Changes...

 

I get to think and reflect while out on my morning bicycle ride.  Lots of activity, I'm expecting today will be a busy "transition day" in the RV resort where we are staying.  I had to ride my bicycle off the road and onto the grass twice today to keep a safe distance from those who weren't paying on the interior roads here (mostly backing out of RV sites).  My first thought on that: the resort has changed.  In reality, people have changed.  I see it here and experience it at home, too.

FaceBook posts on the "Concerned Owners" for our homeowners group at home show that the village there is the typical summer shit show.  We changed security companies recently, but when people let their underage kids drive golf carts around unsupervised, it is a foregone conclusion that those kids will be terrorizing the neighborhood.  "Terrorizing" too strong a word?  Ever seen two golf carts full of kids racing around after dark, blasting through stop signs?  If you happen to be out at that time, I'm sure that description seems appropriate.

That doesn't happen here at Hart Ranch, because Security here enforces the rules; break the rules, and you will lose the privilege of staying here.  And, yes, people bring, rent, and get around on golf carts here, as well.  But, there are consequences; underage kids and unlicensed drivers are not allowed to drive a golf cart.  It's the same rule at home.  Not much in the way of consequences there, though.

Certainly, there are differences: Hart Ranch is an RV resort with some rental cabins.  You buy an ownership/membership here that is much like a country club.  Rules are enforced.  In Long Island Village, people own each individual RV lot or home site; you can't toss people out of their home for not following the rules.  Plus, many owners rent out their sites/homes, so you have renters who really don't have a vested interest in the village.  It seems that problems arise when renters (and some owners) just let their kids run wild.  It has only been an issue during the summer.

The village has gone to requiring lot numbers on golf carts and banning UTVs.  It is a fine line between what is considered a "10 passenger golf cart and a UTV."  Some owners are calling for renters to not be allowed to have/rent golf carts.  I don't know how that would be enforceable, since some owners provide a golf cart with the property they rent.  Plus, it isn't the golf carts that are causing the problem, it is the way people (often underage kids who should not be driving ANY motorized conveyance) behave while driving the golf carts.

So, before you say, "Jim, you sound like an old fuddy-duddy who hollers 'You kids stay off my lawn!'," I am just reporting on what owners at home are saying.  But, the real issue always comes back to: people have changed.  There is less consideration for others.  Some people feel entitled to any behavior if they deem it "fun," no matter how it affects others.  Some people say, "Let kids be kids"... I'm guessing those same people don't hand over the keys to the family car to their 12 year old and let them drive on city streets with the car full of their friends.  But, for some reason, some find it acceptable to do that with a golf cart on the streets in our village.

I have the answer, but I don't think it will fly: if people are going to act lawless, then we need to go with "old west justice": organize Neighborhood Citizen Patrols (a posse in that old west nomenclature).  Arm them with paint guns.  When a kid comes home covered in paint and a golf cart covered in paint, the parents will notice.  So will Security.  If a parent complains about their kid covered in paint, consider that an admission of guilt and boot them out if they are a renter, fine them $500 for the first offense if they are an owner.  Increase the fine significantly with each additional rules infraction.

"Escalation?" you say.  Yes.  How far are owners willing to go to protect their property and the Village?  A lot of them are willing to complain on FaceBook or to the village manager.  Those breaking the rules are showing their indifference to all of that.  It may be time to make a stand.  Certainly, our village has changed over time, but it is the changing behavior of people that has brought it to this point.  It shouldn't take a serious injury or death, and likely a lawsuit against our village, before things change.

Village management and our board of directors have to deal with this every year.  People complain in June, it gets bad in July, not much gets done about dealing with the problem (the board tables any discussion of how to better enforce our rules), and by September, the renters are gone, kids are back in school, and the streets in our village are relatively calm again.  That isn't a solution.