The need to know: Leisure World ="Pleasantville" or police state?

Leisure World: "Pleasantville" or police state?

Point Blank©-slk

The atmosphere of hostility, intimidation, bullying, retaliation and overall nastiness exhibited by the Leisure World General Manager has made many Leisure World women residents fearful. There is an intentional pattern and practice of Leisure World management interference with the right of Leisure World residents to petition for a referendum vote on Leisure World use of millions of resident funds to construct an unnecessary and unwanted administration building.

Point Blank: Dispute brews over $5.2 million reconstruction of Leisure World building in Maryland

ASPEN HILL, Md. (ABC7) There is a roaring debate beyond the gates of Leisure World about the feasibility of constructing a modern $5.2 million administration…

By ABC 7 News - WJLA

https://independentamericancommunities.com/2017/08/05/leisure-world-md-homeowners-object-to-5-2m-administrative-building/

FYI: Elder abuse includes Emotional/Psychological Abuse:

A. Willful infliction of mental or emotional anguish by threat, humiliation, intimidation, or other abusive conduct

B. Includes verbal or nonverbal acts

C. May involve name-calling, using intimidating and threatening language, or causing fear, mental anguish, and emotional pain to the older adult

The following describes some of the "abuses of power" being perpetrated against residents in Leisure World.

In Spring, 2017, residents were gathering signatures on a petition calling for a referendum vote on the building. As if spying on the residents gathering signatures front of Leisure World Clubhouse, General Manager Kevin Flannery made regular trips back and forth a lot between his administration building office and the resident clubhouse. On one of his many trips, fully aware that he was not a resident, one of the women in jest, asked if he would like to sign the petition. Flannery replied, "Not today - try me tomorrow". Repeating his pattern the next day, the woman again jokingly reminded him "it's tomorrow, and you said to ask you to sign today". Intending to besmirch and denigrate approximately 2000 residents who have signed the petitions, Flannery has been recorded in public meetings "retelling his worn story of having been approached to sign a petition and refusing, whereupon the petitioner tried to talk him into it – implying, ---- that the signatures were fake". As people were entering the clubhouse building on May 3, 2017, a few resident volunteers were asking if they wanted to sign the petition. In violation of their rights, Leisure World Security Director Richard Shultz walked up to the women volunteers stating they were not allowed to petition and had to leave. There have been a myriad of investigative reports and articles identifying obfuscation of information by Leisure World management including:

Years of Health Department inspections and violations for unsanitary Leisure World restaurant kitchen food preparation areas;

Leisure World of Maryland Restaurants (again) "dine at your own risk"-- Mice droppings, unwashed hands, continued unsanitary conditions Health Dept.

(https://patch.com/maryland/silverspring/lw-restaurants-again-dine-your-own-risk) Leisure World of Maryland restaurants: Caveat Emptor

(https://patch.com/maryland/silv...) Mont. Co.Health Department inspection reports reveal rodent excrement, filthy food prep areas, 2 closures and 2 food poisoning incidents

False statements on Montgomery County, Md. liquor license renewal applications signed under penalty of perjury by Kevin Flannery, who is also President of what was until brought to public attention last year, a non-existent (forfeited) corporation holding the liquor license; refusal to show proof that alcohol sales taxes collected from Leisure World restaurant and bar patrons has ever been paid to the State of Maryland prior to 2017.

The General Manager retaliated by asking and receiving Leisure World Executive Committee permission to instruct an IT block on the writers email communications to Leisure World management employees. On September 27, 2017, while they waited quietly to meet with and ask the IT Director why the emails were blocked, Flannery dispatched the Director of Security and 2 other security guards, one with a holstered gun on his hip, to confront and intimidate the 6 senior women residents.

April 12, 2017: Leisure World Foundation Chair Marian Altman instructed staff to call security officers after denying my right to use my laptop to take computerized notes. Two (2) Leisure World security guards showed up to remove me from the meeting.

After the December, 2017 rape of a 12 year old child in Leisure World by a resident listed on the State of Maryland Sexual Offender registry (https://www.washingtonpost.com/…/c774f34e-e4b8-11e7-927a-e7…) -------Leisure World resident Susan Jacquith requested a community forum be held to inform residents about the registered and unregistered sex offenders living in Leisure World. Kevin Flannery emailed her stating he would meet with her "for 30 minutes".

Upon seeing me accompanying Susan, Flannery stood up behind his desk, walked to her saying there would be no meeting unless it is held with her alone. She was fearful of being alone with him behind his closed office door. Seeing his face and bald head turn a bright angry red, knowing about the times he had used security to intimidate women, she was afraid that if she refused to be alone with him, he would have security guards confront her-- so she left the office.

Later she wrote: "I found his insistence to be rather creepy. I'm a woman who took another woman with me to witness the conversation and any concrete community response to this crime that might be forthcoming. Leisure World Board members nor residents should not tolerate this unwarranted behavior and attitude from its contracted leadership, Is this a leadership style of insecurity so intense that a meeting with two women was threatening? What's with a male leader wanting a private meeting with one woman only behind closed doors?"

Just last week on February 5, 2018, while in the Leisure World computer room, a resident asked a friend if she knew anyone who wants to sign a petition. She did not have one in her hand. Overhearing the conversation, a computer room monitor/volunteer who was standing close by, called Leisure World security. A security guard with a holstered firearm entered the room. He threatened to call Montgomery County police if the resident didn't comply with his demand to give him her name and address although denying he was using the information to write an "incident report". Angry, humiliated and shaken by the experience, the woman came to my door in tears to tell me what had just happened to her.

The Leisure World Board of Directors have ignored resident demands for Flannery's resignation or termination of his contract "for cause":

(https://patch.com/maryland/sil...) Leisure World General Manager Kevin Flannery must resign

Call for termination of Leisure World General Manager Kevin Flannery's employment contract for cause:

As the Employer, the Leisure World Board of Director may terminate the $204,00 plus all paid benefit package "for Cause".

Reasons for termination include but are not limited to:

Dereliction of duty/"gross negligence"- being totally responsible for allowing the deterioration of the Leisure World administration building, where for 35 years his offices have been housed - (since 2012 when he publicly began promoting a "new building" concept, rather than supporting renovation of the current building, the General Manager began recommending no major maintenance be done while letting it fall into further disrepair); Fines imposed by the Montgomery County Liquor Commission for 2 counts of civil perjury; Failure to provide proof of payment to the State of Maryland for 35 years of collected alcohol sales taxes; Covering up years of Montgomery County, Md. Health Department inspection report violations; Failure to obtain County permit for construction of what turned out to be a construction of a "tent" - which management referred to as a "vestibule" into renovated restaurant entry; Intimidation and harassment of employees all of whom have been fired or resigned; Knowledge of and allowing rampant employee nepotism hiring practices.

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Point Blank©-slk