Must Do Better
Ben J.
We Can Do Better Than This…Or Can We?
The following is an approximate timeline of a chain of events that have been happening and must be collectively addressed by the Metro 5th District community leadership. Democracy works best from the bottom up, meaning engaged, informed communities are the first and best line of defense in this country against disorder and tyranny. These events are only highlighted because of this election season we’re in and our sense of democratic justice runs high and judgement becomes cloudy. Given the state of communities throughout our country, the Ferguson and Baltimore incidents should serve as a striking reminder that we all are one poorly thought out reaction away from unrest. Therefore we must be vigilant in our modest attempts to defend our most fundamental agreed value “democracy”. Though sometimes small, our attempts collectively grant everyone the awesome reward of safe, desirable communities. So we must collectively fear living in any community/neighborhood where our neighbors can’t agree to disagree and passively accept that anyone’s voice is silenced by politcal bias. This information is intended to correct our paths and begin a process where we can have real conversations where people feel valued and trusted to create a community to be envyed throughout Nashville.
April 4th 2015 Sarah Martin candidate for District 5 council seat campaign at her booth at the East Eggstravaganza event in McFerrin Park under a tent provided by Jason Stalcup but paid for by CPNA.
On Saturday May 23rd, 2015 Jason Stalcup(CPNA Chairperson) and Kathryn Turner (CPNA Secretary) canvassed/knocked the Cleveland Park neighborhood on and around North 5th street wearing Sarah Martin tee shirts.
On Thursday May 28th, 2015 at 6:30PM, Cleveland Park Neighbor Association, held it’s regular steering committee meeting where there were approximately 10-15 persons in attendence. This meeting has been historically held in order to set the agenda topics for general membership/community meetings. During the course of planning the agenda Sarah Martin asked to be given an opportunity to speak to the membership at the next meeting. She immediately excused herself and she was granted a time slot on the pending agenda. At approximately 7PM Sam McCullough introduced for discussion the inappropriate activities the Chairperson and Secretary had been involved in the aforementioned paragraph canvassing for candidate Sarah Martin. Others in the group offer opinions in support of how the preceptions that these activities might create for neighbors. It was suggested that Jason and any others should recuse themselves as officers. Jason Stalcup responded with “there’s nothing in the bylaws to prevent me from doing it, so I’m not stepping down.” Afterwards it was recommended that we should at least place the topic on the June 11th agenda to be discussed with membership. Jason agreed that it should be discussed at the membership meeting. Below you can see a screenshot of the agenda for the June 11th meeting as it was posted to the CPNA Facebook page by CPNA Secretary Kathryn Turner.
Per the above agenda Sarah Martin did not appear as agreed and there was not an opportunity to discuss the concerns of neighbors about the campaign activities of CPNA officers.
Mrs. Martin did not attend that meeting because she needed to attend an S.E.I.U., event and canceled. No discussion was offered with no acknowledgement of either agenda items during the meeting. This is disappointing on so many levels as it was mentioned during the steering committee meeting that active participation in local political campaigns was historically forbidden by CPNA officers. The tone deafness by Jason and Kathryn is one thing, not to have an open, honest discussion about the unethical deminsions of their activities during the general membership is another which is leading us down a slippery slope towards disorder. Jason’s response to the request to recuse himself lacks cultural competence. Rules are rules even when organizations don’t always write them down. Organizational culture and dynamics are learned through active participation. If someone tells you what you doing is out of the organizational norm, LISTEN! The Cleveland Park community deserves better!
On June 6th , 2015 this event was hosted by Jason Stalcup CPNA chairperson in support of Sarah Martin, at his personal residence.
On or approximately June 12th 2015, within days of the CPNA general meeting plans were made by parties unconfirmed to hold a District 5 forum to be sponsored by all of the district neighborhood associations. The below was posted by Mark Allyn Nimmo on listserv(s) and neighborhood Facebook pages.
Let’s pull this community together while we have a chance to create a place to live and be proud. We need open, transparent dialogue and accountable leadership.
Seriously concerned,
Ben