Press Conference at YMCA turns into shouting match…
Unfortunately I couldn’t cover the earlier press conference today, you can blame TPS for being so disorganized when it comes to something simple like getting my youngest daughter’s schedule correct, I spent way too much time waiting in the guidance office of her High School today since no appointments were offered to fix that. This means I don’t have full video available of all that happened, but the Blade has two video clips along with a story.
I’ll update with the media links as they are online, WTVG has a print story but no video up online yet. I recommend watching the clips, what is shown is part of how heated it got, hopefully more video of what happened will be shared either on the Blade or through some of the other media stations that were there.
unbelievable!!!!! I think Mr Alexander and his squad will be leaving the Y soon. People will not allow his outburst and his ethics….
Young Men Christian Association
Operative word Christian and he broke the basic principals today…
August 21st, 2009 at 7:18 pmI saw on the Blade that Alexander had a good comeback to Fedor about her vote cutting the budget of the Y.
August 21st, 2009 at 8:08 pmI have information from a very reliable source that makes the rude, yelled statements by Mr. Alexander to be most disingenuous. My source told me that the Y leadership has been planning to close the South Y for about 5 years!
If such an abandonment were not planned, why would the building have been allowed to detriorate to the point where the Y leadership claims that the building needs millions of dollars in repairs? At this point, I don’t believe the Y leadership AT ALL!!
I would hope that an independent inspection would be done, perhaps voluntarily, by a local builder knowledgeable in the area of rehabilitation of older buildings, to give the community a reliable estimate of the true cost of rehabilitating this vital neighborhood asset!
August 21st, 2009 at 8:15 pmMr. Schulz,
Because Sen. Fedor was speaking in a controlled fashion, while Mr. Alexander was shouting, you may not have heard Sen. Fedor state that she had sponsored an amendment to put the child care money back into the budget.
You are certainly politically informed enough to know that large budget bills contain items with which one agrees, and with which one disagrees. As a Democrat, Sen. Fedor is a minority member, and it’s a small minority, in the Ohio Senate. Generally, any amendment she might want to add to ANYTHING will be squashed by the majority Republicans who just don’t want any Democratic Senator to get credit for anything. If they think that it’s an idea they might support, they have a Republican draft a very similar amendment, and they pass it to get the credit for a Republican. That’s politics!! And I won’t say that the Democrats who currently control the Ohio House of Representatives wouldn’t do the same thing the other way around.
See my post above to see why I think that Mr. Alexander is not telling all, when he implies that this decision to close the South Y was based primarily upon the latest state budget law. Hogwash!!
August 21st, 2009 at 8:35 pmI was happy to hear Fedor was going to get involved – but now that she has I am disappointed to hear she voted for cutting early childhood services?
In this case, what made her think it wasn’t going to be trouble for her to come up here and take the Y – one of the victims of her legislative action – on in such an aggressive way? She really stuck her foot in it this time.
And if it is true that closing this Y branch has been under consideration for five years – losing that large of a sum of revenue surely would have been the deciding factor in this situation. Turned a barely workable situation into an impossible one.
August 21st, 2009 at 8:46 pmI am ashamed of Mr. Alexander’s and the YMCA staff’s behavior via video; they should’ve realize that the members of the Y are their customers and without them they would have NO JOBS! Thank goodness I don’t belong to the Y and will never join as long as this type of unacceptable behavior exist in this organization. Perhaps “change” is needed at the Y because Mr. Alexander appears to have worn out the welcome mat.
August 21st, 2009 at 8:47 pmThanks Dale. Great point about both sides abusing their power. No wonder why most people are unaffiliated voters. Heckling is the in-thing this year though….
August 21st, 2009 at 8:48 pmSaw the raw video and Alexander upset on WTOL.com. Good for those protestors who took it to Fedor. She would not answer the questions about voting for the budget. (At least what channel 11 had on their site)
Typical Toledo politicians crap. They vote to do something and in return a business or another entity wants to shut down or leave, and they throw a kiniption about it!
August 21st, 2009 at 8:50 pmkate
I believe you misinterpreted the facts. Mr. Alexander was yelling at Ohio State Senator Teresa Fedor and complaining about cuts in the Ohio State budget. He did NOT refer to Marcy Kaptur and the federal budget AT ALL!!
Please see my post above in referencing his rude yelling!
August 21st, 2009 at 8:51 pmkate
Just caught your edited version.
August 21st, 2009 at 8:52 pmWhat I witnessed from the video is a man out of control. This is someone that represents the YMCA? I see a desperate man that knows his time of tyranny is almost over and is trying to deflect as much attention off himself that he can. And the staff that he had behind him should all feel ashamed of the way they treated not only our State Senator, but also the people of the neighborhood that they “serve”. This was a shameful event that is the soul responsibility of the YMCA. I hope that Cedar Creek Church will take in all of what they see and decide to do the right thing and support what the neighbors really want. Only then will we know that we are not just another location for them.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:21 pmNormally I don’t care for the practice of packing all that pork into stuff – but today I was rooting for her.
Dale – I don’t have a dog in this fight. It is however, bringing out a great deal of information and shining a light on many people’s motives and prior conduct.
I hope you aren’t one of those folks who wants to decimate people who have questions or opinions.
You aren’t one of those people are you? For a free society to exist there must be many divergent view points.
For a free society to flourish – there must be tolerance for viewpoints other than your own.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:54 pmClosing the south Y has been in the making for the past FIVE years, and the ignorance of Mr Alexander today totally is NOT what the YMCA stands for… I am totally embarrassed that we have a president that has no IDEA how to keep cool in instances like today!
August 21st, 2009 at 10:58 pmIt is a shame that all this discussion takes place after the fact – after the Y death so-to-speak. It reminds me of a funeral. Some people visit you while you are ill but everyone comes to your funeral. After that, everyone goes home and it is forgotten. I have read where many people have claimed to have known this Y closing was coming, some as early as years ago. If so, then why in the hell didn’t someone ring the alarm and ask questions back then? As a matter of fact, why doesn’t some of Toledo’s so-called savvy politicians form what I would call a “Before” committee. A committee that would go around to all business assets, community assets, public assets, and take their pulse – find out if they are wanting to move, close, etc. Maybe some of this stuff could be stopped. Get pro – active instead of re-active. What do I think about the south Y closing? I think it is wrong that financials win out over community.
