Rant: Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council

[singularname]

I came home last week to find a Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council (PPNC, aka the Pete Spaulding Gang) newsletter hanging off the flag of my mailbox. More than 10 years ago, I explained to him (then “President”) and the then “Secretary” that this was a Federal offense and to knock it off … pretty please … with sugar on top. He scoffed at me and was willing to draw down on that not being true, as did the “Secretary,” who upon being encouraged to go read up on this law said I was harassing her. I called both Spaulding and the Secretary the next time the newsletter was put in my mailbox and was met with the same indifference and demeaning attitudes. I then called the Delridge Council and spoke to the then “President,” who apparently was only feigning concern, because newsletters continue to be disposed of in my mailbox, on the flag of the mailbox, and/or on my porch.

Aside from the fact I consider this group of five or so narcissists to be … just that–yeah, some people like to create power positions when they can’t legitimately earn them–my primary beef with the Gang was that they publicized in their newsletter that the solution to cleaning up their neighborhood of drugs, junk cars, barking dogs, and general nuisances was to contact the “owners of the properties to report renters.” Uh … I was a renter then and found that more than offensive. In addition, on their website at that time, they posted the home phone number of a commercial property owner and encouraged residents to call his number “at all hours” to complain about light pollution coming from one or two of his industrial-strength lights. I called this gentleman about this, solved the mystery for him of his numerous crank calls he’d been getting, and also learned from him that he had been made aware of the problem and in fact it was not his property with the offending lights. He, too, was unable to reason with the Gang. I have all of this printed out in hard copy.

Back to last week. I was prompted to go deeper into the latest Gang shenanigans on the WSB and found their most recent “we are above all laws” stunt–the posting of an illegal sign on city(??) property regarding dogs at/near Pathfinder. No surprise there. I could not care less about the dog issues and illegal or legal signs pooping or popping up around the hood–I do care about a self-selected few who think they own the joint … and don’t. Further digging reveals the Gang is getting ready to paint a “mural” on 21st and Genesee to “pretty up the place” and “calm traffic.” How is this any different from graffiti that some errant teen tags on a wall? It’s not as far as I’m concerned. And if the art style is to follow what this neighborhood typically endures on the signs posted periodically on the sacred Gang-sanctioned sticks, we’ll probably be seeing Spaulding’s mug every time we enter or exit our community.

All of this has been discussed with “the management” (see above) and while I at one time freely bandied about my name and particulars with these folks I choose not to do so now because I genuinely worry about retaliation–gawd forbid if a stray dandelion or abandoned car engine oozes out from the grass in my yard.

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[JanS]

wow……just wow….speechless….well, not entirely…

did you quote them the law, give them a link, about not putting flyers in your mailbox? I find spelling it out to be most helpful…

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[kgdlg]

No comment on the complaint itself, just curious if a RANT against a named person and/or volunteer group follows the same rules as a Biz Rant. Seems like a grey area. Is this out of bounds since it names a particular person?

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[KBear]

Did you try contacting USPS about your mailbox issue? Maybe attend a “gang” meeting and voice your concern? (I know you shouldn’t have to do this, but at least it would get the message out to others about the sleazy newsletter distribution method.)

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[KBear]

kgdlg, I’m confused. You think this might be out of bounds BECAUSE they followed the same rules as with a business? “Management” was contacted prior to ranting. The particular person who was named was in a position of management.

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[kgdlg]

No, sorry, I should have referenced the posted WSB rules. Because the post mentioned someone in person (not just the volunteer group) I was wondering whether this section of rules WSB applies:

“People’s personal lives, business owners and otherwise, are offlimits. This is not the Harper Valley PTA (no offense to the fine PTSAs of the modern world but it remains the best song we’ve ever heard about neighborhood gossip).”

Obviously there is an issue here (federal law breaking), but I just am curious about the mentioning of a volunteer leader of a group and how that is/should be handled here and in future.

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[singularname]

Jan … I did actually try to walk calmly through the law with both Spaulding and the Secretary. The former overtalked me the entire 5ish minutes and the latter went to accusations of harassment about 1 minute into the 2-minute phone call. Because I didn’t want to harass … or demean or curse or lose my cool … I chose to just be sorta gob-smacked.

KBear … That is what an adult would do, but I’m not feelin’ it. *lol* Seriously, though, I really don’t want these folks to target me as “their enemy” and it was a reaction of hostility and condescension when I spoke with them years ago, so … not pleasant. So I guess like all rants here, I’m purging through griping.

