HOAs mean to protect, not control

Derek Gardner's letter to the editor of July 19 demonstrated a complete ignorance of our HOA rules, the history of our community and California law governing condos and townhomes. The following facts should be noted:

The police have been to our complex numerous times to deal with the problem of unsupervised teens openly drinking and partying in the streets.

Several years ago, a young person was stabbed and killed near our pool area during an altercation at one such party.

School officials and local police can attest to the problem of teenage alcohol and drug abuse that exists in Oak Park and surrounding communities.

HOA rules and regulations exist to provide "all residents with the right to quiet enjoyment in a well-managed atmosphere." They further help to address liability issues all homeowners associations need to be concerned with and reduce incidents of abusive behavior and property damage.

Our CC&Rs have not been modified since they were written except to bring them in line with changes in state law. "Retirees" have done nothing except try to keep HOA fees from rising. Mr. Gardner was correct about one thing: Homeowners who lease their property often fail to disclose the rules and CC&Rs to potential tenants as they are required to. Mike Hogan Oak Park