May 10th, 2022

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB – CITY COUNCIL MTG 5/9 -  RECAP

To our Concerned Pacifica Community,

Bruce Wright had BAD NEWS for the families of the Pacifica B & G clubs last night, as he alluded to a “3 year plan” of living off our reserves, with no fundraising plans in sight. 

Our city manager, and every single member of the council commented on their personal affiliations with our club houses, however, there was no direct offer from them, for their help in keeping our clubs open.

Bruce Wright, Vice Chair of the B &G, read a statement that sounded supportive on the surface, but in reading his words over, there are some definite alarm bells going off. 

Our fight is NOT over:

1)      B & G club will hold a community mtg at the Yosemite clubhouse next Mon May 16th, at 6pm – this is supposedly an open discussion, reciprocal mtg, for parents to ask questions and voice concerns.

2)      Why is Peninsula B & G club cherry picking the SSF clubhouse, and leaving Pacifica out to dry? 

3)      Peninsula has SIX fundraisers, Pacifica has ZERO. 

4)      Who is the new permanent Executive Director?  They are rebuilding our Board with Pacifica residents, but who are they appointing?    Why is there no community input into their selections?

5)      Bruce Wright’s statement talks about Pacifica having a “3 year reserve” and then it’s up to us to keep the club open.  This sounds like a 3 year shut down scenario. 

The B & G club authorities knew about this merger months ago, and then signed a non-disclosure agreement in order to keep it even more secret, and freeze out the parents.

The SSF clubhouse got a very opulent deal out of all of this, and Pacifica is now cut loose, with city council absolved from taking any real action to help us keep B & G accountable. 

NEXT STEPS:

1)      Attend mtg on 5/16 at clubhouse – and ask these questions:

a.      Fundraising – Is B & G clubs in charge, or the Pacifica City Council?

b.      Who is the new Board?

c.       Who is the Executive Director?

d.      Where is the Parental input/oversight

We need to take a deep breath, and regroup to the play long game. 

The B & G club may be promising to keep the clubs open, however, they have an extremely EASY out in 3 years, when left to our own devices, they drain our reserves, and then can cite financial hardship, close the doors and walk away.

In Solidarity,

Erin Pickett