The Observation Deck

Through my own mistakes, we have a chance for a real discussion about a couple things that needs to be discussed by all of us.

1) The Lakewood Observer Project, what it is, how it works, or doesn't work and of course how we can make it better.

and

2) What do we do with the growing deer population? Coyote population?

Of course as we have proven for over a decade, all conversations are on the table.

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Fake outrage over a wild animal caught in a city-laid trap.

Just another opportunity for Observer haters to fan the flames.

How about asking about transportation services for seniors to Avon, where the doctors moved after the hospital closed? Remember the promises?

On point No. 1. The Lakewood Observer is a valuable community asset. I would not change a thing. I would encourage stronger editorial positions from the publisher and editorial staff.

On point No. 2. What are we going to do about all of those pesky fish in Lake Erie?

My observation of the LO; I'm talking about the online version, not the printed version.
It is a great avenue to discuss issues about town, but it is neglected, a lot of the pages aren't relevant. The Home Page, under the featured article is another link, It says, "Latest News Releases", under that heading is a posting, Fahad Saeed charged with murder. May 18, 2017, another post, Lakewood man helps bring Cleveland's latest Championship" dated August 6, 2016, and another post, "Fall Leaf Collection", dated October 26, 2015. The leaf collection could be posted any year, but really, the "latest News Releases? I'd rather read about the happening in the Police Blotter, I know I can listed to the police scanner, but not all day & night.

Under "Classified", the posting are old and mostly none existent. A hot tub for sale, buying junk cars, homes for rent, none, storefronts for lease, just one. I'm just saying, if there is going to be an open discussion regarding the online version, I'll compile a list of wants and taunts, just some thoughts for consideration, if there are welcome or I'm invited to make suggestions.

jackie f taylor wrote:My observation of the LO; I'm talking about the online version, not the printed version.

Jackie Taylor

Don't get caught up in the hype, there is but one Observer. Many of the naysayers of this project break into two different things they are not.

What they are, is nothing more than a series of stories, and discussion of those stories. It is not that different from other media/news papers.

Other places allow comments right under a story, we gice those that put up a story, room and a place to own their words, and they have to stop, take a break, and go to another page to comment. This keeps important information like, "Obama is black" out of every discussion, unlike other sites.

We also ask for a real name, which gives us room for comments and even multiple personalities.

Or one could think of the Deck, as the shallow end of the pool, though I see it as the deep end of the pool, because here people post, and answer.

But here is the secret of the project, shhhhhhhhh, do not tell anyone. It is all about the "Observations" get it?

When you write and argue with yourself, it allows the rest of us to Observe and make Observations on that and know and understand you a little better, and life goes on.

When someone writes for the Observer, but refuses to come on the Deck and answer for what they wrote, it allows us to make? make? make? Observations.

When people come on the Deck and throw around words and start arguments and cause havoc and calls the Deck nasty, it allows us to make? make? Observations.

Through those Observations each one of us are allowed to apply those Observations to each of our lives.

Jackie, although we are close to each other in age, I figure our lifestyles differ slightly, and we both have different needs, desires, wants and dreams for ourselves and this community. From day one this project is not about telling people what to do, but to shake the bushes, get facts and opinions, vet that data, present it, along with arguments and allow each of to understand each other and this city better.

From the white paper we used at the start, "Our goal is for this city to know itself better than any other city."

Sorry for the rant, but it needs to be revisited now and then.

Thank you for your participation, both of you, it is appreciated.

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Our goal is for this city to know itself better than any other city.

And be as healthy as healthy can be!

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Through my own mistakes, we have a chance for a real discussion about a couple things that needs to be discussed by all of us.

1) The Lakewood Observer Project, what it is, how it works, or doesn't work and of course how we can make it better.

and

2) What do we do with the growing deer population? Coyote population?

Of course as we have proven for over a decade, all conversations are on the table.

.

Jim,
My take on your mistake yesterday is if you put a lot of material in the public eye, especially through social media, sooner or later you are going to mess up. Admit the mistake and move on, which you did. A related thing happened with one of the council candidates in the last week or so. Unfortunately, to my knowledge the error has not been addressed, but I voted for him anyway as I think he will bring something that is now missing to those hallowed halls of local government. He posted a lot, and one of them went astray. It happens.

Something I posted elsewhere was to the effect that if people want expert comments on city hall malfeasance, come to the Deck. If you want to know the difference between a fox an a coyote, I wouldn't blame you if you went elsewhere.

Some thoughts on the Observer Project:
* Clean up the other forums like Global that get very little traffic. Put it all in one place, and if possible, somehow flag the global, community and education posts.
* Make a concerted effort to increase readership and participation in the Deck. If you have more joiners than you can personally screen, you know where to get help.
* Forget this business about stepping aside, unless you have to for personal reasons. You don't want to hear this, but you are indispensable.

On the fauna question:
* The coyotes must go back to the Metroparks. Period.
* There are a lot of resources on deer population. Let's tap them. I enjoy seeing an occasional deer on my nighttime dog walks, but I can how they can be a problem.
Dan