July 31, 2006

This week the Department of Business and Professional Regulation will hold more town hall meetings as directed by Governor Bush:

Wednesday, August 2, 2006: 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm. 

Pinellas County Commission Chambers: 315 Court St., Clearwater, FL 

Thursday, August 3, 2006: 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm.

Lee County Commission Chambers: 2120 North Main Street, Ft. Myers, FL 

Condo-owners are invited to discuss their opinion about the "condo eminent domain bill" -- SB 1556 -- the bill that was vetoed by Governor Bush.

Here is a great opportunity for all condo-owners at Florida's West Coast to voice their opinion and present your ideas about common problems that need to be changed -- if time allows!

Governor Bush vetoed the Condo Bill SB 1556/HB 543 and wrote in his VETO LETTER : ".... it is necessary to provide for involuntary terminations of condominiums in the aftermath of catastrophic events, the bill changes the default provision of requiring the consent of all unit-owners for termination in existing law and permits voluntary termination in virtually any circumstance, therefore diminishing security in ownership of private property."

The Governor worded it nicely in his veto letter by stating: "This bill, in its current form, may cause unintended consequences that could deprive condominium unit-owners of their rights to remain in their units without adequate procedural safeguards."

In my opinion, that's the polite version of saying that a hostile take-over would be possible without any protection for the owners, if he would have signed this bill into law. Please read my Public Input and reasons why this bill should have never passed the legislature in the version the Governor had to veto to protect private property rights. This would have been an "eminent domain" bill for Florida's condominiums.

If you want to protect your rights as condo owner to fight a hostile take-over of your home, please go to the meeting the Governor arranged for all of you! Now is the time to speak up -- in your neighborhood. Otherwise, we might see a similar bill sneaking through the legislature -- and nobody minding the store!

In the moment they target older condominiums on valuable beach property. Just ask condo owners in Sarasota, Miami Beach and on Singer Island what it means to fight a hostile take-over and the tricks being used to kick owners, unwilling to sell, out of their homes. Next time it may be YOUR BUILDING being targeted. 

So if you would like to enjoy a peaceful retirement in your own home without fighting a greedy developer, go to the meetings and make your voice heard. It's a lot easier to voice your opinion now than getting involved later in costly litigation.

Now is the time to stop this kind of "hostile take-over" bill to be revived! The Governor gave you an opening to stop this before it escalates. Make good use of this opportunity!

PURPOSE: Town hall meetings to discuss and obtain public input regarding Senate Bill 1556, relating to the termination of condominiums. AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Carol Windham, Division of Florida Land Sales, Condominiums and Mobile Homes, Department of Business and Professional Regulation, 1940 North Monroe, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1032. Telephone: 850-488-1631. Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 48 hours before the meeting by contacting Carol Windham, Government Analyst, at 850-488-1631. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency by calling 1-800-955-8771 TDD.