My point, in a nutshell, is that Jason's actions do not live up to his golden words. The nearly religious fervor expressed in the constant rehashing of Jason's virtues is, in the end, empty. He says he is all about openness and transparency, but the organization he is responsible for creating operates under the cloak of secrecy, despite its supposed partnership with a government entity.
When the American Association of Museums team tabled the museum's long-fought reaccreditation attempt, citing the current staff's lack of professional standing and inadequacies in collection management practices, that report was quietly posted to the museum's website. What was promulgated instead was a carefully crafted press release that sugar-coated the tabling, turning the less-than-satisfactory report into a triumph. The museum is now undergoing an AAM Museum Assessment Program to improve collection practices.
At a special council meeting held at the end of February 2012, a litany of questions about relations with the museum foundation (both by citizens and councilmembers) took up a large portion of the allotted time.
No amount of spin, wordsmithing, or charisma can change the fact that the public-private partnership has not worked as promised. Many long-time volunteers have moved on to other venues, like the lighthouse.
One of the next initiatives the museum foundation is planning (according to PG's new 5-year plan) is to build a wall around the museum. That's the perfect metaphor for Jason's legacy at the museum, and no doubt why he no longer points to his success at the museum in his campaign.
"He’s devoted to transparency, in the water agreement and in government as a whole, and transparency is something Carmel’s sorely lacked for too long."
-- MC Weekly's endorsement for Jason Burnett for Carmel mayor
Really?
This election, we don't see Jason touting his role in the public-private partnership at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History. Last election, it was his major achievement.
His presidency of the foundation that took over PG's museum was cited time and time again, and Jason was portrayed as some sort of white knight poised to transform the museum into a "major world-class attraction."
When Jason placed his hand over his heart and promised the Dan Cort city council that he would personally guide this 100+-year-old institution into the future with openness & transparency, many bought into the magical aura that the polished and agreeable scion of wealth, power, and "a major world-class attraction" brought to the table.
Pacific Grove officials couldn't hand over the museum fast enough. The city museum board (and citizens from across the political spectrum) were marginalized during the lightning-quick and heavily orchestrated zeal to make sure this plan came to fruition. Now the citizens of PG are aware of the manipulative workings of the Delphi Technique. Back then, something didn't feel right, but the shining light that Jason projects was enough to push this through.
Despite the city's sizable annual contribution funding the new museum foundation, coupled with the substantial assets of the Museum Association (a generations-old and quasi-governmental friends auxiliary organization that was gobbled up by the foundation in what can only be described as a corporate raid), open meeting rules were misinterpreted to allow closed-door foundation meetings.
This circling-of-the-wagons attitude towards the public has resulted in a complicated and peculiar relationship with the city that has devolved from a secretive public-private partnership into a contractor-employer relationship that allows only the city manager to have access to the museum's management and board.
The consistent opacity of the PGMNH foundation board has become legendary. The only peek any citizen, visitor, city charter-mandated museum board member, councilmember, or even PG mayor has gotten into the operations of this organization was dressed up as two "Community Days" each year. The first year, two very orchestrated events were held. This year, one "Community Day" was supposedly held. There was scarce publicity and few attendees. Yet the museum's webpage offers a FAQ sheet from the meeting.
French Fry Divide
Bill Kampe's error in judgement putting the fast food issue before council shows how out of touch he is with the desires of the citizenry.
He is not qualified to be mayor.
LOCAL SPIN: Burnett for Mayor
My point, in a nutshell, is that Jason's actions do not live up to his golden words. The nearly religious fervor expressed in the constant rehashing of Jason's virtues is, in the end, empty. He says he is all about openness and transparency, but the organization he is responsible for creating operates under the cloak of secrecy, despite its supposed partnership with a government entity.
LOCAL SPIN: Burnett for Mayor
When the American Association of Museums team tabled the museum's long-fought reaccreditation attempt, citing the current staff's lack of professional standing and inadequacies in collection management practices, that report was quietly posted to the museum's website. What was promulgated instead was a carefully crafted press release that sugar-coated the tabling, turning the less-than-satisfactory report into a triumph. The museum is now undergoing an AAM Museum Assessment Program to improve collection practices.
At a special council meeting held at the end of February 2012, a litany of questions about relations with the museum foundation (both by citizens and councilmembers) took up a large portion of the allotted time.
No amount of spin, wordsmithing, or charisma can change the fact that the public-private partnership has not worked as promised. Many long-time volunteers have moved on to other venues, like the lighthouse.
One of the next initiatives the museum foundation is planning (according to PG's new 5-year plan) is to build a wall around the museum. That's the perfect metaphor for Jason's legacy at the museum, and no doubt why he no longer points to his success at the museum in his campaign.
Openness and transparency? I think not!
LOCAL SPIN: Burnett for Mayor
Really?
This election, we don't see Jason touting his role in the public-private partnership at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History. Last election, it was his major achievement.
His presidency of the foundation that took over PG's museum was cited time and time again, and Jason was portrayed as some sort of white knight poised to transform the museum into a "major world-class attraction."
When Jason placed his hand over his heart and promised the Dan Cort city council that he would personally guide this 100+-year-old institution into the future with openness & transparency, many bought into the magical aura that the polished and agreeable scion of wealth, power, and "a major world-class attraction" brought to the table.
Pacific Grove officials couldn't hand over the museum fast enough. The city museum board (and citizens from across the political spectrum) were marginalized during the lightning-quick and heavily orchestrated zeal to make sure this plan came to fruition. Now the citizens of PG are aware of the manipulative workings of the Delphi Technique. Back then, something didn't feel right, but the shining light that Jason projects was enough to push this through.
Despite the city's sizable annual contribution funding the new museum foundation, coupled with the substantial assets of the Museum Association (a generations-old and quasi-governmental friends auxiliary organization that was gobbled up by the foundation in what can only be described as a corporate raid), open meeting rules were misinterpreted to allow closed-door foundation meetings.
This circling-of-the-wagons attitude towards the public has resulted in a complicated and peculiar relationship with the city that has devolved from a secretive public-private partnership into a contractor-employer relationship that allows only the city manager to have access to the museum's management and board.
The consistent opacity of the PGMNH foundation board has become legendary. The only peek any citizen, visitor, city charter-mandated museum board member, councilmember, or even PG mayor has gotten into the operations of this organization was dressed up as two "Community Days" each year. The first year, two very orchestrated events were held. This year, one "Community Day" was supposedly held. There was scarce publicity and few attendees. Yet the museum's webpage offers a FAQ sheet from the meeting.