I'm shocked to say I agree with Jackson...however as a new memeber of this "community" (an old friend of Smith's from Arizona, where Smith previously worked, who was immediately hired to replace those "laid-off" due to a supposed budget crisis), I find it troubling that she is asserting her peronal opinion and slant on the recent SCAP ongiongs as fact or as a view that the "community" shares. I agree that "personal attacks, community gossip and the continued dissemination of misinformation" isn't helpful; that has been my point all along. But who is making personal attacks? This isn't personal...my concerns are for the community that I served for more than 7 seven years- who are NO LONGER RECIEVING SERVICES. Did anyone read the Metro acticle? Smith was quoted saying the current team was "unable, unwilling or lack the clarity..." to exuecute "his" plan. Sounds personal. After the fire at the DIC, myself and volunteers ran all of our programs out of the parking lot and continued to provide street-outreach, everyday. Why is Equinox closed? Was there a fire there too? The only issue was that this decision was made behind closed doors. Staff attended Board meetings and this was never discussed. The management team was not part of this decision either. No minutes, from any meeting, reflect that these discussions took place in public. A small group of people, hand-picked by Smith were consulted. As far as the outcomes not being evaluated, the day before the lay-offs, the State Office of AIDS contacted DIC staff inviting them to provide state-wide leadership for an evaluation project. Finally, if SCAP meant to honor the work of this team, ask yourself why were they fired? Why not follow the SCAP tradition and give staff notice that they were going to be laid-off? Why not plan a celebration to honor their work? Why offer a severence of 1 day, for every year worked to staff who dedicated ten years of their life to SCAP? If SCAP is facing a budget crisis, why was Smith permitted by the Board to hire 2 friends from out of town and the partner (I mean the ex-partner - who has a key to her ex's house, still provides childcare and does her laundry there..), of SCAP's contract monitor, with increased salaries and no hiring process? Why was the community not allowed to apply for any of these positions? How do these actions represent the agency is moving toward fiscal heatlh? This just scratches the surface...what else is going on that isn't being talked about???