A Thoughtful Reflection On Our Community.

We all need be careful and not put Rick into an awkward position with expectations he become the great white hope (with a tip of the hat to Jack Johnson who beat James Jeffries in a boxing ring in 1910). Putting too much faith or hope in one person can quickly become an albatross. Based on comments posted, it already sounds like there may be lines drawn. That would be tragic.

We have enormous potential along with more than our share of challenges. I've long mused over "big picture" Sun City, but my first preference is for the board to get their house in order before moving on to the larger community problems. It's especially chilling when anyone looks at 2024 and tells me it's been a "great year." Kudos as we spent a lot of money, fixed a lot of stuff all while pissing off a large segment of the membership.

If we are starting with the premise everything is fine, then it is safe to assume little will change. If that's the case, my suggestion the board/management need take a fearless inventory of where they are will be sloughed off. The start of a new year's should come with a new beginning and an opportunity to do better, be better than we were.

I know it's a simplistic way to look at life, but from my perspective keeping it simple works way better than making life and our decisions complex.

We'll see quickly what happens after the first of the year as board officers are named and committee chairs are assigned.

 

Hi Bill,
I just want to ask you, do you think it would be possible to develop an office such as something called Business Development or something like this. My thought is what we also may need is to have a commercial real estate expert in such an office. This role would essentially allow the person to try to generate new business to come in here. Reach out to existing strip mall owners in here to see if they would consider, A. either doing a tear down and sell, B. take an active interest in getting them to upgrade the center and getting new tenants to come in...or we have a commercial expert see if we are able to buy some of these empty buildings with the idea of us being an owner to a building, thus we could have power to use the building for our own purposes, or become essentially a landlord and generate a revenue stream for ourselves. Someone stated we are not allowed to do that, but I don't know if this is actually true. When Del Webb pulled out from managing and running the community, when was this by late 70's, 1980, I feel it has hurt us in many ways. We are no longer the resort-styled place that had the look, feel and the wonderful marketing components that existed then. I think the only way we can truly bring back some money and character to the community would be by having a real estate advocate person who could help us have a plan to generate more growth, money, and a vision of some kind, so we could get new vendors, maybe some development, like your idea Bill, of maybe a developer coming in here and building some attractive staggered condo's on the Union Hills Country Club. Also a real estate guy to see if we can get new business vendors in here, like a couple of nicer restaurants and things lieke this. This would be separate from RCSC...this would be it's own office. I really feel the community will continue to slide if we don't get a real estate professional, a business consultant in here, who can help us to grow and generate new financial interest to the town. I appreciate your thought on this, Bill Happy Holidays to you and all here!

 

I took a whack at an answer in the other thread Eileen where you raised the idea. I know it's not what you wanted to hear, but i am a huge fan of prioritizing problems. I can also tell you, when we first moved here in 2003, one of the arguments was we didn't have a Chamber of Commerce like many city's have. The closest thing was the Visitor Center, which was free-standing and not owned by the RCSC at the time. It was one small way of reaching out to the business community.

Around 2016, SCHOA hired an executive director who wanted the organization to become the Chamber of Commerce. She devoted an amazing amount of energy, time and expense to attract businesses to join SCHOA. It again was folly as the membership dropped as violations were dealt with slowly. Their first duty is enforcement of the CC&R's; everything after that is value added. They are doing a good job these days, but no question it is difficult with changing Federal and state statutes twisting them in circles over what can be enforced and what can't.

Here is something we can and should do in 2025. It's not a new idea and has been done numerous times in our history. There's been a variety of names for it, but the essence is every organization in the community join a Leadership Council and meet monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly to talk about community issues and challenges. Like i say, it's been done several times and all too often dies when the one organization with the most clout decides not to participate. Take one guess on who that might be?

The fact we aren't a city without a tax base limits things we can do. It also allows us greater freedom and flexibility if we are willing to be creative.

