Senior citizen sent to jail for not keeping his lawn green

prytoj

Commy wrote:

that's not the point though, A 66 year old man is in jail because of a fucking yard. Jail. yard.

Incredulous....

No Court!!! Jail no court, jail - pretty simple.

prytoj

yield6 wrote:

You sir are a grade A Asshole.

again, for ingnoring a court order, if you dont know you can be thrown in jail,
then we're just wasting time.

But I'm trying to help the future homowners of America here, not the guy who refused to perform his due diligence:

When you buy low and prices go through the roof, don't act like you hit the lottery. You did not make a jump in class. Improve your home, renegotiate your mortgage into a better position.

DO NOT refi to cash out, then buy a bunch of crap on credit. Pay cash for your crap and live within your monthly income. Because ups come down, your a poor student of history if you don't know that.

Expect repairs that will cost you THOUSANDS....air conditioners break, roofs leak, water pipes burst, and yes, grass dies.

Know your local CITY CODE ORDINANCES, not the building codes. Also know your deed restrictions. If you don't like the rules, don't buy.

And lastly, most courts think you don't respect them when you don't show, so it's probably a good idea to do so. If you are seen to be making an effort, you will be met more than halfway.

bizzat92

prytoj wrote:

You're telling me that neither the Pops or the daughter could muster up the stuff to get a job a McDonalds for a week or so to pay for some sod?

We can spin this all you want, but the point is personal accountability.
You gotta problem, you find a way to solve it. Man up. 66 is not dead, for pete's sake

Maybe we can get Obama's community organzation to lay down some gub'ment sod on that and solve his problem for him....then we can all give a big cheer for ol' timer and pat ourselves on the back. Way to go us!

personal accountability for something that should not be an issue? home owners associations should be illegal due to the fact that they take away personal freedom. the fact that the government is condoning someone impressing their will upon another person is ridiculous. I just dont understand why people think it is okay for the government , or for anyone to control our lives to the smallest details. the concept of freedom these days is a lost cause. you have none. you dont have any. and it doesnt matter if you vote republican or democrat, your not going to get any.

prytoj

bizzat92 wrote:

personal accountability for something that should not be an issue? home owners associations should be illegal due to the fact that they take away personal freedom. the fact that the government is condoning someone impressing their will upon another person is ridiculous. I just dont understand why people think it is okay for the government , or for anyone to control our lives to the smallest details. the concept of freedom these days is a lost cause. you have none. you dont have any. and it doesnt matter if you vote republican or democrat, your not going to get any.

debate the merits of HOA all you want, and I agree totally with your arguments against.

that said, you HAVE A CHOICE when you buy. The reason there are HOA is because there is a MARKET for them. Some people actually like that.

If you do not like HOA, the you will buy in a neighborhood that is deed free.

Did you know that some HOA even do your landscaping?

The point is, you have a CHOICE and a BRAIN. If you do not exercise them properly it is YOUR OWN FAULT.

vduboise

prytoj wrote:

But I'm trying to help the future homowners of America here, not the guy who refused to perform his due diligence:

you are assuming that the guy did not try. We don't know how big his lot was. His sprinkler system was busted- and he did not have the money to fix it. Maybe he's not a handy guy to fix it himself. For whatever reason, he did try to appeal to the board to understand his hardship and they were hard asses.

If they really wanted to get the grass green- they could have given him options to get it that way- maybe they did? maybe they did not?- in either case- they should have worked with him instead of get it green or else?

prytoj wrote:

When you buy low and prices go through the roof, don't act like you hit the lottery. You did not make a jump in class. Improve your home, renegotiate your mortgage into a better position.

DO NOT refi to cash out, then buy a bunch of crap on credit. Pay cash for your crap and live within your monthly income. Because ups come down, your a poor student of history if you don't know that.

Expect repairs that will cost you THOUSANDS....air conditioners break, roofs leak, water pipes burst, and yes, grass dies.

