Disgraceful Golden Rain Foundation

LETTERS

TO:

California State Legislatures
Community Associations Institute
California Association of Realtor
Jerry Storage, General Manager
Leisure World/Laguna Woods Village Boards
Homeowners Leisure World/Laguna Woods Village

      Re:  Leisure World Laguna Woods -Common Interest Development.

                The California State Legislatures pass a number of bills each year for Common Interest Developments; however there is no interest in who enforces these laws.  The Davis Stirling Act is ignored by most of the Homeowners Associations Boards, Managing Agents, Realtors and State Agencies who have sworn to up-hold these State Laws.  Passing new laws is not a solution, enforcement of the Law is.   If California Law Enforcement enforced the laws that are on the books all California homeowners would benefit not just the Common Interest Developments.
             
          Professional Community Management, Inc. has been the Managing Agent of this community since Leisure World/Laguna Woods Village and PCM's inception in 1964.  PCM employee Wendy Bucknum, Government and Public Relations Affairs Manager and Skip Daum, Community Association Institute's LAC work directly with the California State Assembly regarding the legislation of the bills which affect this Senior Citizens Homeowners Association and all Common Interest Developments in the State of California.  In our opinion these two people are Lobbyist.   Who are they representing Management Agents or Homeowners?

            A letter was written May 3, 2011, to the Honorable Assembly member Butler by Golden Rain Foundation President Jim Matson opposing AB 771 unless amended to be a disclosure only requirement.  The second paragraph of this letter
by the GRF Board stated: "We fully support disclosure; however, a limitation on fees only places a greater burden on the association to potentially absorb cost for those selling their homes."  How would limiting a facility fee place a greater burden on the association?   GRF already collects an administration fee of $400 on each new buyer!
 
           The Golden Rain Foundation board meeting of August 2, 2011, presented a plan to institute a $1500 facility fee on new buyers.  Many Homeowners and Real Estate Brokers spoke up in this meeting against the facility fee because of the housing crisis and the number of foreclosures in Leisure World.  Many Coop's and Condo's have been on the market for over a year and GRF wants to impose a $1500 facility fee, this is ridiculous.   There wasn't time in this Board Meeting to response to homeowners concerns but shortly after the meeting a flyer was handed out to homeowners where GRF gave 20 Explanations for Imposing a Facility Fee on New Buyers.   What a disgrace.

            Golden Rain Foundation President Jim Matson and the GRF board were out of line in writing the letter of May 3, 2011 to the Honorable Assembly member Butler on AB 771 - Common Interest Development.  The Housing Mutuals (Third, United and Fifty) should have been the parties who made the decisions on the $1500 Facilities Fee not GRF, CAR, CAI or PCM.

          The AB 771 bill which was sponsored by the California Association of Realtors (CAR) was passed by the California State Legislature.  And on January 1, 2012 a $1500 Facility Fee was imposed by the GRF Board under the guidance and advice of PCM which adds to the purchase price on the Sale of each Coop or Condo sold in Leisure World/Laguna Woods Village.  Thanks to the GRF Board, California Association of Realtors (CAR), Community Association Institute (CAI) and Professional Community Management, Inc. (PCM) for this added $1500 Facilities Fee on our homes.  Who does this $1500 Fee benefit???              

          NOT ONE OF THE HOUSING BOARD MEMBERS HAD A WORD TO
SAY ABOUT PCM AND GRF's  RIGHT TO IMPOSE THIS FEE ON THE HOMEOWNERS.   UNITED MUTUAL, THIRD MUTUAL and FIFTY (TOWERS)  HAVE A FIDUCIARY DUTY TO THE HOMEOWNERS THEY REPRESENT. IT IS TIME TO STEP UP AND TAKE CONTROL OF THIS SENIOR CITIZEN COMMON INTEREST DEVELOPMENT AND PUT AN END TO THE FRAUD,
WASTE AND CORRUPTION !!

                                                        Sincerely yours,

                                                   Noni and Corkey Eley
         
cc:  State Senator Mimi Walters
      Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas
      Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens
      California Attorney General Karmala D. Harris
      Paula Burton

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