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 what by logic then would you say that an HOA should not be allowed to ban Jews, blacks, Mexicans and Asians?
Or another question -- should communities be able to ban and even evict those over 50? Over 40? Or the disabled? Or the ugly? Or the fat?
Well then if you think me wrong, then logically refute me.
When a general type of contract is known to by its nature cause harms to society, that type of contract usually should be and is declared void. Such is the case with old real estate titles that declare that "in perpetuity this parcel may not be sold to negros or jews" or such clauses. Those clauses are today considered void.
This HOA has a contract which harms the children as a class of people in society, families as a class, and in this case harms a particular innocent little three year old.
Well I say this much I would never buy a home where someone or some group dictates to me what I can and can not do with my property or who lives there. Buying a home attached with a Homeowners Association to me is as much poor judgment as buying a home and not owning the mineral rights. It leaves you at someone else's mercy and under their threat.
I see your point. HOA’s could very well be the proverbial “slippery slope”. Other than retirement villages, I had believed that HOA’s mainly dealt with issues such as yard care, bans regarding junk/eyesores, etc. I’m learning there is more to this HOA business than I realized.
I’ve been logically refuting your arguments, for all the good that’s done. LOL
You have been less than kind and less than understanding in your comments about these people. I assume you don’t know them personally. If you do and know facts that we aren’t aware of, please feel free to post them.
Conservatives believe that people should “tend their own gardens” and when at all possible, they should not choose to have others pay for their needs through our tax system and welfare states. So here we have an older couple who are doing what they can to “tend their own garden”, and not be on public assistance, not have their granddaughter cared for by a state agency, and you are still not satisfied.
Consider the possibility that if they were to sell their home at a loss and become financially unstable, and/or unable to then have the money to care for their grandchild, they could end up having to place this child in foster care afterall. I’m sure that would not please you either, right?
Part of me thinks that you’re just being thick-headed and itchin’ for arguments for the sake of arguing. But hey, I could be wrong.
I never said to “lock the kid up”. I suggested they substitute a tricycle for the noisy Big Wheel.
Or, because the HOA rules do not allow for people under a certain age.
Or because the HOA is conspiring to drive away buyers to get the child sent to foster care.
Other considerations:
Maybe the house is a POS in a nice neighborhood? Perhaps there have been several interested buyers, but the house is poorly decorated, landscaped, upgraded etc--things that detract from potential buyers...those who want an HOA, and want to live in an age restricted community. Remember, the grandmother makes only 18K a year, granddad doesn't work--the house may not be in 180K condition because the person who stays home may not be able to landscape, touch it up, etc, and the family may not have the money for these things anyway. I'd like to know what condition the house is in before I decide why someone isn't buying.
My father's house took a few years to sell. It was on 1-1/2 acres, beautifully set, nice rural community in an area where houses were selling (at the time) for over 200-300K....but the caretaker of the house and property (a relative) did not take care of the property..and the rest of us did not live close by to tidy it up for buyers. The house finally sold for at least 50K less than what we had listed it for.
A lot of them will probably be PARENTS! Scary!
Living within a large city usually sucks only slightly less than an HOA.
Here’s my “Don’t be nutty yourself” in return.
What you are doing is ducking the basic question: Is caring for the children/grandchildren as strong enough argument to allow someone to break the law?
In the case of the Invaders it’s immigration law.
In the case of the grandparents it’s the laws that obligate them to abide by the contract they freely, and willingly signed when they moved in.
You are trying to using ‘liberal logic” (feelings) to win your argument. You’ve been here long enough to know most of us operate by true logic, not feelings.
If anyone has an argument for kids trumping the law, it would be the Invaders, as they had no imput into their current situation. The grandparents did.
Make a logical argument for your side instead of trying to make us feel guilty. I’m out of guilt.
IT sounds like the grandparents are dooing everything in their power to get out.
Hell I would too. I’d love to have kids.
The Fair Housing Laws:
Fair Housing Act
Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents of legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap (disability). More on the Fair Housing Act
People htat would sue grandparents that step in to take care of a 3y/o, or any child, are bottom feeders.
Maybe they could rent out the house, or something?
Is that right?
How would you feel if your next door neighbor refused to cut his grass?
How would YOU feel if that neighbor decided to paint his house fucia pink with lime green shutters? How would you like him to put a couple of old clunkers on cinder blocks...right next to a satellite dish...oh, about twelve feet in diameter?
How would you like it if he decided to breed pit bulls and put a nice dog run in the back yard?
Homeowners Associations have their merits.
This is already happening. They are reaping the grief of sowing an out-of-control druggie daughter who bred with a nameless man. I don’t know if they “deserve” this but it is sure what they’ve got. They only have a short while to sort things out before the child becomes cognisant and believes she is the source of her caretaker’s trouble and turns the bitterness inward. Then just cut and paste this mess for more generations.
Sorry, but no homes are selling in Floria. Its just not that area but all over. I feel sorry for the family as I understand their problems. We have 11 homes in less than 1 block that have been up for sale for a year with no buyers. Florida is for the rich & not for the poor, retirees anymore.
>>Glad to know that you admit you are a person who can’t be trusted. Or can’t I trust you on that either?
Don’t get carried away with your imagination when it involves defining my trustworthiness. You’re making a serious assertion that is at least foolish and does more to damage your credibility.
If you have an issue with my comments on contracts, then speak to that. If you have issue with my placement of community contracts beneath the interest of the State, that say so. If you have a problem with bowling, then go play tennis.
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