GRF facilities are closed to fight COVID-19 spread
At a special emergency meeting on Dec. 30, the Golden Rain Foundation Board of Directors voted 13-5 to continue the shutdown of outdoor amenities pending a Jan. 22 special meeting, when the issue will be reconsidered.
The golf course, Veterans Plaza, the Amphitheater for religious services and Mission Park facilities will remain closed amid a worsening outbreak of COVID-19 cases that has ambulances lined up 15 deep at local hospitals, and overflowing emergency and ICU rooms.
The Dec. 30 meeting drew more than 30 residents, mostly golfers, all in favor of reopening the course.
The board sympathized with speakers, acknowledging the importance of outside exercise to maintain health.
The majority of directors, however, agreed that safeguarding this vulnerable community takes top priority, so facilities will remain closed to try to slow the COVID-19 spread.
The matter will be reconsidered at a special meeting on Jan. 22 at 1 p.m. in Clubhouse 4 that will also be livestreamed.
At that meeting, each venue will be considered individually to determine if the time is right to reopen that particular site.
On Nov. 25, the board closed amenities after briefly reopening them as the number of COVID-19 cases in Orange County began to climb with no end in sight, and neighboring Los Angeles County’s counts had reached historic highs. Since then, the board has met twice, on Dec. 21 and Dec. 30, to reconsider reopening facilities.
At the Dec. 30 meeting, residents, mostly golfers, were clearly disappointed at the vote to keep amenities closed. Before the vote, 14 people paraded to the podium, some unmasked while speaking, to tell the board that they want the course open now.
They reasoned that most other area golf courses are open, that outdoor exercise is essential to health, that there are practices to make golfing safer, and “the safest place to be is outdoors.” “I need to be out and about to stay healthy,” said Ron Steele, an avid golfer from Mutual 3. “Normally I’m out two to three times a week. Now, on the outside, it’s once a week,” he said, adding that he believes it is safer to play in LW, where COVID exposure is less likely.
Several GRF directors spoke about being torn between opening amenities and continuing the shutdown, given the gravity of the situation.
Directors Paul Pratt, Tony Dodero, Carol Levine, Lee Melody and Phil Friedman supported the motion to reopen, but the majority were adamantly opposed.
One GRF director quoted Dr. Nancy Smith, a Health Care Center physician, as saying, “There seems to be a lot of angst about the vaccine, so I wanted to share for a minute what it means to me: Some people like me think of the vaccine as a golden ticket, and I will tell you why. I will be able to sleep at night instead of worrying that COVID is going to race through Leisure World hurting so many people who I care about.”
Those remarks articulated the position of the board majority, that they, like a doctor who treats LW friends and neighbors, are worried about how COVID will affect the community. Directors cited a “COVID reality” that requires everyone to wear masks, maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet, have social events online or in other safer, distant ways to combat loneliness, and go without certain activities because they can increase risk of spreading the virus.
GRF directors acknowledged that it is unknown how prevalent COVID-19 is in LW because the Orange County Health Care Agency doesn’t break out those numbers, but it’s reasonable to assume it is here.
The number of reported cases in Seal Beach has continued to escalate day by day. As of Jan. 6, 749 cases had been reported.
Since Leisure World makes up about one-third of the Seal Beach population, it’s likely cases are on the rise here as well. The fatality rate is highest among people aged 84 years and up, statistics show.
Seal Beach at large has a large population of people who are at high risk for coronavirus. Of the 24,119 Seal Beach residents (U.S. Census 2019), 9,479 or about 40 percent are over the age of 65, according to the city.
In an effort to safeguard everyone as soon as possible, the GRF is working with the Orange County Health Care Agency to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine for all residents. To that end, the GRF is seeking to host a Point of Distribution, which will allow for a mass inoculation within LW.
Amenity and vaccine updates will be published in the LW Weekly and sent out via LW Live as soon as they become available.
Despite the dire situation, GRF director Leah Perrotti summed up everyone’s hope for the future: “‘This too shall pass’ is an old Persian saying that may have originated with the poet Rumi. Abraham Lincoln was a fan of this line because it is true and appropriate in all times and situations. Lincoln said, ‘How much it expresses. How consoling in the depths of affliction!’” For more information, contact kathyt@lwsb.com. —Kathy Thayer, asst. recreation manager, and Ruth Osborn, LW Weekly managing editor
The LW Golf Course has been closed for most of 2020, and that shutdown will continue as the GRF Board voted Dec. 30 to keep everything closed amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.
About 30 LW golfers turned out Dec. 30 for a GRF meeting in Clubhouse 4 to consider reopening the LW course. The GRF Board voted to maintain the shutdown of all amenties while COVID-19 cases are on the rise.