August 21st, 2009 at 11:32 pmThe actions by the Corporate Staff of the Greater Toledo YMCA toward an elected official and Community Volunteers at a press conference today should cause embarassment to every dues paying member of the organization. All the people in South Toledo have been asking for is communcation and fiscal accountability. I was invited to a meeting on Monday morning with YMCA Corporate staff, Board members and Misters Suter, Batts and Hertzfeld. At that time we asked for a delay in the closing for 90 days to allow the Community time to evaluate all financial options to keep the building open while a new South Toledo YMCA is developed. We were told overwelmingly NO by both Board and Staff. Why then two days later is there a membership drive announced to recruit 500 new branch only members and the four of us who had met with the YMCA just 48 hours earlier and were apparantly identified by the YMCA as leaders in the Community not advised of this significant shift in Corporate policy?
I met with the YMCA in good faith. We had an open and honest discussion about the concerns of the Community and agreed to meet again. I would like to meet again. To my knowledge another meeting has not been scheduled and there is one major sticking point on the part of the YMCA that they are unwilling to overcome.
There remains too many unanswered questions. Why not release the financial data? Sure the YMCA is providing all information that they think is required under the law. But as a non-profit organization taking tax dollars, tax abatements, charitable donations, and membership dues the YMCA should be held to a higher standard. The Board and Corporate Staff should want to be held to a higher standard and should be eager to produce the requested information. Actions (or inaction) such as this cloud the work of other non-profit organizations in our community and force reasonable persons to seek out further information. The appearance is that the Corporate Staff and the Board are hiding something. I hope that this is not the case and applaud the elected officials in our Community for stepping up and asking for more information.
I want the YMCA to be successful throughout Toledo, yet do not accept the arguement that the closing of the South Branch was a business decison. We were told that the South Branch had been losing money for 20 years. If that is (was) the case, why keep it open so long? The answer is the Mission of the YMCA. The Mission allows the Board to look at the performance of the organization as a whole and overlook the performance of an individual Branch. This is why the YMCA get tax breaks, charitable donations, government grants and the 501(c)3 status from the IRS. The Greater Toledo YMCA/ JCC is not a business, while business principles apply in the management of the organization in many cases, they should not be the only consideration.
There are activities and programs that are offered at the South Branch that can not and should not be measured in dollars and cents. These activites and programs strengthen families, teach children from the Core City to swim, help children of single mothers to have strong father figures in their lives though the field sports. These things drive the Mission of the YMCA and are measured in long term impact on the Community, not the financial bottomline.
Was the South Branch closing just the “low hanging fruit” and the presumed least disruptive action to close a budget gap? Or has there been a plan to close the South Branch for 5 years as someone said and the Governor eliminating ELI provided sufficient political cover? I do not know.
What other budget cuts have been implimented? We do not know specifics. We only hear that they have happened.
What other budget cuts CAN be implimented? We do not know, we have not been given a chance to discuss this issue because the YMCA/JCC will not produce the requested financal data.
Looking at the names of Board Members on the Greater Toledo YMCA/JCC web site, the Corporate Board is made up of a group of 32 men and women from diverse backgounds with a wide range of experience. It is time that they step up and lead the Greater Toledo YMCA/ JCC. There continues to be a credbility gap. The Community Trust has been breached throughout the YMCA/JCC and the disrespecting actions today lead by the Corporate Office of the YMCA/JCC do nothing to change that…
August 21st, 2009 at 11:53 pmRunner… you remind me of one of my sons. Well, maybe more than one of them. I always try to make them see the positive of any situation. You speak of a funeral. I prefer to think of it as a resurrection. Here you have a community showing it’s support for what some like to believe is dead. We know it’s not. We know that it is vital enough to fight for. Don’t think that we are just 70 “malcontents”. REMEMBER 70 could well represent 700 or more. Not everyone is vocal. If you want to see “pro-active” then keep watching. If you’d like to be pro-active then join us.
August 22nd, 2009 at 12:02 amAll Mr Alexander needed to do, if he truly was sincere about thinking of the community, was to just read this blog.
But to stand out there and bitch because the community secured a lawyer because no one from the Y would speak to them just shows how deep the incompetience runs in Mr Alexander’s world.
And that’s who your dues are going to…
August 22nd, 2009 at 5:50 amThese politicians believe they can show up with cameras and do their thing to their advantage. Too bad she got caught up and challenged by the Y people.
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:53 amI don’t blame Alexander at all, he is willing to stand up toe to toe behind his decision, good for him. I have been in that Y in the last five years on and off, only when I needed to when my home Y was closed for whatever reason. It was not a great experience, the building is what it is, the members
I was not too impressed with. I was not surprised when I heard they were going to close it. The members make or brake a place like that, the building is just a venue.
jon, but that’s what politicans do.
What about the neighbors? The already-paid members? They’ve tried for almost a month to gain an audience with these YMCA people and then are recognized as threats and inciters when they secure an avenue to force Alexander’s hand.
The foundation to this debacle is based upon principle. The YMCA affords the community a venue other than the streets where the family can grow and enjoy themselves together in an enriching environment, with God’s blessing, if I recall correctly.
For the “community” to be castigated by this agenda-driven nepotistic charalatan is insulting to what the YMCA/YWCA stands for.
It’s clear, after yesterday, what absolute power can do to a person when it runs unchecked.
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:27 amI am curious, is there a way to determine how many memberships were gained through previous YMCA membership drives?
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:55 amAs I have said before, Mr. Alexander should have followed the United Way model in dealing with the Blade. Determine what is best for the organization(this includes its members) and then do it. Just ignore the Blade. The Blade goes away when its editors/publisher realizes that they are being ignored.
August 22nd, 2009 at 9:20 amFedor is just another union hack, I liked her deer-in-the headlights look when she was taken to task concerning her vote.
August 22nd, 2009 at 9:59 amHave you seen the footage at the Blades site?
The woman who was forced to correct a YMCA EMPLOYEE on civil behavior;
…. “This woman is a state senator, you cannot interrupt her”….
That was an ordained minister who was to have been a pastor at the south YMCA.
It’s a sad day when the leader of a Christian not for profit (Robert Alexander) leads his EMPLOYEES in a disruptive confrontation, and they have to be reprimanded by a MINISTER in front of cameras.
