Dear Mr. Shapiro:

Please, Mr. Shapiro, we urge to read this email in its entirety. It will take but a mere minute of your time. We believe that our concerns below will soon be the talk of news, radio, TV and the legislators. There is
a movement afoot for 2000, and we invite Dateline to be a participant.

We recently read an email post regarding the upcoming AKC show. We applaud Datelines willingness to expose the 'nitty gritty' of life so to speak and feel a fair representation is always presented. Read on about the "nitty gritty" that is taking place across America in Homeowners Associations (HOA's) today.

This is a whole new level of 'dirt and grime' that involves, politicians, attorneys, contractors, developers, insurance agencies and nationwide certification organizations making their meal ticket off of homeowners like you and I.

Homeowners who live in many associations are like the caged puppies in a mill. At the mercy of the Board of Directors and management companies who have little or no training in handling the corporate formalities of the multi-million dollar corporations they are running. The rights and life investments of many Americans are at risk. (Read about the Simi Valley Le Parc association where many unit owners are literally foreclosing on their homes)

It is about the political quamire and oppressive nature of these regimes. The "American Dream" of home ownership is at risk in an out of control HOA. A Texas legislative agency stated that HOA's are a defacto
layer of government. Albeit a lowest level and seemingly unregulated level of government.

Randomn enforcement, lack of enforcement and tyrannical enforcement of the governing documents leads to an abuse of the rights of homeowners. Often times HOA's have no secret ballots. Are the annual elections being swung all over the place like a swing at recess? Board of Directors and management companies often become entrenched.

Imagine the mindset of one who would enjoy telling others how to live in their homes. That mindset alone is the perfect breeding ground for a dictator to be born.

When the rights of homeowners are transgressed or the Board of directors is not upholding the governing documents - the only recourse homeowners have is through costly litigation. There is absolutely no accountability for errant or tyrannical board transgressions.

This is no way to live the "American Dream". Our life investments are at risk.

There are many 'parasite' entities just drooling at the mouth, waiting to suck the life blood out of unsuspecting homeowners - the HOA attorneys, developers, certifying agencies , management companies and big ticket insurance agencies are literally picking the homeowners pockets while they lay sleeping. The "American Dream" is becoming its own worst NIGHTMARE!

These parasite entities have no regard for the lowly homeowner and their investment. Our homes have become their meal ticket. While we become their feces.

We read carefully our CCR's and ByLaws but no amount of reading could have ever prepared us for the 'politics' (or lack thereof) of HOA life.

Furthermore, we had no idea that we also had to be knowledgeable of the Civil Code and the Corporations Code and frankly, neither one of those matters much because they are impossible to uphold unless you resort to the courts!

Perhaps there is a great deal of 'passion' in our words to you. In the one place that you would expect some sort of 'freedom', a place to rejuvenate and renew the soul, to destress after a long day of work, children, errands - you find that there is no such place if you live in some HOA's.

We won't go into the gory details of what has transpired in our particular case and the pending litigation - but suffice to say - the gestapo is alive and well and making its own rules and enforcing their tyranny upon the lives of many Americans living in HOA's today.

Fidel Castro pales in comparison............

We hope to see Dateline take the 'reigns' on this ugly animal and help us to tame it. We hope to see Dateline become the forerunner in homeowners rights.

The forerunner in protecting the "American Dream". HOA's are growing across the country because developers and municipalities would prefer to wash their hands of the costs of maintaining communities. It is not surprising that approximately 80% of HOA's have been or are involved in litigation.

This beast has grown so fast and out of proportion with little or no oversight from regulatory agencies....

We appreciate your taking the time to read this and hope that it has not fallen upon deaf ears.