Community Rally for Lakewood's Future

Bryan Schwegler · Post by **Bryan Schwegler** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 5:23 pm

stephen davis wrote:Joe,

You actually came to a thread named "Community Rally for Lakewood's Future" to find out news about "the High School arrest"?

Next you need to find out specific news about Lakewood, you should probably choose a more appropriate thread, or start a new one.

Steve

I believe he came to the Deck, not this specific thread.

Joseph Milan · Post by **Joseph Milan** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 5:28 pm

stephen davis wrote:Joe,

You actually came to a thread named "Community Rally for Lakewood's Future" to find out news about "the High School arrest"?

Next you need to find out specific news about Lakewood, you should probably choose a more appropriate thread, or start a new one.

Steve

No Steve, I looked for a discussion regarding the arrest and saw none. Having not been on the Observer site in some time, I looked to see what my councilman was discussing.

The fact that no one is discussing the high school situtation speaks volumes about many of the people who post here regularly. Their silence is deafening.

JM

stephen davis · Post by **stephen davis** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 5:28 pm

Bryan Schwegler wrote:I believe he came to the Deck, not this specific thread.

Bryan,

Did you read his post? What thread was it on?

Is everyone drinking the Kool-Aid?

Steve

stephen davis · Post by **stephen davis** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 5:33 pm

Joe,

Rather than hijack this thread, why don't you start a new one? There are probably a lot of people that would like to hear what you have to say about your topic?

I promise that I will read it with interest.

Steve

P.S. Welcome back.

Bryan Schwegler · Post by **Bryan Schwegler** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 5:41 pm

stephen davis wrote:
Bryan Schwegler wrote:I believe he came to the Deck, not this specific thread.

Bryan,

Did you read his post? What thread was it on?

Is everyone drinking the Kool-Aid?

Steve

Yes I did read it. What I didn't do, which you apparently did, was read into it.

You're placing a meaning into his post that wasn't there, as he himself even explained to you. He was making a point about his opinion of some of the content in this thread.

I suggest you go back to your Kool-Aid.

dl meckes · Post by **dl meckes** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 5:52 pm

The last time City Hall tried to push a big vision, we ended up with the 47 mess.

I'm not so enamored of politicians with a vision unless it includes keeping citizens safe, streets fixed, garbage picked up, etc.

I don't want City Hall tearing down parts of town to erect shopping centers.

And the next time I hear someone belly-aching about "this administration" I hope it isn't coming from anyone who is elected and therefore part of "this administration."

Bryan Schwegler · Post by **Bryan Schwegler** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 6:08 pm

dl meckes wrote:The last time City Hall tried to push a big vision, we ended up with the 47 mess.

I'm not so enamored of politicians with a vision unless it includes keeping citizens safe, streets fixed, garbage picked up, etc.

I don't want City Hall tearing down parts of town to erect shopping centers.

I agree, I don't think the plan needs to be grandiose, but there needs to be a plan.

I would hope that the mayor has a vision of how to make Lakewood better. I hope there is some creative ideas they can bring to the table.

There are some large issues confronting Lakewood that need to be handled. I want to hear how mayoral candidates plan to deal with them.

Danielle Masters · Post by **Danielle Masters** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:43 pm

And the next time I hear someone belly-aching about "this administration" I hope it isn't coming from anyone who is elected and therefore part of "this administration."

I'd have to disagree with that statement. Council can pass all the ordinances they want but its the mayor's job to enforce them.

And just so it's clear that I understand you correctly then Congress is part of the Bush administration so they shouldn't be complaining? Do you care to retract your statement?

Jeff Endress · Post by **Jeff Endress** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:51 pm

Quote:
And the next time I hear someone belly-aching about "this administration" I hope it isn't coming from anyone who is elected and therefore part of "this administration."

I'd have to disagree with that statement. Council can pass all the ordinances they want but its the mayor's job to enforce them.

Which is indicative of the attitude of an inability to cooperate for the greater good over concerns over "council's turf" or "mayoral power".