All this ugliness is compounded by the facts that;
-Alexander was joined in leading this show of ugliness by his wife, and a board members wife.
-All this is partially funded with our tax and membership dollars.
THIS IS THE HUBRIS THE YMCA HAS DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT!
ALL WE HAVE ASKED FOR THROUGHOUT, IS OPEN HONEST COMMUNICATION LEADING TO A SUSTAINABLE SOUTH YMCA.
INSTEAD OF FACILITATING COMMUNICATION, ROBERT ALEXANDER PREFERS TO BREAK THE Y’S TRUST WITH THE Y MEMBERS, AND NOW THE GREATER COMMUNITY.
Cooper Suter
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:59 amMr Alexander has not only declared WAR on the Blade, but also all of South Toledo. What was it he said to the Blade, ‘we’re going to shut you down.”? Well we’re not out to shut the Y down. Only Mr. Alexander and his bullies at the Y.
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:00 pmjonc:
I’m really curious…exactly what did you mean by your statement “…the members, I wasn’t too impressed with.” Are some members “worthy” in your eyes, and some members not?
I am a member. I’ve been a member of the JCC for almost 30 years. I haven’t been to the South Y in many years. But if the Y does not treat the South Toledo people with respect in this situation, I can find somewhere else to work out. There are many alternatives.
I’ve remained a member of the JCC since it joined with the Y because I believe in the community services offerred throughout the area. If the Y fails to do this service properly, I don’t feel an obligation to continue my membership.
Senator Fedor is a South Toledo resident as well as an elected official. As such, she was properly upset that the Y officials would not meet with community leaders.
There is no place in a public service agency for a man who is as rude and nasty in public as Mr. Alexander. No matter how much he feels his cause was right, he was dead wrong in his abusive, confrontational approach. He acted like a person with absolute power who was corrupted absolutely by that power!
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:43 pmPersonally, I have bo trust whatsoever for Alexander. I live practically next to the Y and I saw three moving trucks moving equipment out this morning.
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:44 pmThey are moving out the gymnastics program, that started yesterday and is going to continue.
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:50 pmRight on Jenny!
Mr. Alexander is righteously indignant. The daily newspaper has gone after him, misrepresented him and the organization he has worked tirelessly to build. Anyone who reads misleading information and down right lies about themselves day after day after day would react in the same manner. Additionally a group of elected officials are grandstanding on behalf of the daily. This is merely another character assassination by this publisher, because he owns the ink, because he can.
The Blade’s attorney is representing the opposition? That must make some ponder for at least a moment!?!
This abuse of power must end if this community has any hope to thrive.
Thank you Lisa for giving members of this community an outlet for opinion and news other than the “Inquirerer” style daily paper.
August 22nd, 2009 at 4:03 pmI think it was admirable for Alexander to defend himself. Fedor was clearly trying to make political hay at his expense. I doubt if she gives a darn about the Y, or anything else, besides her career.
August 22nd, 2009 at 4:15 pmNot Again,
There are too many people who believe that anyone who runs for political office is automatically suspect when taking a position on any issue. You must meet Senator Fedor. If you knew her, you would know that she is as straight forward a person as you could hope to meet. You would be lucky to have her as a neighbor, and even luckier to call her a friend. Teresa Fedor was a wife, a mother, a military veteran, a school teacher at Burroughs (one of the schools whose students would be most negatively impacted by the closing of the South Y), long before she ever ran for public office. She lives in the community served by the South Y. She sincerely is concerned about this issue, especially the fact that the Y leadership would not meet with community members.
I don’t know what you do for a living, but if I said that you must be as bad as those who are the worst in your field just because you did the same job, you would be, justifiably, outraged. Don’t assume that Senator Fedor is like the worst public officials. She has served her country honorably in the military, was an excellent teacher, and is a superb State Senator. Should she not take a stand on an issue about which she cares because some people may think that she’s only becoming involved for political reasons? What kind of community leader would she be if she were afraid to take a public stand?
I’ll take Teresa the way she is…fighting for the betterment of her community!
August 22nd, 2009 at 5:21 pmDale,
You know I think very highly of you, but I think Sen. Fedor would have helped herself in this situation had she proactively addressed her budget vote, etc. The question regarding the budget and her vote on it is an easy one to anticipate and she needs to be able to explain why she voted the way she did and is taking the stand re: the YMCA that she is.
August 22nd, 2009 at 5:26 pmFor the record, here is the text of what I had to say at Friday’s press conference.
Do these few statements merit Robert Alexander calling YMCA EMPLOYEES from across the city to shout them down?
I first read a prepared statement;
…..”The communities response to the challenge issued by the YMCA and JCC of Greater Toledo on August 19, 2009 to save the south Toledo YMCA;
The community was again NOT consulted in the planning of this challenge.
The community was again NOT given notice of the announcement of this challenge.
The community wants to support a practical and sustainable plan brought about through open discussion between the YMCA and the community.”……
I then offered copies of our statement from Tuesdays rally.
None were taken by the YMCA EMPLOYEES present.
I stated that I wanted to repeat some words and phrases from Tuesdays statement.
Those words and phrases were;
-Open discussion
-Gap in trust
-Communication
-Accountability
-Excessive compensation
-Financial stewardship
-Detailed finances
-Public interest
-Stonewalling
-Us against them mentality
I then stated something to the effect of,
…”And lastly, two words I’d never expected to be associated with the proceeding ones in a negative sense….YMCA LEADERSHIP”
The text of the remarks Senator Fedor came to make on Friday are available elsewhere on Glasscityjungle.
You should read them and ask the same question I posed at the top;
“Do these few statements merit Robert Alexander calling YMCA EMPLOYEES from across the city to shout them down?”
Cooper Suter
August 22nd, 2009 at 5:40 pmdalepertcheck wrote:
Why the personal attack dale? Why the hatchet job? Can’t anyone disagree without a personal attack? Did I say that fedor is the “worst in her field”? Buddy,your comments seem to make you look psychotic.
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:47 pmcooper wrote:
The real question is, did they have the right to do what they did? The answer is, YES!
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:50 pmMr Suter: Excellent response.
Jim, you know that I respect you, but you’re way off on this one. I know that there are a lot of posts here, but I don’t know if you read all of mine on this issue.
