The President’s anger became audible.
“You think rules are the only thing that matters?”
The Black Homeowner stared at the phone.
“That might be the strangest thing an HOA President has ever said to me.”
She inhaled sharply.
“You know what I mean.”
“No.”
He leaned back.
“Explain.”
Silence.
The President finally said, “Standards.”
“What standards?”
“Appearance.”
“Where written?”
“Community expectations.”
“Where written?”
“You cannot reduce everything to a document.”
“When you’re fining people?”
“Yes, you can.”
Her tone changed.
Cold.
“You are going to regret turning this into a fight.”
The Black Homeowner sat very still.
“Say that again.”
The President realized.
“I said you’re making this unnecessarily difficult.”
“No.”
“You heard me.”
“Yes.”
He looked toward the small security display on his desk.
The call was being logged through his home system.
He said, “From now on, communicate in writing.”
Then disconnected.
The next morning, something happened the President did not expect.
The Board Treasurer knocked on the Black Homeowner’s door.
He opened it.
The Treasurer held a folder.
“I need to talk to you.”
“About?”
“Yesterday.”
The homeowner stepped onto the porch.
Not inviting him inside yet.
The Treasurer looked nervous.
“I didn’t know she was towing your truck.”
“I assumed somebody on the board would eventually say that.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
The Treasurer looked toward the driveway.
“I saw the video.”
The homeowner waited.
The Treasurer lowered his voice.
“She told us you had been issued a final enforcement notice.”
“I was issued something.”
“She said management approved towing.”
“They didn’t.”
The Treasurer closed his eyes briefly.
“That’s what I heard.”
The Black Homeowner looked at the folder.
“What’s that?”
“Board packet.”
The Treasurer held it out.
“Last three meetings.”
The homeowner did not take it immediately.
“Why are you giving me this?”
“Because I think something is wrong.”
That was too vague.
The homeowner waited.
The Treasurer continued.
“Parking came up once.”
“Last month?”
“Yes.”
“Vote?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Counsel advised against the wording.”
The homeowner raised an eyebrow.
“What wording?”
The Treasurer opened the folder.
Pulled out a draft.
Enhanced Vehicle Appearance Standards.
The homeowner read.
The proposal would have allowed board-designated vehicles to be declared aesthetically incompatible.
No objective definition.
No specific dimensions.
No required logos.
No measurable standard.
He looked up.
“This would let you ban anything.”
“That’s what counsel said.”
“And it failed.”