For those of you who subscribe to our publication, you receive a daily eblast of each new article published the evening prior to the notification.
If you merely read our e-blast, you often miss the many comments readers make during the course of
the day, which we post beneath the respective
article.
These comments are posted as we receive
them.
We are bringing this to your attention
due to the past few days in which the Bella Meese
situation has been a topic of such importance and concern to many Sun City
Anthem residents.
Never...have we had this number or passionate responses from our
valued readers.
...and we find them SO concerning,
that we decided to reprint just those made on January
11, 2016 for you in case you missed
them.
In the future we suggest you read Anthem Opinions during the day and see what your neighbors have had to say
!
Though all of the comments are
published in a timeline, we wish to start with one that was
most recently received....
...perhaps the most
startling of all !
-
From Linda Kay Pirrello...to...Anthem Opinions
I talked to Dave the president of the SCA Democrats Club when I sat next to him on Sunday morning at a seminar on Global Warming.
He told me that the club offered to pay for the buses but Bella Meese insisted that the Association would pay.
You should talk to Dave on this.
I would like to tell you about another incident that happened on that day.
I arrived at the Americans with Disabilities door at 7:30 am willing to wait in the chill until the doors opened. After about an hour the Secret Service allowed us to come in. They had volunteer monitors who did an exceptional job of making sure that only ADA were allowed in.
When the doors to Hanneman Hall opened and the secret service began scanning us, a member of this community named Charlene came into the ADA entrance with a sign that said "Jail Hillary".
The monitors and police made her leave the building.
She then stood outside the door.
Then Bella Meese appeared at the ADA entrance and the woman with the sign returned to the building.
By the body language and greeting, Bella appeared to know the individual.
People started shouting at Bella to have her leave.
Bella just stood there chatting with the individual.
The jeers continued and the woman defiantly kept holding up her sign, and Bella just stood there.
I do not know what happened after that because I was scanned and let into the hall.
I thought even less of Bella for not having the guts to tell her she had to leave, especially when so many SCA residents were expressing their discontent with the President of our association.
Just wanted to share.
-
From Samuel Doll...to...Anthem Opinions
We finally got rid of Bella’s restaurant, so now it is time to get rid of Bella.
She has overstepped her authority and it cannot be allowed to continue.
I wholly agree she must resign, and the rest of the board members need to step up and encourage her to do so.
To do otherwise implicates all the rest of them. -
Samuel, your comment says it all...and I hope the rest of the board realizes that any future credibility and trust they hope to receive from the community, will disappear without taking the immediate action you are suggesting.
Not do take such action, simply means...THEY CONDONE IT. -
-
From Forrest Fetherolf...to...Anthem Opinions
Am email sent to Sun City Anthem President Bella Meese:
------------------------------------------------------------
Bella,
I, as well as many other residents, are totally disgusted with your antics as SCA Board President, and the Bus-gate is over the top.
Bus-gate is yet another example of your inability make rational decisions...just like your attempts to keep the fifth failed restaurant (Cafe V) alive, wasting our dues money on a losing proposition.
It is now obvious fewer and fewer residents no longer have any respect for you.
You have failed to fulfill your promises personally made to me over three years ago and a huge disappointment to many others in SCA.
You have a reputation now ranking along with Roz Berman and Jack Troia...that is no honor position by any means.
Hope you read the Berman blog with more than a dozen outraged negative comments about your latest antic.
Even D. Berman...(the justifier and cover up man for all BOD doings) ...couldn't pull this one off other than the flimsy excuse...(the buses were considered a health and safety issue for residents wanting to use the facilities).
Is that your justification now that you were exposed and your admission of "going it alone" ? It's nothing more than insulting the intelligence of each and every person in SCA.
Why don't you do us all a big favor and resign?
It would be doing the SCA Residents justice. -
From Joe Mihalich...to...Anthem Opinions
I have been reading all the posts about the Hillary-Bus issue.
