Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) - Homeowners Associations
Last edited Mon Apr 10, 2023, 03:26 PM - Edit history (2)
John Oliver discusses homeowners associations, the surprising power they have, and how to tell if a tree is “tree-shaped.”
And here's a "bootleg" version of the show which includes John's initial comments on recent events including - a Texas judge moved to suspend FDA approval of a key drug for medication abortions; "a rich white man suffering the beginning of a potential consequence"; the WWE sold a controlling stake in itself; the week's events in Tennessee, the justified response to another mass school shooting, the expulsion of State Reps. over unproven accusations that they were "inciting violence" and the unmistakable pattern to the results of those expelled; newscasters voice their fear of creepy Easter Bunnies. It won't last long, as usual:
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I do remember hearing certain "rules" for this neighborhood like no clotheslines and no fences/walls over a certain height, but everybody owns their own property and nobody seems to care - though I do have a resentment at the people who recently moved in next door having cut down all the trees on their property. If they don't like living here near the woods and mountains, they should have chosen to live in the city. But here everybody's responsible for their own lawn, their own trash and the town is responsible for the plowing, though out here we aren't exactly first on the list. But everybody pretty much minds their own business, so I guess we're pretty lucky. This house was built in 1990, when only 40% of neighborhoods had to deal this horrific BS. 
Obviously not everyone is like he described - fortunately. 
As usual, John Oliver educated us last night. I hope that a lot of people watched this. 
"Restrictive covenants," which, if I remember, involves rules like no high fences or clothes lines. I wish it also included not cutting down all the trees - this area used to be all woods - and the people who recently bought the house next door cut down every single tree. Same thing with my parents' street, which goes back to the '60s. And the name of the street is "Sylvan" which means "woodsy and rustic."
So I guess we're lucky. I can't imagine being prevented from painting the color you want - though there is this bright purple one I pass on my way home. In my architecture art history class the professor said that colors found in nature are preferable. My house is gray with dark gray shutters and a dark red door - so it's different than others on the street. 
That's terrible about your friend, I had no idea that neighborhoods could bully residents like that. John Oliver did a good thing, as usual, warning people about what they could be in for. 
...and into an historic neighborhood in the city. Never looked back!
It's not all sunshine and daffodils, though. Any improvements, additions or even a front-door replacement need prior approval by the city's Historic Preservation Commission (or -- if it's a minor job -- the staff can green-light a project). Sure, the city can impose fines for code violations, but foreclosures and evictions aren't options. Sure, it may be bureaucratic and frustrating, but the historic uniqueness of the neighborhood is protected.
