Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 7:29 am
Charlie
I wrote an answer to you a couple days ago, but it has become a story in the Lakewood Observer.
Here is the short version. I take people at their word. I certainly take elected officials and civic leaders at their word. When the Observer Project was hatched the LO talked with every elected official at the time city and schools. We also reached out to all civic leaders, or at least to those we thought were civic leaders, and some that thought they were themselves came to us. We asked what they would need to take part and all said, "real names."
The premise, The Sun Papers had not really covered Lakewood in 15 years. The Plain Dealer only showed up for crime and to twist anything at the library into a porno story. The other "boards" were filled with people using as many as seven names, and the lies were flying fast and loose.
So we asked each one. If we spend the time and start a paper and discussion area using real names, would you take part. ALL, I repeat all said, as long as there are real names being used, they would take part.
Now I ask you, in 2008, which is the faster more efficient, easier and best way to reach out to the citizens to vet ideas and carry on legitimate discussions? Having the entire city head to a council or school board meeting where a person can get up to five minutes to voice a concern with no guarantee, and certainly no real discussion. Or to allow a conversation to go on 24/7/365, so a resident can take part wherever they are, even out of town on vacation or business? Should we all get dressed and drive to council every meeting, spending 3-5 hours for a chance to ask a question, or turn on the computer and post one.
After all, these are elected officials, and "civic leaders." You would imagine they would be happy to discuss and answer questions about Lakewood. After all they all paid good money to run, for the chance to serve Lakewoodites. AND, they are the ones hooking us up with new technology like UVerse, and WiFi.
My thought, they can't put it up. So they marginalize the product, and the process. Every idea in this city, including me running this project deserves to see the light of day, be questioned, and vetted. Since starting this four times, people have asked my board to fire me, make me step down, or at least control my fingers. All four times, I welcomed the discussion, and waited anxiously to hear what my board and the residents would say and ask for.
If this city is really going to move forward and into a solid future, we must stop the back room, hallway meetings and bring the information to the table for all to see and digest. A civic leader a couple weeks ago, assured me that "It is the rare person with the passion and capacity to rise above the negativity and second-guessing of the vocal few....and those gifted leaders will surely look to like-minded folks to move the community forward. " Sounds like a Star Chamber to me. Had I said that, the vocal few(5,385 members) would have asked for my head on a plate yet again.
Me, I am hoping we can find some more Charlie Pages, Shelley Hirds, Justine Coopers, Bill Calls, Shawn Juris, and yes Stephen Eisels and Sharon Kinsellas to take part in this project.
Gary
Actually our numbers are up again. Between Thanksgiving and Kwanza the numbers are usually lower than other months. I figure it is because we are busy, and spending more time face to face with the family and friends. This season the numbers are up 23% from last year at this time.
FWIW
I wrote an answer to you a couple days ago, but it has become a story in the Lakewood Observer.
Here is the short version. I take people at their word. I certainly take elected officials and civic leaders at their word. When the Observer Project was hatched the LO talked with every elected official at the time city and schools. We also reached out to all civic leaders, or at least to those we thought were civic leaders, and some that thought they were themselves came to us. We asked what they would need to take part and all said, "real names."
The premise, The Sun Papers had not really covered Lakewood in 15 years. The Plain Dealer only showed up for crime and to twist anything at the library into a porno story. The other "boards" were filled with people using as many as seven names, and the lies were flying fast and loose.
So we asked each one. If we spend the time and start a paper and discussion area using real names, would you take part. ALL, I repeat all said, as long as there are real names being used, they would take part.
Now I ask you, in 2008, which is the faster more efficient, easier and best way to reach out to the citizens to vet ideas and carry on legitimate discussions? Having the entire city head to a council or school board meeting where a person can get up to five minutes to voice a concern with no guarantee, and certainly no real discussion. Or to allow a conversation to go on 24/7/365, so a resident can take part wherever they are, even out of town on vacation or business? Should we all get dressed and drive to council every meeting, spending 3-5 hours for a chance to ask a question, or turn on the computer and post one.
After all, these are elected officials, and "civic leaders." You would imagine they would be happy to discuss and answer questions about Lakewood. After all they all paid good money to run, for the chance to serve Lakewoodites. AND, they are the ones hooking us up with new technology like UVerse, and WiFi.
My thought, they can't put it up. So they marginalize the product, and the process. Every idea in this city, including me running this project deserves to see the light of day, be questioned, and vetted. Since starting this four times, people have asked my board to fire me, make me step down, or at least control my fingers. All four times, I welcomed the discussion, and waited anxiously to hear what my board and the residents would say and ask for.
If this city is really going to move forward and into a solid future, we must stop the back room, hallway meetings and bring the information to the table for all to see and digest. A civic leader a couple weeks ago, assured me that "It is the rare person with the passion and capacity to rise above the negativity and second-guessing of the vocal few....and those gifted leaders will surely look to like-minded folks to move the community forward. " Sounds like a Star Chamber to me. Had I said that, the vocal few(5,385 members) would have asked for my head on a plate yet again.
Me, I am hoping we can find some more Charlie Pages, Shelley Hirds, Justine Coopers, Bill Calls, Shawn Juris, and yes Stephen Eisels and Sharon Kinsellas to take part in this project.
Gary
Actually our numbers are up again. Between Thanksgiving and Kwanza the numbers are usually lower than other months. I figure it is because we are busy, and spending more time face to face with the family and friends. This season the numbers are up 23% from last year at this time.
FWIW
