by Dutch on Mon Mar 04, 2013 5:50 pm
Here's a story for ya....
Apartment complex Netherlands
When the construction of apartment complex “Netherlands” was finished and the building was turned over to the new residents , Jane (a part time teacher) and Jim (a social worker) offered to take care of shared services like staircases, elevators and such. We thought that was a great idea, so we voted them in -unanimously- to become the Association Board.
The board decided to make the expenses for common maintenance income dependent. From now on we had to pay 5% of our annual income for association fees. Most of us earned about the same amount of money and we kind of liked it, that the rich yuppie guy from number 40 with his Corvette would pay the most.
The first blow came, when the elevator shafts needed to be renewed. A contractor (who later appeared to be the brother in law of Jane) was hired to do the job. The final bill was 10 times higher than estimated, due to “unforeseen” circumstances. The Board did hire an expensive lawyer (the ex of Jane), without results. The contractor had left for Paraguay.
In order to get out of the financial misery, Jane and Jim increased the association fee with 10%. We protested. Jim hired an agency for the sum of 10k to investigate the cause of the problems. After 6 months this agency came to the conclusion, that “some things went wrong” and the recommendation was, to “do it better next time”.
Jane had also been very busy. The association flyer lacked professionalism. She hired one of the residents (an old friend of Jim) to become full-time editor. Since then our own newspaper was filled with interviews with Jane and Jim. And with announcements about new house rules. Every month there were new rules. It was “too dangerous” to wash our own windows. Jane had hired a window washer (her mentally challenged son owned the business). New paint on your front door had to be approved by a committee, founded by Jim. No more smoking, drinking, barbequing and talking on your balcony. Jane appointed 10 residents to patrol in and around the building and fine those who violated the rules. Nice uniforms, Armani design.
Because of all this, association fees increased to 30% of our annual income. Some residents ended up in financial trouble. The Board founded “Solidarity Aid”, and residents could apply for financial help when facing hard times through this program. The result was that association fees were raised to 40%.
The guy from number 40 was the first one to call it quits. He left. A single mom took his place. Her income was very low, and the board decided to waiver her association fee. Jim and Jane renamed the complex to “Solidarity Apartments” and the concept got attention from everywhere. Jim and Jane were praised for their social ideas and they made their appearance in several talk shows on TV. Not just local, also nationwide. They spread the news that low income residents did not have to pay association fees. The result was a long list with poor people, waiting for an opening. It was a hit. Three clerks were hired to process all these applications and 2 paid commissions to set priorities. The most needy applicants qualified first as they needed the apartments the most.
Now here is the present situation: We pay 60% of our income on association fees. Jim and Jane’s staff is 40 paid employees. The 10 apartments on the top floor have been acquired and reconstructed to office space for the Association Board. Reconstruction expenses have gotten completely out of hand and Jim contracted the same agency as before, this time for 20k. People whispered, that Jim’s retirement party (he retired due to a back injury, and the board –Jane- elected Jim’s son to be his successor) also was 20.000, the Pavarotti performance not included. Of course we don’t know for sure, the party was staff members only. SOB (the flyer is now called “Solidarity Ordnance Bulletin”) did not mention anything about it. The editor’s office expanded like an oil stain and now occupies 4 former apartments. In order to pay for all this, Jane started charging “compulsory contribution”. Every year it gets more.
The elevators still don’t work and the building shows signs of decay. Jim Jr. and Jane ignore all protests and state that there is no budget for it. “We have to cut spending; there is simply no money for elevators. Stop complaining or elect a new Board!”
But see, the problem is we could never ever get rid of Jim Jr. and Jill. A majority of the residents gets money from “Solidarity Aid” or works for the Board (or both). And that majority likes to keep it that way.
Jim Jr. and Jill would not have any trouble winning the elections. They bought their positions with the money that they took from us in the name of general interest. We’re trapped. If this continues, association fees will go up to 90% and we’ll all go bankrupt. And there’s nothing we can do about it.
“Leave!”, you say? Well, that all that’s left but for some sentimental reason we can’t make the decision. We keep putting it off.
Well, you get the picture. This resembles the process of decades of increasing taxes, without significant resistance. In 1910 10% income tax was enough to run the country, in the 70’s it was 40% and currently the state takes 60% of all earnings.
Men may argue forever on what wins their wars, and welter in cons and pros, and seek for the answer at history's doors, but the man with the rifle knows.
