Photo By John HoffThis is my editorial response to the statement by the "Old Majority" faction in the Jordan Neighborhood, as stated in their letter of January 17, 2009...
As much as this letter says, much is left unsaid, and those things left unsaid are of a rather notable nature.
First of all, the letter alludes more than once to "these select few" who have taken it upon themselves to do thus-and-so. The letter fails to mention the "select few" are nine individuals up against four board members who might be described as "hold outs" of a previous way of thinking.
Um, nine to four is a pretty solid majority. That's, um, more than two thirds, right?
You may not like losing an election--overwhelmingly--but that's just what happened. Furthermore, the authorities who monitored the board election are making the record about how the results were fair and accurate.
Old Majority, you're outnumbered. If these nine are the "select few," what does that make you? The "un-select few?"
Secondly, the letter says "Robert Scott is still Treasurer." I personally saw Robert Scott verbally resign at the January 14 meeting, and so did a lot of other folks. So I'd like some kind of explanation about that. Is there some reason in the bylaws why a verbal resignation is not sufficient? Did Robert Scott approve this statement that he is still treasurer? What does Robert Scott think?
Third, the vague explanations for the absence of E.B. Brown can't fly without being questioned.
Why is Ben Myers the active, moving party in this matter, releasing a statement in the name of E.B. Browne? If Brown can't be present, why not draft a letter and have her sign it, (openly stating who drafted the letter) instead of having Myers write something under his own name and say it is being done "on behalf of" E.B. Brown.
Individuals I know say E.B. Brown's personality is such that she is not likely to be involved in something this messy.
Fourth, why not just openly state files and equipment were removed from the JACC office by members of the self-described "Legal JACC Board" and taken elsewhere? (See image above, showing the place where a computer was removed)
If such actions were "Fiduciary" (with an unnecessary capital "F") then why not openly say what was done? It's painfully obvious members of the "Old Majority" or "Legal JACC Board" were involved in that removal. If the actions were lawful and fiduciary, why not make it clear the records and equipment are SAFE, even if you won't say where that stuff now resides? (Jordan New Life Church...cough)
Fifth, it's very obvious the Old Majority/Legal JACC Board is swimming against a strong tide of change. You're outnumbered 9 to 4. City Officials and NRP recognize the Kip Browne Board as the rightful JACC leadership. JACC can't even function without NRP funds. Police are investigating both the removal of office equipment and the Jerry Moore altercation. The officials who observed the January 12 elections are saying the elections were in order.
No matter how you slice it, you are outnumbered and outgunned. Your one remaining strength is an ability to rally some folks in the community to your side. (Including Al Flowers, god help you, but even Ben Myers didn't seem to approve of Al's outrageous behavior, so perhaps it's unfair to put the Old Majority in the same camp as an outrageous personality like Al Flowers)
Here's my advice:
Return the records and equipment. Turn over the checkbooks. Take any monies you may have moved around to other accounts since January 14, approximately, and return that money, every blessed penny, with records of where it was.
Don't apologize. Obviously, you feel you are in the right. But your assertion appears to be based on a moral interpretation about what you think is best for the Jordan neighborhood, not a legal interpretation. And other people--a majority of the board, it appears--think what's best for the neighborhood is 1.) Get rid of Jerry Moore, 2.) focus on livability issues, in particular vacant and boarded houses.
Therefore, "Old Majority," your only viable course of conduct is to sit at meetings taking place under the new leadership and keep pushing for your agenda from the position of a small and vocal but completely outnumbered board faction. (This seems to be the very place where the livability-centered folks were sitting a month ago, so the seats are probably still warm and, therefore, comfy)
So take your rightful elected seats on the board as it is composed and recognized by city and NRP authorities. File your grievances, such as they are, and keep working through the political process. Your current course of conduct--being holed up in a church and declaring yourselves the "true" leadership--is like something a cult would do. If a majority of the people in Jordan support you, fall back on that support and try to win next year's elections...because this year, you got creamed.
This current course is madness. You will end up with less political power by remaining on this current course than you would if you take the course I am suggesting.
Fall back on your one remaining strength: an ability to rally a considerable number of members of the community to your side.
However, Jordan has been changing. Jordan appears to have changed right out from under you, and that's why the elections turned out the way they did, though you may really hate to admit that, even to yourselves. Right now, a majority of people who voted in the board elections are worked up about the issues put forward by folks like Daniel Rother...not issues like job training for youth.
You may think the majority is wrong. They're still the majority. Hey, maybe some John McCain supporters will share their beer with you and talk about how losing sucks.
You may be better off seeking to play a more active role in the Urban League, with some of your particular issues, than trying to force "social justice" issues into a neighborhood association agenda. Traditionally, neighborhood associations are about livability issues.
As I stated at the outset, much was left unsaid. So I thought I'd say something.
7 comments:
Al Flowers picked a fight with the Urban League not too long ago. I don't know that this crew is welcome there either.
You have some calm, rational advice here. The problem is that by their actions, "the old majority" don't seem very rational, more like panicked, about losing power, or being exposed for dubious and maybe improper use of funds or both. (We'll know if the way this is ended is a negotiated solution where charges are dropped, nobody is investigated and all the stuff is put back.) The "old majority" will have gotten at least half of what it wanted in the first place.
