ARE You Tired Of rising fees, unclear financial decisions, and stagnant property values?
Brought to you by Drew McManus, your neighbor in 7908.
FEATURED ARTICLE
THE SURPRISING POWERS HOAs HAVE TO WREAK HAVOC IN PEOPLE’S LIVES
The April 10, 2023 episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver featured a segment where the host discusses homeowners associations (HOAs) and the surprising amount of power they wield.
When Leaders Refuse To Answer Questions, Owners Lose Their Voice
175 E. Delaware Pl HOA President, Scott Timmerman, has failed to respond to my invitation to a town-hall style public debate. Instead, he continues to send owners replies that substitute a direct conversation with unrelated talking points, leaving owners without an open, two-way public conversation about the issues shaping our building.
Let’s Debate
As a co-owner of unit 7908 at 175 E. Delaware Pl, I’m deeply concerned about the direction our Association is heading. Decisions seem to be made by a select few, with little regard for the legal and financial risks those choices create for all of us. This is why I am publicly challenging Scott Timmerman to a town-hall style debate. The debate would allow owners to ask direct questions and get transparent answers from both of us before the upcoming board election because owners deserve to be informed and confident in the decisions being made on their behalf.
It Sounds Like Dodging $1.3 Million Questions With Personal Attacks Is The Strategy. What Am I Missing
Technology Committee Chair Jacob Lopata responded to my analysis of the $1.3 million cable contract with vague accusations of “distortions and demonstrable falsehoods” while failing to identify a single specific error. Instead, he called me a liar through official Association communications, potentially exposing the HOA to legal risk.
HOA Board Approves $1.3M Basic Cable Contract
The 175 East Delaware Place HOA Board just approved a $1.3 million, three-year ad-supported basic cable contract that imposes the cost on every owner, an unavoidable subsidy for a dying service that negatively impacts property values.
Our Right To Know Election Results Is Being Removed
Imagine a bank that suddenly announces, “We’ll no longer tell you your balance after each transaction. Just trust that we’ll record everything correctly and let you know your total… eventually.” That’s exactly what our board leadership is proposing by eliminating same-day preliminary election results.
Burglary at 175 E. Delaware Pl. HOA Met With Stonewalling
A resident’s unit at 175 E. Delaware Pl. was entered without permission by a now-terminated staff member. While Board President Scott Timmerman confirmed the breach and announced a $51,000 digital key management system upgrade, he has refused to answer critical questions about what failed, who was responsible, and what’s being done to prevent this from happening again.
Break-In Raises Serious Security Questions
Is our building doing enough to protect residents? A recent burglary has raised urgent questions about security, oversight, and accountability that remain unanswered.
Why Transparency Matters
Imagine feeling a growing unease as you realize critical decisions about the building you call home are being controlled by a single board officer. At 175 E Delaware Pl, residents are facing this unsettling reality as the Board President’s unilateral control over the process to identify the election services provider lacked transparency after past election issues raises serious questions about whose interests are being served.
HOA Surveys That Matter: The Courage to Ask Better Questions
When my HOA Board recently announced plans to distribute a “feedback survey,” I was initially optimistic. But instead of thoughtful questions designed to provide the Association with actionable information, we received vague topics with rating categories that left no room for corresponding feedback. Worse yet, many owners were intentionally excluded. With the management company’s contract renewal in process, we deserve better. Let’s examine the specific problems with this approach and detail how a process that truly values every resident’s voice works.