Senior center offer draws 211 free memberships
In three days, more than 200 residents took up the city’s offer of free, one-year memberships at the Costa Mesa Senior Center, according to a news release issued Monday.
The offer is part of the City Hall takeover of the West 19th facility, a process that began Wednesday, a day after the City Council unanimously voted to terminate the city’s agreement with the nonprofit corporation that ran the center for years.
In addition to the 211 free memberships, 61 people have accepted invitations to a reinstated Independence Day celebration at the center and an additional 10 have become new volunteers, according to the news release.
Officials said the takeover actions were needed to address the center’s failing finances, reduction in programs and services, declining participation and complaints of poor treatment of seniors.
Eloisa Espinoza, who ran Fullerton’s senior center for 13 years, is heading the 90-day transition process, which will also include $200,000 worth of building improvements.
“The current senior center staff continues to be in charge of the programs and services through Sept. 7,” Assistant City CEO Tamara Letourneau said in the release. “Everyone is working together in the building cooperatively to ensure a smooth transition of services for our seniors.”
City officials added Monday that they have secured federal grant funding for a social worker and reinstated a program providing free groceries.
—Bradley Zint
Twitter: @bradleyzint