Atwater Village News - blog: GLASSELL PARK NC CHAIRPERSON RESPONDS TO APPARENT BROWN ACT VIOLATIONS ALLEGATIONS

GPNC Chairperson responds. Originally posted on City Watch

“My name is Bradley and I am happy to respond to the Brown Act and the board actions regarding the Brown Act. However, I will not respond on any of the community bulletin boards for obvious reasons.

I am pleased to address concerns raised by LANC members and CityWatch subscribers, given both publications make concerted efforts to bring a fair and balanced approach to newsworthy concerns raised by stakeholders. Unfortunately, you have been ambushed and intentionally lead to believe that rights were violated - whereas if the whole tape was made available, educated individuals could accurately assess all variables before making judgment calls.

Allow me to say that the Glassell Park Neighborhod Council Meeting lasted for three hours that night. Only 10 - 15 minutes of the proceedings (which was at the end of an exhausting GPNC Board meeting) was the only part released. Bad journalism to say the least.

The GPNC board and stakeholders present found the video-taping disruptive and a nuisance to the proceedings of the local agency and the GPNC meeting. We did allow her to tape from 7:05 p.m. until her departure and we are very familiar with this type of obstructionist tactics which anyone who is involved in NC's Citywide is familiar with first hand. Neighborhood Councils seem to be plagued with this type of daily barrage to undermine city and local entities."

"What was not shared with you and omitted intentionally was the beginning of the video taping (7:05am) where she introduced herself and her intentions to tape, promised to provide us with the tape of the proceedings, past and present for our inspection, and our respect and understanding for her rights to videotape. However, due to her constant moving about and that of the camera, physically moving around in the meeting, the location of the video cam in our faces, and the continued disruptions through-out the meeting - with disregard to many of the board members kind remarks to not create the disruptions - she had to be asked to stop taping.

Furthermore, we never received a courtesy inspection of the video-taping from the last two meetings as we have repeatedly requested within the 30 day grace period from which she agreed to provide as is mentioned in the Brown Act and in the unedited full three-hour version. All we have been privy to is the same distorted edited clip published for viewing you have seen.

It is really disappointing to many of us that volunteer countless hours on the GPNC Board and in various capacities in our community-wide activities to see misleading, misrepresented, and falsehoods permeate from our local media outlets and from people practicing bad behavior. How can anyone accurately assess what, if any, real violations occurred when only 15 minutes was provided to you. If the tapes were made available in their original format (unedited) for the three hour proceedings, we are confident that your concerns raised and those of others will show the GPNC acted in its official capacity. That to me is Democracy - fair and transparent law being applied equally.

I would suggest that you ask the author to release the complete video taping of the whole proceedings (the unedited version) so Stakeholders, such as yourselves can make their own unbiased and slated assessments. We have been unsuccessful in our request and maybe you may have better success. The GPNC will not be deterred from our mission - to represent the Community of Glassell Park, openly, honestly, and with accountability.

We are governed by the Brown Act and acted within the stipulations and conditions. Good, bad, or indifferent, this was the choice we made when we were faced with this obstructionists behavior. It is my duty as the Chair to protect the Board Members and Stakeholders alike during city agendized proceedings. Thanks for your many inquiries and your continued support."

--Bradley, Chairperson

Glassell Park Neighborhood Council