Janice R. Andrews
David Martin is from Arizona, and he is in the middle of an unusual fight in a town that is being burned by record-breaking heat. His homeowners association (HOA) is fining him for leaving the water cooler out in the open in his yard, even though he has been giving away free cold water to neighbours and people walking by during some of the hottest months ever. The situation makes me wonder how to balance community rules with nice things people do for each other.
A Generous Act During a Pandemic
The first person to put out an ice-cold water cooler was David Martin, a 50-year-old man from Goodyear, Arizona. This was in the early days of the coronavirus outbreak. The country was full of fear and confusion, and Martin wanted to do something small but meaningful to help his neighbourhood.
He put the water cooler in front of his garage on his driveway and let neighbours, delivery people, dog walkers and anyone else who needed it get water for free. Many people in his neighbourhood liked what he did, especially since it was so hot in the summer. Goodyear is about 20 miles from Phoenix, and it gets very hot there, with temps often topping 100°F.
The community came together around Martin’s water cooler, especially during this year’s heatwave in southern Arizona, when it was very hot. People who came by to get water were grateful for the help, and Martin felt good about helping his neighbours in a small but important way.
What the Homeowners Association Says
When Martin did something nice for his neighbours, they were supportive, but his homes association didn’t agree with him. Martin got a letter from the HOA in April of this year saying that his water cooler broke neighbourhood rules. The HOA said the problem wasn’t with giving water, but with the cooler being visible, which they said was against the rules because things should be kept out of sight.
Martin and his wife were initially fined by the HOA for not putting the cooler somewhere out of sight. At first, the charges were small, but they kept going up over the next few months and ended up being hundreds of dollars. By September, Martin had been fined $475, and he could have been fined even more if he didn’t follow the rules.
Not Giving Up on His Principles
Martin has refused to take down the water cooler or pay the fines, even though they keep adding up. Martin said to The Washington Post, “I’m taking care of the community because that’s what I believe in.” He made it clear that his water cooler wasn’t about breaking the law, but about helping people who were in need during bad weather.
However, the homes group said it was only following its own rules. The HOA said in a statement, “The community’s rules do not allow a resident to advertise water bottle distribution from a portable ice chest next to their garage that can be seen from private property across the street.” The HOA also said that they had worked with Martin to find a solution, suggesting that he keep giving out water as long as no one could see the cooler.
Martin doesn’t agree with this and says the HOA hasn’t been helpful. He said that when he tried one last time to solve the problem, a property manager from FirstService Residential, the company that runs his HOA, wouldn’t talk to him about it because he wasn’t legally the owner of the house—his wife was.
A History of Being Kind
Martin wasn’t just nice around the water cooler. In the early months of the pandemic, he also put cleaning goods and toiletries out in front of his house so that neighbours who were having trouble finding these things in stores could get them. In times of trouble, his garage turned into a kind of neighbourhood shop where people could get what they needed.
But the water cooler stayed put for a long time after the pandemic lockdowns were over, and it became a part of the neighbourhood. Martin made it even easier to get to by putting it on a box so his old neighbours wouldn’t have to bend down to get a bottle of water. He made things easier by buying a freezer at Walmart to freeze the water bottles. This way, even though it was very hot, the bottles would stay cold.
The Fines Are Paid Back
In May 2022, the HOA first complained about the water cooler. However, Martin said he thought the problem was fixed after the association apologised. Until early this year, when the fines started coming back. He thought that was the end of it.
The fines keep going up every month, and they won’t stop until Martin takes the cooler away. He has been told by the group that he needs to follow their rules or else he will be in trouble with the law. But Martin is still stubborn, saying that the extreme heat is the main reason for his defiance. This summer, temps in Phoenix have been above 100°F for more than 100 days in a row. This makes the need for water even more important.
A Standoff in Very Hot Weather
Martin has no plans to take the cooler away, even though there will be fines. He keeps paying his HOA fees, but he won’t pay the fines. He has even written on the front of the cooler, “Please grab a water!” to show how much he cares about his cause. “Even you, HOA.”
Martin is fighting for more than just the water cooler. He is fighting for what he thinks is right. Since temperatures are still going up and Arizona’s heat isn’t going away, his cooler is still a welcome sight in the middle of a hot summer.
The problem has still not been fixed as of now. Martin wants to keep giving his town free water, even if it means getting fined more. He doesn’t mind how much it costs to help people beat the heat.
Because Arizona is always hot, Martin’s act of kindness shows how important community is in hard times, even if it costs him personally.
