The finalists for Fark’s Headline of the Year contest.
Downer but interesting year-end roundup of galleries from Foreign Policy: World Worst Slums, Least Free Places on Earth, World’s Most Fragile States.
Geeks + coffee.
Your ridiculously cute photo of the New Year.
Bloomberg columnist actually reads one of those congressional bills no one else reads. Finds all sorts of nastiness.
TSA continues its mastery of public relations.
One sure way to get linked by Radley Balko is to put up a post that includes the phrase, “….testament to the immense power of getting linked to by Radley Balko.”
Jesus, homeowners associations can be petty fascists. Yes, all the usual caveats about enforcement of contracts apply. But how about a little discretion?
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TheAgitator.com
The people in that senior community are heartless and nucking futs. I live in a senior community and I’m not 55. (My partner is.) There’s lots of kids around here–either living with their grand/parents or visiting–and no one gets upset about it.
If I had the $, I’d buy the house and then raze it, leaving only a small wooden sign: “THUS ALWAYS TO FASCISTS.”
The TSA has escaped the airport, and is applying their methods in the world at large. Following through some of the links, it doesn’t appear that a judge even signed off on those ’subpoenas’. It seems like they’re playing it by ear. They drafted an official-looking document, threw in some legal-sounding language, and ran with it. Apparently, nobody told them that ‘You can search anything you want, ask anything you want, do anything you want, you’re the TSA’ doesn’t extend outside the walls of the terminal. Out here, we’re supposed to have a process that one follows.
The TSA article is very troubling. The TSA’s job is airline security. They should have no power to get him fired or prevent him from travelling UNLESS he is a security risk. There should be judicial review, so you can appeal from being placed on a no fly list.
When TSA (They’re Such Asshats) fails (and something blows up), are they responsible? No.
Again, government jobs are the best jobs. Tons of authority, no responsibility, can’t be fired, freedom from any and all prosecution.
A country with a bully for a government ain’t free or safe.
Oh, Happy New Year! Already agitated.
Well, yeah, enforcement of contracts indeed. But let’s see, stated broadly:
1) over-55s lobby to get laws against age discrimination passed.
2) over-55s lobby for exception to age discrimination laws in order to create communities that discriminate against people under 55.
3) over-55s (or at least association president Leland Wheeler and his cronies) then use the contract which exists because of that exception to hurt an innocent 6 year old.
How would these people feel if local businesses simply refused to serve over-55s? or at least over 55s on the board of that homeowners’ association–because everyone else should have the same right to discriminate that they do, right?
Don’t any of these people have grandchildren of their own? Might any of them subscribe to the same faith I do, one tenet of which is “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”?
You know, what’s really depressing is that I read that one link as “Last Free Places on Earth” and clicked it thinking I might find some tropical paradise to move to.
Happy New Year!
That’s a civil administrative subpoena and does not in any way resemble a warrant. It’s like the ones my health provider clients get in civil fraud investigations. They are subject to them because of their contracts with the government. Even they don’t have to comply immediately.
Anyone who gets one of these things from a TSA goon demanding immediate compliance should tell him to stick it in his ear. Then he should call an attorney to evaluate and handle turning over evidence (if warranted).
http://vlex.com/vid/sec-evidence-19260923
Neal Boortz like to say that every year, one Homeowner’s Association board should just be taken out and shot. This kind of crap makes me almost agree with him. What the hell is wrong with these people?
I completely agree with Jerri. Problem is that the TSA can just decide to be A*holes and put you on the “no fly list” which is not subject to any proper judicial oversight. It’s really not much different to the cop who threatens to beat, tase, arrest and jail you because you didn’t immediately comply.
I don’t see much problem with the retirement community in general. Ok, so I’m a goddamn scrooge, but frankly, I don’t like kids. It’s a big part of why I don’t have any. These people moved to where there aren’t any, voluntarily choosing to accept a contract that keeps kids out.