As I stated above: Senator Fedor’s vote that Mr. Alexander screamed about, was on an ENTIRE State Budget. There are always things in a huge budget bill that elected officials want, and things that they don’t want. Senator Fedor said, with decorum, not yelling, that she pushed an amendment that would have put the funds for child care back into the budget. Being a Democrat in the current Ohio Senate puts Sen. Fedor in a small minority. Any amendment she offers is automatically going to be turned down, with very rare exceptions, for political reasons. If the majority Republicans think that it is a good idea, they’ll have a Republican member introduce a similar amendment and approve it. In my past life, I have been an Administrative Assistant to a State Representative. I know how these things work from experience! Then, Senator Fedor had to make a decision whether or not to vote for a huge bill with many things she liked, but included things she opposed.
From what I have read about Mr. Alexander he is extremely politically savvy. He understands Senator Fedor’s situation on the budget bill well. He said what he said because he is, justifiably, under fire for his imperious attitude toward the community he serves, and he wants to deflect criticism away from himself by attacking another public figure. I stand by every word I wrote above about the integrity of Teresa Fedor.
Again, if Mr. Alexander were telling the truth about the decision to close the South Y being based upon the recent state budget, why has the closing been an open secret for the past five years? If the Y were not planning the closing, why was the South Y allowed to deteriorate? Mr. Alexander plays fast and loose with facts.
If the JCC/YMCA total membership were given a vote, I strongly believe the majority vote on Mr. Alexander would be one of “No Confidence”. And please don’t act as if the Toledo Y could not find anyone capable of doing his job as well or better than he does for the salary he is pulling down! Furthermore, for him to pull his employees into the fray was most unfair. I’m sure that some, perhaps many, agreed with him. I’m sure some were there because, if they had not backed their boss, they would have been terminated or had their working conditions become untenable!
Absolute power!
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:51 pmRegardless of the Senator addressing the crowd and there being an outburst, the gist for me is how disturbed I am that a person of Mr Alexander’s position in the community and the wages he’s drawing from this alleged non-profit, there is no excuse for this type of behaviour.
A mob mentality? Even making the comments him and his brood made, it’s very unprofessional.
It’s an insult to those within that community to be treated in this manner when the neighborhood had tried on several occassions to glean information from the YMCA and after being cast aside for their agenda just to be yelled at like children.
I’d get a lawyer too if I wanted to get someone’s attention.
But to mock? For real?
Yeah…seems so.
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:16 pmActually the truth of the ELI program being eliminated has nothing to do with the general assembly, it was done by Governor Ted Strickland, eliminating ELI was veto number 17 on his list of 61 vetos made.
So, I agree with Jim that had Senator Fedor answered the question, that the budget she voted on did contain a cut to funding but not an elimination of the funding and her amendment to restore that funding was not supported by the Ohio Senate people on both sides would have had a more accurate portrayal of what happened.
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:43 pmLisa,
August 22nd, 2009 at 8:29 pmYou often get more details on a topic than most of us know. I don’t know what the vote was on the Fedor amendment to restore the ELI funding. I do know that the current count in the Ohio Senate is: Republicans 21, Democrats 12. If you are correct, and I have no reason to believe that you are not correct, that some Democrats also opposed Sen. Fedor on this issue, this reinforces the fact that Sen. Fedor was fighting FOR Mr. Alexander’s position on this issue, and her reward for supporting his position against other state senators on both sides of the aisle, is to be a victim of a misleading, loud, rude verbal assault by Mr. Alexander! To me, Sen. Fedor appeared composed while Mr. Alexander was, might I say, exhibiting a Carty-like, childish temper tantrum! Those who love Carty-style leadership must be enraptured with Mr. Alexander!
As I read some of these comments I think that some people are losing sight of the real problems here. The problem is NOT Senator Fedor or her vote on the State Budget. As dalepertcheck rightfully said, the vote was on the Entire Budget not just one component of it. The problems are:
1) The YMCA Corporate Office lead by President Robert Alexander disrupted a press event conducted by an elected official in a chldish and disrespecting manner. Mr. Alexander encouraged and lead this behavior when he should have taken steps to stop it! The Board should address this issue with Mr. Alexander, if it does not, then they are failing the membership of the YMCA/JCC and the Board Members should be replaced.
2) The continued lack of communication to the South YMCA members. As stated previously, I met on Monday with the Staff and Board. I thought we had opened the lines of communication, clearly we did not. The Board needs to address this with the Community. The behavior of Mr. Alexander toward the Senator and the volunteers on Friday should be cause for concern. It is clear that at times there is an in ability (or unwillingness) to communicate in a civilized manner. How can we find solutions to a mutual problem when this is the case?
3) The lack of fiscal accountability from the YMCA. I viewed a budget document on Monday showing a proposed budget deficit for the South Branch, but was unable to view supporting documentation for these numbers and was unable to see where these numbers fit into the context of a complete budget for the YMCA/ JCC. In fact, we were asked to return the document when the conversation changed topics. The total budget deficit for the South YMCA is a moving target, how are we to believe what we see, when we can not see the whole picture?
The YMCA opens all meetings and competitive events with a prayer. This is not by accident. I believe that this is to help focus the attendees or players on the task at hand and to emphasize the Christian values in YMCA. Is this all for show? The behavior yesterday suggests that those leading the YMCA/JCC do not always subscribe to what they are saying. We deserve better as members of the YMCA and as members of this Community that the YMCA/ JCC serves.
August 22nd, 2009 at 8:47 pmKudos to Senator Fedor and the community activists in standing up for the South Toledo neighborhood. Mr. Alexander should be ashamed of his actions. I expect better from a community leader, especially a well compensated leader. The Y Board must now step up and separate their personal feelings for Mr. Alexander and do what is best for the organization. As a Y member, I am disappointed in the actions of Mr. Alexander throughout the past several weeks. He has not exhibited the professional demeanor that I expect from a community leader.
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:04 pmLisa; You are a fountain of information. Thank you. It’s too bad that the 40 people shouting at Senator Fedor didn’t give her the chance to answer. Is this what a so called “Christian” stands for? Who really were they? Christians, or were they just jumping on a “bandwagon”. They reminded me more as “thugs” than Christians. Has Mr. Alexander’s arrogance spread so far? I would say to members and those employed by the Y “Remember what it’s all about”… BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITIES.
