General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLOL! Looks like the good ole boys in the city have us in their sights.
We're trying to do home projects that will stay within the existing footprint of the porch and house and we got the plans approved easily through Public Works and Building, with a bottleneck in Engineering. That's the usual case. Engineering was lagging so we made calls to find out what was going on. They finally responded, and suddenly, we're on the shitlist radar. They're all throwing something at us now, with Public Works and the Building department joining in. They even went deep and are quoting Florida Statue. What happened to their initial approval?
My guess, someone in the City reached out to the good buddies in the community and they had reservations so they're going to do what they can to make things difficult for us. My husband said that it looks to him like they're not looking at the attachments, because the answers they are looking for are included.
The last time we had a project, the guy who came and checked it said that it wasn't even something that should have required City approval.
I look at it in a positive manner. At least our project is getting special attention from professionals. Right?
But, if it looks like this is going to become good ole boy retaliation, I'll keep posting.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,150 posts)Baitball Blogger
(46,576 posts)Check out my Journal.
world wide wally
(21,719 posts)that the entire process was just a way of taxing you more. I was shocked to learn that they took no liability for their recommendations or requirements. Although I agree with most of their requirements, i did have issue with one or two things they said I needed to do. I had about 10 years of experience when I was going through the process. The "inspector" was definitely a part of the good ol' boy network. They catered to the big contractors, needless to say.
Baitball Blogger
(46,576 posts)to their buddies. Not that this is the situation in my case, but if I extrapolate my experiences I could easily see how anyone who looks over your plans has that power. And, what I'm getting at is, that in an HOA Arb, wouldn't it be convenient for the person in charge to facilitate approvals if they're coming from his or her buddy?
So, yes, I can see how they would go hard on a homeowner they don't know. And what makes it difficult to work with the City, is that, if you don't know where to reach them in the backwater channels, it's going to be a back and forth through emails.
Baitball Blogger
(46,576 posts)MyMission
(1,845 posts)Just a suggestion. I have family there trying to leave, and I cancelled a trip to Florida due to their covid surge and their idiot governor. Admirable of you to fight the good fight, but...
Give your tax dollars and construction costs to a good state.
A good state is one that voted for Biden. Perhaps move up to Georgia? (Their new voter suppression laws aren't good, and they need blue voters there.)
I live in NC, also a bad state even though we have a Dem governor. I want to leave but I'm still here for now, and cawthorn was elected in my district! The red South can be a miserable place. Many of us stay for the climate, and with the hope that our votes will make a difference in future elections.
Having said all that, I look forward to hearing about your battles and wish you success!
Baitball Blogger
(46,576 posts)As a member of a minority group, I find that offensive. Frankly, if there are hot zones that a minority should avoid, I say we start a Greenbook to point out where these backwater areas are located. And once we have it all mapped out, we'll make it easier for the ACLU to come in and do what they do best.
Just doing my part.
MyMission
(1,845 posts)I suggest that I myself move out too!
We do need to map out these areas. There are so many, too many.
Part of me feels we should leave these areas, but I'm aware that we need to stay, fight, shed light on injustice, expose corruption and racism, as we are able.
At various points we attack and retreat. If you fight and run away you live to fight another day!
And sometimes we need to pick our battles. My comments were directed to Florida, and the economic ramifications, and the red states. Businesses go and build where they will get benefits, incentives, rewards. If a community gives someone grief, I would question if it's worth the fight, worth investing in that community. Especially if they're in a state that skews red, and is likely to experience coastal innundations due to global warming. That's one reason I moved inland.
I'll add that I was born and raised in the blue northeast, living in the south for almost 20 years. There are many good things to be found here, and I've built community and friendships, but overall I hate it here. The ignorance, racism, mentality, are pervasive, abrasive, and also subtle. If someone told me to leave, I'd tell them I'm hoping to. The battles exist everywhere, even in blue states. But it's so much harder here, and I'm sick, tired, fed up and disgusted at the moment.
Tomorrow is another day. That's why I haven't left yet.