Good for the Farrans. There is more than a little bit of Hitler in some of these HOAs. Instead of a reasonable request to promptly remove the sign when the election was over they voted to fine them. It is a sign of the times. Take these Stalinists to court.

By the way, the sign didn´t tear the community apart, the HOA did it. The moral? Don´t threaten a lawyer unless you have a lawyer on staff.

An over-zealous neighbor complained that the sign violated the Home Owners Association rules and they were asked to remove the sign. My guess would be that by the time it got this far, the election was over. So cutting it in two was just spite? And then years later when a remodeling permit for a roof and deck is denied, they claim the HOA is spiteful? And sue?

Don´t pick fights with Home Owners Associations unless you intend to spend the rest of your stay in the neighborhood a fight.

Posters should click the link and read the whole story. No one forced the Farrens to move there. Apparently, they signed the agreement to abide by the rules of the HOA. But, like all Obama supporters, they felt the rules only apply to the other side and they knowingly violated said rules to make their political point. Yes, the HOA in this case probably went too far, but no one is forcing anyone to live there. Don´t like the rules? Move out. Don´t sign an agreement if you´re not going to abide by that agreement.

#3: I agree completely.

Our association cleary says no political signs but it doesn´t stop Obamma voters.

As a side note: somebody needs to take the power from some of these HOAs. One took a older man´s home and paid $100 for it.

Aren´t homeowners´ associations elected by the residents? If the majority want political signs, let them elected board members who agree. These are private organizations and there is no law that requires private organizations to allow political signs or any other signs.

I was recently elected to the HOA board of directors in my new community, and I learned of a similar lawn sign brouhaha here in this neighborhood.

Most people don´t want them around; they´re tawdry and obnoxious litter -- and divisive -- political supporters are slow to remove them from street corners after the elections, and they likely don´t do that much good anyway.

Our situation came down to a tempest-in-a-teapot freedom of speech thing and it didn´t really go anywhere.

And yes, it was an obama sign.

HOAs bring out the bully in nearly every person who gets any power in them. I will never, EVER own a house where there´s a HOA again. Tinhorn dictators, including the ones who assumed power after they "drove the bullies out."

I would never live in a place regulated to the gills as some of these places seem to be. I´m not picky about my neighbors, although I certainly thought less of the ones with the Obama yard signs! They probably thought less of me and my car with Republican bumper stickers and now....horrors....a magnetic American Flag!!!!

But we´re all live and let live here. I wave to those walking their dogs as I drive in, and they wave back. That´s about it for "community communication".

one could only expect a government lawyer to put a zippy sign in her lawn. without the government she would have to get a real job....hope she gets RIF

Someone at the Atlantic needs to check their spelling. They had a "batter" idea?

rules thats not for obama supporters

rules are for the other guys

come on now....

as a Realtor who has heard a few crazy stories over the years about mandatory HOA´s and condo associations (2 men, a college prof and a retired Air Force pilot, fighting over whether or not a laundry room light should left on 24/7 or not. One would get up at night and check on the other) my advice is READ the HOA/condo docs before purchase. If you´re a Type A personality, realize there has be some flexibility. If you´re passive, realize that occasionally, you may have to be rigid. Above all, let the "battles" be fought somewhere other than your neighborhood.

Mister

I hate HOAs and would never buy where one is. But sometimes they can be good too. My friend moved into a neighborhood with an HOA and her next door neighbors were horrible people who made the whole community miserable. Nobody would ever do anything, not even the HOA, because they were scared of the people. My meek little friend brought a complaint and asked for a hearing about all the rules these people break. The man (the father) threatened her and others and went bonkers at the meeting. My friend was scared stiff but carried on and asked why the HOA wouldn´t evict these troublemakers. Finally, the father said, "forget it, we´re moving" and did. My friend was the hero of the community after that. My point is that sometimes they do work to the benefit of good residents.

These HOA´s are a direct assault on liberty and free speech,fredom of expression but if you agree to them,ten you have to obey the rules and regs.It doesn´t surprise me that an Obama supporter started this whole stink.

My guess is one of the reasons for the HOA´s is to stop people from flying the American flag,having a kid with a lemonade stand without 100´s of dollars in permits first,banning nativity scenes at Christmas.If these are ran by control freak liberals,you´re doomed as a homeowner.

Whenever liberals get a shot at invoking some form of Utopianism,they´re going to do it.

I beg to differ, #14, the HOA did not work to the benefit of the residents; they were afraid to their jobs. What worked to the benefit of the residents was your friend´s willingness to stand up for what she knew was right, even though she was as afraid of those thugs as the HOA (an organization of several people with the backing of law). It was her demand for justice that resolved this situation, though I imagine the HOA members were standing well behind her, shaking their fists at the scofflaws and saying, ´Yeah! You tell ´em´. ; )

Both parties were wrong...the HOA acted vindictively and arbitrarily and the Farrans acted like little elitests.

A pox on all of them.

I await the other neighbors to sue the Farrans for many reasons and force them to move out.

The HOA needs to be disbanded.

If this happened in Texas the home owners would not stay around long as bad things would start and continue to happen until they sold and left.