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:23 pmJim Nusbaum wrote:
Jim – Sen. Fedor tried to do just that. She tried to explain;the amendment that she and others tried to put through, but she was shouted down and drowned out by Alexander and his stooges.
August 23rd, 2009 at 12:51 amThe Y board needs to dismiss Mr Alexander and his goons that were with him at the press conference. Notice that he yelled and screamed and then he went behind his “servants”
Our family will no longer contribute to the Y, we will no longer attend… We are all about helping the community but not with someone like Mr Alexander at the helm of things. I have been taught LEAD BY EXAMPLE and this thing has gone long enough!
August 23rd, 2009 at 1:23 amIf Mr Alexander wants to put the controversy to rest and prove that the State Budget caused the closer of the South YMCA, he just needs to show the financial data. I don’t think shouting at Senator Feder helped his cause.
August 23rd, 2009 at 7:46 amThis was the last straw for my family. My family and I have been Y members for 7 or 8 years (mostly at Wolf Creek), but this is two much. We’ll be terminating our membership on Monday.
August 23rd, 2009 at 8:10 amI am not defending the Y on this issue. I am only pointing out that there could have been some lead up information given by the elected officials as to how the proposed budget would affect community organizations like the Y.
August 23rd, 2009 at 9:17 amAs for the Y, sweeping changes, with no forums, information sharing or community meetings until after the fact, never seem to go smoothly. It is crucial to get out in front of issues so that people can have their say and offer suggestions/solutions which might not have otherwise been suggested. I am not aware of whether such gatherings were held, but if not, it seems like it would have been prudent to do so.
Jim N.,
From the information I have, the y leadership is still “stonewalling” the South Y community members. The Y leadership is NOT planning to meet with the South Y community leaders to coordinate the new members’ drive, for example. Almost makes one think that the Y leadership wants the new members’ drive to fail, doesn’t it?
SensorG,
August 23rd, 2009 at 11:05 amI urge you NOT to cancel your Y membership. Let’s see if this can be worked out first. Communities throughout the Toledo area need the Y, and the Y needs the communities. I truly believe that there are enough sincere people on each side of this issue to get a successful resolution. Sensor, hold your fire, but keep your powder dry.
SensorG wrote:
LOL
August 23rd, 2009 at 1:24 pmWOW – this has truly been an interesting incident. If the Y was thinking about closing for five years now shouldn’t we see this as an act of “Let’s think about the families and the neighborhood before we shut down here” instead of “Those bastards knew this for years”. A business can only stay alive if the revenue comes in but as most of you know this Y had some membership issues for quite some time now. I don’t agree with them yelling at each other but if the budget vote had just an ounce of negative continuous flow of the Y then she should of voted No or not vote at all.
This matter should of been dealt with the first year they had trouble but no, they instead kept the place open with minimum “customers” just to keep the area happy. Now they can’t even offer that wonderful program that from what I hear was an excellent program because of the passage of the budget. Now they’re running on basic and max membership which we already know can support the location. Look people I know some of you grew up going to the Y but in a business form this Y has to go – I don’t like it but then again who does. I also heard about the drop in membership so that it’s cheaper to join – this is a bad idea, you’re only prolonging the inevitable.
August 23rd, 2009 at 1:24 pmThe membership drive is not being supported by those who want to see the Y stay open, so meeting about that is a moot point.
If you look at the time frame from when Governor Strickland did the line item veto that abolished the ELI program to when the program ended? There was not much time nor was there much media coverage. At best perhaps the Board of the Y could have given South Toledo an additional week to ten days notice. That is something that the Y and Senator Fedor could have focused on since the media did not.
I find the whole demand to open the books line to be a hypocritical one from any media source that did not demand the same when Connecting Point closed, and I also find it a bit hypocritical that some of the elected officials that were involved with that whole saga did nothing when it comes to the Connecting Point but are speaking out on behalf of the South Toledo Y.
Not to mention the proof that the money was cut is out there, the YMCA is not making it up. Even if the Blade is successful in trying to suggest that the expenses were out of line? It does not negate the facts in this case, the Early Learning Intervention Program was eliminated and that funding can not be replaced.
Even if Alexander and his family is terminated that is not going to create $360,000 in savings since whoever replaces them is also going to be paid. Nor is that going to change the fact that YMCA Board supported the decision to close the South Toledo Branch. Nor will it change the fact that the South Toledo location needed repairs/renovations and absent some wealthy donor or some huge collection effort taking place? It was not a matter of will the South Toledo branch close, it was a matter of when. The Governor’s veto made it happen sooner than it would have and it’s ironic that he’s gotten a free skate on the that from both sides of this.
The adversarial nature of this is in part due to the Blade anyone connected to this story knows that the efforts to keep the South Toledo Y open have gotten combined with the effort to take down Robert Alexander, with a few side swipes at Michael Ashford. Which is unfortunate and while it may very well create the termination of Robert Alexander, in part because Alexander made himself an even larger target than he already was, but that’s not going to save the South Toledo Y…The Blade editorial yesterday stated that the South Toledo branch was not the “main issue” anymore. For them it’s hard to argue it ever was but the Y should still be the main issue and the children impacted by the elimination of the ELI who were never included in the main issue are the real victims in all of this.
August 23rd, 2009 at 2:23 pmYour last post Lisa is dead on target in it’s entirety.
The sane voice in the wilderness to be sure.
Run for office, any office, would ya?
“Mike”
August 23rd, 2009 at 2:36 pmThanks Mike but I don’t plan to run for office any time soon, especially since it would make it very difficult to continue this blog in the way that it’s done. At this point I still feel like it’s worth the time invested.
August 23rd, 2009 at 2:45 pmUnderstood and agreed. You’re way too important here.
Just maybe, and perhaps I am way to optimistic… between this blog and the TFP, and perhaps even a bit of divine intervention, this community can be saved from the tyranny of the daily.
It is Sunday after all, so let us pray…
August 23rd, 2009 at 2:57 pmWhat other efforts have been taken to balance the budget of the Greater Toledo YMCA/JCC BEFORE the closing of the South YMCA was considered? I know that this is a taboo subject, but have the staff pensions been cut? We are seeing that pension pick ups are being cut in both the public and private sector. What has the YMCA done in this regard?
