The fact that these people care enough to coordinate their efforts and volunteer their time & money should be is something that should be celebrated and emulated across the country. The fact that the unions are actively trying to undermine the efforts of people who are simply picking up where the unions & government has failed is dispicable.

Public unions block this kind of community involement all of the time. I have talked to parents who volunteer at schools that said the unions have completely blocked parent volunteers from doing office work (i.e. Making Copies, answering phones, etc.), so even if people want to help out in their community, the unions will not allow it. If nobody is allowed to pick up the slack when the government & unions fail, they unions can demand more money from the taxpayers to make it all better. If people take it upon themselves and display civic pride, there will be no encouragement for people to pay more taxes.

What’s so threatening about volunteers doing some of the work done by paid city employees?

Of course it’s not the entire solution, but it sure is an effective alternate, proving that the city was not managing the work well. And it doesn’t take money – it takes physical work and a small commitment of time. The city’s way takes money – union wages and pensions.

And anyone can and does volunteer at the Land Park project – people from all walks of life show up – young, old (there was a 94 year old neighbor volunteer, who has since passed away), state employees, private sector business people, students, parents, Boy Scouts – you name it.

It’s not about anything other than real people who care – that’s the spirit of volunteerism.

What part of that don’t you understand? Or do you believe that neighborhoods that can’t afford to maintain parks shouldn’t have them?