I can see all sides to this one, but why don't the homeowner assn. leaders simply take a vote to amend the current sign prohibition to include small, moderate signs in direct support of troops? That's all it would take.

I have had direct involvement with Homowner's Associations, and it was about as well managed, and made about as much sense as this one does. Couldn't work on your car in your driveway, couldn't have a yard sale sign, had to have somebody cut your lawn while on vacation, etc. Blah.

Very poorly handled by the HOA. In their defense, there are places in the USA, possibly including FL, where failure to enforce a known violation of CC&Rs (that isn't already prohibited by law) renders all of them unenforceable. But their obstinacy on this one makes no sense. They're going to lose,they might as well make the exception and take their chances on "where this will all end".

"where failure to enforce a known violation of CC&Rs"

Thats where things like the $1 fine come in useful. Real judges, in real courts do it all the time. There is nothing in the Westchase By-laws stating a $100/day fine must be given.

http://www.westchase.net/

The core strength of America is still, hidden, amidst all the Hollywood glitz and media splurge. Still waters hide many treasures.

Bull!

I'm betting some Code-Pink type complained. It's a gated community, and many of them are the over-educated ones without a lick of common sense. (I have a Master's in Computers, I'm not against education. But the mere possession of a degree seems to persuade its owner that they have earned the right to tell the "little people" what to think).
I say, accept the money for the fine, if necessary, and make plans for a very interesting conservation with the association and her soldier husband when he returns.

Home owners associations...

Does anything else need to be said?

I smile everytime I see an old victorian painted purple and acid green and pink, a kitch art flamingo display or... oh, the welded wrought iron skeleton holding the mailbox at the house with the "Hells Angels Regional Headquarters" sign in the window... that was *cool*. The kitch and the crass and the crabgrass... makes me think that maybe people are still alive inside.

I saw a short interview with the Homeowners Association President (thankless job). He's a reservist who has done a tour in Iraq so I don't think he's exactly anti-military. The guy appeared to be very sincere and well spoken. It's one of those lose-lose situations. Since I've never lived in a closed community or subdivision with "rules" I'm not sure how the resident sign wars would play out.

I think it is funny how people are over-reacting to this.

Did they know about the policy before they placed that sign in the front yard? The news stations in Tampa say they did, and it was laid out in whatever agreement they signed to live in a closed community.

Do I think it is right? No. But it is the rules.

There are plenty of stupid laws that many people don't agree with, but they are laws and they are enforced. It is the same situation.

If she doesn't like the policy she can either work to change it, or move.

I saw an interview of Fox with the woman and the home owner association president. The HOA president has done a tour in Iraq himself and he is only against the support the troops sign because anti-war people in the community said they were all going to put up anti-war signs in their yards in response to her sign. The HOA president is not the villian in this, he just doesn't want all these anti-war signs to go up in the community.

The real villians in this are the ones who complain and threaten to put up anti-war signs in response to her sign. I find it interesting that the hate America crowd always say that support the troops but not the war but when it comes to a support the troops sign they want it torn down. That is very telling to me.

looks like the ultimate "Home Security" sign to me...