Condo threatens $100 a day fine for wreaths

Article Courtesy of The Palm Beach Post

By Tony Doris   

Published December 22, 2015

 

A condo association in West Palm’s Lands of the President development is threatening resident Donna Sozzio with a fine of $100 a day.

Donna Sozzio’s “infraction” — placing a wreath on her condo door.
   

In these days when religious tolerance is such an issue, the resident of West Palm’s Lands of the President complex can’t understand why she should face a $100 a day fine for displaying a symbol of her faith. The condo rule violates her religious freedoms, she says.

“No common areas or exterior surfaces of the Lands of the President, Condominium Seven Association, Inc., shall be decorated, furnished or rearranged by any individual owner or group of owners in any manner, except with the written approval of the Board of Directors,” according to notices placed at her door.

“No common areas or exterior surfaces of the Lands of the President, Condominium Seven Association, Inc., shall be decorated, furnished or rearranged by any individual owner or group of owners in any manner, except with the written approval of the Board of Directors,” according to notices placed at her door.

Donna Sozzio has taken down the wreath hanging on her front door after being put on notice that there would be a $100 a day fine from her condo association. It is against condo rules in West Palm Beach, Florida on December 18, 2015.



Residents can decorate their condos and balconies until New Year’s Day, it says, “but the hallways must be free of any decoration.”

“I feel like I’m being bullied. It’s very intimidating,” Sozzio says.

She tossed the first notice away a couple of weeks ago because she thought it was ridiculous. When the second one came on Thursday, she pulled down the wreath, afraid they’d come after her for the money. But she replaced it with a small cross.

Sozzio, who lives in Jefferson Tower, at 2425 Presidential Way, notes that many doorposts in the 20-story building sport mezuzahs, Jewish symbols of faith, year round. And she quizzed doormen at several other buildings in the complex and learned no one else banned wreaths.

Association manager Bryan Wohlust, who signed the notices, said in a phone message Friday evening that the condo rule is only meant to restrict the size of items displayed. “It has nothing to do with religion or anything like that.”

Florida condo law allows religious displays on doors, within size limits, says Michael Chapnick, a property owner association lawyer based in West Palm Beach.

“An association may not refuse a request of a unit owner for a reasonable accommodation for the attachments on the mantle or frame of the door of the unit owner of a religious object not to exceed 3 inches wide, 6 inches high, and 1 1/2 inches deep,” according to Section 718.113 of Florida Statutes.

That law stemmed from a Miami case several years ago in which a condo association prohibited an owner from putting up a mezuzah, Chapnick says.

Sozzio says the restriction still rankles her, and that her cross is bigger than 6 inches high.

“Based on our constitution of our Founding Fathers, we have the right to express our religious beliefs as we see fit,” she says. “To me, by not being able to have this wreath, it’s limiting the freedom of speech. To me it represents Jesus being born. It’s what our faith is based on and you’re removing that. You’re tampering with what I believe in.

“In this country, the people in it are supposed to accept whether you believe in God, Christianity or whatever. You’re supposed to be accepting of that … I should be able to enjoy the meaning of Christmas.”

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