So, Danielle, what ordinances has this council passed that the Mayor has refused to enforce?

Or .....what ordinances has the Mayor sought that council has deferred or refused?

Jeff[/quote]

dl meckes · Post by **dl meckes** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:31 pm

Danielle Masters wrote:
And the next time I hear someone belly-aching about "this administration" I hope it isn't coming from anyone who is elected and therefore part of "this administration."

I'd have to disagree with that statement. Council can pass all the ordinances they want but its the mayor's job to enforce them.

And just so it's clear that I understand you correctly then Congress is part of the Bush administration so they shouldn't be complaining? Do you care to retract your statement?

No, I don't care to retract my statement, but thanks, anyway.

Charyn Compeau · Post by **Charyn Compeau** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:46 pm

DL -

I agree that we don't need to tear down half of the city to build a TJ max or Wal-mart per se; however, I have to wonder if we would not do well to consider what we DO want to do?

Is it productive to say 'change nothing'? I don' believe that you or anyone else believes that; however, every change will anger or upset someone.

I think about how the Gold Coast, Marc's, Lakewood Center, etc. all came to be...

Houses were torn down, little shops evicted and buildings sold.

Development happened and for the most part we are glad today that it did.

That is what I think of when I think of vision - but most importantly - it is a vision that listens to and respects the thoughts, opinions and feelings of the residents of Lakewood.

Its a hard line to walk.

Just my random thots....

Always,

Charyn

dl meckes · Post by **dl meckes** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 4:34 pm

Is it productive to say 'change nothing'? I don' believe that you or anyone else believes that; however, every change will anger or upset someone.

I think about how the Gold Coast, Marc's, Lakewood Center, etc. all came to be...

Houses were torn down, little shops evicted and buildings sold.

Development happened and for the most part we are glad today that it did.

As a matter of fact, one building of the Gold Coast took my grandfather's home.

I would also not equate Marc's Plaza and the Gold Coast. Is Marc's Plaza an improvement that added to Lakewood? Well, no, not in my opinion. The Gold Coast has been beneficial.

Is Walgreene's on 117th an improvement over the historic building that was there? Well, no, not in my opinion.

Is the Library addition an improvement over what was there? A thousand times YES!

My feelings about the shops at West End are pretty well known. I strongly disagreed with the financing and the location, for instance.

I keep hearing about plans from people who have a vision for Lakewood, except they don't seem to be interested in trying to optimize what we have.

Would your "vision" and mine differ? I'm sure it would.

I have a real knee-jerk reaction to "vision" and "no vision" remarks and how government fits into the whole concept.

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 4:44 pm

dl meckes wrote:
I would also not equate Marc's Plaza and the Gold Coast. Is Marc's Plaza an improvement that added to Lakewood? Well, no, not in my opinion. The Gold Coast has been beneficial.

DL

Excellent point.

I have not heard of one person that does not think that Marc's Plaza is a complete travesty and has destroyed the entire flavor of downtown Lakewood.

Even those most in favor of Economic Development mention Marc's along with, "Well not like Marc's."

This is what happens when people follow trends instead of solid thinking as to what can really work.

FWIW

.

Danielle Masters · Post by **Danielle Masters** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:00 pm

So, Danielle, what ordinances has this council passed that the Mayor has refused to enforce?

The big ones that come to mind of recent are strategic planning and chronic nuisance law. I might add that code violation enforcement is pretty lackadaisical, or at least it looks like that to me as I walk my kids to school everyday. What upsets me is a lack of a plan. I don't want any fancy new shops, I'd just like someone to say what they plan to do to help this city out. BTW I'd still like to know if council is part of the George administration why isn't Congress part of the Bush administration? Just curious how you justify your statement.

Danielle Masters · Post by **Danielle Masters** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:06 pm

Sorry I just have to add a kumbaya moment. I agree that Marc's plaza is horrible, but why are they allowed to keep the property so dirty? Can't they be forced to clean up? That would at least make the property look a little better.