January 12, 2012
Renegade activist stirs debate about justice within Occupy Tucson
As is the case with so many Occupations across America, there is a division within Occupy Tucson. But the split here has less to do with the reform versus revolution debate or inter-movement class disparity as it does with a renegade activist who misappropriated funds from the group and is refusing to return a laptop loaned to him.
It started in November, when Jon McLain, the activist in question, started a working group called Occupy Public Lands.
“A lot of people feel like we didn’t go through the proper consensus process,” he said.
McLain, one of the initial driving forces behind Occupy Tucson who still camps in Pancho Villa park most nights, told me he started the working group to better advocate for the homeless people of Tucson by utilizing some of Tucson’s 150 public parks, many of which he said are under-utilized, as a refuge place for the indigent.
Occupy Tuscon empowered McLain to file a permit with the city to occupy Dianzo Park, and he is looking into suing the city for its denial of that permit.
PACs and misused funds
McLain also filed paper work to form a political action committee for Occupy Public Lands without the permission of the general assembly, according to Occupy Tucson general assembly minutes.
He said he was admonished at a general assembly meeting for starting the PAC without the consent of the Occupy Tucson, which is under the umbrella of a local 501c3 nonprofit organization. He agreed to terminate the PAC, but had already racked up late fees with the state for not processing the paperwork in a timely fashion, he said.
The general assembly agreed to pay the late fees, but McLain told me he overcharged Occupy Tucson so that he could also buy food for the homeless. The late fees amounted to $140 and McLain tampered with the receipt to indicate it would cost $190.
“I forged a document because they refused to give me money to feed the people out here,” McLain said. “I changed the receipt to say $190.”
McLain said he used the extra $50 to purchase tobacco, peanut butter and jelly and sandwich meats for the homeless people who camp every night outside the park. According to general assembly minutes, questions were raised as to whether or not McLain actually used the money to buy supplies for the encampment.
He said he knew the misappropriation would be discovered but said he was “trying to make a point.” The point, he said, was that Occupy Tucson treasurer Leesa Worlee had sole authority over the group’s finances and, according to McLain, didn’t always abide by the will of the general assembly.
Laptop as justice
McLain has also complicated his relationship with Occupy Tucson, which he says he still supports, by refusing to return a laptop that was loaned to him.
“The laptop is still in question,” McLain said. “It was assigned to me through the general assembly and that decision has not yet been reversed.” Occupy Tucson activists critical of McLain’s actions confirmed that no formal action has yet been taken on the laptop.
McLain said, and other activists critical of him corroborated this story, that he loaned his own laptop to the movement and it was left outside and ruined. Another Occupy Tucson activist had their laptop stolen and that one was replaced, without general assembly consent, with the group’s coffers. McLain’s was not.
“If justice is just,” McLain said to me, “this laptop is in replacement of my pc.”
He said he would not return the laptop even if the group formally asks for it to be returned.
Punishment vs. forgiveness
At a January 7 general assembly meeting, Occupy Tucson discussed “removing Jon McLain from Occupy Tucson, publicly distancing Occupy Tucson from Occupy Public Lands [and] recovering laptop belonging to Occupy Tucson in Jon’s possession,” according to general assembly minutes.
Mike Migliore, a member of the finance committee declined to comment on the matter. Reannah Suh, who described herself as being in solidarity with both Occupy Tucson and McLain said, “We haven’t really discussed it. I’m not sure what we are going to do about it.”
Occupy Tucson consensus rules require 80 percent of those assembled support measures for passage. McLain said he is confident he has enough support within the movement to prevent an action against him.
Charles Jackson said he is considering offering a proposal that would allow McLain’s work within the movement to pay off his debt to Occupy Tucson. He spoke highly of McLain’s character as well as of his commitment to the cause, and said McLain’s actions shouldn’t be judged any more than those who are denigrating him on the group’s Facebook page.
“When we learn to accept each other with all of our flaws then we can finally start working together toward real solutions,” he said.
Then he offered up a well-known quote from the 13th Century Muslim philosopher Rumi, as words that the Occupy movement in particular, and people in general, should learn to better live by:
“Beyond the field of right and wrong there is a place,” Jackson said Rumi once said. “I will meet you there.”
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OccupyTucson never approved for Jon McLane to file a permit for de Anza. in fact, his move undermined and sabotaged the work of others who were in contact with the city.
Many generous donors along with the Food/Water working group provide food every day to those at the park. Additionally, there is a procedure for all working groups to submit weekly budgets and receive funding
There is a Finance working group that meets every Sunday and there are three signers for the bank account as well as other people who handle the budgeting.
The laptop and camera were purchased for the Direct Action working group, but Jon never did anything with the group.
Jon also mischaracterized what the fees were for. He claimed they were for ‘cancelling’ the PAC, (for which there is no fee as it turned out). So we were defrauded on that front too.
The consensus number is 90%.
Jon McLane has claimed to try to “make a point” when he hijacked the OccupyTucson Facebook page, the day after we were evicted from Pancho Villa Park, the day when we needed to communicate with the larger community for support.
Jon, former candidate for mayor, is just another failed politician that wants the people to pay for his mistakes, and buy him a new computer, too. Exactly what Occupy is against.
I am the Occupier in question who had a laptop stolen at Veinte de Agosto Park. I neither requested nor received reimbursement from Occupy Tucson.
Hey folks,
Mike Mc from Occupy Providence (in Bob’s home state.)
Don’t worry how these internal difficulties look to “outsiders.” We deal with similar things in Occupy Prov too. It happens, and nonetheless good things are coming.
Keep up good spirits!
Best,
Mike