Getting your HOA reform bills accepted

I’m pleased to see many of you are using my Commentaries on HOA Constitutional Government as part of your efforts to bring about HOA reform legislation.  Allow me to recommend a procedure that should improve more success in getting your legislators’ attention. Justification for my arguments below can be found in the “Recommend texts” below; homeowners and advocates cannot neglect these works of mine and others.

• Legislators are immerged in tons of emails by many persons and “robo emails” — the same email sent by many persons —  get slight attention;

• There is some success that your district representative will sponsor your bill and your reforms;

• Find a champion, a white knight, and support him because he probably will be  fighting an uphill battle within the legislature (See “Understanding the Legislative structure”);

• Emails from state residents to bill sponsors and committee chairs and members are generally read, but outsiders receive less attention unless   strong credentials are provided to counter CAI’s credentials;
• The main focus of your email should be your reforms with the inclusion of works from others being supportive.

• Have no fear of show the ugly forest through the trees by addressing constitutional violations that support your reform legislation — over my 24 years CAI has ignored any such discussion and will fight like hell to avoid constitutionality issues (I challenged them back in 2006, no response);

• CAI and the legislators  will not put themselves in a highly vulnerable position of having to defend the indefensible, a rejection of the Constitution; it is their Achilles heel;

• Have no fear of raising the important issues of intentional misrepresentation in the claimed  “you agreed  to be bound” CAI defense, invalidating the legitimacy of the adhesion CC&Rs contract;

• Read, “Colorado senator’s guide to effective HOA legislation,” a review of her book;

• Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish – spend some small change and get copies of publications that will serve as textbooks on getting your issues heard before your legislature (see “Recommended texts” below).

Recommended texts

Privatopia, Evan McKenzie (seminal book on private HOA government)

HOA Common Sense: rejecting private government, George K. Staropoli (entry level constitutional violations)

Take Back Your Government, Morgan Carroll (out of stock at Amazon; eBay, Thriftbooks)

HOA Constitutional Government, George K. Staropoli (a one volume collection of 56 events and situations over 24 years)