As I mentioned here yesterday, Wendy Wilde is behind the Stop Scott Blog.
http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2005/10/wendy-wilde-explains-stop-scott.html
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Wendy Wilde Explains the Stop Scott Persons Blog
As reported here earlier, I contacted Wendy Wilde for comment. Here is her
response, which I post here after asking if her it is ok to make this public.
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2005 21:49:36 -0500
From: Wendy Wilde
To: Eva Young
Subject: Re: Scott Persons
Hi Eva,
I do not know who Minneapolis Upside Down is, but I put
<http://stopscott.blogspot.com>StopScott up. I kept my name off because at
the time I didn't think it was fair of me to go public with this
information because my name was well known. But after thinking it over, I
decided that the right thing to do was to tell what I experienced, so I
did, on my show Monday.
I joined the Lyndale Neighborhood board of directors in the middle of Scott
Persons' 2 year term as President. That year the neighborhood overspent its
budget by some $42,000 with an $8000 phone bill. This information is
readily available to anyone that wants to see it on the atty general's
website... there is a direct link on stopscott.blogspot.com look at the
numbers for yourself.
The next year (Scott was no longer the President but was absolutely still
influencing the direction of the board under new President Julia Copeland),
there was an $82,000+ write off. I tried to ask a few questions but was
rebuffed with "we told you the auditor approved the write off" and scorn
from Jeannie Cunningham the treasurer and snears from Scott. I was new to
dealing with this kind of money and I figured they knew what they were
talking about so I voted to approve the financials.
Later I overheard a conversation among LNA high-ups concerning that money
and a comment of "we were lucky to get through the audit." And another
comment that refered to "illegal activities." This was in reference to the
$82,000 write off.
I was worried and asked a non-profit attorney for advice. She said to write
a detailed letter to the Board of Directors, the Secretary of State, the
Mayor, Minneapolis NRP and anyone else that might be in a position of
responsibility and accountability concerning the money. I did speak with an
investigator with the state and she said she would make notes in the
Lyndale Neighborhood Association file about my concerns but that they
didn't have the resources to research the incident.
There were other concerns besides the money. Two of my african-american
neighbors and 1 african-american board member had told me of less than
equal-opportunity experiences they had had with the neighborhood
association. By my standards this was even worse than the money issue. I
included this information in my letter to the board, as well as my
complaint that Scott Persons would shoot down anyone that asked questions
in board meetings.
I was subsequently voted off the board in a kangaroo monthly neighborhod
meeting at which only people hostile to me were called on to comment, even
though supporters raised their hands.
I have been told that the following summer other residents called for an
investigation into a $50,000 grant not accounted for... I believe that
grant was part of the $82,000 write off.
Let me be clear, while I do not believe Scott Persons had a hand in how
that $82,000 was spent, he was hostile to my request for a full
investigation and full disclosure to quell neighborhood questions.
Further, Scott Persons ran the neighborhood association with what I believe
were extravagent expenses when he was President, including the -$42,000
budget and the $8000 phone bills the 2nd year of his presidency.
I have come forward now because the secrecy and ruthlessness I experienced
with Scott Persons as President of a neighborhood association are not
qualities I want to see elevated to a position of power... nor placed in
charge of taxpayer dollars.
Wendy Wilde
Eva Young
Near North
Minneapolis
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Lloydletta's Nooz
http://lloydletta.blogspot.com
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Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759,
US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)
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