The new government

Posted at 10:29 AM on September 6, 2006 by Bob Collins (4 Comments)

OK, bear with me now. This isn't about the election, per se. But then again, Polinaut isn't about the election per se. And this is something I've been kicking around in my head for the last week or so and still can't get my arms completely around it... in a political sense.

But the subject is homeowners associations and the topic entered my noggin' last week with a piece in the Pioneer Press, "Welcome to the blurbs, now follow the rules." Oddly, it didn't generate much reaction, which -- considering its in the suburbs and MSM -- and apparently most bloggers -- don't really give a rip about the 'burbs -- shouldn't be surprising.

See, this guy put up a basketball hoop in the backyard. But, because it was a real hoop -- embedded in the ground an all -- and not one of those plastic fill-it-with-water-so-it-won't-get-blown-down type of things -- the local homeowners association took him to court.

It's in our cultural nature to avoid conflict in general," said Paul Hanscom, ssistant director of the Minnesota chapter of the Community Associations Institute.

Oh, don't kid yourself, Paul. It's not about any such thing. It's about passive aggressive and a desire that everything looks the same. But, I digress.

Did you notice anything about the story? Lakeville and Woodbury were the two suburbs mentioned and both are among the most staunch enclave of Republican support, which is fine with me.

What I haven't been able to qjuite understand is how this new form of government -- and isn't that what this is -- squares with the Republican ideal to limit the size and scope of government?

As local government is scaled back -- and I realize we're talking hypothetical here -- does quasi-government spring up to replace it? And, if so, how do we feel about quasi government in the "less government" sphere?

Presumably, the folks in the 'burbs who have embraced this new form of government, do so because it "protects" their property values, which of course is another way of saying they can make more money when they sell their home. But look at cities like Woodbury, Excelsior, White Bear Lake and Edina. Comparatively speaking, their high-tax cities with high property values. Is there a connection? And, if so, why is there a disconnect between those taxes and those property values as there is with the quasi government?

Now, keep in mind I tend to like politics at the local level much more than the stuff at the high fallutin' level, but I think this whole question is going to end up on the laps of the local elected officials.

In fact, I notice in the PiPress today that the Blaine City Council tomorrow night has an item on the agenda to "consider a resolution to eliminate the need for a Homeowners' Association and to allow for different home styles and square footages within the plat for the Deacon's Forest addition."

Next to leash laws, I can't imagine a bigger hot potato in local politics.

Like I said, I haven't got it all figured out yet from a political standpoint, so give me a hand and discuss.

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Comments (4)

Bob, I think you have the makings of a doctoral dissertation on your hands. Beyond that I'm not sure what I think about the subject.

Posted by bsimon | September 6, 2006 11:42 AM

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Hmm, now that you mention it, I'm now curious as to the political inclinations of the people in these homeowner associations.

You're right, telling your neighbor he can't have a basketball hoop is a very unconervative thing to do. I have a hard time imagining conservatives doing that sort of thing.

I'm conservative, and I don't want anything to do with those kinds of associations. And even if I were in one, I wouldn't be the one running to my neighbor's house with a torch and pitchfork to force him to take down his ball hoop.

Posted by Jeff | September 6, 2006 2:13 PM

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I commented on this http://minnpolitics.blogspot.com/2006/08/creeping-despotism.html.

Posted by MN Politics Guru | September 6, 2006 6:01 PM

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My mother and a friend have both been presidents of their condo homeowner's associations. My mother, a former mayor, said it was the worst two years of her life, and my friend agrees.

On the other hand, I built a house in western Colorado in a semi-rural subdivision. Out there, if you aren't careful, you'll find youself living next to llamas, six generations of immobile vehicles, a shooting range and mock Swiss Tudor on a street of adobes. In other words, an effective quasi-government would be nice, passive-aggressive or driving Bradley Fighting Vehicles. Whichever works.

There were "covenants" supposedly governing design of what went up there, but the first building exceeded the height restrictions, built by, you guessed it, the chair of the architectural review board.

Personally, I think political biases might play out through these organizations, but it's more likely to be selfishness that prevails over cooperation. I'll leave it to others to decide whether that reflects a political persuasion.

Posted by Charlie | September 6, 2006 10:47 PM

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