GRF turns 50
The Golden Rain Foundation was officially 50 years old on May 15, 2011. It seems that nobody has been in a mood to celebrate the 50th anniversary of GRF’s incorporation due to the $273,000 penalty assessed by the Orange County Treasurer for GRF’s late payment of the Seal Beach Mutuals’ property taxes.
If the GRF Board of Directors were to perform in accordance with their fiduciary duty, they would have fired Administrator Dan Schaeffer by now for his gross negligence in that late tax payment fiasco. Until Schaeffer is terminated as Administrator, GRF has nothing to celebrate. Too bad for us all.
Dave Lyon
Seal Beach Leisure World
Response to Nett letter
With reference to the letter published in the Sun on Aug. 18 from Ron Nett of Leisure World, I would like to dispute a few of his facts.
I moved to Leisure World five years ago when my monthly fee plus property tax was just under $500 per month, since reduced due to reappraisal. After paying almost a quarter of a million dollars cash for my unit, plain and completely unenhanced, and for which I would be fortunate to sell now for approximately $100,000, and after paying my monthly fee, I now have the privilege of enjoying all these so-called “free” amenities described in Mr. Nett’s letter:
• “Free” manual car wash—the recent improvement to the car wash cost shareholders $150,000 through our fees, and is damaging to the finish of vehicles and to the health of users who are exposed to mist containing solvents, chemicals, dirt.
• “Free” golf—employees to maintain the course are, of course, paid, as well as the upkeep in general, paid by shareholders through our fees.
• “Free” bus transportation—approximately four years ago hundreds of thousand of dollars were spent buying new busses to replace old ones. We have 11 busses, six in daily service. All paid for by shareholders through our fees. The drivers are also employed and are paid!
• “Free” dances, gym, etc. in various clubhouses—attendance is free, however the facilities are maintained through shareholders’ fees.
I, too, enjoy the many amenities here in Leisure World, but let’s face it, they are paid for by the shareholders. Don’t get me wrong. I love Leisure World, but free it ain’t!
Margaret Himmelstein
Seal Beach
Watch what you print
Not to put down the Seal Beach Police Department or Officer Nicholas down, but portions of the article by Seth Eaker titled: “Riding the ‘South Beat’ with SBPD” article should:
A. Never been made public and …
B. Officer Nicholas should not have released a DUI driver in front of a ride along that knew the .088 results.
I have been a police officer for about 17 years. I have arrested hundreds of DUI drivers even with under .07 BAC. I’ve also investigated several DUI-related collisions involving all levels of BAC.
I have even seen crashes where a pedestrian was drunk and ran into the street. There’s my problem. You commend the spirit of the law without thinking of the potential consequences?
Yes Officer Nicholas took a drunk off the street and let them walk home. What if that drunk had another set of keys. Officer Nicholas drives away. The drunk waits and re-enters his vehicle and drives away, crashing and possibly injures or kills someone.
Do we remember the John Hines DUI crash. “Spirit of the Law?” The worst part of this is Seth didn’t even think not to make this public. Is Seth Eaker going to the DUI checkpoint and going to watch everyone get arrested or not? I hope this is a lesson. Liability is a big issue in law enforcement. Let’s not allow more people to give reason to sue or put negative attention to law enforcement. Hopefully all went well with the drunk that was allowed to walk home?
Todd Wolf
El Segundo
Los Alamitos, a city in disarray
We continue to see political moves toward Rossmoor, particularly with regard to the annexation of the Rossmoor Shopping Village. The main questions are what is in it for the property owners, business owners and the residents of the apartment complex within the block being sought and second, why would anyone want to be a part of what is a politically fractured and fiscally fragile city.
First, there have been no statements from Los Alamitos about the benefits to the business district, only benefits to Los Alamitos. What’s in store for the “block” is a 6 percent utility users tax for gas, water, electricity and telephone services.
Is this really a reasonable price to pay so that Los Alamitos can begin what would likely be a decades long process to improve its image? Business interests along the Los Alamitos Boulevard business corridor are being asked to consider a business improvement district with a self-imposed tax structure to modernize the boulevard. The problem is that neither the business nor the City Council are on the same page.
Before taking on more territory, Los Alamitos ought to get its own house in order. The City Council continues to struggle along with a 3-2 vote on most of the important issues facing the city. Accusations of wrong doing resonate throughout the city, law suits are filed and just recently, the city clerk left their employment because the City Council couldn’t agree on their meeting minutes, a rather ministerial task.
This is not an indictment of the good citizens of Los Alamitos; rather it is a criticism of the lack of leadership being exhibited by the City Council majority which is more intent on getting its way rather than seeking solutions upon which they can all agree on. Residents of their community deserve no less and the residents of Rossmoor deserve to be respected in their desire to remain as they are; a great place to live.
Ron Casey
Rossmoor Community Services District director
