To me it always looks like the Florida legislature and law enforcement are protecting the folks violating the laws – instead of protecting the “good” citizens from embezzlement and scams.

This year some bought and paid for senators, led by Anitere Flores (R-Miami), killed a bill that was trying to protect owners living in homeowners’ associations against this kind of abuses. Make no mistake: These legislators know full well how bad the situations in these community associations are, but they are wearing blinders in order to collect campaign funds from special interest who consider these associations their private cash-cow.

But they still want our votes in November. In Texas the battle-cry is still: Remember the Alamo! Our battle cry at the polls in November should be: REMEMBER SB1122!

The Miami Herald is in the moment publishing a series of investigative reports, highlighting fraud, scams and election fraud in condominiums. Make no mistake: In homeowners’ associations it’s even much worse, because FS 720 (The HOA ACT) has – unlike condominiums FS 718 -- no protection whatsoever – absolutely no government agency enforcement of the laws the legislature created over the years.

But looking at the big picture you will see that all this hoopla is just a repeat of what we saw in the years 2006/2007 when reporter Donna Gehrke-White from the Miami Herald wrote at that time all kinds of articles, pointing out all the same abuses we are reading today in the new series of investigative reports. In 2007 State Representative Julio Robaina created the PILOT PROGRAM "HOW TO CATCH A THIEF".

But the law enforcement agencies quickly forgot about this well-organized program that should have created a big impact on the “scumbags” that are fleecing the cash-registers of our associations. And owners trying to file criminal complaints (with proof) regarding fraud and embezzlement were again told by law enforcement: Sorry, these are civil matters – nothing criminal about it! I think that’s just a stupid excuse in order to protect the bad guys in FRAUD FRIENDLY FLORIDA!

Now we read – again – in the Miami Herald what their Editorial Staff thinks should be done. Sorry to say: Been there, done that – but all good intentions are quickly forgotten – because our legislators have a very “short” memory!