HAC Florida Insurance
Ginny Stevans from Having Affordable Coverage Florida (formerly Homeowners Against Citizens) contacted us because she thought that we didn't cast a positive enough light upon the organization. They do a great job in fighting for the rights of Florida's insurance policyholders, but she didn't like the fact that this site describes some of the behind the scenes battling in the organization.
Here for your edification is our exchange from April 1, 2007, verbatim:
Ginny Stevans Contacts Florida Homeowners Insurance Info:.
Please contact me concerning information you have on your website on HAC (Having Affordable Coverage) As the President of this group I would like to discuss the information and mis-information you have listed on your website about this group. You can get information directly from me as the President instead of reporters and web posters.
Thank You
Ginny Stevans, President
Florida Homeowners Insurance Info responds:
Sure Ginny
just tell me what is incorrect and I will correct it if there is no evidence
to the contrary. I admit some of it may be out of date like board membership
and location. You may be uncomfortable about some of the dirty laundry from
the past being there, but I am just reporting what I read, often from the
principles in the argument.
Ginny:
First let me explain the name change from Homeowners Against Citizens to
Having Affordable Coverage. When this group started there were about 7
people who went to the meeting that Citizens had at the Spartan Manor. They
were all sitting together and all on Citizens Insurance. They coined the
name Homeowners Against Citizens because they believed the insurance crisis
was a Citizens (company) problem only and that all the problems were caused
by Citizens. As the group expanded it became evident that most of the
problems that Citizens Insurance had was not because of Citizens but because
of legislation that Citizens had to follow. Also as the membership grew in
the organization it was evident that not only customers of Citizens
Insurance were seeing outrageous increases but most homeowners with all
types of insurance companies were also having an insurance crisis. We have
always been committed to fighting insurance increases so we changed the name
not our fight. It is just part of the growth of a new group.
As for Nicole Deg. Nicole was the driving force of this group in the
beginning and thought she might have more ability to help people if she
could get voted into the County Commissioners. It was solely her choice to
distance herself from the group in respect to our non-partisan beliefs.
Shortly after she started to run for office she dropped out for reasons I do
not know. She then helped us plan a rally in October and in November gave
birth to her second child. We have no problems with Nicole but were just
trying to stop rumors outside of the group.
You write "My feeling is that there is a natural distrust of a government
owned and run business by some of the founders of Homeowners Against
Citizens, and they believe that by striking out at Citizens it fits in
better with their political agendum rather than saying the current executive
and legislature has let them down."
It was not due to a natural distrust for government that we originally were
fighting against Citizens but lack of knowledge that they were solely
governed by our legislators. You have to remember this group is simply a
group of homeowner, retirees, and working class people that weren't aware of
all the politics behind insurance. We are much better informed now and that
is why we continue to grow and change with added knowledge of the situation.
You continually point out that the board consists mainly in Pasco as if that
is something negative. Yes most of us are based in surrounding areas of
Pasco, NOT in the same neighborhood. Our group has grown to over a thousand
members that reach across Florida and many snowbirds with homes both up
north and in Florida. We have also been able to group together with several
other groups across Florida and have started a consumer coalition of over
one million people in Florida. The groups in this coalition include: Florida
Consumer Action Network, FIRM (Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe), Florida
Justice Association, Cyber Citizens for Justice, ACORN (Association of
Community Organizations for Reform, POA (Property Owners Association of the
Villages), FIA (Floridians in Action), PIRG (Florida Public Interest
Research Group), COFCA (Coalition of Florida Condominium Associations), CFSE
(Consumer Federation of the Southeast), and Florida AFL-CIO
HAC Internal Problems: First you note that you attempted to contact us
several times to help us with our website with ideas of raising money. You
failed to mention that we declined because it was for you to profit also and
since NONE of us profit and do this all as volunteer work we felt it
un-appropriate.
Secondly you mention the Polsky's. Yes Harold denied having anyone try and
contact him and when the board questioned him he became very upset and quit.
What he did fail to mention is he had already sold his home and was going to
have to quit anyway as he moved two weeks after that letter was written. As
for Barbara Polsky and the website it never personally belonged to her and
was paid for and registered to HAC, she was simply the one who had the most
knowledge to maintain the website. We could have legally challenged her
closing the website but felt our time and efforts were best put to use
continuing our fight against insurance, not the Polsky's.
In reading all your information you post on our group it seems to lead more
toward negative aspects instead of all the good we are doing and trying to
do. People must remember this is a newly formed group going through growing
pains and learning things about insurance and government that we never new
before and are trying to understand. We spend hours and hours researching
information, lobbying for change, and understanding what is going on. If we
had not changed and grown we would get anywhere trying to get our rate
lowered. I would ask that you try and promote the good this group does and
all our hard work and efforts. If you check out our website (see archived version of site here
and read page by page you will see not only have we come a long way from the
start but we have been able to influence changes in our legislation and with
more help and knowledge we will continue to grow and hopefully see insurance
rates in Florida become affordable again..that is our goal.
Ginny Stevans, President
HAC Florida, Inc.
Having Affordable Coverage
We respond:
HI Ginnie
>
> First let me explain the name change from Homeowners Against Citizens to
> Having Affordable Coverage.
I agree....the change was a positive move, though HA Citizens was a lot
catchier. On my site I question why the focus on Citizens so we are singing
in harmony here.
>
> As for Nicole Deg.
