Author Topic: Retired Leo ordered to take down flag. (Read 1536 times)

powderman · « **on:** November 20, 2011, 11:13:05 AM »

Retired Police Officer Reportedly Told to Remove Flag Honoring Victims of 9/11
Published November 20, 2011
| FoxNews.com

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A retired New York City police officer living in Florida has been ordered to take down his flag commemorating September 11 by his homeowners’ association, WPLG reports.
Richard Wentz, who helped victims out of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, has been told he has just days to take down his flag or face possible legal action.
"That flag means the world to me. Other than my children, that flag means the world to me," said Wentz.
A letter from the Fairways at Heron Bay association said the flag detracts from the aesthetic harmony of the surrounding properties. Wentz said he was confronted by Patricia Favata, president of the property’s board of directors, according to the station.
No one was at Favata's home when WPLG Local 10 tried to talk to her.
Wentz said he ran into Tower 1 and started pulling out people before the building collapsed. He said he lost 43 friends and colleagues that day.
Wentz says he now has cancer, from breathing in all the particles during the cleanup of Ground Zero.
"I will not take that flag down. That flag will remain up. I don't care how many fines they want to give me, how many notices they want to give me, I refuse to take that down," Wentz told the station.
Click for more on the story from Local10.com

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/11/20/retired-police-officer-reportedly-told-to-remove-flag-honoring-victims-11/?test=latestnews#ixzz1eHnZtwU5

yellowtail3 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 20, 2011, 01:37:52 PM »

I'd ask what relevence his former profession has, but I've already figured it out: yet another LEO 'hero' who thinks the rules don't apply to him... all those years of union cover & living with expectation of professional courtesy took their toll, I guess.

SwampThing762 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 20, 2011, 06:11:47 PM »

yt3,

And any leftie gets left alone, because they are special. The left hates cops, soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and Coasties. They represent law and order, and protect freedom. The left is all about control. You should hope if you ever need a cop, there is one willing to help you.

St762

Mike38 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 20, 2011, 07:24:57 PM »

If it was a gay rights rainbow flag, nobody would be saying a word. I'm not gay bashing. I have a friend that is gay. I'm just speaking the truth. No one, I mean no one wants to mess with the PC crowd and say anything "bad" about the gay rights movement.

yellowtail3 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 21, 2011, 12:43:52 AM »

Quote from: Mike38 on November 20, 2011, 07:24:57 PM

If it was a gay rights rainbow flag, nobody would be saying a word.

That's not something we can check, and i disagree. I understand saying so... but that doesn't make it so. I'll take it your position is that folks flying the national flag are a persecuted class?

They're not.

powderman · « **Reply #5 on:** November 21, 2011, 04:09:11 AM »

SWAMPTHING, MIKE. Good posts. POWDERMAN.

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #6 on:** November 21, 2011, 12:55:35 PM »

First it was the cross, now it is the American flag!

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 21, 2011, 02:24:11 PM »

I'm looking to buy a house right now and I am purposely avoiding even looking at houses that are in homeowners associations. I can't imagine why anyone would want to pay an extra fee every year for the "privilege" of having neighbors tell them how they have to maintain their own private property.

powderman · « **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2011, 03:40:38 AM »

I bet if this guy was a doper and wanted to fly a mary jane flag certain ones here would support him. Wanna bet?? He was a cop, that makes him the BG to some here. POWDERMAN.

briarpatch · « **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2011, 09:28:40 AM »

Just to stir the pot, I wonder how many times he violated someones rights or removed something of similar value to the owner? Maybe none? maybe some?
Seems like LEO's are being used to remove freedoms more and more but for some reason when they get pushed out or leave they dont believe they are civilian. Hope he wins, I dislike HOA's.
We aint seen nothing yet.

powderman · « **Reply #10 on:** November 22, 2011, 09:38:16 AM »

Hoas are kinda like planning and zoning that we have here. My neighbor built a new house. The co sent me a letter asking if it was ok that he allow his disabled daughter to live in his existing dbl wide or should he remove it. I told them it was none of my business or theirs either. It stayed. P&Z has kept folks out of our county. POWDERMAN.

yellowtail3 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 22, 2011, 10:08:58 AM »

Quote from: powderman on November 22, 2011, 03:40:38 AM

He was a cop, that makes him the BG to some here. POWDERMAN.

