This isn't germane to the overall issue at hand, which is serious, but this statement in the article isn't correct and paints an inaccurate picture to people who aren't familiar with Columbia or Howard County: "effectively governed like a huge homeowners association with more than 100,000 resident"

The CA is not really like a full government. They manage the HOA rules for homes and businesses while maintaining large swaths of recreational infrastructure. But, they are not effectively governing Columbia. The county manages emergency services, the school system, local building codes, the courts, parks, roads, waste management, and more. That statement also neglects the thousands of people who live in Columbia's "out parcels" (that is, those areas not under the CA umbrella).