The Observation Deck

For the past two years you have seen me and others complain about the City of Lakewood's lack of interest in turning over public records. Even public records that seem to most not protected for any reason other than City Hall is hiding something.

In the early days of the Hospital Debacle Lakewood's Law Director Kevin Butler claimed everything was protected by HIPPA laws. The law that protects medical patients' records being released to the public without due process. That excuse soon fell to the side as it was proven to be false. Then it became non-public as it was part of an opening bidding process for the Hospital land. Well that too was proven to be untrue, as it was not an open bidding process, and the ability to hide documents is only for a bidding process during the process. From there Law Director Butler would say and do or not do anything to keep residents from seeing PUBLIC FILES. The court ordered them to produce the files, they didn't. The court set up a situation where they would have a lawyer look at the files to see what is protected and what wasn't. Seems fair. Butler refused, and when documents came forward they were often mislabeled, misdated, and altered.

I will post the latest effort to get these documents, and now the question is, will they destroy the documents, and take the $1,000 a document fine, instead of giving the people the right to look at the paperwork?

These documents are not only related to the hospital. But many are about employee actions while on City Hall time, and on City Hall computers. They cover a two year period.

Why is Colin McEwen's daily computer use protected? Why is Jen Pae's computer use protected? Why is Dru Siley's computer use protected? Why is Rick Uldrick's computer use protected? Rick was found to be harassing and trying to intimidate residents of Lakewood while working for the city, as found out in a police investigation.

Here is the entire list of documents the City is hiding and refusing to turn over.

http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/media ... 790765.pdf

What the hell is going on in this city?

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ALL computer use by a city employee is PUBLIC RECORD.

In fact, recent rulings by courts indicate that even PERSONAL computer and phone use is subject to public records requests if the subject of the communication involves public matters.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.latimes. ... y,amp.html

The fact that the city is fighting so hard to avoid turning over PUBLIC RECORDS is a red flag.

How can anyone condone this behavior?

I would rather that democracy be alive and vital—but maybe some just feel differently.

mjkuhns wrote:

I would rather that democracy be alive and vital—but maybe some just feel differently.

Why would City Hall choose the light when darkness served them so well?

What is really troubling, is that these issues not only involve the alleged immoral and illegal hospital deal, but, other questionable dealings within the entire city of Lakewood.

It is insulting to think that Summers and Company thought that the citizens of Lakewood were stupid and that they could get away with it.

I have written at length on the Deck about how the City of Lakewood continues to conduct its governmental affairs in ways that unfairly create significant legal liability risks for its taxpayers. I urge each of you to download the Mandamus Action document and share it with your friends and neighbors. The conduct of the City law department continues to be egregious. I have written at length about a false affidavit and a motion based on that affidavit used to win another case.

I would also encourage each reader to email their city council member and ask for an independent investigation of the City law department.

Just a thought: wouldn't Mr. Butler's apparent refusal to release certain records be a violation of his basic obligations as an officer of the court? If so, would this be something the Bar Association would be interested in looking into? Could a complaint be filed?

And the BS from City Hall continues? What are they hiding and running from in these PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.

A lawyer sat down with a lawyer from the city, they talked for half a day to make sure, everyone knew what was being asked for. They all agreed, and signed off on the agreement, then suddenly Kevin Butler got confused and couldn't figure out the documents needed, yet again.

here are the latest filings.

http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/media ... 488866.pdf

http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/media ... 488894.pdf

City Hall stop with the lying, the bullshit and the coverup, release the documents.

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Thanks for the update.

I sincerely hope that Butler isn't REALLY as bad of a lawyer as he makes himself out to be.

He signs an agreement, and then again can't remember? It sounds like he may have a memory disorder. If he is truly this incompetent, perhaps he is not fit to be an officer of the court.

Perhaps his competency could be evaluated with a literacy test, memory test, and polygram test all in one. I suspect he would fail all three.

Hey Kev, if you are beginning to feel your memory slipping away already, try this:

Mr. Kindt, I have appreciated your posts regarding the problematic behavior of our City government. I can't imagine why I would expect any cooperation from my council representatives, either ward or at-large, since they are all involved in propagating lies. Suddenly they should start playing it straight? Sorry, I'm a cynic. They won't lift a finger to let the sun shine in.