 

Yes, Chamber would of been very helpful. I have looked into this on my own, and we are rather linked in with surrounding towns right now.
I like your idea of some kind of separate council that could help maintain a vision for community growth.
We are going to be stagnant and continue to go dormant unless we get some kind of real estate consultant in here who knows the lay of the land and can help us with garnering more growth and ways to build up to bring in new serious cash buyers, maybe get owners of shopping centers to tear down, sell land, get new development in here. New development always means more money coming in, and new money gets in new business vendors. This would help us almost more than anything else we can do. It will also help with the poverty factor in here now. All thoughts and experts need to be encouraged to come to the table to help us now. Joy and Tidings for the holiday!

 

Apparently, there's nothing stopping a group of people to establish their own Leadership Council? The RCSC has no control over anything but the Rec Centers, as they often remind us when we complain about the homeless, or who purchases homes in Sun City and what they're used for!

Perhaps if a group of reputable Members who were, or are credentialed, and who have had experience working with and dealing with communities and Chamber of Commerce's could organize and find a seat at the table?

Just a thought!

 

It could be done Tom, the question is standing; would they have any? I always loved the idea of the leadership council. I never attended one, but i always thought the potential was there. The big dog in the room has always been the RCSC and more often than not they attended because they felt they should rather than they wanted to. When they would stop going the group tended to fall apart.

I suspect the bigger challenge came from a lack of any real agenda or purpose. If it's just a coffee clutch, you don't need a formal organization to gather and shoot the breeze. I know over the years with the organizations and committees i have participated in, those with a defined purpose and measurable goals were the most effective. Far too many lacked any real structure which resulted more in wasting time than finding solutions.

Everything becomes circular in the discussion regarding our (defined as the community) future. Without the RCSC playing an integral role, it becomes far more difficult. And as the RCSC began to remove themselves from big picture Sun City, the community's problems worsened. As noted, whenever a problem surfaces, the easy answer is to divert them to another organization.

When you live in a city, the mayor and the city council ultimately are responsible for everything. In Sun City where organizations exist in a vacuum or silo of their own making, it's hard to hold anyone accountable. I suspect it's one of the reasons Meeker and other always thought we would become a city.

 

Bill, you have some good historical knowledge on these subjects. Perhaps instead of a council that does not have any authority but to be a think-tank, maybe we need to have an actual RCSC person who has a background in real estate and law on our board. Maybe we need to recruit and search for a very qualified person who has thus knowledge, to help us in conjunction with Board, GM and the like. Maybe a leadership council isn't really a working man. We need a working man to make phone calls, be able to talk to shopping center owners, look at public records and be able to help us formulate a vision to do some of our own urban revitalization over here. I really think we need some help in this area of improvement of our town. A real estate attorney may be good as well, we are past the talking heads and coffee talks, we need an expert who wants to keep the jewel alive!

 

I understand and that's why I suggested some sort of credentialed group, people with knowledge on how these things work!

I don't know what costs would be involved but perhaps they too could register as a non-profit?

You know better than I that we have some great people in own community who were mayors, CEO's, lawyers, community planners as well as all the real estate agents who would be perfect candidates.

One of things that concerns me is, it seems like all the local strip malls are owned by some conglomerate corporation who either wants to leave them vacant for the tax write-off, or turn them into another medical facility!?!? Geez! Look how long that strip mall on the corner of 99th and Union Hills has been vacant! Seems all's it's good for iis a place to park your For Sale vehicle!

 

Yes, good points from you. I have called the property company at the 99th and Union Hills. They are apathetic, and I don't think some of these management companies don't give a darn.
We need a real estate lawyer, commercial guy genius to represent us. Every time I pass that corner, I tell my husband, that corner would make such a nice sit down restaurant, if only we could get some smart guys to do an outreach. Are we going to just let the fruit die on on vine!!! It sure the heck looks that way! I have been trying to do things, but I think we need someone with a background and title to help us out now. Thank you.

