In spite of the excessive 140% increase in water rate, neither the city, council members, nor Leisure World Mutual Directors made any meaningful attempt to inform shareholders of the potential financial hardship. If not for the prior extensive coverage in the Sun, I would never learn of this astronomical increase. This proposal is being rushed through, giving parcel owners little time to learn, assess the impact, voice our opinions, or prepare for the higher cost. LW residents are one/third of Seal Beach populations, but we are not allowed to submit Protest Letters to be counted in the 50 plus 1 measure because we do not receive the bill directly. It is unfair and discriminatory. The increase focuses solely on passing the burden to the ratepayers, with no sign of attempt or indication by the council members and the city managers to look into reducing, revising and/or trimming current and future budgets. The inflation rate for 2024 is 3.4%, the social Security benefit cost of living increase is 3.2%, but the water rate increase starting April 1, 2024 is 33%. These numbers do not represent a realistic and responsible proposal. Lastly, when running for the city council seat in September, 2023, Mr. Steele promised that he “will spend time getting to know the concerns of not just my constituents, but the concerns of the entire city.” Based on his comments in the meeting, and opinion pieces, I do not see any concern or effort on behalf of his constituents, nor local shops and restaurants who will be impacted by reduced spending by locals who cannot afford it.
I agree that the increase is necessary, but can we think it through and look at all angles, allow Leisure World citizens to voice their impact statement, and give us realistic and responsible numbers that work for both the city and its citizens?
Siriporn Kuanchai
Leisure World
Stop kicking the can down the road
I am writing to express my whole-hearted approval of Nathan Steele’s opinion in today’s issue of the Sun (“A case for water and sewer rate increases,” Thursday, Feb. 22).
He is absolutely right, we need to stop kicking the can down the road and invest in our infrastructure! Of course no one likes rate hikes. But look what happens when we don’t keep up with necessary maintenance and replace what has outlived its usefulness! We make needed repairs and upgrades in our homes, but do we want to have nice homes amid a crumbling infrastructure, as in third world countries? I think it’s time we remember that we are more than just our households; we are a community. Perhaps we need to bring back the notion of the common good.
Many of us grew up in a time when our infrastructure was new. We got used to living in a prosperous country, with good public schools, well-maintained roads and sewer systems, etc. Over recent decades, we have watched a precipitous decline in all of these things, nationwide. It might be helpful to have a look at the impressive differences in tax structure that have occurred over time since the 1950s.
Tamara Madison
