"How hypocritical, how embarrassing . . . "

[Alex Belisle]

My last sentence in my most recent correspondence with both the Greater Cleveland and Lakewood chapters of the League of Women Voters:

"From this point onward, the Lakewood chapter has essentially lost all credibility and its neutral, unbiased reputation in Lakewood."

Still waiting for what I can consider an honest and cogent response for their reasoning in shutting out all media in their public event since the Leagues primary reason for existence is to lend itself to the creation of an informed public about issues affecting their decisions when voting.

[Dan Alaimo]

Interesting that the point of reference for restrictions at both the library event and the LWV forum was the Kucinich press conference at the hospital where the BL boosters - especially the council person - were the ones doing the disrupting.

I think LWV can make it up to everyone by redoing the candidates event and making sure it is fully recorded, photographed and reported on. I didn't go and I don't know what was said.

[Bridget Conant]

I was thinking a redo was in order, as well.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Interesting that the point of reference for restrictions at both the library event and the LWV forum was the Kucinich press conference at the hospital where the BL boosters - especially the council person - were the ones doing the disrupting.

I think LWV can make it up to everyone by redoing the candidates event and making sure it is fully recorded, photographed and reported on. I didn't go and I don't know what was said.

Dan

That is not true. The problem at the library was that no one had asked. It is their policy, and it is legal. No one is stopped, but you have to apply in writing. Anyone could have done it that night as well.

The problem at City Hall was completely different. They cannot stop the filming, recording or video taping unless it is disruptive.

Let's look at this a slightly different way. You cannot have a closed meeting at City Hall, unless it is court, or executive session. Likewise at the library anyone can enter any room and any meeting. It is a public place. The only difference, is like the school to record, you need to request it in writing. SLH could not have stopped it. Nor could LWV or anyone at City Hall. That is the law.

SLH and Kucinich would have loved to have had the coverage. It was the library. At City Hall it was my understanding that it was both LWV and City Hall, or at least some of their goons telling people they could not record, take photos or text. All are legal.

The thing is both groups would have benefited by getting their information out.

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[Alex Belisle]

I just tweeted to the national organization of League of Women Voters: @LWV

www.lwv.org

I think the members of our chapter have to realize that they can't be manipulated or curry favor with any individual(s) or civic organizations and expect that there won't be any consequences. If their reason is solely centering around the hospital, then any logical thinking person has to realize that the only side that has anything to gain by shutting down information in a public event such as this, would be the side who wants to take down the hospital not save it. Either way, the public should have been allowed full access, not limited access.

Didn't the leadership of the Lakewood chapter think about how transparent this act of implementing a media shutdown would look?

[Stan Austin]

In one fell swoop they have reverted back to the docile Republican housewives that they were 50 years ago. Hooray for June Cleaver!

Stan Austin

[Jim O'Bryan]

I just tweeted to the national organization of League of Women Voters: @LWV

http://www.lwv.org

I think the members of our chapter have to realize that they can't be manipulated or curry favor with any individual(s) or civic organizations and expect that there won't be any consequences. If their reason is solely centering around the hospital, then any logical thinking person has to realize that the only side that has anything to gain by shutting down information in a public event such as this, would be the side who wants to take down the hospital not save it. Either way, the public should have been allowed full access, not limited access.

Didn't the leadership of the Lakewood chapter think about how transparent this act of implementing a media shutdown would look?

Alex

Honestly after speaking with some members, no they did not think of it.

Funny, League of Women Voters never even considered the First Amendment.

After hearing the cast of characters and goons at the event, everyone there had their mind made up. So you had two groups speaking to the choir. Well that seems pointless.

What bothers me is both people spoke first of the Library as if it was some form of payback. Maybe it was, but why to the Observer that has given both sides all the space they needed to get their message out. Why would the LWV turn their back on the Lakewood Observer, that publishes their information without editing at no cost for over 8 years. In the early days they offered to pay for the pages, but we turned it down.

It is far more important to get the information out.

This is how good people end up breaking laws and should underline that asking for a little light on the most important and most secretive in Lakewood's history needs to be opened up and looked at. I would love to believe the Mayor. I have for over 50 years, but he came out of the box lying, and everything since then has been equally as murky. Why?

Alex, the city you have moved to, because you fell in love with it, is starting to show its very, very evil side.

Que the City's theme song...



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