Hi Glenn and all, Could another explanation for the survey be to collect evidence to support the Flea markets and help sway the non-likers into a position of cooperation? I had not seen the survey, and supply answers below, in the hopes that my opinion will be counted among the results. 1. I like the occasional Flea market, a lot. I have bought things for my own use and also gifts for others at the events. 2. I think no more than 1 / month is ideal. This allows weekend days to highlight other uses (and my occasional favorite, unstructured use) of the park. 3. I value events that encourage neighbors to broaden their definitions of neighborhood. I have enjoyed attractive events at Black Oak park, Cedar Park, the Kingesessing Rec Center and the Haverford Rec Centers and hope uses of those open areas can be encouraged and their info distributed through a more comprehensive community calendar. 4. I think each Flea Market should be huge! The greater the number of vendors the better for buyers and sellers alike. Why tie up the park unless it is a big event? Also, make it big enough that the table rentals can support the one day rental of one or two Port-a-potties. 5. Are their groups competing for the right to have Flea Markets? If so, I think one date should be reserved for the group that started the trend, and the others dates, 6 Total could be available, (one each May thru October), should be distributed by lottery. 6. For me, the best parts are: the bargains, the opportunities to de-clutter our own homes, (several friends have had tables!), and the fun of comparing "bargains" with neighbors and fellow shoppers.
7. See 6 above. Things that displease me include some of the traffic and loading headaches that occur. Maybe some thought could be given to creating Loading and pick-up zones, or even a "Bag-Check / holding area" for the duration of each event. Thanks for sharing the survey. ---------- Original Message ---------- From: Glenn moyer <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Subject: [UC] Here is the FOCP survey Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:04:09 -0400 (GMT-04:00) Dear neighbors, Here are the survey items from the “Friends of Clark Park and other community organizations.� The other “community organizations� are not identified. The survey respondents are “anonymous.� (Six to eight choices are given for each item. Those unimportant choices have been eliminated, at this time for brevity.) 1 How much do you like fleamarket activities in the park? 2 How many fleamarkets during the warm weather season would be best for the community? 3 Three other community parks lie within 1 mile of here. Are they an alternative place to stage community fleamarkets? 4 How big should a fleamarket be? 5 How many groups should be allowed to hold community fleamarkets in Clark Park? 6 What is the best part of Clark Park for fleamarkets? 7 Are there things about fleamarkets in the park that please you? What are they? (This has no choices provided. It has a blank line.) Please note: It has slipped out that the FOCP leadership has already secretly decided to end the monthly, “Clark Park People’s flea market.� This survey is to be “evidence� of community wishes. (FOCP/UCD will soon close park A. The FOCP monopoly of exclusive, pay to play, Saturday mornings will not be considered. With 18 weeks monopolized in spring and fall, for fee required exclusively FOCP activities, FOCP would never consider sharing their park.) Neighbors, there are multiple tactics to be exposed through an analysis of the survey and research design; such as anonymity and stuffing the survey box, sampling methods, individual items, etc. For the sake of brevity, only the immediate rejection of the survey validity, based on the items, is introduced at this time. The FOCP leadership traditional tactics and precedents of the past decade can be discussed at other times. Validity of any survey: Most of you will immediately reject the “findings� on the most basic issue of validity of the survey itself. Only one question must be asked for evidence to support the FOCP demand; ending the monthly flea markets of this political advocacy organization. Proper Question: Should FOCP destroy the monthly People’s flea market? Yes No Any survey is immediately rejected on the basis of validity, when test subjects are completely deceived about its singular purpose! Ostensibly, the FOCP expert researcher, Tony West, will interpret the data from these smokescreen questions to support the FOCP demand. (Mr. West refused a request for flea market supporters to collect data too. The reason: West's expertise is necessary to see that the anonymous surveys are collected the same way-hahaha) Would an anonymous respondent unfamiliar with civic association treachery understand the singular purpose of the survey without the proper question asked???? (Take another look at the questions.) Such deception is understood to be an attempt to manufacture evidence for a conclusion, ex post facto. Example of the technique: Should criminals be allowed to get away with crimes? Conclusion: The vast majority of respondent data demands the death penalty for off-leash dogs. (Respondents are deceived about the predetermined conclusion, which could not be understood from the actual uncontroversial survey question!) Lastly, please consider item 5 in the context of the first amendment right to public assembly. Remember the doctrine that constitutionally valid permit rules apply to “all or none� on public lands. To keep it short, we can pick up the topics of permit rules, FOCP precedents, 1st amendment, etc, for a thorough inclusive public discussion. (That discussion won't be allowed at any FOCP/UCD performance, but it is possible on our public listserv!) Important note: The FOCP findings will not be revealed at the upcoming FOCP elections! Traditionally, FOCP permit demands targeting other park stakeholders comes in December. Since it is never the business of the community, the demands will be delivered to the city after the FOCP board approves them in a routine vote without discussion. This tactic creates a last minute catastrophe for the victims and the supporters of the victims are harder to organize for the emergency during the winter xmas season. (I resigned from the board of FOCP when they targeted me with this “research tactic� after I tried to treat their leaders like mature adults for over three years!) Don’t be shy about this discussion, Glenn (PS: Disclosure: I worked on real NIH supported research projects at Penn for many years. My last few years were in the Instrument Development division of our research center. The Inquirer called the leader of our team, the best in the world. Please consider this when I am called an evil child hater once again!) ____________________________________________________________ House Rescue Bill Passed $133,000 mortgage under $679/mo. Compare rates and save! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=lsoDtz2s6rTQrTkQ-MDuqAAAJ1CFKYcm6BDz_zFnKNoSMWQRAAQAAAAFAAAAAJ2sMD8AAAMlAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaTcQAAAAA=
