Power point by Mo Karnage, with help from many excellent friends, to educate on the Keep Monroe Park Open and Free bid for Monroe Park, versus the Monroe Park Conservancy. Including broader issues around homelessness, lgbtq, youth, people of color, and poverty in rva. Clarifications: Beer Garden idea is not implying a beer garden should be in Monroe Park! just that one downtown might be a way to prevent open container issues in monroe park and other public areas.

2. Keep Monroe Park Open and Free
The Monroe Park Conservancy
● Unnecessary
● Unfunded
● Unwanted
● Unrepresentative

3. The Contenders
● MPC = Monroe Park Conservancy and their Bid
● KMPOF or us = Keep Monroe Park Open and Free
and our Bid – which posits that our bid is better than
the MPC bid, but that no lease is best.
●

4. Unnecessary
● MPC offers no critical function to fundraising or
renovation of Monroe Park.
● No need for a 3rd
party
● Other existing 501(c)3's who could serve function
– without lease, privatization, or administrative control
over the park.
● No compromise of the public aspects of the public
park

5. Unfunded
● MPC reported zero income and zero fundraising
over the past 3 years of its existence
● The City has budgeted 3 million towards
renovations
– lighting, electric, drainage, sewer, water, and pavers
on paths
● The entire plan calls for 6.2 million
● Not all of the plan is necessary or desirable,
● Funds for a superb and inclusive renovation could
be raised without the Conservancy.

6. Public- Private Partnerships Leave City
Holding the Bag
● The Broad Street Community Development
Authority
– taxpayers were left with a debt out of their control
that they were
– initially promised would be impossible

7. Who will profit from renting the
Checker's house as a restaurant?
● The tax payers are
paying for the utilities
● MPC plans to rent the
building out as a
restaurant and keep the
profits
● Our bid will:
– Reestablish as a
place for anyone
to play checkers
year-round
– Construct a
commercial
kitchen to allow
for feeding the
homeless

8. Hunger and Edible Landscaping
● The need for cheap and free
food by a large segment of
Richmond's population is not
addressed by Parks and Rec or
the Monroe Park Conservancy
● We should be enhancing
Monroe Park's use as a free food
distribution site- community
gardens not petanque courts!
● Renew Richmond has offered to
partner with us to provide edible
landscaping in the park.
● The City should invest in
landscaping and plantings which
will allow people to harvest
fresh and local fruits and
veggies.

9. Unwanted
● Public does not want privatization
● MPC has acted in secrecy
– repeatedly no call no showing to public meetings
– 2010 even removing their renovation plans from the
internet
● In 2010 and 2011, massive Campaign to Keep
Monroe Park Open and Free
● petition reaching over 1,000 signatures, a party in
the park, and a 10 day occupation of the Park
– www.monroecampaign.wordpress.com

11. Unrepresentative
● The Monroe Park Conservancy clearly represents
only the elite in the City
● Controlled 1/3 by the Mayor, 1/3 by VCU, and 1/3
by the wealthy
● 26.7% poverty rate in Richmond – not represented
by MPC
● 40% of the children in this City live in poverty
● The rich and powerful trying to take a public park
away from the poor must be stopped!

12. Why is the Mayor on the Board and
allowed to appoint 1/3 of the Board?
● Member of Venture
Richmond
● Sits on the Conservancy
● Appoints 3 other
members, all of whom
are under his authority.
● Where is City Council's
voice?
● Where is your voice?

13. If there is no neighborhood
representation then who is being heard?
● MPC not inclusive/representative
of users
● WILL NOT include Venture
Richmond
– 2 direct members
– 7 indirect connections
(family or employer on
board)
● Board must be:
– Inclusive/representative of
users
– Flexible
– Accountable to Public
● Keep Monroe Park Open and Free
Committee Board of Directors –
16 members
– 2 houseless people
– 1 formerly houseless person
– 1 unemployed person
– 1 senior
– 1 public housing resident
– 1 person from each
neighborhood surrounding
the park (Oregon Hill,
Jackson Ward, Carver, the
Fan) 1 student
– 1 Parks and Rec worker
– 1 City Council member
– 1 elementary school student
– 2 people from organizations
which serve free food or
distribute free clothing

14. To Whom Does Monroe Park Belong?
● Urban Outpost
● Feeding programs fill need
● Who has oversight?
● Monroe Park is the People's Park!