Could be; likewise to others, his retired cop somenhow confers his some adulation & spushul consideration. Strange.

SwampThing762 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 22, 2011, 11:28:09 AM »

Quote from: Doublebass73 on November 21, 2011, 02:24:11 PM

I'm looking to buy a house right now and I am purposely avoiding even looking at houses that are in homeowners associations. I can't imagine why anyone would want to pay an extra fee every year for the "privilege" of having neighbors tell them how they have to maintain their own private property.

Doublebass73,

Good look in your search. You can always buy a house in a neighborhood with the mortgage through your bank, and only sign documents provided by your bank. You are not required to join a homeowner's association. Once you buy the house and yard, it's yours. If the neighbors don't like it, tell them to Kilo Yankee Alpha. If you do not sign a covenant, they cannot say anything. I know I will never sign a covenant if I have an opportunity to buy a house, HOA or not.

ST762

dukkillr · « **Reply #13 on:** November 22, 2011, 11:48:56 AM »

Quote from: SwampThing762 on November 22, 2011, 11:28:09 AM

Doublebass73,

Good look in your search. You can always buy a house in a neighborhood with the mortgage through your bank, and only sign documents provided by your bank. You are not required to join a homeowner's association. Once you buy the house and yard, it's yours. If the neighbors don't like it, tell them to Kilo Yankee Alpha. If you do not sign a covenant, they cannot say anything. I know I will never sign a covenant if I have an opportunity to buy a house, HOA or not.

ST762

For your sake, do not consider the above to be accurate legal advice.

mechanic · « **Reply #14 on:** November 22, 2011, 11:51:18 AM »

I will say this, the RIGHT to fly our country's flag should not be superceded by any contract with anyone and by anyone, LEO or not. I can understand not wanting the house next door purple polka dotted, but a reasonably sized flag should not offend any HOA. If it does, they have a problem.

I bought an older home, (over 100 yrs.) from my MIL's estate, have moved into and am refurbishing it as I can.

A local organization armed with Gov. grants has bought up much of the area to revitalize it....great. They got a rude awakening when they stopped by to inform me of what I could or could not do to mine. I was told since I was in the area allotted, they could control certain aspects of my remodel.

They left in a big hurry......I haven't seen them since.

I fly my flag 24/7 with a spotlight. I will remove it when it becomes too tattered to remain, and replace it with a new one. Not before.

Ben

briarpatch · « **Reply #15 on:** November 22, 2011, 11:54:55 AM »

Did not know that swampthing. I know in Fl. they are chartered by the state and if everyone in HOA got together and tried to throw it out they cant. If the home owners drop it, it is turned over to a lawyer and he can charge what every he wants to execute the HOA there is no limit what he can charge. This is per a good friend that tried along with others to disband it.

briarpatch · « **Reply #16 on:** November 22, 2011, 12:06:15 PM »

When you join an HOA you except the rules. When you join this web site you except the rules. The problem most people have, they do not read the fine print or feel it dont matter. How many know what their insurance policy says about putting you up if your house is destroyed. I bet 90% here would flunk the test if asked. I would have and did until it smacked me in the butt. If you think you are covered go look at it, you will probably be out tomorrow hunting additional insurance coverage.

SwampThing762 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 22, 2011, 12:13:43 PM »

I read the Florida Statutes on HOAs, and saw no express statutory language that says every homeowner must sign a covenant and join an association.

And for the barristers here, I never said it was legal advice.

ST762

powderman · « **Reply #18 on:** November 22, 2011, 01:49:19 PM »

Quote

I can understand not wanting the house next door purple polka dotted, but a reasonably sized flag should not offend any HOA. If it does, they have a problem.

