Justine Cooper wrote:
On a Lakewood note, after reading the PD Sunday, and the front page being focused on the declining housing market, I noticed three stories of people not being able to sell their home, and one story of a professional couple CHOOSING LAKEWOOD FOR VARIOUS REASONS AND GETTING A STEAL OF A HOUSE FOR A GREAT PRICE! Not only great PR for Lakewood, but it really got me thinking about how, as the devastation gets worse and worse for house owners and thus the economy, Lakewood COULD be "the last man/city standing" after it bottoms out. I really believe that, and I think it comes down to simple things that are already in place:
1. You can get a great house for less money;
2. walkability and access to Cleveland and highways of course;
3. The gorgeous new schools, regardless of opinions against them, they will be huge asset and attraction to home buyers for a long time coming!;
4. Love or hate JOB, the groundwork that he has laid out with not just the Observer, which I now see as an integral catalyst for helping to "save" Lakewood, but all the projects that he has sprung from this innovative paper, including but not limited to LEAF (I think he helped launched but apologies if I am incorrect), MAMA, DADA, LIA, and the various other community volunteer programs that have been initiated TO DO GOOD THINGS IN LAKEWOOD WITHOUT A NEED FOR SALARIES OR MORE TAXES;
5. The shops and little businesses-yes people still love the charm of those which is why so many dedicate time to keep those alive! They make us different!
6. The parks and libraries of course which are miles above other communities IMHO and view of the lake from one.
Justine
Oh My God, how did I miss this one!
Thank you, thank you from the board!
I would like to add to these thoughts. This is not just laid out by JOB. I have /had the help of some of the brightest most innovative minds in Lakewood. Go back and look at everything the LO and board members have been doing and what we have been preaching from day one.
Food Security - LEAF
Biking - Bike Lakewood
ART - Lakewood Is Art
Fun - Lakewood Motoring Society
Business - MAMA / DADA
Economics - Community Currency
Cost Savings - Emerald Canyon Co Op
Security - Walk Lakewood
and another 30 programs not even talked about yet.
Yes, it is the infamous Visionary Alignment For Lakewood. the thing many tried to paint as some evil thought process to drag Lakewood down is just the opposite. A plan to save Lakewood from the very small thinkers, who would love nothing more than to turn Lakewood into another empty strip mall, a county dump or something else not controlled by the city that has its future in its own hands right now.
Go back and read the threads from the first year, you will be shocked. As it was mentioned then and again now. The city is cash poor, but resident rich. Poor in what the city can afford to do and wealthy in what the citizens can do. So how do we empower citizens to do more, while the city works on SAFE and CLEAN? Pretty simple a newspaper, and a forum where people use real names, can meet and work together.
I would like to go one step further right now. Think of the "movers and shakers" that stay away or do not take part? Why? Are they too good to share their ideas for Lakewood? Is it better to vet ideas and visions, or to form little coffee clatches to spring on the public later? I truly hope the era of secret meetings to decide the future of Lakewood is over.
Last week I was reminded but one of the "movers and shakers" of this community that the LO is biased, and has an agenda. that his views were not shared by the Observer. I then asked when did he post his views? The answer was "rarely." I then asked where were his articles for the paper, and he said, "well I have sent some in, but not about what I think is important for Lakewood to know." I then asked if the ones he sent in were published, and he admitted yes they were with no edits or anti-editorials.
Of course we all know my answer, "Well put up or shut up."
The Lakewood Observer is nothing more than a FREE tool for City Hall, the Chamber, MAMA, DADA, LIA, MainStreet, The Hospital, LakewoodAlive, Bike Lakewood, Lakewood Motoring Society, the Schools and the residents to use to get information, without prejudice, editing or fear of not being printed.
Think about that, right now the City is studying ways to get information out, and create a new website. Meanwhile the Observer sits FREE and ready to do it. The schools, looked for a way to get information out and create a website then ended up going out of town and spending $40,000 and hours and hours studying it, yet the Observer sits here community owned FREE and willing to help. What is their fear of working hand in hand with the residents on the community owned paper?
None of us on the Advisory Board can make any sense from this dramatic pull back, at this waste of time and money by schools and city, when they claim money, time and effort is tight.
In 2008 we will again roll out a couple new projects, like all the rest we have launched, designed to move the city forward, without prejudice, our only agenda, the same from day one. Allow residents, business, politicians, teachers to know and understand more about Lakewood than ever before. To make all information more accessable, FREE and available without edits, attitudes, or complications. Through that we can help to see a future for Lakewood that is CLEAN, SAFE, GREEN and FUN.
FWIW
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