15. Empty Promises
● Statements at meetings are not legally binding
● Remember, talk is cheap!
– Must be willing to make the changes in their
contracts
● City Council should never vote on an ordinance
until all promised changes are actually written in
legally binding contracts

16. If you can't feed the homeless in
Monroe Park then where can you feed
the homeless?
● Our bid allows free/gift
economy to continue
● No permit or fee for
non-profit activities
● Food is a Right Not a
Privilege!
●
● The Conrad Center?
● Salvation Army?
● Other Locations &
Restrictions

17. Conrad Center
● Was partially funded by VCU
● Built across the street from the
City Jail
● No public transit access to it –
the long walk made it very
ableist
● City officials tried to coerce all
organizations serving free food
to centralize there
● Non profit running it shut down
in April 2013
● It was an inhumane attempt at
invisibilizing the homeless
● And it was unsuccessful
● Ableism and accessibility are
major issues in all of this

18. The Salvation Army
● Long history of anti LGBTQ actions around the world
● Have literally shut down their programs serving the
homeless to avoid having to follow anti-discrimination laws
● Actively lobby against legislation to protect LGBTQ people
from violence and discrimination

19. Why Outside?
● Downsides to outdoor meals and distributions are the
obvious- the weather. But there are upsides as well
● Many do not realize the inaccessibility of indoor meals and
distribution for homeless
● Pets – not allowed in most indoor settings. Studies have
shown the benefits of dog ownership for the homeless
● Bags- many places have a bag limit which restricts the
belongings folks can bring with them. Leaving bags outside
is not safe. Even the Richmond Police seek out and destroy
the belongings of the homeless.

20. If you can't demonstrate in Monroe
Park then where can you demonstrate?
● Bid allows for true free
speech and
demonstrations
● Keeps vibrant
alternative history alive
● MPC bid poses a
serious threat to free
speech in Monroe Park,
starting with a $35
application fee and
ending with private
security

21. If the City does not protect the trees
what will happen to them?
● Urban Forestry
Department in charge
● Redskins Training
Camp
● Importance of urban
forestry

22. Why is lease term so long?
● The 30 year lease
– Ends in 2044
– Avoids
accountability.
● This bid offers:
– a month to month
lease
– City can end lease
at any time

23. What's the Rush?
● No renovations until
after 2015 UCI Race
● Allow public input on
design/renovations
● Just & equitable lease
terms
● This bid does not
– require a $6 million
price tag
– remove the historic
streetlights and
other features
– does not try to turn
the park into a
DisneyLand

24. Layer on Layer of Oppression –
Richmond can be Complicated to Love
● Bon Secours Washington
Redskins Training Center –
built 2013
● NFL team from Washington DC
– Racist Name
– 3rd
richest team
● Practically gave away a school
building
– Late Invoice
● City committed $500,000/ year
to the Redskins
● Exclusion of local food vendors
● From Congressmen to the DC
Council- demand the the team
change their name to something
not “racist and derogatory”
● Dozens of Native American
organizations have also come
forward

25. Why are the two parks with the best
locations being privatized?
● Brown's Island
– Leased to Venture
Richmond
– No taxes paid.
– Once open and free
events, began
charging for
attendance.
● Venture Richmond has
many connections to the
Monroe Park
Conservancy.
● Public Parks are the
Public Commons –
necessary for free
assembly and fun!

26. Sports vs. Social Justice
● Loving RVA Proposal- 2013
– Baseball stadium in
historic Shockoe
Bottom
– 80 million City dollars
– Covering/Adjacent sites
related to the slave
trade
– Solomon Northrup, author
of 12 Years a Slave,
was trafficked as a
slave in Richmond
● Poor financial results widely
known
● 2013 City Council Budget
– 3 million for Monroe
Park
● Half million annually on a
racist football team
● Another 80 million for minor
league baseball stadium?
● WHY can't they come up with
the other 3.2 million for Monroe
Park?

27. Making Connections
● McGuire Woods lawyer
Eric Finkbeiner
represents the
Washington Redskins
● John W. Bates III of
McGuire Woods sits on
the Monroe Park
Conservancy and
Venture Richmond.

29. Safety and Perceptions of Safety
● The last murder in Monroe Park happened in 1959.
● VCU Police 2013 Crime Logs- most crimes Open
Container and Drinking in Public violations – about
10 crimes a month
● Uncomfortable or Vulnerable?
– Rich and white
– poor, people of color, homeless, and LGBTQ

30. Beer Garden Not in Monroe Park
● Prohibition does not work – see War on Drugs and also,
Prohibition
● If there is an apparent need for an appropriate public space for
drinking alcohol, one ought to be created
● There is a flourishing of both food carts and local breweries in
Richmond. A downtown, free to enter, no purchase required (as
in you can BYOB too) Beer Garden would likely benefit both
the houseless and local businesses. Location should be not in
Monroe Park, but in the general downtown area
● This is just one alternative idea of how to deal with the fact that
people will drink outside – there may be other, better solutions

31. “The First Will Be Last” by Derek Jones
● Plan dismisses chronically homeless citizens as valid and stable park users
– " Park goers generally fall into 2 groups: VCU students and transients"
(pg. 55)
● Plan underestimates need and activity of Church & Community feeding programs
– About 400 people waiting on food or clothing this past Saturday,
– Weekday Services
● "though the hiring of a park keeper in 2007 has helped to deter homeless feedings,
that park remains a popular gathering place for Richmond's homeless population
during the day" (pg. 55)
● Plan calls for controlled visitor ratios
– "[privately financed park managers] must make frequent visitor counts,
with special attention paid to female/male ratios… The ratio of non-
homeless to apparently homeless ones must be at least 75-100: 1 to
draw female visitors in great numbers” (pg. 61)

