Settled science
It appears that Los Alamitos Unified School District Board member Jeffrey Barke’s comments regarding the teaching of AP Science have been misconstrued. When he say’s he “represents the conservative viewpoint,” it appears that some believe that he was referring to political ideologies, like Conservative and/or Liberal.
I think what Dr. Barke meant was that he accepted the conservative view of Global Warming, in that, as a scientific hypothesis, or theory, that it is not a proven fact, until it is, well, proven. “Settled science” appears to be the newly minted term for proven. Has science fallen so far that we arrive at scientific conclusions through committee and/or consensus, or worse yet, by governmental fiat?
Would Einstein’s Theory of Relativity been accepted if it had been taken up for a vote?
It is comical (not), that as we have this debate locally, that the (alleged) scientists who tout that our changing climate is “man-caused” are fighting Freedom of Information Act requests for the data that they used to arrive at their “settled” conclusions.
What is funnier, is that these same (alleged) scientists were touting the impending disaster of global cooling, and the coming of a new ice-age, just 30 short years ago.
At the latest Climate Change Conference in Cancun, the “truth” about global warming was exposed.
German economist and IPCC official Ottmar Edenhofer stated: “climate policy has almost nothing to do anymore with environmental protection, but is actually an economy summit during which the redistribution of the world’s resources will be negotiated.”
While not intimately familiar with the AP Science curriculum, if it does not contain some, or all of the above information regarding global warming, then I applaud Dr. Barke’s insistence that the coursework be reexamined, and that our children be exposed to all of the facts pertaining to the “unsettled science” of climate change, or global climate disruption.
To Mr. Brines suggestion that we teach our kid’s how to think, and not what to think, I applaud your idea.
It appears though, that you’re at least a generation too late with your recommendation.
Earick Ward
Seal Beach
Anti-intellectual dogma
Both sides of a political issue have no place in a science classroom.
No doubt the Los Alamitos school board next will require teaching creationism. The board’s anti-intellectual dogma is precisely the reason we pulled our children from the Los Alamitos Unified School District and we’re glad we did.
Our oldest will attend Harvard University in the fall, majoring in neurobiology.
Thankfully students have alternatives like the Orange County High School of the Arts in the Santa Ana district where scientific reason prevails over the sort of petty politics now engulfing Los Alamitos unified. Good luck with that Mr. Barke.
Susan Paterno
Rossmoor
Taxing responsibilities
In his column, Mr. Kravitz said, “Hold management accountable for LW tax delinquency.” I say, “Hold the CFO’s of the Mutuals involved accountable as well!”
Why were the chief financial officers so surprised?
According to his report to the Mutual 15 board on May 16, Kravitz stated that he co-signed the check for the property taxes, but wasn’t told that the taxes were being paid late.
Just because he and the other mutual CFOs are not presented a bill is no reason not to know when the taxes are due and when the check should be written, signed and mailed.
Surely, every CFO has a record of when the taxes have been paid over the years and therefore should be aware of due dates.
In addition, if they owned property in either Orange or LA County they would have known when taxes were due.
As a member of two homeowner association boards, Tanglewood West of Cypress and Hidden Lakes of Phoenix, Ariz., that had management companies that handled payment of taxes, etc. The board members kept aware of timely payment of all bills.
We were the ones that were responsible to the homeowners!
(Mrs.) Gene Yaffee
Seal Beach Lesiure World
Just Kidding
A few years ago I witnessed two of my grandchildren go through their “JK” phase.
Occasionally, when they were not attached to some electronic devise, they would actually speak the King’s English.
Being maturity-challenged, as most children are, their words at times came out confusing.
They would say things that were at best foolish and hurtful and at worst outrageous and insulting.
Then, when they saw the shocked reaction by the adults, and just before they were going to be swept away by enhanced interrogation, they would yell “JK, JK, JK.”
In the world of the maturity-challenged, JK stands for just kidding, and means (a) it’s not my fault, (b) I did not mean it, and (c) don’t touch me … I have a get out of jail free card.
A few days ago I witnessed another JK moment from the Golden Rain Foundation.
They thought it would be a good idea to out-source our security.
They said that allowing 18- to 20-year-old strangers to have access to the keys to our homes is better than mature residents and neighbors.
They said that though they favor hiring residents, they are going to fire all the security people, most of whom are residents.
They had nothing bad to say about our current security people or system, but said the new security people and system would be cheaper.
They said that it is good business to do security on the cheap.
After months of secret discussions and meetings between the GRF, the administration and various security companies, someone thought maybe they ought to mention it to the people who pay the money, us.
As soon as we heard this outrageous, foolish and really bad idea uttered from the GRF, we moved as a single adult body to stop this nonsense.
Then, when they saw our shocked reaction and just before they were going to be swept away they cried.
