Founder Clyde Smith and Seven Others Ousted from Virginia Park Board

By Jorge Casuso

Friday, May 21 -- In a dramatic move, the City’s Recreation and Parks Commission Thursday night ousted eight longtime members of the Virginia Avenue Park Advisory Board, including founder and chairman Clyde Smith, and added 13 new members.

Smith, who started the group as an informal gathering of neighbors on a Virginia Park bench 17 years ago, was the main target of the purge, which was survived by seven of the 15 existing members. (New bylaws are expanding the board to 20.)

"I know this is a really passionate issue, but I have concerns about the current board disregarding community input, and that’s not how an advisory board should behave," said Commissioner Lupe Castro, one of the leaders of the move to oust the old guard. "It’s time to move on, to let go and bring in some folks who have the energy."

The board appointed all of the 13 applicants who showed up for an interview. (Of 54 applicants, 39 failed to respond). Their nominations were based on an informal interview in a group setting, followed by a one to one-and-a-half hour conversation about the park, Commissioner Terri Walsh said.

"They represent a wide variety of backgrounds, interests and concerns," Walsh said.

Commissioners said the applicants constituted a diverse group that included young kids, African Americans, Latinos, Asians and even two business people. Frank Juarez, a longtime community leader and recent council candidate, was among the appointees.

Several of the members ousted along with Smith had served as volunteers since the city appointed board was formed in 1989. The board, which grew out of the informal group established by Smith -- a longtime leader in the Pico Neighborhood’s African American community -- and several concerned neighbors in 1982, is credited with expanding the size of the park and bringing in programs and services.

In an impromptu address to the commission, Smith questioned a democratic process that would allow hardworking volunteers to be removed without notice.

"It is unthinkable and unfair that you would consider eradicating their hard work without making them aware," Smith said.

"This process that’s been going on really smacks of some political manipulation that I think is detestable," said Rick Ricard, a fellow African American board member ousted Thursday night. "We are volunteers and we’ve worked hard."

When it became apparent many of the current board members would be replaced, longtime member George Hickey submitted his resignation before being removed by the commission. And after Smith was ousted, Betty Tomeo, a current board member who survived Thursday’s removals, offered to resign in his stead.

Commissioner Susan Cloke also mounted an effort to retain Smith as a way to "show respect for the person that served as chair."

But her motion died for lack of a second.

"We’ll see you in court," said Ricard, as he stormed out. "Bunch of Nazis."

Commission Chairman Frank Schwengel, who voted along with Castro, Neil Carrey and Susan Wilson to oust the eight board members, asked staff to write a letter recognizing their dedication.