Rossmoor News, Wednesday, September 30, 2026, page 20A

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20A Rossmoor News • September 30, 2026 RESIDENTS’ FORUM

RESIDENTS’ FORUM GUIDELINES

Letters must be no more than 250 words and are subject to verification and editing Letters are strictly the opinion of the letter writer. The Rossmoor News accepts letters for publication in complete or abridged form at the discretion of the managing editor. Headings of letters are written by the managing editor. • Emailed letters are preferred. Please send to: news@rossmoor.com • All letters must include full name, address and phone number for verification. Only full name and street name are published. • Only one letter per resident will be published each calendar month. • Letters must be germane to the activities and affairs of Rossmoor. Letters cannot include politics. • Letters should be about 250 words or fewer. • Open letters addressed to anyone other than the editor will not be published. • Letters’ content cannot include phone numbers, full addresses, email addresses or website addresses. • Letters cannot include personal attacks against individuals, clubs or organizations, corporations or advertisers. • Letters are edited for clarity at the discretion of the editor. • Letters announcing an event with a date, time and/ or location will not be printed. • Letters sent by email are confirmed by an emailed reply. If you have not received a confirmation, contact the News by phone, 1-925-988-7800. • The deadline for letters is Thursday at noon. Letters requiring editing may need to hold until the next week. Early deadlines are announced in the News.

VOICE SUPPORT FOR HEALTH OF COMMUNITY

As a new resident and a new member of Sustainable Rossmoor, I’ve recently come to understand our Mutual Boards need to hear from us directly regarding the five-year landscaping contracts that are in process of being renewed for 2027 to 2032.

Many Rossmoor Mutuals have chosen organic or mixed contract options while many Mutuals and affiliated Projects are still using toxic pesticides. Toxic pesticides do not stop at Mutual/Project boundaries.

As a resident in support of moving away from toxic pesticides toward sustainable, organic landscaping options throughout our beautiful community, I urge residents to please voice their support directly to their Mutual Board. Their Mutual directory contact information can be found on the MyRossmoor website.

To learn more, our Sustainable Rossmoor Club has comprehensive evidence-based resources to better understand the short- and long-term positive impact of banning pesticides and, the ongoing de-

terment of continued use of these toxins on our human and animal health, the health of our soil, water resources and Firewise initiatives.

Claire Russo Cactus Court

GATE ACCESS SYSTEM NOT WORTH THE TIME

I was glad when Rossmoor converted to a self-service gate access application. However, the user experience with DwellingLive has been awful. I have only been able to use it once before having to call the front gate for my guest access. When I sign on, the application error message is usually “user name and password are not recognized.”

My experience with customer service (while polite and patient) results in a hard reset of my password during a 15-minute or more phone call.

This application is like using an IBM mainframe with punch cards when a mobile cloud-based application should be the norm.

1. Outdated user interface: not intuitive; page navigation is clumsy and non-responsive on a touch screen.

2. I could not reset my password myself. 3. No way to enter a support request via chat, text or email, only a phone call is available.

I cannot understand why this is the application Rossmoor chose.

If a cost benefit study was completed now, I think it would reveal hours of DwellingLive manual tech support, Securitas phone calls (cost), and resident time (lack of benefit).

I plan to call the front gate from now on.

Tracy Walton Skycrest Drive Editor’s note: DwellingLive is aware of the ongoing issues with residents being unable to reset their passwords because the system indicates their email address does not exist. The company has assigned a team to troubleshoot and find a solution. When one is found, we will report on this in the newspaper.

WHY DO WE NEED THESE REMINDERS?

I am constantly insulted when I read Rossmoor News articles that would be more appropriate to be read to a kindergarten class.

Some of the topics included are related to crossing the street carefully, being careful near garage trucks, and behaving properly at the movies. If we are not aware of these behaviors by now, it is just too late.

