Hosted and produced by Shu Bartholomew, 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.
 
When mandatory membership associations first came on the scene, developers feared housing consumers would shy away from these new fangled developments where the owners would give up some of the rights and individual choices inherent with property ownership.  In the 60's and 70's Americans could never have foreseen a life where every little aspect of their homes and private lives would be micromanaged.  The notion that they would have to get permission for everything, from where to park to what to plant and whether or not they could have pets and kids, was unfathonamable.   That sort of thing happened in other countries, not here!  How very un-American!  But over the next decades, American property owners lost more and more rights, rights they took for granted and believed they will always have. And now those same forces that cajoled and cooed and convinced Americans that giving up their rights would protect them, would protect their property values, would protect their neighborhoods are at it again.  Only now "they" are bigger and the stakes are higher.
 
So how much more are we willing to lose?  How far is too far?  At what point do Americans decide they have lost enough and are not willing to lose more rights and assets? 
 
And when that point finally comes, will there be anything left to salvage?  
 
On The Commons this week we are joined by Tom DeWeese.  Tom is the founder and president of the Virginia based Amercian Policy Center.  , a grass roots action and education foundation.  He believes that well informed citizens are the best hope we have of preserving the promise that is America and in that vein that he publishes several newsletters and is very active on the speaking circuit, alerting Americans to the perils lurking in the shadows.  Tom has the ability to connect all the seeming unconnected issues and weave them into a pretty scary picture. Please join us On The Commons.  We'll talk a little about eminent domain, the trans Texas corridor, Smart Growth, Going Green and a whole host of other hot topics.  This is a must listen show.   Listen to Tom Deweese

Hosted and produced by Shu Bartholomew, 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.
 
Homeowner associations provide the most hospitable environment for fraud, embezzlement, harassment and abuse of any organization in the United States.  Claiming the relationship between the HOA and the unit owner is a private, contractual one, law enforcement and legitimate government agencies refuse to investigate allegations of wrong doing, leaving the owners to fend for themselves.  We have all heard the horror stories of individual homeowners being victimized and terrorized by the bullies on the board,  their legal henchmen and management.  Quite often those who have been targeted for abuse are too afraid to speak up and fight back, thus allowing the injustices, abuses and horrors to continue.  But what happens when an entire development is "hijacked" and held hostage?  Is there a way out for the owners? 
 
On The Commons this week we are joined by Melanie McKeddie. Melanie is an attorney in Arizona who, along with other attorneys in her firm, specializes in HOA law but in a complete departure from the other experts in the field, Melanie and her colleagues represent primarily the owners.  One of the cases that she is currently working on involves probably the worst abuse of power yet.   According to documents filed with the court, the president of the association is a convicted felon and disbarred attorney.  And that's just for starters.  Please join us On The Commons.  We'll find out what this law suit is all about, get to meet some of the characters who have been named as defendants in this case and learn just how bad things can get in a mandatory membership association and just how low property values can drop in an HOA.  You won't want to miss this one.   Listen to Melanie Mckeddie    Read the Complaint