Cohousing-L Mailing List: Recent SFGate Article by Carol. Lloyd

[Joani Blank (joani]

I hosted the group that Ken Norwood brought to Swan's on the day that Carol 
Lloyd was with them.  She did not identify herself to me  as a person from 
the press (and Ken didn't tell me if he knew).  I probably wouldn't had 
behaved any differently had I known, but Ms. Lloyd failing to reveal her 
identity is certainly a questionable, if not downright unethical, reporting 
practice.  In my previous business life I had a plenty of experience with 
this sort of behavior, and I have little patience for it.

You are right, Liz, Ms. Lloyd was itching to find things she could hate 
about cohousing, so she did.  Too bad she had to report so many positives 
too.  (She's much better at sarcasm than I am, I concede.)

When I lead the conference bus tour (and any I might lead subsequently), I 
hope I remember to ask at the outset for anyone from the press to identify 
him or herself. It's only fair that everyone on the bus know who might use 
their words in a story. Besides, I want to threaten any reporter with the 
wrath of God, should they use the words "commune" or "communal" in any 
story they may write. And by the way, I'll add (much more gently), please 
don't put a hyphen in "cohousing."

Joani Blank
Oakland, CA



At 12:01 PM 5/9/2001 -0500, you wrote:
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> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
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> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Re: Attn: Patty Mara (pattymara [at] juno.com)
>    2. Re: HOA reserves investment plan (Raines Cohen)
>    3. sfgate.com story (series!) on coho (Raines Cohen)
>    4. Re: sfgate.com story (series!) on coho (Brian Baresch)
>    5. Re: sfgate.com story (series!) on coho (Elizabeth Stevenson)
>    6. Re: HOA reserves investment plan (David Mandel)
>
> --__--__--
>
> Message: 1
> To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
> Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 10:37:38 -0700
> Subject: Re: [C-L]_Attn: Patty Mara
> From: pattymara [at] juno.com
> Reply-To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
>
> Hi Robyn,
> My computer screened out the attachment (virus) and wouldn't let me open
> it, so no worries here.
>
> Direct contact would be me:  Patty Mara Gourley, 1742 Tierra Nueva Lane,
> Oceano, CA 93445   (805) 481-8009.  No website other than our old one
> from marketing days, and I'm not sure if it is even still up.
>
> cheers,
> Patty
>
> On Tue, 8 May 2001 07:25:23 +0800 "Robyn Williams" <pov [at] iinet.net.au>
> writes:
> > > Ondrayah is welcome to visit with us at Tierra Nueva, about 3.5
> > hours
> > > south of Santa Cruz.
> > >
> > > warmly,
> > > Patty Mara Gourley
> >
> >
> > Thanks Patty - I was hoping you'd be interested!  I hope she can
> > make it
> > down there.  Could you send your direct contact info please.  The
> > reply-all
> > doesn't do that anymore.  And website details?
> >
> > Many thanks
> > Robyn Williams
> > Pinakarri Community
> > Fremantle, Western Australia
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Cohousing-L mailing list
> > Cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org  Unsubscribe  and other info:
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> --__--__--
>
> Message: 2
> Subject: Re: [C-L]_HOA reserves investment plan
> Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 10:51:12 -0700
> From: Raines Cohen <raines-coho-L [at] raines.com>
> To: <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
> Reply-To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
>
> David Mandel <dlmandel [at] pacbell.net> wrote on 5/8/01 10:01 AM:
>
> > These are state and federal tax free (thus avoiding the 40%
> >we'd be paying
>
> I thought that HOA's (at least here in California) are generally
> incorporated as a form of nonprofit that is exempt from federal and state
> income taxes... is investment income considered Unrelated Business
> Income, and thus subject to taxation? Clearly, it makes a big difference
> in the investment strategy you pursue.
>
> Raines
>
> (also curious whether any coho groups are also investing reserve or other
> funds in somewhat riskier but higher yield and
> higher-return-to-the-community-at-large investments: in silent second
> mortgages to members (I believe Pleasant Hill Cohousing is planning this)
> to assist with affordability, or in investments in other communities)
>
> Raines Cohen <coho-L [at] raines.com> <http://www.swansway.com/>
> Happy to host a Pleasant Hill coho meeting last night.
>
>   Vice President, Swan's Market Cohousing [Old Oakland, CA]
> Where we had a grand time making pavers for our garden.
>
>   Member, East Bay Cohousing [no site yet] <http://www.ebcoho.org/>
> Surprised by the interest and response; Next meeting: May 20.
>
>   Boardmember, The Cohousing Network <http://www.cohousing.org/>
> Reminding you to register now for the best rates for the North American
> Cohousing Conference, July 20-22, Berkeley, CA.
>
>
>
> --__--__--
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 12:03:28 -0700
> From: Raines Cohen <raines-coho-L [at] raines.com>
> To: <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
> Subject: [C-L]_sfgate.com story (series!) on coho
> Reply-To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
>
> Read it at the site affiliated with the San Francisco Chronicle at:
>
> http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/gate/archive/2001/05/08/lloyd=
> D
> TL
>
