Park Slope Food Co-op Timeline of Events Against Reggie
October 12th 2017 till February 22nd 2021.
October 12th 2017
Curtis March, of the DRC (Dispute Resolution Committee), calls Reggie on his private number and refuses to provide his last name in conversation, only calling himself “Curtis.”
Curtis refuses to offer Reggie due process and a hearing to clear his name. Instead, he fires Reggie from his position over the phone. No investigation is done on Reggie’s case.
Curtis refuses to return the calls and emails of Reggie’s Squad Members who were inquiring about his case and who wanted to offer testimony which would have exonerated Reggie.
As a result of not being allowed Due Process, a hearing or allowing eyewitness and character witness testimony from his Squad members, Reggie begins his protest (in store) by continuing to manage the store with the consent of his Squad members.
October 15th 2017
Andy Whitham (Reggie’s Squad Member) sends an email to the DRC detailing the events of Saturday, September 16th which would have exonerated Reggie. It is never responded to.
Malcolm Armstrong (Reggie’s Co-Squad Leader) sends an email to the DRC detailing the events of Saturday, September 16th which is critical of Membership Coordinator Cabrera and would have exonerated Reggie. It is never responded to.
October 16th 2017
Beth Eastman (Reggie’s Squad Member) sends an email to the DRC defending Reggie. It is never responded to.
October 17th 2017
Beth Kapocias (Reggie’s Squad Member) sends an email to the DRC defending Reggie. It is never responded to.
October 23rd 2017
Comments in a letter from Curtis March of the DRC to Reggie:
“You reacted aggressively.”
“You think the Co-op is there at your pleasure.”
“You have fun with each other.”
“You, however, appear to be more concerned about the well being of your Squad.”
“It shouldn’t be a stretch for you to refrain from playing it (music) for 2 ¾ hours a month.”
“Your behavior is often aggressive.”
“You didn’t yell but you were unsympathetic and abrupt and could have handled the situation better.”
November 10th 2017
Reggie responds back to Curtis March’s letter asking for a hearing. He receives no response.
January 30th 2018: The Co-op Monthly General Meeting
Based on his interaction with Curtis March of the DRC, Reggie presents his Agenda Item which (initially) is proposing Due Process for all Squad Leaders. It is co-signed by 19 Co-op members.
Comments from Karen Kramer of the DRC:
Tells James (Jim) Harter to “Go back to England” on Mr. Harter defending Reggie. This comment was never reported in the Linewaiters’ Gazette.
Threatens to expose Reggie’s confidentiality in front of the General Meeting Body.
Acknowledged that the DRC had a file on Reggie.
Grace Protos, of the DRC, claims the committee, “Has an extensive process for investigating any accusations which includes talking to witnesses, talking to the person accused.” None of the eyewitnesses, or character witnesses, were interviewed in Reggie’s case. Reggie, the subject of the case, is never interviewed.
Comments from Tricia Leith, General Coordinator:
“The DRC only receive cases that reach a higher level of complexity and require a longer amount of time.”
Six of Reggie’s Squad members spoke about the high quality of his leadership and their frustration with his dismissal.
Clara Goetz (Reggie’s Squad Member) sends Ann Herpel a letter to be distributed at the General meeting as a handout defending Reggie. Ms. Herpel never distributes it.
February 27th 2018: The Co-op Monthly General Meeting
Co-op members Beth Eastman, Ami Pak and Liz Shura issue statements defending Reggie.
Co-op member Margaret Stix, a lawyer and former administrative judge, inquires about the process that took place before the DRC fired Reggie.
Grace Protos, of the DRC, lies again, stating that a through investigation occurred in Reggie’s case. Eyewitness were never interviewed, Reggie was never interviewed. She further states that the DRC is impartial and their job is “To protect the Co-op, to protect all of us. Everyone has an opportunity to tell their story and argue on his or her behalf. Everyone is treated the same. We are transparent.”
Reggie’s Agenda Item passes by 51 votes, allowing every member due process and a hearing
Upon hearing the result, the DRC storm out of the meeting. This action was never reported in the Linewaiters’ Gazette.
Curtis March of the DRC, while exiting the auditorium, stands an inch away right in front of Reggie’s face and stares at him for at least 15 seconds and then walks away. This action was never reported in the Linewaiters’ Gazette.
March 3rd 2018
Ann Herpel, General Coordinator, while having a meeting with Reggie (with Coordinator Tricia Leith in attendance), slams her fist on the table saying, “This is not a court of law!” because Reggie refuses to engage in a lengthy conversation with her about his case.
March 7th 2018
Reggie emails the DRC requesting a hearing based on the results of the February, 27th meeting.
