Re: [UC] Hack and Phila. Film Office Reps will be at next Spruce Hill Board M...

[Krfapt]

In a message dated 9/5/03 11:06:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: This meeting only came together yesterday, and was advertised as soon as possible Apparently, SHCA (which I have been known to constructively criticize from time to time) is damned if they do and damned if they don't. They seem to have put together a meeting agenda involving the key parties as soon as it became clear that at least some in the neighborhood were unhappy about the HACK taping. And they're publicizing it on this list now and said they'd also do so by posters in the affected area.   Maybe some of the organization's leaders took too much onto themselves before, and maybe they didn't. And, if they did, maybe they honestly figured this was a non-issue, or maybe they knew people would get up in arms but went ahead and made believe they really represented the community anyway. Whatever, I think they've gotten the point and are doing the right thing now, to the extent of their capabilities.   SHCA has lost a lot of its political clout during the past year, principally because they dug in their heels over (dare I mention it?) Historic Designation, despite strong community sentiment against the plan as proposed. And, in doing so, the group exposed itself as representative of only a small segment of the 16,000 or so people who live in the "Association area."  But the organization still "looks like" the "go-to" people to outsiders.   All of which raises the issue of how easy it "should" be to alter the character of the SHCA. Anyone can join -- and it's not all that expensive to do so. But, how many have? Further, anyone can come to a Board Meeting (they're the second Tuesday of any month) and be heard. Again, how many have?   And, finally, any member can come to the election meeting and vote-in officers and directors who will be more responsive to what they consider the views of the residents of the neighborhood. One can even come and join on the spot, then vote or even run for office. But, how many people bothered to attend the last such meeting and helped toss the elitists out or prevented more from getting in? If you discount present and officially nominated Board members, and people who'd been invited because they were going to get awards, there were hardly any.   Al Krigman