“We are treated like school kids and must be chaperoned in case we might make a decision concerning art,” she wrote. “In my opinion, a good working committee is needed in Carmel to remind the city and citizens that our heritage is from the early artists. That won’t happen as long as the tight control is in place.” (Eleen Auvil’s Letter of Resignation from the Carmel Art Board, June 2006)
“I am saddened and frustrated by this stasis,” she wrote in her letter, adding that the city council failed to consult CAB before deciding some art-related matters. (Margot Petit Nichols’ Letter of Resignation from the Carmel Art Board, June 2006)
“7. Over-control of this process by mayors is not in the public interest.” (Finding 7, 2005 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury Report on Open Government, January 2006)
"They are trained to spread disinformation and collect information...McCloud is bullying to the people on the commissions. The mayor runs everything." (Barbara Livingston, City Councilwoman, April 2002)
I protest “the erosion and minimization of all commissions in the City. Over the past two years, all of these city bodies have been weakened or relatively ignored.” (Antonia Verleye, Resigned from the Community & Cultural Commission, 2002)
"Recently you have manipulated the Planning Commission down from 7 to 5 ... I do not appreciate that. Design Traditions is a visionary landmark piece of planning legislation ... Do not micromanage it at this time ... before it has a chance to start working. The Steering Committee and the Planning Commission have made their recommendations. Please respect them! How can we continue to have confidence in your leadership if you behave in this autocratic way?"
(Allan Paterson, Terminated Planning Commissioner, October 2000)
As the record above demonstrates, from as early as the year 2000 to today, Mayor McCloud has amassed a record characterized as authoritarian. “I think it’s a question of power,” McCloud stated. “There aren’t any real issues. It’s all personal attacks.” (Mayor Sue McCloud, April 2002) Thus, her record is one of an absence of serious consideration of issues and ideas; rather, her record is one of intolerance of cooperation, collaboration, dissent and even disrespect for individuals who take their obligation to the public seriously by following their respective duties, responsibilities and authority as delineated in the Carmel-by-the-Sea Municipal Code.
To focus on the most recent events surrounding the resignations of all three Carmel Art Board Members, according to Mayor McCloud, “putting the art board on the shelf for the moment” is justified because of the City Council’s decision to vote to approve a contract to complete the inventory and appraisal of the City’s art collection. Furthermore, McCloud stated that the City Council’s action forced the Carmel Art Board “to set aside mush of its mission,” even though Mary Brownfield reported that the Carmel Art Board has “broad jurisdiction over public art in the city.”
Specifically, at the 2 May 2006 City Council meeting, the City Council voted to approve a consent calendar item awarding Ellen Osterkamp a professional services agreement for art inventory and art appraisal services in an amount not to exceed $90,000. Moreover, this agenda item and action was not the result of a recommendation from the Carmel Art Board, rather it was solely due to Mayor McCloud. And, according to Mayor McCloud, “the results will dictate the role of the art board, which will have the task of either building the collection or culling it.”
The role of the Carmel-by-the-Sea Art Board, as described in the Municipal Code, is far broader than acquiring and deaccessioning artworks. As follows:
Chapter 2.37
CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA ART BOARD
2.37.060 Duties, Responsibilities and Authority.
The Carmel-by-the-Sea Art Board shall have the following duties, responsibilities and authority:
A. To develop and upgrade the City’s permanent art collection, by advising Council on items which should be acquired or deaccessioned.
B. To direct the Art in Public Places Program, which is any work of art displayed in an open City-owned area, on the exterior of any City-owned facility, within any City-owned facility in areas designated as public areas, lobbies or for public assemblies.
C. To explore on a continuing basis the availability of funds for the Art in Public Places Program from private, corporate and government sources.
D. To review plans for the installation of art in public places.
E. To enrich the public environment for both residents and visitors to the area through their exposure to the visual arts.
F. To nurture, enhance and encourage the City’s artistic community.
G. To increase public access to works of art and to promote understanding and awareness of visual arts in the public environment.
H. To promote diversity of the visual arts through a variety of styles, designs and media.
I. To maintain a current inventory and appropriate appraisals of City-owned visual arts and to advise Council as needed on matters pertaining to the maintenance, placement, alteration, sale, transfer, ownership and acceptance or refusal of donations and other matters pertaining to art in public places. (Ord. 2002-07 § 1, 2002).
In short, Mayor McCloud’s authoritarian record, including not allowing for any cooperation and collaboration with the city’s advisory commissions and boards, and therefore, not taking their advise; her expectation that individuals do what they are told without question or debate; her intolerance of dissent; her focus on demonizing critics by labeling their legitimate criticism as “personal attacks;” make it impossible for employees and especially commission and board members to meaningfully contribute to making Carmel-by-the-Sea a better community for all of us!
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