Can’t We All Just Get Along . . . ?!
By J. David Eldridge, Esq.
As a practicing attorney whose firm represents numerous condominiums, co-ops and Homeowner Associations throughout Long Island, I recently attended CAI’s annual Law Seminar in New Orleans to review major changes and trends in community association law across the country. The guest speaker who addressed the approximately 600 attorneys present was Mitchell Landrieu, NOLA’s prior mayor, and boy, was he spectacular!
What does this have to do with communities like yours thousands of miles away in New York?
Much more than you might think . . .
Mayor Mitchell, who is quite a colorful and vibrant character and speaker, painted an incredible picture of his very personal experiences leading up to, and through the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, which devastated major parts of the City. In his polished country-boy twang, he somehow managed to share his unbelievable tales and experiences in a way that always circled back to community Boards and the various issues we face every day governing and guiding communities.
The main theme of his speech focused on the many different types of individuals, groups and entities that make up and represent the people of New Orleans, each with varying backgrounds thoughts, cultures, opinions, resources, desires and needs. Thus, in the wake of Katrina’s devastation, the question remained: How on earth could the City ever recover? From the super-wealthy to extremely poor, black, white, creole and everything in between, along with countless community associations, civic groups and religious organizations, as well as multiple levels of governmental entities and agencies, each time the answer was the same:
They were all in this together, and none would be able to survive and rebuild without the other – they were all forced to sink or swim, together; as he stated, they were all truly “in the same boat.” But he also meant that literally, as they sat together in small rowboats helping pull victims from the floodwaters clutching their worldly possessions in one hand, and their children in the other.
There were no rich or poor survivors, no black or white victims, no Christian, Democrat or union labels – they were ALL united in one common interest: staying alive and helping their families and neighbors through the calamity; with common spirit and shared goals, they pressed ahead together without any regard to their differences, and for the betterment of all.
This was his message, and it resonated with the entire audience, especially as he wrapped up and reiterated how applicable this all is to the Communities and boards we serve back here in New York. Our residents truly are tied at the hip and dependent upon one another to succeed in their communities, and they certainly sink or swim together.
Let’s hope it doesn’t take another natural catastrophe for the majority of our residents and boards to learn this simple, yet blinding truth.
