Strider banned from SPAR building

[sheclown]

There's a shocker.  Manufactured charges of verbal assault (the verbal flew around from both sides) -- and out flies the hankie and the smelling salts.

I've got news for you...Springfield has much bigger problems than the likes of a small non-profit thrift store which just wants to help a few men turn their lives around. 

We are not the problem, just an easy target. 

to quote from today's letter:

"In response to your letter of August 27, 2009, the SPAR building is not a public building.  You are not welcome in or around it."


Say Lake, when is the next SAMBA meeting?  Where is it being held?

[Springfielder]

can you post the letter

[sheclown]

There are three letters.  One from Louise and two from Claude.  I'll try to convince him to post them. 

[thelakelander]

Wow, what happened?  The next SAMBA meeting is in the SPAR Building, October 8th at 6pm.

[sheclown]

See, that's going to be a problem.

Strider and Louise got into a heated discussion about thrift stores and rooming houses, and you can imagine, voices got raised.  Strider left thinking they had agreed to disagree.

Shortly thereafter, Strider gets a letter stating that he was verbally abusive and physically threatening, and that if he returned JSO would be called and a restraining order would be made against him.

Strider brought a friend with him and this friend agrees that Strider was no more out of line than the executive director was.

But hey.  Now, Strider cannot go to SPAR meetings (although he is a member) nor can he attend SAMBA meetings or any other functions there without risking JSO's involvement.  Pretty convenient, if you ask me --

an easy way to keep him away.

[heights unknown]

Who is Strider?  And what was the argument about?  Sounds like the normal "he said, she said" and then of course "he" bears the brunt and repercussions of the altercation.

Heights Unknown

[AlexS]

It's an interesting legal situation as public meetings like Shadco, Springfield Round Table are held in the private SPAR building.

[sheclown]

I tried scanning and it didn't work, so I'm typing it.  First letter

August 29, 2009

Address

It was just reported to me that you verbally assaulted Lousie DeSpain at the SPAR office this morning, putting her in real fear of physical assault.  This was witnessed by several persons.

This is to advise you that you are prohibited from entering the SPAR building or having any contact with SPAR staff.  If you make any attempt to enter the SPAR building, the Sheriff's office will be contacted immediately to have you ejected as a trespasser.  We will also seek a restraining order against you.

GOVERN YOURSELF ACCORDINGLY.

Very truly yours,
Claude Moulton, president

[sheclown]

I was wrong.  Louise called Joe.  Claude wrote to Joe.  And this is his response to Claude.

August 27, 2009


Mr. Claude Moulton
President
SPAR Council
1321 North Main Street
Jacksonville, FL 32206


Dear Mr. Moulton:

I received your letter dated August 29, 2009 today, August 27, 2009, which was postmarked August 26, 2009.  To just put forth the real facts of this matter, the date I was in the SPAR Council office was  August 20, 2009, not August 28, 2009 as your letter implies.  At no time did I physically threaten Ms. DeSpain.  Furthermore,  during a phone conversation later that afternoon, Ms. DeSpain personally told me that she did not feel that I had physically threatened her.  In fact, the only time I got close to Ms. DeSpain was when she handed me a copy of an e-mail and I handed it back.  Her complaint against me was that I had been rude to her and that I had taken out some of my frustrations over some of the actions of SPAR Council board members on her. I will admit that I did get verbally louder than I should have and I did apologize for that during the phone call with Ms. DeSpain. 

While you may have two “witnesses” to this “verbal assault”, I, too, have a witness that was there and in talking to this person, he agrees that at no time was I physically threatening to Ms. DeSpain.  In addition, he states that he didn’t even consider it anything close to a “verbal assault”. He also is willing to point out that Ms. DeSpain, while complaining about me being rude to her, was equally rude to both of us in how she questioned us in regards to our new thrift store.

After answering her questions, I asked for a copy of the list of illegal boarding houses that Mr. McVay indicated that residents should get to call in additional complaints about to the city of Jacksonville’s code enforcement. I was told that she would not give out the list.  I said that was a good thing and that our houses should not be on any list.  She took offense at that and insulted us by implying that we were running illegal rooming houses.  At that point I did get upset and was louder than I perhaps should have been.  I have apologized to Ms. DeSpain about that and will be happy to extend the apology to the entire board and staff of SPAR Council.  However, one thing I did do was to tell Ms. DeSpain that if SPAR Council continues to harass Ms. DeVall and myself over our legal rental houses and legal non-profit run businesses, we will certainly take any appropriate legal action as may be prudent at the time.