I cannot remember any time in the past that I have disagreed with the majority of the opinions posted on this blog or Anthem Today.
On this one I have to disagree.
I attended that function but due to a previous appointment arrived late, around 10:15.
The parking lot was full as was Wells Fargo and Walgreens lots.
I had no choice but to go to Liberty center and park there and take the bus. Upon arriving the lines were several hundred people long.
I talked to several people and overheard several conversations that were not SCA residents.
Some of them had to park on local streets.
I think the decision to have bus transportation for residents from liberty center (not for non-residents) was a prudent and wise decision for safety and traffic control.
I am a bit distressed that the decision was made By Bella alone, but I will not condemn her decision.
As with most organizations people in management have the authority to spend a predefined maximum sum for immediate and emergency purposes.
Was this the case in this instance? -
Joe, it's nice to have a differing opinion on this matter...and from a distinguished former Security Patrol Chief, I might add !
To my knowledge, people in management do have a certain maximum allowance for emergency purposes, but we have a problem believing this event involved health & safety issues at the time the buses were ordered.
I believe that was an "after the fact" excuse to justify doing so.
Had it been a community safety issue, a decision that SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE BY AN ENTIRE BOARD, not one individual, I believe the residents should have been notified that was the case at the time the event was originally scheduled...THAT A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUED EXISTED.
Because this event was scheduled with plenty of advance notification, I don't believe the word "emergency" is applicable.
Proper planning by both the Democratic Party and the Board should have involved both receiving Board permission to hold this event, as well as, an advance payment by the Democratic Party for any expenses that might have been associated with a "health & safety" concern.
In addition, if such an event was deemed to have had a "health & safety" concern, the Board, AS A WHOLE, should have met in private executive session to determine IF THAT EVENT COULD HAVE... OR... WOULD HAVE... INVOLVED SUCH A CONCERN, and made a determination as to ACCEPTING or REJECTING the potential liability associated with HUNDREDS OF STRANGERS entering Sun City Anthem facilities.
No such meeting took place, and an association president TOOK IT UPON HERSELF to make that decision...which involved SPENDING ASSOCIATION FUNDS.
In short, there was too much advance notification to call in an "emergency".
We believe it was merely an expedient EXCUSE to spend FUNDS without going through PROPER CHANNELS by an individual who overstepped her bounds as a custodian of SCA funds...and that...is MISMANAGEMENT and MISUSE of Association assets in the minds of MANY residents.-
From Virginia & Ralph Requa...to...Anthem Opinions
An email sent to Sun City Anthem President Bella Meese:
------------------------------------------------------------------
Bella – If it is true that you and only you approved the use of community funds to pay for “details” for a political event, it is a sad state of affairs ("government as usual" taking place right here).
We as a community should not have to bear the costs of this. This is not why we pay dues. Our funds should not go for “unexpected planning” by either political party.
If there is an issue with parking and inconvenience to the community, then the event should take place somewhere else more appropriate, like a high school or other venue where parking isn’t an issue.
The Democrat committee who arranged for this or Hillary’s campaign should have to reimburse the association. -
From M. Wilkens...to...Anthem Opinions
Bella should resign.
If she does not, then she should be fired!
She should also pick up the cost of her decision-$2600 -
From Janus Fanning...to...Anthem Opinions
Bella Meese....arrogant, knows what is best for her minions, above the law and on and on...... -
From Dave Holt...to...Anthem Opinions
I see nothing wrong with what the president of the HOA did.
$2600 is about $.37 per home in SCA.
This was done in the spirit of trying to help those who wanted to attend the event.
I think a president has or should have that level of discretion.
I believe too that it was a timing issue wherein the decision based on how many wanted to attend, was made the night before the event.
This issue is just another political witch hunt. -
Dave, I've been asked to provide a number of residents your address to send you their bill for .37 !
You certainly are in the minority, but "freedom of speech" is your right...and...though many may not agree with your point of you, we certainly respect it.