March 8th 2018
Reggie sends a letter to Ann Herpel, asking her to intervene with the DRC so he can have his hearing based on his amendment being passed. She never responds.
March 12th 2018
The DRC refuses to allow Reggie utilization of the Agenda Item he got passed on February 27th 2018, stating that the vote was not a vote on his specific case yet Reggie’s case was the only one cited while the amendment was drafted, presented and ultimately passed. They also cite “retroactivity” which is not in the Disciplinary Guidelines.
April 30th 2018
The DRC accuses Reggie of non-compliance with a prior disciplinary action, shopping while suspended, using another member’s card to shop, endangering the membership status of other members by using their cards to shop and uncooperative conduct.
May 2018
Brady Ovson (Reggie’s Squad Member) sends a letter to Joe Holtz and Ann Herpel defending and exonerating Reggie due to his eyewitness testimony and criticizing the DRC for never interviewing him though he was an eyewitness. It is never responded to.
May 3rd 2018
Reggie again asks the DRC for a hearing.
May 4th 2018
The DRC refuses Reggie’s request for a hearing. Instead, they offer him an “arbitration.”
May 8th 2018
Reggie submits another agenda item to the Agenda Committee since the DRC will not allow him to utilize his previous one. It’s a request for “Limited Retroactivity.” It is approved by the Agenda Committee to be presented at the General Meeting.
May 15th 2018
Reggie’s Mother, also a member of the Co-op, dies unexpectedly. Reggie’s love of music comes directly from his Mother, a lover of music, who exposes him to records, the radio, concerts and music lessons at an early age. She dies not knowing the outcome of the Co-op’s treatment of her Son.
August 18th 2018
Ann Herpel (General Coordinator) has an impromptu meeting with the members of Reggie’s Squad. She says the following:
“Can I just explain a little about the DRC? all disciplinary actions were handled inside the general meeting. And it literally became like the Salem witch trials, it was not fair to anyone, it was not to be fair to the accused. And it was not fair to the people that made the complaint, right, because it was just a volatile situation in which there was like a public hearing.”
“So there are ways in which the general meeting has a direct influence over them. Over the decades now that they've been in existence, they've had a series of versions of their procedures, right. And each time those procedures are taken to the general meeting, and the general meeting, as a body and I sat through as the general meetings in which the last version of those got approved. And it was contentious.”
“There was understand your reach direct feedback to the disciplinary committee, and they had to make changes based on members who are present saying no, we don't like this, No, not this, not that. Right. So it was responsive to the general meeting, and then they were approved. So these documents that sort of govern us are, are actually not the creation of a small group of people in isolation. They are now our documents, we own them. Their our disciplinary committee is our doctrine.”
“I can say that I will leave this meeting and say that I heard from this meeting that were people who were direct witnesses to an incident earlier this year, which possibly led to this, I don't, you know, I can't make off and that these people as witnesses were not interviewed. And I personally would like to see something rectified. I can say that as a general coordinator.”
“Right. What I think I can do coming out of this meeting is just to write to the DRC to say that I clearly heard that the people who felt they witnessed these events and they were not interviewed. That's what I can do.”
“If it's your protocol to interview people, there are people that witnessed events that were not interviewed. So they need to be interviewed.”
“I think you're right, we all do have biases and sometimes we need to really be a little self reflective and think about what am I bringing into this? I'm not hearing or not seeing about my biases are kind of blocked.”
August 28th 2018: The Monthly Co-op General Meeting
Reggie’s agenda item is on the General Meeting docket to be presented. Mysteriously, his name is removed from it. No one from the administration can explain why.
Joe Holtz, General Manager of the Co-op, asks Reggie to leave the meeting. Reggie, who is sitting in attendance, explains to Joe there is no language in the Co-ops Disciplinary Guidelines or by-laws prohibiting him from being there.
The DRC distributes a “Hit piece” on Reggie besmirching his character along with his Squad members.
When Reggie goes to present his agenda item, his microphone is cut off, rescinding his First Amendment rights.
Ann Herpel motions for Reggie’s agenda to be tabled. It is seconded and the motion passes. Reggie’s agenda item has been tabled for over a year and a half.
October 2nd 2018
The Hearing Officer Committee (HOC) finds Reggie guilty of failing to comply with a DRC directive, shopping while suspended, fraudulently used other members’ identification, endangered other members’ status and engaged in uncooperative interpersonal conduct and suspends him for 18 months. They call his protesting “A novel act.”
Language used in the HOC letter pertaining to Reggie:
“Defiant noncompliance and blatant disregard.”
