[UC] Re: UCD - Lewis Wendell and His UCD Lashes Out

[Craigsolve]

 
In a message dated 6/27/2007 10:47:35 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

Lewis Wendell tries to  bury John on the cover of today’s UC-Review. 
...
You must  read it on-line. ... http://www.weeklypress.com/


His now public commentary reaffirms the utter ineptitude of Lewis  Wendell's 
command of the UCD and most cogently answers highly regarded  local attorney 
Karen Allen's question of yesterday:
 
 
In a message dated 6/26/2007 4:53:44 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

Why  don't these people ever speak for themselves?
Because, despite their employment by what is de facto the  closely controlled 
entity of some of our city's finest academic  institutions, they just aren't 
very smart, competent, or socially and  economically responsible.
 
What Lewis Wendell alleges as a series of missteps on John's part are in  
fact the gravest indictment of his own inadequate leadership, after nearly  two 
years at the helm, of the administration of the UCD, and as a mature  
organization UCD's failure to develop, implement, and maintain the ongoing  
training of 
such policies as well as to frequently and effectively audit  the compliance 
with such policies.
 
The entire problem is not of Lewis Wendell's making, because he is not the  
elected mayor of a small town but more like the installed facility manager of a 
 small community association, driven by highly biased  socio-economically and 
strategicly inadequate operational guidelines. His  outline of UCD's 
community outreach is what one would more realistically  associate with the 
marketing 
of the Lower Main Line than an  urban University City, unless UCD's powerful 
corporate  backers are trying to de-urbanize the off-campus communities. It is 
further  stunning that the UCD wants to implement a taxing power to promote 
its societal  changes. For instance it is much more powerful to want to bring 
free concerts  with the Philadelphia Orchestra to Malcom X Park to share the 
pleasures of one  of our nation's great cultural jewel with citizen' who may be 
financially hard  pressed to afford to take a family to such a concert at the 
Kimmel Center.
 
Given the current economy and culture, it is totally ludicrous to stage the  
orchestra in Clark Park for the local bourgeoisie, who can easily afford such 
a  treat, while subliminally sending the message - look what we can do more  
of for you, if you only increase our revenue stream through the power of  
self-directed taxation. If the local universities think their "poor" students  
need 
such an experience then fund it on-campus.
 
Lewis Wendell's comment, the UCD has only been working on a BID scenario  for 
approximately two years is so off the mark, I can only assume the current  
UCD Board treats him as some U.S. Presidents have treated their chief press  
officers - don't give them all the facts so their responses will be  plausibly 
earnest, though unknowingly incorrect because they don't need to  know the 
whole 
truth and the big picture.
 
As a political activist, who has vigorously and publicly disagreed  with 
Councilwoman Blackwell, I find Lewis Wendell's treatment of  her by innuendo to 
be 
indicative of a lack of understanding of  Philadelphia Realpolitik, a failure 
to appreciate the constructive role of  public relationship building, and 
stunningly insulting to the Councilwoman.  Lewis Wendell, your saving grace is 
the Honorable Jannie L. Blackwell, a Holy  Ghost filled leader, will work with 
you because she loves you as she loves the  District.
 
So there is no doubt, I have professionally admired John Fenton's profound  
capacity to accomplish many varied task in the demanding off-campus environs,  
since his arrival at UCD. Initially, I thought he was the mythical creation  
of a UCD spin doctor, whose sole concern was the implementation of the  BID's 
taxing power. Then I personally worked with John on a State Senator  Anthony 
Hardy Williams Neighborhood to Neighborhood Festival on an oppressively  hot 
sunny Labor Day Weekend at 50th Street and Baltimore Avenue. Needless to  stay, 
the support rendered by John and his team was sterling. Equally  significant, a 
previous UCD Executive Director thought he had earned the  rave reviews for 
John's very hard work. Which raises two questions,  one, why is UCD's 
leadership so fast to suck-up praise and even faster to  pass-on criticism? 
Second, 
when is a UCD worked event non-political versus  politically inappropriate? 
Might 
it have something to do with the support a  politician enjoys with your Board 
or the Board's concern over the  failure of someone to champion specifically 
beneficial enabling legislation? I  am asking so the community can better 
understand who you support, when you  support them, and why you viciously turn 
on 
people who have been so good to  you.
 
