• Homeowners' association threatens $25 a day fine for peace sign wreath
• Lisa Jensen says her wreath is not anti-war, it's "a spiritual thing"
• Association president Bob Kearns says some residents think it's Satanic symbol
• Kearns fired 5 committee members when they refused to ban wreath
DENVER, Colorado (AP) -- A homeowners' association in southwestern Colorado has threatened to fine a resident $25 a day until she removes a Christmas wreath with a peace sign that some say is an anti-Iraq war protest or a symbol of Satan.
Some residents who have complained have children serving in Iraq, said Bob Kearns, president of the Loma Linda Homeowners Association in Pagosa Springs.
He said some residents believed the wreath was a symbol of Satan. Three or four residents complained, he said.
"Somebody could put up signs that say drop bombs on Iraq. If you let one go up you have to let them all go up," he said in a telephone interview Sunday.
Lisa Jensen said she wasn't thinking of the war when she hung the wreath. She said, "Peace is way bigger than not being at war. This is a spiritual thing."
Jensen, a past association president, calculates the fines will cost her about $1,000, and doubts they will be able to make her pay. But she said she's not going to take it down until after Christmas.
"Now that it has come to this I feel I can't get bullied," she said. "What if they don't like my Santa Claus?"
The association in this 200-home subdivision 270 miles southwest of Denver has sent a letter to her saying that residents were offended by the sign and the board "will not allow signs, flags etc. that can be considered divisive."
The subdivision's rules say no signs, billboards or advertising are permitted without the consent of the architectural control committee.
Kearns ordered the committee to require Jensen to remove the wreath, but members refused after concluding that it was merely a seasonal symbol that didn't say anything.
Wishing for peace in the world has NEVER been a part of Christmas. In fact it goes against the spirit of the birth of Jesus Christ who slew 10.000 infidels the day after he was born and then went on a holy war with the aim to establish a permanent state of war in the world. Honest. I mean, would I tell a lie about Jesus?
Just sit this guy down in front of the Charlie Brown Christmas special. On the "Peace on Earth, good will towards men" bit he'll stroke out, and problem solved.
Well, at least we can all agree that Homeowner's associations are evil. That goes for this one, as well as some of the ones a few years back that tried to ban Flags.
When our ddevelopment's HOA goes into effect, I plan to try and get elected as president, and have my first act to disband it.
Government is like an anus; it’s necessary, but it’s never going to be anything pretty or worth celebrating.
^ I'd agree, but in Norcross GA, we have homes where people are leaving unused furniture and applicances on the curb, which is illegal dumping. These are mostly renters and some homes have 4-6 families living in them.
HOA are evil, but at times a neccessary evil when you want to safe guard the value of your property - which is assessed by your neighbors in the area.
BTW, I think the wreath is just god awful ugly - peace symbol or not.
And yep, my HOA was the reason I weedwhacked my lawn 2 weeks ago - in NOVEMBER! when it's cold and mostly wet just to avoid some stupid letter form them. But, my yard looks better now...
Homeowner Lisa Jensen told The Associated Press on Monday that the board of directors of the Loma Linda Homeowners Association had apologized, called the incident a misunderstanding and had withdrawn its request for the wreath's removal.
Haha, firing all five committee members is a misunderstanding?
