Mark
This is something we looked at long and hard when we started this up. At the time, the Lakewood Public Library, Lakewood Schools, and City Hall all took an active part for many, many, many reasons. One of the largest was they realized if it was perceived they were controlling the message, it would tarnish everything. In other words, start to edit, and control the message and it becomes nothing more than a propaganda piece, that only the simple minded would believe. It would tarnish everything that followed. At the same time all realized they had no legal ability to edit, censor, or delete messages without breaking First Amendment Issues. Where those issues disappear for the most part on a privately owned enterprise.
But many people in Lakewood are ignorant, or prefer to be sheep. They attacked us over 1st Amendment Issues, when non-existed. Yet none of them hold the schools or City Hall accountable, when they really exist. Some of this might come from just hideous public officials that have refused to produce public documents but sue, or go after private groups to produce their documents. My favorite was Councilman Shawn Juris, when I questioned a group receiving Lakewood funds to produce their books, entirely legal, the BMOC Juris demanded my books be opened. I invited him to look at mine if he brought the public groups with him. He was a no show.
For some reason, perhaps the sports like way politics have become, win at all costs. People are unwilling to hold their government, and publicly funded groups accountable. Instead they prefer to bully private citizens, blow up and attack businesses and boards, while making the weakest excuses possible for City Hall and others to regulate conversations, get rid of or go after "troublemakers," and control the message until we have the same mess here we have on a national level. Elected officials pumping out fake news, while attacking those trying to create fact based reporting. Cheered on by sycophants and criminals on their knees to please those in power.
It is an interesting court case, I hope it gets decided as it should, holding public officials accountable, and keeping public space open to open discussion.
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