Reformatted for ease of reading. The City’s system pushes all of the text into one paragraph when people write in to the whole Council.  

City of Ashland, Oregon

Sun 4/25/2021 8:44 PM

To:

• City Council

[EXTERNAL SENDER]

*** FORM FIELD DATA***
Full Name: Stanley Smith
Phone: 310 418-8013
Email: stanley@artauthority.net
Subject: PAC appointment
Message: 04/25/2021

Dear Mayor Akins,

My name is Stanley Smith and I have been serving on the Ashland Public Arts Commission for the past two years. I have been asked to re-apply for another term, but have some concerns. I was surprised and very disappointed by the deliberations regarding the appointment of Cassie Preskenis. My concerns about Cassie Preskenis are two-fold. First of all, contrary to your insistence during the Council meeting of April 20 that Ms. Preskeinis was thoroughly vetted by the Arts Commission, and had attended several meetings is just false and misleading.

She gave public comment during the 2/19 PAC meeting, regarding the Say Their Names installation. She attended the PAC meeting on 4/16, but only as a participant of the Say Their Names Coalition presentation. At no point during either meeting did she (or anyone else) mention that she was there to observe the commission with an eye to become a member. She asked no questions in that regard, nor did she discuss any of her qualifications. To date, there has been no vetting by the PAC.

In fact, there was apparently some fore knowledge of her appointment, In the April 14 APRC meeting, Director Black mentioned that he understood that she would be appointed to the PAC. (timecode 39:29 in the meeting video). PAC Chairman Andy Stallman was a bit surprised about this, to say the least. My second concern about Ms. Preskenis surrounds her qualifications. In the April 20th CC meeting, both Council members Jensen and Seffinger very articulately point out not only the lack of engagement with ANY member of PAC, but also the scant nature of Ms. Preskenis’s application itself. You responded with derision and a rolling of the eyes, (or with rudeness, as mentioned by Council member Seffinger).

Your words: I'm telling you that this person has appeared before the Arts commission and is known by the Arts commission and has talked to the Arts commission and this person is aware of the Commissioners and they are aware of her that's what I'm telling you and that's true and accurate and so I don't want to have to keep repeating those things I've told you.

I find this application very incomplete and lacking in detail. It gives the Commission virtually no insight into Cassie?s qualifications to serve on the commission. Had the Commission had an opportunity to question her during her attendance at a PAC meeting (remember: the two meetings she attended were NOT to review her desire to become a member of PAC, in fact nobody on the PAC at that time had an inkling that she had applied). I am frankly appalled that you deemed this application sufficient to serve on the PAC-- a group that needs to be composed of members that have some experience in the management of public art.

I can only conclude that this is a political appointment, and this notion seems to be supported by the facts, the somewhat clandestine nature of the appointment, and possibly a desire for the Say Their Names Coalition to derail the current Hub sculpture in Railroad Park. In fact I was a bit taken aback by the Coalition’s presentation at the April 16th PAC meeting, where they presented four sculpture proposals (incredibly, with no artists identified), three of which occupied the very spot that the already approved Hub sculpture will stand. It is also clear to me that this applicant is coming to the PAC with a specific agenda. If this is the case, then her appointment represents a conflict of interest, given her role in the Say Their Names Coalition. She may not advocate in their behalf if she is serving as a commission on the PAC Am I wrong? Consider: Email from Akins to Preskenis on Feb 22: ?Furthermore, I agree that this arts display arranged by the community has no need to be removed and its removal would send a harmful message.

To wit, council was advised by the Arts Commission that it was seeking a permanent display and had funds to dedicate to that display on behalf of Say Their Names and in memory of Aidan Ellison. I am waiting for that to come into fruition. Until it does, removing the current display would send a dangerous message. Nobody at the PAC advised you of this (that I am aware of). I’ve had a long career in the arts, including a senior management position at the Getty Museum for 15 years. I have lived in Ashland for five years. I welcomed the opportunity to volunteer to serve on the PAC. I have found my fellow commissioners and council liaison to be smart, committed, and qualified. The lack of transparency and clear political nature of this appointment is very concerning. If you have a different view, I?d welcome a dialog. Respectfully, Stanley Smith p.s. I am copying members of PAC