Again, we don't know his background. To suggest that he bought the house and then refi for crap- is a bad assumption. What if he needed it for medical reasons, or some kind of hardship? We don't know.

As with some people who bought their houses during the housing boom- they could pay for it. When the banks got greedy and kept upping the mortgages- that is when problems happen. $600 a month more per month is a hard stretch.

I'm not saying that he is not responsible for his actions, but he chose to save his house rather on the lawn. And watering the lawn takes money too.
If it was my choice on the lawn or keeping the roof over my head- then the lawn looses.

prytoj wrote:

Know your local CITY CODE ORDINANCES, not the building codes. Also know your deed restrictions. If you don't like the rules, don't buy.

And I agree, know what your buying before you put money down.

prytoj

The article states that he did not try, that he did not answer 2 court orders to comply with ordinance. No attempt to show harship to the court. He ignored everyone along the way "because hes broke".

How many options do you need to keep your lawn green? Is the subject something that requires a symposium?

Is he the only guy in the neighborhood who's got money problems? You know he's not. What about his neighbors who still manage to maintain their property? It's not fair to give him a pass in that light, especially if he blows off his neighbors, the HOA, the city, and the court.

He bought in '98, well before the boom. He is well ahead of todays' market unless he re-fied and cashed out.

Homeownership is not for everyone. It's expensive and it's work.

It's an alarmist reaction "oh my god, an old man in jail for grass! the gub'ment totally sucks!" but this reaction separates the mind from the facts.

I feel bad he went to jail, but he allowed it to happen to himself.
Any other conclusion just isn't honest. And you'd know that if you can relate to his circumstance, as I can. Florida propoerty owner.

THC

I wonder how the neighbor who cared soo much about his lawn feels. does the person feel good they have sent an old man to jail for his unkept lawn??

prytoj

THC wrote:

I wonder how the neighbor who cared soo much about his lawn feels. does the person feel good they have sent an old man to jail for his unkept lawn??

Alas, they proably didn't even know...as he ignored them all.

vduboise

This is about compassion. And helping your neighbor- not about pettiness (from what I can see- someone ratted him out).
Yes he chose to live in a community- and when he hit hard times- that community failed him.

Yes he ignored court orders- that was his failing and his fault-100%.

But the underling thing is that- IF he could re sod the lawn- it will just happen again-because it will not be watered... especially if the sprinklers are not working.

Why the sprinklers are not working? maybe it will cost more than he can pay at this time.

He cried hardship to the board BEFORE they went to court. And knowing that he could not pay, they took him to court anyway. Why? Because grass is more important that living.

So again, they showed no compassion for him, his neighbor, and gave him no options (as far as I know) to make it better.

If they had offered him the lawn services for a reduced rate- or something like that and he turned them down... WE don't know. The story is only half told.

But, putting him in jail? He'll probably be in jail for a long time.

prytoj

Again I think we are just making excuses for our own limitations and placing the blame on others.

I think we do ourselves no service in making excuses for our fellow citizens, except to further limit our own potential. sets a lower standard.

My best client is 70 years old, and ex-smoker, a diabetic, a heart-attack survivor (quad bi-pass) and his kids live out of state.

The man busts his ass everyday at work, does his own home repair, including bolting his plywood hurricane panels to his home windows (Just try it on for size sometime) I could go on, but The poor old man story just dont work.

vduboise

its not excuses. I'm not excusing him for ignoring the court.

But when you choose to live in a community like setting- then the community should work together for the betterment of the community.

Putting him in jail is not going to get them what they want. Helping him find a solution- probably will.

I'm not saying to take the responsibility of his home ownership- but help thy neighbor and you help yourself.

And one old man is not the same as another.

prytoj

it's grass and a hose guys, not extreme makeover! It's a CHEAP and EASY fix.

Putting him in jail SHOULD get them what they want, unless the guy wants to go back.

The old man should never had let it get that far, and the "look what they did to me" guilt-trip would piss me off more than anything.

We can look at our mistakes and make a choice. I choose to look in the mirror.

