’t want a buch of bikers and News people parading on their property
Report Post »Jim AZ
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 1:31am” I was just too much of a lazy s.o.b. to get off of my butt, and see for myself, before ordering a citizen silent. “
Report Post »