Neighbors, I came across this link from Lower Merion during my research on civic associations. Notice the striking similarities between the problems with this community’s civic association and those betraying residents of our community.
The author seems naively optimistic, as I was several years ago. He or she needs to consider that it is the civic association model that is a national problem which Ardmore shares with West Philly and the rest of the nation. A few new board members and a few apparent reforms will not solve the civic association problem for a community. The allure and power of joining a gang, like our modern civic associations, reinforces the in-group thought patterns and new members often find themselves co-opted as they accept the existing process for maintaining power and secrecy among a few powerbrokers. Association members often believe that they have won certain reforms from civic association leaders only to find the exact shenanigans appear at a later date. http://www.saveardmorecoalition.org/node/1379 As here, these tiny gangs don’t legitimately represent their own members and certainly not the entire community. However, corporate predators use secret dealings with these gangs to substitute for a transparent, inclusive process with open and properly announced meetings. Often using a powerful propaganda machine, as in our neighborhood issues, the civic gang leaders become the published spokespersons for the corporate agenda masquerading as community support. Last week, the Inq. reported that a pro-casino “community group” had formed. The casino developers would “appoint” a community liaison to them. (Remember the report about civic associations providing 3 suggestions for them to have a liaison with the UCD board. Then Penn would make the appointment for these “community representatives.”) It’s important to connect with these shenanigans in other places. We always hear that closed secret meetings and false testimony are little mistakes from a tiny band of hardworking volunteers. Accounts like the Ardmore account show that communities are victimized and betrayed by a very consistent process involving abuse of power as the civic association is shown to be a dishonest mechanism to seek power rather than as a mechanism for community service and connection. Simply try to join the Spruce Hill zoning committee or the planning committee of the Friends of Clark Park with this platform. Tell the leadership that you plan to publicly announce all meetings to members of the public so they might attend, and that you will also report honestly the nature of all schemes to them. Then, tell the list how welcomed you were- hahaha! Glenn ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