I agree, that kicking a 6 year old out is mean. And maybe they should show some discretion. Like, perhaps, the 5 years that she’s already been there. That actually seems like a fair amount of discretion, to me.
And ok, on the gripping hand, the members of the HOA board probably are tinpot dictators who are enjoying throwing their weight around, too. But if I’d bought a house in a community that explicitly promised a lack of ear-splitting shrieks from kids, and then I was subjected to them, I’d be pretty goddamn annoyed.
For a guy who hates big corporate business, Barney Frank sure knows how to keep his enemies/donors in business.
Plus 1 to perlhaqr. If this was a 3-month situation and the board got nasty that’d be one thing. But these folks knew the rules going in, and have had five years to change their living arrangements due to their circumstances. Five years ago, the housing market was just fine, and even two years ago it was.
Yes, it will be a wrench to the little girl, and the home owners’ associations are generally made up of petty people; likely they were losing candidates in their high school president runs. But the point remains: the grandparents have had a heck of a long time to change things, and chose not to, because the restrictions and covenants “don’t apply” to them.
I don’t dislike kids, but at the same time never had any because I just don’t care to be around all the noise and mischief.
I do have kids, and I think that the HOA is being petty and nasty. However, I agree that the Grandparents did have a long time to sort out this problem. I understand that they cannot sell their house now but there are other solutions. e.g.
1. GP can rent elsewhere, and rent out the Fla house. Can they come to some accomodation with the HOA on renting?
2. Do a house swap with another retirement community that allows kids. There must be some other curmudgeons in Fla who want to move to a community without kids, and would do a swap. My devalued house for your devalued house. They could do it for someone who just wants to retire and is presently living in a regular community: that would actually be better for the kid to have some other kids around.
perlhaqr, I agree with you for the most part. This case is sort of a libertarian purity test, like the one where you fall out a 34th story window, but catch yourself on a flagpole around the 32nd story, whereupon the owner of the flagpole informs you that the pole is his private property and demands that you let go of it.
It bothers me that these communities exist as an exception to a rule against discrimination. It bothers me that no one seems willing to attempt a more charitable exception, such as the homeowner’s association purchasing the house and sending the grandparents and the granddaughter on their way. Does it make sense, by the way, that ONLY the six year old is being evicted? After all, it seems that the grandparents violated the terms of the agreement.
And yes, the grandparents would also seem more sympathetic if they’d not apparently fought to be an exception to the rule all those years when they might have been able to sell the house and go.
Sounds to me that SJE has some excellent ideas on this.
By the way, just to clarify, I’m not saying that I LIKE rules that say you can’t discriminate when it comes to housing, or anything else–I’m just pointing out the hypocrisy that a “protected class” such as seniors may live in a community made up exclusively of seniors because an exception was carved out for them. I’d have edited the above message to clarify that, but, well, you know…
Speaking of absurdly cute things: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZpoyuVP98A
Spider monkeys eating blueberries and jello at the Bronx Zoo.
perlhaqr-
how about all of those people who purchased properties before civil rights laws were passed? Hey, what if I owned a home in an area that said NO person other than that of the Caucasian race my reside within the the area covered by the ccrs. Why should I be forced to live around non Caucasians? After all, there was a contract in place when I purchased the property. The argument that “they knew” going in that there was a hoa policy, does not make that underlying policy any more correct.
You said you don’t like kids and that’s why you never had any. Well tough Sh*t to you is what I say. The same sentiment that I hold for people that would say I don’t like blacks, why should I have to live next to them. These groups always want it both ways. They want to have the ability to discriminate and at the same ask for protection from discrimination. It’s crap! It always has been and always will be. The exceptions carved out for these “retirement” communities should be scrapped!
