Parents Protest Firing of Camp Director

C3 Sunshine Camp, a summer camp along with an after school program, was run by Camp Director Adan Pulido, who works under a contract with the Culver City Parks and Recreation Department.

Dozens of parents with children in the program appeared before the city council on Monday to protest his abrupt firing by Parks and Recreation Dept. Director Dan Hernandez several weeks ago.

Allegedly Pulido had a dispute with an unnamed city employee for using a storage room at the Stone House in Lindberg Park where the camp is held. The city employee allegedly launched a verbal attack on Pulido, lacing it with profanity.

Hernandez reportedly held a meeting with Pulido and the female city employee in question where she apologized to Pulido for the profanity used in their confrontation. Pulido was allowed to explain his side of the story. Following the meeting Hernandez cancelled Pulido’s contract.

According to parents the storage room is empty while camp is in session.

While the camp will continue operating. the after school program at El Marino has been cancelled. This left parents scrambling with only three weeks left before school starts to find suitable care for their children after school lets out.

Pulido, known to the parents as Coach P, spoke to the council about being born and raised in Culver City and how parks and recreation gave him his first job and taught him. He said Hernandez “never sat down with me and told me what I did wrong.”

He received a long standing ovation from the audience.

The city council turned a deaf ear to the large group of parents and children who turned out by rejection their request to put the item on the agenda. Council didn’t want to deal with the issue as Mayor Jim Clarke requested the parents go outside and discuss the matter with Hernandez. Obviously knowing Hernandez couldn’t speak about the matter because it was a personnel issue this unfortunate move by the mayor resulted in more anger on the part of the parents.

According to Ms. Tennant, whose son attends the camp, “….we feel our pleas are falling on deaf ears.”

Hilary Ketchum has two boys in the C3 Sunshine Camp and got very emotional while she spoke. “My boys loved Coach P so much. He brings these kids out of their shells. We are horribly disappointed by what has happened.”

Another resident, Sam Spector, spoke about the huge turnout from the community at the council meeting commenting, “This community is behind this man and we want to make sure you are too.”

Near the end of the meeting Pulido again requested the item be placed on the agenda to discuss the termination of the contract.

City Attorney Carol Schwab and City Manager John Nachbar both spoke about not being able to speak about personnel matters in a public meeting. At the request of the mayor, Nachbar agreed to meet with Pulido with the following caveat, “I am willing to meet with you (Pulido) and hear you out but I am not promising anything.”

With Councilman Goran Eriksson absent the four remaining councilmembers declined to place the item on the next council agenda.