Get out the popcorn.
In case you missed it or wondered what sent the so-called censors of Cypress Head NextDoor into a tailspin, the texts that were deleted from NextDoor were provided to the team at NO TO KANGAROOS (TM).
This is one post that was quickly deleted from Cypress Head NextDoor:
SAVE CHILDREN'S BUTTERFLY GARDEN
Neighbors, I just received THREE copies of the same letter dated 25 February 2021 from L.B. of Campbell Property Management Company. The letter was copied to the ARB (Architectural Review Board) and Board of Directors.
The letter states, “Please understand that this will be the Association’s final correspondence related to the matter, and the decision rendered by the Board as delineated herein, will not be further considered.”
What is most alarming is that I, who pays dues to this HOA, was NOT provided the required 14 days notice in this letter to attend a Covenant and Traffic Enforcement Committee (CTEC) meeting to appeal this determination.
Both postal letters were mailed 26 February 2021 from Miami. They arrived on 1 March 2021.
According to Florida Statutes 720.305(2)(b):
“A fine or suspension levied by the board of administration may not be imposed unless the board first provides at least 14 days’ notice to the parcel owner and… an opportunity for a hearing before a committee…”
Neighbors, this INTENTIONAL OMISSION should NOT surprise anyone since our president, in FULL COOPERATION with our management company, appears to have retaliated against me through a non-stop violation notice mill for the last six months. He tried to prevent me from posting information on NextDoor, downplayed his position and influence on the ARB, double dipped in (and leads) the ARB, required 4 LENGTHY submissions to the ARB (and rejected each one), required the creation of a side site plan and used it as a ruse to invent more fictitious violations, denied me equal access to attend two of four ARB meetings, refused to provide me with a record of time stamped and date stamped photos of these violation notice claims, pressured me to resign from an independent wildlife group that I established, planted an ARB member in my group (who conveniently failed to disclose his double dipping role on the ARB for several months), AND closed the quorum on me at a Board meeting on 27 January 2021 (a clear violation of Florida Statutes (F.S.) 720.303(2)(b)) when he told me to “get back to your children”!
He effectively refused me the opportunity to allow the Board members to ask me questions (following my short presentation) and closed me out of a meeting that immediately followed concerning the purchase of electronic voting software.
Neighbors, why does it now seem like a gulag in here?
B.C. also told me at the third ARB meeting on 9 February 2021 (that I was allowed to attend) : “I don't care about your butterfly garden. I just don’t want to see it!”
Neighbors, who harbors such venom toward butterflies?
This garden attracts more than 15 different rare AND endangered butterfly species and different native wildlife to our property AND our community. This garden is certified by the National Wildlife Federation, Florida Wildlife Federation, and Broward County as a “Florida-Friendly property that conserves and protects our precious water resources and provides valuable wildlife habitat”. There is also an application pending with the state for designation as Florida Friendly Landscaping (F.S. 373.185, F.S. 720.3075). Additionally, our state also protects gardens, such as these that grow vegetables (F.S. 373.185, CS/SB 82). Courts consistently rule in FAVOR of such homeowners.
Our children’s butterfly garden was also reviewed by government representatives of our city AND county. These representatives were ASTOUNDED to learn that this existing butterfly garden now faces destruction. As one government representative said to me, “This garden is beautiful. This is exactly what we encourage residents to do.” Not one government representative stated that our children’s butterfly garden violated ANY city or county codes. I received a letter from one government representative that stated that nothing “….should be removed or disturbed as these can disturb the habitat”.
Is CH really a community that is child-friendly AND environmentally-friendly when it seems to be ruled by an apparent OLIGARCHY (president, vice president, and some other seriously LONG-time Board members) that appear to harbor some REAL “condo commando” attitudes and are laser-focused on DESTROYING our elementary school aged children’s butterfly garden on the side of our home?
What message does this bullying behavior send to EVERY resident and POTENTIAL resident, especially parents of elementary school aged children?
According to research, there is an historical pattern of selective enforcement and vendettas that was levied against certain residents of CH. From 1 September 2020 (the date of my innocuous butterfly post on NextDoor and the first violation notice that followed it) to the present, I am the target of B.C.’s long and seemingly personal vendetta. Elementary school aged children, does not know, are his BIGGEST victims.
NEIGHBORS, this pattern of EGREGIOUS abuses of power is UNACCEPTABLE!
According to B.C.’s NextDoor post of 24 November 2020 (which he followed up to me with another violation notice that same day): “If you have issues with the way you feel you are being treated, the CTEC committee meets regularly and is made up of your fellow homeowners who deal with these issues. It is the very reason that CTEC exists and is far more effective than posting on NextDoor.”
I would like to now know:
I.
How come I was not provided an invitation to the CTEC hearing in the final determination letter of 25 February 2021, B.C.? Why the intentional omission, L.B.?
II.
Why are residents now denied access to CTEC to appeal a final determination by the Board?
III.
Please comply with Florida Statutes and provide me with an invitation to attend a CTEC meeting, my 14-day notice, and also an option to Zoom into the CTEC meeting during this pandemic. Thank you.