 

I think we need an adjunct person to the board who just handles business relations. We need a worker-bee, someone to make phone calls, knows how to talk to business owners, make things happen kind of man. I think another group is not going to do it. We need a person who knows the territory, knows contracts and how to move around on county property websites, a real estate person who will listen to our needs and goes out and makes things happen! I truly feel in my bones....we could find a commercial real estate person who lives in here and shares our commitment to making the place better economically. By us improving our own economics and getting a few exciting solid business folks, some new development-which may involve tear downs, we can recreate the former excitement of the town. Doing nothing and saying it can't be done is not going to help us any longer. We look stale, and we are vulnerable to a further slide downward. Fine example is the Safeway center at DelWebb and Bell. When Starbucks came in and rebuilt the former bank....it added a sparkle to the entire shopping center. Also, that center is being run very well. That is what we need. All ideas are welcome! We need to start thinking outside the box and finding a way. God Bless one and all! Merry Christmas.

 

I share your feelings about Sun City feeling like a resort community in the 80's. Not sure how long you have lived here but there are other more pressing problems we need to address. South of Grand there are several crack houses. I know people who live near them and they don't feel safe. A man just killed his wife and mother-in-law in the apartments on Grand and 111th. I live on a little street that if you don't live on it there is really no reason to drive it, yet 5 houses on one side someone was stabbed a few weeks ago, then during the last week of November an assault was reported down a few houses on the other side. Recently around the corner there was another crime, don't have the facts on that one yet. Also homeless are a problem in phase 1. My friend woke up to a guy peeing on the side of her home recently. There was an issue with homeless using Fairway so changes had to be made.

I really love your ideas, however it also needs to be taken into consideration that 10% of our population live below the poverty level. If your proposals are going to raise our assessment fees I doubt they will be met with enthusiasm after the recent 2 increases. You have a lot of good ideas but you don't mention where the money will come from. We are behind in home sales right now and when I checked a couple of weeks ago there were 477 homes for sale in SC not including pending and contingent.

IMO we need to work on safety first. We are all older which makes us a target for those with malicious intent.

Just one person's opinion.

 

I understand your passion on this issue, but I don't believe the RCSC would even consider such a person on the Board. Like I stated previously, the RCSC is all about, and only about, recreation!

They want nothing to do with getting involved in outside commercial business', and that's why I believe you initial suggestion about some sort of a Leadership Counsel unaffiliated with the RCSC is the only way you can accomplish this assuming you can even find the Members to staff it?

Just my opinion!

 

Agree, however a lot of folks here are living month to month. We need to focus on safety. Back to my question where will the money come from for the things you are proposing?

 

Hi Josie, Thank you for sharing. First off, if you know of illegal activity, crime, drug house, you should report to Sheriff office, dear.
Everybody should be reporting any funny business around here, they need to know.

Well, I feel having a real estate attorney or commercial person would be working as an adjunct to the board and GM. Yes, we probably would have to pay him, possibly done on a case to case basis. I know SCHOA has to pay attorneys to sometimes get a resolve, I'm sure we would have some kind of pay for someone doing all the leg work, but it would be worth it.
It would be worth it if we got a boost in the economics to this place. Restore the area, thus getting real world interested new money and home buyers to come back to SC. I just feel we have to do something.

 

Yes, I saw the presentation from MCSO. You still will not answer my question and that concerns me. It's a simple question. Will residents of Sun City have to fund these things you are proposing?

 

Emily, I don't disagree with you on safety issue. Yes, we need to call MCSO as much or as often as possible.
I talked to Debbie Lesko before she was elected, taking over Clint Hickman post. I told her many of these safety, poverty and vagrant concerns we all share, she assured me she is going to address this with probably our new Sheriff starting
Yes, Emily, if you see something, say something.

 

Josie, If we added a business relations, commercial attorney, Yes we would probably pay on a case to case basis, I would imagine, but it would be worth it. Just my opinion of course. Cheers!

 

You are correct Emily. I keep asking Eileen if the Sun City residents would have to pay for the things she is proposing, but can't get an answer which gives me pause.

 

Thank you for that answer. I seriously doubt anything will happen with your proposals especially now that we are aware it could be a considerable cost to members. Would you by chance be involved with any of the professionals in this proposed business relationship?

 

No, I am not. Just a concerned citizen wanting for better things for all of us.
I just would like to see some vision combined with a plan and action. I have done some things on my own.. I dated a highly intelligent lawyer for many years who advised me to stay on top of things and to write about my concerns to those in charge. This has given me many positive outcomes when you can present a thought out case. Best to you!