HomeMy WebLinkAbout110325 email - BoCC Meeting TodayALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Heidi -
I am reaching out to you as the Commissioner of District 2, the Chair of the BoCC and considering JCFBA headquarters are in your district. While I feel my presentation covered a lot
of territory and was able to answer pertinent questions - I want to personally share some concerns about the meeting.
I have cc'd our Board President and Laurie Englebeck in this email.
My understanding is that public comments happen at the beginning of BoCC meetings, not during the meeting and certainly not after a presentation or briefing such as ours. My expectation
was to field questions and comments from the Commissioner - which I was able to respond to. I trust my answers were satisfactory and of course, if any additional information is needed
JCFBA is happy to oblige.
I was absolutely blind-sided by your allowing comments from audience members. Even more blind sided in that Laurie and I were not permitted to defend the slanderous statements made -
for the record:
* Caroline Schmike was not only trespassed from the food banks for her aggressive and assertive behavior towards me, she was issued a Cease and Desist order.
* Steve Mader, voluntarily left as a volunteer from Tri-Area and then led the "Friends of the Food Bank" efforts for months - all negative press and advertising directed at me and the
then Board President Craig Uchida.
Neither of these individuals know me or have directly conversed with me - ever! And what they accused me of is baseless and misinformation. It was yet another attempt to slander me,
my reputation and JCFBA. The supposed rat infestation, the firing of multiple volunteers, the slander of Leslie Tippins and the Lairds, hacking gift cards..... wow, that is a lot of
baggage and contempt to hang on to for almost two years.
Right now more than ever, JCFBA needs the support of the Commissioners and the community!!! Those comments were allowed to be made in a public forum and no doubt opened wounds and will
spark new conversation and controversy!
I am not going to publicly apologize - JCFBA is in a much better place than it was prior to November of 2023. The individuals who spoke today represent the old school and old guard
who took advantage of what they had available to them for personal gain vs. what they could do for our neighbors in need.
JCFBA will remain a strong partner in this community thanks to exceptional leadership at the Board and staffing + our amazing volunteers.
As I transition to new food system transformation endeavors, I hope we will continue to dialogue and meet at the table in collaboration and partnership.
Respectfully,
Patricia
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Patricia M. Hennessy, Executive Director
<http://www.jcfba.org>