Editors’ Note: The Gazette is pausing the publication of all member letters and member articles related to the war in the Middle East while we revise our submissions policy.
Linewaiters’ Ga-Zine?
Dear Linewaiters’ Gazette,
At the November GM a member asked about the Gazette being brought back to a print edition, and the question has stuck with me. The transition to a digital Gazette has clearly had many advantages (some of which were covered in detail in an article May 2022), however I agree that something tangible may have also been lost in this move.
The appeal of spontaneously collecting a physical edition while shopping is tempting, and some other recent new publications—such as the New York Review of Architecture—have triumphed in their role as primarily physical things, to be folded into pockets or left on tables, and which are full of idiosyncratic sketches and graphics. Even the simple ability for editions of the Gazette to be continuously archived at the Brooklyn Public Library to expand on their current collection could be of value.
I understand that the cost and time of producing a traditional print edition in parallel to the digital version might be challenging. However, while walking around Copy Machine Manifestos: Artists Who Make Zines at the Brooklyn Museum this week, it occurred to me that the Gazette could learn from the scrappy, improvised and imperfect world of zines. I propose that, for each digital release, someone takes a turn to print out the new articles, letters and graphics, and paste them into a haphazard zine master copy layout. We could photocopy a dozen and leave them by the entrance, and if the stack runs low, we could just photocopy some more! Each edition could be unique and represent the graphic whims of whoever was responsible for the cut and paste job, and each edition would be photocopied to demand—low cost recycled paper, and tailored to how many copies are needed.
Zine-cerely,
Dan Bergsagel
Disbanding the COC Tonight at the GM—An Example of Staff Overreach and Poor Governance for a Coop
To the editors:
I just returned from the January GM a few minutes ago and, as one of the four members of the COC, which was disbanded tonight, I am both a bit relieved yet quite disappointed. Relieved to no longer be in a crossfire of an unwillingness to collaborate and illuminate; disappointed at a very poorly run process.
The agenda items (Oct. and last night) were mostly based on untruths, namely:
- We never attempted to arbitrate committee disputes—that is the job of the Dispute Resolution Committee.
- We never claimed we would reduce staff workload. Not sure where this idea came from.
- We never tried to take on work credit management. That is done by Staff.
After that October discussion—where the COC leader Brian responded to clear up some “misunderstandings”—i.e. false allegations—we thought everything was amended. Then suddenly in early January we discovered there was an agenda item to disband us. A few of us attempted to reach out to the proposing staff member to discuss but were met with a stone wall. No communication.
Earlier today, I took the time to read the Agenda Committee’s memo “How to Develop an Agenda Item for the General Meeting.” Among the suggestions—not evidenced by this process at all, are:
- Write out your proposal or discussion item and check it for clarity.
- Seek background information.
- Publicize your idea.
- Ask for feedback.
It concerns me that this kind of forceful, top-down behavior is at play at the Coop. It also concerns me that the Agenda Committee did not make any effort to fact check the allegations made about the COC in tonight’s agenda item—which was filled with falsehoods.
Just a warning—this is a slippery slope. We are a member-owned coop, and our governance should reflect that.
Kristian Nammack
Access for all Coop Families
Dear editors,
I’ve been a member for 10 years, though I spent many of those away from the borough, and then away from the state. When I rejoined last year, I was so happy to find a vibrant and thriving Coop. I brought with me my now 6-year-old daughter, who fell in love immediately with the place, believes (correctly) that you can find “everything” there, and pesters me daily about when she can work a shift. We are passionate about the Coop in our family! I’ve begun seeking out ways to get more involved, to both give back to and learn from this community that has fed and nurtured us so well. But for reasons I’m sure a lot of parent-members can relate to, I’m limited by work and family obligations. I’d like to attend the General Meetings, but I simply can’t. However, if these meetings shifted to a hybrid model that accommodated virtual attendance, this would help so many who want to participate, but currently are not able — parents, immunocompromised individuals, people who have mobility, health, work, school or any other kind of constraints. I applaud the Coop for recently reinstating masking midweek; it’s a powerful way of expressing commitment to and care for each other. The same principle of access and inclusion should be extended to the General Meetings. These, too, should be spaces where all of us feel welcome.
Sincerely,
Genevieve Yue
Something New Is Not Working Well At The PSFC
Dear Coop:
I haven’t been able to shop at the Coop for at least the past 30 days, despite having completed four shifts between late September and early January and having two future shifts scheduled. Yes, I had five free passes and they were already used up, because I have a family, and I shop often via bicycle. They did not replenish after the shift I worked in January. Yes, I fell behind in my work shifts. Yes, I have been a member for 30 years but am too young to “retire”. Yes, I spoke to Coop staff members about this. I was told that the new system is not going to change because it is working well for the Coop. Attendance for work slots is at an all-time high. Got it. The greater good, for sure. But what about members like me? This is a call to open up a discussion about the need for some leeway, nuance. I kept my money in the Coop during the pandemic when it was struggling and when I had to wait in line for three hours each time that I shopped. Now I need to go to Whole Foods instead of shopping where I have shopped for three decades. There’s no good reason that a 30-year member should shop at Whole Foods because of a one-size (doesn’t) fit-all policy. I mean, we wear masks two days a week to accommodate certain members. Let’s find some creative solutions regarding suspension rules to fit a few more members’ needs.
Rebecca Stronger