IV.
Please NOW provide me with a record of time stamped AND date stamped photographs to support the allegation in the final determination letter of 25 February 2021 that states
“During our review of your property, it appeared that you have continued to make alterations to your lot without prior approval” in this letter. This is a VERY serious allegation. As you know, we are the recipients of several CEASE AND DESIST notices since 1 September 2020. We have not altered our lot. These notices have also effectively prohibited us from sharing any cuttings and/ or plants with our neighbors and all of the charities we support.
V.
Please also email me ALL time stamped AND date stamped photographs that this board and management company took of the side of my property without further delay. (These photographs MUST have these stamps on them. The stamps cannot be added at a later time to any photo. The US Post Office does NOT back stamp envelopes. These time stamped and date stamped photos are now needed to take to CTEC to review and rebut one of MANY invented violation notices.)
VI.
Does B.C. and his ARB and Board associates also attend and/ or influence the outcomes of CTEC? (B.C. and other members of the Board “double dip” and attend EVERY ARB meeting. Double dipping, the holding of one position on the Board and the attending of and/ or influencing of another committee (e.g., the ARB), effectively eliminates objectivity and neutrality in EVERY ARB case and review. Double dipping introduces bias. It also ensures a predetermined outcome. It creates a kangaroo court. Furthermore, double dipping also effectively destroys the ARB appeals process according to the ARB Manual, p.7. There is absolutely NO due process afforded to ANY resident who is on B.C.’s radar as long as he and other Board members are allowed to double dip. The ARB meetings and the ARB application process are now, simply, a fool’s exercise. And this is exactly the way it seems that the president, the double dipping Board members, AND Campbell Property Management want it to be. There is NO recourse. There is NO neutral third party for appeals, pre-CTEC.)
There is also NO diversified representation and NOT one female resident currently on the ARB and/ or in leadership positions on this Board. (Leadership is defined as those who lead the Board and/ or the ARB.)
NEXTDOOR POST OF 4 MARCH 2021
L.B. (CH property manager) CH There is always two sides to every story. There is much being left out of this post including actual facts. It is unfortunate for certain peoples reputations to be smeared on social media for something that is not at all what it seems. Cypress Head has been enforcing their covenants, rules and restrictions, while adhering to the Florida Statues, despite the claims being made. Each Resident has their rights and they are given many opportunities to resolve their concerns. Please let’s keep this in mind when making assumptions, especially since the whole story has not been shared.
The homeowner's response:
Seriously, L.B., The facts speak for themselves. Why are you and the Cypresshead NextDoor administrators deleting and muting each of my posts on Cypresshead NextDoor? Maybe if the CH online police didn't practice Cancel Culture and didn't feel so threatened by the truth then the plight of the butterfly garden would NEVER have to go public OUTSIDE of Cypresshead. No American wants their first amendment rights trampled upon. This matter must NOW go public because the CH president, B.C., property management company, and the ARB (which completely lacks due process) appear to be targeting and practicing a Cancel Culture of certain residents who "are on their radar". Research shows that there is such a pattern of targeting and selective enforcement in CH. The muting and deleting of ALL of my posts on NextDoor lead credence to this plight and the fate of our butterfly garden. My first violation notice followed a post about atala butterflies on 1 September 2020. I have the images to show this. Why would anyone of the moderators on Cypresshead NextDoor feel so THREATENED over atala butterflies and send me a violation notice on 1 September 2020? A violation notice OVER BUTTERFLY PHOTOS? Seriously. Who could possibly be afraid that they could be attacked by these tiny and endangered butterflies?
The post generated a lot of positive responses and interest in butterfly gardens in our community. The dates match up. Eighty-five days later, I received a non-stop violation notice mill that followed a survey (about costs and damages related to the pool and public area) and some safety concerns in this community. Why would B.C. or any other leader feel threatened by this information? The survey was sent via private email. It was returned incomplete (according to other residents). Clearly, the violation notices seemed like a distraction from something larger. The violation notice of 24 November 2020 had the words "Email survey" on the back. This was also displayed to all of our neighbors in CH before it was removed by the Cypresshead NextDoor administrators yesterday. The dates all match up, L.B.. For every action, there is a reaction from the violation notice mill in CH. This same group of censors who appear to police CH NextDoor is also removing my posts to our commissioner. Seriously? Aren't you one of the administrators? Why would you allow this? Where is THE respect for an elected official in office? Our commissioner does a wonderful service for our community. Why, pray tell, must any CH resident feel so threatened that they have to reach out to our elected officials to save a butterfly garden in Parkland? Furthermore, we await answers to the following:
1. Who is DELETING AND POLICING my online posts on Cypresshead NextDoor if there are "two sides to this"? Why can't there be civility and respect practiced toward CH residents online, in ARB meetings, at Board meetings, and on Zoom? Why not restore all of my posts in Cypresshead NextDoor so we can present two sides to this and allow other residents (those who face the same axes) to express their concerns and grievances online? Maybe someone (other than B.C., the double-dipping Board and ARB members, and their allies) will offer some useful support that we can all benefit from. Maybe what this shows is the need for a neutral third-party, pre-CTEC to avoid such publicity? I repeatedly addressed these concerns and issues and they were ignored and even mocked. Again, I was shut out of 2 ARB meetings and had a quorum closed on me at a Board meeting. This is NOT a professional way to respect the views and concerns of CH residents.