I am equally distressed with the manner in which I believe you have  defamed 
John, while invoking the spirit of a sep

Re: [UC] Re: UCD - Lewis Wendell and His UCD Lashes Out

[Krfapt]

 
In a message dated 6/27/2007 2:51:54 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

His now public commentary reaffirms the utter ineptitude of  Lewis Wendell's 
command of the UCD and most cogently answers highly  regarded local attorney 
Karen Allen's question of  yesterday:


Of course, putting all the blame on John rather than accepting  
responsibility for an organizational culture he supposedly manages, that was at 
 best 
wanting in establishing a modus operandi and circumspectin discussing the  
incident 
that triggered but didn't really cause the uproar, was despicable --  
chickens**t -- really.
 
But most telling to me about UCD's general and Wendell's specific  disconnect 
with the reality of the neighborhood were his answers to the  questions about 
the NID and the rebuilding of confidence by the community. He  obviously 
hasn't a clue about the opposition to the first and the  dissatisfaction 
implied 
by the second. I guess he believes a certain  party that I'm just too cheap to 
want to pay my "fair share" for all  these terrific things UCD does 
(presumably like the two concerts in Clark Park  that nobody attended, street 
lights 
that won't improve the safety as  they're being claimed to do, and fancy 
bakeries 
that can't stay in  business, to cite just a few examples).
 
Anybody remotely qualified for the job with which Penn in its ivory tower  
isolation has entrusted him would have said that this incident -- from the 
start 
 all the way through the aftermath of Councilwoman's expression of  
dissatisfaction -- has been of great concern to the organization, and will  
result in a 
thorough re-evaluation of the goals and programs of UCD, including  more 
attention paid to the voices in the community who have been critical of  
various 
initiatives. But no. For Lewis, it's just business as usual. Not an  inkling of 
how deep-rooted the problems were that caused the present  situation.
 
It reminds me of Einstein's definition of insanity. Doing the same thing  
over and over, while expecting a different result each time.
 
Wendell buried himself in this interview... which, I understand, was  
conducted by email so he had plenty of time to think through his answers and  
have 
them vetted by everyone from the $74,000 flackette up through Penn's  
high-priced legal counsel.
 
I'd give him a straight F on the University City Report Card.
 
Al  Krigman
Left of Ivan Grozny



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RE: [UC] Re: UCD - Lewis Wendell and His UCD Lashes Out

[Kyle Cassidy]

>I'd give him a straight F on the University City Report Card.
 
But you would have done that before the interview anyway, wouldn't you?



I find it fascinating how some people, not necessarily Al -- but you can
all troll through the back posts and see who -- saw this incident and
said "Holy smokes! UCD did something illegal! They're going to cover it
up, stonewall, and whitewash it! And nothing will be done about it!" and
then the results of the investigation come out, and sweet barking
cheese, UCD says "Something illegal happened, we dealt with it" and the
same voices are saying "holy smokes! It's Lewis' fault!"

Craig, it seems to me, goes so far as to suggest that Lewis never told
anybody not to work on a political campaign "UCD's failure to develop,
implement, and maintain the ongoing training of such policies as well as
to frequently and effectively audit the compliance with such policies."
and that's how this came about. 

There certainly seem to be some behind-the-scenes machinations between
John and Lewis and Councilwoman Blackwell that I'm not privy to, maybe
some of the rest of you are, but I suspect that this whole thing was a
fairly complicated mess based on relationships between the various
parties involved and the seriousness of the allegations. Where still, I
wonder, is the testimony of the two students? The only accusers in this
whole thing. I, for one, would like to know if the reiterated their
stories to this investigation. Though I suppose it's a moot point now.
Things seem to have settled in a way that's not the worst possible
outcome. UCD will continue along, we all still have John, who may
himself now be in a better position to utilize his not insignificant
skills to improve a city government that we almost all think is lagging,
and hopefully whatever relationship dynamics exist between the various
players will work themselves out in a way that continues to improve the
community.

