Members of John Ruiz’s team are determined to maintain a constructive outlook and collaborate with all parties moving forward, according to statements made two weeks after a contentious gathering. What was intended to be merely an introductory session on Feb. 6 has left some tensions in its wake.
“We want to keep it all positive,” remarked Mark Giblin, who serves as Ruiz’s business manager and co-developer of the proposed youth center at the former CCC facility. “Negativity can be contagious and so can positivity, so we want to concentrate on the positive now…Where we’re at now is moving forward with the City and waiting for them to put out the RFP. Once that happens, we will pursue it. We already have a letter of intent from the owner, Mr. D’Amico, to operate in the building.”
Councilor Leo Robinson convened the Feb. 6 Conference on Committee with the goal of introducing the project. Instead of proceeding smoothly, members associated with Ruiz found themselves troubled by the line of questioning, and financial concerns prevented much of their presentation from being delivered.
The preliminary nature of the meeting made the intensity of the questioning troubling, according to Giblin, yet his group remains willing to engage constructively with community stakeholders.
“We made it really clear what we intended the meeting to be was an introduction,” Giblin stated. “We wanted to take off the table talk about finances and costs. We didn’t want to talk about money yet because it’s about the youth and community now. We were a bit put off because a lot of the questions then ended up being about money…We didn’t want that at all because we wanted to talk about the program with Explorers Post 109. They’ve been in the mix the whole time. We spoke with them before the meeting…We had the support of the police chief too, but we didn’t even get to that part in the meeting because it did become somewhat of an attack in a sense…I can’t speak for John, but I’ve been to Chelsea several times in the last year. I’ve begun to have a place for it in my heart. I think now us, the City Manger and the City Council just need to work together to figure this out and push everything else aside.”
Development of the former CCC Center would include a youth center featuring a boxing program backed by former heavyweight Champion John Ruiz, a Chelsea resident, alongside academic offerings and recreational activities. The downtown Chelsea location holds particular significance, with the City demonstrating strong backing for such a development.
Giblin explained that Ruiz and his associates had apologized to Post 109 for not providing written materials before the meeting, though conversations had occurred beforehand. According to Giblin, displacing the longtime organization was never part of any strategy.
“The Post has been in this plan the whole time,” Giblin noted. “They’ve always been in the proposal and always fit in the proposal. It’s part of the program. We don’t’ want to change anything that’s already there and working.”
Giblin expressed hope that Council President Damali Vidot will partner with the Ruiz team to support his efforts to benefit the community. His group stands prepared to proceed in a constructive manner, he indicated.
“A Chelsea united is much more effective than a Chelsea divided,” Giblin concluded. “That’s where we’re at now.”