#13 the friendly grizzly, I might also point out that 5 years ago was the approaching the peak of the housing market and had the grandparents honored their contract they wouldn’t have had any trouble selling their place for top dollar. I agree with you and do look forward to the day when I can move into an enclave of homes free of the annoyances that other people’s children bring. While it breaks my heart to see this little girl evicted, blame should be placed directly where it belongs, with the grandparents who didn’t address this situation when it began. Perhaps if the little girl was just being abandoned by her mother into the situation with homes not moving in a depressed market I’d see the need to break the rules. But “In April 2005, Judie Stottler signed a mediation agreement saying her family would comply with the Lakes’ rules by Oct. 1, 2006.” They gave them a friggin’ year and a half to comply, and the housing market was parabolic at the time. A year and a half. The house would have sold before the for sale sign went up at a premium to asking price, had these people kept their word. I’d say the COA has shown plenty of discretion. BTW, this is the 3rd child the mother has abandoned, so don’t give me any hooey that the grandparents should have expected anything other than the child also being abandoned. I think it is very possible that simple greed on the part of the grandparents also came into play. Thought that if they held out another 6 months the house would be up another 20-30%, it was, then rinse and repeat until the bottom fell out of the market.
Hope everyone clicked the link to the ‘rest of the story’ in the linked article. There’s a lot of people who’s rights to quiet enjoyment of their property is being violated by the presence of the little girl, and it’s no one’s fault but the grandparents. Radley asks the COA for a ‘little’ discretion, and they’ve already provided a truckload.
That puppy has his own butler!
“Jesus, homeowners associations can be petty fascists. Yes, all the usual caveats about enforcement of contracts apply. But how about a little discretion?”
Absolutely correct. This is not a “community” we’re talking about. A community would reach a solution based on compromise. HOAs are another level of government, and government, as Washington so allegedly said, is not reason or eloquence, it is FORCE.
It blows my mind that anyone would choose yet another level of government in their lives. Me, my next residence is going to be on state or federal land so there’s just one or two governments instead of the five (fed, state, county, city, HOA) these idiots live under.
That being said, the HOA has every power to evict the girl and impose sanctions on the grandparents. That, my friends, is what government does best — ruin families. For families, and community, are its greatest threat.
Some folks in this thread have rightly pointed out that the retirement community couple: knew what they got when they bought, agreed to terms, signed contracts, had plenty of time to make other arrangements, yadda yadda yadda…
The problem is though, none of this is the 6 year-old’s fault. Can anyone really stand on their high-horse justly all the while taking an innocent little girl and tearing her away from the only family she ever knew???
Isn’t this one of those rare times where it really is all about the children?
Discretion, indeed.
Cheers.
That dog has a monkey on it’s back.
They gave them a friggin’ year and a half to comply, and the housing market was parabolic at the time. A year and a half. The house would have sold before the for sale sign went up at a premium to asking price, had these people kept their word. I’d say the COA has shown plenty of discretion. BTW, this is the 3rd child the mother has abandoned, so don’t give me any hooey that the grandparents should have expected anything other than the child also being abandoned. I think it is very possible that simple greed on the part of the grandparents also came into play. Thought that if they held out another 6 months the house would be up another 20-30%, it was, then rinse and repeat until the bottom fell out of the market.
You know, I’d compose a lengthier response to this, but frankly, I think this will do: you’re a dick, and if there’s such a thing as a petty libertarian bureaucrat, it’s you.
I personally don’t have too much sympathy for the people in the retirement community with the kid. And I don’t think it’s fascist in the least. The kid has been living there for six years, so it’s not like they haven’t had time to solve the problem. It sucks that housing prices are depressed, but that’s hardly a reason to nullify a contract. If the home owners association let that kid stay there, the rule would essentially become void for everyone else as well.
And the over-55 crowd don’t really have special rights. What they have are rights to discriminate when it comes to private property, which are rights we would all have if we weren’t in such a goddamn mad rush to piss away those liberties.
The U.S. is a big place. If where you’re living doesn’t suit you for some reason, then your option is to move. You don’t have the right to make everyone else bend to make the place conform to your personal wish list, whether it be employment opportunities, housing prices, schools, shopping, or the rules you agreed to when you bought your house.
