Jim:
First off, for what it's worth...
I do have an honors degree in Political Science, so I have a fair idea how things work.
Add to that, with my years on the Community Development Block Grant Committee, I've found out a great many things about proposal-submitting organizations that want to deal with Lakewood.
Here's the deal....
A responsible city government is always looking to find ways to attain and maximize dollars and receive community services, whether sourced locally,statewide, or federally. There are a number of mechanisms by which they may do so, including drafting proposals and collaboration with community development organizations that can efficiently complete outsourced work that otherwise might overwhelm local governments.
My experience with these various development groups has been with reviewing their proposals on our committee, and with questioning those proposals as they came before that committee. There is a thorough and public screening process in place before we recommend funding to council. The Mayor presents his recommendations, but we may or may not follow them in our report to Council.
At this point, I think that it would be a good thing for all of us who may have concerns about the activities of these groups to first, approach the Mayor's office with specific questions about whatever subset issues might be on our mind.
Beyond that, each group itself will have a plan filed as public record, as to its activities with the City.
As anyone who has come before our committee will probably attest, My voice has brought out some of the most penetrating questioning on the panel.
Even the idyllic concept of kumbayah is not one that comes naturally. To run a city takes work on all of our parts, and while we will certainly not agree with every aspect of what is proposed, or even done, at the same time, we have to understand and work with the organic processes involved, even as plans and missions develop and modify over time.
It's one very understandable thing to criticize policies, as I did with the trash issue, but I think that public criticism needs to be constructive and solution-oriented in character, in order to be effective.
Many, if not all of the people who have criticized what some of these organizations are doing never once attended any of the hearings that helped to establish their mission in Lakewood.
Peace, Love, you say? Kumbayah, even?
These are not idle concepts. They have to be worked on every single day.
Especially in this city.
And you can't have a campfire, unless all are present in the circle.
Lions, lambs...all....
I remember when you brought me onboard this project. A great part of what you were hoping for, was to build the Lakewood Brand.
It is a great vision.
...and that's all I am trying to do here.
Back to the banjo...
