One day last year, a
Shavano Ridge homeowner made this sad comment:
“I live right next to one
of the board members, and I have to be real careful not to get crossways with
him.”
What a terrible way to
live. Yet, since that day, there have been many similar concerns expressed by
Shavano Ridge residents.
Several neighbors wanted to
take part in a newspaper interview but bowed out for fear of board retaliation
should their identities be revealed. Some did agreed to be interviewed but ask
that their identities be withheld.
Perhaps they have good
reason to be afraid. The board has expressed frustration at their inability to
learn the identities of those homeowners who would criticize them on the
Opinions page of this website.
Why should Shavano Ridge
residents have to live under such conditions?
But it is not only the
homeowners of Shavano Ridge who claim to be fearful of their neighbors; the
board members claim they are afraid of the homeowners. When it was suggested
that a board member personally visit homeowners who are in violation of
covenants, in order to amicably work out a solution, they claimed it was too
risky.
“the personal risk to
board members…did not warrant handling covenant violations this way.”
What could the board
members possibly have done that they must live in such fear of their neighbors?
At the last general meeting
they claimed they needed a policeman to protect them from the homeowners.
How did things get so far
out of hand? Why should there be so much fear in one small, San Antonio
community?