32. Violence against the Homeless
● March 28, 2014 report
– “In 2013, homeless Americans experienced a 23 percent increase in
violence compared with the year before, according to preliminary
figures by the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH).”
– “The U.S. homeless population declined over the same period, with
610,000 people going without shelter on any given day in 2013 —
20,000 fewer than in 2012.”
● Safety is a huge concern for the homeless
● Currently marginalized, MPC would further
marginalize

33. Homeless People Of Color
● Striking Disparities
● National Coalition on Homelessness:
– In 2007, the homeless population was 47% African-
American, though African-American people made
up only 12% U.S. adult population.”
– “The homeless population was only 35% white,
though white people made up about 76% of the
U.S. population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2003; U.S.
Conference of Mayors, 2007).”

34. Intersectionality-
Violence against LGBTQ People Of
Color
● June 4, 2013 Colorlines
– “That increase is the focus of a new report on anti-
LGBT hate violence released today by the National
Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs. The report
looks specifically at incidents of reported violence
that took place in 2012 and found that transgender
people of color were among the most impacted
communities.”

36. LGBTQ Youth
● According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, “20%
of homeless youth are LGBT. In comparison, the general
youth population is only 10% LGBT.”
● Statistics suggest that queer youth are at higher risk for
engaging in "survival sex" or being victims of sexual
violence. Shelters with services geared specifically to their
needs are rare, and regular municipal shelters can be unsafe
environments due to the attitudes of residents and staff
alike. Faith-based shelters may be outright intolerant of any
suggestion of homosexuality or gender difference.
Transgender kids can be forced into a shelter that doesn't
conform to their identification. - Sarah Goodyear the Atlantic Cities

37. We are not against renovation
● City of Richmond has been derelict in its
maintenance duties
– due to 'agreements' between VCU and the City
– leaves accountability regarding basic maintenance
vague
● We are against the entire park being closed for any
amount of time
● We are against in privatization, private security, or
fees for distribution of free food and items.

38. To Sum it All Up
● Public Parks Should Not Be Privately run, leased, or
owned
● Marginalization of already marginalized groups who
enjoy the park is an act of hate and violence
● Unsafe and Uncomfortable are two distinct things
● The City can find other avenues of better
renovations for Monroe Park without risking
privatization or losing control

39. City Council
● Stop all attempts to privatize the park – vote no to
the MPC plan
● Start the 3 million in renovations you funded last
year – while keeping a section of the park open the
whole time
● Reevaluate the Renovation plans, and get public
input from all demographics
● Demand any more funding for renovations from the
Mayor, or get a coalition of non profits to help raise
the funds

40. Further Reading:
● Www.monroecampaign.wordpress.com
● Www.monroeparkoccupation.wordpress.com
● Www.wingnutrva.org
● http://www.quailbellmagazine.com/3/post/2014/01/op-ed
●

41. Even further reading
● http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/local/city-of-richmond/richmond-seeks-to-lease-monroe-
park/article_537d9fbb-c4fc-5bc
● Proposed amendments may be found in Ordinance No. 2014-10 (hyperlinked).
● “To provide for the granting by the City of Richmond to the person, firm or corporation to be
ascertained in the manner prescribed by law, of the lease, franchise, right and privilege to use
and maintain certain property located at 12 North Belvidere Street for the management,
maintenance, and operation of Monroe Park in accordance with a certain Agreement and
Deed of Lease[, as amended]. (As Amended) (Mayor Jones and President Samuels)"
● http://www.guidestar.org/organizations/38-3840559/monroe-park-conservancy.aspxf-a620-
f4af3b01ed51.html
● http://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/ePostSearch.do;jsessionid=yTMtDVdNWrj3RwlbdF1sgg__?
ein1=383840559&names=monroe+park+conservancy&city=&state=All...&zipCode=&countr
y=US&dispatchMethod=searchEpostcard&submitName=Search

42. Further down the rabbit hole
● http://mokarnage.com/2014/03/30/interview-on-wrirs-open-source/
● http://www.wingnutrva.org/
● http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/local/city-of-richmond/richmond-activist-stops-
monroe-park-plan-in-its-tracks/article_a47d3665-9d46-5ee1-8d68-12db34115aa6.html
● Botched Play- with Richmond's Redskinsdeal, the needs of children in Richmond Public
Schools Once Again are being treated as an after thought.
● http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/botched-play/Content?oid=1784940
● http://www.christianpost.com/news/gay-marriage-opponent-elected-chair-of-va-democratic-
party-117105/
● http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/local/city-of-richmond/mayor-s-comment-on-race-
council-raises-concerns/article_782eb40a-7a31-11e3-b9d6-0019bb30f31a.html?mode=jqm