Bad Board – What To Do When the HOA is Corrupt

Homeowners Take Back Their Los Angeles Lofts

How to Handle a Board of Bullies

Just outside of Downtown Los Angeles, a distinctive historic converted loft condominium building commands notability and respect by loft lovers for its big, beautiful modernized old industrial style live/work residential lofts with plenty of natural light and views. They also come at a lower price per square foot than lofts in Downtown Los Angeles. That’s why many residents work in and around Downtown L.A., but they drive just a couple extra miles to save a bundle and avoid DTLA commotion. #lofts

Dozens of homeowners and residents sign petitions to rein in board

But a different kind of commotion is stirring inside the loft community as a small group of owners and residents gathered in a dimly lit loft unit (under abruptly-halted home improvement construction) to share their despair and to devise a strategy for taking action to counter the unacceptable conduct of HOA Home Owners Association board members.  A few days later, the group held a tactical barbecue, where they were able to attract dozens more signatures on petitions to overturn offensive new rules and to prevent future actions by offending HOA board members.  The group has no complaints about the two newer board members who were recently elected with the hopes of countering the old board’s offensive activities.  #hoa #board

BBQ Against Bullying Board

At what appears to be “Resistance Barbecues,” the group members cited specific examples of their own harassment experiences with members of the HOA Board.  The group asked that we do not reveal the contents of the 2nd petition that was circulated and signed called for three old HOA board members to take a particularly strong action.  It communicated the belief that they have routinely violated governing documents, rules and California laws.

The catalyst for the community resistance movement —  It came on the heels of a particularly concerning new anti-harassment rule.  Because the board has been passing so many rules perceived as benefitting themselves and their buddies, while attacking their perceived enemies, the new anti-harassment rules are viewed by many as a the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Members of the group agreed that the board has failed to govern themselves and each other.  The homeowners are upset by what they consider to be ongoing unethical and abusive behavior by these board members towards residents, employees, and vendors.  The homeowners articulated in writing that they no longer have faith in the board members’ ability to govern their HOA.

The new proposed rules concerning harassment are cited as one of many instances in which the board members have used their position in attempts to stifle and penalize residents who find fault or who even inquire about the goings on of the HOA board.   The growing group of men and women who live in the community feel that they are the ones being harassed and attacked in many ways.

Sounds like sh*t’s about to get real.

Homeowners angry at bullying HOA board

Several complaining homeowners have described the board’s behavior as violations of board of directors’ code of conduct.  

From failing to maintain common areas to manage vendors properly, the board is accused of giving preferential treatment for themselves, along with misappropriating legal advice to board members, breaching fiduciary duties and disclosing confidential information to unauthorized individuals.  The number of accusations is dramatic: threatening, bullying association members, residents and guests.  The group cites the board’s failure to conduct themselves with courtesy toward homeowners, residents, guests and others, to act with proper decorum and to make books of account open to inspection.

Of particular concern to residents are new anti-harassment rules that pit board members against residents, empower the board to define what constitutes harassment, and to even levy fines and collect attorney’s fees from anyone they deem guilty of harassment. The offensive new rules act to prohibit association members from communicating with others, violating the right to free speech.  A resident can be fined if they or a guest says anything or even waves to an unfriendly neighbor, vendor or board member. Several attorneys have called the new rules “unprecedented” and “crazy.”  The new rules are clearly designed to give the HOA board members powers to increase harassment of foes, while attempting to limit homeowners rights to hold the board members accountable.

Anti-Harassment Rules Used By Board to Harass Homeowners

The accusations get more dramatic and personal. At the heart of the matter is the allegation that the old board members have been actively harassing many of the residents.  The anti-harassment rules are seen not as reducing harassment, but actually stepping up harassment of residents by the HOA board.  This is evidenced by the fact that the new rules state that “the board of directors shall be treated with courtesy and respect by owners (including their tenants, residents, guests, occupants, and all other persons affiliated with the owner’s unit),” but nowhere does it state that board members must treat homeowners or residents with courtesy and respect.

Homeowners further protest that the HOA board members have treated others with the poorest of etiquette.  It has been reported that old HOA board members have gone as far as:  demanding contractors to stop work and leave the property;  stalking or following residents; attempting to enforce rules or laws not within their given scope of powers.

VULGAR, SEXIST AND DEROGATORY NICKNAMES

Vulgar racism and sexism by board… Oh My!!