> (you may need to copy and paste if that URL breaks up onto two lines)
>
> Read on for a call to action.
>
> Opener:
>
> >SURREAL ESTATE  [the name of her column.. it's online-only]
> >
> >It's A Commune, It's A Condo, It's ... Cohousing
> >
> >by Carol Lloyd, special to SFGate      =A0     Tuesday, May 8, 2001
> >
> >Like many people who would love to live a less anonymous existence, I've
> >often dreamed the dream of cohousing: living with or near a group of
> >people who share meals, helping raise each other's children, contributing
> >to the greater society and functioning somewhere between an extended
> >family and a tight-knit neighborhood.
> >
> >So I signed up for a whirlwind tour of local cohousing [linked to TCN
> website! yay!]
> > communities, led by architect, planner and cohousing advocate Ken Norwood=
>
> --__--__--
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 08 May 2001 14:06:52 -0500
> From: "Brian Baresch" <baresch [at] earthlink.net>
> To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
> Subject: Re: [C-L]_sfgate.com story (series!) on coho
> Reply-To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
>
> >Read it at the site affiliated with the San Francisco Chronicle at:
> >
> >http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2001/05/08/lloydD
> >TL
> >
> >(you may need to copy and paste if that URL breaks up onto two lines)
>
> I found it at
>
> http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/lloyd/
>
> Brian Baresch baresch [at] earthlink.net
> Delaware Street Commons
> Lawrence, Kansas
> www.delaware-street.com
>
>
>
> --__--__--
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Tue, 08 May 2001 15:58:26 +0000
> Subject: Re: [C-L]_sfgate.com story (series!) on coho
> From: "Elizabeth Stevenson" <tamgoddess [at] home.com>
> To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
> Reply-To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
>
> It seemed incredibly negative to me. Even as she said that cohousing is
> incredibly diverse, and each community so different, she slammed it for
> being not perfect for her and too non-individualistic. (As if they've had
> time at  old Swans Market to get mature landscaping!!) And people working
> for a long term goal is some kind of negative trait.
>
> This woman is an example of one of the reasons I left San Francisco. I call
> it the "hipper than thou" attitude. Better not say anything positive or
> you'll be a loser. While the article was accurate in many ways, it has a
> condescending tone that I find annoying and irrelevant. I prefer my
> reporting more objective.
>
> --
> Liz Stevenson
> Southside Park Cohousing
> Sacramento, California
>
> Passed the 90 degree mark for a second day. Hello, blackouts! Better eat the
> ice cream now.
>
> tamgoddess [at] home.com
> http://members.home.net/southsideparkcohousing
>
> ----------
> >From: "Brian Baresch" <baresch [at] earthlink.net>
> >To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
> >Subject: Re: [C-L]_sfgate.com story (series!) on coho
> >Date: Tue, May 8, 2001, 7:06 PM
> >
>
> >>Read it at the site affiliated with the San Francisco Chronicle at:
> >>
> >>http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2001/05/08/lloydD
> >>TL
> >>
> >>(you may need to copy and paste if that URL breaks up onto two lines)
> >
> > I found it at
> >
> > http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/lloyd/
> >
> > Brian Baresch baresch [at] earthlink.net
> > Delaware Street Commons
> > Lawrence, Kansas
> > www.delaware-street.com
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Cohousing-L mailing list
> > Cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org  Unsubscribe  and other info:
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>
> --__--__--
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Wed, 09 May 2001 01:32:20 -0700
> From: David Mandel <dlmandel [at] pacbell.net>
> Subject: Re: [C-L]_HOA reserves investment plan
> To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
> Reply-To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
>
>
>
> Raines Cohen wrote:
>
> > David Mandel <dlmandel [at] pacbell.net> wrote on 5/8/01 10:01 AM:
> >
> > > These are state and federal tax free (thus avoiding the 40%
> > >we'd be paying
> >
> > I thought that HOA's (at least here in California) are generally
> > incorporated as a form of nonprofit that is exempt from federal and state
> > income taxes... is investment income considered Unrelated Business
> > Income, and thus subject to taxation? Clearly, it makes a big difference
> > in the investment strategy you pursue.
>
> Yes, income of a type that would be taxable if it belonged to an individual
> is taxable to an HOA. The flat rate for an incorporated HOA under IRC 528 is
> 30%. Add state taxes and it's close to 40%. That makes tax-free bonds
> attractive.
>
> >
> >
> > Raines
> >
> > (also curious whether any coho groups are also investing reserve or other
> > funds in somewhat riskier but higher yield and
> > higher-return-to-the-community-at-large investments: in silent second
> > mortgages to members (I believe Pleasant Hill Cohousing is planning this)
> > to assist with affordability, or in investments in other communities)
>
> These would be considered very risky for an HOA. In the worst case, an
> aggrieved individual could sue for breach of fiduciary duty if losses
> suffered required additional special assessments.
>
> David
>
>
>
>
> --__--__--
>
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>
> End of Cohousing-L Digest

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