Bill, what policies? That is the point, none of us can know if Mr. Fenton broke policies because these are secrets.
Nothing about this illegal action or the cover-up and stonewalling surprises me. I'm basing my opinions on the long history of UCD. This is only the latest example of wrongdoing and stonewalling. We have so many accumulated scandals as UCD has demanded the right to secrecy. Now, the eyes of the whole city and soon the courts will force answers because they were caught. UCD can stonewall all of us at their "presentations" and they have been for years. Now, in a shameful cover-up after these media reports, UCD wants to focus attention on a rogue employee and a single "mistake" while showing that they have no intention of breaking down the wall of secrecy. The use of prisoners has been going on for several years. You say that UCD needn't come clean publicly and release the policy and protocol to the community. But isn't that really because UCD serves the University of Pennsylvania and not the people of this community? There is really no investigation; there is only damage control for Penn. We, the community as a whole, have the right to look at 5 years of this program and know what directions were given to Mr. Fenton in advance. This has nothing to do with an investigation of fact, but simply a transparent statement of the policy and protocol as it existed the day before the Knox rally. UCD and some others want you to think this is about a single "mistake" and not question the entire program; not question UCD powers as a quasi-government operating behind a wall of secrecy. The pretense that this is about investigating Fenton's mistake is a red herring. Fenton is being used as the fall guy because of his popularity and the popularity of the street cleaning he oversees. But what mistake? UCD has no policy. Like mob foot soldiers, UCD executives don't know nothin' until Penn Real Estate provides the spin. I know that we are supposed to believe that UCD is good and perfect. UCD must remain secretive at all times because "some people" will tell falsehoods about them. Of course, that's crazy. Have you asked yourself, how we are supposed to interpret the "UCD investigation?" We're not allowed to see the written protocol even though UCD has been accused of an illegal act, maybe an illegal protocol. If UCD were accountable to this community, we would immediately be given the protocol so that we could then look at UCD performance over the past 5 years of the program. This is not about a single mistake, but in light of an accusation of illegal conduct; it is about the entire 5 years. UCD should not have embarked on this 5 years ago without public disclosure. And I'm not talking about bringing it up at a martini party with a couple civic association leaders but a true public disclosure of their plan to use prisoners in our community. Bill, UCD has taken governmental authority in numerous ways. Unlike a real government, UCD has always asserted that it is so perfect that the people need never look into their processes or policies. UCD secretly picks the people who will speak for the community. It unilaterally decides on quality of life laws and then how to enforce its laws. It is even asserting the right to be tax collector without any accountability to the community that will be taxed. UCD is an organization that creates "spin" for the university. It decides on plans that effect all of us behind closed sealed doors. All we know about this illegal abuse of prisoner labor is that the board and Wendell don't know nothin? Yet we must give them 100% trust because they are so perfect and always get an A plus on their report cards?? I hope you better understand my position, Glenn ----- Original Message ----- From: Bill Sanderson To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2007 4:42 PM Subject: RE: [UC] The UCD answer I really don't see anything to be alarmed at here. You are reading a great deal into this second-hand account. I'm quite sure Lewis Wendell is not aware of many day-to-day details of UCD operations. I doubt that he is unaware of either policies or organizational relationships with partners like Penn, or Jannie Blackwell. Basing logical arguments on press reports is very difficult-unless the reporter has asked the specific question you want answered, and repeats that question in the story, the result is open to wide interpretation. If the IRS takes the UCD to court over this issue, or if John Fenton is fired, I'd expect to hear more about the policies involved, otherwise not. I see the story as indicating that Lewis Wendell was unaware of the work taken on in Malcolm X park until after the fact, He doesn't say that John Fenton did anything wrong, or that any policies were transgressed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Glenn [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2007 3:26 PM To: Bill Sanderson; [email protected] Subject: Re: [UC] The UCD answer Yes From the UC Review: "According to Walker, the director of the UCD, Lewis Wendell, 'said he didn't know anything about it,' and that the order to set up the rally had come from John Fenton"... "When this reporter attempted to contact Wendell, the UCD's assistant said that all media contacts have to go through UCD spokesperson, Lori Klein Brennan...Brenan declined to go into detail but instead sent over a copy of the UCD's official statement. In it, Wendell states that" (statement follows) Mr. Sanderson, any honorable organization would release the actual details of the policy at this point. For Wendell Lewis to point at Mr. Fenton and offer nothing more than "he didn't know anything" is unacceptable. Does Wendell know anything about this program/policy that UCD has been implementing in this community ? There is either a written policy or there is not. Remember, the released statement shows Mr. Fenton is guilty until proven innocent while UCD plays the delay game to develop the spin and legal strategy. For us to have one shred of respect for Wendell Lewis and the UCD board, they must immediately release the details of their written protocol or policy for the use of these "community service prisoners." If they do not do this, it confirms what others have said about UCD. Forget about the wortheless "UCD investigation." With this response, the existing policy must be released immediately. In fact, the details should have been transparently released long ago before these prisoners were dumped onto our streets. Either way, UCD must be stopped from demanding governmental authority while it simultaneously demands complete secrecy. We should have been offered the full written policy the day after the Daily News story. This is not how a responsible publicly accountable organization shares information with the community it serves. Glenn ----- Original Message ----- From: Bill Sanderson To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2007 2:32 PM Subject: RE: [UC] The UCD answer Glenn-can you clarify what part of this post consists of information from UCD? Can you quote accurately, or provide links to the statements you are writing about? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Glenn Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 3:47 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [UC] The UCD answer I'm catching up on the developments. I've worked with John Fenton in the past and he is the only UCD leader I would trust. It is so obvious to me that he is the fall guy. UCD's answer really completes the outrage. I hope John stands up and tells the actual story behind this policy. I really hope this will bring the end to UCD UCD is an organization that focuses on spin. In their official statement and calls, Mr. Lewis Wendell claims that he "knew nothing" about the implementation of this punishment policy. What ??????? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. 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