These board members are also accused of acts that are too vile to mention on the L.A. Loft Blog. At lease one member of the all-male board has been quietly accused by several female residents who feel they have been personally victimized or mistreated. The L.A. Loft Blog has been asked by victims not to detail the incidents.

Uh, Oh!  Sounds like trouble.

As if they anticipated that hoards would finally revolt against their misdeeds, it looks like the board members have undertaken extensive precautions to entrench themselves in an attempt to ward off the inevitable dissent.  The board repeatedly took to: changing election rules to shrink the pool of potential nominees to ensure their own re-election; changing election rules to prevent nomination of specific shareholders that these board members had personal conflicts with;  violating the election rules by not mailing out candidate nomination forms in a timely manner AND violating the election rules by not following proper election deadlines (David Stirling Act of the California Civil Code).

According to California law, any business conducted by the board since the recent election could be null and void, including the new anti-harassment rules.  The board delayed the most recent election, apparently so that the old board members could finalize all the decisions regarding how to spend the money from recently settled construction defect lawsuit before new board members could have a say.

Other observed shenanigans by the three board members include:  changing from monthly board meetings to quarterly for the purpose of excluding association members from participating and voicing their opinions, publicly shaming unfavored residents and many other incidents that the group may reveal at a later time.

The board has repeatedly changed rules to help themselves and their friends, and while delaying and litigating against unfavored residents who are attempting to complete legitimate home improvement,  the board simultaneously allowed and encouraged their favored residents to produce extreme daily ongoing construction noise and unlawfully zoned manufacturing noise by their comrades, sending a nerve-jangling 80 decibel blast (picture a large truck driving through your home) of thunder into the units of disfavored resident’s 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without permits.  The board also tacitly permitted a neighbor to flood the unfavored resident’s loft.

Board permits extreme for buddies while blocking permitted construction by foes
LOUD AS A TRUCK!!  Playing favorites, board allows illegal noise by friends, while blocking proper construction by foes.

Loft residents have reported that the old board members have approached residents with requests similar to: “You must be nice to me if you want me to help you.” Individuals of the dissenting group agree that the board has been playing favorites, unethically and illegally giving preferential treatment to themselves and their friends, then going overboard by passing rules and taking unethical actions targeted toward residents who do not provide favors to the board. They say that the board is failing to fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities to all owners and has failed its legal requirements to represent the interests of all residents. The HOA board is accused of being unfairly overly aggressive at enforcing construction rules and noise rules against one unit while ignoring construction rules and noise rules for their friends in other units.

Just this week, dozens of owners and residents began to take action based on their agreement that the board has failed to meet its legal requirements.

Whether or not all of these complaints and allegations pan out, California condo homeowners may overrule HOA board rules and may also lawfully kick out undesired board members with or without just cause.  Quick agreement already accomplished by so many residents alludes to that fact that it’s only a matter of time before the offensive new rules are overturned, and the offending board members are replaced.  While the local political turmoil has been a point of personal anxiety for some, others at the loft condo building won’t notice a thing other than that they continue to enjoy their big, beautiful, economical lofts. For those concerned, barbecue season has just begun as the heat is raised on the board.  The petitions circulate. The writing seems to be on the wall, stating that it’s curtains for the old board members who have worn out their welcome at this confident and ultimately comfortable loft community.  |  COMMENT

IF you must recall an HOA board member, read this first:
https://www.hoaleader.com/public/333.cfm

Petition to Recall https://www.davis-stirling.com/HOME/Petition-to-Recall

Responding to a Recall Petition

Loft residents fight back against bullying HOA board with BBQ
Loft residents use BBQ strategy to fight back against bullying HOA board

Copyright © This free information provided by Corey Chambers and the L.A. Loft Blog. We are not associated with the homeowner’s association or developer. We do not represent the HOA or management.  Incidents in this article have been reported to us by residents. Information, complaints and allegations are based on information provided to the L.A. Loft Blog by involved residents and homeowners, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the L.A. Loft Blog or its authors. To protect privacy, photos do not necessarily depict real persons or documents involved. For more information, contact (213) 880-9910.  |  COMMENT

Brother Andy

Arts

Female masking gender bending art film FREE exclusive video feature: Brother Andy's "Glorification of Gwen" presented exclusively by the L.A. Loft Blog (see below)
Gender-bending art film about Female Masking — FREE for a limited time Exclusive Video Feature: Brother Andy’s “Glorification of Gwen” presented exclusively by the L.A. Loft Blog (see below)

