Below is a review of the posts on Facebook and LinkedIn from the past week. You can check out the full posts by clicking on the links.
NOTE: remember that we post every other day.
The posts on Sunday 9/6/2026, here and here, talked about ‘Insanity’: luxury condo owners fume over aggravating neighbors. (They’re Waymos!).
On the fifth-floor terrace of a luxury condo complex, residents often gather for a glass of wine while taking part in a time-honored tradition: complaining about their neighbors who moved in last year. The neighbors take up too much space. The neighbors crowd building entrances and exits, with little consideration for those around them. The neighbors aren’t people. They’re Waymos. And for the humans who share garage space with them, they’re the source of endless headaches.
What did one resident and garage tenant have to say about their effect? See the post.
When the Waymos leave for the day to pick up riders, there might be a line of a dozen robotaxis blocking real humans behind the wheel from getting out of the garage. And when the Waymos go home for charging or cleaning, the rush causes traffic on a busy street.
To make things worse, the self-driving vehicles often get stuck in the garage’s tight quarters. One will sit, immobile, until a worker arrives to navigate the cars back in line or get behind the wheel. Or it will make tiny turns back and forth as it tries to free itself, only to end up more stuck.
Motorists who use the garage said the Waymo congestion has added time to their commutes, and they regularly have to plan to be blocked by a driverless car that’s navigating the garage at a crawl. What people are building into their schedules and why is in the post.
Screenshots from the condo’s Facebook page, shared with the media, show posts from at least nine residents of Waymo backups, with a dozen cars blocking entrances and exits.
Here’s a pretty apt description from one human who rents a space in the garage: “It’s almost like zombie cars coming back to feed.”
Many of the condo owners were around long before the Waymos, when the first two floors of the garage were hourly parking spaces for visitors to the nearby theater or other attractions. Waymo says its representatives attended an HOA meeting in May 2025.
In the process of moving in, Waymo did make investments in the garage, including additional electric vehicle charging stations for residents and more. Waymo also paid for two months’ parking for residents. Why Waymo did that is in the post.
After the media began inquiring about the issues, residents reported that Waymo pulled many of its cars from the garage.
Autonomous vehicle parking has been causing headaches for San Francisco residents since at least 2024, when the condo’s residents complained about frequent late-night honking (see link embedded in post) in the parking lot below their building. Waymos have also upset many on the streets between rides; see the post (with another embedded link). This only exacerbated the problem faced by drivers due to municipal actions (yep, see the post).
Garage parking is sparse near the condo building: A monthly spot can go for $300-$400. Several residents have locked-in spots for less than $200, and a few purchased their spaces along with their condos. What one resident said about his transportation and relationship with the Waymo neighbors in the building is in the post.
Ace Parking manages the garage and previously provided hourly parking. It was contacted for a comment …
The same resident said the contract workers whose job it is to manage the Waymos often seem unhurried to do anything about the blockages — and their behavior noted in the post seems to make things worse. And while Waymo added safety mirrors and speed bumps for traffic control. One resident sees it another way – see the post.
One man who owns his parking spot and has lived in the adjacent condo building for two decades worries that the situation will decrease his property value as word gets out about the self-driving garage tenants. What are neighbors talking about? It sounds like a sci-fi colonization movie – see the post.
TAKEAWAY: This may make readers laugh, but it is not a laughing matter for those who use the garage – and the condo residents who get the noise and everything else as a result. But there may be nothing the condo can do about it …
The posts on Tuesday 9/8/2026, here and here, were about the ‘good’ and (what some consider) the ‘bad’ about condo and HOA living. There is a good summary here that applies Pennsylvania and nationwide (although it comes from the AZ view).
If you’re shopping for a home now, there’s a good chance you’ll run into a (condominium or) homeowners’ association (“HOA”). From master-planned communities and newer subdivisions to condominiums, townhome developments, and gated neighborhoods, HOA-managed communities are woven into a good chunk of housing. And the numbers are only increasing.
For many homeowners, HOAs provide structure, amenities and peace of mind. For others, the focus is on the additional rules, fees and responsibilities. Neither is wrong; it just takes understanding what HOA living actually means before signing on the dotted line.
