As 2022 ends, we reflect on the advocacy issues our members cared about most. Of the nearly 50 blog posts published on the CAI Advocacy Blog, we’re revisiting the 10 most popular topics from 2022.
Drum roll please…
5. Violence Has No Place in Our Communities: CAI Georgia Chapter member Michael Patrick Shinners, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, an on-site manager with Beacon Management Services, was shot and killed by a homeowner at his workplace, 1280 West condominium on West Peachtree Street. The chief building engineer also was injured during the shooting. Senseless acts of violence have no place in our communities. Nobody should live in fear. No workplace should be unsafe. No community should have an active shooter who targets management. Read full blog post here.
4. New Federal Proposal Would Help Condos Finance Critical Repairs: Reps. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), introduced H.R. 8304, the Rapid Financing for Critical Condo Repairs Act of 2022, legislation that allows the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Federal Housing Administration to ensure condominium association building rehabilitation loans made by private lenders. While this legislation didn’t pass in this Congress, we’re working with Congress now to introduce similar and meaningful legislation in the 118th Congress that begins January 3, 2023. Read full blog post here.
3. Federal Legislation Supports Condo Structural Repairs, Helps Owners Finance Special Assessments: On April 18, 2022, U.S. Reps. Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Broward, Miami-Dade), introduced the Securing Access to Finance Exterior Repairs (SAFER) in Condos Act of 2022. The legislation, a response to the partial collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Fla., allows condominium homeowners to finance critical building repairs with loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Like H.R. 8304, this legislation didn’t pass in this Congress. We’re working with Congress now to introduce similar and meaningful legislation in the 118th Congress that begins January 3, 2023. Read full blog post here.
2. CAI Adopts New Public Policy on the Regulation of Political and Noncommercial Signs and Flags: Election season puts political sign regulations at the forefront of discussions between community association leaders and residents, legislators, and the media. The CAI Board of Trustees adopted the Political and Noncommercial Signs and Flags Public Policy to help CAI’s state legislative action committees navigate legislation on this topic. Read full blog post here.
1. CAI Urges Suspension of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Temporary Lending Guidelines for Condominiums and Housing Cooperatives: Guidance from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac introduced in late 2021 brings new project requirements for condominiums and housing cooperatives to ensure safety and structural stability following the partial collapse of Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Fla., last June. However, the short timeframe of implementation and updated lender questionnaires caught community association boards, managers, attorneys, and document providers by surprise. CAI is working with Congress to urge The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to encourage Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to make changes to these regulations. Read full post here.
