Once upon a time, being part of a gated community meant more than just walls and security gates. It meant neighbors who knew and looked out for one another—where friendly street gatherings, shared conversations, and exchanged garden tips were part of daily life. In the past, the residents of Eastridge Hills took pride in their sense of community, swapping pest control tricks and family recipes, and truly engaging with one another.
But something has changed.
From Community to Control: The Shift in HOA Culture
Instead of fostering unity, our HOA’s management company has fueled division, secrecy, and distrust. Homeowners should feel a sense of security within our gates—not just from outside crime and noise, but also from mismanagement and poor governance.
Yet, today, our Board operates behind closed doors:
• Financial decisions are made without transparency.
• Meetings are held in secrecy, without proper preparation or adherence to rules.
• The same small group of Board members rotate positions like a game of musical chairs, never allowing new voices to participate.
A Board That Fails Its Community
In one glaring example, the Vice President once presided over a meeting without even having the published agenda. On another occasion, two of the three Board members relied on outdated governing documents—with one even dismissing concerns, saying it was “good enough for her.”
This is not what good governance looks like.
The Problem with Gated Communities
At their best, gated communities provide a sense of refuge—a little separation from the chaos of the outside world. But they should never become barriers to transparency, fairness, and participation. In some ways, a gated community naturally fosters a degree of exclusivity. That’s why it’s even more important to ensure our leadership is inclusive, fair, and open to new ideas.
Right now, our HOA is failing us. Without proper leadership, our community will never return to the true spirit of a neighborhood—where people know each other, support one another, and trust the process of self-governance.
It’s Time to Demand Change
We deserve an HOA that:
✅ Welcomes community involvement rather than discouraging it.
✅ Operates with transparency instead of secrecy.
✅ Encourages new leadership rather than clinging to the same small circle.
✅ Holds open and fair elections instead of handpicking Board members behind closed doors.
A gated community should protect its residents—not just from external threats but from internal mismanagement. Until leadership changes and the management company is held accountable, our neighborhood will remain in a state of controlled stagnation—a place where people live, but not where they truly belong.
It’s time for homeowners to take back their community.
