Glenn wrote:
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.
I'm wondering what Glenn's talking about here. I've been unable to find
any notes from Tony mentioning Pine street or a bridge.
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.
"Delusory" isn't the word for this. Tony doesn't act as a gatekeeper for
the FoCP, and he's never pretended to be one. People talk to me about
park stuff, they talk to our board members, they come to our meetings,
and they even join the organization every so often. We've also had
non-members attend our board meetings.
But Glenn seems to be fixated on Tony in a way that's far from
realistic, accurate, or even healthy.
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.
Back when I took Glenn seriously, I asked about the Farmer's Market--
and everyone I spoke to said that people had been discussing it as far
back as 1992, long before Glenn suggested it.
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."
According to Glenn, the FoCP President opposed the Farmer's Market, but
only through the work of UCD did we actually get it. So why isn't he
praising UCD for enacting the will of the community?
How many times has this type of abuse of power occured and been
cloaked? How many of our neighbors have similar stories?
About _other_ community organizations, yeah, there are dozens. But about
the FoCP? Just one.
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.
Sure, ask them. They _were_ part of that decision. The basketball court
reconstruction came about when state money was made available to rebuild
six such courts in the city, and Rec and Jannie Blackwell's office got
our court on the list. Making the project even easier was the desire of
the Water Department to install a rainwater basin there. Generally
speaking, the FoCP had very little to do with the planning (and UCD had
none whatsoever) of the project. But we did bring the b-ball players to
our meetings, and kept them informed throughout the process as best as
we could.
As for the "lay in ruins" business, Glenn's simply lying again. In
addition to the contractor dragging his feet, there was a weeks-long
delay while the Water Department issued a permit to attach their
rainwater basin's drainage to the sewer mains under 43rd street. (The
permits have been issued, but Lord knows if the contractor's done the
attaching.) But we hope that the major work will be completed soon (we
keep hearing Real Soon Now announcements), and the lines can be painted
only in the spring, which is when we'll have the Grand Opening.
We're certainly grateful for the improvements, and the replacement of a
cracked, rusty and obsolete basketball court... but apparently Glenn
feels that the old court was "good enough" for the b-ball players.
As for the volleyball players, yes, they _were_ asked to send
representatives. Matt Grubel, who's a volleyball player, invited them to
our meetings many times. They never came. Gina came to a general
membership meeting to suggest a permanent court installation, and we've
been discussing this within the Board and PlanCom. Once again, Glenn's
lying. Maybe he's ticked that the volleyballers didn't pick him to be
their rep?
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