The Observation Deck

m buckley wrote:Mr. Mager, the quote is "they are not this community." It's a hope, a belief, that the Summers cabal does not represent what Lakewood aspires to .That lies and manipulation are not the norm. That we as a community are better than that. Better than them.
I never said " that they are not of this community." Just the opposite, they are the product of decades of political inbreeding. They are the entrenched power in this community with a death grip on truth and transparency. The question that hangs in the balance , is how many of us will stand up and say no more of this, no more of you and your perverse take on democracy.

Exactly.

Patrick Wadden wrote:In response to cmager question: They are all lifelong Lakewoodites. They have lived here and continue to live here. Summer's, Pea, Butler, etc are all here and staying here. Can someone bring evidence and proof that they are getting money or favors? Probably not. I need HARD proof. Give me a one fact that proves that they are "on the take" and personally benefiting. I need hard proof that they are receiving money as a result of their decisions.

Wadden, ever a defender of this City Hall, is using the "Citizens United" line of logic here. Unless you can show him a cancelled check of funds deposited into a politicians personal account, he will deny that there is ever a quid pro quo.

This ignores that political contributions are a means to power, which is what many politicians crave.
As for "who is receiving money as a result of their decisions", Butler and Pae are at the front of the line. They both serve at the pleasure of the Mayor...if they don't toe the line, he'll find someone that does to take their jobs.

On a side note, the Supreme Court's ruling on former VA Governor Bob McDonnell will likely spark numerous appeals by convicted politicians, including our very own Jimmy Dimora.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/poli ... /90020176/

The repeated lies and manipulations are enough to enrage any thoughtful, informed person. But to me, it's the BETRAYAL that is so disconcerting.

The people that supposedly represent us, and should have our best interests at heart, betrayed us for sketchy promises of "economic development," which will prove to be false and disappointing.

They betrayed the poor, they betrayed the elderly, they betrayed the sick, they betrayed the tax paying citizens; they betrayed ALL OF US.

And for what?

It didn't scan very well but here's issue 5.