Barry Austin, the Finisterra neighborhood resident disgusted with his homeowner’s association, sent us an update on reaction to our story about his HOA voting yes to pay $3,500 for Christmas lights, but no to a neighborhood food drive for the Tucson Community Food Bank.
After press time, the Finisterra HOA held its annual meeting on Dec. 12. According to Austin, the HOA’s board president Ed Landes, who didn’t return our phone calls at the time, told Austin and his neighbors there were three reasons the board did not allow a food drive: allowing collection boxes in the clubhouse would “negatively affect the ambiance of the clubhouse”; “using the clubhouse hallway would be inappropriate” (he gave no detail of what made cans and boxes of food inappropriate); and “Katie (Lyster) is too busy to supervise the collection efforts.” (Katie is the HOA’s admin employee).
In Austin’s e-mail update he wrote: “Presently, the Clubhouse hallway is used all year for previously-owned books (with boxes and bags on the floor in various places) and several times per year for telephone directories. So it is not clear what is so different about canned / boxed food that would be there for only a short period once per year. When asked what would take so much of Katie’s time (since residents would collect the donated food each day), Ed responded that people would be ‘bothering Katie asking her where they should put their donations.'”
Despite the board’s vote, Austin says he’s taken one load of food to the Community Food Bank from donations that have been brought to his home. Austin says he plans to be at the next board meeting in January seeking further explanation, especially since the food bank announced this month that it may be forced to make cuts in food distributions due to budget woes and lack of donations. See this Dec. 18 editorial in the Arizona Daily Star.
“Imagine how many families could be fed from the $3,500 spent on the holiday lights,” Austin says.
I’m in agreement with the letter to the editor published this issue of the Tucson Weekly. Much of these issues can be avoided by not living in developments with HOAs.
Go Midtown!
This article appears in Dec 27, 2007 – Jan 2, 2008.
Those charming folks of the HOA must’ve gone to the same school of bull that the Bush Adminstration attended. Marie Antoinette also comes to mind.
What a pile of crap! (Will that pile fit in with the ambiance?)
HOA’s are full of little tyrants who once they get in power can only be removed by a coup.
To the guillotine!
I can never understand why jerks don’t have the courage of their convictions. Instead of giving obviously fake reasons for keeping food donation boxes out, just say you don’t want them. You’re still a jerk, but at least you won’t be a lying jerk. It reminds me of the Alfredo Gonzales testimony. Just testify that you fired the US Attorneys because they wouldn’t toe the Bush line. Instead you get meely mouthed denials and “I don’t recalls”. Always amazes me.
Why in the heck should an HOA be involved in giving a dime to any charity? That is just ridiculous. You want to contribute to the Food Bank? Send a check. A rep from the food bank told our group that they can get food for ten cents on the dollar. That’s a better deal than I can get at the store by a factor of ten. For crying out loud, since when should any HOA be obliged to be in the fundraising business or why should they give a dime to any charity….a dime that belongs to the homeowners in the neighborhood that they paid for common area maintenance or some specific thing to improve the image of the neighborhood. You are always railing against “the man” anyway, why now should HOAs become an extension of the socialist government you yearn for? You want to support a good cause? Do like the rest of us and get out your checkbook and support the cause closest to your preference. Geez. So you guys are going to gang up with your mini bully pulpet to force some action on the HOA’s part…knock yourselves out but you look like nutballs on this one. And to the other commenters, what in the world does this have to do with the President and Gonzalez. Put down the crack pipe and happy new year.
So, I’m wondering why Mari Herreras wrote an article based solely on information given by Barry Austin. Is it the normal practice of this newspaper to obtain quotes second-hand and publish them as fact? And to the other commentators, Rita and retrorv, did you even take off your scandal-loving glasses long enough to realize that this is a one-sided story? Did it even occur to you that the quotes (all provided by ONE source, Barry Austin) might not be true? And as for the comment from GetReal, your comment, though well-intended, sadly just plays into Barry’s (and also apprently this newspaper’s) desire to demonize this particular HOA. The point is that this was irresponsible journalism. And can we all stop generalizing and stereotyping, please? To decide that one HOA (or even several HOAs are “evil”) so therefore this HOA is also “evil” is bigotry, plain and simple. Stop being a mindless parrot. Read between the lines and think for yourselves.
Butterfly: Mari made numerous attempts to contact HOA officials — and I mean numerous. And for more examples of evil HOAs, I encourage you to search our archives. Thanks for reading!
