The CotoBuzz Journal, Community Journalism

The CotoBuzz Journal

Community Journalism, Newsletters and Blogs Covering South Orange County, CA

The CotoBuzz Journal is a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) and NAHJ

June 2007 Issue

We do not make jokes, we simply watch the LA Times, the Orange County Register and the Coto de Caza Board of directors and report the facts!

Paraphrasing the LA Times on Defeat of SB670 & Wicked Twin Witches of the West - SB 127 & AB-980

May 13, 2007

Taking a page out of the OC Register’s “paraphrased reporting”, an article written by LA Times staff writer Diane Weder titled “Bill to limit transfer fee founders”, published appropriately on May 13, 2007, quotes the president of the statewide Realtors group, Colleen Badagliacco as saying: "We are extremely disappointed that SB 670 failed to make it out of committee …Home buyers in California deserve better."

The tenet of the LA Times article echoes the “paraphrased” Red Alert (term used by CAR) issued by the California Association of Realtors® (CAR) and previously reported by the Journal. The Red Alert contains the headline “Home buyers at risk: SB 670 Defeated in Committee”.

CAR’s Red Alert describes the defeat as “SB 670 (Correa), C.A.R.’s sponsored “Private Transfer Tax Prohibition” bill was defeated today by the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee”. The legislation would have protected consumers by placing responsible restrictions on private transfer taxes levied by developers and limiting the proceeds to environmental and affordable housing efforts related to the”

Interesting to note that CAR has not been responsive to the questions raised by CAR insiders and interested homeowners during the process leading up to the defeat of SB 670. Questions such as:

· What was the pressing need for this bill that caused CAR to sponsor it?

· Who came to CAR and said ‘please help us do this’?

· When exactly did CAR think it was a good idea to volunteer its members to become the disclosure police and deep-pockets of liability for this bill (and the eight related bills) that only will hurt the members by subjecting us to more lawsuits and higher E&O fees?

· Why is this bill being rushed through on a fast track, without adequate time for AN INFORMED analysis and response?

· Given the deleterious effect this bill will have on members, let alone the public in general, why didn’t CAR solicit member opinions prior to ever sponsoring the bill?

· As for the bill(s) itself, SB670 completely undermines Civil Code Section 711 (even with the more recent proposed change of “adding” a subsection rather than full amendment to the actual code section), which has been in existence and served Californians well since the late 1800s.

Neither the LA Times nor CAR address the Wicked Twin-Witches of the West: SB 127 AND AB 980 - see below:

For legislation contact information, click here, find your representative and let them know how you feel – unless you are Clueless in my CID/HOA!

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