You can’t help but be impressed by the audacity of the TSA going after the bloggers who leaked their new rules. It takes a special talent for an organization to step on its own dick to the extent that the TSA did when it failed to prevent this latest attack and then further stunning the world by brazenly pursuing someone who played a part in highlighting their fumbling attempts to close the door after the cows have left the barn.
I have a feeling this is going to get even worse. You can’t turn on the news anymore without hearing some new detail about the flood of red flags the feds completely ignored about this Nigerian guy. I bet they’re already having meetings about what new crisis they can invent in order to shift the focus of the mainstream media away from the galactic magnitude of bureaucratic ineptitude they are responsible for.
If I specifically moved into a a community that was no children, I’d be pretty pissed myself if children started being allowed in. You make an exception for one house about the rules because of a pity-party, you have to start making exceptions for everyone and pretty soon everything just goes to hell.
Found some interesting info. if anyone feels like calling or sending some snail hate mail to these nasty old bastards:
Everett Conger 4512 Superior Ln
Clearwater, FL 33762-5245
Leland Wheeler: (727) 573-9289
(727) 573-7782
(727) 954-8535
source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Joe_Marshall?action=comments&display=news&sort=newest
I am asking this question in all sincerity; I mean no snarkiness or sarcasm. Here goes:
How is the TSA or any US agency expected to control what goes on at airports in any country but our own? The weak link was the person who allowed the bomber to pass through even though he had no passport.
And although this is politically incorrect as hell: what is the ethnicity of the person who allowed this?
Simple. The U.S. government defines what the requirements are for an airlines to fly into a U.S. airport. That gives them a lot of leverage in defining the procedures that are to be followed at foreign airports.
They haven’t booted her out yet.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/granddaughter-in-age-restricted-community-unwraps-christmas-gifts-from/1062348
I wonder if I can find a community that excludes 65+ year olds from living there? The smell of prunes and Ben Gay sickens me and I cringe at the all the “YOU KIDS GET THE HELL OFF MY LAWN!” And the constant ambulance traffic at all hours of the night…it’s a pain! Not too mention the fermenting smell of used Depends sitting for a week in their garbage bins. And at the grocery store…hey lady…have your .10 off coupon for dentu cream ready when you get to the #@&! check out….I mean Jesus is that REALLY too much to ask? And turn your %^$#! blinker off and go faster than 15 mph under the $#@! speed limit…and if you can’t see over the steering wheel…stay the hell at home. I SHOULD be able to live in a community without those annoyances caused by geezers.
This is but one reason I’m always going to be on the board (I’m president right now). It’s important that reasonable people do it to keep the slime from taking over.
Oddly, this exact same logic applies to all levels of politics, and you can see the result from us not getting involved there, too.
But, ZappaCrappa, that would be discrimination. And also not a bad idea at all…
When favoritism starts to rule the day and the rights everyone thought they had by contract (sometimes referred to as a constitution) are trampled upon in the name of “the children”, then your homeowners association will be no different than Congress.
A community like that would probably violate current laws against stuff like discrimination and freedom of association and shit. Of course, if you had a huge lobbying group (maybe something like AARP) you could conceivably get the laws changed. But, without a lobby, you’re largely invisible to government. A non-entity. You know, little people.
TSA ends journalist subpoenas over leaked memo
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100101/D9CUKTGO0.html
I’m starting to think that if you join a HOA then you get what you deserve. How the hell could anyone do that?
So much THIS! I live near a college neighborhood and over the last 10 years or so It’s been filling up quickly with old people. You can’t get stinking anywhere without some blue-haired old person being in the damn way. You would think once you get that old you might want to get where you’re going a little quicker since you’re running out of time in general but NOOOO.
Unfortunately, in some areas (like here in South Florida), it’s more or less impossible to live outside of an HOA. The only way you’re going to be able to avoid it is if you’re either (a) willing to live in a terrible neighborhood, or (b) able to afford 7 figures (and even then, there are communities of $3 million+ houses here that are in a HOA).
