Letters to the Editor

Editor:

Speak out and contact the Seal Beach City Council about the fast-tracked 104% rate hike starting this August, with annual hikes through 2029.

The issue isn’t whether repairs are needed, but how we fund them. This increase is being pushed through to meet a 20% debt coverage ratio, allowing the city to qualify for loans, fund capital projects and build reserves. But after years of mismanagement and inflated city wages, residents are now expected to cover the cost without meaningful input. We need to slow this process down and explore smarter alternatives.

A third draft scenario, developed with homeowner input that has not had time to be considered, proves the current plan should be rejected.

What can you do? You can email city council members and urge them to vote no on this increase.

You can ask your Mutual Board to send a protest letter no later than July 14. You can attend the city council meeting on Monday, July 14, at 7 p.m., Council Chambers, 211 Eighth St. in Old Town, Seal Beach.

You can also directly contact Leisure World’s district representatives Nathan Steele and Ben Wong. Nathan Steele can be reached at nsteele@sealbeachca.gov, 562-431-2527, ext. 1505, or 714-474-1272; Ben Wong, bwong@sealbeachca.gov, 562-431-2527, ext. 1502, or 714655-4415. Other council members are: Lisa Landau, llandau@sealbeachca.gov, 562-431-2527, ext. 1503, or 714-656-8000; Patty Senecal, psenecal@sealbeachca. gov, 562-431-2527, ext. 1504, or 310-773-1913; and Joe Kalmick, jkalmick@sealbeachca. gov, 562-431-2527, ext. 1501, or 562-397-4124.

This proposal affects every Seal Beach resident. We deserve a voice in the process. After all, we are the ones paying for it. Learn more: https:// shorturl. at/hghWr. Tina Rowe Mutual 11 Editor:

In March, President Trump signed Executive Order 14247 and set into motion a change jeopardizing the most vulnerable of our senior citizens. Effective Sept. 30, 2025, the treasury shall cease issuing paper checks for all federal disbursements. No Social Security checks will be coming by mail on and after Sept. 30, 2025!

Information gaps, lagging technology skills and language differences pose hurdles for seniors that could extend their time without payments. For people who depend upon Social Security for most or all of their income, this could cause significant levels of anxiety about paying bills and a lack of money for purchasing food and medication.

Many rely exclusively on meager Social Security benefits. Missed payments can be devastating to them and disruptive to small communities like Leisure World and Seal Beach.

There are 10,861 residents in Seal Beach who are 65 and older (43.67%), compared to 16.84% nationwide.

The largest age group in Seal Beach is 70-74 of age with a population of 3,122 (12.55%), according to the 2019 -2023 American Community Survey. Approximately 1,959 seniors are 85 years of age or older (7.88%).

A call to action is in order for the City of Seal Beach and Leisure World to ensure that every senior citizen continues to receive his or her Social Security benefits without interruption.

In the absence of local leadership initiating public action, neighbors checking on each other may be the best alternative to confirm direct deposit is in place.

The Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Contact Center telephone number is 1-877874-6347.

Jeffrey Mulqueen Mutual 1

Editor:

Was Robert Crandall the one who wrote that ingenious question mark/exclamation point poem 18 months ago?

He’s the one who inspired me to write poetry myself. And his latest, last week, was excellent too.

Jon Michaels Mutual 1