The CotoBuzz Journal, Community Journalism

Just like in this year's presidential elections, the City of Laguna Woods elections are not without controversy. Resident's Voice - a group of residents concerned with the management of the community - representatives report that "there have been other instances of abuse and intimidation by GRF and PCM in an attempt to shut down Residents Voice. Last year United Mutual Board, made a ruling no longer allowing groups to announce their meeting dates and any other information at the monthly board meetings which are televised to the community,
	Mayor Bert Hack
Coincidentally, the September - October 2008 issue of the Laguna Woods Historian, states that "a ten-year lawsuit ended when GRF agreed to pay Laguna Publishing Co. a $1.85 million settlement. At issue was the publisher's right to deliver his newspaper free, door-to-door". Add to this Tape-Gate, a tape recorder confiscated by the Residents Voice from Mrs. Bouer, and other free-speech related issues, and you have the makings of a Rumble-in-the-Jungle type of political campaign. We asked Mayor Bert Hack, and Councilmember Robert "Bob" Bouer to comment. We have yet to hear from them	Councilmember Robert "Bob" Bouer

It so happens that the Resident's Voice took out a thousand dollar advertisement at around this time titled "Can Residents of Laguna Woods Village Afford PCM? ..Residents Demand For An Investigation Refused." Which run on the Orange County Register from September 21-23, 2007

Then at one of the Residents Voice meetings in October 2007, a group's representative was alerted that Margo Bouer was blocking the entrance to the meeting place handing out fliers for the property management company PCM Mrs. Bouer stated she was handing out informational fliers for PCM, and that PCM Gen. Mgr. Milt Johns had sent her and told her she could stand there.

Mrs Margo Bouer was told that the Resident's Voice had paid to reserve the Clubhouse Five for its meetings, and hence she did not have the group's permission to stand there and hand out PCM's flyers. She Insisted that Mr.Johns had given her permission.

The group's representative consulted with the office personnel on duty - both responded that their manager, Mr Johns had authorized Margo Bouer to stand in that particular spot to hand out flyers, and they were not to interfere with her activity. In addition to handing our flyers, Mrs.Bouer was standing was tape recording people's conversations without their consent. When prompted, Mrs Bouer responded she was just practicing how to use her recorder since it was new. The Resident's Voice representative advised Mrs, Bouer that it was unlawful to record people without their consent and proceeded to confiscate the tape recorder and to report the incident to security personnel
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At that point, Mrs. Bouer asked for permission to attend the Residents Voice Meeting, and she was granted permission. However, " I announced the entire chain of events to the audience, and announced that Margo Bouer was in attendance at our meeting, she was even allowed to speak, and give her opinion on the subject being discussed", the group's representative said, and proceeded to clarify that "I made it very clear that her recorder would be returned at a later time".

Some two days later, Leslie Keane, former PCM employee and now City Manager, City of Laguna Woods called "telling me that I was in possession of stolen property, and that if I did not return Mrs.Bouers tape recorder immediately, the Sheriff would swear out a warrant for my arrest, for stealing Bouer's tape recorder. Keane went on to say that I could avoid an embarrassing situation by returning the recorder to her, and she would make sure that it was returned to Mrs.Bouer", she added. Ms Keane has a different recollection of what transpired in her conversation with Mrs. Grundke:

Leslie Keane, City Manager, City of Laguna Woods

"As I remember this situation, the Bouers contacted the Sheriff's department after Ms. Grundke confiscated the tape recorder, and the Sheriff's Department called me", she writes.

Ms. Keane does confirm the tape confiscation related to unauthorized recording and explains it as follows: "Ms. Grundke and I did talk about one individual's right to take another's property and not return it and her concern about an individual taping other's conversations without their permission, but at no time did I say she was in possession of stolen property".

Independent sources confirm the confiscated tape recorder incident since "I do remember it being VERY strange that the City Manager was concerned with something like this. Interesting that it's called a police report by Keane" . Our sources also tell us "hearing the words theft, charges and sheriff". We have tried multiple times to contact Lt. W. Griffin to get his take on the apparent resident intimidation in the community and Tape-Gate, but apparently he has not been available and at the moment he seems to be taking time off.