Where did the money come from to install a gymnastics pit in support of the movement of gymnastics to Perrysburg and to “update the facility”?
Has the training/ travel budget been curtailed? I believe that Lucas County saved a significant portion of the County budget by cutting travel in recent years.
Why not eliminate the vehicle allowances? At our meeting on Monday Robert Alexander stated that he drives 10,000 miles per year as a defense for the YMCA paying for a leased vehicle for his driving. Does the YMCA also pay for gasoline for said vehicle? Does the YMCA pay insurance and maintenance of said vehicle? What about the other staff? People should want to know the true cost of providing the vehicles for staff. The costs are more than just the lease payments. As I undestand milage reinbursement, one does not get reimbursed for travel from ones home to ones office on a daily basis, yet if one has a corporate vehicle, they are essentally getting this benefit.
Per Mr.Alexander, the YMCA staff called Ms. Fedor in February to lobby to keep the ELI funding in the State Budget. Why wasn’t the Community told in February that the closure of the South YMCA was a consideration if the funding was eliminated? Why weren’t we asked to lobby the State Legislature and Governor then?
Another point to consider…If the South YMCA is allowed to close, what is the next Branch to close if there continues to be budget cuts? This is an issue for all members of the YMCA/ JCC system. Without the South Branch YMCA, the next cuts will have to happen in the suburban communities.
August 23rd, 2009 at 3:03 pm…”I don’t agree with them yelling at each other”…
Roman,
In all honesty, there was only ONE side consistently yelling on Friday; YMCA leadership and staff.
Without the YMCA leadership and staffs continued disruption, it would have been a five minute press conference w/basic civil points and we would have packed up and been gone.
I keep hearing rhetoric about “business” in relation to this, and I’d never deny that the books need to balance.
In the end, how good of “business” is it to refuse good faith conversations, but to have a CEO bring employees across town seeking a confrontation?
Please, go back and look at all we were trying to say on Friday, show me the lack of civility in it.
For those who weren’t there, in the end a tone of civility prevailed and people from both sides calmly talked.
Those same civil conversations could have taken place in front of the cameras instead of what Robert Alexander chose to create.
LisaRenee,
.
As usual you have valid points, and I’m glad that today at least the blog is feeling worthwhile
(I’m sure there are days it doesn’t.)
Cooper Suter
August 23rd, 2009 at 3:09 pmMatthew, maybe the Board of the YMCA could have suggested other cuts to create the additional funding needed to make up the loss, but that’s not traditionally how it works when it comes to program funding. When the amount budgeted for a specific program like ELI is cut, the program is cut unless alternative sources for that same program can be found. It’s the same principle as grants, when the grant for a program has ended unless an additional revenue stream is identified for that program? It’s cut or eliminated.
There was little outcry from this community when those supporting ELI were practically begging people to write or call the Governor after he abolished the funding for this program. While Alexander and the others misplaced the blame on that at Senator Fedor, whether you want to view the elimination of ELI as giving the Board of the South Toledo Y the excuse they were looking for or leaving them with few choices, that is what happened. Had ELI not been eliminated the closing of the South Toledo branch would not have happened now, but it would have happened eventually since there were no plans to renovate/repair.
I think we all agree that this could have been handled differently by the YMCA board and by Alexander. I think they under-estimated how much attention this story was going to get and they didn’t take lessons from the previous times when the Blade has set their sights on them.
Cooper, while I can’t answer for my husband I think it would have taken a miracle for good faith discussions to have taken place because of the way this story was messaged from the very beginning. Those of you seeking good faith discussion ended up being caught in the middle of the Alexander versus the Blade saga as well as how government handled this. As an example when the Mayor was being credited as creating this whole membership drive to save the YMCA, one or more of you should have been at that table at that discussion.
Which brings us back to square one, how do you undo something when it gets to this level? If something is mishandled from the get go then continues to not be handled? It reaches the point where it appears we are at now. Will Alexander be the sacrificial lamb to try to create some type of appeasement? That may satisfy some but in the end it doesn’t help any of the children who lost ELI nor does it help those of you who wanted to see the South Toledo Y remain.
August 23rd, 2009 at 3:26 pmIn a civil meeting or not this Y will close due to the lack of monetary support. I agree with it being open but reality sinks in when it comes to how it should remain open. It remained open this long but that has not been accounted for – instead it’s been ignored and passed on as the Y knowing the outcome and not saying anything. Meeting with this group or any other group would be good for the heart, mind and soul but at the end money talks and from what I am hearing this section of Toledo is very silent. Times are tight so many families would rather save the few bucks and take their kids to a public park and enjoy a good day together.
August 23rd, 2009 at 3:27 pmMr. Suter,
Your passion sir is admirable. It is horribly sad this Y location is unsustainable, sad in so many ways. Sad for the community, sad for your neighborhood and mostly sad for the children and adults it still served.
This economic meltdown has caused the ending of so many of our neigborhood ammenities across the nation. Business has had to lay off or fire good employees and the domino effect of downsizing and loss has devistated our country.
However, I fear you are being exploited and used as a pawn in a much bigger scheme. As the Blade admitted:
“Closing of the branch is no longer the main issue” and in my humble opinion it was never the main or even remotely the issue. It was as stated, for the “dismissal of Robert Alexander”. I believe, this was and is the intent. Why? Because he can, because he buys the ink by the barrel. He can destroy reputations until you fight back, and when you fight back he’ll make you appear mobster like, “leading and angry cadre of some 40 persons”, “seemingly unbalanced”.
I wish you well in your quest, sir. Perhaps you might call Mr. Alexander without press, and sit down and chat with him. Don’t let them use you for their own motives.
August 23rd, 2009 at 3:33 pmMr. Suter,
You have been nothing but a stalwart, upright community leader in this entire situation. Your comments are cogent and coherent. You add a lot of needed information to the overall discussion. Your credibility is excellent!
Lisa,
For the most part your analyses are excellent. I would like to reiterate one point, however. Why has this particular Y building been allowed to deteriorate to the point where the Y leadership contends that it will take millions to be made viable? (And do we really trust them about their estimated costs to do so?) Concurrently, the Y was building a beautiful new facility in suburban Michigan, and upgrading their facilities elsewhere in the system. Why wasn’t some of this “capital improvements” money used for upkeep of the South Y building? The only logical conclusion is that the closing of this building has been planned surreptitiously for years.
