My complete reply and rebuttle to attacks made on me:

[Bill Drummond]

April 9, 2008
from: Your friend from the Crossroads, Bill Drummond.

Please forgive me for inflicting such a large, document on you! I am
forced to defend my position as an elected board person on the
Crossroads Community Association board of directors, ( all 17 of
us! ).
1/2 of this pile of words is my defence of self- and 1/2 is the
original 3-page attack generated two weeks ago by Shaul Jolles, David
Morris, Bill Steeb, and Don Omers. I like these guys, but they are
putting an amazing amount of energy into "kicking me off" the board of
directors! I think that if they spent the same amount of time and
energy in dealing with the Crossroads problems, we could advance our
neighborhood's 10 Priorities. I support our memberships' priorities-
not a self-interested developer's priorities.

The quarterly membership meeting is Thursday April 10, 6pm, The Arts
Incubator, 18th St and Wyandotte.


In Rebutting Charges made about myself:

The Crossroads association board's Executive Committee claims that I,
Bill Drummond, "have failed to act in accord with the mission of the
Crossroads Community Association and have undermined the association's
goals".
Let's just look at this claim. One goal is "to support, promote,
advance, and encourage the revitalization of the community as a
thriving center of art, history, enterprise, commerce, culture,
residence, entertainment, education and other activities." Anyone who
knows me well knows that this has always been my goal. I have been
involved in the cultural life and growth of the Crossroads district
since its earliest days of revitalization. I joined our association at
the founding. I attended the very first CCA association meetings over
nine years ago, and have attended most of the member meetings since. I
have brought positive energy, and new members into our association.
Annother mission of the CCA is "to inform and educate the members of
this association and the public about community issues". This has
always been my goal, as well. I have consistently acted to inform and
educate the members of this association and the public about community
issues. In this area I have acted in accord.
As a matter of fact, it was I who brought the membership's attention
to the Accardo 17 story Condo, to be erected in front of the new
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Which leads us to another
mission statement, which is "to provide a forum to address community
objectives and issues". The past leadership did not feel that a
discussion in the general membership meeting upon the matter of the
Accardo Condo was necessary or important. When in fact, it is the
mission statement to provide a forum for discussion within the general
membership". Another neighborhood association mission is "to build a
strong partnership between business owners, property owners, tenants
and residents to ensure community involvement". The key word here is
"partnership". I am, and always have been a voice for diversity of
opinion. My agenda is equal representation for all aspects of this
diverse community. And I have only acted in accord with this
objective. The last objective in the mission statement of the CCA is
"to enhance the quality of life within the community". I have always
acted toward this goal. I have a popular and deserved reputation for
this!
As a matter of fact, I have always acted toward all of the goals of
the mission of CCA. I do not, however, always act in accord with the
business agendas of some of the CCA leadership. And this, my friends,
is the true source of this conflict and the reason accusations are now
coming from the executive committee. I am a costly thorn in their
side. They allege that I do not "accept the decisions of the Board of
Directors on critical issues and have instead acted to advance my
personal agenda." My only agenda is quality of life for the diverse
community of the Crossroads. It is true, that if I see that the board
is acting against this greater good, then I will not only refuse to
meekly comply, I will challenge their decisions.
The executive committee asserts that I have mislead community leaders,
city staff and elected city officials by implying that I am speaking
for the Board of the CCA. I have always clearly stated that I am a
mere 1/17 of the board and am speaking from that standpoint. It is
true that in city chambers, testifying about the Downtown Are Plan
consultant contract, I introduced myself as: "My name is Bill
Drummond. I am a glass etcher. I have a studio on 18th Street. Please
note that I am only 1/17 th of the board of the Crossroads Community
Association."
I ended my introduction/disclaimer for the Council people, (who
already know me as an independent individual, and NOT as the
"spokesperson for the Crossroads"), with a joke: "..and I am "pre-
president". Some understand the joke; some do not think it funny. At
any rate, I see now that it was inappropriate for me to say that in
city chambers. I do not apologize for my position on the City issues
that I testified about. I presented the case that City Planning and
Zoning, under director Tom Coyle was not doing their job in creating
an area plan for the Crossroads using the lawful and literal FOCUS
Plan. To view my testimony, go to kcmo.org , then "mayor/council",
then "video on-demand", then "Planning & Zonning", then committee
meeting, March 26". My comments are 1/4th of the way into the meeting
agenda. Note that I am thanked for my individual participation in City
Hall activities - by Councilwoman Beth Gottstein.

It is the "past president" Susie Aron, her real estate agent co-
worker, now current president, Shaul Jolles, and past board member
Chris Accardo who misrepresented themselves in the City Hall while
promoting the Accardo's Condo, TIF deals, and their business
interests. These "leaders" fail to act in accordance with the CCA's
mission statement, thereby not only causing discord within the
Crossroad's community, but discord with the our neighboring community
of the Westside.