“His intimidating and uncooperative behavior.”
“Uncooperative in his interpersonal conduct.”
“Hostile and aggressive interactions.”
October 20th 2018: The Monthly General Meeting
Malcolm Armstrong (Mr. Ferguson’s Co-Squad Leader) presents an Agenda Item calling for DRC oversight.
The DRC distributes a handout outlining “Disciplinary Procedures” which coincides, counters and attempts to undermine Mr. Armstrong’s Agenda Item.
Liam Malanaphy of the HOC (Hearing Officer Committee), during the Q&A section of the presentation, instead of asking a question, goes into a lengthy monologue extolling the virtues of the DRC. He also happens to mention that a “new addition” to procedures has been added. It is the ability for members to ask for a hearing in all cases of alleged misconduct. That new addition and ability came from Mr. Ferguson’s initial agenda item which was passed by the general membership body. Mr. Malanaphy is eventually asked to cut his comments short.
Comments from Chair Committee Member David Moss:
“He’s a part of that Saturday group (referring to Mr. Armstrong)!”
“This is the sixth meeting of the year about the disciplinary process. It’s too much!”
Comments from a member who works in the Membership office and Receiving Committee and has served as a witness to someone involved in a disciplinary action:
“You don’t get to find out who accused you or the details.”
“The process is intimidating.”
Comments from Board Member Rachael Asher:
“The reason why I do think we do need some sort of additional oversight mechanism is because of this one provision. There’s a section called “extremely uncooperative conduct” which made me nervous because I don’t know all the Co-op rules.”
Comments from member Stephen Hubbell (formerly of the DRC):
“There were sometimes biases that crept into our conversations.”
“There was a tendency to believe the accuser.”
“There was a slight tendency to feel we had to do something even if it was unclear the accuser was in the right.”
Comments from member Sharon Eagle:
“When you go before this committee, the person that accused you is anonymous.
“The people that interview you, or interrogate you don’t even have the actual written complaint.”
“That means anybody can accuse anybody of anything and submit it to the DRC.”
November 13th 2018
Nashay Morris (Reggie’s Squad Member) sends an email to Ann Herpel pertaining to the presence of a double standard when other Squad Leaders play music and at a very loud volume and nothing is done about it yet Mr. Ferguson is punished for it. It is ignored.
December 4th 2018
Daniel Weiss of the DRC emails Reggie inquiring about an alleged incident that transpired on August 28th 2018 on a public street.
December 5th 2018
Reggie asks Mr. Weiss what he is accused of. Mr. Weiss will not say.
February 14th 2019
Reggie submits a letter to the Linewaiters’ Gazette to be published. He is told it cannot be published because he is not a member of “Good standing.” There is no such guideline listed.
Reggie emails the submission guidelines to the Gazette showing there is no such language pertaining to “Good standing.” He does not hear back from them. His letter is not published.
March 2nd 2019
Reggie emails Ann Herpel to notify her that Receiving Coordinator Jerome Pettigand was verbally accusatory to him while he was protesting. It is never responded to.
September 3rd 2019
Reggie emails Ann Herpel to inquire if she actually acted on her promise to his Squad that she would contact the DRC and inquire about why eyewitnesses to his case were not interviewed. It is never responded to.
September 16th 2019
Ms. Bisi Ideraabdullah emails Ann Herpel to inquire what is going on with Reggie’s case. She is never responded to.
September 26th 2019
Andy Whitham (Reggie’s Squad Member) declines an interview from a news reporter because of his fear of the DRC suspending him.
October 7th 2019
Joe Holtz sends a letter to Reggie unilaterally suspending him from the Co-op indefinitely. There is nothing in the by laws or disciplinary guidelines allowing him to do so.
Language used in the letter pertaining to Reggie:
“You have created a hostile work environment.”
“Your hostile comments.”
“I demand that you change your behavior immediately and stop intimidating and being hostile.”
October 10th 2019
Joe Holtz in the “Linewaiters’ Gazette”, characterized the workers who are pro-union as “Aggressive.”
October 31st 2019
Reggie responds to Joe Holtz’s letter, refuting Mr. Holtz’s claims based on hearsay. It is never responded to.
December 2nd 2019
Member Deborah Murphy sends a letter to the DRC questioning their process. It is never responded to.
December 11th 2019
Member Jane Levison sends a letter to the DRC, Joe Holtz and Ann Herpel pertaining to Reggie’s case. It is never responded to.
