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Thread: Support Olmsted Conservancy

  1. #1
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    Support Olmsted Conservancy

    This is an important REGIONAL issue.

    Please support the Conservancy in any of the following ways . . .

    From BfloPundit:
    http://wnymedia.net/wnymedia/buffalo...-ftw/#comments

    Olmsted Parks Conservancy FTW

    As the City of Buffalo prepares to re-assume control over a notorious patronage pit maintenance of its city parks system, the contract whereby the Olmsted Parks Conservancy, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the maintenance and preservation of the city’s Olmsted Parks system is poised to expire. The contract was with the county, after all.

    The city, by the way, did not provide the Olmsted Parks with excellent service during the time it ran them.

    The city does not seem to be interested in renewing the contract with the conservancy, and the reasons why are so familiar. It’s all about power, jobs, and patronage. From the Buffalo News article:

    talks with city officials have gone nowhere since Brown announced in September that the city would retake control of all its parks, playgrounds and recreation centers.

    “They’re trying to create an illusion that negotiations are going on. They aren’t,” [Conservancy Chairman David] Colligan said.

    It seems to me that it’s far better for the city and region as a whole to have a dedicated not-for-profit group whose sole focus is the loving maintenance of the Olmsted Parks maintain those parks in the positive, successful, and beneficial way they’ve been doing for the past five years. It’s time to take action and be heard.

    From their website:

    TAKE ACTION

    View and Sign the Online Petition
    Call your elected officials & tell them how great the parks look today. City Hall Phone Directory
    Call/ write /email the media and let them know how much you care about these historic Olmsted Parks.
    Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BFLOparks
    In addition:

    Call Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown at 851-4841
    Tell him you want the city to negotiate a parks agreement with the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy as soon as possible
    Tell him that the work of the Conservancy is crucial to the resurgence of this city
    Tell him that the Olmsted Parks Conservancy has a track record for success in parks management and fundraising
    Tell him you want Clean and Green parks
    Ask him why he would want to change a good thing.
    Come out and show your support for Buffalo’s Olmsted Parks, this Sunday, December 13th. Bring your family and friends to Martin Luther King, Jr. Park at Fillmore and Best in Buffalo.

    Meet by the MLK Jr., Monument at Noon.

  2. #2
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    Is Anybody attending?

    This is an important event.

    Don't let Byron Brown destroy one of too few things working well in Bflo!

    http://www.printthis.clickability.co...rtnerID=173606

    BUFFALO
    Olmsted Conservancy sets rally on parks

    December 12, 2009, 7:09 AM /
    The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy has scheduled a rally over the city’s controversial plan to resume control of the parks for noon Sunday at the Martin Luther King Jr. monument in Martin Luther King Park.

    Since 2004, the Conservancy has maintained the city’s Olmsted Park System, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux.

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    REMINDER: Rally, Sun noon at MLK Park

    This is important to all Erie County residents. Please attend!

    http://www.buffalorising.com/2009/12...l#SlideFrame_0

    Olmsted Rally Reminder
    Buffalo Rising December 12, 2009 12:08 PM

    Jim Charlier, President of Gardenwalk Buffalo, in addition to posting copiously about the Olmsted Parks on his blog, Art of Gardening, would like to remind Olmsted supporters to get to tomorrow's rally (Sunday) in MLK Park.


    Charlier says, "As the president of Garden Walk Buffalo, the largest garden tour in the country, I am more than aware of the value of our Olmsted Parks as a tourist attraction and what they add to our quality of life here in the city. Having the right stewards in place to keep, improve and restore one of the City's most valuable assets for its citizens, and future generations is imperative."

    What you can do:


    Attend the Rally for the Parks, Sunday, Dec. 13, Noon. Show your support for Buffalo's Olmsted Parks. Bring family & friends to Martin Luther King, Jr. Park at Fillmore and Best in Buffalo. Meet by the MLK Jr., Monument.

    Sign the Olmsted petition!

    Call the Mayor's office and voice your concern. Call 311, or 716.851.4841.

    Email the Mayor at bbrown@ch.ci.buffalo.ny.us. Copy and paste parts of Charlier's blog or the letter found here.

    Write letters to the media endorsing the Conservancy's work and sharing park memories.

  4. #4
    Tony Fracasso - Admin
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    how many people showed up?

  5. #5
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    TODAY at NOON!

    It is today! . . Has not yet happened

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    150 Rally at MLK, led by Hoyt

    Hoyt expressed well that Bflo has many things "broken", amking it tragic that energy is diverted from real crises to one created by the Mayor.