Prior to this meeting, a representative of your board, who is also now an employee, from what I have been told, insulted us and our thrift store on a public forum.  Several have called for an apology from her, yet none has been brought forth. At least I had the good conscience to apologize for any insult I might have made.

It does seem very convenient, does it not, that you would take this opportunity to “Ban me from the SPAR Council building and staff” when we have just opened a thrift store within your retail corridor and when you are still attacking our legal businesses.  Reasonable people will see this for what it is.  You are attempting to hurt my credibility and reputation and I must politely advise you not to use your false version of this incident in any attempt to discredit me. 

From the lack of real facts in your letter and as your office is indeed a public area for the purposes of your non-profit and the additional fact that I am still a member of that organization, I will continue to use the SPAR Council building during whatever public meetings or events I see fit to attend.

Meanwhile, should you wish to discuss this matter personally, I will be happy to meet with you at any convenient time.

Please take your own advise and: “Govern Yourself Accordingly”.



Sincerely,



Joseph J. Markusic

CC: SPAR Council board and membership via Forum

[ChriswUfGator]

It's an interesting legal situation as public meetings like Shadco, Springfield Round Table are held in the private SPAR building.

I tend to agree with you, I think he has a right to attend a public meeting. When a private organization chooses to play host to a public event, they accept what comes with the territory. Strider should go chat with an attorney.

[braeburn]

Constantly reading things like this and how businesses get killed via attrition from its very own resident "neighbors" almost leads me to believe the ridiculous notion that the blocks of Historic Springfield are completely cursed.

I get very confused by the "image" that people in Springfield want to portray for others to see. One needs only to read half of the sh!t posted and would never want to move into this area, or open a business. Too much familiarity is a breeding ground for contempt. If you could survive the snakes in this proverbial jungle, you'd still have the vultures to deal with.

And yet, the residents take it personal when someone admits in the nicest way possible that Springfield "just isn't in the cards" for their home or business. What a crock.

[fsu813]

You misunderstand.

The issue, i think, is WHO is running the thrift store and WHO it benefits directly -  not that a thrift store opened in general. There is a long history b/t Joe aka Strider & the SPAR council, and the residents who SPAR represents. If this was someone else then it would be received better, or if SPAR & many residents approved of Joe's other financial ventures in the neighborhood, then this wouldn't be an issue. Since both, unfortunatley, are not true, the result is a lot of friction.

I personally don't fall on either side of the argument, as I can see both viewpoints. I have purchased something from Joe's store, but I am very hesitant b/c of the backstory at the same time.

You'll find that, in general, stores and businesses that are viewed as a net positive are greatly supported by SPAR, if they wish to be involved. In fact SAMBA ( not directly related to SPAR, but generally assocaited with them) distributes a monthly color advertisment for interested businesses's in the area....this goes to all SPAR members. Heck, some businesses aren't even interested in SPAR or SAMBA but are viewed as a net positive and thus supported.

[Karl_Pilkington]

this is good stuff!  I say get some of those 'liberal, ambulance chasing, job killing, aclu loving' trial lawyers involved then it will really get good and of course the litigants will be a little bit lighter in the wallet, but it would definitely provide entertainment for the peanut gallery!

[civil42806]

Ahhhhh the Drama, the Drama

[fsu813]

I'm not a borad member of SPAR, but i can take an educated guess and say that they do have legit reasons as to wehy they do not care for Joe's ventures. They have the best interest of the neighborhood in mind, which i appreciate. And they all live in the neighborhood, which also gives there concerns legitimacey over someone who does not.

I'm not sure what "approach" is being taken. What kind of "approach" do you see, Stephen? How would you describe it?

I'm also curious as to what, if any, actions would be considered outrageous and appropriate to take legal action over. I'm not aware of any, but if Stephen knows then i'd be eager to listen.

Thanks