Is there a public right to receive a complete duplication of every city record?

[Lori Allen _]

Don't worry Kevin. There are many persons who, like Mr. Essi, have been working on other issues within the city. He definitely is not alone.

[Bridget Conant]

By the way, David Anderson's post was wildly misleading and I suspect it was deliberately so.

For example, he writes:

The primary request in question was for all email communications to and from Mayor Summers from 1/1/2011 to 3/15/2016. This is over 137,000 emails. Some of these would likely be personal and not public record. However, to determine which ones are and are not public record, the court would need five sets of each of the 137,000 produced (I guess there are five people who will be assigned a set, review individually, then come together to compare notes). If each email were just one page, this would total a 685,000 page zerox copying job – minimum

This is amusingly misplaced outrage.

The court order is online for all to read. They did not ask for copies of every record requested. The court requested copies of any requested record WITHHELD OR REDACTED by the City of Lakewood.

Only those records the city wants to prevent from being released must be presented to the court so THE COURT CAN DECIDE if the records truly are exempt under state law. THe court wants to see for themselves if the city is withholding them in good faith or if they are distorting the law for their own benefit.

There is no way that 685,000 pages are going to be presented to the court, because that is not what they were asked to do.

So Mr Anderson, did you pull those figures out of a hat? Did you not understand the court order? Or were you misinformed by your trusty law director and "record keeper?"

[T Peppard]

By the way, David Anderson's post was wildly misleading and I suspect it was deliberately so.

For example, he writes:

The primary request in question was for all email communications to and from Mayor Summers from 1/1/2011 to 3/15/2016. This is over 137,000 emails. Some of these would likely be personal and not public record. However, to determine which ones are and are not public record, the court would need five sets of each of the 137,000 produced (I guess there are five people who will be assigned a set, review individually, then come together to compare notes). If each email were just one page, this would total a 685,000 page zerox copying job – minimum

This is amusingly misplaced outrage.

The court order is online for all to read. They did not ask for copies of every record requested. The court requested copies of any requested record WITHHELD OR REDACTED by the City of Lakewood.

Only those records the city wants to prevent from being released must be presented to the court so THE COURT CAN DECIDE if the records truly are exempt under state law. THe court wants to see for themselves if the city is withholding them in good faith or if they are distorting the law for their own benefit.

There is no way that 685,000 pages are going to be presented to the court, because that is not what they were asked to do.

So Mr Anderson, did you pull those figures out of a hat? Did you not understand the court order? Or were you misinformed by your trusty law director and "record keeper?"

Excellent post, Bridget. Justifying this egregious behavior is unacceptable. Perpetuating it is even worse.

[Kate McCarthy]

By the way, David Anderson's post was wildly misleading and I suspect it was deliberately so.

The timing I guess was more a reaction to the court proceedings than to an encounter at the library. And I do get the impression that Councilman Anderson doesn't dive into court records on his own and relies on the opinions of the likes of Kevin Butler to draw his conclusions regarding matters he hasn't studied at all. If I am wrong here, I would hope the person who started this thread would chime in.

There's a mountain of objective evidence that seems to be largely ignored by our council members. Decanting plans and a city employee harassing residents just to name a few. And to not investigate the finance director's 24-7 social media presence. I have complained that council is Summer's rubber stamp and people have that is not the case. I would love to see any evidence to the contrary.

[Kate McCarthy]

By the way, David Anderson's post was wildly misleading and I suspect it was deliberately so.

The timing I guess was more a reaction to the court proceedings than to an encounter at the library. And I do get the impression that Councilman Anderson doesn't dive into court records on his own and relies on the opinions of the likes of Kevin Butler to draw his conclusions regarding matters he hasn't studied at all. If I am wrong here, I would hope the person who started this thread would chime in.

There's a mountain of objective evidence that seems to be largely ignored by our council members. Decanting plans and a city employee harassing residents just to name a few. And to not investigate the finance director's 24-7 social media presence. I have complained that council is Summer's rubber stamp and people have said that is not the case. I would love to see any evidence to the contrary.

[Bridget Conant]

They really go through such contortions to justify withholding public records.

You have to ask yourself, "Why?"

Why are they so desperate to keep these records from public scrutiny?

Why is the Cleveland Clinic even involved in this?

There's an old saying, "where there is smoke, there is fire."

[Mark Kindt]

All I am looking for is a basic sense of honesty with respect to our local government. We also deserve some basic compliance with typical standards of ethics in government. Obviously, our local government has a duty to comply with the laws on the books.

What bothers me so much about Mr. Anderson's post is that it is phrased in typical City Hall hyperbole. Every element related to the public records issue is presented as an extreme case in an exaggerated manner.

There is no attempt to honestly examine why the City should delay, impede or oppose the records requests. Who knows? The City might actually have a good reason.

The City might actually have had a good reason to close Lakewood Hospital. But in typical City Hall style the "reasons" were cast in terms of hyperbole and other styles of hype. Right down to the phony local newspaper distributed in the Fall of 2015.

