The Observation Deck

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Heidi, Steve,Brett, Charyn, Danielle others

The Lakewood Observer is adding many new features to the print and online versions. We will be taking full advantage of our third year of print, and our new layout to dig deep into politics that affect Lakewood, locally, and globally.

Our own political machine "Tom Powell Bullock" is helping us work on straw polls throughout the year. We will also be looking at past, present, and the most important thing, views to the Lakewood's future.

While we have invited all politicians to take part in an open forum, to share their views, ideas and visions with the thousands of Lakewood residents that read the paper and stop by daily online. To date for some reasons, the politicians usually only stop into this national award winning civic news project when they need something. In year three, we will answer the residents call that THEY NEED SOMETHING, more contact with the people that voted them in to office.

When this project was started I talked with every person in office. They did not like forums much because they could never tell who was asking the questions. A forum with real names would be something they would support, as it took civic discourse to a higher level. Early on some elected officials did not like the civic discourse to follow their words. So we created a special area just for elected officials, and some running for office where they could post, without comment following their post. All of this created not by me, but by voters and residents that helped to formulate what would best work for everyone.

Well in year two I found out that some did not have time, "because it was a part time job." Others could not figure out how to log in. (though they voted for "Lightspeed." Others did not like being questioned, so we created a special spot for elected officials where they could post in . While others had decided forums were not their cup of tea. So we have formulated the perfect answer. We will take it to them, we have many more people willing to write about them if they care not to write about themselves. We have more people ready to look at their ideas, if they are not willing to share them themselves. 2007 will see the Lakewood Observer open the door to Lakewood politics just as Mayor Tom George has opened the door to City Hall.

The Lakewood Observer and ALL OF IT's MEMBERS have proven, there is no better way to get information out to the residents of the city of Lakewood. There is no better way to discuss, vet and look at ideas. The Observer has proven time and time again that it can save the city money, time and effort.

In 2007 the Lakewood Observer will be working harder to get our paper and website into everyone's hands, eyes and minds. Will will start pod casting council meeting and school board meetings. So that those that cannot make them, will be able to "tune-in" at their leisure. We have been working on this and now have the space and the means and now people to do it.

So let's not just look at who is running, let's also look at who we have elected. So that all of us can be like Heidi, and know what ALL of our elected officials have done. And we will know their ideas and plans for the future, Lakewood's future, and our future.

The Lakewood Observer prints 16,000 papers and issue on average, with 655,000 page views a month. All Lakewood written entirely by Lakewoodites. Paid for entirely by Lakewood businesses that support the right of every Lakewoodite to know what is going on in this city.

As we get ready to roll out improvements to all parts of the website and paper, 2007, will be a very interesting year, that I can promise you.

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PS - Mayor Tom George has been one of the most strident supporters of keeping in touch with residents using forums and real names, as has Ryan Patrick Demro.