Lax state regulation of condos only getting worse | Letters to the editor

Your news article, “Condo Wars: State regulators a dead end for desperate condo owners,” exposing the non-performance of the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) in resolving condo unit owner complaints, was depressingly accurate.

Here’s my experience. I filed a complaint that a condominium director with seven felony convictions for grand larceny and a civil service violation had only a partial restoration of his civil rights restored when the law, Chapter 718, says full restoration is a prerequisite to serve as a director. My initial complaint was dismissed because of “lack of jurisdiction” because the complaint, I was told, was not filed within 60 days of an election. I waited months until the director declared for reelection and immediately refiled my complaint with documentation of his candidacy.

Despite citing the relevant statute and following the state’s suggestions about timeliness, my complaint was “resolved” by rubber-stamping it “lack of jurisdiction.” When I called the office to appeal the decision I was told the case has been closed.

Fred Hadley, Boca Raton

Sky-high condo insurance

When Gov. Ron DeSantis finally realizes he won’t be president, maybe he’ll get back to governing Florida. We’re headed for a crisis affecting condo associations, especially here in Broward, due to extortion by insurance companies for liability coverage. There are 253,000 condo units in Broward and 3,987 condo associations with 75% of the units built before 1990.

I live in a 55-and-over complex in Margate. When our insurance was being renewed, we found that our insurance company had fled the state, like many others. Our board of directors panicked and obtained a policy from Citizens for $1.7 million, a 131% increase in premium with less liability coverage. They knew it was ridiculous, but they did it anyway.

We don’t live on Fisher Island or Mar-a-Lago. Now we’re stuck with this ridiculous policy and a 41% increase in maintenance costs, even though Social Security is giving us only a 3.2% cost-of-living raise.

Where do insurance companies and condo associations think the money will come from? Many seniors will now be able to pay only a portion of their maintenance payments. If the extortion from Citizens keeps up, seniors will have to mow their own lawns, water their shrubs and use duct tape for repairs. The Legislature and Governor have to do something about these insane premiums, or unit owners will be filing for bankruptcy en masse, and the associations will get nothing. Insurance in Florida is a joke, and the joke is on us!

Maureen Patrick, Margate

A welcome respite in Gaza

To hear the stories of Palestinians being freed from Israeli prisons only adds to the frustration and criticism of Israel’s government.

When queried about why she was sentenced to 10 years in prison and had served eight when released, one woman said she had been standing too close to an Israeli soldier, was taken in for interrogation and sentenced to that outrageous term. Others spoke of being denied food and water and were denied use of mobile phones to speak with families. Torture and ill treatment by prison guards are not uncommon.

In the respite from Israeli bombings, those returning to reclaim the barest of possessions have been shot at and some were killed. Hospitals in Gaza to treat the wounded and provide maternity care have been rendered unfit due to Israel’s incursions. Meanwhile the director and staff members of Al Shifa Hospital were arrested for purported knowledge of Hamas operating there — so far unproven. The other major hospital, Indonesian, was severely bombed, with both hospitals having to move sick, injured and maternity patients.

Sid Sussman, Hallandale Beach

Toward a lawless society

Now that we have permit-less carry for guns, is the next step eliminating driver’s licenses? How about not requiring electricians and plumbers to be licensed? Why do we have to get a marriage license?

Let’s eliminate all condominium laws, too. Is a lawless society the ultimate goal?

Rudy Weingart, Coconut Creek