Also, from what you've said here, It isn't so much "job training for youth" vs. "boarded up vacant houses" no matter how hard they try to argue this. There are questions about where the money for "social justice" projects went. I've met some of the folks who helped put the "new majority" in and I know they care about social justice. But I think they were pretty frustrated about seeing serious grant money coming into the community and disappearing with nothing to show for it. Meanwhile, you have the livability problems that are still driving people away and keeping people out. Jordan has a lot going for it but they've probably hit their limit of "urban pioneers" (people willing to move into a seriously challenged area to work to make it better.) There is just too much housing out there. I think the new majority realized that in order to have the improvement they need to move forward, they needed new leadership.
RE: as far as Ben Myer's being in disapproval of Al Flower's behavior - that's part of the act - they set him up to come to meetings and events to act that way, then they act just as appalled as everyone else so that it's not evident. I have seen it dozens of times and it's always the same! LOL at least they are predictable!
"Also, from what you've said here, It isn't so much "job training for youth" vs. "boarded up vacant houses" no matter how hard they try to argue this."
Precisely. This isn't primarily an ideological debate, but a struggle between, on one side, an old-guard, authoritarian approach to community leadership that sees the neighborhood organization only as a tool for obtaining and retaining personal status, and, on the other hand, neighbors looking for pragmatic solutions. In other words, it's the Dick Cheney worldview opposed to the Obama worldview. The "Old Majority" needs (and uses) Al Flowers in precisely the way Dick Cheney needs (and uses) the religious right--as a distraction.
That's why the differences can't be logically debated, and compromises reached, the way it could be if it was just a matter of a variety of people with different approaches and emphases. The sole interest of the "Old Majority" is to build up personal fiefdoms on the backs of the neighborhood residents.
to the 2nd anonymous commenter: well said! that is exactly the problem and you seem to have been able to put it into a context that clicks. Whoever you are, you GET IT and I thank you for providing the example. Everyone that is as intrigued by this struggle should watch the award winning documentary 'Street Fight' about Newark New Jersy mayor's race. It is absolutely rivoting. Mpls library has it to check out. Also PBS broadcast personality Gwen Ifil, (who moderated Biden v. Palin debate) has a book coming out very soon about the changing of black leadership in America.
I see to a degree the level of frustration. But how will bringing in new leaders resolve the overall situation? Is a neighborhood association appropriate at this time at all. Clearly the neighborhood has no set vision for itself and our councilman himself seems unable to bring together the coalition necessary to address many of the social and economic issues that plague all of North.
Maybe I shouldn't afterall I live in Willard Hay which has incredible vision and local gov..........yeah right we are just as bad as the rest of North right now.
I just don't buy that NRP, or the Urban League or the NAACP or any other organization will resolve the issues right now. How can organizations in crisis fix a community in crisis?
The Mayor may have had a point when he said that neigborhood organizations distracted from the overall application of masterplan across the city. I just see this as another proven argument that right now maybe we take money and power away from the neighborhoods to save them from themselves.
The Jordan neighborhood did have a vision, and that vision was beautifully expressed in its NRP Phase II Plan, which was put together by the community based on the priority of the community residents, property owners and businesses. When the "old majority" took over, however, they completely ignored the NRP plan for the years 2005-2009.
When they were warned that the city was likely to cut NRP funds, they ignored suggestions that they get as many of the Phase II programs under contract as they could to protect their funds. Their reply was that they didn't need anyone to tell them how to manage their finances.
Jordan's NRP Phase II funds have been bled dry of any and all funds that could go to paying salaries and admin costs, but hardly any of the programs have been implemented. Neighbors fought for two solid years to get the "old majority" to release $25,000 that was in the plan and already approved to do something about 26th Avenue. The "old majority" refused to act until recently.
The NRP Phase II Plan included funding for businesses, youth, streetscape improvements, crime and safety improvements, housing and other investments in the neighborhood. Most of that will not happen now because (1) the "old majority" spent nearly 100% of all the admin and implementation funding, and (2) the city has again cut NRP funds. This means that the entire cut in funding will have to be absorbed by the programs because all the administrative funds have already been spent.
Further, if you look at the strategic plan that the "old majority" paid $13,000 to write, you will find that it includes paying additional high salaries to a selected few. It proposes hiring a full time housing coodinator at $70,000 a year, hiring two full time safety coordinators at a cost of $170,000 per year). It also proposes $20,000 a year to provide incentives to staff to stay with the organization.
A budget was adopted by the "old majority" at a recent board meeting. No supporting documentation was provided. One board member simply asked if the board chair and treasurer understood what it was about. Based on that assurance, that two members of the board knew what was behind the numbers, the "old majority" voted to accept the budget. When you look closely at the numbers, you will see that only about 6% of the budget is for programs. The remainder is for salaries, training, and other admin-related expenses.
Members of this community have fought to get the neighborhood back on track with a focus on ALL of Jordan, not just the Cottage Park area. These efforts were part of the reason the "old majority" eliminated all community meetings except for the annual meeting. Newsletters became infrequent. Board meetings prohibited participation by the community except for 5 minutes allotted to community announcements at the beginning of the meetings.
Bylaws were ignored by the "old majority" on a regular basis (like the requirement for a minimum of 4 community meetings a year).
With the events of last week, the community has finally made its point and elected enough board members to give a "new majority" control of the board. And it was all done properly. This is the way it works. When you don't like what is happening, you work to change it. This community has done that, and now the change is here.
Now we need to move forward with the agenda the community wants: real change for the entire neighborhood as quickly as we can make it happen.
Perhaps Johnny would also be interested in a another well known players situation in this drama, located at the below "Public Information link"
https://www16.co.hennepin.mn.us/taxpayments/taxesdue.jsp?pid=0902924330170
Seems some of our infamous previous board chair's responsibilities are not quite up to standard !
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