Comments on: Center for the Urban Environment Closes its Doors

By: Mary Yrizarry

Mary Yrizarry — Fri, 22 May 2009 19:10:12 +0000

What very sad news. John Muir started BCUE with a wonderful concept for urban environmental education for young and old. I was hopeful that his successor would be able to keep and expand the program with a better grasp of the economics of running a non-profit and a more responsive board. With their move to a new, green buliding and expanded program it looked like a great and growing concern. I’m really sorry to learn, belatedly, that it didn’t work out.

By: Ixtalrock

Ixtalrock — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 19:45:35 +0000

The Board slept while an ED who was in need of serious help (fiscal and psych counseling) mismanaged almost every aspect of the org. Only the hard work of a very dedicated and patient staff kept it going for so long.

By: linanne

linanne — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:43:25 +0000

Well, having been on a number of non-profit organizations’ boards, I’d have to say that the executive director is always required to report all things financial to the board – the board is really the ed’s “boss” – so, I’m wondering where the board was in all of this.

By: Ed Perlmuter

Ed Perlmuter — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:02:14 +0000

Apparently so – i wanted to reserve one of their tours and the voice mail on x260 says ‘effective immediately were are closed’. Very unfortunate.

By: Brenda from Flatbush

Brenda from Flatbush — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:52:11 +0000

Duh, sorry, just asked this Q on another post. I should have known you’d have been all over it!!

By: blacktruth

blacktruth — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:47:49 +0000

Sandi Franklin did a lot to expand the organization and its mission but in the end she ran the place into the ground through fiscal mismanagement. This will all come out soon. For now, it’s just very sad…