Letters to the Editor
Editor:
If you are upset about rising GRF HOA fees and have voted for Gavin Newsom, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Democrat state legislators, well, as my Texas friends are prone to say, bless your heart.
About 75-90% of GRF’s budget increases are due to increased statewide insurance rates. These rates will go up again this year, next year, and for the foreseeable future. Insurance companies operate off of risk models. Almost all the major insurance companies have determined that California is too high a risk to continue to do business.
What are the current increased risks? Forest mismanagement and water shortages (delta smelt), homelessness, illegal immigration, the firing of non-vaxxed firefighters, regulations and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Donald Trump warned Gavin Newsom five years ago that the state needed to “clear out dry forest underbrush” and “increase water delivery from Northern California and Canada.” Gavin Newsom sued the Trump Administration, and seemingly did none of what the president recommended. Would these actions have stopped the current spate of fires burning throughout the southland? Not necessarily.
Would they have mitigated some of the risk to property/ home/life damage? Almost certainly. Elections have (dire) consequences.
The good news? Gavin Newsom has a $25M war chest to fight the deportation of criminal illegal aliens, and Joe Biden is a great-grandfather. No joke.
Earick Ward Mutual 7 Editor:
Now that the new on-call internal bus system has been operational for more than a week, I strongly recommend that when a rider wants to be picked up from a home address, he or she provides not only their Mutual number, building number and unit-alpha character, but also inform the dispatcher of your closest street name.
There are many Mutuals that have identical building numbers in Leisure World. For example, there is a 40-C in at least three Mutuals, Mutual 12 on Interlachen, Mutual 2 on Thunderbird and Mutual 4 on Knollwood.
This will ensure that the drivers know precisely where you live with the addition of the street name. Time and fuel will not be wasted in searching for your location.
I realize that adds a few seconds of air time to radio transmissions, but isn't that better than waiting interminable periods for pickup or, maybe, not being located at all.
Again, thank you to drivers, Security and Fleet operations for this service. We riders deeply appreciate it.
Mitzi Winks Mutual 5 Editor:
A letter (Jan. 9) expressed concerns about emergency planning in the wake of the L.A. fires.
There seemed to be an expectation that GRF would have some role in disaster planning for residents.
In fact, GRF’s only responsibility is to plan for its employees’ safety. We residents are on our own and that is why the Emergency Information Council (EIC) was formed several years ago by concerned residents.
The EIC’s Boots on Ground emergency plan engages Leisure World clubs and other resident volunteers in a coordinated response to disasters.
All residents are encouraged to attend EIC meetings and learn more about the already existing preparedness plans and related information.
For example, a recent EIC speaker event featured Gregg Smith, Naval Weapons Station public affairs officer, who reviewed the base’s extensive plans to respond to calamities. For more on the EIC visit www. eiclwsb.org.
Nick Massetti, EIC director Mutual 17 Editor: I have heard some LWer’s have concerns about budget expenditures. To settle the matter, I suggest: 1) If protesters either have or can obtain proof, agree to meet with the GRF board to discuss the issues.
2) GRF must have knowledge of the issues so it is able to bring facts and explanations to the table.
3) An outside, impartial, arbitrator should be agreed on to head the meeting, asking questions to further understand and resolve the issues. To bring the peace, GRF should graciously pay for this service.
4) LWer’s can either attend the meeting or view it via Zoom.
5) The meeting will be courteous. The audience will be quiet. They are there to learn, not cheer or moan. The two sides will not interrupt each other. A smoother and faster meeting will result.
I would hope common sense will prevail so we can all sleep well once again.
W. H. Smith Mutual 15
