> evidence-free ?
> demands ? > Newt Gingrich ? Brian I am truly aghast. You seem now to have become perhaps the most sour misanthrope that I know; and I used to describe you as a particularly bright, very noble, unusually friendly, superbly articulate, and most helpful human being. If you can't make the pledge just say so. Or ignore it for crying out loud... On Apr 30, 2011, at 4:38 PM, Brian Siano wrote: > 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>. ---- 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>.