In all but a few cases, I have always supported decisions made by our
board, such as :
1. Starting a CID for Crossroads.
2. Preserving the "art" character of our neighborhood.
3. Implementation of the 18th Street Connector Project.
4. Community Policing, and a web-based cell phone alert system.
5. Boosting business for our retail merchants.
6. Parking variances given to small buinesses.
7. Attracting and welcoming new residents.
8. Promoting the Crossroads regionally.
9. Combating graffiti

My development friendly mantra is: Preserve, Protect, Build.
I think that the Crossroads' native artful character must be protected
- and grow.

In a few cases, I do oppose Shaul's opinion:
I do oppose buildings that destroy our common Crossroads' view-shed,
(especially a building promoted as selling "luxury views of the
performing arts center").
I do oppose ignoring the problem with our closest neighbors over a
border dispute that we caused, (and refused to rectify). I do oppose 3-
am bars, strip clubs, and unwanted development, (including the
collateral excuse that "our neighborhood doesn't take a position on
private development matters"). I believe that the previous City
administration's developer-driven Economic Development Incentives were
misused and misapplied in our neighborhood.
I am outspoken. I speak about issues that affect some developer's
interests.
Some business interests will attack me for deterring them.

Specifically answering the 3rd_accusation, I did go to The Municipal
Arts Commission office, and asked the director, Porter Arneill, to
confer with me, informally, about several arts-related subjects. I
told him that I was recently elected to the Crossroads' board, and
that I am only 1-17th of the board. I did not represent myself as
speaking for the board, or the Crossroads Neighborhood Association.

We talked about many topics-
the Municipal Arts Commission Board, some ideas on how to keep our
"creatives" in the Crossroads, recent Percent for the Arts program
pieces- and their good affects; and the new, (at that time), Arts
PIEA tax abatement, for the Crossroads. I shared my belief that the
Arts PIEA was not helping the very "art district pioneers" that the
Arts PIEA was intended to help. I shared my disapproval of the
structuring of the PIEA, (as a smaller, but just as bureaucratic,
version of a conventional PIEA redevelopment plan). I particularly
dwelled on the expensive up-front application fees, and high charges
for "administrative costs" inflicted on the property owners that
sought tax-relief. I said that the Arts PIEA needed to seriously
amended to actually benefit our "arts pioneers" He agreed that the
PIEA could be modified to serve the arts pioneers. He agreed with me.
That is why I cited him as supporting my call to seriously amend the
Arts PIEA. I regret that he disavowed my conversation with him, and
protected his bureaucratic "neutrality".

Please notice that, a few months later, the PIEA has been modified to
make the high up-front costs lower to applicants. This is a good
thing.

Answering the 4th accusation: I did not go door-to-door in the
Westside neighborhood to rile up the residents regarding the Broadway
border dispute. I never have been to Westside leader Alice Gomez's
house. I have not stirred up anyone in the Westside! They had been
very upset about the border dispute already.

I hope only for the conflict to be amicably resolved regarding this
border dispute. The CCA board has spent many hours ignoring this
issue. As a matter of fact, according to our current president, Shaul,
the Westside and the Crossroads have "agreed to disagree" about the
Broadway border and who rightfully owns it. But when Alice Gomez,
Westside leader, and Kathy Kirby, spokesperson for Westside
infrastructure committee and as well as other Westside residents came
to the April CCA board meeting they called Shaul a liar. The reason
being that the Westside and the Crossroads have never agreed to
disagree on this issue, and they still very much want dialogue with
our community about this matter. But after they left the meeting, our
great leader, Shaul, disrespected and dismissed them, saying, "..well,
that's enough of that." And Don Omers stated, "...that Kathy Kirby and
Alice Gomez should not be taken seriously as representatives of the
Westside." Is this how our leaders treat our neighbors? Is this the
leaders you want for our organization?


To answer accusation 5: I do criticize some public servants, following
in the footsteps of many of our nations founding fathers. Yes, at
times, I do specifically criticize and identify some public officials
who administrate their department to the detriment of the Crossroads.
They do manage to assist, however, unrestrained development which
ruins our neighborhood.

I am clear in why I disparage these people. I am not shy about using
any public forum to talk about these officials who are supposed to be
"public servants", but who I believe are big-developers' servants. I
speak in Council meetings, informal meetings, and blog on-line using
my actual name. When did it become forbidden to disparage any "public
servant?"




THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MYSELF:

Date: April 1, 2008
To: Crossroads Community Association Membership
From: Crossroads Community Association Board of Directors
Subject: Recommended removal of Bill Drummond from the Board of
Directors for cause.
After extensive investigation and based upon informed deliberation
following discussions with CCA's legal counsel, the Board of Directors
believes it is in the best interests of the Crossroads Community
Association, and is hereby recommending to the Membership, that Bill
Drummond be removed from his position on the Board of Directors of
Crossroads Community Association for cause, by a vote of the Members
at the next Regular Meeting of the Members at 6:00 pm on April 10,
2008 at the Arts Incubator, 115 West 18th Street, Kansas City, MO 64108