OK Anyone Up For A Serious Conversation About Lakewood?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Let's throw down some wild speculative ideas and see what anyone thinks about any of it.

Lakewood, a bar restaurant based economy is already reeling from the shutdown. There are rumors of them starting back up, but I do not know many restaurant owners that are excited about what is coming next. Will it be life at 40% for the next year, or another shut down? Both are seen as slow painful deaths. Of course as always, reataurants and their customers will sort that out.

BUT

The project shortfalls to the City of Lakewood budget is close to $1 million dollars. At one point Lakewood had a Rainy Day Fund of more than $10,000,000 including the $7 million from the Jacob's estate. All but $2 million was spent by Mayor Summers during his term. Funny I do not remember any rainy days. Anyway all but $2 million was already committed before Mayor George every to office. I think the recent State Audits will open some eyes. Doesn't matter, what matters is how does Lakewood get through this?

Massive layoffs, bankruptcies, health issues will surely lead to a city like Lakewood needing more police, more fire, more city workers not less. But where does the money come from? Who takes one for the team?

AND

While many Lakewoodites are screaming for fire trucks for birthday parties, and the need to get margaritas in a crowd, about half of Lakewood is getting ready to go down the tubes through no fault of their own. Lakewood a predominately middle middle class community means that a majority of the city is but one, or two major bumps in the road from falling off the truck. When a family starts to miss meals, and miss rent payments all sorts of bad shit follows. Let's go back to police fire, safety, city services. Do you want more or less when the fit hits the shan?

Lakewood Community Service Center at https://www.lcsclakewood.org is need need over anything and everything to help get all the members of the Lakewood community through these problems months together.

Any thoughts on this Sim City Nightmare?

[Mark Kindt]

I admire Mayor George and I recognize that she entered office during one of the most difficult years that we will ever experience. I recognize all of the challenges that she now faces. This is truly leadership boot-camp.

That said, I also recognize that she entered into office after the worst city administration ever to hold office in Lakewood's history.

I have spent most of the past several years writing about and documenting the failures of the Summers Administration and our local civic leadership that I am convinced comprehensively wrecked Lakewood in ways that can never be repaired.

In what world does civic leadership dismantle vital public/community healthcare civil infrastructure worth tens of millions of dollars?

I have one question for Mike Summers. -- Where is our hospital in our time of greatest need?

And, finally, just how did we just end-up with a giant, 6-acre empty Hole in the ground promoted by your political protege at a price point of $1?

[Jim O'Bryan]

I admire Mayor George and I recognize that she entered office during one of the most difficult years that we will ever experience. I recognize all of the challenges that she now faces. This is truly leadership boot-camp.

That said, I also recognize that she entered into office after the worst city administration ever to hold office in Lakewood's history.

I have spent most of the past several years writing about and documenting the failures of the Summers Administration and our local civic leadership that I am convinced comprehensively wrecked Lakewood in ways that can never be repaired.

In what world does civic leadership dismantle vital public/community healthcare civil infrastructure worth tens of millions of dollars?

I have one question for Mike Summers. -- Where is our hospital in our time of greatest need?

And, finally, just how did we just end-up with a giant, 6-acre empty Hole in the ground promoted by your political protege at a price point of $1?

Mark

I have read most if not all your posts, and tour documentation of the failure of the Summers Administrations and failure of his followers is just amazing.

But, while looking back we need to face forward.

Some prefer self promotion and diversion, but Observers have always had a great history of looking forward.

Indeed some of the best thinking and writing about days like we are in now, are on the Deck from years 2004-2012, when the hijacking was started.

It is amazing the piece Matt Kuhns brought back up from Tom George, and when he was Mayor to show just how good and thoughtful Lakewood used to be.

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[Bret Callentine]

One thing's for sure, we're about to find out who REALLY loves this city, and who's just living here.

To truly recover, will take a lot of hard work from everyone.

Leadership will have to develop a new model for economic self sufficiency, are we a retail based economy? service industry/food/bars? Can we bring in corporate base, or even develop small levels of manufacturing, etc? Or are we going to try to operate primarily on property taxes? It's a hard question, but it will take a deliberate plan of action to pull off, no matter what direction is decided upon.

As for the citizens, we're all going to have to "take one for the team" if we're going to rally. That means going out of your way to support local businesses and people. Shop at Geigers, when Amazon might be more convenient. Look out for your neighbors (even the ones you don't like that much). mow lawns, pick up trash. And more importantly, volunteer as a crossing guard. Tutor a kid at the library if you can. I would suggest that we're really going to need to step up our game with regards to a volunteer fire fighter force and possibly even citizens police auxiliary force. We're all going to need to get more involved, because providing the level services we want will no longer be able to be simply purchased.

I've always loved Jim's assessment that the real focus of Lakewood should always be; Clean, Safe, Fun. The issue that's before us is that we can no longer simply demand that the city provide those things for us. We're going to have to make them happen ourselves.

If Lakewood is going to be that place where everyone wants to live, we're really going to have to focus on being front porch neighbors, not back yard tenants.

[Jim O'Bryan]

One thing's for sure, we're about to find out who REALLY loves this city, and who's just living here.

To truly recover, will take a lot of hard work from everyone.

I've always loved Jim's assessment that the real focus of Lakewood should always be; Clean, Safe, Fun. The issue that's before us is that we can no longer simply demand that the city provide those things for us. We're going to have to make them happen ourselves.

If Lakewood is going to be that place where everyone wants to live, we're really going to have to focus on being front porch neighbors, not back yard tenants.

Brett

Actually it was a little more libertarian than that. The Lakewood Observer concept from day one was, "Clean, Safe Fun" let the city worry about Clean and Safe, and create a community that would support and underwrite the fun.

Of course 2 years after the LO was formed a group of "civic leaders" formed a new group to control as much as it coul. The first thing that happened was massive over-control coming from those in power. Lakewood Observer started 5 groups. LEAF, Bike Lakewood, Lakewood is Art, MAMA aka Uptown, DADA. Within one year all had been co-opted one way or another into being the fundraising arm for a small group of Lakewoodites, that ended up using their new found "power" to change Lakewood in their really myopic vision. LPL front porch concerts, were first to go, then LEAF, then Bike... All so that one group could control the messages to "Make Lakewood Great Again." People that could never wrap their head around the gold in Lakewood was the residents. Not controlling the residents and turning them upside down and shake their money out.

The concept was residents together without any need to waste money on management, offices, self promotion. But to put it all into positive change at little or NO COST to the community. This is also the foundation of the Lakewood Observer, and why I do not get a paycheck. This was the part of the "Visionary Alignment for Lakewood" which appeared first in 2004. Only to be lifted by those that need to control for their own bullshit "Visionary..." If they ever had an idea, or at least their own idea they might have been dangerous. Ken always laughed, "They have successfully completed nothing, don't worry." In the end he realized just how foul they were, and what they were up too. This is when he was basically run out of town. This town hates thinkers that think for themselves.

I digress, now more than ever the City of Lakewood needs to adopt the very idea we put forward back in 2004. If not, it is truly the end as Kindt predicts.

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