The Observation Deck

http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/issue_pdfs/Observer_Vol_10_Issue_01.pdf

Well here we are, back from the holiday break, and ready to kick off our tenth year serving the residents, businesses, non-profits schools, and City Hall by helping everyone get their thoughts, words, events and projects out into the community and then discuss those things.

It is hard to belive that what started as a dream at Wu's Chinese Restaurant (long gone) on Madison Avenue would even last ten years, let alone grow and grow and grow until it had projects serving 17 other communities.

Ten years ago Steve Davis, Kenneth Warren and I sat down to rough out an idea that could add to the community without political, social, financial, education, or background bias. Just blank sheets of paper turned out every couple weeks, where Lakewood businesses would help carry the load of the residents while allowing everyone a seat at the table and a voice, with two simple caveats. One, real names, just like in real life. Two, anyone that had taken the time and made the effort to get vetted as real, could ask questions and have the same rights as everyone else at the table.

In the first two years of putting this together no one said it would work. We were dreamers, there is no way people will use real names online, too dangerous. The elected officials at the time were eager to finally have a place to engage REAL PEOPLE over what was going on in the city and what they were doing. A single place to amplify their works and ideas to 15,000 to 21,000 homes every other week. The Schools and Library were anxious to jump in and take part. After all, any way to get information out that didn't cost them money had to be good for all.

As we build towards our real 10th birthday of in print, the 4th of July Parade, we will look back at the project and where it is working and where it has failed. We will also look and examine the hopes and fears of others. We will examine the truth and the hype that surrounds this project and why.

We will be reprinting many of our best stories from the past ten years, while on the Deck bringing back some of the best conversations from the ATT boxes, to the color of the DowntowN signs, and look back at those discussion with the added advantage of history and hindsight to explain what people were saying and why.

We step into our tnth year in print with smiles on our faces and love in our hearts for the city we serve, its residents, non-profits, businesses, schools, library and City Hall. Yes this will be an interesting time for all of us. I promise.

PEACE/LOVE

James C. O'Bryan
Publisher
Lakewood Observer, Inc.


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