Last year, the Florida Legislature passed SB 4-D with the stated purpose of safeguarding the millions of Floridians living in older multifamily buildings. Known as the Condo Safety Law, SB 4-D requires periodic engineering inspections for buildings three stories and higher and mandates that associations reserve funds to pay for ongoing maintenance and repair projects. […]
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Yolanda Cash Jackson Quoted in The Miami Herald
Yolanda Cash Jackson was quoted in the Miami Herald article titled, “Miami-Dade’s Beacon Council, which recruits companies to the area, names new CEO.” To read the full article, please click here. Yolanda is an experienced Government Law attorney who has established a strong reputation in the community for her leadership and commitment to civic, charitable, […]
Read More“Liberty City Native Yolanda Cash Jackson Becomes First Black Woman to Lead County Economic Development Agency” – Miami Herald
In a Fort Lauderdale office adorned with countless awards next to her picture with President Barack Obama, an autographed Dwyane Wade jersey and art by Black artists, attorney Yolanda Cash Jackson feels at home. Jackson, 64, is the newly appointed chairwoman of the board of directors of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the county’s public-private economic […]
Read More“Mixed Messaging on Solar Panels Penalizes Florida Homeowners Seeking to Save Energy” – Miami Herald
In this op-ed for the Miami Herald, Becker Shareholder Donna DiMaggio Berger, dissects the conflict that solar panels can cause between insurers and homeowners. While homeowners do have a right, insurers often cite risk of injury, the use of the building for commercial purposes, and the risk of roof uplift during heavy winds. Until Florida’s […]
Read More“Why Hiring A Board-Certified Lawyer Makes Sense” – Miami Herald
Consumers of legal services often seek to hire legal counsel for a variety of matters including personal injury, accident, divorce, a business dispute, real estate transaction, or probate matters. Finding the right lawyer can be challenging for the consumer that is often bombarded with television advertising highlighting certain lawyers, along with billboards, internet reviews, and […]
Read More“Fuzzy Government Rules Leave Condo Boards in Coronavirus Quandary” – Miami Herald
The COVID-19 pandemic has rewritten the operational script for many industries, including the community association industry. As with most of life’s challenges, we are acquiring take-away lessons that will help us adapt even more quickly the next time a curve ball heads our way. The lessons our boards, residents and managers have learned over the […]
Read More“Opinion: Condos and HOAs Should Avoid Rushing to Open Common Areas” – Miami Herald
With Jacksonville beaches now open for limited purposes and more to follow in the coming days and weeks, members of your private residential community may be even less tolerant about common amenities remaining closed. However, convenience must always be subordinated to life safety. The same steps used by your board to evaluate when and how […]
Read More“Opinion: Condo Associations Must Set Clear Coronavirus Rules – and Enforce Them” – Miami Herald
Shared ownership communities have heeded the call and have implemented COVID-19 protocol, reshaping their daily operations to better safeguard their residents. In the past few weeks, the governor and Florida cities and counties have revised their emergency orders numerous times to take into account the pandemic’s growing threat. Many communities also revised and tightened their […]
Read More“Water leaks in your condo: Who’s responsible? | Opinion” – Miami Herald
There are many advantages to living in a multifamily condo or coop building in South Florida: great views, enviable locations and abundant amenities. However, there is always the possibility of water leaks. Not surprisingly, when these leaks occur, there is often an inherent tension and finger-pointing between the owner who suffers interior damage and the […]
Read More“Condo Boards Can’t Turn Down Applicants Just Because They Don’t Like Them” – Miami Herald
“If I like you, you’re in.” Those words were uttered by the board president of the first condominium unit I bought right out of law school. At the time, I wasn’t going to quibble about whether or not this screening procedure was legitimate. Many community association residents expect their board members and managers to thoroughly […]
Read More“Opinion: Bill Would Benefit Condo Communities by Cutting Down on Support-Animal Fraud” – Miami Herald
Private residential communities currently deal with a plethora of Emotional Support Animal (ESA) requests, however there may be hope on the horizon. Newly filed bill, HB 209, could help grant some relief to those who are trying to fraudulently pass off their furry (or scaly companions), if it passes in the 2020 Florida legislative session. […]
Read More“For Some Condo Associations, ‘Short-Term Rentals’ Are Dirty Words” – Miami Herald
Short-term rentals are “dirty words” in some condominium, cooperative, and homeowners associations’ vocabularies. A large number of residents and board members believe that platforms like Airbnb will increase crime and nuisances in their communities. Recently, there has been a major push to prohibit these activities altogether. Shareholder Donna DiMaggio Berger has penned an informative article […]
Read More“Weathering The Storm: A Top 10 List For Condo and HOA Boards” – Miami Herald
As all Floridians know, storm season can be a very hectic time. Preparation for – as well as the aftermath of – storms is stressful. Board members of community associations are hit particularly hard by the nerve-wracking days of hurricane season because not only do they have to worry about themselves, they also have to […]
Read MoreMario J. Bailey Noted in an Article from the Miami Herald
Mario Bailey, senior government relations consultant and 2017 BMe Community Genius Leader, is noted in a Nov. 12 article from the Miami Herald titled “Barbershop philanthropy — for Miami’s black communities, giving starts close to home.” http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article184048896.html Mario, center, is pictured here with BMe Community cofounder Benjamin Evans (right) and fellow member Jonathan Spike handing […]
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After losing friends to heart attacks, lawyer gets into shape and completes half marathon
Yolanda Cash Jackson Talks Politics – Miami Herald
By Alex Blencowe Special to The Miami Times According to the Office of Economic and Demographic Research Census, the Hispanic population in Florida grew from about 17 percent in 2000, to 23 in 2010, and is expected to reach 27 percent in 2030. The past, present and future of Florida demographics is changing, creating new […]
Read MoreUber Didn’t Want to Play by the Rules
Business slowdown: Traffic Jams up South Florida’s Economy
By Nicholas Nehamas May 17, 2015 Fix it! That’s the cry from South Florida business owners as backed-up roads take their toll on companies from Palm Beach County to the Keys. A Miami Herald survey distributed through local chambers of commerce found that businesspeople overwhelmingly rate traffic here as “very bad,” saying it has gotten […]
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