Seriously, Jimmy? That’s kind of like saying “And for more exmamples of evil black people, I encourage you to search our archives…” or “For more examples of criminal mexicans, I encourage you to read our archives.”
So, you’re saying that because one set of people exhibit a particular behavior that ALL people in that category also exhibit that particular behavior?
Are you SERIOUSLY telling me that this particular HOA is “evil” because “other HOAs are evil?” Seriously? That’s your logic?
And as for Mari not getting any calls back, does that then give her carte blanche to write a one-sided article? I’m particularly disappointed with her representing Barry’s quotes as if they are direct quotes from the members of the HOA.
I’m not even a professional journalist, but even I was able to do enough of my own research to discover more truth than Mari was. How about stopping by the neighborhood? Your photographers were there for the last article. Why not stop by the clubhouse and peek on in to see if Barry is even telling you the truth? Or does all of your journalistic investigation take place via phone and email? Are you too busy to do your jobs? Funny, you certainly slandered Katie Lister/Lyster for being “too busy.” Ironic, really.
Oh, and speaking of that, how is that last name spelled again? Funny, because Mari spelled it differently in her last article on this subject. Is she too busy to even reference her OWN past writings on the matter?
And if the time was taken to find the truth, would the Tucson Weekly be humble enough to apologize for its error, or would it insist self-righteousness, just as you just did? “Wahhhhhh, they never called me back, so it’s THEIR fault that I wrote a poor piece of irresponsible journalism.”
I’ll be sure that whenever the news media calls me, I will drop everything and call back IMMEDIATELY, for fear that I, too, might be slandered. See that? I’m scared of you…ooooh, shudder. What are you, the mafia? I’d better answer to you, and quickly, or you’re going to slander me? Give me a break. I can’t believe people pay money to subscribe to your nonsense.
Whoops, the Tucson Weekly is free. I got a fact wrong. Perhaps you’d like to offer me a job? I should fit in great with your staff.
Butterfly, you’re nuts. Thanks for reading!
Perhaps this was Mari’s audition for Fox News. I know they are TV but Rupert Murdoch just bought the Wall Street Journal and that job has to come with some pretty good coin. It is kind of understandable, I mean how much can a free weekly paper pay anyway? Oh and sweet comeback Mr. Boegle. This is just another in the long list of journalistic turds in the Tucson media toilet. I remember when the Weekly had more to read than Red Meat and This Modern World. I am all about the anti-establishment investigative journalism, but this kind of trash is becoming so very very establishment. Perhaps Ms. Herreras was just taking after Judy Miller. She wrote some pretty one-sided stuff a few years back and that all ended well…or something.
Thanks for reading, Electricray! I find it interesting that according to our logs, you and Butterfly have the same IP address.
I think if it was Fox news I was auditioning for I’d write about that awful Food Bank and those stupid people who need food to, you know, eat. But then again, perhaps you’ve uncovered the real Mari Herreras – don’t tell anyone I live with. Electri-Blue – sometimes the fact that people don’t return calls says a lot too. The biggest indicator something is not right in America’s new neighborhood is the fact that the state legislature has had to address HOAs the past few years. HOAs are not always resident-loving community and civic minded organizations. As more HOAs increased with development, more HOAs fucked up.
That’s because he’s my husband, Jimmy. Are you insinuating we’re the same person? Ohhh, you GOT me, I’m so ashamed. *roll eyes* Your investigative use of the internet is so impressive. *snort* Try taking a step outside of your offices. You guys make a lot of assumptions…much like Mari and her assumption that if someone doesn’t call you back that it must indicate guilt…there couldn’t possibly be any other explanation, could there? Oh, and nice language Mari. And again, my husband’s handle is Electricray, not Electri-Blue, but at this point, I’m really not shocked that you can’t keep your facts straight.
Something just occurred to me. Why in the world would the Tucson Weekly REGURGITATE this story? Is this really anything new? Looks the same to me. If you don’t get a call back from the HOA, you’re going to continue to regurgitate this crap until you do. The scandal of it and the bickering is like little dollar signs floating around your heads. Like watching a cock-fight, betting on the loser. I have no idea why why the HOA hasn’t responded to you (bureaucratic guidelines, maybe, or maybe Barry’s got some legal action going and the HOA lawyers advised them to say nothing, or maybe they’re just too darn busy to deal with this…much like you’re too busy to visit the neighborhood yourself)….but it occurs to me that whatever the reason, it’s pretty damn smart, because you WANT the cockfight in your basement.
You’re no better than a tabloid.
When I took journalism classes at the U of A, if we got a basic fact wrong, like a misspelled name, it was an automatic “E” (fail) and we were not allowed to do all of our investigative work via phone and email, and a story with ONE SOURCE would never ever cut the mustard.
So why does the Tucson Weekly do this? Because, it occurs to me, the Tucson Weekly is no better than a tabloid, because these things are of no matter to you.
If you can’t get a call back from the HOA, then how about a call back from one of the OTHER homeowners? Is Barry the only person who lives in Finesterra? Why is no one else complaining? Why is he the only person following up with you?
All you’ve got is one crazy person who swears he fathered some celebrity’s baby (so he can get attention and whatever else he is attempting to extort) and you’ve swallowed it all hook-line-and-sinker because it sounds delicious….scandalicious! *cha-ching*
Mari, your logic doesn’t even make sense.
“HOAs are not always resident-loving community and civic minded organizations.” True, but they’re not always NOT, either. You’re on a witch hunt and you’re going to burn every HOA at the stake because you’re blinded by your mission.
” As more HOAs increased with development, more HOAs fucked up. ”
First of all, what is your point? If more development equals more eff ups, then does that mean that if there was less development then HOAs would not eff up as much? And if that bog-water logic were to be swallowed, then I’d also have to presume that it is INDEED possible that an HOA may exist that is not the anti-Christ.
What if this witch that you’re burning isn’t a witch? What if you’re getting all of your one-sided misinformation and twisted facts from a malignant narcissist? What if the reason that none of the other homeowners will talk to you isn’t because they’re afraid of the HOA, but because they’re afraid of Barry? What if Barry knows he can’t get his baloney published in any other paper, so he goes to the tabloidesque Tucson Weekly, a known HOA witch-hunter and he has just played you the fool?
What if in all of your I’m-too-busy-to-do-any-real-investigation-beyond-my-desk, scandalicious, cock-fight-instigating, witch hunt… you haven’t actually exposed some faceless HOA beaurocracy, but you’ve been a tool of a manipulative, malignant narcissist, slandering real, human people?
But again, if I am to judge from your self-righteous (and pretty darn sure of yourselves) responses….even if this does occur to you, you don’t really care. I hope that if you choose to regurgitate this story again, you might get off your rear ends and check to see if your source is playing you…or at the very least, I hope some of your readers will have enough of a brain to realize what’s going on. Although, most tabloid readers just swallow what they’re fed, so I suppose there’s not much hope.
How are we being played? Enlighten us, oh Butterfly.
Nope. Do your job. Verify that the descriptions you’re being fed are not manipulative misrepresentations. Ask questions… you know, “Who” “What” “When” “Where” “How” and “Why”
There are books in the hallway…*shining a flashlight under my chin*
OoooooooooWooooooo! (spooky ghost noise) Should we investigate Scooby Doo? Only for two Scooby Snacks! Ruh-uh! I think I’d rather talk to the people who donated food at Barry’s house. How many were there? Velma & Freddy, you find out what the clubhouse is used for. Daphne, you check out the hallway, but be careful not to fall into the secret library – the Ghost of Finesterra lives there! (oops, was that a clue?) Shaggy, you and Scoob find out if anyone other than the HOA votes at these meetings, but don’t let those weird Tucson Weekly people follow you, because I don’t think anyone wants to talk to them for fear of being called a Grinch.
Oh yeah, and Scoob, find out what Barry Austin (and Mari) seem to think that $3,500 holiday lights and a food drive have anything to do with each other…because isn’t it FREE to hold a food drive? Sooo….*rubbing chin*….wouldn’t it be possible to have BOTH the holiday lights AND a food drive? But why would Barry & Mari make it sound as if the lights were chosen in place of the food drive?
It’s a Mystery!!!
Scooby-Dooby-Dooooooooooooo!!!!
Barry is actually my long-lost father. There. I’ve set it. I’m his love child and that’s where it all went wrong.
Butter – Oy.
>> Oh yeah, and Scoob, find out what Barry Austin (and Mari) seem to think that $3,500 holiday lights and a food drive have anything to do with each other…because isn’t it FREE to hold a food drive? Sooo….*rubbing chin*….wouldn’t it be possible to have BOTH the holiday lights AND a food drive? But why would Barry & Mari make it sound as if the lights were chosen in place of the food drive? >>
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That’s the tricky thing about what happens when someone believes there is a better option for money that they are not in control of. I can give lots of examples where the government wastes taxpayer money, but I don’t control the money so I’m just a guy with a vocal complaint. Take it at face value.
