Co-op / Condo News: Smoking Ban, Electric Cars and Dissing the Disabled

Read all the latest co-op board, condo board and co-op / condo buyer news in Habitat's weekly Monday News Roundup. Also included: Permanent archival links. If a link ever goes dead, you'll still be able to read the backup at WebCitation.org.

• "Upper West Side Condo Votes to Ban Smoking" by Vivian S.Toy (The New York Times)

• "[City Comptroller John] Liu Casts Eye on Exploding Co-op Assessments" and plans to conduct audit, by David Seifman (New York Post)

• "'Secret Society' Doors Opening" at co-op "with a notoriously difficult board," by Craig Karmin (The Wall Street Journal)

• "Bronx Man Overcomes Cerebral Palsy to Run for Co-op City [Board]" by Daniel Beekman (Daily News, New York, N.Y.)

• "A Developer in Debt, and a Reeling Condo" by Diane Cardwell (The New York Times)

• "Lower East Side Co-op Welcomes Electric Cars" by Patrick Hedlund (DNAinfo.com)

Buying and Selling...

• "Dear Ms. Demeanor: Do I have to use the building broker to sell my place?" by Jamie Lauren Sutton (BrickUnderground.com)

• "The High Road: Flee if broker says, 'I guarantee'" by Malcolm Carter (Service You Can Trust blog)

• "How to Speed Up the Closing Process" by Ronald H. Gitter (CoopAndCondo.com)

• "Finally, Good News for Bungled Rector Sq. [Condominium]" by Amanda Fung (TheRealDeal.com)

Board Issues from Around the Country...

• "HOA Removes Wheelchair Ramps, Says Firefighters Will Rescue Residents" by Heidi Hemmat (KDVR-TV, Denver, Colo.)

• "[Unapproved] Condo Expansion [by Board President] Draws Lawsuit" by Curtis Wackerle (Aspen Daily News, Colorado)

• "North Chatham [Treasurer] Arrested for Embezzlement" (Chatham Journal, N.C.)

• "Condo Association Sues over Alleged 'High-Rise Terrorists' Comments" by Glenna Herald (Houston Chronicle / Ultimate West U, West University Place, Texas)

• "6 Laws Limit HOAs' Power" by Edythe Jensen (The Arizona Republic)

WebCitation archives:

"Smoking" • "Liu" • "Secret Society" • "Bronx Man" • "Developer" • "Electric Cars" •  "Building Broker" • "I Guarantee" • "Closing" • "Rector Square" • "Wheelchair Ramps" • "Expansion" • "Embezzlement" • "Terrorists" • "6 Laws"