Category Archives: Civil Rights

No more religious discrimination: Feds to review Bay View’s home sales for 5 years

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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Property owners who sued the Bay View Association on charges of religious discrimination in 2017 scored a victory this week.  A Department of Justice mediator hammered out an agreement with the community’s board of trustees, following HUD’s determination in February. As reported in February, HUD found that Bay View’s policy requiring new homeowners to be practicing Christians was a violation of First Amendment religious freedoms and the Fair Housing Continue ReadingNo more religious discrimination: Feds to review Bay View’s home sales for 5 years→

HOA law in Maryland streamlines deletion of racial, religious discriminatory covenants

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50th anniversary fair housing HUD poster

By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Rodgers Forge, a deed restricted neighborhood in Towson, Maryland is reportedly the first homeowners association-governed community to delete covenants restricting residency based upon race, religious belief, or national origin. The Towson Times reports that volunteers from the 1,800 home neighborhood spent months searching and identifying 85 recorded covenants with racially restrictive language. The group worked alongside their HOA and their neighbors to strike illegal restrictions under the Fair Housing Continue ReadingHOA law in Maryland streamlines deletion of racial, religious discriminatory covenants→

HOA news updates — security cameras and sinkholes

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News Update chalkboard clock

By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities June 2019 — Former HOA private security guard sentenced to 30 years for murder in shooting incident. Crews stabilize an landslide and work on temporary fix for massive sinkhole threatening a condo building. Homeowners and civil rights groups speak out against License Plate Reader cameras monitoring HOA gates. Former HOA private security guard sentenced to 30 years in prison on murder charges (VA) Two years ago, a former Citywide Continue ReadingHOA news updates — security cameras and sinkholes→

Like city government, HOAs impose abusive fines and fees

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We the people Constitution

By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Housing consumer advocates have spent the past several years exposing abusive fines and fees imposed by homeowners, condominium, and cooperative associations. Unfortunately, most advocacy groups ignore HOA abuse, even though it closely mirrors the behavior of some oppressive local government leaders. Local governments have long had the authority to impose fines for violations of health and safety codes. But recent trends reveal that city and county leaders are enacting Continue ReadingLike city government, HOAs impose abusive fines and fees→