MECHANIC. Good post Sir. I can think of no place that the American flag displayed with respect would offend any REAL Americans. POWDERMAN.

briarpatch · « **Reply #19 on:** November 22, 2011, 03:23:06 PM »

Swampthing you are right as far as not having to join but you will not live in the HOA area. Im not sure who could sell you a house and not require it. When my sol bought a house he had no choice if he wanted to live where he bought.
If you are right I have learned something useful.

briarpatch · « **Reply #20 on:** November 22, 2011, 03:25:15 PM »

That is true Powderman and I support flying the flag but I dont want a flag from another nation popping in the wind either.

Casull · « **Reply #21 on:** November 22, 2011, 04:17:34 PM »

Quote

I read the Florida Statutes on HOAs, and saw no express statutory language that says every homeowner must sign a covenant and join an association.

Swampthing, it doesn't matter whether you sign a covenant. The HOA is created by a declaration recorded against the properties, that "runs with the land". They are typically created by the developer that subdivides the property. When you buy land, you buy it subject to all matters of record in the chain of title.

nw_hunter · « **Reply #22 on:** November 23, 2011, 04:41:34 AM »

I removed the last two post's! Reason?............Some just cannot keep on topic without starting another flame war.

powderman · « **Reply #23 on:** November 23, 2011, 04:43:18 AM »

CASULL. Good post Sir. POWDERMAN.

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #24 on:** November 23, 2011, 05:42:17 AM »

Quote from: dukkillr on November 22, 2011, 11:48:56 AM

Quote from: SwampThing762 on November 22, 2011, 11:28:09 AM
Doublebass73,

Good look in your search. You can always buy a house in a neighborhood with the mortgage through your bank, and only sign documents provided by your bank. You are not required to join a homeowner's association. Once you buy the house and yard, it's yours. If the neighbors don't like it, tell them to Kilo Yankee Alpha. If you do not sign a covenant, they cannot say anything. I know I will never sign a covenant if I have an opportunity to buy a house, HOA or not.

ST762
For your sake, do not consider the above to be accurate legal advice.

I wouldn't even take that risk. The houses I've looked at you have to join the association. I live in a town with no zoning which is good by me so I would never voluntarily join a neighborhood with special "rules" and pay extra for those rules on top of that.

zacharoo · « **Reply #25 on:** November 23, 2011, 05:49:21 AM »

Find out your legal rights befor action. Call your congressman and representatives. Call your local TV chanel and BE DISCRETE!!!!
Good Luck and GOD BLESS THIS MAN FOR HIS SERVICE!!!!
Zacharoo

powderman · « **Reply #26 on:** November 23, 2011, 07:08:13 AM »

Quote from: briarpatch on November 22, 2011, 03:25:15 PM

That is true Powderman and I support flying the flag but I dont want a flag from another nation popping in the wind either.

BRIARPATCH. I agree, but theres no reason for a foreign flag to be flown like that, other than an embassy or maybe a spcl event temporarily. POWDERMAN.

briarpatch · « **Reply #27 on:** November 23, 2011, 12:44:05 PM »

True Powderman but it seems we have become the catch all for every countries nut jobs, because of our nut job leaders. They can do what they want here we cant.

gypsyman · « **Reply #28 on:** November 23, 2011, 01:16:55 PM »

While I certainly disagree with the HOA rule to not fly an American flag, it is their rule. Maybe he can petition enough home owners, and get the rule changed. We had a TV news anchor woman here in Toledo, make a news story, about the HOA were she just bought a house, told her, no vegetable plants to be grown around her house. She had planted a couple tomato plants,and they made her take them out. Seemed pretty stupid then, and still does. Glad I live far enough out in the country, don't have to put up with such nonsense. gypsyman

briarpatch · « **Reply #29 on:** November 23, 2011, 03:19:23 PM »

I worked with several people that lived under the iron rule of HOA's. A lot of horror stories from that group. When stupid people get together and rule over you (think congress) life gets hard. I would think the rules were available when the LEO signed up.