The ‘good‘
One of the most cited – and sought-after – advantages of HOA communities is consistency. A well-managed association helps maintain neighborhood standards for landscaping, exterior upkeep, parking, paint colors and common spaces, all of which keeps property values up.
HOA communities also might include amenities that homeowners may not be able to manage on their own (like the extensive list in the post). These things may appeal to many buyers.
The ‘bad’
Living in an HOA community also means living within a governing structure and that’s where frustration can happen. Often one of the biggest adjustments for residents involves restrictions and approval processes. While it’s your home, owners no longer can just do what they want, when they want, and how they want. That includes the common things listed in the post.
And fees are a big concern (that is only increasing). Monthly, quarterly or annual dues or assessments are part of HOA homeownership, and those fees can — and more than likely, will — increase over time. Owners may also have to pay special assessments for unexpected community repairs or major projects.
There might be strict rules around things that residents hold dear, such as those mentioned in the post. That could be frustrating. And at the same time, if there is inconsistent enforcement, poor communication from management companies, or board politics or difficult meetings, the frustrations will build.
Nextdoor is an app that lets residents connect and share information about their neighborhoods and surrounding areas. As expected, users have a wide range of opinions about HOAs. Many of those who are vocal are not necessarily complementary (see the post), while the silent majority love where they live and how the community is operated and maintained.
Buyers must understand that an HOA is not simply a neighborhood feature. It is an organization with rules, financial obligations, enforcement authority, and community expectations. And all of those things can (and sometimes do) change over time, with the owner required to abide by those changes.
The fees
HOA dues can sometimes cause sticker shock for buyers unfamiliar with association living, but understanding where those dollars go is important. The assessments cover most of the things that are the reasons for buying into the community in the first place – see the detailed list in the post.
But buyers need to know they are buying into an HOA. Usually that information and relevant documents come from the seller (and sometimes, such as in PA, the law requires that disclosure). NOTE: this author finds that sometimes realtors are not educated; they tell buyers that the HOA fees will be paid as part of the mortgage, like taxes and insurance. That is almost never correct. But what happens is that when the HOA fees are not paid, the owner becomes the subject of unexpected collection action.
So buyers should do their due diligence and educate themselves on many important facets of HOA living, including current dues, transfer fees, pending increases, reserve funds, and the other things listed in the post. And it many not be a bad idea to visit neighbors. There might even be social media (such as those noted in the post) to give buyers some insights. (Just keep in mind that more often the few who comment negatively are a minority of residents.)
The rules
HOA rules might require certain things or prohibit others. Exterior modifications are a big category for rules/restrictions. Those include the things listed in the post (some of which might surprise you). Residents may be required to submit plans, material samples, contractor information, or design details before starting a project. Reviewing architectural guidelines ahead of taking action can prevent potential (costly) issues later.
But all of those rules and restrictions make the communities what they are – and provide an attraction for many. How enforcement is a positive is in the post.
The financial aspect
Buying into an HOA means buying into its financial health, too. Some of the things buyers should ask to review (before buying) are listed in the post. They will help give an idea of the community’s financial situation.
Reserve funds are especially important because they help cover future repairs such as resurfacing roads, replacing roofs, and more as noted in the post. Communities with insufficient reserves may be more likely to impose special assessments later (because the maintenance must still be done and paid for).
Meeting minutes can be useful to buyers (and owners). They might point to certain financial issues (like those in the post) that may warrant closer review.
Does this HOA align with how I want to live?
Some buyers want structured communities with maintained amenities, uniform appearance standards, and less responsibility for exterior maintenance. Others prefer flexibility with landscaping, parking, exterior design, rentals, pets, or home modifications. Buyers must find the right community for their lifestyle and financial situation.
TAKEAWAY: Buyers should read all of the (legal) documents BEFORE buying to know what restrictions do or may apply and their ongoing financial obligations. Talk to a community association lawyer if there are questions.
The posts on Thursday 9/10/2026, here and here, noted the ADA may require reassignment despite worker’s inability to perform the essential functions (per a federal appellate court). That seems counterintuitive, right? The ADA’s “accommodation of last resort” has historically proven difficult for employers to administer, so let’s see what happened in this court case.