As for the story, I’ll add to the choir. There shouldn’t be any laws that restrict the right of a community (or an individual) to discriminate and sell only to the individuals whom they want to sell to. But since those laws do exists, it’s just plain ridiculous that 55+ gets exempted for some reason.
My grandparents live in an age-restricted community in Boca Raton. Plenty of people have grandkids who either spend a significant amount of time there, or live there. Nobody seems to care.
“The problem is though, none of this is the 6 year-old’s fault. Can anyone really stand on their high-horse justly all the while taking an innocent little girl and tearing her away from the only family she ever knew??? Isn’t this one of those rare times where it really is all about the children?”
It seems to me that the fact that the homeowners are forcing the HOA to kick out the child isn’t the HOAs fault. This story would play with much less dramatic effect if the whole family had to go find a new place to live. I’d guess this particular drama has come about specifically for the effect. There is NO WAY I would let a member of my family be put in foster care because of a house. I’d take the financial hit and move out with her. Of course that wouldn’t have the same frontpage headline effect.
The HOA isn’t taking the girl away from her family, the Grandparents are choosing to let her go.
In principal I don’t like HOAs frankly the concept always seemed sketchy to me.
“It’s not hard to intimidate someone when they’re holding a 3-year-old [child] in their hands. My wife works at night. I go to jail, and my kids are here with nobody.”
Hardly, though you might wish for that.
The family should sue the HOA on the grounds that the HOA’s draconian restrictions devalue their home – no one wants to buy a house in a neighborhood run by dictators.
I’m only half-joking…
The worst slums piece had me near tears.
A lot of local governments love those the 55+ condo complexes. They bring in tax revenues but don’t add kids to the local school system.
Here on LI, the get approval to build the condos with the specific stipulation that they must be 55+ communities. We could use that type of inexpensive, high-density housing for moderate-income, young families, but those people bring along kids to educate, so it’s a no go.
I love how China is so amazingly big and goofy that one part of it (Tibet) can end up on a least-free list and another (Hong Kong) can end up on a most-free list.
#1 I have a better idea. Buy the house. Then call up the local volunteer fire company. “You now have a live-fire structure for training. Have fun.” The sign can stay.
[...] via The Agitator | Image: [...]
If I created a closed community where you had to be under 55 to live these same despots would be crying bloody murder about discrimination.
I know what the letter of the law is in place to keep just anyone from buying a home and it ceasing to be a retirement community. But the spirit of the law should take into account circumstances like this. What would happen if the girl was orphaned? Would they disallow her from living there as well?
The fuck is wrong with you people for valuing contract law over something as fundamental as a 6 year old being able to be raised by her own relatives? It is this “principle uber alles” that makes libertarians look like ideological morons to the masses who rightly expect that common sense can carve out special exemptions for extremely extenuating circumstances like this.
It’s not like they haven’t tried to sell the house or anything…
They already cut their asking price for the house by nearly 50%. Maybe they should just donate it to a charity, right?
IMO, libertarianism that actually works (as opposed to the dorm room discussion variety) must incorporate some varient of Postel’s law: “be conservative in what you do, be liberal in what you accept from others.”
In the case of the HOA and the 6-year old kid, I’m sure the HOA has sacred contract law on its side. And sure, the grandparents could probably find somewhere else to live if they really tried. And yes, it sucks if you moved there specifically to get away from kids. But at this point, it looks to me as though the non-dickhead approach would be for the HOA and members to show a little mercy and not try to score points off the grandparents at the expense of the child.
Traveled over the holidays with my wife. Mistakenly mixed up boarding passes with her before passing thru the TSA name check line. We were in two different lines. Both TSA employees duly highlighted the name on the boarding pass after comparing it with the driver licenses and waved us thru.
So these guys only job is to make sure the name on the DL matches the one on the boarding pass. Couldn’t even get that right.
My response to anyone with a badge, TSA or otherwise, is “fuck off” and close the door. They can sit outside and wait till hell freezes over for all I care.