Kgdlg … I briefly weighed what you are saying. I disagree this qualifies as a rule-breaking rant. Spaulding has been “in charge” of this neighborhood for well over a decade; he is consistently shown, quoted, self-promoting, and recognized by the Delridge Council as a “leader” of this community; and my complaints are very much honed into his and the Gang’s decisions and actions (all documented on their website, the Delridge Council’s site, and the WSB) as they affect the neighborhood, not who sleeps with whom, who sleeps off hangovers til noon, who runs around in their underwear to mow the lawn, ala the Harper Valley. I know zero about any of these people’s personal lives, with the exception of Spaulding’s birthday, because his party was featured on the Gang’s site as of interest to the neighborhood. While their volunteer time is to be commended, they are also sanctioned and supported by a city department (too lazy to go look it up right now) and receive taxpayer funding at times for some projects here and there. They’re political figures.

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[singularname]

Full disclosure: I’m in tax hell right now, and my computer is right here for some little 5-minute breaks now and then, and I’m feeling particularly bitcheh this week. ;-7

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[JanS]

singular…I find I have to walk away from here at times because of my “bitcheh” – lol. As I age, I find myself becoming less and less tolerant of some posts/posters (cynical, perhaps), and want to let loose.You handled it well, I’m thinkin’

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[acemotel]

This is a longstanding issue; whether the community councils really “represent” their districts. The bottom line is, no, they do not. They represent only the people who are in the particular meeting when a particular issue is discussed. The councils are excellent forums when needed. The officers are not elected officials, and in many cases, they hold their positions for decades. It’s why they (the councils) can become stagnant, and sometimes why they repel newcomers, because of the perception, if not the reality, that they are private clubs. It’s so important for the community councils, if they want to be effective, to take some time to examine themselves, their relevance, and figure out how they can improve.

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[wakeflood]

As a sometime participant in one of these entities, I get the points Ace brings up. Most of them are valid and do happen but usually – IMHO – they are byproducts of spotty or just plain non-participation from the community they try to represent. Which is to say, it’s not necessarily intentional that they get moribund.

It’s suspect that folks who’ve taken the time over the years to stay educated on local issues and make connections with folks in local/city/state entities who can actually manifest change tend to get protective of those relationships and probably don’t even realize how “cliquey” they may have gotten.

And if they have, they should snap to when called on it and open the door to some fresh blood, as it were. Maybe I’m just lucky but the local Community Association in my neighborhood is staffed by folks I really appreciate. They know what’s going on and they do legwork on our behalf that I never seem to have time to do. They’ve always asked and accepted effort and opinions from locals when offered, even when those opinions might seem less informed than their own. And I certainly don’t agree with their aggregated position on every topic. But I do respect it.

All of which is to say, I readily cut my CA board any slack they might want since they provide me with a stronger voice than I’d have on my own. And if I wanted to change the tone/tenor or content of that voice, it’s on me to step up and pursue a board seat and make my case. :-)

Again, maybe I’m just in a lucky neighborhood…

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[ernieusafret]

If you want to stop the newsletter, post a no trespassing sign.

http://www.seattle.gov/documents/departments/cityattorney/forms/trespassfaq-english.pdf

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[singularname]

Thanks to y’all for the insights here.

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[TinyMighty]

I’m part of the gang that tries to invite people to meetings so we can be a bigger, meaner gang who tags the streets with local art and crosswalks. I would love to stop wasting money on your flier. But I don’t know where you live. So you will have to do your part and recycle, or post the no-trespassing sign and hope the kids that pass out the fliers can see it. Or, be bold and come to a meeting. It is painful to hear that you feel so angry over a 10 year grudge. Perhaps the people at the meeting are different now. Maybe you will find a listening ear. Give it a try.

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[zippix]

Tracy…I got in!!!!!! Thanks so much,

Cindi

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[zippix]

This is to anyone that can help me. We put our house on the market last year and the realtor had it cleaned for me. I loved the cleaners and would love to use them again. I am unable to contact the realtor…all I know is that the owners name could have been Theresa or Rosa and she had six girls fly thru my house and did a great job. The only clue I have is that they use SPRAYWAY on EVERYTHING. Help me if you can.

Thanks

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[HappyOnAlki]

Zippix — welcome! . . . But you posted in somebody’s rant about their neighborhood council — you need to start a post of your own : )

And good luck with the cleaners!

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[KBear]

TinyMighty, there is a better way for you to address Singularname’s concern: Be a good neighbor and stop breaking the law! It shouldn’t be necessary for them to post a no trespassing sign because putting non-mailed items on or in the mailbox is illegal anyway. I suspect your vigilante tactics are turning other people away from your organization as well.

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[JanS]

TinyMighty…and if they are place IN the mailbox, that’s a federal offense. When you round up these kids to pass out these flyers, maybe a class as to what is correct and what is not is warranted. With remedial training. Not a rude response like this one telling her to just deal with it. You are in the wrong….time to start listening to more of the people in your ‘hood, I’m thinking.

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[singularname]

Wow. Just … wow. Thanks, I guess, for lending some credence to my rant.

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[Author]

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