Leisure World Governing Board Backs Cityhood

Despite protests from a few senior citizens, Leisure World’s governing board voted Tuesday to endorse cityhood, a question that will be put to voters March 2.

The Golden Rain Foundation, which governs Leisure World’s community property, has in the past maintained a neutral stance on the issue but decided that it was time to let the Laguna Hills retirement community know they support cityhood.

Proponents say cityhood would mean more local control of tax dollars and greater clout in the fight to stop a commercial airport proposed for the closing El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. Arriving jets would fly directly over the community of 18,000, creating unwanted noise pollution, critics say.

“Stopping the airport at El Toro is the single most important issue facing Leisure World,” said board member Burt Hack, a vocal airport opponent. “It’s about our lifestyle, how we live. If we want the muscle to fight this thing, then we need to be a city.”

But a group of seniors calling themselves Fact Finders Opposing Cityhood questioned whether a city could stop airport plans and said that the costs of running a city and the lack of commercial growth are too great of a risk.

“We don’t need another layer of bureaucracy here,” said Muriel Cohen, who said the group represents a silent majority of Leisure World residents who subscribe to the motto: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

A number of Leisure World residents objected to the Golden Rain Foundation taking an official position on the issue but said they fully support cityhood.

“The anti-cityhood group hasn’t refuted . . . projections that the city can work,” said board member Milton Ray, who abstained from the vote. “I am for cityhood, but I do not feel that we should impose our views on others.”

Herbert Scheinrock opposes cityhood. “All [the residents] want to do is exist and have a nice lifestyle,” Scheinrock said. “They don’t want anything to do with politics. They don’t want another Big Brother.”