I'm not sure that anything UCD could have done would have satisfied some
on this list, apart from setting fire to their own building and moving
to Mannyunk.

Kc


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[UC] Re: UCD - Straight Fs on the Report Card

[Craigsolve]

 
In a message dated 6/27/2007 3:58:02 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

Wendell buried himself in this interview. ...


I'd give him a straight F on the University City Report  Card.



Speaking about the illusive qualities of a self-serving evaluation, see Dr  
Napoleon N Vaughn's insightful Letter to the Editor on page 3 of the  current 
UC Review
 
_http://www.server-jbmultimedia.net/UCReviewFlip/sitebase/index.aspx?adgroupid
=105254&view=double&pageno=1&webstoryid=12337397_ 
(http://www.server-jbmultimedia.net/UCReviewFlip/sitebase/index.aspx?adgroupid=105254&view=double&pageno=1
&webstoryid=12337397) 
 
The tenacious and long committed Christians are courageous and generous to  
give the community a voice, unlike another local managing editor, who appears 
to  have allowed his paper to serve as nothing more than a vehicle for a  
challenged UCD to publicly put a hit on two of our beloved own. Then  to 
maintain 
that voices of concern, disapproval, and opposition can only  buy their way 
into publication.
 
Every real newspaperman knows access for the thoughtful to their local  press 
is paramount for the sharing of ideas and the creation  of effective 
advertising.
 
The truth is never for sale or quieted.
 
Ciao,
 
Craig



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Re: [UC] Re: UCD - Straight Fs on the Report Card

[Anthony West]

Every newspaperman knows anybody may write a letter to any editor of any 
newspaper. The editor will consider it for publication. No editor is 
required to publish any material sent into the newspaper, including the 
Christians. It is rare that any newspaper publishes all letters sent to 
it, due primarily to constraints of space and newsworthiness.


The University City Review has done an above-average job on this story, 
which is, to be sure, central to its geographical mission. But is owes 
no ethical duty to any reader to let him dictate, ad infinitum, every 
twist of every story that it covers. In University City alone, there are 
50,000 residents. The admirable Christians would soon go out of business 
if they followed that policy!


I am delighted, however, to hear one piece of news, Craig: that you have 
started to advertise in the University City Review, thanks to their 
superior sharing of ideas. What page is your ad on in this week's paper? 
I think it's fabulous that one of our community's arch-complainers and 
arch-demanders has actually begun to put his media money where his mouth is.


Again ... show us exactly how you are supporting your local press, 
Craig, as you set about your mission of advising them how to do their job.


-- Tony West

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
The tenacious and long committed Christians are courageous and 
generous to give the community a voice, unlike another local managing 
editor, who appears to have allowed his paper to serve as nothing more 
than a vehicle for a challenged UCD to publicly put a hit on two of 
our beloved own. Then to maintain that voices of concern, disapproval, 
and opposition can only buy their way into publication.
 
Every real newspaperman knows access for the thoughtful to their local 
press is paramount for the sharing of ideas and the creation 
of effective advertising.
 
The truth is never for sale or quieted.
 
Ciao,
 
Craig





See what's free at AOL.com 
.




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[UC] Neighborhood Appraiser

[Lowell Lysinger]

Hello,

Does anyone have a home appraiser in Philadelphia that they would recommend?

The last time I had my house appraised for a refinance I think the guy
did a sloppy job. Looking back I discovered that the included sketch
and some other details about my home were from another home in the
neighborhood.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Lowell

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Re: [UC] Re: UCD - Lewis Wendell and His UCD Lashes Out

[Brian Siano]

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

What Lewis Wendell alleges as a series of missteps on John's part are 
in fact the gravest indictment of his own inadequate leadership, after 
nearly two years at the helm, of the administration of the UCD, and as 
a mature organization UCD's failure to develop, implement, and 
maintain the ongoing training of such policies as well as to 
frequently and effectively audit the compliance with such policies.


I addressed this point in an ealier note. One of the reasons to conduct 
an investigation was to determine whether UCD's existing policies were 
adequate or too lax. Of course, neither one of these conclusions would 
make UCD look good: either its policies or its enforcement of those 
policies would be called inadequate.


