Dear Newcomers,
I'm glad many of you have an interest in the history behind the
privatization of Clark Park.Many long term West Philly residents didn't
have a reasonable chance to understand what was happening before the
fence went up, and neither could you.As we enter the 2^nd season of the
closure and fencing of the north part, it is a very relevant time for
all to learn or review the history of the past ten years.
The master plan for "revitalization" of Clark Park was always a master
plan for secrecy, exclusion of the public, and Penn control!You need to
know that nothing about the redesign of Clark Park was continuous from
beginning to end (2001-2011), except the demand for secrecy, exclusion
of the public, and exclusion of park subcultures! (Except for replacing
trees, it's completely different from the earlier version.)
The original Master Plan Steering Committee was hand picked and CLOSED
before the news of a scheme to redesign Clark Park was publicly revealed
10 years ago!This committee was filled by local corporations and
politicians called stakeholders.These individuals did not tend to attend
the actual meetings, which were closed and secret with no public records.
Organized by UCD/Penn, a few of the leaders from the most dysfunctional
civic associations or clubs were also brought on to the secret
committee.Specifically, leaders of The Friends of Clark Park (FOCP),
Spruce Hill Civic Association and Regent Square civic association joined.
For a couple of years previously, I had been harassed by these FOCP
leaders because of my role as founder and chief organizer of the Clark
Park Music and Arts Community (CPMAC).At the time, the FOCP had no
recognized power and was the laughing stock by department of recreation
employees.They were widely recognized as ridiculous bullies,
"neighborhood cranks." (See The Battle of the Bowl, City Paper, 2001)
http://archives.citypaper.net/articles/102501/news.park.shtml?print=1
Of course, when the secret UCD/Penn committee was revealed ten years
ago; I immediately attempted to gain access for ALL park stakeholder
groups as well as our own CPMAC. (This was how I became so closely
involved and saw the privatization coming).I knew the goals of the FOCP
leadership to control the park, and so I had inside understanding of the
serious importance of breaking through the iron wall of the secret
committee.(The Master Plan Steering Committee was organized through U of
Penn powerbrokers primarily in the real estate department).
Throughout the entire process all park user groups were successfully
barred from the secret meetings!
Chronology:First we had this UCD master plan committee.Their plan was
largely rejected by locals.On the first try, they attempted to use
PUBLIC presentations (a regularly used technique that was severely
tightened after this huge failure), but the public backlash delayed
immediate implementation of the park redesign as early as 2003. (It was
a great example of the simple power and need for public meetings. The
public meetings represented the public, and their opinions about the
park were right on target.)
Next, the master plan steering committee was transformed into the FOCP
planning committee for several years.Members were kept anonymous.This
was justified as a matter of confidentiality.Meetings were kept secret
with no public information.This FOCP committee was called "the
community" for several years in all of the press releases designed to
silence any public dissent about the privatization or redesign.
Friends of Clark Park leaders acted as shields for secrecy and exclusion
over these years.It was their job to keep the meetings away from the
public and bar participation from park user groups! (I often publicly
confronted their leaders during that time forcing them to use various
techniques to silence my demand for public meetings and inclusion.)
A hopeful moment:In 2004, I publicly brought a motion to the FOCP
general membership that would have allowed identification and inclusion
of all park stakeholders at meetings which would be made public. The
membership approved the directive, but the leaders fought against it and
followed up by betraying their members!! (Another installment will be
necessary) These civic associations do not follow by-laws or rules of
order, so in order to speak with their general members, you must always
show up and be prepared to be silenced.
I was permanently barred from the FOCP from that time forward because
the leadership could never win a public debate on these principles of
democracy.I seemed to be the sole whistle-blower, also speaking about
transparency, so no holds were barred against me. Beginning around 2007,
when it was leaked that the redesign of the park and privatization would
move forward, I forced the FOCP leaders to repeatedly deny me a 1 minute
statement at their meetings. The purpose was to publicly expose and
record a complaint about the exclusion of park users and public meetings.
At sometime in the past few years, the Clark Park Partnership was
secretly "passed the baton" by UCD with the city's blessing.These
continue to be invitation only meetings with UCD, UC Green, and
horticultural society.FOCP has not only sealed out the public over the
past ten years, but lost any future position for themselves or any of us!
Important:Even if the FOCP would now be taken over by trusted members of
the community, and transformed from a gang to an accountable civic
association, they would be outvoted.It's called "stacking the deck." The
park has been successfully privatized and we have no rights to
participate on any decisions regarding its future rentals! (There is no
reason for any of you to ever give money to the FOCP or become a
member! It has long been counter-productive to do so.)
Since the shenanigans began in Wisconsin, I've pointed to the fenced in
park when some people have asked me questions.(I live directly across
from the new gravel pit)
When I tell the questioners now that all of the groups they had seen,
like drummers, volleyballers, etc., were excluded from planning
discussions from the very beginning, we shake our heads together!
In democratic societies, the citizenry understands the inevitable
abuses of power when the vast majority of stakeholders are banned from
planning meetings that will have serious impacts on their lives!In such
societies, the majority of citizens rise up and shout "shame, shame,
shame" when such unacceptable abuses occur to their neighbors!
But here in the area branded as "the district," the vast majority of
the landed gentry, learning of the secrecy and exclusion; declined to
speak up at all!(Not everyone but the vast majority)
Back then: The neighborhood gentry had been successfully manipulated to
accept a whole package of new neighborhood changes because they seemed
to believe that the local streets were going to be paved with gold.Too
many among this gentry accepted that the ends justify ANY means.They
accepted the exclusion and secrecy regarding the park planning, as well
as unbelievable tactics such as censorship, ad hominem, misinformation,
propaganda, etc.(I was the park whistle blower but other whistle-blowers
for other local corporate schemes were also targeted to shut us up)
But the vast majority of the gentry, silently observing this entire
process, refused to speak up about the most important processes of a
democratic society or about the terrible tactics used against
whistle-blowers!
Unfortunately, with the the ongoing collapse of our republic, I believe
too many neighborhoods and landed gentry stayed SILENT TOO LONG!
I hope this 2^nd installment has been helpful.Newcomers and the people
of Philadelphia will need good legal help and must take court action
against the city of Philadelphia and the Clark Park Partnership or all
hope for winning back our rights is lost!!! (They haven't started on
the remainder of the park but it's coming! So is the sale or
privatization of all Philly parks and recreation centers.)
Sincerely,
Glenn
Clark Park Volleyball, founded 1983 and 1996
Clark Park Music and Arts Community, founded 1998
Proposal to farmers market trust, withdrawn 1997
FOCP Board member, resigned after 3 months
