Siano writes: "I have no idea how this amounts to "an endowment fund to control Clark Park through the Philadelphia Foundation" and "a huge pile of taxpayer cash." It is money being made available to the community for improvements or maintenance for our park."
Citizens, Many people are deceived when they hear about these public-private partnerships. All the grant money that will be used to redesign Clark Park is taxpayer money! Let me repeat, it is tax payer money! People incorrectly believe that these "grants" come from wealthy philanthropists. They believe that UCD brings free money, and they believe the spin about the need for UCD and its successes. (Remember when Mr West told us that Bill Gates gave Philadelphia a new high tech school? But really, the Philadelphia taxpayers paid the entire cost for an expensive school that served as an international show room for microsoft.) These public private partnerships siphon taxpayer money! There is no increased efficiency or free money. In fact, any real services are much more expensive to taxpayers, because the public money siphoned off takes an unfair share of public resources. In reality, these "grants" steal from taxpayers, and deny important projects and maintenance that could be spent transparently and appropriately around the city! (Remember, the enormous money for the few Baltimore Ave street lights. UCD took 2/3 of the money for itself and set up some grants to dangle for supporters. In my travels, I've seen those lights everywhere. The whole neighborhood could have been done with the cloaked taxpayer money spent on those cheap street lights!) Another example: Most of our neighbors don't realize that the trash that UCD touts as its charity is all disposed of at taxpayer expense. The student ghetto has the little un-recycled beer cups removed, but taxpayers pay for the disposal. (Not disclosing those facts, shows how the report card manipulates people into believing that UCD is charity!) Mr Siano admits: "And yes, the meetings are invitation-only." Ah yes, this is why tax payer money is re-branded as "grants." Taking taxpayer money into backrooms where UCD, UC Green, and the historical society keep the real costs hidden; also allows them to spend the money for their agenda without public scrutiny. (This is why civic associations were told to give 3 choices to be liaison with UCD) Please don't scream, Tony West will represent the taxpayers of Philadelphia on all closed UCD committees! Like "cleaner and safer" and "fighting for freedom and democracy," people are being deceived with "grants" and "public private partnerships." Is it fair that we keep cutting back on public schools, libraries and recreation centers in the rest of the city to give special interests wads of cash and walking around money?? Will the taxpayers losing their homes because of the new property tax sit happily by the fountain in Clark Park, or will they be arrested as "prostiutes, gang members, drug addicts, or beer drinkers?" Neighbors, the park and neighborhood now belong to Penn! The only way to cut off the pipeline of taxpayer money being siphoned by UCD for backroom deals is in the courts! Please think about the truth of public-special interest partnerships! Glenn PS: Mr. Siano knows I'm getting close to the secret truths. Consider his method of disproving truthful information. I think he is talking about me: "And on a personal note: I resent having to correct the record because an unscrupulous, deluded and hateful person, with severe personal grudges and no demonstrable concern for the park, feels the need to lie about the Friends of Clark Park." ---- 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>.