    The online petition now has 2510 signatures. Please sign it, or attend the Council's Finance Committe meeting Tuesday 10 AM to show support.


    http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/893108.html

    About 150 rally in support of Olmsted Conservancy

    By Deidre Williams, News Staff Reporter
    Updated: December 13, 2009, 3:27 PM /

    Don't fix something that's not broken was the message this afternoon during a rally at Martin Luther King Jr. Park by city and regional park users who like the idea of the Olmsted Parks Conversancy's continued management of the parks.

    MLK -- as well as South Park, Cazenovia, Delaware, Front and Riverside parks -- have been managed by the conservancy since Erie County took them over from the city five years ago and hired Olmsted for the job. The pact is set to end when the city retakes control of all of its 180 urban parks Jan. 1.

    About 150 attended today's noontime rally, and by many accounts the conservancy has done a good job, not only operating the various green spaces but helping them to flourish. The parks can boast of better maintenance, community support and enthusiastic volunteerism, supporters said. And they were clear that they want Olmsted to continue operating the recreation sites.

    "I can't see the city doing any better," said Carima El-Behairy, who lives near Delaware Park. A city resident since 1990, El-Behairy said her children, 9 and 12, regularly use Delaware Park and would play at Martin Luther King Park whenever they came to the Science Museum on Best Street nearby. "The parks have been better. They feel safer. They are cleaner. They look fabulous," she said. "I can't see the city making that level of commitment."

    El-Behairy also pointed out that the conservancy brings cost-saving, high-standard volunteerism to the parks and significant private-sector money, including grant sources the city would not be able to get at. "I want my kids' kids to be able to use the park," she said.

    There is enough that needs to get fixed in Buffalo, but Olmsted Parks is certainly not one of them, said Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, D-Buffalo, who rallied the crowd of supporters. Hoyt pointed to improvement projects for Ring Road in Delaware Park and a pool restoration at Riverside Park. Hoyt said $300,000 in taxpayer money has been set aside by the state for the Ring Road project, which includes resurfacing the pathway. A special asphalt will be used and will provide a smoother surface for in-line and roller skaters.

    About $125,000 has been earmarked for improvements to Riverside Park.

    The grant money for either project has not been received yet, Hoyt said. "Should I give the resources to the city or should I give these resources to Olmsted?," Hoyt asked the crowd.

    Thomas Herrera-Mishler, the conservancy's chief executive and president, said anyone is able to support the effort to keep the conservancy on board. Show up at City Hall at 10 a.m. Tuesday for the Common Council's Finance Committee meeting as a show of support, he said. And supporters are asked to donate to the conservancy, as well sign an online petition by visiting www.buffaloolmstedparks.org.

    dwilliams@buffnews.com




    PHOTO: Supporters of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy rally today in Martin Luther King Park to urge city leaders to fund the conservancy as the agency that maintains the city's parks.
    Derek Gee / Buffalo News

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    WNYMedia Video: Olmsted Rally

    Here is the latest from WNYMedia, including a video of the rally.

    Did anybody from SUWNY attend?

    http://wnymedia.net/wnymedia/marcodi...d-parks-rally/

    Olmsted Parks Rally
    The City of Buffalo is preparing to re-assume control over its city parks system and the contract with the Olmsted Parks Conservancy, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the maintenance and preservation of the city’s Olmsted Parks system is set to expire.

    Supporters gathered in MLK park in Buffalo to urge Mayor Byron Brown and City Hall to keep the Olmsted Parks under the direction the conservancy.


    In case you don’t know who the Olmsted Parks Conservancy is and the great work they have been doing (and plan to do), check out this Spotlight Buffalo video we did this summer:


    If you would like to help:

    TAKE ACTION

    View and Sign the Online Petition
    Call your elected officials & tell them how great the parks look today. City Hall Phone Directory
    Call/ write /email the media and let them know how much you care about these historic Olmsted Parks.
    Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BFLOparks
    In addition:

    Call Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown at 851-4841
    Tell him you want the city to negotiate a parks agreement with the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy as soon as possible
    Tell him that the work of the Conservancy is crucial to the resurgence of this city
    Tell him that the Olmsted Parks Conservancy has a track record for success in parks management and fundraising
    Tell him you want Clean and Green parks
    Ask him why he would want to change a good thing.

  8. #8
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    Who gets paid ????????????????

