No garbage service so Mayor can have his New Jail?

[Jim O'Bryan]

You have volunteered to be the designated whistle blower for Deck members who wish to remain anonymous with issues, concerns, insights and secrets. I would love to hear them. I’m sure others would too. I encourage you to start a separate topic and bring them out into the light for all discuss.

Charlie

This has bothered me since I saw it. One of the underlying purposes of The Observation Deck and Lakewood Observer is for residents to bring their concerns to light on their own. To take ownership of thoughts, ideas, and actions. That it is the best way to move a community forward.

I would prefer that each person bring their own concerns, and ideas to light.

FWIW


.

[Charlie Page]

You have volunteered to be the designated whistle blower for Deck members who wish to remain anonymous with issues, concerns, insights and secrets. I would love to hear them. I’m sure others would too. I encourage you to start a separate topic and bring them out into the light for all discuss.

Charlie

This has bothered me since I saw it. One of the underlying purposes of The Observation Deck and Lakewood Observer is for residents to bring their concerns to light on their own. To take ownership of thoughts, ideas, and actions. That it is the best way to move a community forward.

I would prefer that each person bring their own concerns, and ideas to light.

FWIW


.

Jim – I agree with you 100%. However, there seem to be those who are insecure, are afraid of rocking the boat or whatever. They should not hesitate to bring something up, nevertheless they do. What do you do then? Keep that discussion underground? Or bring it out in the open via someone who is willing to take the point?

I’m sure there’s backroom discussions, via PMs, amongst the Deck members on all sorts of things they don’t want to discuss in the open. Like Shelley, I am only interested in City issues. If something is eating at someone, let’s get it out in the open. Let’s discuss, dispel or escalate as necessary.

[Gary Rice]

Charlie,

Have you noticed how few are posting anymore?

Have you noticed that when they do, the personal attacks begin?

Have you noticed that the voices of reason are being stilled?

When this happens, though, the agressors do not win...

Instead, the discussion can, does, and WILL move underground.

I'm not sure why you said that Shelley volunteered to be a "whistle blower", for example...

...but this, I can assure you, with every fiber of my being.

When whistles blow, the dogs come a-runnin'.

Either we, ALL of us, learn that we should be able to post without fear or reprisal or personal acrimonious recrimination....

...or this 'Deck is finished.

Charlie, I like your last post about sticking to issues. How can we get more people to raise the bar of interchange here?

Or is it too late already?

[Gary Rice]

Oh yeah,

One thing more all....

Fewer people might be posting, but just LOOK at the lurker numbers.

People indeed are watching us...

Reading....

Thinking...

Maybe that banjo of mine's not done yet...

[Gary Rice]

A holiday reflection on the expression of one's convictions...

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.

a quote attributed to Mohandas Gandhi

Peace.

[Jim O'Bryan]

You have volunteered to be the designated whistle blower for Deck members who wish to remain anonymous with issues, concerns, insights and secrets. I would love to hear them. I’m sure others would too. I encourage you to start a separate topic and bring them out into the light for all discuss.

Charlie

I would propose that City issues, deserve the light of day, and vetting in the open. At least that was and is how the Observer board sees it.

One of the many, many frustrations that have happened since starting this project is, I went to EVERY member of council and the school board and asked them what they would need to participate in open discussions with the people that elected them. All of them said, "real names, and we will join in." Well it would seem that many have turned to hallways and backrooms, but I will not give up. The LO is a legendary project that is pulling back the covers from those that hide. We must continue to do that.

In the new year we will place a much greater emphasis on elected officials in hiding, and why they have chosen not to go public with views, ideas, conversation and plans. It will be a fascinating series of articles, that will highlight IF our public officials, can even work in public what alone serve the public.

However, to make this city as open and transparent as many claim to want, we must all take the first step. that step is ownership of our own words, actions, thoughts and ideas. Excuses are for the frail, the weak and the addle minded. In 2009, the term "no time," "can't be bothered," will follow elected and civic leaders all the way to when they ask for support, donations, and help.

2009 will be the year of transparency for Lakewood.

However we must all practice what we preach.

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
Mohandas Gandhi

FWIW


.

[Charlie Page]

[Charlie Page]

[Stephen Eisel]

I am glad that we are all having a healthy debate on this subject. At the very least, we are all guilty of being very passionate about what happend in this great come back city..

[Stephen Eisel]

edit happens

[Shelley Hurd]

I will only say this on the subject of people feeling they have no voice and on me offering to help them express their concerns, fears and disapproval.

I tried to no avail to talk to the Mayor and city council. They were rude, belittling, actually laughed at me publicly at a city council meeting, disregarded facts presented to them, questioned why a citizen would have concern over their action, grilled me if I am currently am an employee of the city or an ex-employee, who I knew, why this even mattered to me, some completely ignored me, ignored email requesting information, preferring to be like children, "If my eyes are closed you cant see me",...ect ect ect...

I have been told by a vast array of residents they have faced the same treatment and that they feel the way I do, but are afraid or lacking the time to fight for their concerns and rights.

Yes they tried to intimidate me to silence me, tried to ware me down into complacency, tried to make me feel my opinions are silly and unfounded, ignored me, ignored all residents and employees voices of opposition and reason, disregaurded almost all "Expert" advise that they after all asked for and paid for with tax dollars, or as in the case with our finance director had her made a 360 both on Lakewoods financial "outlook" and the "importance" of "back yard service""to this city and her residents....

And if I were a weaker person, with lesser abilities and frail maybe I would of given in. I am sure an untold many have. NO MORE will they have to.

I have had to try to disprove City Halls mis information, dis information and out right propaganda by quoting facts.

