Letters to Editor

Editor:

The driver’s license renewal test is offered on the DMV website, and it is very easy. You must pay the $45 fee online; be sure to print a receipt to take with you to the DMV, along with copies of any other online preparation.

The online test consists of several easy tutorials, each followed by a short quiz on the information given in that tutorial. (I took notes.)

I thought there would be a cumulative test after the last quiz, but the last quiz was the end of the test.

You get the quiz results immediately, but it takes a few days for the test result to be accessible in your file in the system (probably the usual seven to 10 working days).

With an appointment—after an eye test, a new photo and a computerized ID check—I was in and out of the Long Beach office in about 45 minutes.

The staff there were very friendly, professional and efficient.

D. Thackrey Mutual 15

Editor:

As I write this, it is the 15th anniversary of a devastating fire in Mutual 8 that destroyed the entire building to various degrees, displaced all residents for close to a year and took the life of my father, Ray Morey.

Contrary to stories that have circulated for years that it started by smoking, my dad didn’t smoke.

The truth is the fire investigator pinpointed it to a specific area, which is exactly where I left him one hour earlier on the couch with a heating pad.

The heating pad overheated, causing a pillow to catch fire while he was asleep on the couch.

Miraculously, although he severely burned, he was able to go to a few neighbors waking them up and warning them of the fire. I’m sure he saved lives by doing that.

I’m writing this in honor of my dad, to encourage everyone to get rid of any old heating pads or electric blankets that don’t have the automatic shut-off feature and purchase one that does.

Pam Bartleson Mutual 6 Editor:

Your headline in last week’s paper (Feb. 15) below the fold read “New signage clarifies entry lanes at main gate.” I beg to differ.

I had four visitors in the first two days of the new system and not one knew what RF ID meant. These are smart, educated people who could not decipher the signage, which exasperates the gridlock. So, I respectfully disagree that it clarifies much of anything at the main gate. How about “Residents with RFID”?

Gina Kano Mutual 15 Editor:

My questions concern two incidents on Feb. 10 concerning entering through the St. Andrews Gate and through the North Gate.

In the first case, I approached the guard station at St. Andrews while riding my bike in the lane for automobile traffic.

Then I stopped close to the guard to show him my GRF membership ID card. The guard instructed me to use the pedestrian gate in the future.

Later that day, I approached the North Gate as a pedestrian walking my bike on the sidewalk on the south side of North Gate Road. I attempted to open the automated pedestrian gate by inserting my GRF membership ID card into the card reader.

After two futile attempts, the guard on duty noticed my difficulty, telling me “it doesn’t work,” then directed me to carefully enter LW using the outbound traffic lane.

I appreciated this advice because I was able to avoid a long line of cars waiting to enter LW through the automotive gate. Two general questions: Which GRF employee (or governing body or committee) has responsibility for establishing GRF policy for a resident entering on a bicycle? Which GRF employee (or governing body or committee) has responsibility for getting the pedestrian gate repaired? I can only guess it might be Executive Director, or Security Services Director, or Security Services Manager, or Physical Property Manager, or the GRF Governing Board. Mark Youngs Mutual 8 Editor’s Note: GRF policy does not specify how bicycles may enter the community, and they do access through the pedestrian gates or in traffic lanes. The North Gate pedestrian gate is now in operation. It was briefly out of commission due to the back order of parts needed for the repair, according to Mark Weaver, senior director of facilities for the Physical Property department. Editor: As residents at LWSB, we have witnessed several updates and renovations in our village. Lots of high-dollar spending, all geared to improve the community experience. I appreciate that. Unfortunately, it’s becoming more difficult to support and/or understand some of these huge ticket expenditures, all within a short period of time.

The effect: significant drains of GRF funds. The result: consistent, increased monthly assessment fees for shareholders who rely on fixed incomes. It’s time to prioritize and curtail big spending and make a shift toward budget preservation for those “unexpected” events, i.e. insurance rate hikes and possible repercussions from increased deductibles.

Phones, buses, community gardens, ineffective speed bumps and, of course…wait for it… Proptia, a system that leaves me frustrated as I try to justify the expense, questioning the improvement.

Increased wait times and entry lines to LW test my patience.

It’s time to hold GRF accountable.

Challenge it to make mindful, conservative, timely decisions when it comes to our budget.

After all, these decisions effect how we, as shareholders, are left to manage our own monthly, household budgets!

Carla Lolkus Mutual 4