Thanks for the comment. -
From Lea Kuijsten...to...Anthem Opinions
Bella Meese should resign immediately. -
-
From Donnie Uretsky...to...Anthem Opinions
Petition residents to have Bella relieved of her position....and have her pay back the money. -
Donnie, if it were only that easy to remove a board member !
Nevada law changed a few years ago (under lobbying pressure).
To remove a board member, you must first have a petition signed by 10% of the entire membership (715 homes).
It is then sent to ballot. To remove a director you then need 50% + 1 of the TOTAL MEMBERSHIP which in our case is 3,573 homes.
We've never had any election with more than 2,000 total votes.
Literally, It's an impossibility.
The only way to do it is at the ballot box. Don't vote for the bad guys !
Thanks for your comment...and...caring about our community. -
-
From Darlene Clinton...to...Anthem Opinions
She needs to RESIGN....NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She is toxic to our community and needs to GO!!!!
Also, she needs to pay back the funds she took out without anyone else's knowledge.
It is not the amount that matters, but the principle.
We trusted her with our money and I believe, in an act of arrogance, she took it and thought she could do anything she wanted to do.
This leads me to think how many other occasions has this happened and no one ever found out about it.
Thanks for letting me vent!!!
-
-
-
From Donnie Uretsky...to...Anthem Opinions
So she's going to get away with it?
That's sick. -
From Dixie Peterson...to...Anthem Opinions
My husband and I do agree with your "Bella Gate" assessments.
Clearly she overstepped her authority and went way over the line.
Repaying the funds to the association from her personal money, sending out an apology to the entire community for her flagrant lapse of judgment, and resigning from her position, might, just might, allow this very regrettable episode to close, letting her leave with maybe a smidge of honor and dignity.
If she doesn't, then she obviously doesn't have a moral compass!
-
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As you can plainly see, the
overwhelming number of comments DEMAND that Bella
Meese resign as our association president.
To date, she has ignored these
pleas.
To you Mrs.
Meese, and to her fellow board members, there can be little doubt that the
people no longer want you as their president.
So...do the right thing...for once,
follow the wishes of the people...
...and...
RESIGN.
Want to add something?
Send us an email at:
Anthem Opinions
Administration
-
From Art Goldsmith...to...Anthem Opinions
I too was at the ADA entrance when Charlene appeared with her sign and Bella by her side.
The sign had on the back, if I remember correctly "SCA Republican Club".
I doubt very much if the club sponsored her stupidity, which could have involved a physical altercation.
It was a very heated situation. The signs on the door said ADA and PRESS ENTRANCE.
Our president's answer was she's behind the rope separating the wait line from the front desk. I also think Bella showed her partisanship, as to her political beliefs, as she is, I believe a registered Republican,by standing by Charlene and saying she has a right to be here.
Wrong!
When you can incite the possibility of violence, as evidenced by the very hot exchanges, certain parts of free speech are denied, like yelling fire in a crowded venue.
As to busgate, the Clinton campaign paid for hall use, chair rental and clean, if buses were needed and they were advised of it, they would have paid for it.
The Democratic Club has offered to pay, but no notification was given.
It's just business as usual, do what you want, spend what you want and screw those who pay the freight.
Vic's should have been gone over a year ago, but again pure arrogance to keep the restaurant instead of doing what the community wanted, as evidenced with the patrons voting with their feet and going elsewhere.
The answer for busgate and vicgate lies in two words, inept and arrogant.. -
From Renee Rosenberg...to...Anthem Opinions
Can we start a petition to have her removed & pay back the money due the association?
I am willing to start a petition. -
Renee,
Let's defeat those who support her...and...her past antics....at the polls in the next board election.
We CAN clean up Sun City Anthem...if the "people"...
...the people like you...will step forward and "make it happen". -
From Marty Sekulski...to...Anthem Opinions
Wonder if the same would have been done if it was for Donald Trump ?
