Matt your name has been used on the public listserv. I am sending you this
cc as a courtesy.
"As for the volleyball players, yes, they _were_ asked to send
representatives. Matt Grubel, who's a volleyball player, invited them to
our meetings many times. They never came. Gina came to a general
membership meeting to suggest a permanent court installation, and we've
been discussing this within the Board and PlanCom. Once again, Glenn's
lying. Maybe he's ticked that the volleyballers didn't pick him to be
their rep?"
Matt does not claim that he ever asked the volleyball group to be "their
representative." I know that others have been making these claims and
calling him a representative. You Siano, have now publicly involved Matt
with your lies. I asked Matt directly if he ever claimed to be "the
representative" of volleyball. His answer was no!
You FOCP "leaders" constantly try this tactic. You can't assign an outside
group's representative. In fact, the volleyball group has often come to me
with their concerns and ideas. I founded the activity in 1983 and restarted
it in 1996. I have a request to the members of FOCP from them which Tony
has blocked since 2004. Matt knows all of this.
This "representative" lie is a divisive tactic which is done often by FOCP.
When FOCP leaders cannot win by bullying the leader of a park organization,
they engage this trick. The gang tries to recruit a "representative" for
the outside group. Mr Siano himself went for this bait. The character and
leadership of the disobedient individual is attacked as usual. Someone is
asked to replace the leader and this is promised to solve all the problems
with FOCP. Over several years, I experienced this several times. Brian
Siano was the fourth individual from the group, of which I was the
undisputed leader, to be approached this way.
FOCP leaders tried this with the Clark Park Music and Arts Community long
before Brian Siano betrayed me. Mr Siano was a volunteer I recruited to the
festival group. Mr West put Mr. Siano in charge of dealings with FOCP so
that my legitimate leadership of the group could be circumvented. When I
was on trial at the UCD/FOCP Quality of Life Task Force, Clark Park
festivals were even referred to as "Glenn's rock concerts" not Siano's
concerts.
I told the list this story as it occured in 2004 when Mr. West convinced a
Dept of Rec. employee to break a contract with me for the use of the city's
mobile stage. Siano at his side. It's an ugly story to have to tell about
one's neighbors. Nevertheless, it is an important story to be told.
Matt is a friend of mine and he is not a party to Siano's lie about
"representation." Thanks Brian for helping to make these ugly tactics clear
to the list and to Matt.
Matt is not like these other FOCP characters. He asked volleyball players
to come join FOCP and listen to FOCP plans with the best intentions. But he
also understands what a "representative" of a group implies.
Matt, I believe the volleyball players don't trust the FOCP organization. I
told you about these "representative" claims and now you see it in action.
This exchange was on the public listserv.
Sorry that Siano decided to involve you.
Take care,
Glenn
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Siano" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "UC List" <UnivCity@list.purple.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 11:44 AM
Subject: Re: [UC] civic associations and representatives
Glenn wrote:
Folks, this is an important local issue.
These local groups like FOCP and SHCA pretend that they are a stand in
for a non existant village government. The list just saw West flex his
power with a warning to Liz about the catch-22 she may find herself in.
If I told someone to "have a wonderful trip over the river on the Pine
St. bridge ," all of you would know my meaning. Of course, I could
convince a stranger that I was trying to be sweet.
I'm wondering what Glenn's talking about here. I've been unable to find
any notes from Tony mentioning Pine street or a bridge.
How does one work with an FOCP "representative" other than West? West is
the one who decides whom may participate in discussions with the FOCP and
whom may not. He has made that perfectly clear on numerous occasions on
this list and in person.
"Delusory" isn't the word for this. Tony doesn't act as a gatekeeper for
the FoCP, and he's never pretended to be one. People talk to me about park
stuff, they talk to our board members, they come to our meetings, and they
even join the organization every so often. We've also had non-members
attend our board meetings.
But Glenn seems to be fixated on Tony in a way that's far from realistic,
accurate, or even healthy.
When I tried to propose the Clark park farmer's market to the community
via a spot on the FOCP agenda, I tried the accepted process. I
approached the President face to face and politely asked for an
opportunity.
He told me that "the community was opposed." There was no public
meeting and no agenda spot. This was my first experience with the
organization and I saw how incredibly destructive these associations have
been to this community.
Back when I took Glenn seriously, I asked about the Farmer's Market--
and everyone I spoke to said that people had been discussing it as far
back as 1992, long before Glenn suggested it.
The only reason there is a farmer's market at Clark park was because UCD
decided that it was good for gentrification. The community was deprived
the opportunity to hear from a community volunteer bringing a proposal to
them at a public meeting. The good folks starting the farmers' markets
wanted these as a benefit to the community and farmers, not for support
of the Penn "brand."
According to Glenn, the FoCP President opposed the Farmer's Market, but
only through the work of UCD did we actually get it. So why isn't he
praising UCD for enacting the will of the community?
How many times has this type of abuse of power occured and been
cloaked? How many of our neighbors have similar stories?
About _other_ community organizations, yeah, there are dozens. But about
the FoCP? Just one.
FOCP leaders are cutting secret deals about control of our park. Ask the
basketball players, if they were part of the decision to rip up their
court and let it lay in ruins until their basketball groups GO AWAY. Ask
the volleyball players if they were invited to send a representative of
THEIR CHOOSING to the park A redesign planning committee.
Sure, ask them. They _were_ part of that decision. The basketball court
reconstruction came about when state money was made available to rebuild
six such courts in the city, and Rec and Jannie Blackwell's office got our
court on the list. Making the project even easier was the desire of the
Water Department to install a rainwater basin there. Generally speaking,
the FoCP had very little to do with the planning (and UCD had none
whatsoever) of the project. But we did bring the b-ball players to our
meetings, and kept them informed throughout the process as best as we
could.
As for the "lay in ruins" business, Glenn's simply lying again. In
addition to the contractor dragging his feet, there was a weeks-long delay
while the Water Department issued a permit to attach their rainwater
basin's drainage to the sewer mains under 43rd street. (The permits have
been issued, but Lord knows if the contractor's done the attaching.) But
we hope that the major work will be completed soon (we keep hearing Real
Soon Now announcements), and the lines can be painted only in the spring,
which is when we'll have the Grand Opening.
We're certainly grateful for the improvements, and the replacement of a
cracked, rusty and obsolete basketball court... but apparently Glenn feels
that the old court was "good enough" for the b-ball players.
As for the volleyball players, yes, they _were_ asked to send
representatives. Matt Grubel, who's a volleyball player, invited them to
our meetings many times. They never came. Gina came to a general
membership meeting to suggest a permanent court installation, and we've
been discussing this within the Board and PlanCom. Once again, Glenn's
lying. Maybe he's ticked that the volleyballers didn't pick him to be
their rep?
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