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Here’s the deal: he’s been in that neighborhood for 20 years, but takes issue with an action his HOA board did, when he had been there long enough to become a firm member of the HOA itself?
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On the other hand, residents pay the HOA $2,000 annually for services? Holy crap that’s a lotta dough! Surely the residents themselves are loaded (or being taken for a ride), and the HOA has a lot of cash (or debts to service). Isn’t it entirely possible for some of that money to go to the Food Bank anyway, and likewise isn’t it possible for Barry to talk to neighbors and raise some money himself? Hmmmm….
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I think your question “sooo….*rubbing chin*….wouldn’t it be possible to have BOTH the holiday lights AND a food drive?” speaks wonders, because I could see it as a possibility. But fact is that’s just not how the board decided, and I figure that’s why it’s being reported on. Partially because Barry’s upset and acted as whistleblower.
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If you truly believe the reporting was unethical, you may consider calling the SPJ Ethics Hotline and ask them about how the story all played out. Don’t get hot if the answer is not one you are expecting, but on the flipside you may feel quite comforted if it turns out you’re right.
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Cheers,
Thanks IPH. My point is that the holiday lights are unrelated. Seems to me that their only use in this story is to sensationalize it. If the issue is the food drive, then the story ought to stick to the subject. And there are still no real answers as to why the food drive wasn’t permitted — only those provided by Barry.
As for him not being on the HOA himself. Hmmm, I wonder why that is. More to this story?
And you’re right, if community food collection was a problem (for whatever reason) then why not donate money, and/or like you said, why couldn’t Barry do his own thing? Did Barry even ASK for these things to take place? Looks to me that that’s just what’s being implied. Kind of dangerous journalism, if you ask me. Is this an issue of a grinchy board, or is it an issue of a an adult that doesn’t like being told no?
It would be pretty silly of me to ask someone to hold a food drive and put the collection boxes on top of their work desk, and then when I’m told “no” to go screaming about what a grinch that person is and complain, “I just don’t understand what the problem is! That desk is already filled with staplers, a computer, and piles and piles of paper!”
Anyway, there are two sides to every story. I just think a good journlist should verify what they’re being told (in one way or another) before they report something as fact.
PS – I’m still wondering why the rest of the homeowners aren’t talking. Here’s a hypothetical…what if the HOA was acting in the interests of the community (ie: the majority wanted things this way) then is the HOA still the “bad guy”?
It would be kind of silly of Barry to complain to a newspaper that his neighbors didn’t agree with him, but blame it on the HOA, and then there’s news. Kind of sucks that the members and employees of the HOA (called out by name) are being hung high if that’s the case, doesn’t it?
But who would want to admit that yes, indeed, they did want to enjoy some holiday lights, especially after this public crusification? I wouldn’t want to talk to the media or give them my name, either. (Again, presuming that the lights have any relationship to the food drive, which they don’t.)
I can see it now… Let’s write a news story about WinterHaven. Down with WinterHaven! Good heavens, I can only imagine how much all of those lights cost…all those decorations! And then the electricty bill! Oh, and the public services…doesn’t TPD get involved for security/traffic? (I don’t recall). If you add it all up, and all of the dollars that are spent on WinterHaven, could it be in the hundreds of thousands? What if that much money were donated to the hungry? Damn WinterHaven! Anyone who participates or enjoys that Grinchy event must HATE POOR PEOPLE! (I’m hoping that my sarcasm is obvious here, but reading between the lines seems to be a problem for some people.)
I decorate my house for the holidays. I ALSO donate money and/or food. Not always the same charity each year, but always something. And when I donate, I do so in an appropriate way and follow rules. You can’t build a Habitat for Humanity house somewhere that the zoning doesn’t permit it. You can’t hold a fundraiser somewhere that it violates fire code. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t do it in another way.
If the HOA mandated that no fund raising be done and no food be gathered, period, or something like that, okay, then I could see Barry making himself into Mr. Martyr-man. But it doesn’t look to me as if he’s championing a genuine cause here. Looks to me like someone who’s just looking to get attention and doesn’t like being told “no” and will stop at nothing, including publically humilating people until his tantrum is abided by.
Just so we’re clear, I’m just making comment, not necessarily supporting either side.