hawaiiansteel
10-16-2010, 03:20 PM
Fan takes flack for flying sports flag
Takes on Homeowners Association
Published : Thursday, 14 Oct 2010
Reporter: Crystal Gutierrez
http://www.ericovermyer.com/SteelersFlag.jpg
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A flap over a flag is brewing in an Albuquerque neighborhood after the Ventana Ranch Homeowners' Association ordered a resident to take down his Pittsburgh Steelers flag.
Ronnie Martinez said he couldn’t believe it when he got a violation notice, or “friendly reminder,” in the mail two weeks ago.
“They're saying it’s a friendly reminder but,” Martinez said
That friendly reminder is ordering him to fold up a flag bearing the name of his favorite NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, because signs are forbidden under Ventana Ranch HOA’s covenant.
Yet, Wednesday afternoon there was that same flag hanging above Martinez’s garage next to his American flag.
The Pittsburgh fan said it will keep flying for at least the next few months.
“My Steelers flag goes up usually on Sundays on football day,” Martinez said. “It will stay there from now until the end of the season, which is in January.”
Martinez said he knows more letters will follow and soon he'll be ordered to pay several fees for the violation. However, his question is, “What violation?”
The letter highlights a section in the covenants titled ‘signs.’ The word 'sign' pops up several times, nearly a dozen, but it never mentions flags.
“It's not in the covenants saying you can't have a sports flag, you can't have a fall flag,” Martinez said.
Even Martinez's neighbors couldn’t believe he’s getting so much flack for flying his flag.
“That's crazy,” one neighbor said.
“You're telling me,” Martinez shouted back. “Too bad Dave’s not here. I would tell him to put up his Cowboys flag.”
News 13 also found other neighbors had their own flags flying that day. From American flags to flags welcoming guests were hung, staked into the ground or on flag poles.
News 13 called Canyon Gate, the HOA management services, that served the violation about the letter.
The group declined to talk to on camera but said their interpretation of the sign section in the covenant is that he football flag is a sign.
They also said the section might need more clarity but that's up to the association’s board of directors.
Later Thursday the management group sent a statement on behalf of the board stating the, “HOA will not take a formal position on the matter” until after talking with Martinez.
Martinez said he plans to file an official complaint about the issue and said he's willing to go to court to keep the Steelers' flag flying.
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/politics/Man-gets-flack-for-flying-flag
Takes on Homeowners Association
Published : Thursday, 14 Oct 2010
Reporter: Crystal Gutierrez
http://www.ericovermyer.com/SteelersFlag.jpg
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A flap over a flag is brewing in an Albuquerque neighborhood after the Ventana Ranch Homeowners' Association ordered a resident to take down his Pittsburgh Steelers flag.
Ronnie Martinez said he couldn’t believe it when he got a violation notice, or “friendly reminder,” in the mail two weeks ago.
“They're saying it’s a friendly reminder but,” Martinez said
That friendly reminder is ordering him to fold up a flag bearing the name of his favorite NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, because signs are forbidden under Ventana Ranch HOA’s covenant.
Yet, Wednesday afternoon there was that same flag hanging above Martinez’s garage next to his American flag.
The Pittsburgh fan said it will keep flying for at least the next few months.
“My Steelers flag goes up usually on Sundays on football day,” Martinez said. “It will stay there from now until the end of the season, which is in January.”
Martinez said he knows more letters will follow and soon he'll be ordered to pay several fees for the violation. However, his question is, “What violation?”
The letter highlights a section in the covenants titled ‘signs.’ The word 'sign' pops up several times, nearly a dozen, but it never mentions flags.
“It's not in the covenants saying you can't have a sports flag, you can't have a fall flag,” Martinez said.
Even Martinez's neighbors couldn’t believe he’s getting so much flack for flying his flag.
“That's crazy,” one neighbor said.
“You're telling me,” Martinez shouted back. “Too bad Dave’s not here. I would tell him to put up his Cowboys flag.”
News 13 also found other neighbors had their own flags flying that day. From American flags to flags welcoming guests were hung, staked into the ground or on flag poles.
News 13 called Canyon Gate, the HOA management services, that served the violation about the letter.
The group declined to talk to on camera but said their interpretation of the sign section in the covenant is that he football flag is a sign.
They also said the section might need more clarity but that's up to the association’s board of directors.
Later Thursday the management group sent a statement on behalf of the board stating the, “HOA will not take a formal position on the matter” until after talking with Martinez.
Martinez said he plans to file an official complaint about the issue and said he's willing to go to court to keep the Steelers' flag flying.
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/politics/Man-gets-flack-for-flying-flag