Click on link in title above for complete Times article and link to the right for OC Tax Assessor Site
As Southland counties reassess home values, tax bills fall
Owners benefit, but already cash-strapped governments will see less-than-expected revenue. By Garrett Therolf, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer March 21, 2008
The tumbling housing market has prompted county tax officials around Southern California to begin reducing the assessed value of many houses, resulting in lower tax bills for homeowners but less-than-expected revenue for already cash-strapped governments.
The values of more than 41,000 homes have been reassessed downward so far in Los Angeles County, resulting in an average tax saving of $660. Other counties have barely begun the reassessment process but promise to get the job done before property tax bills are mailed in October.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS IN TRYING TIMES
Click on link above for entire article @ communityassociations.net
WOW, I cannot remember more difficult times for talking to boards and members about big but necessary special assessments. The meetings these days are becoming more and more challenging when a board has to face the membership to talk about how to raise multi-thousand dollar per unit assessments for repair work, it is not fun. But truth be told, if the Board does not tell the membership about a looming big problem, it will probably snowball down the hill into a much bigger problem ... so don't shoot the messenger.
WOW, I cannot remember more difficult times for talking to boards and members about big but necessary special assessments. The meetings these days are becoming more and more challenging when a board has to face the membership to talk about how to raise multi-thousand dollar per unit assessments for repair work, it is not fun. But truth be told, if the Board does not tell the membership about a looming big problem, it will probably snowball down the hill into a much bigger problem ... so don't shoot the messenger.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Many thanks to those who attended the March 12 HOA meeting
Many thanks to those who attended the March 12 HOA meeting. It really does take a strong community to make things happen, and by the strength of the meeting on Wednesday night, I’d say that we’re doing pretty darn good!
For those of you who did attend the meeting, you had a chance to meet all five candidates on The Park Ridge Five’s slate-Kelly Thompson, Kim Wolfe, Sally Watkins, John Norton and Jim Manhart. Five out of the eight candidates running for the Board of Directors seats were present at the open session portion of the meeting.
Please know that we are five people who care about our community and want to see our investment flourish. Come talk to us if you happen to see us walking around the complex. We are happy to tell you the ideas we have for the community and how we propose to make these things happen around Park Ridge.
Please also know that change can only come if you VOTE. Please follow all directions exactly for filling out your ballot and either mail it in or walk it in to the April 9th meeting. The vote will not become official if we do not have fifty-one percent of the owners submitting ballots! Please submit your ballot!
Thanks a bunch!
***Kim Wolfe for the slate of The Park Ridge Five***
For those of you who did attend the meeting, you had a chance to meet all five candidates on The Park Ridge Five’s slate-Kelly Thompson, Kim Wolfe, Sally Watkins, John Norton and Jim Manhart. Five out of the eight candidates running for the Board of Directors seats were present at the open session portion of the meeting.
Please know that we are five people who care about our community and want to see our investment flourish. Come talk to us if you happen to see us walking around the complex. We are happy to tell you the ideas we have for the community and how we propose to make these things happen around Park Ridge.
Please also know that change can only come if you VOTE. Please follow all directions exactly for filling out your ballot and either mail it in or walk it in to the April 9th meeting. The vote will not become official if we do not have fifty-one percent of the owners submitting ballots! Please submit your ballot!
Thanks a bunch!
***Kim Wolfe for the slate of The Park Ridge Five***
Friday, March 14, 2008
ANTI-FORECLOSURE WEBSITE IS THREATENED WITH FORECLOSURE
AHRC.com at risk of shut down by powerful realty interests
by Danny Schechter
Website: Media Channel.org
Mediachannel.org appeals to its readers and the independent media community to publicize this issue, appeal to the local press to cover it and to civil liberties groups to defend them. This is an issue of economic justice and free expression in the context of a national foreclosure crisis. A California website representing homeowners fighting against foreclosures and arbitrary actions by Homeowner Associations is at risk of being shut down in the same way that a muckraking whistle blower site, Wikileaks.org was removed from the internet by a California Judge until a public clamor forced him to reverse himself.
