MANNA

The play park committee specifically stated on their web site that donors would have their logos/banners and names prominently displayed on their web site.  No such logos, banners or names of donors appear, so I posted a query as to why this information is not available. The Property Manager, who is also one of the members of the play park committee, stated to me in an email that the committee will be thanking each sponsor as a whole.

She stated that they 'are likely to receive sponsors up until the build day and beyond'. I responded that playground equipment has to be paid for weeks before the build day.  If the committee is still receiving funds and hope to receive more after the build day, that means that the committee had to borrow money to pay for the equipment.  I asked where had they borrowed the money from.  The Property Manager answered 'No it doesn't'.

I then asked how much the co-op was on the hook for.  The Property Manager answered, 'Nothing'.  I responded that if the committee does not receive enough in the way of donations, you can be sure that our co-op will be on the hook for the rest of the money owing to the playground equipment company.  The Property Manager responded: 'Not true'.

I then asked how much money has the committee raised for the play park so far.  The Property Manager answered that the committee was going to sort it out at their meeting last night.  The build day is next Saturday and the committee doesn't know how much money they've raised?

The committee, in all likelihood, has not reached their fundraising goal and may only have garnered a fraction of the monies needed for the play park.  That is why they haven't proudly displayed their donors' logos, banners and names.  They are hoping to receive funds up to and after the build day.  Where did they get the money for the playground equipment and who is ultimately responsible for the remainder of the funds owing to the playground equipment company - the co-op!  This is perhaps the reason why the co-op has been nickeling-and-diming members lately and subsidized members have had their utility and other credits reduced.

As I stated in my previous blog, members will never be able to track any monies from the co-op's coffers to pay for this play park, because of propped up fictitious entry lines.  Members are being told by maintenance staff that the co-op has no money to do repairs.  Windows, porches, decks and fencing are completely rotten. Many long-standing members have had no unit upgrades for 20 years - carpets are threadbare, linoleum worn through - yet, it was decided right from the start that the pet-project play park would go through no matter what.  A playground committee member stated at an All Members Meeting that they had raised only $400., but that their playground equipment company's coach assured them that they could raise $80,000. in four months.  This mode of thinking is based on The Secret - envision the outcome and it will happen. 

The Property Manager stated that I was welcome to attend their meeting last night, but that I would have to adhere to the coach's admonitions.  I declined the offer as the company's dictates are cult-like.