Adele Carles seeks compensation and justice

Hi Sonya,
In your most recent blog post you say people need to contact Adelle Carles. What sort of information is she wanting and to what end? Is there a possibility that the lease will be overturned and in that case would some or all of the people who left (excluding those who sold) return to the Market. In that case what will happen to the new people who have come in? Or is best case scenario that management will simply be made to behave more fairly in the future? Also you promise safety.
There is a real concern amongst some who supported the Murdochs in their bid for the lease that they will be punished by whoever takes over if the Murdochs are ousted. Obviously anyone with a brain and a heart is appalled by what is now happening but they can't help being afraid that they will be blamed and punished for past ill advised actions and decisions. What do you feel about this?
Regards
S


Dear S..,
Great letter and it addresses the feelings and thoughts of many. Can I post this? Without your name of course.

I have been a bit careful to not say too much about the plan of action. I am waiting on a press release from Adele but I'm sure the Herald today will have a public statement. The Gazette, next Tuesday, should also have a statement. I also expect other media to pick up the story within the next few days.

The main point she made on Sunday is that she is going to seek compensation for people who have suffered loss since the lease signing. What she needs is a record of who has been hurt and how the changes have adversely affected them. Stall downsizing, inappropriate relocation, profit downturn, high rents and monthly leases as opposed to the promised 5 year tenure. Writing a personal story and marking it confidential is all that is required at the moment. Anyone who believes that they have been forced out of the market.

She has also identified breaches and has a very strong case for legal action against the council. It will then be up to council to take action against the Murdoch's. It should never have been left to the stallholders association to do all the leg work and finance legal action. She has all the documentation now and the great news is that it is her team who will be financing the investigation. People in high places are now onboard...

I doubt that new stallholders will be disadvantaged in any way. These people are not the enemy and like everyone else they deserve a go. Backing the Murdoch bid was totally understandable as many were completely misled. Many needed to play under the radar and we understand that. This is not, and I stress not, about stallholders turning against stallholders. People have debts and mortgages and families and it is their right and obligation to do the best they can to protect themselves. Also, the Murdoch's charmed and courted a number of people, even councilors admit that with the information they had at the time they felt that the vote was qualified. We all get wiser in retrospect. Now is now and we know what we know...more will be revealed soon.

No one is seeking a slap on the wrist for the Murdoch's. Who would accept an apology or a promise from these people? The markets need to be stabilized and they need ongoing checks and balances. People need to be put right and for the ones who remain there needs to be a level playing field.


Stallowners need to support each other. There is no such thing as new stallholders, old stallholders, Murdoch supporters or any other camp. There is a collective body of hard working people who need a fair go and equal opportunity. Stallholders have always traded off each other and that ecology needs to be bought back into balance.

The photos above are more of the missing shops at the markets.


Is this the future of Freo Markets?


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The glare of the obvious is blinding

Air conditioning is and has been of great concern in Freo markets. The argument continues and temperatures continue to rise. Jamie Murdoch says it is a matter of priority. Stallholders and customers often mention feeling ill but at least the customers can avoid the markets and they do. The 43C heat over the Christmas period robbed the stallholders of the expected high trade and drove the final nail into the coffin for a number of people who were just hanging in, waiting for Christmas to pull them over the line. The Murdoch visionaries of the future had this 21st century solution.

Another example of the slick promo speak. Ann Myer referred to the relaxed sitting areas as a customer request with positive feedback. I would argue that plastic tables and chairs with overflowing garbage bins are nothing more than strategically placed fillers hiding empty spaces which used to be stalls.

Another relaxed sitting area around another garbage bin doesn't camouflage the locked door which used to be the ever popular bonsai shop. New tenants are lining up to take possession? NOT.

These shops cost the previous tenants a bomb. With the new development they were offered temporary relocation in inferior positions inside the main market. Robbed of the initial investment and unable to trade effectively they chose to walk away. Rumour has it that Ann Myers daughter is getting ready to take possession of one of them. At what price, mmmmm? Boy that is one lucky girl. Dancing on graves must be some special magic.

What is it that the Murdoch's and the council can't see? How long are we all going to stare at the elephant in the room? How do these pictures exemplify the original business plan? I haven't even posted all the pictures of empty stalls or the ones up for sale or the others hidden by expanding stock to hide vacancies. When will the promises and the reality meet?

Unbelievably, in last weeks Fremantle Gazette, Jamie was quoted:
With the exception of an area in the yard which is being remodelled, there is only one vacancy and this is consistent with our ongoing occupancy rate. One?


Check out the highly promoted 'celebrity cooking school'. Talk about delusions of grandeur.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAO3LcfUTRc&feature=related



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John and Jamie Murdoch- Fremantle Markets

ABOUT 100 stallholders crammed into the Fremantle council chambers last week for a special meeting to review the Fremantle Markets head lease, but half the councillors did not even attend.

Council agreed to review the head lease following allegations of breaches relating to the terms of subleases, the negotiation of fair market rent, quarterly meetings with stallholders and having constructive dialogue between stallholders and management.
A report will be made to council later this month and no further rent increases or lease and license terminations will be made until all the alleged breaches are resolved.

Mayor Peter Tagliaferri said he would attend the meeting but pulled out at the last minute while other councillors known to be supportive of the Fremantle Markets’ directors, John and Jamie Murdoch, were also absent.

Deputy mayor John Dowson chaired the meeting and said the “outpouring of grief and shock” by stallholders at the alleged rent rises and management practices at Fremantle Markets was “upsetting”.

Cr Haney was quick to explain at the meeting that she had not refused to meet with the Murdoch brothers as they had alleged the previous week, and had actually tried to meet with them before the council meeting.

Cr Georgie Adeane said she was particularly impressed with Cr Bill Massie’s suggestion that displaced or adversely affected tenants receive compensation from management for loss of income.

“I have great confidence in the council’s conviction and the ability of the officers to amend the problems and bring the tenants of this iconic building into line,” she said.
Stallholders Association secretary Colin Wright’s speech was met with applause from the gallery.

“Jamie claims publicly that ‘over half have happily accepted these increases’ but what he doesn’t say is this group is predominantly casual stalls who have to be happy,” he said.
“We are already seeing more empty casual stalls, and permanents who have been hit with their increases are starting to feel the reality of falling returns.”

Jamie Murdoch attended the meeting and was booed by several stallholders.
He said the matter hinged on several legal issues, which would hopefully be resolved soon.

http://fremantle.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Head-lease-gets-review/7522625/
Fremantle Gazette 7th April 09

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