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.
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