I agree again. She deserves much kudos. And I am a Dem as well so have no
problem with her running as one. But don't try to sweep under the rug that
not everyone loves her. To wit, from some guy named Don:
"Finally,I know longer wish too be associated with this HAC
> > group.Just bringing Nicole Deg back in disgusts me. "
And from Harold's resignation:
"Within two weeks of this date, Nicole had left the group, saying that she
was running for Pasco County Commissioner. She was asked to give us a
copy of the names of the people in the group, and any other information
that would help us keep it together. She has, to this date, never given
that information to us. She did not name anyone to replace her, or give
any indications of where we were or where we should be going. She left
us, literally, a rudderless ship.
"Approximately June 18, 2006, Nicole sent an email stating she was dropping
out of the County Commissioners race, and wanted to again take an active
role in H.A.C. The following day she asked us not to tell anyone,
especially the media, that she was dropping out of the race. She asked us
to lie for her. She continued to represent herself as a candidate until
her recent withdrawal."
>
> HAC Internal Problems: First you note that you attempted to contact us
> several times to help us with our website with ideas of raising money. You
> failed to mention that we declined because it was for you to profit also
> and since NONE of us profit and do this all as volunteer work we felt it
> un-appropriate.
I succesfully contacted you once, so it wasn't several times that I proposed
the profit sharing arrangement. Just the once that I could get through after
my emails were either ignored or not received. You said "no" and then I
offered to help in other ways. I spoke to Vic and followed up with him and
never got a response even though it seems that I would have a LOT to offer
on helping on the web site. Even Vic admitted his technical shortcomings.
Let's give credit where credit is due, he is done an awesome job on the
site. It isn't perfect but better than most, and a lot better than it used
to be. However, given the communication problems, I thought it better to run
my own race.
>
Secondly you mention the Polsky's.
I don't disagree with what you say about them. I am just reporting their
side of the story. Now I have yours.
> In reading all your information you post on our group it seems to lead
more toward negative aspects instead of all the good we are doing and
trying to do.
Agreed, but that is the stuff people are interested in. And any publicity is
good publicity.
> all our hard work and efforts. If you check out our website www.hacfl.org (see archived version)
Yep, it is great. Very useful.
I will put your comments on my site with your consent. I appreciate you
taking the time, I know that you are very busy with this.
Ginny replied:
You ask for my consent to add what I have said to your website yet you never
asked consent for any of the other things you put on there.
Nicole Deg: You posted a note from a person named "Don" and I don't even
know who that is. Everyone has the right to a personal opinion of Nicole. I
was pointing out that the board held no ill feelings toward her. Harold has
had a problem with her from the start; I believe it was more a personal
clashing of personalities. As for Nicole leaving the board high and dry I
was not a part of HAC then and when I took over (after Harold) there was
little to no information either (and Barb took the website with her) so
again I say it was a personal problem between Harold and Nicole.
Agreed, but that is the stuff people are interested in. And any publicity is
> good publicity.
If this is the main thing your website is based on then that is sad. Our
goal is not about publicity it is about helping people in need. If you want
a Soap Opera then you should watch General Hospital or something but don't
spew poison just for shits and giggles...what kind of person does that make
you.
I will end with my favorite quote:
"The world is a dangerous place to live...not because of the people who are
evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." Albert
Einstein
> You ask for my consent to add what I have said to your website yet you
never asked consent for any of the other things you put on there.
You didn't create the other stuff. I don't need your permission, Ginny. Does
HAC contact Citizens or Charlie Crist, or any legislator before reporting
something on its web site? Is that a "yes" or a "no"? Do you want your side
there or not? If you don't respond I'll assume it is OK. Why is everyone so
combative around here?
> Nicole Deg: You posted a note from a person named "Don" and I don't even
know who that is.
It is from the HAC yahoo group. Here is the link if you are interested:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hac-pack/message/1738
> If this is the main thing your website is based on then that is sad. Our
goal is not about publicity it is about helping people in need.
OK, then try to survive without publicity then. Your goal is to help, your
means is via publicity. Publicity is the only thing you have in the absence
of cash.
>If you want
a Soap Opera then you should watch General Hospital or something but don't
spew poison just for shits and giggles...what kind of person does that
make you.
A monster apparently. I am just reporting what I know to be factual. You
still haven't told me anything which is totally incorrect that should be
removed. I did describe you as an "articulate and determined young woman".
If I got that wrong then let me know real quickly. I don't want to be a fool
as well as a monster.
> "The world is a dangerous place to live...not because of the people who
are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
Albert Einstein
It appears we agree on so much, but you focus on the negative. We will each
battle evil in our own way.
Ginny's response:
We always have any information we put on our website backed up by facts
given to us by the Office of insurance Regulations, Citizens, Legislators,
and public records.
I am not trying to be combative I just feel your website is more to the
negative about HAC not all the positive things we are doing for everyone in
Florida. The current HAC board works very well together and we have come a
long way from the start of this group. We have met with the Governor twice,
Kevin McCarty with the OIR, and Bruce Douglas with Citizens to name a few.
We have good communication with all of them and many members of the press
across Florida. We don't need negative publicity to get our voices heard
across Florida. Did you see that we were on the nightly news with Brian
Williams twice also.
I appreciate you reporting facts but am hopeful your future facts will
include all the "good" work we are doing for the people of Florida and not
any brew-ha-ha that does nothing to help anyone
I realize the comment on Nicole was from the Yahoo group, I just don't know
who "Don" is. He is not a board member nor an active member of HAC
Ginny