I have had to defend reason by having enough facts to support my arguments

I have had to gather information, contact many Federal agencies, various State agencies and institutions and untold number of OTHER cities to gather facts, formulate scenarios and DEFEND my conjectures.

Do you really think most people who are afraid, who lack the time or resources to investigate a concern should be voiceless?

Do you have any idea how many of our elderly have been hurt and who feel they have had their concerns swept under the rug . Have had their services gut and cut to pay for wi-fi, jails and to lease automated trucks…..

Or fire fighters who would like to see the whole overtime issue put to rest…one way or the other to stop the silent resentment it has fostered in residents

And the other issues affecting folks who are un empowered, disenfranchised and yes FEARFUL of the rumor and perception that the Mayor is a bully and a close minded man who will not allow reason, opposition or compassion sway him form HIS agenda. They need a voice. And they will have it.

As I stated earlier in this thread. I saw where the Mayor was going to drag this city back in March.

http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/4/6/lakewood-city-of

And I was not wrong. He has done nearly everything I warned of and he is NOT DONE.

Though at the time I wrote that piece I had Mayor Lemmings belittle me, discount my fears and yes I am sad to say, silenced me for 9 months. Well,…. NO MORE. Not this time, and never again will I stop …This time, I am NOT DONE.

From now on the voiceless, fearful and disenfranchised will have their opinion heard and given the respect every resident deserves. Since the Mayor and City Council apparently have no intention of doing this for them. I will

[Shelley Hurd]

My above post come off a tad bit more enflaming then intended.

I apologize that my frustration came blatantly through.

I can only say I never thought I would live to see the day when residents of Lakewood have been made to feel they have no right to voice opposion and that they have more to fear from their city's Mayor, then an Iraq reporter felt throwing a shoe at a President of the United States.

[Ed Dickson]

Two things.

For once, I as well am stunned that I agree with Bill Call on this whole discussion. This whole conversation has been filled with speculation and innuendos that don't seem constructive or healthy for bettering Lakewood. I also don't see the big deal with bringing garbage to the curb. Every city I've ever lived in besides Lakewood did it that way and gloom and doom didn't exist.

I also will agree with Shelley's most recent post about communication with city leaders. I appreciate some of them being willing to come on here and post to clear up issues and discussions but I have had countless e-mails and direct phone calls not returned. I'm not pestering as I only try to get in touch once every two weeks and it's always the same issue. It has gone unanswered every time with the exception of one thank you e-mail and one returned phone call in which I was told nothing has happened yet. (for those wondering, I put my name in as a candidate for the Animal Safety and Advisory Board.) This is not a one council person issue, I have tried with several of them and the mayor. If soneone, anyone, from council or the mayor is reading this, what are citizens supposed to do? If I wasn't so passionate about this issue I would have given up long ago. I would hate to think other citizens feel the same but Shelley confirms they do.


On a side note, wishing each and everyone of you a peace filled and joyous Christmas day.

Ed

[Shelley Hurd]

Two things.

I also will agree with Shelley's most recent post about communication with city leaders. I appreciate some of them being willing to come on here and post to clear up issues and discussions but I have had countless e-mails and direct phone calls not returned. I'm not pestering as I only try to get in touch once every two weeks and it's always the same issue. It has gone unanswered every time with the exception of one thank you e-mail and one returned phone call in which I was told nothing has happened yet. (for those wondering, I put my name in as a candidate for the Animal Safety and Advisory Board.) This is not a one council person issue, I have tried with several of them and the mayor. If soneone, anyone, from council or the mayor is reading this, what are citizens supposed to do? If I wasn't so passionate about this issue I would have given up long ago. I would hate to think other citizens feel the same but Shelley confirms they do.


On a side note, wishing each and everyone of you a peace filled and joyous Christmas day.

Ed

Ed,

From what others have told me and from my own experience it seems any resident who is not a Mayors Lemming has experienced subterfuge and frustration in obtaining requested public information and respectful engagement with the Mayor and City Council. So this is not just a problem you and I have experienced from this Mayor and this Council.

When I emailed Federal, State, County and many many other Ohio city ( and many other states) government entities and agencies, I had my emails replied to with in days. In some cases with in less then an hour. And the information they provided me was what I asked for and in many cases included more detail then I excepted. And always the afore-mentioned replies included a sincere and (often acted upon) offer for me to follow up.

When requesting information form Lakewood….requests are ignored, delayed and/or are forwarded to the Law Department. The information received is not what is requested, not timely and comes with no offer to follow up.

Residents should not have to fight for, beg for, plead for…public information.

Other cities have budget reports, Structural Balance report type information, studies, stats… and Video of Council meetings posted on their web sites.
Resident should only have to ask for public information once.
Receive it in a timely manner and have the department an inquiry was made to, answer the request. And have the information received be what was asked for.
If what is being asked for is unclear or needs to be directed to another department a email to that effect should be made. And a reason for directing a request to the Law Department should be a legally valid one and be stated as to why the Law department alone can comment/reply.

I mean, if what is asked by a resident and what is said by the city needs to be filtered through and answered by the law department , (who’s job is to protect the city), then maybe we have a bigger problem here then is apparent. No other city made their law department respond to any inquires. Apparently Lakewood has something to hide and/or protect.

Its Christmas, any idea what the Scrooges' and Mr. Potter have instore for the New Year?
Maybe a new jail and privatized refuse collection, and more hack and slash gut and cut economics to other city services? But hay, we can all go play with the wi-fi... weeeeee

[Jim O'Bryan]

Shelley


Did you mention that they are planning to lease the new trucks?

Do they currently lease their trucks or do we own them.

Just curious.


peace