by Danny Schechter
Website: Media Channel.org
Mediachannel.org appeals to its readers and the independent media community to publicize this issue, appeal to the local press to cover it and to civil liberties groups to defend them. This is an issue of economic justice and free expression in the context of a national foreclosure crisis. A California website representing homeowners fighting against foreclosures and arbitrary actions by Homeowner Associations is at risk of being shut down in the same way that a muckraking whistle blower site, Wikileaks.org was removed from the internet by a California Judge until a public clamor forced him to reverse himself.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Kelly Thompson Answers Questions
My name is Kelly Thompson. I would like to take a few minutes of your time to respond to what I feel is a very important and legitimate question.
Why does the name Kelly Thompson appear on two very different documents coming from two very different points of view?
Firstly I would like to set the record straight that I am running on the team with Kim Wolfe, Sally Watkins, John Norton, Jim Manhart and me, Kelly Thompson.
Secondly, Rene Fernandez sent out his letter to the community and condo owners without even so much as mentioning it to me let alone asking me if I would like to run with him. I would also like to point out that not only was I not asked for my permission but I did not even receive the document. A neighbor brought it to my attention. I was stunned, shocked and angry.
I called Rene Fernandez to inquire as to why this occurred. I had to leave a message. To date I have not heard from him. That was two days ago.
For the record Jim Manhart was as shocked as I was. Jim and I have sat on a board with Rene in the past and we soon found out that sitting next to Rene on the board was not possible but rather we had to sit underneath him. I suspect that Rene’s motive in adding our names to his list was this-If we were elected along side the three other men we may have chosen not to accept. For the record if three board members are present a board meeting may still take place. I think you can figure out the direction I am going with this.
I have lived in Parkridge for 8 years and I have served on the board for nearly half of those years. After last years election I took a break but mid stream was asked to rejoin. I am a proud owner. I respect the value of my investment and I want to look out for the best interest of the community and other investors that share my pride. I do believe in following rules. I urge all to contact property management and get a copy of the rules. The rules are in place so as not to tell us what to do but rather to keep our property value high. Trust me when I tell you that I am reasonable and intelligent. I am quite sure that my attention needs to be on the re-pipe project which will be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and not focused on a 50.00 fine for a towel draped over a wall.
I believe in community involvement and neighborly interaction. I believe in sound financial decisions and investments.
I hope that I have answered some of the questions and cleared up some of the confusion. I will be campaigning in the neighborhood and I will be available for questions any time.
Respectfully
Kelly Thompson
Why does the name Kelly Thompson appear on two very different documents coming from two very different points of view?
Firstly I would like to set the record straight that I am running on the team with Kim Wolfe, Sally Watkins, John Norton, Jim Manhart and me, Kelly Thompson.
Secondly, Rene Fernandez sent out his letter to the community and condo owners without even so much as mentioning it to me let alone asking me if I would like to run with him. I would also like to point out that not only was I not asked for my permission but I did not even receive the document. A neighbor brought it to my attention. I was stunned, shocked and angry.
I called Rene Fernandez to inquire as to why this occurred. I had to leave a message. To date I have not heard from him. That was two days ago.
For the record Jim Manhart was as shocked as I was. Jim and I have sat on a board with Rene in the past and we soon found out that sitting next to Rene on the board was not possible but rather we had to sit underneath him. I suspect that Rene’s motive in adding our names to his list was this-If we were elected along side the three other men we may have chosen not to accept. For the record if three board members are present a board meeting may still take place. I think you can figure out the direction I am going with this.
