The Observation Deck

"Communication from Acting Police Chief Sabala regarding Additional Contracting and Appropriations for Livescan Computer Equipment. (Pg. 27) "

When did that happen?

As most of those who follow Lakewood government on a day to day basis know---------Chief Malley has been in Quantico, Virginia at the FBI Academy receiving advanced training.
Captain Sabala has been filling in in the interim.

Thanks for the information Stan. I'm not sure who the most of us is, but as one of us who works in and for the community on a day to day basis, this would be an example of the lack of communication between the Government and the Community.

Suzanne Metelko

Stan Austin covered this point of information in " EXCLUSIVE SERIES: The 2006 Budget Hearingsâ€â€￾Part 2," proving again, whether one wishes to contest that his lens is colored by friendship with the Mayor or not, there is tremendous value of his effort and his contribution to the Lakewood Observer:

"The police department presentation was made by Captain Sabala with the assistance of Captain Hassig. Chief Malley is in Quantico, Virginia for advanced training at the F.B.I. Academy."

See:
http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/home.ph ... cle_id=339

Now is a good time to say that every once and awhile the Advisory Board receives a little blowback on Stan's work. It generally stems from people who have been slow to put up the written form upon which the Lakewood Observer experiment lives. In talking to such persons I sometimes feel they have little interest or time in organizing a lens with sufficient effort and quality to produce something representative of their interests and perspectives. The put-up or shut challenge of the Lakewood Observer civic experiment may frustrate them. Their time bank might not permit them to do so.

And it's always easy to potshot somebody who put up.

Let me to put it out straight. Stan does more than simply put up. I believe quality control is evident in Stan's work. Some might not appreciate the subtle shots he takes. But that is politics.

I can only imagine the countless hours Jim O'Bryan spends on the phone with people who complain about this or that which has rushed to the center of consciousness, because the Lakewood Observer is the image of civic and community life at this sweet and scary moment in time.

I believe the city would be would be better served if such persons found a few willing collaborators and began generating an open source piece of citizen writing for publication in the Lakewood Observer.

As I have said before, Stan is doing the job. From day one, he stepped up and has continued to work very hard, putting forth enormous effort, risking the slings and arrows of citizens, politicians and partisans by delivering news from his particular lens as an intelligent observer and connected participant.

I believe it is a mistake to minimize the value of his effort to the total communication process about/in and from City Hall.

In the absence of anybody else rising comparably to the rather complex and difficult politically charged occasion and putting it up, I salute Stan.

I know far more about what's going on in City Hall than ever before. I can deal with his lens, his bias. I understand the point sources from which he is coming. It's still news I can use.

This whole community experiment in the named and claimed personal bias of the citizen journalist within the city that would know itself defies the "so-called objective" standard, which is actually a mirage.

There is an art to Lakewood's civic dance. There's a signature art to Stan's Shingaling at City Hall.

Let's savor the art.

If one diverges from either his soft shoe or the angle of his lens, then those persons must attempt to create an artform commensurate with themselves, one that will further enliven Lakewood's civic dance.

That's the job. Stan's exemplary in this regard. It's a job we are all invited to share and, as we feel compelled and capable, ultimately to qualify with our name, our participation and our personal articulation.

Kenneth Warren

Now is a good time to say that every once and awhile the Advisory Board receives a little blowback on Stan's work. It generally stems from people who have been slow to put up the written form upon which the Lakewood Observer experiment lives.

I don't think that I was being critical of Stan's work but instead his response to what may have been a stupid question but one that was asked in the most straightforward manner. Thanks for the link, I'll read the article and try to be better informed.

You can characterize it as, "an example of the lack of communication between the Government and the Community" but I don't see it in the same way. There may be some very good reasons why you don't want potential bad guys to know everything, or to know everything that you know.

dl,

That comment was so GW Bush.

You're scaring me.

Steve

BTW, I knew all about it because I never miss a Stan Austin article.

To All who read my column:

I truly appreciate the comments in this thread. And, I do realize that some of my columns do make Rolaids the snack of choice for Jim and the Advisory Board.

I do try to bring a unique perspective to the Lakewood Observer's readers in our larger effort to learn more about our community. If nothing else, what that has prompted is an extra column for council members to increase the civic dialog.

What this very minor but welcome exchange between Suzanne and myself illustrates is a very high passion for our town. The larger exchange demonstrates the never ending search for objectivity and fairness.

Rest assured (with the Rolaids handy) that I recognize that my topic can cause little civic flash points. Having said that I will continue to do my best to help us learn about our Lakewood.

Stan Austin --Lakewood Observer City Council Reporter

Stan.

Your work is among the very most important instances of emancipated civic consciousness in the flux of the LO experiment.

It's a signal too.

Ken.

I would suggest today what I suggested early on: the political game is slowing changing in Lakewood. Opacity is a goner.

Those who think this experiment is going to go away but also think a phone call to Jim will, in the meantime, do duty as gripe or swipe, aren't privy to the reflection upon those responses of many of those engaged and involved.

In few words, as you suggest Ken, one of (our) responses is: okay, now when are you complainers going to have the stones to put your views out in the civic space? Heck, start your own newspaper!

Susan.

The lines of communication need to be improved. The LO is playing its role and, over time, I predict it will continue to improve and refine access to the city's information resources. But, it is incumbent upon the residents to take advantage of improved navigation of those resources.

At the same time, improved communication and rigorous transparency is "something to run on". It might be a very powerful campaign platform for a future candidate to run, to, as it were, promise to open up the city government and to make the city's political and governmental processes and resources a key plank in the 'city come to be known better than any other'.

Any knowledge creation model in this respect requires the intelligent citizen to be vigorously engaged and willing to work really hard to pull back the curtains.

Any Lakewood politician who today refuses to understand what is afoot is likely to find in the future how hard it will be to maintain and sustain the idea that those curtains serve some beneficial purpose.

That played-out game is, thankfully, at the end of its last quarter.