Willo to Tapestry: "Take your folks outside"

I apologize that this is a bit tardy but it still needs to be written.

One week ago today (12 June 2008) was the Willo Neighborhood Association board meeting where the bylaws were discussed and voted upon. As expected, the vote was overwhelmingly in favor of changing the bylaws (on some margin of 13:1 yeas-to-nays) even with Tapestry residents being denied voting papers and also being denied the right to voice our concerns.

Okay, okay, this is nothing new. The real shocker was when the then-president of the board, Robert (let's hope it's not a loaded) Cannon said to the Tapestry contingent as we were debating the bylaws, "You can take you and your folks outside to discuss this." The truth finally came out about how Willo feels about Tapestry. It is no longer speculation; it is now out in the open. We are someone else - infected, if I may - and not good enough to be a part of Willo.

A developer (Reid Butler) who was in charge of Tapestry-Willo relations when Tapestry was under development from 2001-2006 sat in, and apparently at the request of the Willo board. Butler asked the Tapestry contingent, "Why do you want to be a part of the Willo Historic District?" We promptly corrected him saying, "We do not want to be a part of the Historic District - we cannot because our building is too new - but we want to be a part of the Neighborhood Association." We want to be a part of the Neighborhood Association so that we can voice our concerns and have our opinions counted when it comes to development in the immediate neighborhood. Willo has significant influence in development in and around the boundaries. If Willo wants something, it pretty much gets it. As neighbors, Tapestry should enjoy those same rights - because we were subjected to it when our buildings were under development!

The saga is far from over: the board are now invalid because when the bylaws took effect, the membership rosters of Willo were erased - including the board. Except the board disagrees...

Cheers-
Edward Jensen