An idyllic retirement community in California has been shaken by political strife, with wild reports of pickleball brawls and altercations at the local farmers market.
Rossmoor, a gated paradise in Walnut Creek near the San Francisco Bay Area, is home to 10,000 seniors and features 27 holes of golf and eight tennis courts. However, residents now find themselves in the midst of political tension, reflecting the same partisan divides that are affecting the nation.
The situation escalated dramatically on July 13, when the attempted assassination of Trump triggered a violent confrontation between two female retirees on the pickleball court, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
The two women reportedly clashed over their political views, igniting a confrontation when a pro-Trump resident blamed Democratic rhetoric for the assassination attempt, while a liberal resident made an inappropriate remark about the shooting.
Witnesses described chaos, with one furious retiree challenging others and daring anyone to celebrate the attack on Trump. The situation quickly escalated into a brawl, involving kicking, hitting, and hair-pulling between her and another elderly pickleball player, leaving clumps of hair on the ground, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Walnut Creek police responded to the scene, and while one individual was cited and released after the altercation at the Tice Creek Fitness Center, the county district attorney declined to pursue prosecution due to insufficient evidence.
This incident highlights the political turmoil brewing in Rossmoor. Demonstrations, competing columns in the Rossmoor News, and heated arguments at the farmers market over cardboard cutouts of presidential candidates have become increasingly frequent.
Rossmoor, a 55-and-over community, has a median home price of $595,000 and has seen its demographic shift from a conservative retiree haven to a politically diverse neighborhood, mirroring California’s leftward trend in recent decades. The influx of aging Democrats, often bringing the activist spirit of the San Francisco Bay Area, has led to the formation of new clubs focused on social justice issues, leaving many long-time Republican residents feeling marginalized.
Bill McConnell, a member of the Republican Club, noted the reluctance of some registered Republicans to express their views: “When we went out to get out the vote in 2020, one of the first things they would say is, ‘Oh, it’s good to see a Republican; I’m afraid to disclose who I am.’”
The community’s newspaper, the Rossmoor News, has become a battleground for these tensions, with columns on divisive topics like guns and immigration eliciting angry responses and hate mail. In an effort to promote civility, editor Ann Peterson has limited political content, citing difficulties in fact-checking diverse viewpoints. This move has drawn complaints of censorship from Republican contributors.
As tensions rise, protests on various issues—ranging from xenophobia to the Israel-Hamas conflict—are becoming more common. Richard Rubin, a 71-year-old retired attorney involved with the local Republican Club, summed up the situation: “I think the feelings are intense, and they’re intense all over the country. This is sort of a reflection of that.”
In response to the escalating unrest, Rossmoor has implemented a series of new measures, including the launch of a ‘Civility Task Force.’
Following the pickleball brawl, the Golden Rain Foundation board, which manages the community, has banned protests in a designated corner and restricted political commentary in the community newspaper. New regulations allow groups to hold only one demonstration every two weeks, with the option to petition for additional events on an emergency basis. Demonstrations must now take place on a narrow strip of grass near the community’s clubhouses and display a ‘Please Do Not Honk’ sign.
However, these measures have sparked further backlash. Michael Goldberg, a 74-year-old retired philosophy and religion professor and protest leader, expressed his frustration, stating, “They are treating us like ‘we’re the grown-ups and you’re the children.’”
Rossmoor management cited safety concerns as the reason for relocating protests away from the community’s entrance, referencing five incidents where drivers reported accidents due to distractions from signs or sudden braking by other vehicles. Ann Peterson, the board’s communication director, noted that the pickleball fight was just one of several incidents prompting the policy changes. She mentioned that political tensions had been rising for months, with residents facing confrontations at the farmers market over political columns and films shown at meetings. Some clubs even received threatening anonymous letters due to their political beliefs and guest speakers.
Despite these justifications, many residents feel their freedom of speech is being violated. In August, retirees staged a protest demanding the reversal of the new policies.
“They’re infantilizing us, suggesting we can’t express ourselves. They think they know better,” Goldberg told CBS News. Katha Hartley, who leads the community’s 1,240-member Democrat club, added, “We’re being treated like kids in a high school cafeteria where two people had a food fight, and now everyone’s on suspension.”
Many residents, regardless of their political affiliations, are growing weary of the ongoing divisions within Rossmoor.
There are concerns that the community could gain a reputation for hostility, despite the fact that most interactions among residents remain friendly. Ron Kalb, an 80-year-old Democrat, expressed his worries, stating, “Some of us are concerned Rossmoor is going to get a reputation for a bunch of crazy, cranky people, when we mostly get along.”
