Around here people buy in an HOA because they don't have much of a choice. Every new neighborhood built here has an HOA. It's always the same, they start out with normal common sense rules like don't park a rusted boat in your front yard and gradually progress to complete idiocy with new rules like "vehicles can not display any form of business" so if you work for say AT&T you can not drive your work vehicle home when you're on call.

That's just one small example. This story is another.

I wonder how many HOA debates we've had here?

And they did a shitty job of snow removal here today, man am I pissed! Posted pics on facebook, it's ridiculous!


HOA's sometimes just get off on their own power, weak people that make themselves feel better than you by making up archane rules and being bullies.

He's a HERO... he should be treated as such!

Virginia Veteran Wins Battle to Keep His Flagpole in Yard
Tuesday , December 08, 2009



ADVERTISEMENTRICHMOND, Va. —

A 90-year-old Medal of Honor recipient can keep his 21-foot flagpole in his front yard after a homeowner's association dropped its request to remove it, a spokesman for Democratic Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said Tuesday.

The Sussex Square homeowners' association likewise has agreed to drop threats to take legal action against retired Army Col. Van T. Barfoot, Warner spokesman Kevin Hall said.

The association had threatened to take Barfoot to court if he failed to remove the pole from his suburban Richmond home by Friday. It had said the pole violated the neighborhood's aesthetic guidelines.

Neither Barfoot's daughter, Margaret Nicholls, nor homeowners' president Glenn Wilson immediately returned telephone messages.

Dropping the issue effectively ends a request that White House press secretary Robert Gibbs on Monday called "silly."

Warner and Sen. Jim Webb, both Virginia Democrats, had rallied behind Barfoot, a World War II veteran.

In a letter last week, Webb urged the association to "consider the exceptional nature of Col. Barfoot's service when considering his pride and determination in honoring our flag."

Barfoot's fight also has lit up veterans bulletin boards and blog sites supporting him.

Barfoot won the Medal of Honor for actions while his platoon was under German assault near Carano, Italy, in May 1944. He was credited with standing up to three German tanks with a bazooka and stopping their advance.

He also won the Purple Heart and other decorations, and served in Korea and Vietnam before retiring from the service in 1974.

SLIDESHOW: Medal of Honor Recipient Col. Van Barfoot




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How could the HOA be so stupid. Did they not think word of this would spread?

Their director is probably a 64-year old fat woman owning 10 cats and driving an Avalon (Camry) or Lexus ES (still a Camry).

Told ya so.

Did it for publicity, not because they were wrong.

I agree.

I also agree that it should not have ever come to this. It seems as though the HOA didn't want to THINK in their process - they applied their rules with black and white lines.

And now they've set a clear precedent that will make it very difficult to stop other residents from putting up a flag pole. Since this is Virginia, I imagine the place will look like a NASCAR track infield in no time. There goes the neighborhood.

Sometimes they do this for good reason. Now if someone else in this community wants to fly a different flag (Confederate, Mexican, Anarchist) all they have to do is follow what this guy did. If the community tries to fight it they will enjoy a nice discrimination lawsuit.

You beat me to it.

How about simply taking your chances when you buy a home. Find out as much as you can about your potential neighbors before you move there. And if someone in your hood does something you don't like, then get together with other neighbors and go talk to that person. If all else fails, then suck it up or move. HOA's are passive-avoidance crap, run by power-trippers.

+3

Correct and I'm glad they changed their stance.

...and being Richmond, Va. ...the capitol of the Confederacy I can see that happening easily.

Still told ya so.

If they were "right" they wouldn't have given in..

True.

Just like the parent in the mall that gives in to their kid to shut him up?

Sure, if the parents really meant it, they wouldn't give in.

Call it what you want, he won...

Legally they were right and well within their rights.

They didn't have to give in to anything but I'm still glad they did.

Yup. He was right. Thanks for agreeing.

Anybody else wanna hear " I told ya so"? I have a lot of them left. I doubt ill run out.

They were right. People cave all the time when they're right, when public OPINION is against them.

Apparently, public opinion trumps all. :idk:

Throw one out there for me buddy.

Ignorance is bliss and yes I'm talking about you at the moment.

:lol: oh no... Somebody doesn't like me on the internet.

He still won. Regardless of why.if he was wrong, he would have lost.

Ignorance may be bliss, but making shitty excuses for not being able to say, "my bad, I was wrong.." is pathetic.

I agree and therefore accept your apology.

:lol: Has nothing to do with liking or not liking you at all...it's the internet and I don't even know you.

I said legally they were not wrong and well within their rights to keep him from keeping the pole and that is a fact and if you think otherwise you are being ignorant in this case..tough $hit. :idk:

I also said I'm glad they gave in but again LEGALLY they were not wrong.

Says you.. Where does it say in his hoa contract that he can't have a flag pole?


Have you seen the documentation? If not you're ignorantly speculating.

They could have easily tried to apply a rule that had nothing to do with flagpoles to try and enforce their rules on him and been completely off base, but again.. You don't know that and neither do I.

I've just been smart enough to agree with the vet and not speculate too much into it.