2. Why have you FAILED to issue me 14-day notice, per Florida Statutes , to attend a CTEC hearing that EVERY resident is allowed to do? This is not an unintentional omission. This is Florida law.
3. Does B.C., our president, and other double-dipping members of the Board and ARB also attend and/ or influence the CTEC? THIS IS VERY CONCERNING. Double-dipping completely eliminates due process and introduces bias into a system that was developed to improve our community and NOT cause harm and frustration to residents in CH. I am not the first person to address this. According to research, there are MANY other residents and former ARB members who have expressed these same grievances. It's likely that my posts in Cypresshead NextDoor were muted and deleted to avoid such backlash from other CH residents.
4. The US Post Office does not back stamp envelopes. Why have you NEVER supplied me any time-stamped and date-stamped photos to support the baseless claims outlined in each violation notice? (Neighbors, I repeatedly requested photos and was promised them in a file. It took weeks to receive the file- devoid of photos. L.B., you then indicated that the photos were proprietary! Seriously? I pay dues to the HOA and the photos that are taken of the side of my home are now considered proprietary?) Please now supply me a record of time-stamped and time-dated photos so that I may rebut the allegations lodged against my children's existing butterfly garden.
5. I am now receiving many calls, emails, and texts from OTHER CH residents especially those with ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGED children, who are also facing harassment from this same network of leaders and managers in CH. Their concerns, echo my own, and include the following:
I. Targeting and selective enforcement.
II. Double-dipping of Board members.
III. Invented rules (no following of the Covenants)
IV. No neutral grievance process.
V. No females and diversified representation of leadership and Board members (in particular, those who rule on ARB and similar matters).
VI. The complete absence of anyone on the ARB qualified to evaluate butterfly gardens. (Where is there at least one person currently licensed and degreed in horticulture?)
VII. No time-stamped and time-dated photos to support allegations outlined in any violation notices.
VIII. Vagueness and a lack of specificity in the language of the violation notices.
IX. Deletion and muting of Cypresshead NextDoor posts.
X. An inability to resolve issues immediately.
I would also like to assure you that all of the CEASE AND DESIST notices that I received concerning my children's butterfly garden, successfully accomplished one thing that I hope makes you, B.C., and the double-dipping Board and ARB members VERY proud of: The inability for my children and me to support charities through the numerous plants that we donate each year for fundraisers to the Friends of the Parkland Library, Sawgrass Nature Center, Everglades Angels Dog Rescue, and local churches, to name a few. No donations were offered for the last six months since the 1 September 2020 violation notice rolled in because of the CEASE AND DESIST NOTICES prevented any and all alterations to the land landscaping. Thank you for that.
Neighbors and friends, I just received an email from L.B. of CH alerting me of a "courtesy reminder" of my hearing before CTEC on 15 March 2021. The final determination letter dated 25 February 2021 conveniently eliminated this information. There was no 14 day notification issued in accordance with Florida Statutes.
Furthermore, B.C., the president, L.B., and Campbell Property Management have FAILED:
1. To provide me with any time-stamped and time-dated photos of the butterfly garden that they repeatedly claimed was altered;
2. To provide, despite numerous requests, specificities as these relate to this violation notice mill that was apparently started by B.C., who is known, publicly, to harbor vendettas against certain residents, in cooperation with Campbell Property Management;
3. To confirm and/ or deny whether any member of CTEC is a friend, associate, and or ally of B.C. and/ or any one of the double-dipping Board members (including J.W.);
4. To confirm or deny whether or not B.C. and/ or double-dipping Board member sits in and/ or influences the CTEC process in any shape or form. (As indicated, B.C. has publicly noted that he sits (and double-dips) in on every ARB meeting. It is unclear whether or not he also double-dips in CTEC matters);
5. To provide a ZOOM link to the CTEC hearing since this is a pandemic and not everyone feels comfortable attending such a hearing in-person;
6. To limit all communication by email and to cite each specificity in writing since I have met J.W. (ARB and vice president) and L.B. (Campbell Property Management property manager) onsite. They encouraged me to submit a side site plan of the property and used it as a ruse to invent new violations. (This, everyone, seems VERY unethical and unacceptable.)
7. To allow the CH NextDoor moderators (B.C., L.B., and G.L.) to stop muting and deleting my posts concerning this matter on Cypresshead NextDoor.
The facts and the truth speak for themselves- and their reactions speak volumes. There would never be a muting or a deleting of these posts in Cypresshead NextDoor if no one in the leadership and/ or management felt threatened by these truths.
This post seems to have not been deleted from NextDoor as of March 14, 2021 at 11:30 EST.
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