Letters to the Editor

Editor:

As one of the owners of Leisure World Pharmacy, I would like to help clarify the history that led to the pharmacy being vacant. (GRF Director) Janet Isom attempted to provide the facts in her Aug. 3 column, but some crucial information was missing.

In 2020, well in advance of the September 2023 lease expiration, we contacted Optum to negotiate an extension before making additional financial investments. We were told that Optum would like to purchase the pharmacy through its subsidiary, Genoa. For two years, we negotiated in good faith with Genoa. Genoa’s representative ultimately decided that there was no need to purchase anything from us; rather, they would simply let the lease expire and take over our pharmacy business at that time. How much notice we did or didn’t provide is irrelevant since it was clear that our lease would not be renewed. We proactively provided ourselves with an exit strategy that, most importantly, would benefit our patients in addition to our staff and ourselves.

Ms. Isom wrote, “Unfortunately, Good Neighbor refused to end its lease with Optum early . . .” It is unfortunate since we continued to pay rent for seven months for the empty space of a closed business. We honor our commitments. At no time did Optum approach us to end our lease early, which we would have been happy to negotiate.

While we continued to pay rent, Optum changed the locks without notice or providing keys until we demanded access to the space for which we pay.

We have been in the pharmacy business for over 55 years and do not air our grievances publicly, but it has been very disheartening to see and hear the misinformation that has disparaged us, our business practices, and the way we cared for our patients. For 18½ years, our family enjoyed being a part of the Leisure World community. We were committed to ensuring the community’s needs would continue to be met while providing a smooth transition.

With thanks, Holly Globerman Owner, Leisure World Pharmacy Editor’s Note: The GRF wants to express its gratitude to Good Neighbor Pharmacy owners, the Globerman family, and staff for their many years of service to Leisure World Seal Beach and the care they showed to the community during this transition period. Moving forward, Leisure World is eagerly awaiting the new pharmacy Optum is working to bring to the Health Care Center.

Editor:

Regarding your article on parking and ensuing fines for violations, I believe some changes need to be made to the imposed parking restrictions.

The restrictions do not allow for a household with two vehicles when both members may take a vacation which will definitely exceed the parking restriction time limits.

My partner and I will be taking a weeklong vacation in November. So one car goes in the carport while the other car gets ticketed, and I pay a fine. That’s a wonderful introduction to a fairly new resident.

I spoke to the Security Watch Commander, and he said that Club House 4 parking lot was used at one time for extended parking, but that is no longer the case.

Are there any other Draconian restrictions that I should be aware of while I’m wondering if I made a mistake to buy in Leisure World?

It would seem to me that a less severe rule would be to issue a parking pass to be displayed in the windshield for longer parking in the same spot or in a parking lot.

Paul Iorio Mutual 9