No, he would have paid for it himself !
The residents of this community should not have to pay for this.
It was a definite overstep of her authority.
Makes one wonder what else she hasn't told us about ? -
As each day passes...more and more people are becoming aware of Sun City Anthem problems.
We thought we would inform Mrs. Meese, the entire Sun CIty Anthem Board of Directors, and all of our readers, that on January 11, 2016, a total of...
1,916
Separate computers visited Anthem Opinions
...and...
Only 2 readers have supported her "Bus...gate" decision.
That silence by her or other board members, DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
Rather...
...by ignoring these many comments and resident concerns...
...they will continue to MAGNIFY and FESTER...
... creating an even greater atmosphere of DISTRUST as time passes.
Let this Board of Directors fully understand...
These concerns will NOT disappear with time...because those of us who love our community, WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO DISAPPEAR...
..that the residents of Sun City Anthem will HOLD EACH OF YOU ACCOUNTABLE for allowing this breech of confidence to continue.
Readers...don't stop....
Keep sending those emails to Board members that YOU HAVE HAD ENOUGH !
Tell your friends and neighbors about this...and...have them join us in...
REMOVING THE INCOMPETENCE & CORRUPTION
in
SUN CITY ANTHEM
Let them know we are a COMMUNITY of many voices...
...that those voices, many of which formerly were silent, are now ringing loudly and DEMANDING reform.
...that we will not allow this community to continue on this path of moral decay and inept financial spending that has been allowed to exist year after year...
...that a secure and happy retirement depends on removing it.
Within 2.5 months, we will begin a new chapter in Sun City Anthem...
Self-Management
Let's begin it right...
...by CLEANING HOUSE in our upcoming 2016 Board of Directors election of those who, over the years, have selfishly, arrogantly, and ineptly...
... subjected all of us to "Bus...gate"
... FIVE CONSECUTIVE RESTAURANT CALAMITIES
and
... a needless closing of Liberty Center.
..all of which could have EASILY BEEN AVOIDED with the right people at the helm of leadership. -
From Dave Holt...to...Anthem Opinions
As you stated I am in the minority.
But as a professional manager for many years I had the authority to make spot decisions up to a certain dollar limit.
This discretionary amount allowed me to make decisions in the mist of battle.
Looking back, she did the right thing and it was done to assist those who wanted to attend this event.
We all like are freedoms and freedom to participate is special and needed to addressed.
This was not fraud and it was done to help "the people".
My guess is that the negative comments are from those who did not attend.
There interest is fueled by yet another emotion. -
Dave, one again, we strongly disagree.
I appreciate your experience at making "spot decisions", but that is where our disagreement lies.
This was NO spot decision. There was plenty of time to think this entire matter out, contact other board members, and allow them to join in the decision....as all of this should.
We live in a modern world of emails and texts...and...
...the association PAYS FOR BOARD MEMBER'S CELL PHONES.
Sorry, I just can't "buy" your argument.
There WERE other alternatives that could have been taken, but were not.
Bella Meese " ASS U ME d" she did not need other's approval.
She knowingly did NOT REQUEST IT...and that, is MISMANAGEMENT in the eyes of an overwhelming number of residents.
Perhaps you might wish to read a previous comment that stated the Democrat Club OFFERED TO PAY for the buses, yet BELLA MEESE took it upon herself to USE ASSOCIATIONS FUNDS.
You are trying to make a case that those who were not at a meeting, were the ones who made negative comments.
To that I have two responses.
First, those who did, haven't seemed to agree with you and there were approximately 100 people at that Special Board meeting.
Somehow I believe a number of them attended the meeting.
Last but not least, this "spot decision" could have resulted in an immense liability to Sun City Anthem had ANY OF THE STRANGERS BEEN INJURED IN ANY WAY.
It has not been confirmed at this event in ANY WAY was insured to reduce that liability.
Spot decisions have to be made at times, but they also have to be WELL THOUGHT OUT when they are.
