Terrible Analogies

I have bad neighbors.

I never thought I’d have to admit to myself that I have bad neighbors, but I do.  

Now, as bad neighbors go, mine are pretty benign, but they are becoming a blight on the neighborhood.  In their oil-stained garage they have a pool table wedged in amongst mountains of similarly stained cardboard boxes.  The requisite chopper rests in the fire lane as adults and children shout obscenities at each other.  In the parking spot next to their house skulks a truck that hasn’t been running in months.  In fact, the truck often lies scattered and strewn across the driveway, revealing a strip of decorative dead grass that is otherwise hidden underneath the rusting, tarp-covered hulk of dead steel and flat tires.  

In the past couple of weeks they’ve taken to clearing out various pieces of junk from their garage and placing them in the driveway.  On any given day you can see an art easel, a dusty drum set, random tools, a dog house, a grill, various boxes and bags, etc…etc..etc….  I’m taking a wild guess here that they do this so they have room to hang out in their garage and play pool all day long.

The mind reels at what the inside of their house could possibly look like.

It’s at times like these that I’m thankful we’re part of an HoA.  Now, I know how some of you out there feel about HoA’s, but they’re there to serve a purpose, and they have quite a few tools at their disposal to resolve matters such as these.  My initial e-mail to the HoA last month was greeted quickly, professionally, and courteously, but due to the confidentiality of our communication I can’t impart what was said and/or promised.

Tonight I sent a second e-mail to the HoA, complaining that the problem has gotten worse.  I’ve made myself available to them should they need an official written complaint or a personal appearance by me.  I’ve made jokes in the past about becoming a board member, but when things like this happen it really makes the idea of effecting change from within quite tempting…

What really gets me about this situation is that I feel as if I’m the only one complaining.  I’m not living next door to these folks, but if I was you could be certain that I’d be raising holy heck about this situation.  I’m not a stickler either.  I understand and can appreciate bending rules, but when you go out of your way to become the bane of the neighborhood, you bring down the value of our homes, our community, and our living standards.  I’d feel nothing but pity and sympathy for anyone trying to sell a home right now with neighbors who obviously don’t care about anyone else but themselves.

Am I overreacting, or should I let these people continue to step all over everyone?

UPDATE 5/19/09: Steve over at the HoA sent me a nice e-mail this afternoon that makes me think that the problem is well in hand:

Thanks for your email. I cannot divulge details on what steps the association is taking, but we are addressing the situation. The other board members are aware too. I’m sure you are aware that in this day and age with all the rights everyone has that it can take time to resolve such issues. I too, probably more than you, wish I could rid myself of HOA problem children.

Steve comes off as a bit of a heel-clicker who enjoys his job a little too much…just the sort of person I’d expect to tackle tough situations such as these.  Go get ‘em, Steve!

An example of what can be found daily on their driveway. You stay classy now...

The infamous truck that hasn't moved in months. If I lived next door to this garbage I'd be on the phone with my HoA every day of the week.