Wow. First we get the evidence-free claims of malfeasance, then we get the accusations of elitism, and now, the demands that others sign onto pledges.
You guys are _clearly_ fans of Newt Gingrich. On 4/30/11, Richard Conrad <[email protected]> wrote: > O.K. then. Can anyone please prove Glenn wrong... I'm fairly certain he > would welcome it. Let's please soon hear from someone about this idea... > > Darco Lalevic, Brian Siano, Anthony West, William H. Magill, will you pledge > to avail in whatever ways are needed, in making Clark Park free for use, by > citizens interested in sponsoring peaceful public gatherings - to share > information about important concerns, and/or to engage in peaceful assembly > and make common protest to grievous conditions? > > Rick Conrad > > > On Apr 30, 2011, at 8:53 AM, Glenn wrote: > >> >> >> On 4/30/2011 1:49 AM, Richard Conrad wrote: >>> AS SOON AS CLARK PARK IS AVAILABLE AGAIN I SUGGEST WE USE IT FOR >>> PEACEABLE ASSEMBLY... TO CONDUCT TEACH-INS... TO FOSTER GATHERINGS OF >>> MASS CONSCIOUSNESS... AND TO DISCUSS AND ACT UPON THIS AND OTHER ISSUES. >> >> Rick, >> >> Yes, this is an important idea. Community consciousness is precisely why >> I worked so hard to found the CPMAC after the previous festival group gave >> up due to the constant harassment. Such gatherings are vital for >> democracy, community, and the mental health of social creatures! (I >> actually wanted to work for a documentary on Clark Park to examine how >> such a public square and the rich culture it produces is vital to diverse >> urban neighborhoods that work as well as ours did. When Penn was calling >> this area a criminal wasteland, many of us were pointing out that this had >> been one of the culturally richest urban communities in America! But I >> fought with FOCP/UCD instead of this and other projects.) >> >> >> Unfortunately, I need to be the bearer of more bad news. Such gatherings >> of citizens look like they will soon be outlawed in all Philadelphia >> parks, unless the organizers receive corporate sponsorship and control! >> (Clark Park is the pilot project to be extended to the entire city!) >> >> >> >> In 2001-02, it was called the Special Events Review Committee of the >> Fairmount Park Commission. (Vice President Siano recently let slip that >> it was again being plotted against the entire city. Siano was not part of >> FOCP when I fought UCD/FOCP about misapplying this committee to >> neighborhood groups ten years ago.) >> >> >> Essentially, any group requesting a park use permit is going to need to >> pay many many thousands of dollars or face arrest for not obtaining this >> permit. (This will end events by volunteers like the Clark Park festivals >> and Woodland Ave Reunion unless corporate money takes these over.) >> Connected corporations will undoubtedly get a waiver from these >> requirements, like their waiver from taxes the rest of us pay. >> >> >> Once this happens, neighborhood organizers will need to go to a hearing >> and pay in advance for insurance, EMT's, and even the riot police to beat >> us. (It's impossible to know details of other secret permit changes being >> planned to restrict the rights of assembly.) >> >> >> As I explained to Darco a couple of months ago, this law was a response to >> the South St. Mardi Gras sponsored by for profit bars. It was never >> intended to shut down block parties or neighborhood park festivals. And >> park permits were also never intended to be used as a method to impose >> unfair rules for some people and not others, as has been the case for >> decades. Permits were originally intended to be a reservation system to >> assist citizen groups when planning special events like the ones you >> suggest. >> >> >> This scheme is the big prize now that we are consumers rather than >> citizens, and people of Philadelphia generally don't know it's coming! >> Residents in other parts of the city certainly never expected this just >> like they didn't expect the coming sales of large parts of Fairmount Park. >> I expect this new permit rule will be kept quiet, and people will only >> find out after their local community organizers can't get permits anymore >> because of the cost. >> >> Do you see how these tremendous cost increases will complete the corporate >> coup seizing our parks, and simultaneously prevent us from regaining a >> democratic system or constitutional rights, like our brothers and sisters >> in the Arab world are struggling so hard to obtain? (It seems most US >> backed Arab dictators called these laws against assembly "emergency >> laws.") >> >> >> >> Penn attempted to buy control and naming of the Clark Park festivals back >> in 2000 after their complete 1999 flop called "The University of >> Pennsylvania, Welcome to the Neighborhood festival." (The DP did an >> article about this.) Maybe UCD will impose a BID tax on local residents >> and swoop in to take control of future festivals. But which corporation >> will sponsor a pro-democracy rally or teach in? And which poor >> neighborhoods will receive corporate sponsors? >> >> When these emergency laws are imposed, people need to hold the FOCP >> responsible. Our anointed wanted control of Clark Park for themselves, >> but some of us warned the anointed that they would never get the power >> they wanted, but instead were giving the power to Penn by sacrificing our >> rights. Think how this could have been stopped, if our local civic >> associations had been on the side of their neighbors, and not so blinded >> by their own lust for power! >> >> At the time we abandon our principles and duties as citizens, it is hard >> to know exactly where it will lead, only that it will always be bad. I >> wish I didn't need to pass on this new threat to our parks and right to >> assemble on public land. >> >> Thanks for your sensible posts, >> 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>.
