Selected Quotes From Block Club Presidents: Is this America or some Banana Dictatorship?
Norm Cratty, President of the North Edgewater Block Club (NEBA), in response to an Edgewater resident complaining about the obviously decrepit state of business on Granville; about the decaying facades and gross empty storefronts. This complaint, in the form of an intelligent observation, was not made to this block club but rather to another block club via e-mail. Mr. Cratty apparently took it as a criticism of his group, (as it were) and a challenge to his authority:
No. What I am saying is that because you are not in my block club's jurisdiction, your voice (as it were) is not represented through our block club. Again, you do not reside in the territory we are charged with by the aldermen of the 48th and 49th wards. You are not and will not be invited because the area of the ward you live in is represented by another organization, just like our block club is generally not invited to other block club meetings.
I never said you do not have a right to complain. You need to complain to the appropriate organization.
So, in Edgewater, one can only complain about issues that are within his or her block club boundaries, NOT regarding issues in the community in general. And if one does want to complain about an issue outside the block club boundaries, he or she can only do it through the block club.
************************************
A gem from Killian Walsh, President of the Edgewater Beach Neighbors Association, in an UNSOLICITED communication with fellow members, regarding the imperious attitude of Sheli Lulkin, self ordained President of ASCO, arguably the least democratic of all block clubs:
Good day gentlemen:
I wanted to let you know that last Saturday I walked out of a meeting that had Sheli Lupkin in it, because she claimed that she is the "voice of Sheridan."
Now the background is wierd, so hang in there with me. We were having a dorky meeting for renewable energy, its a group of people and it was the 1st one and we were just brain storming and I said I always thought it be great to have an renewable energy symposium for the Sheridan highrises. To get information out on what the future holds for highrises, my friends and members would love information. Does it mean it would happen? No. It would be sharing information with people so they can make informative decisions with 40+ - 80 year old buildings. It was just an idea, as with many I have, they don't go anywhere.
She starts to lay into me how we aren't allowed to talk about Sheridan and she controls it.
I said that this was a friendly exchange of ideas and this group is not about hostility. Well, she controls ASCO and will decide what they need to know. I said I don't want to be part of such a group and walked out.
My concern lies with no one person should ever think they are the voice of anyone. If you run a block club, thats all you do, you have your guidelines to follow to be fair and yes people become upset, but to make such a statement concerns me.
Well Killian, apparently that concern doesn't extend to those who would make legitimate comments on your groups website, but have the temerity to comment on areas outside their residence. Sounds like you are a hypocrite. Editors note: As a result of their comments on the state of business and deteriorating buildings in the community, two concerned citizens were expelled from the Edgewater Beach Neighbors Association website. Apparently, Killian Walsh and her like minded members couldn't stand the stench of reality that is Edgewater today, prefering to live in the atmosphere of cookbooks and bake sales.