On October 21, 2016, David Wankel will present "The Politics of it All" at the CAI California Legal Forum in Indian Wells. His co-presenters will be Thomas Ware, II of Kulik, Gottesman, Siegel & Ware, LLP and A. Patrick Munoz, City Attorney from Rutan & Tucker, LLP. The three will discuss hot topics, such as campaign signs, controversial flags, spending association money on political issues, use of common area space for campaigning, and more. 

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As the number of rental units within a community increases, so does the number of issues related to harmonious living.  As association attorneys, we have seen a rise in the number of renters that simply refuse to comply with (or fail to recognize the significance of) the association's rules and regulations. When the landlord owner is unable to get control of his or her renters, the board may be placed in a difficult situation.

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Grass is not native to California. Lawns are an East Coast transplant. The East Coast brought it over from the Old Country. It was marketed as a “just add water and mow” feature that appealed to many homeowners. One might even argue that not having the traditional lawn was unpatriotic. Everyone ignored the fact that most of California is a desert. That is until the drought.  

 

In 2014, Governor Brown declared a State of Emergency due to the persistent drought and issued proclamations for conservation. Civil Code §4735 was amended whereby associations could not penalize members for “reducing or eliminating the watering of vegetation or lawns.” This first piece of legislation restricting community associations was intended to last only as long as the drought.  

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In October 2014, Governor Brown signed a law that required many businesses to start recycling their organic waste on April 1, 2016. Organic waste means food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, nonhazardous wood waste, and food-soiled paper waste that is mixed in with food waste. If you are a Costco shopper and have been confused by the complicated trash cans they use, now you know why.

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On May 4th Governor Brown signed several pieces of legislation designed to further limit the use or effects of tobacco in California.

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