Posted on 04/03/2007 6:15:39 AM PDT by ShadowDancer
Community Sues To Oust 3-Year-Old
Child With Drug-Addict Mom Lives With Grandparents
POSTED: 3:04 pm EDT April 1, 2007
LARGO, Fla. -- A Florida homeowners group wants 3-year-old Kimberly Broffman to take her Big Wheel and hit the road.
They've banded together to oust the toddler from their Tampa-area community, which bans residents under 18.
The child's grandparents, Judie and Jimmy Stottler, admit Kimberly's been living there in violation of homeowners' association rules for three years. They said her mother has a drug problem, and isn't capable of caring for the child.
The grandparents said they live on a fixed income and can't afford to move until they sell their house. So far, there have been no takers to buy their house, even after they lowered the $189,000 asking price by $10,000 six months ago.
They also said they can't afford to hire an attorney.
Judie Stottler supports the family with her $18,000-per year dishwashing job because Jimmy Stottler is disabled and is unable to work.
Judie Stottler's friends told the St. Petersburg Times that they are worried.
"It is so ridiculous that this has gone so far," said Keith Tinsley, a cook who works with her. "She's trying her best to sell her house. It's like they are trying to force her to put Kimberly in foster care.
"These people keep batting her down and batting her down. They're just mean."
Judie Stottler said she is scared that she wil lose her house before she is able to sell it.
"We don't have any family to take us in," Judie Stottler said.
The Lakes homeowners association filed suit to oust Kimberly last month.
And since they are in the *wrong*, the Stottlers decided to run to the press hoping to sway public opinion with a naked appeal to emotion.
Sorry folks.
If its the big wheels with the storage trunk and hand brake I would want the kid out of my neighborhood also. Thats the one my brother got. I was really pissed my big wheels didnt come with that stuff.
After admitting to violating the Homeowner’s Association rules for three years, now they have the gall to call the HA “mean”.
I’m siding with the Homeowners on this one. It’s clear what the Community’s rules are, it’s obviously for adults only for a reason, and there is nothing “mean” about requiring residents to abide by the rules; especially if they agreed to the rules when they bought their house in the first place.
All their neighbors moved there in part, because of the age restriction. It's unfair to take that advantage away from them.
I was a fan of the Green Machine myself, with it’s revolutionary two stick steering system.
Could be that prospective buyers go sour because of the neighborhood?
People in these associations have NO discernemnt!!! The child NEEDS to be with the grandparents...what do they want to put her in a foster home? Yes...that IS what they want.
Possibly.
In my opinion, anyone who would want to live in a neighborhood that has a Homeowners' Ass'n is an imbecile.
Hear, hear!
It sounds like the neighborhood had been surprisingly understanding for waiting three years before taking action. The Florida real estate market is tough right now, so it is really just an unfortunate situation.
It is really sad our older folks are removing themselves from everyone’s life. You would think older folks would enjoy youth around.
The will sow what they reap for the young will not care about them when they want free medical care and to be taken care of when they are older and will get what they deserve.
Who have 1) raised one generation of druggies, and 2) do not honor their contractual commitments.
The law in Florida does not permit strict age discrimination in housing. Senior communities must allow under 50 residents up to 20% of the population. There is no protection for white trash, however.
Their good deed does not nullify the hypocrisy, and the HOA has a contractual obligation to honor its agreements with the other residents. Don't like it? Pass legislation that "adult-only" communities are illegal.
The real estate market was hotter than a supernova for the first half of that period. I strongly suspect some problem with the community, probably traceable directly to the HOA....
Ahhhh, I guess you want the child put in a foster home also? geesh.....heartless.
Oh, come on, they’re trying to sell their house at a loss. Give them some time, sheesh!
They are a neccessary evil in some cases, and I can see it in this case. Unfortunately, too often the people who take charge are little Nazis at heart. But waiting three years before taking action seems more than reasonable here.
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