by Matt Marquardt –
MASON CITY – Following up today on the Mason City YMCA arrests, where three individuals were arrested and booked on August 1st after an investigation into an alleged “sex offense” incident on July 20th, 2012 at the Mason City YMCA, 1840 South Monroe Avenue.
I had made contact with Mason City YMCA Director Liz Conley in the wake of those arrests. I asked what some might consider some “uncomfortable questions.”
Conley wrote to me via email on August 7th: “We will be communicating with our members in the next few days. We will also release a statement to all media” and I reported this to NIT readers on August 9th.
As nearly three weeks passed, I have repeatedly asked for the press release since then, and have received no reply.
These are the questions I originally sent to Ms. Conley:
How would you describe the atmosphere in the men’s locker room?
Ever have any complaints of behavior in there? If so, describe please.
I’ve had several former and current Y members (men and significant others) tell me that the men’s locker room has a lot of strange behavior, men walking around naked for no reason, excessive staring, shaving while naked at the sinks, for example. I myself have witnessed this in the past. Is this something you and your staff have heard before, are you sensitive to this concern, and are you mindful of this behavior?
What steps are you taking to ensure that any questionable behavior in the men’s locker room is dealt with and eliminated?
Who can someone approach if they have a concern?
NIT will immediately publish any press release the YMCA sends.
Sounds like the men need to grow up and act like adults, the staff at the Y can’t help it if people act like total idiots. Here’s a thought, there are “family” changing rooms located at the Y, if you don’t like what goes on in the locker room because of pure idiots using it, use the “family” changing rooms. Then you don’t have to see what you don’t come there to see. I do agree that it would be really nice to have seperate facilities available for the young people and the adults! Maybe this can be something to look into with the space downtown.
Its becoming a place for thugs to hangout free of charge. Its why I quit. Theres a difference between helping the poor and those that cant afford memberships its good for the kids to use the facility Im all for that. Not these pukes who are perfectly capable of working and contributing but just live off the system and now the innappropriate behavior by paying members only adds to the many problems of this place and its management.
You should lower your expectations of the Y management. They cannot manage their employees, can’t even communicate when the Y hours change or when they open a new facility. It is truly amateur hour!
I know it’s not right for it to be this way, but it’s the truth…just sayin!
Just to pull this back in, the sex offenders are not from the homeless shelter. They are long-time community members.
I don’t think a single question here is out of line. There are no “gotcha” questions, just questions that will hopefully lead to a safer place to be. Thanks, Matt!
Isn’t Mercy hospital involved in the Y as well? I beleive they were involved in the rehabilitation section weren’t they?
I wonder what they think of all this?
I beleive it is time for some answers an if the Y doesn’t wish to give any there should be further investigation into what else goes on there.
They are hiding something otherwise they would have be upfront about what was going on.
THE HOMELESS SHELTER MEN CAN GO THERE FOR FREE, TOO MUCH ENTITLEMENT. THIEVES DRUG ADDICTS AND ALCOHOLICS NOT TO MENTION THE DANGEROUS FELONS. THEY GO THERE FOR NOTHING AND WE HAVE TO WORK TO PAY FOR OUR OWN MEMBERSHIP. NOT ALL OF THEM ARE COMPLETE LOSERS,BUT THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE.DESPERATE PEOPLE DO DESPERATE THINGS.WORRY FOR YOUR KIDS.
Is this true? If it is, thanks Mason City YMCA for helping to keep our kids safe. Who is on their board? Who is responsible for these decisions and what is their reasoning? Community “leaders” who serve on these boards should be called out on this stuff and use some decent judgement, not just go along to get along. Stop with the stupid stuff. Someone should do a story on this place and if it is the debacle that it appears to be the community should be made aware for safety issues alone.
Yes, when are they going to release a statement? Is is because they are the Y and they think they are too good? Well, apparently, that would be wrong. I would think the community and the members would have a right to know and also how they are going to handle this situation. The Y charges too much anyway and if I was a member and had to see all that crap going on, I would ask for a refund. Who wants to see a bunch of naked old men running around? You’ve seen on you’ve seen them all anyway! Freaks like these just continue to put Mason City on the map!
The Board & Management are extremely concerned about lawsuits !!!!! Plain & simple. Multi-million $$$$ lawsuits…. that is why there are not comments coming from Ms. Conley or Pat Tomp$on (who ba$ically run$ the place)
matt. thanks for keeping this alive. it’s something that has to be resolved. also, does anyone know when these 3 go to court? seems like it got buried awful quick.
I have talked to a lot of people who say they are dropping their membership at the “Y”. Some say they were on the verge of dropping anyway because of some of the tough people that are at the “Y” who are intimidating and stealing from members. Others just say they don’t want their kids there anymore. As a Old Member “not able to anymore” for years I can tell you there has always been nudity in the locker rooms of the “Y”. How else are you going to shower?? I do know some of the old management from the old “Y” were concerned that there was not a mens Health Club like there used to be that kept the men separate from the kids. Semms like that concern was valid. Anytime you have young people running around without clothes on you have the chance of predators trying to take advantage. The only way around that is have a attendant in the area who is responsible. Just makes sense.
yuk. shaving while naked at the sink at the Y. wheres the village people at when we need them to sing a new verse to their famous song. you can get a shave and a meal. (wieners are preferred). Little smokies are a little wrinkled andd old
Oh what the heck, they were just hanging out !!!
I would not expect a statement from the “Y”.
My guess is they would like this to go away as would the 3 dudes!