HOA's as the Anti Life League
My wife and I recently moved out of a 'Home Owner Association' controlled development [Windemere Pond HOA, Bay Shore, NY]
In New York state, HOA's are only regulated by the extremly weak 'not for profit' business law - but our ex HOA managed to violate both the letter and spirit of the law. [Never holding an open board meeting; refusing to allow examination of books, records or minutes; overriding election results - because 'we've always done it _this_ way']
We were on good terms will all our neighbors - the managing agent invented a paper trail of 'repeated complaints' about our unsightly vehicle [a shiney new 2003 Ford Ranger pickup - with passenger car plates [They wanted to object to our 1974 Bronco - but to do that, they would have to fine 75% of the homeowners]]
HOA's can and will act with complete disregard for the wishes of a majority of the community - they either attract seekers of petty authority, or become creatures controlled by their 'management agents'. They have the luxury of essencially unlimited financial retribution against offenders [see what the contract says about liens]. A single outstanding dollar of 'special assesment' is sufficent to postpone a closing date [ours was delayed by 60 days].
