TALES FROM THE GALT GULAG -- PART VI

Horror stories abound at the condo towers on Galt Ocean Mile

Article Courtesy of THE FORT LAUDERDALE CITY NEWS

By Grayson Walker, Ph.D.

Published July 2007

   

Gulag is an acronym for the former Soviet Union’s penal system. Since then, it has come into common use to describe any repressive system. I named my column the “Tales From The Galt Gulag,” because I write about the repression of unit Owners on the Galt Ocean Mile. The Galt Ocean Mile is the biggest crime scene in Broward County.

Democracy in Danger

Most of us have a basic understanding of the United States Constitution, which I consider one of the greatest documents ever written. The Constitution does several things for us. It establishes the three branches of government (legislative, executive, & judicial), and protects us from excessive government power. One of the most important things the Constitution does comes in the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments).

The Bill of Rights addresses our individual freedoms. The Framers of the Constitution added the Bill of Rights because these guarantees of our individual freedoms were necessary to insure ratification of the Constitution. Condominium owners are equal owners in a private, non-profit corporation.

While the condominium documents appear to define the rules of the organization, they are all but unenforceable by a Unit Owner. In very simple English, there is no democracy in your condominium, for you left your rights at the door when you bought your condominium.

In a condominium, you have the right to obey and to pay. If you think this sounds like fascism, you are right.

The United States Constitution created a series of checks and balances to protect us from the arbitrary exercise of power by the government. Florida’s Condominium Act, Ch 718, has no such checks and balances. Instead, it created a totalitarian state in each condominium association. Unlike the Framers of the Constitution, the Florida Legislature never bothered to amend the Condominium Act to guarantee our individual rights. The AARP proposed a Condominium Owner’s Bill of Rights, but it has not been adopted by our Legislature.

Just like Iran, Venezuela, Syria and China, a condominium board makes unilateral decisions. The board creates its own rules, and thus acts as the legislative branch. The board selects its own officers, who act as the executive branch. The board enforces its rules with fines and foreclosures, and thus acts as the judicial branch. You have no ability to appeal the Board’s decisions.

If this sounds like a dictatorship to you, you are right.

Florida is facing the greatest threat to democracy in each of its condominiums.

The Florida Condominium Act created a Fascist, un-American system. It is an anathema to the American way of life.

Condominium Commando

A Condominium Commando is a self-centered member of a Condominium Board who uses fear and intimidation to rule the Association. The Condominium Commando is an adult version of the playground bully. While the phrase has a cute ring to it, such a person is anything but cure. The term is misleading. The Condominium Commando is actually a Fascist Dictator.

Lord Acton said, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

The history of world civilization documents corruption. Repeatedly, we see corrupt leaders blinded and even driven crazy by power. Thus, Louis XIV said, “L’Etat, c’est moi” (I am the State).

Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. The Florida Condominium Act grants almost unlimited power to the board, and human nature guarantees absolute corruption.

Power corrupts. It is also true that corrupt people seek power. The failure of the Condominium Act invites corrupt people to become Condo Commandos.

Condominium Ombudsman

In 2004, the Legislature created the Condominium Ombudsman’s Office to help protect Unit Owners from the corruption of the Condominium Commando. The driving force behind creating this help for Unit Owners came from State Representative Julio Robaina. Our Condominium Ombudsman is charged with representing the interests of the public by investigating and addressing complaints reported by individual citizens.

The Legislature recognized that the Department of Business and Professional Regulation had failed to protect the rights of Condominium Unit Owners. They designed the Condominium Ombudsman’s Office to handle the many problems in condominiums without resorting to mediation, arbitration, or the courts. The Condominium Ombudsman’s Office investigates Unit Owner’s complaints, works for fair settlements, and is available to monitor condominium elections.

Ombudsman in Danger

The many forces that work against the Unit Owner are attempting to weaken the pathetic powers of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Even worse, the fascist forces are working to undermine the Condominium Ombudsman, and eliminate the office. If these anti-Owner forces are successful, we may be left with a system that forces us to hire a lawyer for the smallest of complaints, or to suffer quietly. I urge you to contact Governor Crist, Representative Robaina, and Representative Bogdanoff, to express your support for the Condominium Ombudsman’s Office.

Fort Lauderdale Code Enforcement

Your calls to Fort Lauderdale’s Code Enforcement Department have been extremely effective. Two managers have resigned because of your inquiries. The City is investigating the many illegal changes to condominiums that put your home risk. Protect your building, your home, and confirm that all work on your building had a permit and an inspection.

Help for Owners

Attorney Inger Garcia can be reached at www.IngerGarcia.com or by telephone at 954-752-1213. 

Jan Bergemann’s Cyber Citizens For Justice is an organization of Owners, for Owners, to protect Owners’ rights. For more information, please visit them at www.CCFJ.net or telephone 386-740-1503 or by email at [email protected] 

 

The Galt Mile Yahoo! Discussion group is a free forum. You can reach it at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GaltMile/ and if you wish to subscribe, simply send an email to [email protected] 

  

The Southpoint Condominium Yahoo Discussion group is a free forum. You can reach it at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SouthpointCondominium/ and if you wish to subscribe, simply send an email to [email protected] 


The Southpoint Condominium website can be reached at
http://Southpoint-Condominium.org

     

The AARP’s Bill of Rights for Homeowners is available online at http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/consume/2006_15_homeowner.pdf

Government Officials

Governor Charlie Crist can be reached at 850-488-7146 or by email at [email protected] .

Your State Representative is Ellyn Bogdanoff. She can be reached at 954-762-3757 or by email at [email protected].

State Representative Julio Robaina can be reached at 305-442-6868 or by email at [email protected] 


Harold Hyman of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Bureau of Enforcement canbe reached at 954-202-3982 or by email at [email protected] .

Danille Carroll is our Condominium Ombudsman. She can be reached at 954-202-3234 or by email at Danille.
[email protected]


Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Bruce Roberts can be reached at 954-828-5700.
State Attorney Michael J. Satz can be reached at 954-831-6955.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle can be reached at 954-828-5003, or by email at [email protected] .
The Galt Gulag’s Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner is Christine Teel. She can be reached 954-828-5003, or by email at [email protected] 

  
Fort Lauderdale City Manager George Gretsas can be reached at 954-828-5013, by fax at 954-828-5021, or by email at [email protected] 

Code Enforcement Head Cate Mc-Caffrey can be reached at 954-828-4989, or by email at [email protected] .
Code Enforcement Supervisor John Gossman can be reached at 954-828-5806, or by email at [email protected] 
Galt Gulag Code Enforcement Officer Al Lovinshimer can be reached at 954-828-5118, or by email at [email protected] .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I own an apartment in the Galt Gulag,at the Southpoint condominium, on the Galt Mile in Fort Lauderdale. Many people do not realize how many rights they give up when they buy an apartment in a condominium association.

have taught American Government, Constitutional Law, and Ethics for over twenty-years, but I was not prepared for life in the Galt Gulag. At the June 2005 Board meeting, Board President Marty Glazer called the critics of the Board “insurgents.” I am an insurgent in the Galt Gulag. You can reach me at [email protected] or 954-567-0520.

 


 

TALES FROM THE GALT GULAG -- PART I

TALES FROM THE GALT GULAG -- PART II

TALES FROM THE GALT GULAG -- PART III

TALES FROM THE GALT GULAG -- PART IV

TALES FROM THE GALT GULAG -- PART V

TALES FROM THE GALT GULAG -- PART VI


THE CONDO LAWYER -- INGER GARCIA

THE CONDO LAWYER -- INGER GARCIA II

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