Folks, this is an important local issue. These local groups like FOCP and SHCA pretend that they are a stand in for a non existant village government. The list just saw West flex his power with a warning to Liz about the catch-22 she may find herself in. If I told someone to "have a wonderful trip over the river on the Pine St. bridge ," all of you would know my meaning. Of course, I could convince a stranger that I was trying to be sweet.
How does one work with an FOCP "representative" other than West? West is the one who decides whom may participate in discussions with the FOCP and whom may not. He has made that perfectly clear on numerous occasions on this list and in person. Lot's of former board members from these groups have told me stories that were the same as my experiences. If someone is disagreeing with the inner circle in these groups, they are essentially punished, excluded and there is an organized attempt to humiliate them. The only way to interact with the organization is to kiss up to their leaders. But this hurts the whole community. When I tried to propose the Clark park farmer's market to the community via a spot on the FOCP agenda, I tried the accepted process. I approached the President face to face and politely asked for an opportunity. He told me that "the community was opposed." There was no public meeting and no agenda spot. This was my first experience with the organization and I saw how incredibly destructive these associations have been to this community. The only reason there is a farmer's market at Clark park was because UCD decided that it was good for gentrification. The community was deprived the opportunity to hear from a community volunteer bringing a proposal to them at a public meeting. The good folks starting the farmers' markets wanted these as a benefit to the community and farmers, not for support of the Penn "brand." How many times has this type of abuse of power occured and been cloaked? How many of our neighbors have similar stories? Isn't it a bit ironic that the most destructive organizations in this neighborhood were then chosen by our partners Penn to speak for the community, to rubber stamp the Penn agenda? The pretense that outside groups are allowed to send "representatives" to these civic associations is such an "in your face lie" that I really wanted to explain how these groups work for those of you fortunate enough to have never been bullied by them. FOCP leaders are cutting secret deals about control of our park. Ask the basketball players, if they were part of the decision to rip up their court and let it lay in ruins until their basketball groups GO AWAY. Ask the volleyball players if they were invited to send a representative of THEIR CHOOSING to the park A redesign planning committee. Then you will know the contempt in these self congratulatory claims of inclusiveness spewing out from the leaders in these organizations! Thanks for considering this problem, Glenn
