I get it. Mr. Esau does not get paid for going to resident-only meetings and reporting them to the public; he gets paid because he went to the meeting and reported it to the public. It is humorous (and perhaps insulting) that someone would try to tell us there is a difference. But it is of no importance.
What is important is the negative affect this reporting has on the Community. There are three problems:
Working sessions and meetings are meant to be open exchanges of ideas. Many ideas will never be accepted, but it is in our interest to have all ideas brought forward and discussed. The presence of a reporter will stifle discussion. No one will advance potentially controversial ideas. Working sessions will become meaningless. We will lose the frankness and disclosure that it took so long to achieve. Decisions again will be held in secret, and the working session and board meetings will become scripted meetings with little openness.
We are all biased and fallible. We all see things filtered by our life experiences and beliefs, and we hear what we want to hear. Mr. Esau is biased and he gets things wrong. He has and will report things that require the time and effort of the Board and staff to explain. As Deanna said, āā¦internal management resources are often drained in efforts to respondā¦costs are incurred to receive legal opinions regarding risk exposures from [reported] inaccuraciesā¦.ā
Every family has disagreement and issues that we don’t want aired in public and so does our Sun City family. Community meeting should be private to allow a free expression of ideas and criticism. Publicizing our disagreements and issues to people who do not understand the full context could bring discredit and affect property values.
All residents can attend meetings and get the full, unabridged story. For those of us homebound, they are broadcast (although the quality is sometimes poor). And there is always the friend who attended. It is not Mr. Esau or nothing. Although, I sometimes think nothing is better than a biased or inaccurate report.
What the Board did was politically incorrect and destine to failure. You canāt argue with someone with their own constitutional amendment and who buys ink by the gallon. I am sure the Board did it out of their frustration explaining inaccurate reports and in an effort to protect the Community. While criticism may be appropriate, the Board should be recognized for their intent and for bringing this important issue to light. If nothing else, residents may now understand that Mr. Esauās reports could be inaccurate and that Sun Day must be read with a critical and questioning mind.
In the end, the Sun Day will do what is best for the Sun Day with no regard to what is best for the Sun City. Controversy increases interest and encourages more people to read it before recycling. It sells ads.
As Chris La Pelusa said, āā¦Sun Day will continue to pursue board news and Dwight Esau will continue to attend board meetings and report.ā Mr. Esau will do what he does, Sun Day will publish it and the Community will lose.
Next time you feel that the board has not been open and you find meetings stilted and comments guarded, or Deanna is too busy to answer your call, or you find your property value not increasing as much as you expected, complain to Mr. Esau and Sun Day for this new reality.
Jim Gaudette
Sun City resident
After reading the last two editions of the Sun Day, I would suggest a more appropriate name for the Hang Your Hat column would be the Bash the Board column. In my opinion, you are allowing the Sun Day to deteriorate from an objective, enjoyable, local publication to a modern day “Bully Pulpit.” Hopefully the Sun Day editorial objectivity has not been compromised by recent events and the Sun Day will soon also report on the positives being provided by Sun City management.
While not agreeing with all the decisions of our Board of Directors, I do appreciate the countless hours these individuals contribute so that Sun City residents can enjoy a quality lifestyle. By showing some support for the Board on occasion maybe we would have more residents apply for Board positions and the Board could again be decided by election rather than acclamation.
Bob Gorski
Neighborhood 9
Being a resident of this wonderful Del Webb community since 1999 has given my wife and me much enjoyment.
During those many years, we had developed close friendships with a multiple amount of fine people. As time went on, fifty of our good friends were called home by our Creator. Yes, when they became ill, we sent get well cards, but what we did not do is spend time with them, bringing up the good times we had together and how much they meant to us in our latter years of life.
I am saddened every time I think about my failure to embrace those lost friends in their time of need. In fact, I never gave it any thought until I personally was put into a similar situation. You see, on March 8, I lost one of my sons and on the afternoon of that same day, my dear wife had a stroke.
We did receive well over two hundred condolences and get well cards, but since that time, only six people called or came over to help us get through those tragic happenings.
So, if you do not want the regrets I am presently living with, make it a point to spend time with your friends and neighbors who are ill or had some misfortune in their lives.
Anthony āBudā March
Sun City resident
