To the Editor:
I’m not one to file a complaint. However, when politicians in Tallahassee decided to allow short-term rentals, while telling The Villages that they can’t require a 30-day minimum rental policy, then the politicians in Tallahassee have effectively taken away a community’s right to self-determination. They have effectively allowed commercialization within residential areas.
Now we have renters parking on the front lawns with everything from cars to small trucks. And that causes others to do the same. It makes the neighborhood look like a used car lot. There is no real enforcement. Why have rules if they aren’t followed, and aren’t policed by the people who created the rules?
Those who don’t respect our community have won! I have read that now all Community Development Districts now require anyone who files a complaint to give them their name and address. Our officials are bending over for the rule breakers, and not for those who follow the rules. Why? Why follow the rules? Why even have rules?
Those who rent short term have no commitment to our community, however those who rent for 30 days or more seem more vested in our community, than the transient short term renters. That’s been my experience. One rental property’s American flag fell on the ground and the renters never picked it up, they just walked around it. At another rental, the American flag flies day and night, without a light on it. and the flag was flying torn, for two months.
When people park on the narrow streets, especially across from each other, even when the rules ask people to park in the driveways or in their garage, there is no room for emergency vehicles to get through. When and if that happens who will be held responsible? The officials?
Ronald Smiley
Village of Buttonwood