Some Friends: Park group caves on free speech to City Hall operative
Posted: Tue May 30, 2017 12:32 am
(Note: It was suggested that I not name specific individuals in this post and “Inspector Clouseau” represents a person well known to the Deck community - a former City building department employee and campaign operative for the Mayor, who apparently continues to speak for our local government, or at least Inspector Clouseau likes to give the impression that he does. The names of KPF’s board can be found in other online locations. I’ve left out much context and details for the sake of brevity.)
I have a little story to tell the Deck community.
Awhile back, I was kicked out of Kauffman Park Friends (KPF). I’ve held off writing about it until I could gather as many facts as I could, and frankly until I could cool down. Then I hesitated for a few weeks to go public, but I’ve realized this story desperately needs sunshine. Please, no sympathy - this is your City government and the people who purport to speak for it. I’ve been part of the group since its founding in 2009 and there was at least one long period where I was the only active member keeping it going.
Some things may be disputed, but this much is clear from the documentation I have on hand: it was because of my past support of the pro-hospital initiative and their concern that I would continue to write critical things about our elected officials. Also, that it came at the direction of a City Hall operative. Again, everything here is documented.
The group hopes to get $1 million from the City for park improvements, which I have to admit is a pretty good price for their American First Amendment values. I hope they get it.
I resigned as president and board member awhile ago anticipating some blow-back from my other political activities. I make no defense of where I stood and continue to stand. Some might question why a volunteer would be dismissed? The group had previously embraced the free speech of its members. I know because I specified the policy as soon as I became president. It would be a simple matter of reiterating that policy along a simple disclaimer stating that the views of members are not the views of the group, but this apparently is not good enough.
The spin will come. In an electronic conversation, one board member referred to the “countless” times we had discussed this in the past. Now that’s some damn fine spin. Subtract the explanations I initiated of when I stepped aside as president and “countless” means exactly zero.
Here’s how it went down:
It began with something I posted on the Deck commenting on Inspector Clouseau’s government “service” and a past instance of him going after somebody in a volunteer capacity. He responded on multiple social media platforms, including the Kauffman Park Friends Facebook page with a screenshot and a question: “Please Dan Alaimo tell us the connection between the building inspector, the jobs woman, House of Cards and the Politics Guys.” A little while later he posted, somewhat petulantly: “Still waiting for an answer Dan.” He knows the answer, and I think he just wants to take credit for his dubious “accomplishments.”
Two KPF board members responded that their Facebook page was an inappropriate place for this discussion, and Inspector Clouseau wrote back: “Please remove Dan Alaimo from your group.”
A little while later I received an automated email from Facebook stating: “You were removed from your role on Kauffman Park Friends.” That was how I found out about it - no conversation, no email, no text message, but a Facebook automated notification that they had complied with Inspector Clouseau’s request. Later, after I asked, a board member confirmed in writing that I’d been shown the door. All the Facebook activity has been deleted although I have electronic copies of the pertinent communications.
Awhile later commenting on another of my Deck posts about him, Inspector Clouseau claimed responsibility for KPF’s action on Twitter, while making a not so thinly veiled threat: “Dan Alaimo. How’s KPF going for you? Dick.”
Aside from a squabble over the KauffmanParkFriends.org domain name, which I still own after an attempt to take it without my knowledge went awry, that’s where things stand. My offer to turn it over if they recommit to members’ free speech stands.
So what do you think, Deck? Should I just hand over the domain name?
---
Postscript: Late last week after this post was mostly written, another Deck member wrote about an interaction he had with someone I know to be Inspector Clouseau. He reported that a police report is on file. There are many more instances of his handiwork, some of it can be found in the Deck archives, some in the police records, and possibly some in the documents City Hall is fighting so hard not to release.
If Inspector Clouseau is not acting on behalf of City government, then City representatives need to say so loudly and clearly, and here on the Deck. If he is, then independent-minded Council members and candidates need to call him out, along with his handlers.
And please, release the documents.
I have a little story to tell the Deck community.
Awhile back, I was kicked out of Kauffman Park Friends (KPF). I’ve held off writing about it until I could gather as many facts as I could, and frankly until I could cool down. Then I hesitated for a few weeks to go public, but I’ve realized this story desperately needs sunshine. Please, no sympathy - this is your City government and the people who purport to speak for it. I’ve been part of the group since its founding in 2009 and there was at least one long period where I was the only active member keeping it going.
Some things may be disputed, but this much is clear from the documentation I have on hand: it was because of my past support of the pro-hospital initiative and their concern that I would continue to write critical things about our elected officials. Also, that it came at the direction of a City Hall operative. Again, everything here is documented.
The group hopes to get $1 million from the City for park improvements, which I have to admit is a pretty good price for their American First Amendment values. I hope they get it.
I resigned as president and board member awhile ago anticipating some blow-back from my other political activities. I make no defense of where I stood and continue to stand. Some might question why a volunteer would be dismissed? The group had previously embraced the free speech of its members. I know because I specified the policy as soon as I became president. It would be a simple matter of reiterating that policy along a simple disclaimer stating that the views of members are not the views of the group, but this apparently is not good enough.
The spin will come. In an electronic conversation, one board member referred to the “countless” times we had discussed this in the past. Now that’s some damn fine spin. Subtract the explanations I initiated of when I stepped aside as president and “countless” means exactly zero.
Here’s how it went down:
It began with something I posted on the Deck commenting on Inspector Clouseau’s government “service” and a past instance of him going after somebody in a volunteer capacity. He responded on multiple social media platforms, including the Kauffman Park Friends Facebook page with a screenshot and a question: “Please Dan Alaimo tell us the connection between the building inspector, the jobs woman, House of Cards and the Politics Guys.” A little while later he posted, somewhat petulantly: “Still waiting for an answer Dan.” He knows the answer, and I think he just wants to take credit for his dubious “accomplishments.”
Two KPF board members responded that their Facebook page was an inappropriate place for this discussion, and Inspector Clouseau wrote back: “Please remove Dan Alaimo from your group.”
A little while later I received an automated email from Facebook stating: “You were removed from your role on Kauffman Park Friends.” That was how I found out about it - no conversation, no email, no text message, but a Facebook automated notification that they had complied with Inspector Clouseau’s request. Later, after I asked, a board member confirmed in writing that I’d been shown the door. All the Facebook activity has been deleted although I have electronic copies of the pertinent communications.
Awhile later commenting on another of my Deck posts about him, Inspector Clouseau claimed responsibility for KPF’s action on Twitter, while making a not so thinly veiled threat: “Dan Alaimo. How’s KPF going for you? Dick.”
Aside from a squabble over the KauffmanParkFriends.org domain name, which I still own after an attempt to take it without my knowledge went awry, that’s where things stand. My offer to turn it over if they recommit to members’ free speech stands.
So what do you think, Deck? Should I just hand over the domain name?
---
Postscript: Late last week after this post was mostly written, another Deck member wrote about an interaction he had with someone I know to be Inspector Clouseau. He reported that a police report is on file. There are many more instances of his handiwork, some of it can be found in the Deck archives, some in the police records, and possibly some in the documents City Hall is fighting so hard not to release.
If Inspector Clouseau is not acting on behalf of City government, then City representatives need to say so loudly and clearly, and here on the Deck. If he is, then independent-minded Council members and candidates need to call him out, along with his handlers.
And please, release the documents.