I have lived in Parkridge for 8 years and I have served on the board for nearly half of those years. After last years election I took a break but mid stream was asked to rejoin. I am a proud owner. I respect the value of my investment and I want to look out for the best interest of the community and other investors that share my pride. I do believe in following rules. I urge all to contact property management and get a copy of the rules. The rules are in place so as not to tell us what to do but rather to keep our property value high. Trust me when I tell you that I am reasonable and intelligent. I am quite sure that my attention needs to be on the re-pipe project which will be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and not focused on a 50.00 fine for a towel draped over a wall.
I believe in community involvement and neighborly interaction. I believe in sound financial decisions and investments.
I hope that I have answered some of the questions and cleared up some of the confusion. I will be campaigning in the neighborhood and I will be available for questions any time.
Respectfully
Kelly Thompson
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Answer to questin "who is qualified" below
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Special Assessment":
Someone posed a comment on this blog asking who was qualified to be elected to this board. I am here to tell you that there are five people who I think need to be elected to this board without a shadow of a doubt to keep the good momentum going from the 2007-2008 year. Without these five people being elected, action will halt around this complex and we will go back to nothing being done.
The five people running for Park Ridge Board of Directors that need to be elected are (in order listed on the ballot): Kelly Thompson, Kim Wolfe, Sally Watkins, John L. Norton and Jim Manhart. Why, you ask?
1. We are always open to listening to the residents of Park Ridge. We won’t tell you when you approach us that you need to fill out a communication form and quit speaking to you. Of course, you still need to fill out a communication form if you want action to be taken, but feel free to talk to us! We are neighbors!
2. We are an action-oriented group. As a group, we have done many things for Park Ridge, including painting the laundry room, cleaning up the exercise room, cleaning up graffiti and doing minor repairs around the complex. Look on this blog and you will see our pictures from two community based activities.
3. We bring over fifty years of experience together in the areas of administration, real estate, construction, communications and technical knowledge. Who wouldn’t want that type of knowledge and experience on our board?!
4. We are homeowners who care about our investment. Just like you, we are homeowners who care about our investment and want to see it get top dollar when we sell. You will get that top dollar with us because we will get out there and do the hard work necessary to make this place shine.
We, Kelly Thompson, Kim Wolfe, Sally Watkins, John L. Norton and Jim Manhart ask for your votes to get action done around this community. Please be sure to stop and talk to us with any questions you may have about the recent mailings that have gone out to you. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Kim Wolfe for the slate of the Park Ridge Five
Someone posed a comment on this blog asking who was qualified to be elected to this board. I am here to tell you that there are five people who I think need to be elected to this board without a shadow of a doubt to keep the good momentum going from the 2007-2008 year. Without these five people being elected, action will halt around this complex and we will go back to nothing being done.
The five people running for Park Ridge Board of Directors that need to be elected are (in order listed on the ballot): Kelly Thompson, Kim Wolfe, Sally Watkins, John L. Norton and Jim Manhart. Why, you ask?
1. We are always open to listening to the residents of Park Ridge. We won’t tell you when you approach us that you need to fill out a communication form and quit speaking to you. Of course, you still need to fill out a communication form if you want action to be taken, but feel free to talk to us! We are neighbors!
2. We are an action-oriented group. As a group, we have done many things for Park Ridge, including painting the laundry room, cleaning up the exercise room, cleaning up graffiti and doing minor repairs around the complex. Look on this blog and you will see our pictures from two community based activities.
3. We bring over fifty years of experience together in the areas of administration, real estate, construction, communications and technical knowledge. Who wouldn’t want that type of knowledge and experience on our board?!
4. We are homeowners who care about our investment. Just like you, we are homeowners who care about our investment and want to see it get top dollar when we sell. You will get that top dollar with us because we will get out there and do the hard work necessary to make this place shine.
We, Kelly Thompson, Kim Wolfe, Sally Watkins, John L. Norton and Jim Manhart ask for your votes to get action done around this community. Please be sure to stop and talk to us with any questions you may have about the recent mailings that have gone out to you. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Kim Wolfe for the slate of the Park Ridge Five
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