    KERNWATCH,

    You seem vary knowledgeable concerning Olmstead Concervancy.

    Its work is dont by mainly volunteers at the ground level. Its a "Non-for-Profit"

    How many people in the Olmsted Parks Conservancy, locally or listed below recieve "Compensation" for their time involved?

    Is it factual that atleast one director recieves $140,000.00 salary - plus a $10,000.00 exspense account? Is that accurate?

    How many of the people listed below recieve compensation ?
    Karen Arrison
    Design and Review Committee
    Jayne Attardo Mayor Appointee Jeffrey Barbeau Chair, Change for the Parks Joan Bozer Long-Range Planning Committee Joseph Castiglia Audit, Chair Ann Louise Ciminelli Institutional Advancement David Colligan Chair, Exec. Comm., Finance Comm., Long-Range Planning (NYPA) Richard Cummings Buildings and Grounds Committee James Derrick Finance Committee Susan Elkin Finance, Vice Chair
    Long Range Planning Dorothy Ferguson Institutional Advancement Committee S. Jay Ferrari County Appointee Richard Griffin Board Governance
    Audit Anne Harding Joyce Chair Elect
    Executive
    Buildings and Grounds Comm. Jim Hornung Ex-Officio James Iglewski Chair, Finance
    Executive, Governance Florence Johnson Governance Committee Kevin Kelly Buildings & Grounds Comm., Long-Range Planning Comm. Bob Kresse Governance
    Long-Range Planning Comm.,
    Mary Lawley - Ross Ivan Lee Long Range Planning Committee Mark Mistretta Long-Range Planning Gary Mucci Finance Comm., Executive Comm. Alan Pawlowski Finance
    Chair, Party for the Parks Corinne Rice Trustee, Emeritus
    Co-Chair, Capital Campaign Victor Rice Executive
    Long-Range Planning, Government Relations Bill Rupp Long-Range Planning, Buildings and Grounds, Party for the Parks Andrea Schillaci Design Review Chair,
    Executive Herbert Siegel Institutional Advancement Mary Simpson City Appointee Julie Thompson Institutional Advancement
    Co-Chair Party for the Parks
    Government Relations Gretchen Toles Trustee Emeritus
    Institutional Advancement Committee Heidi Welsby Institutional Advancement Deborah Lynn Williams Advisory Council Chair
    Institutional Advancement
    Long-Range Planning
    #Dems play musical chairs + patronage and nepotism = entitlement !

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    ???????????????????

    Are you saying "No tax dollars" will be involved?

    I support our parks - I believe Olmstead does good things - I am just seeing the road being paved into the tax payers pocket.

    I am for full disclosure.
    #Dems play musical chairs + patronage and nepotism = entitlement !

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    City set to negotiate new contract with Olmsted

    This is a major breakthrough. Obviously the Mayor, despite his desire to control more patronage jobs, had to respond to the overpowering community support that Olmsted Conservancy received.

    http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/894990.html

    City set to negotiate new contract with Olmsted Conservancy

    By Phil Fairbanks, News Staff Reporter
    Updated: December 15, 2009, 2:12 PM /

    Mayor Byron W. Brown announced a breakthrough today in the city's high-profile talks with the Olmsted Parks Conservancy to continue maintaining the city's major parks. Brown stopped short of promising a new deal with the Conservancy but pointed to a new union agreement, reached Monday night, that will allow the city to negotiate more substantively with the parks group.

    "We have always said we're interested in continuing the agreement," Brown told The Buffalo News. "Now, we have the ability to enter into a contract with Olmsted."

    The agreement marks the first concrete sign that the stalemate between the Conservancy and the city may be ending. The Conservancy, a not-for-profit organization, has maintained six of the city's largest and most important parks since 2004.

    The city's point man, Corporation Counsel Brendan Mehaffy, suggested that talks between the two sides could begin in earnest right away with the goal of reaching an agreement by Dec. 31. "Absolutely, absolutely," Mehaffy told a Common Council committee during a meeting this morning. "As far as a timeline [for starting negotiations], this week looks good."

    The agreement with the city's blue-collar union insures that unionized parks workers from the county will continue as unionized city workers. In return, the union promised not to challenge any future agreement between the city and Olmsted.

    "I want to thank the unions for their cooperation," said Thomas Herrera-Mishler, the conservancy's chief executive and president. "We're pleased with this development and look forward to meeting with the city over the next few days to get this nailed down."

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by 4248 View Post
    Are you saying "No tax dollars" will be involved?

