The Cincinnati Beacon - Good Government People Telling Lies

The Charter Committee, which touts itself as the “good government people,” has started a campaign of lies and misinformation since Kevin Osborne wrote last week’s investigation into their questionable membership practices. This lowly behavior indicates the desperation they have experienced since critical eyes have turned onto their bad practices. Instead of opening themselves to transparency and truth, they have resorted to a misinformation campaign.

The letter writer, Jeneene Brengelman, stated that members get a newsletter and an invitation to the annual meeting. To qualify as a board member, however, a person must work on a campaign or a subcommittee, usually for several years, and then the person “might be invited to join the board.” Typically, some new members are added to the board every year, she added.

“Our board meetings, like most board meetings, are not open to the public,” Brengelman wrote. “Justin Jeffre and Jason My Main Man wanted to join the organization and then be able to attend board meetings. That privilege has to be earned, it can’t be bought.”

This is an outright lie. How can Charter profess to know that I wanted to join “and then be able to attend board meetings”? They never communicated with me in any capacity! I have never even heard of Jeneene Brengleman until reading Osborne’s blog post.

The last line in the passage above is the kicker: “That privilege has to be earned, it can’t be bought.” The Charter Committee is actually accusing me of attempting to purchase political influence for $25. How absurd! I did think that membership would allow for some kind of vote, perhaps at this alleged annual meeting, but since they are most reluctant to answer simple questions (even those asked by a dues paying member like Justin Jeffre), how can they expect anyone to understand how the operation works? And why hasn’t Justin Jeffre ever received a “newsletter”? Does it only come out once a year?

If you really pause and think about what Brengleman’s letter suggests, it reveals a deeply dysfunctional Charter Party. Apparently, being a dues paying member means nothing. One might expect the organization to meet occasionally, have votes, etc. But Brengleman suggests one must join, then volunteer for several years working on a campaign or subcommittee, just to be able to attend a board meeting. Who are these people working so hard to have the right to attend a meeting? And how did they even learn about this process? Did someone talk to them when they dropped off their check? Why did Justin Jeffre not receive the same consideration?

And how can they claim that blogging and Charter membership are incompatible, when in 2005 one of their endorsed council candidates, Nick Spencer, was an active political blogger?

Something doesn’t smell right about this whole thing. It seems like Charter is up to no good. Don’t worry. We’ll eventually sniff them out!

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