Huffington Post – 10-21-09:
A retirement community in Largo, Florida is fighting to evict six-year-old Kimberly Broffman from the home of her grandparents Jimmy and Judie Stottler, the only parents she’s ever known.
According to the development’s bylaws, all residents must be older than 55.
Kimberly is the only person expected to vacate the home.
Kimberly’s grandparents have tried selling their house to leave the neighborhood, but because of the crash in the housing market, there are no buyers. They have lowered the price from $225,000 to $129,000.
The fight between Kimberly’s grandparents and the community has been going on for years, but soon a judge will decide if the girl must leave. According to NBC News, there is a real possibility that she could be placed in state foster care.
I never understood how these “development bylaws” were legal.
For example, in my parent’s neighborhood, there is some rule that you can only build a shed if it matches the house.
How about we euthanize all those over 55 living in FloriDUH? Let’s make it a weekly Pay-Per-View event!
Are we sure that it is a good idea for a 6 YO to stay with people that can’t buy a home at a fair price. Lot of Stupid people out there. Never buy an over priced item.
How about the news media interviewing some of these selfish, small minded old farts and embarrass the hell out of them.
#6 rffarms
Yeah, how could people not predict the housing bubble. I haven’t heard of anyone who didn’t see that comming.
By the way, just because you’re underwater in your loan doesn’t mean you can’t afford the house. It just means you can’t move.
You gotta love those selfish hypocritical boomers.
The grandparents were giving legal guardianship when the child was two years old because the real mother was found unfit to be a mother.
The grandparents did not have the child when they first moved into the community. The rules of the community were being followed.
Now, would anyone advised the grandparents to not become legal guardians of their daughter’s child because of the 55 year old or older rule of the community?
The grandparents want to move. The Community wants to keep everyone 55 or over. Instead of ripping a family apart, the Community should buy the property from the family.
I thought there were equal housing laws that ban discrimination based on families with children. Am I wrong about this?
This is why I live in the Sticks. No messy covenants or home owners association.
They can always just walk away from the house. Rent it, etc. Isn’t family more important than a house anyway? Who would want to live where you’re not wanted? Screw it, rent it to some dude who will put pink flamingos on his lawn and Christmas lights in July.
I know everyone likes to bag on Florida, but most of these 55 and over retirement communities are full of cranky old carpetbagger Yankee assholes. I bet the person leading the suit is from Boston.
As one of my past bosses would say, “this is fucking ridiculous … and ridiculous is not enjoying it.”
Paint the kid black, hand her a large ring, make her stand still whenever any authorities show up, and claim she is a lawn jockey.
An all those neighbors will describe themselves as “Christians”
I still have some faith in the judgement of judges. I hope this one doesnt take away that last bit.
A lot of HOA rules won’t hold up in court.
#18, GF,
But most do.
The part I don’t understand is how they may not be considered local government and be bound by the Constitution and State laws.
How about if it was 16 year old juvenile delinquent bringing his friends over and terrorizing the neighbors? More than likely, this was the main idea in banning children. How about if Mommy moved in with four kids? People made a standard senior citizens HOA contract. They want peace, quiet, and some security. These are artificial communities, not like original small towns that looked out for, and depended on one another.
Krykee. Not another panty-waist, tear jerk “why can’t the rules apply to everyone but (fill in the blank victim).”
Huffy poo conveniently edited out a key part of this self-inflicted controversy: “(there are) two older children who live with other relatives.” Other relatives.
Now, the dead beat mother is a dope head and a loser BF magnet, so I commend the g’parents for their effort, but HOA rules are pretty clear, strict and legally binding. It looks like g’pa & g’ma picked the wrong community to buy a house.
Time to look up those ‘other relatives’ for some temporary help till that home sells.
.
The only thing more stupid than HOA rules and apartment bylaws are those to complain about those rules after they sign the papers
This is why I will never live in a neighborhood with a HOA. I have seen these HOA’s become little fiefdoms to cranky busybodies, who are too stupid to run for city government, but can get onto a HOA board and exercise power over someone else.
They are creating an issue that shouldn’t be an issue, either because someone gave them bad advice or because they don’t understand what their options are.
They could close up/rent out the house and rent an efficiency somewhere nearby for the girl and the grandmother; get other relatives to take the girl; ask the state to find a suitable guardian for their situation.
This smells of someone not liking the HOA and wanting to make a “case” out of the situation. Most of those incorporated HOAs are completely binding as long as they don’t run afoul of state laws, and even then it’s up to a judge to decide what applies. The final answer is they signed the damned paperwork, they knew they shouldn’t have the girl staying with them, they are in the wrong and should look at alternatives and stop moaning their story to every sobstory reporter they can find.
Jim–are you one of those old farts that yell “You Kids–Get off my lawn?”
Read the story again at the link: the grandparents bought the home, condo, or whatever, and are taking care of their grandchild by court order issued after they bought the home, because the daughter was not taking care of her. Because of the economy, they can’t sell their home, though they’re trying. The child may be put in foster care because the homeowners association won’t bend.
I thought the entire state of Florida was “age restricted”.
OMG, is this for real? Have they lost their minds? Do you really think this beautiful little girl should be uprooted from the only safe, loving home she’s ever known and placed with strangers who are only going to take her in for the money??? How dare they do this to this couple. If they’re more concerned with their precious “rules” than this “precious” child, then their priorities are totally screwed up and I hope they burn in hell. Wake up, America! We need to stand behind this couple and make sure this child does NOT go into the system. Screw their rules. This is a child! Make them take them to court and let’s see what a judge has to say about it. What am I talking about, judges are just as corrupt as CPS and apparently the retirement center. If you need somewhere to go, you can move in with me! It might be a little crowded but I won’t make you give up your beautiful granddaughter! Seriously, there are thousands of parental rights advocates out there that will help you with this problem. Visit my blog at cpsasystemoutofcontrol.blogspot.com on which I am placing this article right now for the world to see what they’re doing to you. You’ll have more support than you ever dreamed about!
Unlike the people on this board who would evict homeschooled kids from their home.
“An all those neighbors will describe themselves as “Christians””
HAR HAR HAR Close but no cigar! THINK about that one again…
#25, Jim,
I agree with you right up the point where bad laws should be overturned.
It is people such as the ones in this HOA that are turning this country into an ugly heartless place to be. It reminds me of a bumper sticker I saw, “never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers.”
You know some of these people in the HOA have Grandchildren. I imagine they have as little to do with them as possible. And they wonder why teens today are so disrespectful toward elderly people.
The welfare of a child should trump any HOA rules.
Back to the problem at hand now.
I am going to find a mailing address for Mr. and Mrs. Stottler, and make a donation. I don’t have much, but every little bit…….
What you FAIL to disclose is that the 55+ community could be decertified by the state and lose its tax exemption (in Florida about HALF of the considerable real estate taxes are for the school tax which is mostly exempt in 55+ communities). This savings is equal to about $480,0000 per year in this community. Are these people going to pay that if the community is decertified. These people have been warned for FIVE friggin years to move. These idiots could always rent their house out and move if they wanted to. Don’t be fooled by the MSM.