Should the City of Tucson really be in the HOA Business?

While my yard may not be the nicest in the neighborhood, I take pride in my home. I have spent countless hours working on my landscaping, have done much to improve the appearance of my house, and have tried to be a good neighbor. At the same time, I realize that there are others in my neighborhood who aren't in a position to make the same effort as I.

We have a mixed community of young families, elderly households, and 'urban professionals.' Some folks own their homes, and have molded their houses to suit their own needs and interests. Others are renting, and have little control over the overall appearance of their domiciles. Still others, in the sunsets of their lives, have little capability or help in keeping their homes spic and span. Everybody in our neighborhood have grown to understand this, and have learned to tolerate these differences. This, I believe, is as it should be.

If I wanted to live on a street of cookie-cutter homes all painted from a bland palette of colors, all with highly contrived and regimented landscapes, and all conforming to a draconian set of rules, I would have bought into one of the many Home Owners Association controlled subdivisions. You can't sling a dead javelina in Pima County without hitting one (which will probably get you a fine!) and now we seem to have yet another entry in the, "How Can We Tell You How to Live and Make You Like It," game.

It was once said that politicians hate competition, and in this case, nothing could seem further from the truth. In yesterday's Arizona Daily Star, an article outlined how the city's Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) wants to 'change' the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance. It seems that they want to officially enter the HOA business, on a city-wide basis. Is this really such a good idea?

Understand that, according to the HCDD, most of what they are requesting are little more than language clarifications to existing rules and regulations. Rules and regulations that owe their existence to a letter written by a former city building official. A LETTER! Not laws, codes, or even published guidelines, BUT A LETTER! A letter that has been used as a means of justifying enforcement for quite some time! Really folks?

Those who live in glass houses should refrain from throwing stones. Our city has proven itself incapable of maintaining streets, medians, and even its own properties. It has squandered opportunity after opportunity to attract commercial corporations to our community. It has little to show for the hundreds of millions that have been budgeted for Rio Nuevo. It conceived and is now developing a Modern Trolley system of questionable merit. It has managed to lose MLB Spring Training due to nothing more than apathy. It is at risk of losing the many gem shows that grace our city twice a year. But they seem to think they know best how WE should live our lives!

The unmitigated gall demonstrated by HCDD with regard to this proposal would be laughable, were it not so frightening. To try and sell these changes to the city council and the voters as little more than 'language clarifications' is a bald-faced lie! A lie to justify bureaucrats jobs. If there are no codified ordinances... at least none approved by a past city council or the voters, than there cannot be any 'language clarifications.' It is simply an attempt to ramrod their will down the throats of the people. Thankfully, at least some of our city council members have refused to fall for this ruse.

On the surface, it may seem right to control people's ability to hold yard sales, park commercial vehicles, and store other vehicles in public view. Problem is, all of these provisions are little more than a means to control our lived. In the current climate of multi-career households, the possibility of having more than one commercial vehicle at a residence at any given time is not uncommon. Why should the city give a d@#n about how many commercial vehicles are parked at my house!

If I am engaged in the restoration of a classic automobile, and have it parked alongside my home, should I be punished for that? We're talking about a long-term hobby that can take five or more years to see it to completion, so why should the city stick it's nose in my affairs? And so what if my neighbor has a yard sale once a month? I'm all for capitalism, and encourage them to try and make a little money from their junk. I guess since there is no tax revenue or parking fees to be made here by the city, they need to find their money somewhere!

C'mon folks at HCDD, pull your heads from your nether regions. We've all lived in this city long enough to know what you're up to. Why don't you try and prompt the city to encourage sustainable business growth, job development, and make MEANINGFUL changes that will benefit the community. Increase our tax revenues in this way, as opposed to piling on more financial responsibility on us, the voters. We all agree that the city needs improvement, but this is not the way to go about it. Be honest, present your proposals to the voters in the form of a series of propositions, and let us ALL decide what needs to be done. STOP TELLING US HOW TO LIVE OUR LIVES!

Now its time to strike while the fire is hot. Write, call, and e-mail your city representatives. Send e-mails to HCDD ( HCDAdmin@tucsonaz.gov ) and tell them what you think about their attempt at back-door legislation. Spread the word to your families, neighbors, and friends, and get them on board.

Let's Get Started!