LETTERS
Seniors Demand Democratic
Vote
At 1:00 p.m. August 19, 2013 in the Boardroom of the Community Center, the
Corporate Members are meeting to vote. They will decide whether they will
include a survey question with the annual ballots that are soon to be mailed to
the residents. That survey question asks the residents their opinion regarding
changing the method in which Golden Rain Foundation directors are selected and
allowing the residents to vote directly. There has been heavy opposition using
unpopular tactics by those directors . A supporting rally will be held outside
at 12:30 p.m.
Laguna Woods Village is a
community of almost 13,000 units comprised of three separate Home Owner
Associations: Third Laguna Hills Mutual with 6,102 condominiums ; Mutual 50
with 311 condominiums located in multi-storied buildings referred to as the
Towers; and United Mutual, cooperative housing comprised of 6,323 separate
units.
The three HOAs, have a Trust
Agreement with Golden Rain Foundation (GRF), a board created to oversee the
facilities within the community. The facilities include separate golf courses,
clubhouses, an auditorium, swimming pools, and even an equestrian center.
At issue, is GRF’s proposed $20
million Recreation Master Plan. The Plan requires a loan of over $10 million as
well as withdrawing more than $9 million from GRF reserves to fund the project.
There has been strong opposition to the GRF plan and the resulting spending. In retaliation, GRF Directors have silenced residents when
they have attempted to speak at open meetings. GRF has threatened the residents
and used security to remove them. They have edited tapes of televised meetings
to prevent opposing comments from being broadcast. They also have met to prepare regulations to censor residents and
prohibit free speech. The community has immigrant residents who have suffered
under communist control and they have been appalled that
type of conduct can occur in American.
GRF directors are not elected by
the community but are elected by the Directors of the HOAs who are the
Corporate Members. There are 27 Corporate Members, 11 representing Third
Mutual, 11 representing United Mutual and 5 representing the Towers. A majority
of this group, which can be as few as 14, have the power and capability of
selecting their cronies. Residents are facing rising monthly fees which now
exceed $600 per month. They seek to correct this problem by changing the
election process for GRF directors as that is where much of the cost is
originating. After months of attending Board meetings and asking for Direct Election
of GRF Directors …..after resorting to petitions to attract the attention of
the Boards, the residents finally succeeded in achieving a meeting to consider
including a survey of this question in the coming annual mailing of regular
board ballots.
The Corporate Members Meeting
scheduled for Monday, August 19 is not to actually implement the change, but is
a first step. At the meeting, the Corporate Members are asked to allow the
survey question be submitted to the residents. The question to be included with
the ballot asks the residents their opinion… do they support direct election?
By including the survey question
with the ballots, the entire community can be polled and cost is contained as
it is not a separate vote and mailing. But the survey request continues to be
met with heavy opposition ….. mainly from current GRF Directors and their
supporters who do not want to change the method in which GRF Directors are
selected.
A new club was formed, Association
of Condos and Co-ops. Its purpose is to bring the entire community together to
work on issues. ACC supports Direct Election. ACC is organizing a rally prior
to the Corporate Members vote to show support for a yes vote….YES for Direct
Election of GRF Directors.
Contact Ed Tao, President ACC
,714-316-8548 , edtao@yahoo.com
or Treasurer, Carol Moore 949-307-4029 carolmoore1234@comline.com|
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