[ebfnb] Sierk update

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Hi all,

*I have concerns on Sierk volunteering within EBFNB.*
*I think the concerns are serious enough that Sierk no longer be part of
East Bay Food Not Bombs and Omni for the time being.*

*EB PREC / CALLI will have issues with Sierk inhabiting the building.*
*The lax atmosphere at Omni enables individuals taking advantage...*

*...Sierk's disregard and disrespect of the communal spaces around Omni is
an ongoing problem for years. We have been following up and the results
were more negative and dishonesty from him.*

*Below are updates and concerns:*

- On Tuesday August 20th, the Tuesday and Friday WFM (Bay & Harrison
Oakland) pick up crew agreed to stop donations going to Omni's food
giveaway on Tuesday / Friday that Sierk coordinated.

- On Thursday September 5th, I have asked Sierk to stop handling EBFNB
donations and he agreed.

- I'm also asking Sierk to stop welcoming people who are not a part of Omni
to go in our fridge downstairs and help themselves on their own. I found
out on Friday (Sept. 6) after two people were seen doing that and they told
me Sierk gave them permission.
There was no communication from Sierk to any EBFNB volunteers or Omni
members.
(My leniency reached its limit from this)

*The concerns are:*

*- Food handling from Sierk are unkempt, unsanitary, unhygienic body and
foul body odor.*

*- Sierk never proposed the food giveaway event (on Tues / Fri) to neither
Omni or EBFNB for a discussion and approval.* *Despite several request and
suggestions to do so.*

*- Non communicative and irresponsible and disrespectful with food
donations and usage of EBFNB spaces and in other areas at Omni.*
*Recently there were hundreds of pounds of food (grains stored in the
kitchen) that had to be discarded that he accepted and not taking
responsibility for it. Leaving it out that attracted rats, and volunteers
to deal with.*
*Smelly soiled clothing of his were found in the corners of the kitchen.*
*This was addressed to him and he disregarded it.*

*- Inappropriate and erratic behaviors towards volunteers.*
*Includes talking down to and shouting at people.*
*There's a video footage (taken by an Omni member) of Sierk shouting at a
new EBFNB volunteer. She disengaged and walked away.*
*His angry behavior is a pattern towards volunteers including myself last
Thursday the 29th.*

*- M**ade decisions that risks the building and people in it to harm.
Includes allowing known problematic persons in (that are not members of any
groups at Omni).*

*- Disregard multiple requests to not sleep inside Omni, not cleaning up
after usage of space.*
*Sierk sleeps in Omni sitting up on his desk area and when approached he
says he is working (non Omni or collectives related) on his laptop late
into the night or all nighters. His leg is swelling up as a suspected
result of habitual sleeping while sitting up.*

*- Rejected several offers from different people to assist in getting
proper medical care. Have been self diagnosing his body as a "medical
condition" and using it as a reason for behavior.*

*- P**rior violent verbal interactions at volunteers. Was never held
accountable or acknowledged wrong doings and tried to justify his actions
(and believable to some volunteers...)*
*This preventable harm resulted in several upset volunteers that are afraid
and hurt to quit EBFNB and not going to Omni specifically to avoid him.*

*This is not an exhaustive list and there are proof for all the concerns
and claims.*

*The concerns has negatively affected collectives and the spaces in the
building; Liberated Lens, Sacred Maker Arts Collective, individuals at
Omni, and volunteers within EBFNB.*
*The organizations, individuals, and volunteers has put in their numerous
complaints and it was addressed without a sustained helpful solution,
acknowledgement, or accountability from EBFNB.*

*I foresee new complaints to us from the new entity that will soon manage /
be responsible to the building begining this week.*
*On Friday they discovered another person who appears to be sleeping in a
part of the building:*
*" *He said he was not sleeping there, and would be leaving at 6pm after
doing some sewing. I hope my concern is unfounded, but it definitely looked
like he might be staying there. When I asked what collective he was a part
of he said he was with CC. There were also some cats with him.

Since CALLI doesn’t own the property yet I can’t really take any action. I
am hopeful he does leave by 6pm today, but wanted to alert you delegates
since until Monday or Tuesday you are still responsible for the building. I
would appreciate if you could make your best non-violent efforts to ensure
that space is vacant by the time CALLI does take ownership and
responsibility for the space. *"*

The person mentioned above is not Sierk. I'm sharing this to share a sense
of how the building will be managed.

I have been patiently following up throughout the years and was
unsuccessful in my attempts to remedy the situation.
There are others that have been trying to help without success. We had a
help Sierk committee that was created this mid year that included several
of us: Ron, Helen, Joe, Judith and I.
I have not shared updates to this email list since a couple of volunteers
(Judith, Ron) requested I don't do that or even mention his name. Our
attempts to support failed and we need to update / reach out to the larger
group.

*Sierk - I think not making Omni your home and being open to receiving
proper medic care will help you.*
*- It would be better if you don't repeat the dishonesty in your response
to volunteers so they can better help you.*
*- Please remove all your belongings and yourself from the building.* *You
are no longer welcome in the space due to the numerous concerns mentioned.*
*- Currently there are no mediations nor restorative justice planned (from
me anyway) since it may be too late, we didn't prioritize the incidents
when it first occurred.*
*-If you can, do some reflecting and reach out to whoever you feel
comfortable speaking with.*

Compassion differs from pity. Pitying Sierk isn't helping him or us in any
space, it doesn't address solutions but provides a temporary sense of
relief such as bringing him clean clothes and food regularly and not
laundry / food service that he can attend to himself (the clothes begins to
soiled in corners and food accumulates and spoils in the upstairs fridge).
Pity prolongs the problems and makes it difficult for the person to grow
out of the accustomed unhealthy lifestyle.

All - Please refrain (especially those who do not frequent Omni to have
enough understanding) from reacting to my message. We can have
conversations and talk about it further for details and context, which I
can be open to share more.

If a fluid meeting is necessary I can set up a video call where we can all
interact in a timely manner and see each other.

Thanks,
Toan

On Fri, Apr 12, 2024, 6:52 PM Judith Gips <yipslsquirrel2 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Thank you for keeping us posted.
>
> Has Sierk tried Suitcase Clinic? great all volunteer program that includes
> physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and more.
>
> I can buy some soap, shampoo etc and maybe some clothing.
>
> On Fri, Apr 12, 2024 at 4:30 PM Ron Weisberg <ronwei at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi all, Toan, Sierk and I met Friday afternoon as follow up on hygiene
>> and food handling.  Here’s what I have observed and shared with Toan and
>> Sierk:
>>
>> 1. Overall hygiene seems better, less odor and generally better body and
>> clothes cleanliness
>>
>> 2. Reduced handling of food by Sierk; I am there at 12:30 on Fridays to
>> sort the food donations.  (We are still looking for Tuesday help.)
>>
>> 3. Sierk has relocated to another part of OMNI, so no longer in proximity
>> to the collectives which have complained.
>>
>> HELP STILL NEEDED
>>
>> 1. Sierk needs help with laundry and bathing (has a few options but needs
>> more)
>>
>> 2. Needs more clothes; at least another change of shirt, trousers and
>> jacket and socks.  Perhaps someone could take him shopping.  Shirt and
>> Jacket size = x-large; trousers = 38X34; shoe = 12.
>>
>> 3. Needs medical attention to his lower leg persistent skin problem;
>> complicated by possibility any free service will end up being billed to a
>> third party, who has assisted in the past; Sierk does not want this.
>>
>> Please contact Sierk directly if you can help.
>>
>> Ron
>>
>>
>>
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