In a previous life, I was in a very small business with my father for 15 years. I am currently the Treausurer for the Ohio Federation of Teachers. We have to maintain good, sound business practices. I know about business from first-hand experience. When businesses have financial problems, the business leaders tend to blame inefficient workers and/or outside forces. In reality, statistically, the biggest flaws in the running of most businesses are the decisions made at the highest levels of the administration and waste at the administrative level.
The Y Board should direct that there be a study of the line and staff relationships in the Y central administration, and in the administration in each building. I would be shocked if a well appointed group of local business and labor people could NOT find significant savings by reorganizing the administration of the Y. Much of the work of this committee could be voluntary. Community leaders will often help vital community organizations by donating time themselves, or the time of employees with expertise in such areas. A more efficient Y administration with an “open door” policy for community leaders seems to be in everyone’s best interests. The Y needs to re-establish credibility with the public it serves in the Greater Toledo area.
This issue may well transcend the closing of the South Y, but it also goes beyond a vendetta by the local daily. Mr. Alexander has been his own worst enemy in his private and, now, very public tirades. In contrast, a leader who has nothing to hide, a leader who is sure that (s)he is right, displays a calm exterior that is disconcerting to her/his detractors. I have no reason to believe that Mr. Alexander is anything but above rapproach in his business dealings, but he’s not acting that way.
In my business experiences, I have been, and still am asked to help make personnel decisions. I’ve been involved in both hirings and firings. I would not recommend hiring an employee as the “face” of a business, whether it be for profit, or non-profit, who did not display cool confidence in public.
August 23rd, 2009 at 5:19 pmDale, the easy guess as to why this particular Y was allowed to deteriorate is that those in the community did not take action as was done with the new YMCA next to Start. Imagine if had the plans for a new South Toledo YMCA been done in conjunction with when Bowsher was built. We could have been in front of the curve rather than behind it…
The gymnastics and swim team were what brought a good number of people to the South Toledo location. The move of the gymnastics program as covered in today’s Blade does not appear to be related only to the loss of the ELI funding. When you look at the scheduling for gymnastics at the YMCA website all of the gymnastic classes for which registration started on August 3, are listed at Fort Meigs and it is has been suggested that it was known between 6 months and a year (depending on the source) that the gymnastic program was going to be centered at Fort Meigs, though there was some belief that a few gymnastic programs would stay at South Toledo. The Blade article points out Fort Meigs was designed to be a better gymnastics facility with 80% of those who participate in the gymnastics program coming from areas outside of South Toledo.
Which is also probably why 80 volunteers would help move the equipment and is also probably why there hasn’t been more of an outcry by a majority of those who participate in the gymnastics program — they are looking forward to the newer and larger facility and it is not their home YMCA location. The announcement was made as far as the air conditioning in June at the Perrysburg location and the new child care facility was opened in March. Which tends to suggest my belief that some of this was in the planning stages no matter what happened with ELI.
August 23rd, 2009 at 6:04 pmLet’s see… What were we discussing? Oh yes, the press conference that turned into a “shouting match”. I don’t beleive we were talking about a Blade vendetta. More to point we were talking about what should have been a civil announcement, that the YMCA, (Mr. Alexander), turned into a declaration of “war” on those that oppose the closing of the South Branch. It is sad that many bring their prejudice’s into a discusion. It takes the focus off what is the main point. If you want to have a “Blade Bashing discusion, then set one up. This isn’t about the Blade, it’s about saving something that is important to South Toledo AND all of Toledo.
August 23rd, 2009 at 7:38 pmThomas, this is not a “Blade bashing” post, and I don’t think anyone has strayed too far from the original purpose of what I wrote because the Blade editorial is related to what happened at this press conference. The Blade stated that the South Toledo branch is no longer the main issue, it’s clear some, myself included disagree with that.
August 23rd, 2009 at 7:49 pmLisa; I meant no offense to you. My only goal is to bring back to focus what is at stake. MY and MY neighbors, (which does extent to ALL of Toledo), best interest. And I am NOT alone in this. There are many, many, people of all backgrounds and different parts of the city, that want answers to our many, many, questions. And all we get is “you couldn’t possibly understand the complexities of the situation, so just trust us.” Well we want to know the complexities of it, and, what we can do about it. And NO, we don’t trust you, Mr. Alexander, (inlight of recent events). We need the Blade to investigate what is really happenning here.
August 23rd, 2009 at 8:59 pmThomas, I’m not offended at all, my only point was that it is hard to discuss this situation without looking at the various motivations and distractions, purposeful or otherwise.
Sometimes when you have questions like what you are raising you have to look at the motivations behind what is being stated to have an idea as to the “why” before you can get to the “how” – I can promise you that if someone goes way off topic I try to step in.
What also makes this more difficult is this situation is at an impasse right now. The gymnastic and swimming programs have been moved, the membership drive is not being supported by those fighting to save the Y because they feel it’s an unrealistic goal and it does not appear there will be any new programs that could entice people to join. The communication between the community and the Y was not the greatest before this last press conference which has escalated the feelings of anger and distrust.
All we have been able to accomplish besides giving people a place to share/vent their feelings is to clarify why the funding was cut and who was really responsible for that.
August 23rd, 2009 at 9:30 pmMr. Rawlins,
I mean you no disrespect, sir. But your statement:
“We need the Blade to investigate what is really happenning here”, is very much like asking the rooster to guard the hen house.
Mike
August 23rd, 2009 at 10:06 pmMike wrote:
It’s a joke. A completely sad joke.
And Lisa says (in part), various motivations and distractions, purposeful or otherwise….
There are so many players in here with very questionable motives that it’s really hard to keep the score card.
August 23rd, 2009 at 10:47 pmSincerely, everyone give themselves a pat on the back for keeping things civil even when disagreeing.
…”sad this Y location is unsustainable”…
Mike,
We don’t definetly know that to be true, & we only have the YMCA corporates’ word to go on for that.
Not to be sarcastic, but every day, Y corporates word gets less and less credible.
All we have consistently asked for is an open honest forum between YMCA corporate and the Y/community members to lay it all out.