This one just didn't pass the "smell test" to most residents. -
From Carole Rothberg...to...Anthem Opinions
Thank you for sharing the information about the cost for the buses, the reason given for the expenditure, etc.
I was one of those people who arrived late, found parking, watched the bus with two people unload and laughed with my fellow resident line waiters over the foolishness of hiring buses.
The serious question to me was why in this age of technology and conference calling did Mrs. Meese find it necessary to make a unilateral decision.
Even more serious was why did she attempt to cover up the expenditure and her role in it.
The inability to admit that one has made a mistake and to apologize for it confounds me.
I have made many mistakes in my lifetime and hopefully I have owned up to them and faced the consequences.
I expect I will probably make more mistakes and I will continue to apologize when and where necessary.
I would hope our "leaders" could do the same.
Dishonesty and Cover-ups lead to a national disgrace.
We need to learn from history.
-
From CJ...to...Anthem Opinions
Very interesting to read everyone's comments.
So totally agree that this woman should be forced to resign and repay this money.
Anthem funds should NOT be used for any politician or any other reason not associated with the betterment of our community.
These funds are for Sun City Anthem.
She has basically stolen money.
If there is a Petition to have her removed let me know where to sign.
Thank you.
How many people do you think were actually inconvenienced?
We watched a bus pull up around 10 AM and ONLY TWO people had been transported from Liberty Center.
Given that fact, it would have made more sense to hire a few vans - probably at a significantly reduced cost - to transport any residents that were inconvenienced.
This is just another example of ill-advised decisions being made with SCA homeowners' money.
Do board members need to be replaced?
The only resolution is to get more residents to actually vote during the next Board election versus the apathy that was shown in the past.
Low voter turnout results in the status quo.
Elected officials hold a position of trust and need to not only be trustworthy in spirit, but also avoid any circumstance that gives the appearance or could be interpreted as being inappropriate.
The unauthorized use of funds and the related deception has broken that trust and shows the poor judgement.
Bella must resign and find a way to reimburse the HOA.
Isn't there anyone in the community who knows the proper procedure for filing with the Dept. of Real Estate against Bella Meese?
I have asked Tim Stebbins, our Anthem Opinions columnist who writes our "Nevada Know How" Information Page, to write an article explaining the procedure.
What was the expenditure ?
You have not said exactly what was done.
Explain please.
If you have not already done so, I suggest you read my previous article entitled "Funds Mismanagement?" published on January 8, 2016.
Essentially, the Board President, without notifying other Board Members, took it upon herself to authorize a payment for the use of buses for the Hillary Clinton visit.
There now seems to be some kind of excuse that it was for "health & safety" reasons, something we do not believe for a second.
Read the initial comment under this article by Robert & Donna Wise, two residents who attended the Clinton visit and what they witnessed regarding the buses.
You have done a lot if editorializing in your article, but if what she did was correct, she should resign immediately or be removed from her position.
No funding for any political, religious or charitable foundation should be allocated from our annual assessments.
She finally admitted she authorized the payment...and...took full responsibility for doing so.
There was NO vote for approval from other board members to justify such an expenditure.
When another resident asked her how much was spent, she REFUSED to answer, saying "it would be in a report".
Anthem Opinions subsequently discovered the amount to be $2,600 and reported this in our initial article entitled "Funds Mismanagement?".
As a result, the community has obviously been outraged by that action.
When one considers the vast amount of money spent on a restaurant through this board's actions of continuously reduced rent, toleration of non-payment of utilities, and a default in two below prime rate interest loans, this latest action was what many have now come to realize, the "straw the broke the camel's back".
And that waste was magnified by the gall of taking association funds and believing those funds were at her discretionary disposal.
This is our opinion, and obviously in the minds of many, was overstepping her authority, and a mismanagement of association funds that YOU and I and each and every Sun City Anthem resident, pay for PROPER MANAGEMENT of our community...not for a president's whim.