It’s no coincidence that the most dramatic, life-changing occurrences in Downtown Los Angeles are taking place in the Arts District.  The neighborhood is responsible for the creative caché the brings live-love-life value, and thus monetary value.  An Arts District loft has shot up to an astounding $825,000 median sold price, with some recently selling for up to $2.4 million.  Let’s look at the reason why the creative heart of the city is booming  —  it’s soul, THE ARTIST.   #brotherandy #artist

Famous for decades as comedic horror host Armando Creeper, and as an actor photographer going by the name Andy Neal, today His Grace Brother Andy, as he now prefers to be called, has gained his latest notoriety as a prolific auteur film-maker with more than 360 films on Brother Andy’s Narcissus International Youtube Channel. Before video, he created more than 100,000 images as a photographer, plus countless paintings and sculptures as a fine artist. His digital collage image, “Jesus Chimp”, is considered by some art industry insiders to be a masterpiece of the Intriguism Art Method retro-futurism,” a creative process that he developed. The energetic creative produced highly effective educational films for The Palm Springs Art Museum and for Seeds, Inc. in San Diego, California, for people with cognitive disabilities. Andy has had a large impact on Downtown L.A. for decades, and recently, much of it behind the scenes as force of inspiration to the L.A. Loft Blog and the coming Loft Wars webcast series.

His background extends into feature films, having produced hundreds of movies in the last ten years as writer, producer, editor, and director, television. After appearances on ABC, local news stations in every Southern California major market, stage and live events, music videos and theme parks.

As an “artist whisperer,” Brother Andy has worked with more than 100 artists in the past seven years, including recording and archiving works, aiding in exhibitions, developing press packages, and designing graphics.  He’s helped to mold and transform several artists in the Arts District and at The Brewery artist lofts, helping creatives and entrepreneurs to make hundreds of millions of dollars.  His Grace is also a strident advocate of nudism, feminism and animal rights. Born in Fullerton, CA, he has lived in San Diego and Greater Los Angeles areas since 1990.

The Artist Brother Andy
He has been referred to as “The Man of a Million Faces,” with a motto of: “To educate and entertain, to encourage and inspire…”

Name: Andy Neal
Pen Name: Brother Andy
Birth Place: Fullerton, California
Nationality: United States
Occupation: Actor, Filmmaker, Artist
Period: 21st Century
Genre: Intriguism
Notable Works: Armando Creeper, Intriguism, Jesus Chimp, The Glorification of Gwen
Influences: Cassandra Peterson, Soupy Sales, Marcel Duchamp

Brother Andy is an American Artist, Filmmaker and Actor best known for his portrayal of the horror host character that he created in 1988, Armando Creeper. He gained fame on San Diego television station KFMB-TV wearing a zombie costume, and as host of San Diego Comic-Con, along with a weekly horror film movie presentation. Providing the super-human thrill of a monster, his dramatic ghoulish appearance is offset by his comical character, quirky quick-witted personality and humorous puns.

Biography

Early years  —  Andy Neal was born in the suburbs of Los Angeles, California, then grew up in Siloam Springs, AR. Out of place on the farm, he sought refuge from a troubled home life as a teen by delving into movie make-up, horror and science fiction prosthetics, catching the public’s attention while still attending Siloam Springs high school in 1974.

Career
Neal moved back to Southern California after graduating from Siloam Springs High School to work on his career in the arts. Neal posed for Playgirl Magazine, and was placed in Playgirl’s Pegasus 1986 A-Hunk-A-Day Desk Calendar for June 18 by Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Wallaby Books.

Later, his make-up and entertainment skills combined to create a famous comedic character.

Armando Creeper

In 1986, Andy Neal dished out heaping helpings of fright at an abandoned deli warehouse that his school fundraiser converted into a haunted house serving slices of terror. The boy whom nobody understood then made the move from experimenting with his own ghastly make-up that grabbed media-attention with sophisticated ape-planet appliances, to gaining professional employment as a horror make-up artist at the Knott’s Berry Farm Halloween haunted house events.

