I am writing in response to the Sept. 18 Signal [letter to the editor] written by Annie Greenfeld entitled “Christmas Conundrum.” The letter attempted to sway public opinion by “spinning” a complex civil matter into an implied criminal act allegedly carried out by the Wrigley Area Neighborhood Alliance (WANA). As a member of the Wrigley Association (WA) Board of Directors, I am obligated by the bylaws to present the facts not only to the public, but to our own membership as well.
The displays belong to the community, not the WA or apparently the City of Long Beach. The decorating of Daisy Avenue from PCH to Hill Street began many, many years ago— almost 55 to be exact. The displays were built by city volunteers long before the WA existed. In October 2007, the city attorney sent a letter to the WA clearly stating that the displays would be turned over to the city volunteers who built them.
Over a period of three months in early 2007, members of the Wrigley Association Board argued that too much organizational time and energy was directed toward Christmas Tree Lane [CTL] and rejected a move toward strengthening WA’s financial responsibility for the displays from one of stewardship to one of ownership. Tragically, the Board voted to separate the CTL program from the Wrigley Association (6-5-0).
The position of the board expressed in that motion speaks for itself.
Please take a moment to read it as it appeared in the minutes of the March 19 and May 21, 2007 board meetings and in the May 17, 2007 WA newsletter. “The Wrigley Association will separate itself from Christmas Tree Lane. CTL can form itself into whatever organizational format it deems best for itself, all monies controlled by Daisy CTL committee would go to the new CTL organization. The two organizations, in recognition of the historic connection would agree to work closely together but as legally separate entities.”
Then, at the end of the general membership meeting on July 2, 2007 (without putting the item on the agenda and when only a dozen or so of the 200+ members were present), a motion passed stating that “the membership affirm the action of the board from March which approved separation of Daisy Christmas Tree Lane from the Wrigley Association.”
This action led directly to the formation of WANA in August 2007 with one of its founding goals to protect and preserve CTL by serving the community as its stewards.
In June 2007, prior to the formation of WANA, mediation was also attempted through an informal process carried out by city staff on their own time. One of the four points that I identified as a means to “keep the WA whole” was an audit of the Christmas Tree Lane account and the Wrigley Association general fund account.
In late July of 2007, the WA Board passed a motion that the Christmas Tree Lane financial records be turned over by the CTL committee chair to an attorney without an audit. Had the majority of the WA Board insisted on these audits, the conflicts would have been resolved long ago to the mutual benefit of all parties.
On July 7 of 2008, I requested formal mediation services through a city contractor to address the internal disagreements between two of the longest-serving members of the WA Board and the newer-elected majority of Wrigley Association Board. Unfortunately, the mediation process has been delayed and may now be derailed due to statements made to city staff by the WA president. Several former WA board members and interested former Wrigley Association members have already met with the mediator.
Joan Greenwood
Long Beach