Myra Kraus Saklan Indian Drive

DELIGHTED BY LIBRARY’S

ANNIVERSARY

I’ve written before about my gratitude for living in such a vibrant community. Once again, I’m inspired to write about my delight in a recent event. I attended the Library’s 50th anniversary, which promised cake and a welcoming staff. I was so surprised by how full the Library was and not to mention the cake was delicious. I met neighbors and chatted, met new folks and shared my appreciation with all the volunteers.

I also couldn’t help stopping by the books for sale, which always include some of the latest titles due to the generosity of our residents.

Bravo Rossmoor! I’m looking forward to participating in the Diversity Showcase in October and singing with the Ashmoleans for Christmas. And I’ll see everyone at the Farmers Market!

Christie Hardwick

Oakmont Drive

ROUNDUP USE OF GREAT CONCERN

The challenge of herbicide use and toxicity, specifically Roundup, has emerged as a critical question as Rossmoor Mutuals negotiate their next fiveyear landscaping contract. As a retired physician and public health professional, this is of great concern to me.

Choices now include a traditional choice (including Roundup), a mixed choice (no Roundup) and an organic choice. While there has been much discussion about the toxicity of glyphosphate (Roundup’s major component), both at the scientific and policy levels, a scientific consensus has not been achieved as yet. However, the most recent and rigorous study, published in July 2026, “A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Glyphosphate Herbicide Exposure and Risk of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma,” found an “increased risk of NHL in those ever-exposed to and for high levels of exposure to glyphosate.” The higher the exposure, the greater the risk.

The precautionary principle in environmental decision-making suggests that we choose preventive action in the face of uncertainty, and shift the burden of proof to the proponents of its use. This latest study offers strong evidence for glyphosphate’s effects on human health. It is interesting that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), now working with the Department of Health and Human Services, will be releasing its own revised risk assessment of glyphosphate’s possible toxicities, including an updated cancer evaluation, later this year. However, the decision on its use in the Rossmoor Mutuals is ours.

Harvey M. Weinstein Terra California Drive

How to Contact Elected Officials

United States Senator Senator Alex Padilla Hart Senate Office Building #112 Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 1-202-224-3553 Fax: 1-202-228-1338 California office: 333 Bush St. Ste. 3225 San Francisco, CA 94104 Phone:1-415-981-9369 Email via www.padilla.senate.gov United States Senator Adam Schiff Hart Senate Office Building #112 Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 1-202-224-3841 Fax: 1-202-228-0026 Email through the website: Schiff_California@schiff.senate.gov

House of Representatives Rep. Mark DeSaulnier 11th District 115 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 1-202-225-2095 Fax: 1-202-225-5609 Local office: 3100 Oak Road, Suite 100 Walnut Creek, CA 94597 Phone: 1-925-933-2660 Fax: 1-925-933-2677 Email through the website: www. Desaulnier.house.gov/contact/email

Governor Gavin Newsom State Capitol, Suite 1173 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 1-916-445-2841 Fax: 1-916-558-3160

Email through the website: http://gov.ca.gov State Senate Senator Tim Grayson Ninth District State Capitol 1021 O St. Suite 6710 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 1-916-651-4009 Walnut Creek office: 3003 Oak Road, Suite 109 Walnut Creek, CA 94597 Phone: 1-925-944-4901 East Contra Costa County office: 420 West Third Street Antioch, CA 94509 Phone: 1-925-754-1461 Email through the website: sd07.senate.ca.gov/contact

State Assembly Rebecca Bauer-Kahan - 16th District, State Capitol Sacramento, CA 94249 Phone: 1-916-319-2016 Fax: 1-916-319-2116 Email through the website: bauer-kahan.asmdc.org

Contra Costa Board of Supervisors Supervisor Candace Andersen District II 651 Pine Street, Room 108-A Martinez, CA 94553 Phone: 1-925-335-1046 Fax: 1-925-335-1076 Email: supervisorandersen@bos.cccounty.us

The following are federal, state and local elected officials and how to contact them by phone, mail and e-mail.