A couple of weeks later when apparently Tape-Gate had been put to rest, Mrs. Bouer was once again passing out fliers before a meeting at Clubhouse Five blocking the entrance. According to Ms. Grundke, Mrs. Bouer was there with Mr. Milt Johns' authorization. Mrs Bouer again asked and obtained permission to attend the Resident's Voice meeting. This time she was accompanied by Community Civic Association President Denise Welch .

A couple of weeks later at the November Meeting, CCA President Denise Welch was stationed at the immediate entrance, passing out PCM propaganda fliers asking for donations for the fire victims. " I didn't engage in conversation with her, I simply told her to get out, to leave immediately. I had enough of Mr. Johns' intimidation and obstruction tactics", then Ms Wech asked for and obtained permission to attend the Resident's Voice meeting. "I wrote Mr. Johns a letter, asking why the rules that apply to all of us did not apply to him? I asked him why he thought he was above the rules, and how could he justify the blatant abuse of those rules for his personal use. I never received a response"

Lou Skogen's author of fiery emails

Other free speech issues in the community include a controversial Shut Up rule, aimed at silencing critics during meets, a restraining order on 73-year old resident Lou Skogen for writing a couple of fiery emails, and the "shadowing" of candidates by private security personnel. As others have pointed out, this is not Leisure World, It is more like the Wild Wild West!

The Laguna Woods City Council got along fine with GRF/PCM until, it seems, the sale of the old administration building and the partnership of PCM/Mayer/Standard Pacific built the building called San Sebastian. That debacle opened Pandora's Box for both the City Council and PCM/GRF. The original land sale itself is questionable the subsequent sale to partners of PCM, leasing space to Standard Pacific for a sales office, the addition of height to the original plan, all the questionable details, the seemingly too tidy cross relationsips….it’s the Wild, Wild West, alright but the marshall is snoozing in his chair under his hat. Reminiscent of the transactions that involve the sale of the land to what is now Shea Homes and the Aliso Viejo golf club/course; all projects/communities managed or to be managed by PCM. - Watcher of the Woods

One of the candidates who wants to desperately remain independent, tells of how as soon as he announced his candidacy received offers to help him get elected - a quid pro quo was understood to apply.

Will any of the independent candidates, or SOS supporters make it to the council? - Buzz

I would like to make points of clarification. Neither I, nor Residents Voice have ever thought we were above the law.We are concerned residents that are attempting to deal with serious issues that affect our very future, and the future of our community.
In response to Blueant, and Durham, Ms. Bouer was secretly taping residents while engaging them in conversation, at no time did she hold her recorder out in plain view. A resident happened to see the tape recorder hidden in her pocket and reported it to me. Ms. Bouer admitted that she was taping individuals. I immediately called LWV Security, they sent an officer,I reported the situation in Ms. Bouers presence, and I had him write an incident report. I believed that to be the proper action since the incident happened in our community. I then told the Security officer that I would keep the recorder for possible evidence. I also informed Ms. Bouer of my decision. I also informed her that I would return her recorder (without the tape) at a later time. It never occurred to me to call the Sheriff, since the incident took place on our property. Ms. Bouer then attended our meeting. Ms. Bouer and I have extremely opposite views on almost every issue, we acknowledge that, and we remain on friendly terms, with the promise to meet for coffee one day soon.
I was very surprised when City Manager Keane called me the following evening advising me that the Sheriff had a report and had contacted her about the tape recorder. I questioned Ms. Keane as to how she and the Sheriff had become involved, she stated that she worked closely with the Sheriff, and if I would turn over the tape recorder to her, I would avoid an embarrassing situation. I agree with Ms. Keane that all of our conversations were cordial, however that is where our agreement ends. I have a divergent view of the the rest of her statement regarding a police report, and stolen property etc. I pose this question, how did the city manager, become involved in or have knowledge of an incident that occurred at a Reidents Voice Meeting? I too respect people's right to freedom of speech,to disagree, and to their personal opinion's as well as their right to express them. Even in disagreement, Ms. Keane and I have always had cordial dialogue, and I am certain that will continue.
I wish to express that I stand by my statement - Pamela Grundke

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