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DISCRIMINATION: STILL A HOT
TOPIC!
By
Jan Bergemann
Published
January 22, 2016
No matter how many
anti-discrimination laws the Feds are passing: Discrimination
will always be one of the hottest topics in this country – the
“Land Of The Free?” I even think that many of the so-called
anti-discrimination laws enacted over the years in Washington
are even doing exactly the opposite of what they are supposed to
do.
Let’s make no
mistake: Community associations are a breeding ground for
discrimination – and many of the homeowners’ associations that
were created in the early years contained language that wouldn’t
allow “colored” people to own or rent a home in these
communities. Don’t forget: The State of Mississippi enacted
legislation forcing all associations to remove such language
from their governing documents just a few years ago.
Especially when it
comes to approving new owners or renters many boards still have
“preferences” – and racial and/or religious issues often play a
big role if applications are approved – or not.
And no matter how
many lawsuits are being fought over this issue, in my opinion it
will never stop. Some boards are able to hide their “prejudices”
– others make it well known that certain races or religious
beliefs are not welcome in their communities.
Certainly, there are
good and bad people in all races and religious
groups. Condemning a whole group because of the "mischief" of
just a few is definitely wrong – no matter what. But it seems to
be human to discriminate.
If you ask me if “DISCRIMINATION”
can really be stopped? I seriously doubt it – and creating more
and more laws trying to stop “discrimination” will not do any
good. I think we just have to live with it – and try not to fall
into the group discriminating against our neighbors.
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Jan Bergemann is president of Cyber Citizens For Justice,
Florida
's largest state-wide property owners' advocacy group.
CCFJ works on legislation to help owners living in
community
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associations. He moved to
Florida
in 1995 - hoping to retire. He moved into a HOA, where the
developer cheated the homeowners and used the association dues
for his own purposes. End of retirement!
CCFJ was born in the year 2000, when some owners met in
Tallahassee
- finding out that power is only in numbers. Bergemann was a
member of Governor Jeb Bush's HOA Task force in 2003/2004.
The organization has two websites to inform interested
Florida
homeowners and condo owners:
News Website: http://www.ccfj.net/.
Educational Website: http://www.ccfjfoundation.net/.
We think that only owners can really represent owners, since all
service providers surely have a different interest! We are
trying to create owner-friendly laws, but the best laws are
useless without enforcement. And enforcement is totally lacking
in
Florida
!
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