Voters in America are angry across the board. This anger is largely based on the sense that our elected officials know no shame when it comes to "spin". Every communication from a public official now starts with spin, rather than an honest or sincere statement of the known facts.

We are all familiar with how media works. We all know how to recognize spin. Spin always erodes credibility. Spin, upon spin, erodes both credibility and confidence.

A complete and timely release of the withheld public records is the only way for the City to regain any credibility with the citizenry.

[Dan Alaimo]

All I am looking for is a basic sense of honesty with respect to our local government. We also deserve some basic compliance with typical standards of ethics in government. Obviously, our local government has a duty to comply with the laws on the books.

What bothers me so much about Mr. Anderson's post is that it is phrased in typical City Hall hyperbole. Every element related to the public records issue is presented as an extreme case in an exaggerated manner.

There is no attempt to honestly examine why the City should delay, impede or oppose the records requests. Who knows? The City might actually have a good reason.

The City might actually have had a good reason to close Lakewood Hospital. But in typical City Hall style the "reasons" were cast in terms of hyperbole and other styles of hype. Right down to the phony local newspaper distributed in the Fall of 2015.

Voters in America are angry across the board. This anger is largely based on the sense that our elected officials know no shame when it comes to "spin". Every communication from a public official now starts with spin, rather than an honest or sincere statement of the known facts.

We are all familiar with how media works. We all know how to recognize spin. Spin always erodes credibility. Spin, upon spin, erodes both credibility and confidence.

A complete and timely release of the withheld public records is the only way for the City to regain any credibility with the citizenry.

Excellent, clear summation of what I'm thinking. Thanks, Mark.

[Kate McCarthy]

All I am looking for is a basic sense of honesty with respect to our local government. We also deserve some basic compliance with typical standards of ethics in government. Obviously, our local government has a duty to comply with the laws on the books.

What bothers me so much about Mr. Anderson's post is that it is phrased in typical City Hall hyperbole. Every element related to the public records issue is presented as an extreme case in an exaggerated manner.

There is no attempt to honestly examine why the City should delay, impede or oppose the records requests. Who knows? The City might actually have a good reason.

The City might actually have had a good reason to close Lakewood Hospital. But in typical City Hall style the "reasons" were cast in terms of hyperbole and other styles of hype. Right down to the phony local newspaper distributed in the Fall of 2015.

Voters in America are angry across the board. This anger is largely based on the sense that our elected officials know no shame when it comes to "spin". Every communication from a public official now starts with spin, rather than an honest or sincere statement of the known facts.

We are all familiar with how media works. We all know how to recognize spin. Spin always erodes credibility. Spin, upon spin, erodes both credibility and confidence.

A complete and timely release of the withheld public records is the only way for the City to regain any credibility with the citizenry.

Well said and reflects how so many feel. You see town halls with elected officials throughout the country with chants of "Shame" and "Do your job." When did "do your job" become too much to ask?

I feel like a broken record, but this is where, in my opinion, they all collectively chose spin first, and governing second. Where they put up a literal wall between elected representatives and those they claim to serve.

Shame.

[dl meckes]

Some of these would likely be personal and not public record.

Why would personal business be conducted from City computers?

This raises a number of other concerns regarding using City resources for campaigning, etc.

[Dan Alaimo]

Some of these would likely be personal and not public record.

Why would personal business be conducted from City computers?

This raises a number of other concerns regarding using City resources for campaigning, etc.

Wild guess here: considering the number of people who have done jail time at the county level, and that the local prosecutor (also the records guardian) can't protect them, this is the biggest reason they are holding back.

Here's some detective work Brian Essi did last fall that indicates strongly that there might be fire generating the smoke we see:
http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewt ... +city+hall

[T Peppard]

...they all collectively chose spin first, and governing second. Where they put up a literal wall between elected representatives and those they claim to serve.

Shame.

I watch this and just can't believe it. No greater harm has been done to our city. For Councilman Anderson to continue to justify this secretive, unethical behavior is wrong. Yes, we have a right to those digital records. Why isn't he questioning the hiring of a convicted criminal to threaten SLH supporters? UNACCEPTABLE. Why did he and the others choose public office, if not to represent their constituents?

[mjkuhns]

Of some relevance, at this point.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect

[dl meckes]

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=23298&hilit=computer+campaign+city+hall

At least that citation doesn't show Uldricks working on Summers' campaign website.

[Lori Allen _]

I said from very early on that no sitting council member would have the courage to say "no" to Summers. This is nothing new. Council has virtually been Summers' "rubber stamp" since the start of Summers reign, to use the kindest words possible. There are many other synonyms that could be more fitting.

Council had two choices: say "no" and report any suspicious or unethical behavior to the authorities or stay silent. Apparently, they have chosen to stay silent, and that could very well lead to them sinking with the ship, known as the U.S.S. Summers.