"Also, can you respond in a few short sentences? I just want to know of
one example of someone being excluded from the park."
No, I will not answer your silly question. There is overwhelming
evidence that park stakeholders were barred from the planning committees
over the past 10 years.
Your question suggests a possible reading comprehension problem. As in
the past, I'd be happy to answer any serious questions. I respect you
and deserve a serious response from you. All the best.
Sincerely,
Glenn
On 4/28/2011 3:59 PM, Lalevic, Darco wrote:
So, I'm curious. While I tended to disagree with some of the
revitalization plan, do you have evidence of people being excluded
from the park? And don't give me general intimidation that you have
felt -- I would like a concrete example of someone being excluded. And
no, the fence being up while the changes are made does not count as
exclusion since (regardless of it's merits) the revitalization does
require people to stay out of the construction.
Also, can you respond in a few short sentences? I just want to know of
one example of someone being excluded from the park.
Thanks.
Darco
*From:*owner-univc...@list.purple.com
[mailto:owner-univc...@list.purple.com] *On Behalf Of *Glenn
*Sent:* Thursday, April 28, 2011 12:11 PM
*To:* UnivCity@list.purple.com
*Subject:* [UC] Clark Park Secrecy, 01-11
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
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