And if my old guy can do it, so can yours.

vduboise wrote:

its not excuses. I'm not excusing him for ignoring the court.

But when you choose to live in a community like setting- then the community should work together for the betterment of the community.

Putting him in jail is not going to get them what they want. Helping him find a solution- probably will.

I'm not saying to take the responsibility of his home ownership- but help thy neighbor and you help yourself.

And one old man is not the same as another.

vduboise

if it was just grass and a hose then the problem would have been solved a long time ago.

If they allowed him to sow seeds and water it - it is a cheaper option.
But they wanted new sod down- which is not a cheaper way to go.

Again, we don't know how big his lot is- and they wanted front and back done. He could not afford it.

And yes- one old man is different from another.
Does he have health problems, etc that makes him unable to do as your 70 old man?
We don't know his background- so assumption makes an ass out of you and me.

dignin

prytoj wrote:

it's grass and a hose guys, not extreme makeover! It's a CHEAP and EASY fix.

Putting him in jail SHOULD get them what they want, unless the guy wants to go back.

The old man should never had let it get that far, and the "look what they did to me" guilt-trip would piss me off more than anything.

We can look at our mistakes and make a choice. I choose to look in the mirror.

And if my old guy can do it, so can yours.

Im glad your not my grandson, or my neighbor ..this is about whats right and wrong, throwing people in jail when no crime has been commited is WRONG period, your still an asshole.

RolandTD20Kdrummer

prytoj wrote:

it's grass and a hose guys, not extreme makeover! It's a CHEAP and EASY fix.

Putting him in jail SHOULD get them what they want, unless the guy wants to go back.

The old man should never had let it get that far, and the "look what they did to me" guilt-trip would piss me off more than anything.

We can look at our mistakes and make a choice. I choose to look in the mirror.

And if my old guy can do it, so can yours.

Dude...you're nuts...

bootlegger10

Kenny Olav wrote:

He should rob the bank that gave him that mortgage!

There are two signatures on that mortgage.

bizzat92

prytoj wrote:

debate the merits of HOA all you want, and I agree totally with your arguments against.

that said, you HAVE A CHOICE when you buy. The reason there are HOA is because there is a MARKET for them. Some people actually like that.

If you do not like HOA, the you will buy in a neighborhood that is deed free.

Did you know that some HOA even do your landscaping?

The point is, you have a CHOICE and a BRAIN. If you do not exercise them properly it is YOUR OWN FAULT.

There is a market for them because people here are too willing to give up their freedom. what right does a HOA have to define terms on land that you buy. oh right i forgot. you dont own your land. you lease it from the government. so i guess they have all the rights in the world to do what they want to you, because the government is obviously enforcing it. keep letting the government take away your freedoms. and the really sad thing is, people here are endorsing the loss of personal freedom.

RolandTD20Kdrummer

bizzat92 wrote:

.... and the really sad thing is, people here are endorsing the loss of personal freedom.

sponger

know1 wrote:

Not every neighborhood has one. If you don't like their rules, don't live there.

HOA's control just about every newer neighborhood in the area. This greatly limits my options.

I shouldn't have my housing options cut in half because of HOA's. They exist because people believe they are entitled to equity in their home values.

Ultimately, it's the belief that homes are investment vehicles that keep homes out of the hands of the modest and financially responsible. The present circumstances are an example.

prytoj

says the non-homeowner...

There is validity to the statement that people believe they are entitled to
equity in their home values, but would YOU flush 300k down the drain?
If you would then your'e a pinko commie and can leave anytime.

Other then that, you are copletely uninformed.

fight the power.....with ingnorance!

sponger wrote:

HOA's control just about every newer neighborhood in the area. This greatly limits my options.

I shouldn't have my housing options cut in half because of HOA's. They exist because people believe they are entitled to equity in their home values.

Ultimately, it's the belief that homes are investment vehicles that keep homes out of the hands of the modest and financially responsible. The present circumstances are an example.