Your opinion is your opinion, and until you actually see the contract that he signed, that's all it is. Another opinion.

K THX.

Do you really want someone to break it down for you or are you just looking to run around saying "I'm right you're wrong, nah nah nah na na naaa!"?

You don't need to break anything down. And I don't need you to explain anything. I understand the situation and the outcome is in line with what I've said.

I don't care if you agree with what I'm saying or how I'm saying it. I also don't care if you like my attitude about it.

If you're the type to throw a ww2 vet under the bus because of an hoa, fuck you and your opinion. You're both equally worthless in my eyes.

But again, being "right" on the net is the most important thing in the world. Even more important than a man who fought for your rights being allowed to do something that has been customary in his life for about 80 years. As long as it panders to the lowest common denominator, you all are happy. Unless it effects you, right?

The rules are awesome when somebody else is getting fucked over, but when its you its bullshit? Fuck that noise.

Seems like you are getting emotional about the subject at hand.

Totally understandable.

Fortunately, most (if not all) of your assumptions are incorrect.

There was a comment made earlier about ignorance...

And it still stands that you both are equally ignorant of the situation.

Calling somebody "ignorant" doesn't make you any less ignorant.

Answer one question mike, have you seen the contract he signed?

Look dumb$hit I said before that I wish that they would change their mind and let this guy have his flag pole. The issue wasn't over the flag it's the fvcking pole. He could have flown the flag all along.

I am a veteran myself and my father is a WWII veteran and I also said I'm glad that they indeed did give in but the fact remains that legally the HOA was not in the wrong.

I'm assuming you are speaking to me (not mike, btw).

Your question is loaded and my answer may or may not fulfill your preconceived notions.

I offered to break down the situation as well as my understanding of it and how I arrived at that understanding.

You declined.

Have you or have you not seen the contract he signed?

When you say no, I will then point out that everything that you've said has been nothing but speculation.

Therefore, you are as equally ignorant as anybody else here to the situation.

Is this wrong? Is this ignorant?

Ok I didn't really want to bring this up because well I just didn't BUT I will.

I HAVE seen a copy of the neighborhood covenants from where this gentleman lives. Before you with your Johnnie Cochran approach ask :lol:...NO I didn't see the actual copy that he signed but was told that every property owner in the neighborhood signs the exact same documents.

It does not mention flagpoles in particular BUT the HOA like most has an Architectural Committee that has to approve any changes/construction that you do to your property that can be seen from the street or from a neighbor's house.

He did not get approval for this and they have the legal right to not allow it if they so desire. :idk:

I personally wished (saying this for the umpteenth time) that they would just allow the old guy to have his pole and now they have.

Ok why have I seen these documents ? Here is the part I didn't really care to post.

My in-laws also live in Richmond, Va where this is taking place and have a redneck neighbor that loves to fly his Conferate Flag.

Well guess what ? He is ready to do battle with the HOA in his subdivision because some of his neighbors complained about his flag and the HOA sent a letter to him and asked him not to fly it. They didn't demand that he takes it down and I don't even think they can but he's gearing up and has been paying attention to this other issue since it's local and also in the national news.

That's all I got.

Next...

And now they likely can't. Door open; walk through.

Only if they are in the same neighborhood. I saw they were in the same town, but not the same neighborhood. If the case had gone to court it would be different, but as it stands this HOA has only set precedent against itself.

Have you seen the contract he signed?

When you say no, I will then point out that everything you've said has been nothing but speculation.

It is your opinion.:skep:

Sure they can. Make it clear in the rules that AMERICAN flags are allowed......Not junk like Confederate flags, school flags, etc.

Don't believe you z06. I only believe facts and things you can prove.

I can say I was there when he signed his contract and made a verbal agreement to allow for the flagpole. It would hold equal weight to you suddenly telling us that you saw the contract. ... 7 pages in. Instead of when it happened.

Karl, do you have a hard on for me lately?

I never once said I knew everything. I did say, the outcome is in line with my views.

So, told ya so....

7 pages in ? We didn't start our back and forth BS until TODAY and I stated that I didn't even want to bring the FIL crap up. You called me out on it so I posted up what I KNEW. :idk:

Are you high or are you snowed in and bored and just love to stir $hit up ? :?:

Ok...drive on thru please...no need to discuss this further with you. :dthumb:

And that would be discrimination.

Could be, but only the most diehard would bother to complain.

You mean like the diehard who tries to put up a confederate flag and is denied? Also, complaints don't mean shit, lawsuits on the other hand...

Except that the issue was over the flag POLE, not the flag.

Yes, those kinds of diehards. There aren't too many of them.

I'd wager that MOST people who would like to fly the Confederate flag aren't diehards...... they're just posers........Lots of college-age kids who just think it's cool, probably because it's a fashion statement to them.....But they wouldn't bother filing a lawsuit, or even alerting the press.

Whoever they are, it doesn't matter. They can go slap a flagpole in their yard, tell the HOA to fuck off when they tell them to remove it, and have the ACLU handle the inevitable lawsuit.