My apology

[Jim O'Bryan]

My apology to members of LakewoodAlive, and especially the board members of LakewoodAlive, who all all very good people and working to make Lakewood better.

I let my personal opinions of two of the founders, get in the way of clear and rational thought. This was escalated, through back channels conversations and attacks. I should have realized nothing said would have change their actions, and more importantly, as I have been assured they do not speak for the LakewoodAlive Board.

As many see me as being the voice of the Lakewood Observer, I would like to say that my comments about LakewoodAlive that were actually directed at two founders, do not represent my board, nor the members of the Lakewood Observer. I would also point out, that EVERYONE at the Lakewood Observer from board member to deck member has but one voice, their own.

I am truly sorry.


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[Gary Rice]

My dear late grandmother once gave me an interesting life lesson, when I tried to apologize to her.

She told me words to this effect "Never apologize, an apology is simply a lie. You said it, you meant it. End of story."

I thought long and hard about that statement. I also can say from hindsight that she unfortunately passed away pretty much alone in the world, having not too many friends left.

While, on it's face, I do see her point, the truth is that we all from time to time do and say things that we regret.

It takes courage to express remorse and regrets publically.

We can't control what others do or say, but we can indeed measure our responses.

Jim, thanks for your remarks this morning.

I think that all of us who have looked to your leadership appreciate them.

[chris richards]

shouldn't this be in the new lakewood alive section of the deck? the other thread was moved there, and while i didn't think a new section was going to be made, i thought that if it were, all discussion about LA would be there as well...

[Jim O'Bryan]

As for my apology, I wanted it to stand by itself, and not get lost in a series of posts and discussions.

FWIW


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[chris richards]

i think it would stand longer and be noticed more as a thread in the LA section though, don't you. Here it will just get bumped down, and lost in pages and pages and pages of threads to be forgotten that it ever existed.

but that's just my opinion.

[Jim O'Bryan]

i think it would stand longer and be noticed more as a thread in the LA section though, don't you. Here it will just get bumped down, and lost in pages and pages and pages of threads to be forgotten that it ever existed.

but that's just my opinion.

Chris

Your opinion here is valued, and I will work to keep it up at the top.

I wanted to correct thread drift from the LA thread and break some of this out for serious discussion on its own. Gentrification, back room dealing, and the comfort level of any member of Lakewood needs to be discussed and hopefully addressed in the light of day.

I just want to make sure that it is understood, I was way over the top with LakewoodAlive, when it was merely two rogue agents provocateurs that caused the issues to boil over. As I said, it was made clear to me, they do not speak for the board, and I accept that.

As always thank you for taking part.

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[sharon kinsella]

I am very happy to hear that they do not speak for the board.

As someone who truly has not been involved with this organization, the impression I had from the type of discourse that was presented by the two representatives that appeared here, was troubling.

There is so much that could be accomplished by an organization like this. I truly did not feel that I could speak honestly with the group if those two were represenentative.


It would be good for the rest of the organization to evaluate the series of events involved in this attempt at conversation.

[stephen davis]

Jim,

PROBLEM ONE:

You and I are constantly exploring the serious and the insane. Like many others, we participate here, and in the paper, with seriousness, folly, optimism, cynicism, passion, satire, respect, irreverence, accuracy, fabrications, humor, and maybe insanity. We mix these up enough to possibly confuse other participants. Many people just can’t handle the asymmetry of the conversations here. As much fun as we have together, people probably don’t suspect that even you and I fight like cats and dogs. I’m sure others are the same. Mix in all the other participants and their passionate arguments and explorations, and these Observation Deck events have all of the dynamics of a family fight. It’s all fun until somebody gets hurt.

I don’t enjoy the deck becoming mean, but I don’t think we should all back down from serious, or fun, explorations of our community, residents, and leaders. Passions must be expressed, and risks must be taken for Lakewood to progress. Good and bad ideas/plans should be exposed for what they are, so they can be adopted, adjusted, or abandoned.

PARTIAL SOLUTION:

People are going to have to accept some of this, and take the initiative to parse out what are important elements of the conversation.



PROBLEM TWO:

You are in a unique position in this community. For better, and worse, you have way more contact with every faction that any of us. You are an insider to more information, conflicts, attacks, infighting, and threats, than anyone knows. You are privy to probably too much back channel stuff, and I know you don’t expose even a fraction of it, but when you comment on some of these things, there is often a lack of context for others. They are only getting part of the story. You need to be aware of this because others can misinterpret your messages and actions.

