In a message dated 7/12/2007 1:00:49 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
In that context, UCD made a big mistake by firing Fenton. Within a few weeks people could have gotten past their feelings from the election. Either there were deeper tensions that were already building up (Penn secretly backing Nutter, or friction between Fenton and UCD/Penn higher-ups, or whatever) and this was just the trigger, or it was just a stupid move. What it exposed was UCD's weakness in leadership and insensitivity to what's rally meant by "funky vibes" which the $74,000 flackette uses to describe the community. Most of us (in the circles in which I travel, anyway) who voiced concern about the possible unlawful political involvement of UCD weren't dismayed by John's helping out with the affair in Malcolm X Park and knowing or not knowing that it would have some Knox overtones. John had a commendable history of helping every block party, community meeting, torchlight rally behind Little Nell, and briss at the Calvary Center that requests his involvement We were concerned that the culture of the organization was such that the issue could even arise. And responsibility for organizational culture goes to the top (Wendell Lewis and his Penn masters) not to John. Wendell's self-destructive "interview" in the UCReview made matters worse. He took unabashed credit for John's popularity in the area by saying it was he who defined John's job in terms of doing what he did and in a manner that puts the Boy Scout Oath to shame. Then he denied any culpability in accusing John of acting like a loose cannon in several regards. It was clear that Wendell was desperately trying to cover himself while thinking he was throwing John to the wolves. Turns out that he not only didn't "read" the community, he probably never read his Joel Chandler Harris either because what he did it was more like throwing Bre'r Rabbit into the thistle patch. Always at your service & ready for a dialog, Al Krigman -- 36-year local resident & housing provider ************************************** Get a sneak peak of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour
