Recreational Trail Advocates (RTA)/Friends of the Rock Island Trail Vice President David Pittman has resigned, according to an e-mail released by Merle Widmer on his blog, Peoria Watch. Why? Because the group tacitly endorsed the $140,000 payment to the cunning Kellar Branch Corridor Corporation (KBCC):
I feel that our group silence worked well for KBCC, allowing them to get $140,000 with NO PUBLIC scrutiny or audit or previous public agreement. Even though I asked our group leadership to raise these concerns in public, the email exchanges of the past weeks made it clear that I am a minority of one; don’t ask, don’t rock the boat, and speak publicly only to praise the KBCC for its success. I am alone in my dismay and I cannot reconcile continuing in this group without violating my internal sense of right and wrong. As an officer of RTA /Friends of the RI Trail I felt obligated to keep silent, per the majority will of the leadership. Now, with the deed done, I can step away….
We as taxpayers and activists were not allowed to see how the KBCC justifies $140,000 for their expenses. Why not $120,000, or $180,000? No one knows. KBCC gave the cities a bill for services rendered. But our elected representatives never signed a contract, never made a deal. I believe this is very wrong…. I have chosen to keep silent for the sake of my friends and out of respect for their long, long struggle to make the Kellar into a trail. But I am ethically challenged beyond my limits and will step away from the tainted odor.
You can read the whole e-mail at Merle’s site. Pittman and I have been on opposite sides of the Kellar Branch issue since the beginning. We even debated it once at a meeting of the Neighborhood Alliance. But on the issue of the Kellar Branch Corridor Corporation, we’re in agreement. I have the same deep concerns about the lack of public oversight and the improper obligation of public funds without any kind of contract beforehand.
While I publicly stated my concerns on my blog, in e-mails to the Council, and on the public record before the Council’s vote (not without criticism, I might add), my concerns were easily dismissed because I’ve “long opposed the rails-to-trail conversion,” as the Journal Star put it. I tried to explain in my remarks that I was not complaining about the project in this case, but the process, but I’m sure the distinction was dismissed as tactical — an eleventh-hour effort to derail the project once again.
But had Mr. Pittman spoken up, too, he might have been able to make a difference. Pittman has long been and continues to be a huge advocate of the trail project. If he had raised questions about the KBCC, I think he could have affected the outcome. Perhaps the process would have ended up being more transparent. Speaking up would have been risky — in essence the effort to buy out the rail carriers and shippers was pitted against the pursuit of good public policy.
It’s interesting that only Pittman felt any pangs of conscience among the members of the RTA on this issue. Nevertheless, he submitted to the group and kept silent, allowing the deceitful process to prevail. It’s a surprising irony that a group who once decried inappropriate legal maneuverings from Pioneer Railcorp became willing participants in legal chicanery themselves.
Pittman’s resignation is really more of a confession. I think he fears he may have been wrong to put his principles of loyalty ahead of his principles of transparency and proper public procedure. I have no standing or desire to judge his decision. But I have no qualms about judging the rest of the organization for selling their integrity for a trail. Pittman did the right thing by resigning in protest, however belatedly.
CJ – So glad to see you are out of your Conan trance.
Yes, Mazr, I think Leno has more talent in his big toe than Conan does in his entire body.
Kudos to Dave Pittman for stepping up and stepping down. I have gone face to face with him numerous times over the Kellar Branch. Its too bad that the whole group has to do things under cover. We sure hit a sore spot when transparency in the whole situation was called for. I wonder how many more will jump ship before this is all over?
Did Pittman resign because of Leno taking over for Conan, or did Diane hit the wrong button?
Sorry about that…Ms. multi-tasker here was reading the comments in the sidebar as I was in another thread. Although, it is entirely possible that Pittman resigned over Leno.
So he remained silent until after the deed was done, then in his public statement breaking his silence states that he has chosen to keep silent? Got it.
Regrettably this is the MO for many Peoria projects … any means justifies the end result. Any given project and will of one group is more important than requiring open, transparent and inclusive public process / govenment. … ethics are missing and seemingly ‘noses’ are perhaps unable to smell and seemingly unwilling to ‘step away from the tainted odor’ because it is now the standard by which process is done.
To build healthy, vibrant and inclusive communities, the journey is even more important than the end result.
I disagree with Pittman on a number of issues, but, I will give credit where credit is due. He did the right thing in resigning, and coming clean. Yes, it was late, but better late than never.
perhaps the attorney general would like to look into this? perhaps if a detailed account of the matter were given to them by say, an investigative-minded blogger?
sure they’ll look at it, long enough to put it in the shredder. They want to investigate this like they want a skunk in the room.
Mouse—either the way the whole thing stinks.
I am totally puzzling over how someone could feel that such a situation violates their sense of right and wrong, but keeps silent until the deed is done. Huh?
Tulip: Groupthink?
Likely. And I know Groupthink is easy to fall into. I’m not criticizing just observing. God just a reminder that we have to always think for ourselves and not be afraid to question beliefs and actions of people around us even when doing so could be awkward or even hurtful.
An officer in any organization has an obligation to the group above his or her personal beliefs. Every organization has a right to expect a degree of loyalty to that authority. Call it group think or patriotism, a public confessional or simply leaving as soon as my code of honor made that possible.
And Leno may repeat may have had something to do with it.
He had a active roll in all the deals and secret meetings.He should have a active roll in telling the homeowners why we are loosing our property.His conscience came back too late to recouncil with us.I hope my relatives haunt his sleep,if he can sleep.
David, glad to hear from you on this blog (this is where I hang out)–sorry you had to make your first entry to defend yourself. I felt the urge to defend you, but I know or knew nothing of your involvement in the Kellar situation–I don’t even know how I feel about the trail; it’s not one of the issues on which I have strong or, in fact, any feelings. I am sorry to hear that homeowners lost they homes for this cause.
No organization has the right to expect loyalty to that organization above loyalty to to being honest, truthful and include the public in the use of public money, the public process and public policy being set. This groupthink or misguided loyalty is part of the reason why our country, our state, our county, our city are so upside down. It makes our community devisive and that one group’s agenda is more important than another’s and to abandon open, transparent,inclusive process and policy must end. An honorable journey is more important than any outcome.
David, I’m sorry if you feel that your loyalty to the group should come first. I have always believed that “to thine ownself be true”. Loyalty to yourself and your beliefs should come first and foremost. If you can’t truly believe in what is happening then you should have quit a long time ago. But I guess better late than never. Good luck to you.
Loyalty to a cause beyond ones own ego is the heart and soul of the american military and the sacrifice that makes heroes out of our brothers and sisters in the service. Discipline, respect for authority and adherence to my personal values is key to who I am.
CW, I was not part of any ‘secret meetings’ regarding public money, and your information is either incorrect or simply fabricated.
The statement about property ownership is misguided, and certainly factually incorrect. Adjoining property owners may have assumed they own property adjacent to the tracks but actual ownership of the Kellar has been established for a long time, after at least three property assessments ( two by the PPD, one by IDOT), in the past five years.
The more I think about it the more i think Leno may have been involved. Or maybe Conan, or maybe the barbarian Governor of California, the other Conan.
David, most people on here would agree with your sentiments stated above – That you owe loyalty to an authority. Where you will find disagreement is who that authority should be – most people would feel it is the taxpayer.
Conan is a big whiny baby. His ratings sucked. He was not funny. For some reason he thinks he is exempt from the rules of TV land that if no one watches your show it gets cancelled. How is that Leno’s fault? That would be like Jenniffer Lopez blaming the failure of “Gigli” on Angelina Jolie.
Diane, it must be a generational thing.
I’m in my 40’s and love Conan.
My mom is 80 and loves Leno.
Jay Leno was funny (and I’m talking actual groundbreaking material) many many years ago when he was doing standup. Then as the years went by he became less and less edgy and funny until he reached the point he’s at now, where it seems like his spine has been removed and his goal is to appeal to the masses with the most vanilla material he can come up with. Mission accomplished.
But I bet he’d be a big supporter of the downtown museum.
Mazr – that may be one reason why I like him. He doesn’t chronically tick me off *cough*Letterman*cough*
The KBCC deal was not made public to well after the fact.My misguided ownership can be proved and that is certain.