January 23rd 2020
The DRC sends a letter to Reggie with the alleged charges of “Extremely Uncooperative Behavior” which includes: disrupting or obstructing Co-op activities, physical or verbal conduct which threatens or endangers the health and safety of another person in connection with Co-op activities, failing to comply with a duly imposed disciplinary action and violating the confidentiality of any disciplinary hearing and the offer of an “arbitration.” Reggie did not disrupt or obstruct Co-op activities, was not involved in any physical or verbal conduct that threatened or endangered the health and safety of any personnel and did not violate any confidentiality especially since there was no confidentiality agreement to begin with.
March 10th 2020
Maitefa Angaza, the head of the Diversity and Equality Committee, which in 2008, conducted a survey in which their findings discovered, “Perception of bias stems from arbitrary enforcement of Co-op rules,” refuses to take on Reggie’s case against the DRC and the Co-op administration (in which the DEC is a part of). She does not explain why. It is the third time she refuses to look into Reggie’s reporting of issues of bias at the Co-op.
April 9th 2020
Joseph Hennessy, Reggie’s fellow Squad Leader, friend and mentor dies from complications due to the coronavirus. He was a lover of music (as Chairmen and Chairman Emeritus of Queens Community Board Six, he orchestrated the Forest Hills Stadium concert series), was one of the co-signers of Reggie’s agenda item (January 30th 2018), and was an ardent supporter of Reggie’s quest for justice (as a presenter, he passionately implored the General Meeting body to support due process). He dies not knowing the outcome of the Co-op’s treatment of his friend.
June 18th 2020
Joe Holtz, General Manager of the Co-op, posts a statement on the company website supporting Black Lives Matter, stating:
“I am committed to using our authority in collaboration with staff and members to guide the Coop along a path of addressing racism in the coop.“
“We oppose discrimination in any form. We strive to make the Coop welcoming and accessible to all…”
“Improving our individual and collective consciousnesses about institutional and systemic racism, unconscious bias, sexism, injustice and inequality is work we must do.”
“We acknowledge that racism is rooted in the very fabric of our country. We want to clarify to the membership, as we did to the staff, our commitment to confronting racism in the Coop.”
Reggie is not contacted as a result of the statement.
July 2nd 2020
In a segregated, “whites only” call, Paul Warren of the DEC (Diversity and Equality Committee) listens to the points raised by members pertaining to the ill treatment received by Reggie from the Co-op (including specifically asking Mr. Warren to work on Reggie’s reinstatement) and refuses to look back into Reggie’s multiple reports to the DEC of incidents of bias from the DRC (Dispute Resolution Committee). Instead, he demurs, says the DEC has no real power and talks about his experience about being white in America.
The Board of Directors of the Co-op, posts a statement on the company website supporting Black Lives Matter, stating:
“The Board of Directors of the Park Slope Food Coop believes without reservation, and stands in solidarity with, Black Lives Matter.”
“We also strongly condemn the acts of microaggression and racism experienced by our fellow members and staff. We can, and must, do better as a community.”
“Our role is not that of a typical board, but one that gives legal weight to the desires and directives of the membership in how the Coop should be run. We, the members, have the power. We encourage you to create the change you want to see in the Park Slope Food Coop. To do that, we as the board need to hear your voices, your guidance, and we need your participation in the Coop’s governance.”
“In our role, we will ensure that voting capabilities are available at the July 2020 meeting. This will allow the members to use the GM as a deliberative body, as it was before the pandemic.”
“We each are committed to looking inward and doing the work, listening to our Black members and voices in our communities, and finding ways to implement change – both at the Park Slope Food Coop and in our daily lives. We hope all of our members can join us in that commitment as well.”
Reggie is not contacted as a result of the statement.
February 16th 2021
Reggie speaks with a white, Hasidic Jewish lady who also has been suspended from the Co-op. They both have received a letter from the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) forbidding them from entering the premises during the suspension. While Reggie has obeyed the order, this lady has repeatedly disobeyed it, going upstairs to speak with General Manager Joe Holtz. This action is supposed to lead to ones membership being rescinded. Hers has not. That’s bias.
February 22nd 2021
In the Comments section from the Brooklyn Paper article on Reggie, Debussy Fields, who says he is a Squad Leader at the Co-op, makes this statement: “Self-righteousness at the coop comes in all colors. It can be grating, but there's also something wonderful about being part of a body that strives so mightily to do the right thing, even while arguing bitterly over what that might be. I don't doubt that members of color are subject to everything from microaggressions to overt racism and the coop should do more to address this. I also think the climate is hospitable to Duke Lacrosse-type situations where people might exaggerate their victimhood and leave their own role in the problem unexamined. I've been a squad leader for 10 years (11 counting this year of curttailed member labor) and we've been accused of having too much fun too. Never been disciplined for it, though. That’s bias.