Inspired by Freddy Krueger, the wacky creep surfaced in 1989 as an idea hatched while helping to create monsters with horror make-up at Knott’s Scary Farm. Armando Creeper acted as the unofficial mascot of the LA Con impromptu actors panel. Andy Neal announced to the Los Angeles media that he was on his way to the big time by hosting charity events and attracting throngs of children. From 1991 to 2005, the Armando Creeper character hosted science-fiction and horror film festivals in several cities from Hollywood to Encinitas, CA, becoming known as the male equivalent of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.

Andy Neal was noted as a show business veteran who came back to his roots to take part in local community theater after working in 22 films and 40 plays, along with work as a make-up artist for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, BS Women of the Wild West, and Movieland Wax Museums Haunted House. His Armando Creeper character was featured in the 1992 Amateur Monster Maker quarterly newsletter for the organization of SPFX Amateur and Professional Make-Up Artists. He inspired make-up artists when he was featured on the cover of Monster Maker Journal. Creeper entertained as the Hunchback of the Bridge at the San Marcos Renaissance Faire and as The Ghost of Christmas Past at the Escondido Renaissance Faire. Dressed as Master of the Dark, Neal’s character sometimes appears in a casket prop, and is often spotted driving a hearse as his personal vehicle, which Neal won as first prize from a Halloween costume contest.

Seen on KFMB-TV CBS Channel 8 San Diego, ABC TV, MTV and Hollywood local access cable television, charming huge audiences at comic conventions, art festivals and cultural events, and particularly booked up in late October, Armando Creeper became synonymous with Halloween. Creeper hosted Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors New York.

Neal gained notoriety for his fiendish brand of humor as a ghastly grin reaper, as a spokesman for Halloween, and for his GQ looks when out of costume. He has cited Hollywood films and dramatic artists as major influences on his development as an artist and entertainer who hosted San Diego Comic-Con events including art contests amid audiences up to 40,000 for several years, uniting comic book lovers from 1990 to 2004. Neal’s character has been a frequently occurring guest on Horror Kung-Fu Theatre, appearing with other comedic fictional characters such as Count Smokula on various episodes between 1995 and 2017. The comic horror celebrity has also hosted horror film premiers at AMC Theatres. He hosted art contests at the largest popular arts convention in the United States, Comic-Con International in San Diego. https://laloft.wufoo.com/cabinet/ejdwM2E1/gdRHTdo3Dl4%3D/tastecomiccomicconsandiegouniontribune.pdf#more

Television and Film
Andy Neal has written and produced 77 films, including Anhelar starring Kitten Natividad.

Intriguism Art Movement
Andy Neal began going by the name Brother Andy in 2007, the same time that he and three other Southern California artists began collaboration to create a new art movement called Intruigism  |  An Evening of Intriguism. Brother Andy began writing tell-all blogs and a newsletter called the Intriguism Manifesto about the nature of the movement that brings greater enlightenment by exposing greater truth about the past, present and future of humanity by combining retro with futuristic, layers, all media, anti-censorship openness and honesty.  |  The Intriguism Manifesto | December 1, 2016 |  Intriguism Manifesto Newsletter

Recent Work (L.A. LOFT BLOG EXCLUSIVE FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME) 
His latest films include:



The Glorification of Gwen (free for a limited time)
The Ghost of Room 13 (free for a limited time)

also Guns of the DeadCircus of DeathWho Is This?The TrappistI Am Dead and Me Against the World.    |  VIDEOS

NEWS
Provocative artist Brother Andy is currently working with Rancho Mirage The Desert Rose Theatre on a wildly outrageous educational entertainment performance troupe called Rosy Palms Players. The “outside-the-box” stage play will dramatize the cause of uncensored multimedia programming with an aim to bringing awareness and support to the GLBTQ community at large.  His Grace also teaches acting lessons to eager students at the theater.

INTERVIEWS
https://youtu.be/ML9vKm-liLQ and https://youtu.be/JojstyKSvEE

HISTORY

Andy Neal’s notoriety began in ’74 when he made the news as a teen for his skilled Planet of the Apes costume re-creation: Siloam Springs, Arkansas 72761, Thursday, November 7, 1974 Teen’s Make-Up Is Beginning Of Vocation

 

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Copyright © This free information provided courtesy L.A. Loft Blog and LAcondoInfo.com with information provided by Corey Chambers, Realty Source Inc, BRE#01889449 We are not associated with the homeowner’s association or developer. For more information, contact (213) 880-9910 or visit LAcondoInfo.com  Licensed in California. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Properties subject to prior sale or rental. This is not a solicitation if buyer or seller is already under contract with another broker.