“JK, JK.” All of life is a learning experience.
I learned from this that there are people on the GRF board who still believe that spending our money in secret is OK.
Spending $1.5 million of our dollars to keep the records of how they spend our money a secret from us was a really bad idea.
Out-sourcing our security is a really bad idea.
Finding out who supports these really bad ideas and voting them off the GRF board is a really good idea—and that is no kidding.
Joe Davis, Mutual 9
Seal Beach Lesiure World
Get the facts
After reading Duane Pickerell’s Opinion Letter in on Page 2 of the April 2011 Leisure World edition of the Sun, I decided that perhaps the Golden Rain Foundation leaders in the future might consider conducting an fact finding forum (with expert panelists) regarding what the Davis-Stirling Act is all about so that such experts may help educate the shareholders accurately as to what are the benefits of this vital Law provide for them.
As I understand, that under California Law all the activities of the GRF Board of Directors are being conducted/exercised by, and in accordance with the governing documents of the GRF that set forth the required obligations of the directors. Usually such documents consist of the Articles of Incorporation, the By-Laws, the CC and Rs, Operating Rules and all regulations adopted by the board, including the California Non Profit Corporation and the Davis-Stirling Act.
I further understand that the directors are bound by the strict standard of duty to discharge their obligations in good faith in a prudent manner and in the best interests of our Leisure World shareholders. And the directors shall, among other duties, provide/maintain an attractive, enjoyable and safe environment preserving the quality of life for all Leisure World shareholders.
I further understand that he Directors do comply with the statutory mandates under the Davis-Stirling Act, whose provisions apply regardless of what the GRF governing documents may say, by enforcing all the covenants, restrictions and procedures for the benefit of our shareholders, including the right to challenge decisions by the Board of Directors using the provisions of the Davis-Stirling Act pursuant to the standard of reasonableness.
I am not an attorney, but perhaps Mr. Pickerell is. However, after reviewing his message, that he and I may have different copies of the Davis-Stirling Act. However, I do have reasonably accurate memories of my previous tenure as president of a smaller homeowners association in Northern California.
I decided to send this letter to the Sun after receiving an illogical/inaccurate self-serving document from Mr. Pickerell, which after reading it I decided it was consistent with Webster’s definition of “Drivel.”
Les H. Cohen
Seal Beach Leisure World
Leisure World does not run itself
The lies continue by the people who think Leisure World runs by itself. The new crew that is running for the Golden Rain Foundation board and some of the Mutual boards has a misguided view of how the organization runs. It doesn’t run itself. The staff is the key to the operation, they provide more than good service to this community.
It is run by people who care about how we live our lives. How can some people really think that paying less money and having less staff is better? Are you paying too much? The monthly fee varies with each Mutual, overall the approximate monthly fee is $350 to $500 a month that combines the Golden Rain Foundation fee and the Mutual fee. The difference at the bottom line is the individual property takes you are each paying. Is the current fee too much? Try finding housing anywhere else for $350 to $500 a month. Are some of us living in an alternate universe?
Some of the candidates running for the GRF board think the quality of service and response time can be done with less personnel. What’s up with that? Leisure World has been operating efficiently and has spoiled all of us who live here with same day service. When the hot water heaters leak, they not only into your own unit but also into the three adjacent units. The damage is addressed immediately. There is no wait. How does that happen? Because there is staff here that reacts immediately. They know who to call and the correct equipment needed.
What happens when the battery starts chirping in your smoke detector? Make a phone call and maintenance is here to fix it. How about your toilet or sink stopping up? The staff is here immediately to fix it. We do not have to wait for a plumber to come and we do not have to pay $75 – $100 for quick service. What if it happens on the weekend?
The maintenance department is there to take care of it. There is no cost. We are damned spoiled. How quickly we forget what life is like outside these walls. We used to pay the electrician to fix the light switch, the plumber to unplug the toilet and/or sewer line stop up. I like being spoiled.
The candidates currently running sound as though the staff as unneeded expense. If they win, the turmoil will continue and the crazy ideas will prevail. While all that is happening you will be waiting for days for maintenance to answer your call. You will be walking around on soaking carpet or buckling wood floors before the water cleanup gets there. Treat the staff well, let them know we appreciate them, and you will get what you pay for. Think about it.
Here in Mutual 5 our GRF representative is running for re-election, he is one of the best representatives on the GRF board. The opposing candidate is negative and determined to continue the turmoil that has taken hold. Be positive think about how good our lives are in Leisure World. There are more than 8,000 people here, do not let 240 negative people control our lives. We are better than that.
Vote intelligently; think about the impact of the negative comments. There is no comparison between the ease and cost of living here and costs living in your old home.
Sandra Massa-Lavitt
Seal Beach Leisure World
