The Observation Deck

I'm surprised I hadn't seen this on the Deck yet. Blunt force trauma to a two year old.

http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_art ... yid=171102

John LePlae wrote:I'm surprised I hadn't seen this on the Deck yet. Blunt force trauma to a two year old.

http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_art ... yid=171102

John,

Though this is news and the Lakewood Observer covers news, in the paper and on the Deck, it's the mission of the paper to amplify what's good in town, and if there are things to fix, to open a positive discussion about how we can do that. (I'm very familiar with the Observer mission because I was part of the crew that started the Collinwood Observer, under the same guidelines.)

This news is so shattering it's hard to think about. I suppose what we should do is open a discussion about mentally ill people in Lakewood, and how they got here and if they're receiving adequate care.

In the short term, like right now, we can pray for the people involved.

Betsy Voinovich

You could post that first paragraph on a lot of threads on here. Not sure why you chose mine. Because it was a murder? I imagine a lot of people in Lakewood have no idea that this even happened.

Doesn't the stealing of catalytic converters or the closing of the Detroit theater count as news too? Why didn't you make your statement on those threads?

John LePlae wrote:You could post that first paragraph on a lot of threads on here. Not sure why you chose mine. Because it was a murder? I imagine a lot of people in Lakewood have no idea that this even happened.

Doesn't the stealing of catalytic converters or the closing of the Detroit theater count as news too? Why didn't you make your statement on those threads?

Hi John,

Yes, definitely, and on the Detroit theater thread, and the catalytic converter thread people are tossing around ideas about what to do; it's easy to talk about. I wasn't surprised no-one had posted this news because the murder of a child just down the street from all of us is so hard to talk about, so hard to put the Observer mission into practice.

I didn't mean to sound critical of your posting, in fact the reason I answered you is that this is our city and this happened and we do need to know about it and we do need to talk about it and I thought that I should post, because the effect this news has on me personally is to make me want to run away, or never let my children out of the house, and I hate feeling that way. I want to figure out a way that we as a community can take better care of each other, even though in the face of this news, I know that might sound naive. The only way we can take care of each other is if we actually know what's happening.

It's good that you posted this and I hope we do figure out a way to talk about it.

Betsy Voinovich

John LePlae wrote:You could post that first paragraph on a lot of threads on here. Not sure why you chose mine. Because it was a murder? I imagine a lot of people in Lakewood have no idea that this even happened.

Doesn't the stealing of catalytic converters or the closing of the Detroit theater count as news too? Why didn't you make your statement on those threads?

John

It is all news and it is all worth reporting, and sharing with friends and neighbors. You really
need to go back to the start of this project to understand what this is, and what we offer.
This project was started, when the "real media" had all bailed on the city of Lakewood. The
PD showed up for blood. The Sun was going the way of the Westlife and pulling out of
Lakewood because the ad sales were so low.

Because of 3 basic things this project was started. 1) A way to vet things in Lakewood in
an honest, fair way. 1 seat at the table for everyone. Only rule, real names so that you
owned your comment, and your facts. 2) A desperate need for Lakewood Groups, the
schools, even City Hall to get news and information out, again our idea was if they are
sending it out unfiltered, then we should be able to talk about it. At that time every
member of council, and the school board agreed. 3) A way to amplify to good deeds and
look outside the city to bring in good talent, and even more importantly good neighbors.

From that simply concept, the Observer was design. At the time we had no idea how bad
the Plain Dealer and Sun Papers would leave this city. So we had to start covering news.
Over the years we found many good people to sign on and understand that it is important
for a community to own their words, and that corporate media cared very little for anything
but what they can take out of this city in $$$$$ and "news."

The way all news has been reported here is the same way you have. A post. a call, a
text. Then others pick-up on that. It was in this way we covered three stand offs, other
murders, and police actions, thefts, etc. But we have done it through the eyes, of
residents, neighbors, and businesses.

So thank you for calling our attnetion to it. And more importantly thank you for bringing
it to the table for are alert, and please join in often.

.

This sickens me. Not only b/c I live about 4 houses away but b/c Robin St is shadytown. I moved there in July from Belle(huge mistake) and it put a bitter taste in my mouth about Lakewood(shoulda done my research upon the move.) My lease is up July 1 and I am def 100000% moving out(unless I die first)....I dont feel my life is in danger but I dont feel safe either. Hell I went home last night from work 9:45 and there were cop cars a few houses down (AGAIN!)

Mark Mraz wrote:This sickens me. Not only b/c I live about 4 houses away but b/c Robin St is shadytown. I moved there in July from Belle(huge mistake) and it put a bitter taste in my mouth about Lakewood(shoulda done my research upon the move.) My lease is up July 1 and I am def 100000% moving out(unless I die first)....I dont feel my life is in danger but I dont feel safe either. Hell I went home last night from work 9:45 and there were cop cars a few houses down (AGAIN!)

Mark

Would love to come up and walk the neighborhood with you some night. I have some friends
that live on Robin and come through their often. Haven't really noticed anything to drastically
different there from the past.

I was speaking with a police officer this afternoon at lunch and I have to believe there is
much more to come out about this story. It does not make it any more palatable, does not
make anything right, does not make you situation better, but this was not a random act
of violence.

The City of Lakewood and Dru Siley have come up with some amazing ideas for Birdtown,
and I can post them again, but you might be in the right place at the right time. Grocery
store at the end of your street, 3 nice community garden Templar Building packed with
artists, and Winchester one of the best music venues in town.

This entire story is sickening, but not a reason to move yet, I hope.

.