I think Ed Fitzgerald was brave to enter the fray, and his comments were an appropriate response to your words in the LakewoodAlive thread. Unfortunately, he could only react to the written manifestations of your frustrations and arguments, without full background. That’s not his fault.

PARTIAL SOLUTION:

You need to define your targets better, and aim better with your words.



Steve

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[Tim Liston]

[stephen davis]

Jim O’Bryan says….

As I have been assured they do not speak for the LakewoodAlive Board.

Jim who said that? Which board members? Was it Rensel, Gustin, McGorray or Brosky? Dave Shaw, Baker, Berkshire or Beegan? Or maybe Clark, Doi, or Fach? Or maybe Estrop or Geiger or Nathan Kelly or Tim Laskey or Councilwoman Madigan or McConnell or Ott or Paula Reed or Councilman Summers….?

Tim,

Then who does speak for LakewoodAlive? Isn't it a problem if nobody does?

Not a single LakewoodAlive board member has weighed in here on the Deck except Jay Foran and obviously he did not say there is any dissention within the organization.

Okay, then does Jay speak for LakewoodAlive? Are you implying that the entire board agrees with Jay's posts here?

Your buddy Steve promotes you as an insider so please just let us know….

I'm not saying he's an insider on everything, but I know that people line up daily to rat out every person and organization in town to Jim and others related to the Lakewood Observer.


Steve

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[Jim O'Bryan]

Tim

I never said, every LakewoodAlive board member, but now after looking at the list, I would say I am nearing a majority.

Another thing I noticed from your list, it would seem to be a nightmare of conflicts of interest...

Back to my apology. You are going to let me apologize to the LakewoodAlive Board members right, Tim?

So let me get this correct for you...Tim Liston (either speaking on behalf or not of the LakewoodAlive Board) has indicated that the LakewoodAlive Board could be in full agreement with the attack on Lakewood residents and tax payers. That LakewoodAlive should not answer public funding questions pertaining to spooky pooch, the way finding program, or salaries*, and the Lakewood Observer, not the city, is "Jimmyville." That Jay Foran was "jamminman" and that the birds are the Farris, out of the closets forever, "without dissention within the organization."

Fully knowing and understanding that, I still apologize to the LakewoodAlive Board, save two, for my harsh comments.**

Tim is that better?



Jim O'Bryan

* I am a member of LakewoodAlive and supporter

** I prefer to think the emails and calls were honest.


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[Christopher Bindel]

Wow, I must say I am pretty confused. I have read all these Lakewood Alive threads trying to figure out exactly what is going on but haven't been able to put it all together. I am member of Lakewood Alive which is why I am interested, but as a recent college graduate I haven't been around much until last month and their for have not been able to keep up with all the politics. Now I know Lakewood Alive merged, but I don't know much of the details about that. I just know I felt concerned about LA staying the same. Can anyone explain to me what is happening, who is doing what, what the problems are, etc.

[Christopher Bindel]

Ok, so I have been reading the the signage thread, at its great length, and discovered that that is where this discussion started. So I now understand the issue of transparency and the fact that they choose a designer outside of Lakewood for the project. Is there anything else? Any other problems with the organization I have missed that have brought the Beck to this point?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Ok, so I have been reading the the signage thread, at its great length, and discovered that that is where this discussion started. So I now understand the issue of transparency and the fact that they choose a designer outside of Lakewood for the project. Is there anything else? Any other problems with the organization I have missed that have brought the Beck to this point?

Christopher

I would not confuse my issues with those of yourself or others.

My problem was as a sponsor and member, two LA spokespeople(?) came in with insults to some and a treasure hunt for answers to others. I thought it was totally inappropriate for any 501C3 organization to do, especially when they are also looking for support from residents and businesses.

That said, LakewoodAlive was a group that had promised to teach Lakewoodites about the need for economic development, and to NEVER be an advocate. Then it morphed into an advocate group, and is now a CDC that is actually implementing change in this city.

With that said I am still a member and support the good work of the board, though I do wish they would make the process more transparent, and try to get their spokespeople to be more willing to answer questions to people outside of their inner circle.

Do not give up.


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[Christopher Bindel]

Thanks for your reply. I understand that these are your opinions and not to be taken as anything else. Thank you for stating that as so. But as I said I have read a descent amount of the signage thread and have made up my own mind about what was said. I just wanted to make sure I understood what all the hubbub was about.

Thanks again!