The CotoBuzz Journal, Community Journalism

The question is, what type of community journalism are you getting from your local reporter(s)?

Community journalism can be viewed as a form of reporting news and information for a certain geographic area, with the purpose to serve the best interests of the community - a vehicle for journalists working with citizens, communities and institutions for social change. However, change is not what local governing bodies usually want or advocate, - in fact, we have witnessed several "political assassinations in efforts to maintain the status quo - we have seen several hence the need for the adoption of watchdog journalism when engaging in edifying community journalism.

Watchdog journalism refers to forms of activist journalism aimed at holding accountable public personalities and institutions whose functions impact social and political life, as compared to lapdog journalism, used as a conceptual opposite to watchdog journalism. Tools of the trade include community Immersion and affinity groups.

The United States 2008 presidential election Internet Polling Place

The United States presidential election of 2000 was a hard-fought contest between Democratic candidate Al Gore, then vice president, and Republican candidate George W. Bush, governor of Texas.

On November 8, At 12am GMT, as the polls close in Florida, the Associated Press and major TV networks using exit polls declare Al Gore the victor.

It is generally acknowledged that bloggers had a significant impact in declaring Gore the winner, and the controversy continues. Some still claim that Mr. Gore should have been declared President Gore, based on votes cast.

It is clear however, that Bloggers were wrong then, and by looking at the results to date in this polling place (declaring Barack Obama the winner, Paul as the Republican's Choice, as of this writing!), bloggers may be just as wrong in 2008.

You can view results by party, candidate, state, etc, by using radio dials to the right.

You can help correct bloggers perceptions by voting using the CotoBuzz Journal polling place at the right

In 2008, vote wrongly, if you must, but by all means, vote!

During community immersion, reporters live or spend time in the community to study its geography, demographics, determine citizen needs, interests, aspirations, and generally to interact with community members as a step towards building trust, whereas community conversations take place in affinity groups, such as the Coto Discussion Forum or the LagBlogzz – Laguna Woods Village Discussion Forum. Community conversations allow journalists to probe for insights without becoming intrusive or invasive.

The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University was founded in 1938 "to promote and elevate the standards of journalism in the United States."

The premise that great questions are a key to great journalism and that the goal of watchdog journalism is to see that people in power provide information the public should have drive the Nieman Watchdog Journalism Project - “The Nieman Watchdog Journalism Project grows from this premise and this goal: to help the press ask penetrating questions, critical questions, questions that matter, questions not yet asked about today's news” (NiemanWatchdog.Org, 2007).

Given the widespread “paraphrasing” of community news, and that arguably, the fastest growing form of housing in the United States, since the mid-1960s, is common-interest developments (CID/HOAs), a category that includes planned-unit developments of single-family homes, condominiums, and cooperative apartments - the Community Associations Institute (CAI) trade association estimated that HOAs governed 23 million American homes and 57 million residents in 2006 – we apporached the editors of the NiemanWatchdog.Org Web site suggesting watchdog journalism for community reporters covering CID/HOAs. The editors were receptive, thought the idea had merit and asked us to prepare a set of questions for local governing bodies listed below.

"Is it good public policy to support undemocratic, private governments that deny homeowners their fundamental liberties"?

1. QUESTION: How do you know that you (the board of directors) are providing the best possible service?

REASONING: Most responses will focus on cosmetics rather than on the substantive. Such as “based on recent surveys”, etc.

We recommend that HOAs manage to the Triple constraint. That is, they need to develop a Scope of Service so that homeowners know what to expect from their association fees. Then, clear instructions are issued to the property manager, and legal counsel. Board of directors with limited business experience will manage to the “legalese”, rather than common sense, and thus the legal fees go through the roof.

A HOA’s budget is a function of the Scope of services rendered, legal counsel and property management competence. This is illustrated by the equilateral triangle below. In order for the HOA board of directors to cost efficiently improve the quality of services while increasing the budget, property management and legal cost must be constrained. In most cases, the budget increases, but the increase is consumed in either legal fees or property mismanagement (Financial Controls Manual)

2. QUESTION: Do you consider your community safe? What percentage of your association fees is allocated to security? How do they compare to the fees paid by the Safest City in America such as Thousand Oaks, California population 110,00 $2,200,000/year security budget (2005)

