Just what will it take to return America's housing developments to the American Zone? Are housing consumers entitled to the same protections afforded other citizens?
Producer: Shu Bartholomew Uploaded by:
On The Commons is a weekly radio show dedicated to discussing the many issues surrounding mandatory homeowner associations, the fastest growing form of residential housing in the nation.
To say that many homeowners living in mandatory membership housing associations are dissatisfied with the whole set up is, quite frankly, putting it mildly. While a few years ago many homeowners finding themselves facing the full force of their associations for some alleged violation, suffered in silence or hung their heads in shame, believing they had committed an unpardonable sin, are now speaking up. And the horror stories and tales of abuse we hear seem to repeat themselves across the country. It is no longer possible to sweep the issues and problems related to homeowner associations under the rug and the legislators are beginning to see that. But just what will it take to return America's housing developments to the American Zone? Are housing consumers entitled to the same protections afforded other citizens?
On The Commons with me this week is Humberto Sanchez. Humberto is a resident of Miami, Florida, home of the latest round of hearings and investigative and exploratory meetings designed to get a handle on some of the issues. He is active with the Florida based <a href="http://www.ccfj.net/" target="_blank">Cyber Citizens for Justice</a> and a councilman with LULAC. We will also be joined by Bob Janauskas from Ocala Florida. Bob, also a member of Cyber Citizens for Justice, and founder of Consumer Advocacy Network, has spent the past decade trying to ensure that housing consumers get the same protections other consumers get. Both testified recently in the hearings set up for Florida homeowners. Please join us On The Commons this coming Saturday, October 4, 2003. We'll find out what it took to get hearings set up and what they hope to get out of them.