The entire problem is not of Lewis Wendell's making, because he is not 
the elected mayor of a small town but more like the installed facility 
manager of a small community association, driven by highly biased 
socio-economically and strategicly inadequate operational guidelines. 
His outline of UCD's community outreach is what one would more 
realistically associate with the marketing of the Lower Main Line than 
an */urban/* University City, unless UCD's powerful corporate backers 
are trying to de-urbanize the off-campus communities. It is further 
stunning that the UCD wants to implement a taxing power to promote its 
societal changes. For instance it is much more powerful to want to 
bring free concerts with the Philadelphia Orchestra to Malcom X Park 
to share the pleasures of one of our nation's great cultural jewel 
with citizen' who may be financially hard pressed to afford to take a 
family to such a concert at the Kimmel Center.
 
Given the current economy and culture, it is totally ludicrous to 
stage the orchestra in Clark Park for the local bourgeoisie, who can 
easily afford such a treat, while subliminally sending the message 
- look what we can do more of for you, if you only increase our 
revenue stream through the power of self-directed taxation. If the 
local universities think their "poor" students need such an experience 
then fund it on-campus.


Not to defend Lewis Wendell, but this invocation of the allegedly 
bourgeous appeal of the Orchestra is just silly-- almost Moyeresque. It 
rests entirely on the idea that a concert in Clark Park would play 
solely to the middle-class bourgeousie, while the lower-class citizens 
near Malcolm X park would go wanting. And while it'd be great if the 
Orchestra could play at Malcolm X... well, tell me, Craig: how are 
people by Malcolm X park kept out of Clark Park? People out there are 
free to come over and watch the Orchestra every bit as much as you and I 
are. (There is actually a good reason to have the concerts in Clark 
Park: the shape and size of the Bowl.)


 Lewis Wendell's comment, the UCD has only been working on a BID 
scenario for approximately two years is so off the mark, I can only 
assume the current UCD Board treats him as some U.S. Presidents have 
treated their chief press officers - don't give them all the facts so 
their responses will be plausibly earnest, though unknowingly 
incorrect because they don't need to know the whole truth and the big 
picture.


Actually the BID scenario has been in the works for two years. At least.


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Re: [UC] Neighborhood Appraiser

[pmuyehara]

 I recommend Robert Ludwig.? You can find him in the phone book or Google.? His 
office is around 20th and Locust.? I've used him for court cases as an expert 
on RE value, and personally as well.?? He's also familiar with the neighborhood 
and lived around here for awhile.? 

Paul


 


 

-Original Message-
From: Lowell Lysinger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Univcity 
Sent: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 7:15 pm
Subject: [UC] Neighborhood Appraiser









Hello,?
?

Does anyone have a home appraiser in Philadelphia that they would recommend??
?

The last time I had my house appraised for a refinance I think the guy?

did a sloppy job. Looking back I discovered that the included sketch?

and some other details about my home were from another home in the?

neighborhood.?
?

Any help would be appreciated.?
?

Thanks,?
?

Lowell?

?

You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the?

list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see?

.?



 



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AOL at AOL.com.

[UC] MXPark's got the jazz

[Andrew Schwalm]

"Not to defend Lewis Wendell, but this invocation of the allegedly
bourgeous appeal of the Orchestra is just silly-- almost Moyeresque. It
rests entirely on the idea that a concert in Clark Park would play
solely to the middle-class bourgeousie, while the lower-class citizens
near Malcolm X park would go wanting. And while it'd be great if the
Orchestra could play at Malcolm X... well, tell me, Craig: how are
people by Malcolm X park kept out of Clark Park? People out there are
free to come over and watch the Orchestra every bit as much as you and I
are. (There is actually a good reason to have the concerts in Clark
Park: the shape and size of the Bowl.)"

It's true about the bowl.  We don't really have an orchestra-safe place in
Malcolm X Park.   But what we do have, in abundance, if for one night only,
are the sweet sweet sounds of tenor saxophonist Umar Raheem with the New
York French Connection.  Thursday night, 7pm-9pm under the gazebo.
www.malcolmxpark.org has a link to some sample audio clips.  All classes
welcome.

Andrew


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