REASONING: In general, HOAs spend 25-30% of their yearly budget on security, then typical governing documents specifically say that "the association does not provide any security". The management structure lends itself quite nicely to mismanagement, fraud or both. For example, it is not unusual to witness turf battles between the property management and the security company. Most security companies invoice for their services based on time sheets. However, most security companies do not have a “time and attendance audit program” and in fact, we know of one who has directed employees not to document tardiness or absences. These instructions came after the same company over-invoiced the property management for $168,000. The property manager did not detect the error

3. QUESTION: How often do you use consultants? How do you decide which consultants to use?

REASONING: Most HOA directors do not have any practical business experience. At best, their qualification may be to have memorized archaic regulations contained in the governing documents (CC&Rs). Typical organizations do not have actionable due diligence plans, resulting in the blind-leading-the-blind syndrome. ( Due Diligence IT Template)

4. QUESTION: Are you concerned with conflict of interest or fraud within the HOA? Are directors required to sign aRights and Responsibilities document? Are Board of director’s candidates required to be certified?

REASONING: Apple pie question, with predictable response. The facts are that HOA are an excellent target for rampant conflict of interest, fraud, etc. This may be due to naiveté, incompetence, greed, or all of the above. Aside from audit reports issued by an independent accounting firm, there is no systemic methodology or know-how available to the HOA directors to prevent fraud, or conflict of interest (Accounts Payable Audit Template)

If Peter’s Principle can be applied to the corporate world, the HOA principle applies here when selecting a HOA board of directors!

RESPONSE: More often than not, legal counsel and/or management company representatives, rather than directors, manage meeting and elections. A case of the fox guarding the hen house?

REASONING: Invariably, HOA board of directors likes to discuss controversial subject behind closed door. The CaliforniaCivil Code (1363.05c). States that all owners have the right to attend all meetings of the Board other than when one of 5 topics (see below) is being discussed.

For all such meetings they need to give all owners a minimum of 4 days notice. Further they need to general note any matter discussed in executive session in the minutes of the immediately following meeting that is open to the entire membership

In general owners are not encouraged to attend meetings, they do not received meeting minutes and have difficulty getting access to audited financial results, and when confronted, independent auditors typically refer you back to the board of directors.

REASONING: If we live in a litigious society, this is not much more evident that when you are part of a HOA. You have neighbors suing each other, suing the board, the property manager and vice versa.

REASONING: There are countless factors affecting how one builds a sense of community within a HOA, including demographics, local county government, residents and the board. The best way to create pride in the community is resident involvement and having a shared vision. However, if such involvement is a function of the current board, the results will be as expected, partisan.

9. QUESTION: Do members of the community trust that a legitimate violation of the CC&Rs will be handled in a professional manner?

10) QUESTION: Do you think your county taxes and your homeowner dues are
about balanced? Would you rather have a town tax and no county tax? (If questions are within a town or city, ask the questions the other way around) Would you rather have a county tax and a village tax, and no homeowner dues?

Even Lawyers Get the Blues
The Wall Street Journal profiles the changing landscape of attorneys and depression.

Lawyer Depresson Comes Out of the Closet
The American Bar Association discusses the changing attitudes of legal professionals towards depression.

One Attorney's Story
Attorney Dan Lukasik shares his personal struggle with Depression in this article from TRIAL Magazine.

The Scrutiny of Lawyers“There are plenty of jokes about lawyers, but everyone investigating them knows it can be a challenging task”, reads the preamble to an article by Ames Alexander, an investigative reporter with the Charlotte Observer for over 28 years and with more than 40 journalism awards to his credit.

Pssst, Can I Interest You In a Lawyer?- When there are too many policemen, there can be no liberty.
When there are too many soldiers, there can be no peace.
When there are too many lawyers, there can be no justice.

Sustainable Customer Relationship in US Legal System Paradox The July 31, 2007 issue of the Scotsman reports that a “radical overhaul of Scotland's legal system to give consumers greater choice and a cheaper service will be recommended today by the UK's competition watchdog” and that “the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) wants to lift restrictions on the way lawyers operate in Scotland, opening up the profession to competition for the first time”.

Annual Summer Youth Behind the Scenes Legal System Local Orange County high school students will have the opportunity next week to get a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to be a prosecutor, defense attorney, police detective and judge during the 7th Annual Summer Youth Education Conference.

Former Haidl, Jaramillo Defense Attorney JG Cavallo Goes to Jail
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The Orange County DA's Office No Habla Christmas
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