There are 2 letters on this page. Please read both of them. If you wish a fax of the article, please email me with fax number.

June 4, 2000

Pam Johnson
Executive Editor
Arizona Republic

Re: prior email on this topic of the Saturday,
Jun 3rd column by R. R. Crowe

Dear Ms Johnson;

First I would like to reassure you that I have no grievance against The Arizona Republic and that I am merely seeking an equal opportunity to respond to an attempt at slander, in all fair play.

Although my name is not mentioned, sufficient information, irrelevant to the storyline of dealing with violent members in an HOA, was provided that permitted people familiar with the situation to know who was the target of the article. That includes the other homeowners and acquaintances who are aware of the situation. Yesterday alone, I had 2 calls informing me that an article had been written about me. The intent of the source was to smear me and Ms Crowe was an unwitting accomplice.

In particular, how many people do you know:
· Who live in a 22 unit HOA with a cul-du-sac?
· Wrote to the Attorney General regarding an HOA?
· Had recently appeared on an HOA segment on Channel 12 News?
· Has been distributing flyers and newsletters?

All of the above had nothing to do with the issue except to smear me. How does the above generate fear? And, Ms Crowe takes this letter, I presume it was a letter, at face value. It's obvious that another agenda was at play here. Furthermore,
· Why did she print information in regard to my alleged HOA delinquency? (Another irrelevant item). It could only come from the HOA board in violation of my rights to privacy, unless, of course, the source was a board member. Is this a reason to be afraid?
· The neighbor who is supposedly afraid of me is a relative of a board member and has modified our party wall without my permission, in violation of the CC&Rs. A default judgment is currently being requested in court in addition to a restraining order to prevent her from interfering with the court judgment.
· I do not call the president because it's useless. My letters are legitimate inquires for HOA records. His replies are suspect (see my prior email regarding the definition of "must"). My flyers are a criticism of the board's actions based on facts and have been distributed for over a year (the board has not acted). Only 4 members asked, in response to my option to decline receiving the newsletter, not to receive the newsletter - a board member, a relative of a board member in a potential conflict of interest situation, and 2 other members. Why do you think the board has not acted?
· It's not until over half the article is reached before an outsider, not Ms Crowe, raises the question of board involvement. I would think that this would have been one of the first pieces of advice to give a truly concerned member of an HOA. She doesn't offer it.
· When I did the Channel 12 interview, it was my words that were spoken for all to see and hear. I didn't make charges hiding behind a reporter. I would like to know who contacted Ms Crowe?
· How could the reporter fall for the "help me, help me, we are poor defenseless homeowners" ploy of the source? She is a knowledgeable and informed person. She knows the power and resources available to HOAs. Yet she failed to ask, "What's the board doing about it? Why hasn't the board done anything about it?"
· How could the reporter believe, based on the source's statements concerning my alleged actions, that I was indeed a violent person and there was reason for fear? Not one fact of violence is provided by the source, nor presumably asked for by the reporter. The real fear for a member is a board that violates the governing documents, declares invalid assessments and forces a sale of your home if you don't pay these invalid assessments. That's a real, live fear that scares ordinary homeowners from speaking up against a board.
· The only other reason for fear is the fear by the board, and supporters of the board, that they will finally be exposed (See my proposed article for print regarding release of complaint information to the public).
· The slant of her column is that it's the HOA that's powerless against homeowners. C'mon! She proceeds to offer advice to these defenseless homeowners that could not be gotten, or had not been gotten, from the HOA. C'mon! Why hasn't the board complained or taken action? C'mon! These are immediate questions that any unbiased reporter would have asked. She was used and was too eager to be used!

I am asking for equal time in the interest of fair play and for the benefit of the community. There must be checks against outrageous acts by HOA boards in defiance of CC&Rs. The homeowner is powerless, as everybody but Ms Crowe is aware, and new laws will be considered to redress this situation. Senator Tom Freestone is setting up an interim committee for this purpose.

The Attorney General lacks authority, provided in many other states including the tiny state of Maryland, to investigate complaints against HOA boards. Printing my "rebuttal" is a step in calling awareness to the fact that Arizona is behind the times in regard to HOA laws and homeowner protection; and that the HOA is above the law in many important ways.

The attached file contains the article I would like printed in place of Ms Crowe's column this upcoming Saturday.

George K. Staropoli
602-228-2891 (business)

I didn't get a reply to my prior email of 6/3/00 regarding your 6/3 Republic column on fearful homeowners. I am disappointed for someone whom I CONSIDER BEING USED AND MADE A DUPE IN A PLAN TO SLANDER ME. I thought you may have wished to dis-associate yourself from these culprits.

I need to know the names of the person or persons who provided this "letter".

Pam Johnson has received emails from people who said that they immediately realized I was the target of the "letter" and that it was slanderous. The Republic will be printing my rebuttal in a Letter to the Editor. (See attached file for a preview). Some raised the question, "Does she know these people"?

I use quotes for the word "letter", because it is my belief, also, that you know these people -- you live just a mile from Las Colonias HOA -- and had conversations with them.

Again, I feel you were used by your "friends" or associates in this cowardly attack on me and innocently included the "letter". Slander is a serious matter and you are caught in the middle right now. You know this will go to a suit against these people. Are you prepared to answer this question, under oath, "Do you know any of these people"? "How were you contacted"? You can fill in the remaining questions.

Coming forward clears you immediatedly of conspiracy, of being a willing accomplice. Otherwise, what else can an unbiased person think?

I need to know the names of these persons.

Did you know that one board member, her husband, and her relative are involved in a conflict of interest situation regarding building a front entrance gate? And that this board member, and her husband, have had SEVERAL CIVIL JUDGMENTS (judgments, not just suits) AGAINST THEM relating to their prior contracting business? Check it out online at the Maricopa County website -- www.maricopa.gov -- under "Russell Curtis" in the Recorded Documents link.

Please reply as soon as possible. Time is running short.

George Staropoli
602-996-8026