The letter received by Dwight Esau from the law firm representing the Sun City Board requested that he âcease and desistâ from âwriting articles.â
The request did not specify âabout whatâ to âcease and desistâ from and in âwhich publication.â The generalities are blatantly pointless.
The letter received by Dwight Esau from the law firm representing the Sun City Board requested that he âcease and desistâ from âwriting articlesâ or face âavailable legal actions.â
The ominous order by a law firm, without specific references, is too broad in content and wholly lacking in substance.
According to Esau and his publisher, attempts by phone and email to obtain a bill of particulars advising them of alleged wrong doing have gone unanswered.
The more recent letter signed by the Executive Director, which was inserted in the November Lifestyles, attempts to add justification for the legal exhortation.
Imagine how this scenario would play out in a court of law. The operative word describing the requested prohibition is âIncredible.â Until such time that the Board or its legal representative divulges specifics to support its actions, the issue has the unabashed appearance of being baseless, without foundation and has all the makings of a âkangaroo courtâ in a third-world courtroom. The legal threat on behalf of the Board is âoverkill.â
It would have been more appropriate for the Board to sign its own letters rather than the law firm or the Executive Director.
If the Board construed portions of previous news stories as being inaccurate, a simple phone call with a request for a correction would have sufficed in a community exuding cooperation and camaraderie. The Sun Day publication invites such calls for correction and has done so involving other reported items.
Deanna’s letter includes a good point regarding affecting property values.
To quote: “Most importantly, the board is concerned about negative press that may affect property values or the reputation of the community.”
The thought occurred to me that if and when the Board utilizes legal actions to enforce compliance by the alleged offender, the ensuing publicity in local and possibly regional newspapers that the Sun City Huntley Governing Board is suing a reporter to stop writing about the community would be a public relations disaster.
The current marketing slogan “Live Your Dream” may be a nightmare for a few potential residents who would consider living in a community involved in litigation involving freedom of speech.
A simple phone call or e mail to the publication in the future, requesting a correction will avoid bad PR for the community and a waste of time for all involved.
In the past, the Board has demonstrated civility, wisdom and common sense.The communityâs interests can best be served once again if board members demonstrate that same skill and temperament in this matter and all future matters.
Jim Darow
N5
RE: Sun City Board Ignorance, Arrogance or Just Plain Sad?
Having lived in the community for only a few months, Iâve had the opportunity to observe the Sun City Board and I am repeatedly amazed at the lack of openness, professionalism, and courtesy that they display towards residents. While I recognize that I am relatively new and appreciate that they have a difficult job to do, Iâve observed a number of instances that leave me asking myself if they are unaware of the attitude they project or is it arrogance and they believe that members of our community deserve the treatment they receive?
The most recent decision to have an attorney send a cease and desist letter to Dwight Esau, a member of the community for over 15 years, for writing about board meetings is not only ignorant (at the very least) on the part of the board but also appalling that the attorney would even consider drafting it, given the First Amendment Rights to Freedom of Speech. Regardless, how threatening can it be to have someone let the community know whatâs being discussed and why would anyone be concerned that it may be distributed to a few individuals outside Sun City? While I recognize we are an association, the information being distributed is not confidential and the meetings are filmed and on cable. You really have to ask yourself, âSeriously???” Why would any rational board even entertain such an idea?
Quite frankly, we should be asking ourselves why the board would use our money to pay an attorney for this and why the attorney didnât give them better guidance rather than simply drafting this letter. If thatâs the representation theyâre receiving on our behalf, they should find a new lawyer.
With respect to the questions that have been raised to the board and their lack of response, Iâm left with wondering whether they are simply ignorant as to the importance of communication with the residents or just donât know how to answer them? And as a result, theyâve decided to retreat by not responding? Or are they arrogant enough to believe they donât owe the residents a response? In either case, they might want to reconsider their approach going forward because as of now their treatment of residents to date is not only wrong, itâs just plain sad.
Steve Megel
Neighborhood 10
Chris, I was given a “heads up” on this earlier in the week…I am appalled…What happened to the First Amendment…What are they hiding?? Has the law firm NOT heard of freedom of speech and the First Amendment??? I find your publication interesting and informative as to the goings on in our development.
PLEASE keep up the good work!!!!!!!
Richard Mauzer
Neighborhood 21
I am outraged over the attempt to silence Mr. Esau from reporting about the open board meetings. For those who don’t attend the meetings and those who don’t have Xfinity, he is the only source of info we have other than rumors. Since he doesn’t take sides, what is so wrong with his reporting of the proceedings?
I further object to the wasteful spending of my money to hire a lawyer.
Jerry Arshonsky
Neighborhood 17 since 2002