    I support our parks - I believe Olmstead does good things - I am just seeing the road being paved into the tax payers pocket.

    I am for full disclosure.
    It is like you stated.. There are highly paid people on Olmsted. I use to know them all but many left.. I am sure this site http://www2.guidestar.org/ will state it but I am unsure if it is still a free site..

    All their funding for their operational functions came from the city and all the equipment.. In addition, the capital projects were funded by city. The county gave them free labor of welfare workers.

    The problem that is not stated.. is.. All new equipment has to be bought.. They have none.. It belongs to the county unless the county gives it to them..
    Kiss someone that's different. It helps.
    Lets get the facts first, then go for the jugular!!
    It's all transparent, just read between the lines..

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    typical

    I like what they do - just dont BS me and say no ones getting paid - thats why the news wrote this:
    Conservancy cites expertise on parks
    Control board lets city hire workers

    "Surrounded by Olmsted Parks Conservatory employees, David J. Colligan, conservancy chairman, argues for an agreement with the city."

    So many times we see this play out.

    They tell taxpayers, "Its free - its a no brainer - Its Non-for-profit"

    What a "Politician" says these things, they mean :

    • Its Free = tax payer funded or mostly funded by gifts and grants.
    • -
    • Its a no-brainer = don't think about it, there's things we don't want you to see !
    • -
    • Non-for-Profit = Some one is making money - they are just avoiding certain taxes by not incorporating as a business.
    MrKernwatch isnt going to answer the questions about who gets paid or where all there funding originates. He supports their people so thats all that matters.
    #Dems play musical chairs + patronage and nepotism = entitlement !

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    Debate with folks wearing masks?

    I don't normally debate with folks presuming to ask serious questions but afraid to identify themselves. It equates to with debating the KKK, sheets & all.

    Of course, the Conservancy does not operate "free". The workers are paid with funds that ordinarily would have been paid by city to maintain the parks. The benefit is that the Conservancy then leverages that funding with grants & much volunteer labor, both of which the city would unlikely provide.

    The "well paid" executive is a professional funded from resources from outside sources. He provides skilled direction to the Olmsted Parks in contrast to the historic leadership by political hacks the likes of Delano, who dumped salt in Delaware Lake, threw bricks thu windshields, etc, to retaliate against percieved enemies.

    And the Olmsted ED does not qualify for city retirement benefits, which add immensely to lifetime costs for all city workers.

    "Non-proft" means that the agency cannot profit from their services, as do the executives of for-profit health insurance companies paid multi-millions, who are bankrupting the country.

    The list above (what is its source?) appears to be the Olmsted advisory board & has many respected community leaders as members, who most assuredly are unpaid. And they would not serve as volunteers for an agency making them look foolish.

    The bottom line is that the city gets much better work, much cheaper than the city could provide. As folks from as far away as Mpls are praising the city parks for never looking better!

    With all that does not work in the city, often at great taxpayer cost, as just indicated in the Sunday article about BERC . . . this is clearly the area that the Mayor does not need to "fix".

  14. #14
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    I have no problem with the Omsted Conservancy. I think we get the best bang for the buck. I think non profits can do a better job if there is better management without a lot of politics..

    They seem more open now. The Rices have been on the board as long as I remember..

    I know there is a problem with the living wage per city rules and contracts..

    I think we have to treat all non profits the same so if you give Omsted a waiver you need to give Buffalo Reuse that same waiver.. Then you can't give Collins a hard time when he wanted non-profits to take over the clinics and be associated with Sheehan either.
    Last edited by PickOranges; December 15th, 2009 at 09:17 PM.
    Kiss someone that's different. It helps.
    Lets get the facts first, then go for the jugular!!
    It's all transparent, just read between the lines..

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by PickOranges View Post
    I know there is a problem with the living wage per city rules and contracts..

    I think we have to treat all non profits the same so if you give Omsted a waiver you need to give Buffalo Reuse that same waiver.. Then you can't give Collins a hard time when he wanted non-profits to take over the clinics and be associated with Sheehan either.
    I agree with that and not just because I am a Buffalo ReUse supporter. There are many others that should be given a pass, even if some do take taxpayer monies. There are definite and obvious advantages.
    I have to wonder if those accusing Brown of wanting those jobs for rewarding people are really true or if this had more to do with it:
    The agreement with the city's blue-collar union insures that unionized parks workers from the county will continue as unionized city workers.
    In return, the union promised not to challenge any future agreement between the city and Olmsted.

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