By Mike Kapic | Sun City West
As a 10-year resident of Sun City West, I’ve watched and listened to the issues from both sides. I’ve waited for the Recreation Centers of Sun City West board to repair their admitted mismanagement errors by holding their employees responsible for their actions. It doesn’t seem to be happening.
Issues such as various clubs found themselves in trouble with the IRS, the inference of gaming the capital project system, soliciting federal money illegally, the R.H. Johnson swimming pool couldn’t seem to get finished, the pandemic caused the general lockdown — except the RCSCW. They operated as usual and locked the members out. And then raised our rates.
Compared to our sister cities it appears our fees are close to the same, facilities and attractions are on balance, similar, but our annual operating costs are higher. How come?
We retirees have fought similar battles over a lifetime of work and raising families and then settled here as a reprieve from this drama. It’s also disconcerting to see the same type of abuse going on here in Sun City West as it is in Washington. Is it contagious or just a growing cancer?
We the people contractually agreed through our CC&Rs and RCSCW fees to be, in effect, the owners of the non-governmental organization in exchange for good service. All in good faith. But when our trust and pocketbooks are abused, it’s time to call a “time-out.”
Whatever cancer is growing within the organization, the volunteer board members are expected to fix it. If not, we have an obligation to find the right people who will do the job. The process begins with identifying the problem.
If severe, we ask ourselves to vote for on a recall, hopefully sooner rather than later. If replacing any or all of the board before terms expire doesn’t solve the problem, then we start over.