On appeal the court determined that the trial court erroneously granted summary judgment to Orkin in a former pest control technician’s failure-to-accommodate claim because a reasonable jury could have found that the plaintiff was entitled to reassignment.
Dieng injured his knee on the job. His doctor advised him that he would be physically unable to perform the job duties of a pest control technician, but that he could perform a less physically demanding role. He told Orkin, but a manager told Dieng that no light-duty positions were available. Then Dieng allegedly received no further follow up and remained on unpaid leave for 16 months before resigning. No surprise, Dieng sued for disability discrimination and failure to accommodate under the ADA.
At the trial court level, Orkin won summary judgment on both claims, but on appeal it was reversed on the latter claim. The appellate court found that Dieng showed that he could perform alternate light-duty roles and that Orkin’s accommodation of unpaid leave (you must go to the post to see how the court characterized that) was not reasonable. The court also determined whether Orkin fulfilled its obligation to engage in the interactive process in good faith – see the post.
Authorities, including the EEOC, have traditionally viewed reassignment as an accommodation of last resort under the ADA, required only when no other effective accommodations would enable performance of essential functions or when all such accommodations would pose an undue hardship.
EEOC enforcement guidance talks about the situation what an employee must do to qualify for reassignment, including the employer’s obligations – see the post. So how did that play out in this case?
In Dieng, the district (trial) court initially granted summary judgment because no reasonable accommodation would have allowed him to perform the essential functions of the pest control technician position. But the appellate court said there was a failure to consider whether Dieng could have performed the essential functions of a lower position that he desired, which is a separate analysis under the ADA.
Dieng identified two roles (noted int eh post) that he could perform even with his disability. And because the former manager agreed that Dieng could have performed at least one of the jobs, that was enough for Dieng under the burden-shifting analysis used in these types of cases. Orkin then argued that it was not obliged to provide Dieng’s requested accommodation and that his placement on indefinite unpaid leave was reasonable given an ongoing dispute over his workers’ compensation claims. That lost on appeal.
The appellate court also dinged Orkin for not engaging in an interactive process – as described in the post. And Orkin pointed a finger at itself as part of the problem – again see the post. Orkin declined to comment.
The Dieng decision is interesting given past court rulings involving both reassignment and unpaid leave under the ADA. In 2022, another federal appellate court held that one employee’s request for reassignment would have been too difficult and time consuming to grant (as detailed in the post), thereby imposing potential limits on a case-by-case basis. And then a 2021 decision of the same appellate court that decided Dieng called reassignment the “last among equals” of ADA accommodations, noting that employers may not unilaterally reassign employees if another reasonable accommodation exists.
And what about unpaid leave as a reasonable accommodation? Courts again have conflicting positions – see the post.
TAKEAWAY: Employers must know their obligation to reasonably accommodate and what options lie down that road.
The posts on Saturday 9/12/2026, here and here, explained condominium files foreclosure lawsuit over alleged unpaid assessments. This is not just a FL thing – it is happening all over the country including in Pennsylvania. And who pays when one or more owners do not pay their share?
Here, the Boca Raton Condominium Association filed a civil lawsuit in state court on June 24th seeking to foreclose on a unit over what the complaint describes as unpaid condominium assessments.
The lawsuit names the unit owner, mortgage lender and others as defendants – see the post. Why the lender and others (other than the owner) are named as defendants is explained in the post.
The complaint alleges that the owner failed to pay assessments due under the recorded Declaration of Condominium and state law. More of the background is in the post. According to the complaint, the association recorded a Claim of Lien in March 2026. That document alleges that $8,412.38 was due as of March 2026. What figures into that amount is itemized in the post.
The complaint includes two counts, one for foreclosure and a judicial sale of the unit, the second for personal liability (i.e., holding the owner personally responsible for assessments due).
How (why) the association can take these actions is explained in the post. The defendants have not yet filed a response.
TAKEAWAY: As more owners fall behind on assessments, associations more frequently turn to foreclosure to recoup the funds owed (rather than taking advantage of other collection options). But foreclosure should only be an option after discussing ramifications with a community association lawyer.