Careless Renters?
It's a shame that we even have to address this. The cap committee has already established a caste system and speak about renters as not part of the community. Some committee members treat our renting neighbors with what borders on contempt.
Lou Pechi, a very long-time Board chair and one of our original residents, admonished "We should treat everyone equally, as residents. We are a varied community. If there is any non-adherence to the CCR's, be it from an owner or a renter, fines are issued."
The committee has furnished no measurable evidence of chronic carelessness by renters. This entire topic shows discrimination. Renters will always be a part of Laurel Bay because the law demands it. (Davis-Stirling Act)
Why do some of us shun renters?
As was stated in the Zoom call renters are our neighbors. At Laurel Bay they are almost all working, younger professionals. Doctors, nurse practitioners, accountants, journalists, and the like. We heard rave reviews of renting neighbors from participants on the Zoom call. We don't have data or evidence of this being a problem other than the usual anecdotal statement by a Board member on the rental cap committee.
Are there occasional issues with renters? Of course. But are there issues with owner-occupants? Absolutely.
We were offended on the Zoom call by statements from a nice older lady in a community with a rental cap that renters "are not part of us" and mentions of her personal safety.
Laurel Bay is an upscale community with medium and long-term renters who pay substantial rents. We're lucky to have rental owners who pay their dues and carefully vet renters. This anti-renter theme is a specious generalization and could be interpreted as elitist. At the minimum it is insulting and divisive. Let's drop this talk. Hopefully we're better than this.