A pro-Trump California man stood his ground as his homeowners association ordered him to remove political posters supporting the former president.

Paul Wood Bonilla is sure members of the Sunwest Homeowners Association in Lodi are not big on Trump and have officially told him in a letter that he must remove signs and flags promoting the Republican presidential candidate.

“The guy took a bullet from me,” Bonilla said KOVR TV. “I'll support him.”

(Video credit: CBS News Sacramento)

The controversy took a turn as the story was picked up by network television, with the HOA board reaching a compromise Monday.

The letter to Bonilla mentioned the size of the signs and made no political reference, according to the press, but he was not convinced there was no objection to Trump at play.

“I knew the moment I started supporting Trump that I was going to have a hard time,” said the owner, speaking of the partnership, which is part of Katzakian Property Management.

One of his neighbors disagreed and felt the pro-Trump decorations were “intrusive.”

“I think it's big. I think it's intrusive,” Jim Brent said. “I don't think it has anything to do with the message. It has to do with the way you express it.”

A local attorney warned that the homeowners association's effort could land them in a lawsuit.

“The HOA is completely wrong,” said Michael Wise. “You can't force him to withdraw it at all.”

According to the Davis Sterling Act of the California Civil Code, “An association may prohibit noncommercial signs and posters over nine square feet in size and noncommercial flags or banners over 15 square feet in size.”

Bonilla's signage does not exceed those limits, and the attorney said the property owner is “allowed” to display his signs by law.

“It doesn't threaten public safety or public health, it doesn't violate state or federal law, it's in a permitted medium,” Wise said.

“I'm going to stand up for what I believe in. I believe in President Trump,” Bonilla said. “I believe in the American way and I will not be bullied.”

But in an update to the debate, the Sunwest Homeowners Association responded to the news outlet, insisting there is nothing political about the order.

“Would they if I said Kamala Harris here?” Bonilla asked herself. “I bet I wouldn't hear a word because no one would complain.”



(Video credit: CBS News Sacramento)

“It doesn't matter if it's Trump or who it is,” Sunwest senior director of partnerships Liz Franco told KOVR-TV. “There are certain restrictions you have when you live in a homeowner's association.”

“I talked to the board of directors and they agreed to take two signs down and leave one, whatever they decide,” Franco said.

While there was no explanation as to why Bonilla first received the letter ordering him to remove the signs, Franco referred to the “2008 Court of Appeals ruling in Quart La Costa v. Seith which ruled that HOAs can restrict the number of real estate signs and could apply to non-commercial signs, such as the Bonilla banners,” reports the station.

But according to Wise, context is everything.

“It seems to apply to commercial signs, not non-commercial signs,” Wise said. “These are clearly non-commercial signs and banners.”

“The HOA is absolutely wrong,” he added. “Compromise is fine, but they have no influence.”

Some of Bonilla's neighbors have joined the fight and put up pro-Trump signage in solidarity with him. The owner, who has lived in the house for 30 years, has chosen to remove two of the three signs he had, but is seeking legal advice to reinstate them.

“If they're right, I'll comply, but if I have a foot to stand on and fight it, I'll fight it,” Bonilla said.

Senior Staff Writer
[email protected]

Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida, where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

Latest messages from Frieda Powers (see everything)

We have zero tolerance for comments that contain violence, racism, profanity, profanity, doxing, or rude behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it, click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for engaging with us in a fruitful conversation.