"...Penn's refusal to take sides has not sat well with the neighborhood coalition.
"We think that they are a private institution and they're being corporately obstinate," Campbell said. "We think Penn needs to step in here and say..." Frank, I saw this too! I've noticed recently the truth about civic associations being revealed like in this piece. On TV, I saw Rendell openly refer to them as "you guys" not the community. I wonder, what is the solution to the civic association problem? Is this new portrayal foreshadowing the push to turn all power directly to big business? Or is there a recognition that the public, the community, has long been left out of the decisions in our communities? People from the community always get involved in divisive struggles at the last moment. Honest members of the public, the community, always need to uncover the truth because neither big business nor the civic clubs deal honestly with transparent information given publicly. The civic clubs are a closed special interest group as much as the developers. And the community gets a backroom deal shoved down their throat rather than honest information. I fear, the lack of respectibility of the civic association gangs will be the support for placing more power in the hands of the plutocracy. If it's not too late to reform or replace the civic club model, we are certainly a bit past the 11th hour. We must replace these associations with new organizations designed to involve the people. The hotel forum was a great example that involving the people is the only way for transparent and positive plans to be developed. These civic clubs are going down, as they should, but what comes next is up to all of us! Sincerely, Glenn ----- Original Message ----- From: Frank To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:38 PM Subject: [UC] Penn disconnects This is rich. From and article in today's DP regarding the South Street Bridge reconstruction. http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2008/04/01/News/Bridging.The.South.Street.Gap-3294621.shtml?reffeature=htmlemailedition "The elected officials are there to [respond to community concerns], you don't want a private institution influencing a public decision," Deitch said. The University always seeks community input on Penn projects, she added, but "this thing is public all the way." Campbell argues, though, that in a fight against the city, "Penn is the 800-pound gorilla" across the river. Staying neutral University spokesman Tony Sorrentino said Penn will not take a side in the current debate, to the dismay of Campbell and the other groups. "We don't want to use our authority to affect someone else's project," said University architect David Hollenberg. He added, however, that the Streets Department did consult him and his predecessor, Charles Newman - who declined to be interviewed for this article - about the design several times during the planning process. Penn even lobbied successfully for some changes during meetings with the Streets Department, according to Hollenberg. One such change was a redesign of the guard rails on the sides of the bridge. Following these changes, Hollenberg wrote an April 2007 letter to the Art Commission of the City of Philadelphia expressing approval. "The Art Commission has no further objections [to the design], and nor do we," Hollenberg wrote. Unless the city asks again for Penn's opinion, the University will not insert itself into the conversation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.22.3/1354 - Release Date: 4/1/2008 5:38 AM
