The basic question: "were the concerns of Bob Fitch (and presumably the RCNV as landlords) conveyed in writing in timely and reasonable fashion to the infoshop?" has not been credibly answered by Bob Fitch (by making available to the collective a written list of complaints for which they're being ousted next month).

Infoshop workers insist no such letter was ever delivered to them.

The one Fitch letter in their files from early April cites some concerns but also acknowledges that they have been promptly dealt with.

In fairness, the anarchist infoshop leaseholder, Joe King, has not yet weighed in on the issue and is very hard to reach (for me anyway). (Joe King, please phone home!)

The infoshop members apparently feel that because they only have a month to month lease, they can't successfully find landlord Fitch on this, even though Fitch agreed to their use of the space as a community resource (a library at the very least) and now seems to be bridling at the "public traffic" through what is a largely empty space.

Fitch has been invited to appear on my radio show and can obviously post on this newsside, but as with many in power, he disdains to do this. Why bother when he's got the sheriff's on his side?

If the infoshop collective members don't want to make the issue a public one with specific documentation and protest against this shabby treatment (there is a public sidewalk outside the RCNV, right next to their front door), then it's hard for others to pick up the cudgel.

One of the previous tenants, Uncle Dennis of Earth First!, that leased the infoshop space sometime before the infoshop publicly described Fitch as "hostile to activists" (call-in to Bathrobespierre's Broadsides radio show, 7-15) and noted that once Earth First began organizing tree sits and getting actively locally, Fitch rolled out the "unwelcome" mat for Earth First as tenants.

I continue to be concerned that a community resource is being destroyed by a group (the RCNV) that makes hay off its reputation as being activist-friendly locally.

If I have any new info, I'll be putting it out on Bathrobespierre's Broadsides today on FRSC between 6 and 8 PM tonight (101.1 FM, www.freakradio.org).

If anyone has any info, I'd urge them to post it here, or call me at 423-4833 and leave a message. (Or call the show at 427-3772)

In the meantime, if you're having dealings with the RCNV, I urge you to ask (for the sake of local activists), "why are you throwing out the infoshop and its library?" as you join up for Lockheed actions, buy peace buttons, and support rights for the Palestinians.