If they have the facts and numbers what is there to hide?
If they are sure there decisions were the best under the circumstances, then why not explain them in a civil public forum.
I’ve said to corporate people, “We may not like what you have to tell us, but if we could trust your motives and facts, we can likely move on together for the common good.”
As to being a pawn.
I’m enough aware of some of the dynamics in this situation that I introduced that word in reference to myself; both to the Free Press and at Fridays shout down.
I certainly don’t intend to be a pawn, and have spent a fair amount of time asking others both inside and outside this mess for reality checks.
It’s why I am ACTING WITH (not leading) a group of like minded others from the Y and the community.
At the point I see myself loosing focus of the greater good in this, I’ll step back.
I’m not not there yet.
Cooper Suter
August 23rd, 2009 at 11:07 pmCooper Suter – have you addressed the board that controls the YMCA yet?
August 23rd, 2009 at 11:34 pmkateb,
You are so correct and you are either extremely intuitive or very, very intelligent. And I suspect, both.
And the daily with it’s shrouded motives counts on creating confusion. That’s how they’ve succeeded in keeping the focus on their target, Mr. Alexander instead of the children that are suffering due to the state’s cutbacks. The daily,as they themselves have stated in so many words, cares less if the South Toledo Y closes.
“he” and I begin this sentence without capitalization purposely, as I refer to the publisher, in small, very small letters, for a very small man who manipulates the community as though we are puppets. He does so by manipulating the stories to maniputlate the public, to manipulate the outcome. And Mr. Alexander has unfortunately been unable to gather the right approach to combat the true enemy and that enemy’s true purpose; to run him out of town as he has done with so many who dare to disagree, or sometimes, simply dare to be. Alexander’s exasperation for what he knows is the truth, has clouded his judgement and I hope he’s able to gather his focus with the help of his board and live to fight another day. He has done much for his organization and it would be a shame to lose him.
We, who have a conscience and a sense of right are sometimes at a loss when fighting those without conscience or moral compass. It’s difficult to even imagine or believe that someone, anyone would deliberately destroy someone’s reputation or an organization or anything that represents good in this community. And why? Because “he” simply decides it is what he chose to do. It is unfathomable to those of us who have any sense of right. That is why he has been so successful. We simply can’t imagine it.
It is my hope that many are able to see what you see, so we can stop the needless destruction of our community for those of us who care so deeply for it’s success and strive to make it better.
Thank you.
August 23rd, 2009 at 11:39 pmI’m sorry Cooper, I missed your post.
I sincerely apologize, I didn’t mean to be presumptuous. I just believe that the motivation of the daily has been to play this out in public purposely to manipulate the story for their own purpose. I suggested a private meeting with the administration, the board and those members who wish to save the Y. Mano a mano. It may or may not be sustainable, but without fanfare or press or elected officials, without ulterior motives, I believe they will be honest with you.
What do you have to lose? What the heck, give him a call.
August 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am…” have you addressed the board that controls the YMCA yet?”…..
In it’s entirety? No.
There were a couple of board members at last Mondays meeting, and there have been a fair number of phone conversations w/board members.
(There was at least one board member present to question my christianity at last Fridays press conference.)
Remember, we have been consistently trying to get a meeting/process where ALL affected YMCA and community members could have their concerns addressed by the board.
Now we seek the same sort of meeting/process through which they can help create a plan for a practical and sustainable south family YMCA.
I do want to mention Paul Schlatter as a Y board member who I perceive as a good man, and who I feel has been the most forthright and fair in communicating with us.
The shame of this whole situation is the gap between people of good intent, and the waste of energy on both sides that could be going towards a common goal.
Cooper Suter
August 24th, 2009 at 12:10 amCooper: (There was at least one board member present to question my christianity at last Fridays press conference.)
Been there and done that. I feel you. It’s very frustrating (and please don’t attack me for posting this – it’s a matter of faith. If you don’t feel as I do, please respect my right to my own belief), when you interact with someone who is supposed to be a believer and then acts in the opposite.
My advice to you is to formulate a brief. (The word brief is not a suggestion), and then deliver it by certified mail to that board. (Never understatement the power of certified mail, it obliterates deniability). Meeting requests etc., should be contained in the brief along with any progressive suggestions regarding keeping the Y open. But if they’ve made the membership drive offer and then gone ahead with moving equipment out – I’d make a strenuous appeal to the board.
If you do not receive an appropriate reply – then you can consider other action. But to continue to address this Alexander fellow without addressing his employers seems to me to be a fruitless effort. There are many employers in time who have had no idea what in the sam hell their employees were doing. It’s only fair you talk to the boss, yes?
My opinion only but if you have a serious problem with an employee why wouldn’t you take it up with his boss?
August 24th, 2009 at 12:23 amI don’t usually agree with the Blade, but in this instance I agree with them 100%. Alexander should be tarred and feathered.
August 24th, 2009 at 8:56 amwow! alexander and his thug henchmen are shameful. even if you don’t understand how budget votes occur and even if you dislike fedor and believe she is a problem, those issues are irrelevant to this conversation – there is no excuse for alexander’s behavior.
stop blaming the blade, stop blaming politicians, stop blaming cornerstone church: seperate out the noise and interference and it is apparent the administration of the ymca is arrogant, filled with nepotism, willing to tell bold-faced lies, and misusing members funds.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:03 amLOL the blade is just doing another one of their character assassinations. I say good for Alexander for losing his cool.
He’s being faced with the Blade’s attacks, Sutter’s frivilous lawsuit, and declining membership.
The FACT is the south Y WILL close. It has as much to do with the overall climate of the city and it’s anti-anything positive attitude as it does with money.
August 24th, 2009 at 12:53 pmPlease!
Let’s move along.
Don’t feed the troll.
Cooper Suter
August 24th, 2009 at 12:55 pmThe only thing that the local leaders are accomplishing in this fight is sending a message to would-be businesses/organizations; they are saying loud and clear,”do not locate in Toledo.”
August 25th, 2009 at 10:54 amLook people – the South Y will close regardless to what anyone does. If for some miracle they manage to keep it open rest assure that this location will close because revenue is low and funding is gone. Unless there’s an equal amount matched that is needed this Y will close – it’s sad but true.
August 25th, 2009 at 11:34 am