Ryan Patrick Demro wrote:Jim,
Just a thought here, but couldn't the facts be distorted in the locked city hall and board of education forums? Is the assumption that public officials will hold each other accountable and that will ensure the validity of the discussion? With only three (I think) public officials on the Observer and one of them posting on a regular basis, how can we ensure accountability? On another note, what do you think it will take to get wider participation from elected officials?
Ryan
The thought on our policy came from a conversation I had with you. And has been reenforced by conversation with other council members and school officials. The thought was to give "officials" in various areas a place to get their message out. While allowing an unobstructed view to anyone wishing to access that info.
This serves the officials, the city, the residents, and the paper. Allowing us to glean news as it comes in. Like your Good Neighbor policy and Mary Louis Madigan's Late Night Lakewood.
You would have to admit there is a little more weight given to one of your ideas for the city as told by you as opposed to being told by me for you. Your words and actions are up for a vote, mine will be judged by the advertisers and participation on the board and in the newspaper.
As for getting more involved, I think trust, respect, and a healthy learning curve will be the only things that bring others in. You and I have a history, you also have a history of supporting new technology, this allowed you to grasp the whole idea early on. But then again you were one of the people we thought of when we put this together. I have stood next to you while you have given a very positive interview only to have it appear as a bunch of disjointed sound bites. This serves no one. I hope by giving officials all the space they need, we can get a clear more positive picture of how the city is working and where it is headed.
I suspect the answer is time is what is needed most. You have signed on, Melissa Garrett has signed on, Steve Hoffert has signed on, Tom Corrigan has signed on, Mary Louise Madigan has signed on, and recently Tom George has decided to sign on. All I can do is thank everyone for trusting the process.
This week we open our bridge to Susan Adams and Dr. Estrop who have made it clear for legal reason they do not want to be on the forum, but would love to work with the News/ and newspaper part of the site. I respect that. If that is all I can get than so be it. Again time, and respect will prove if they want to continue to trust the process, the website and the members.
Ken Warren at the Library was so enthusiastic about this process that he signed on as our lead advisor immediately. He, like you have taken the lead in voicing ideas, concerns, studies and conversation. I think this will be huge for the Library in the coming years, and the city. This is great because I believe that the lifeblood of the city flows through the library or should. Lakewood Library is the one place in the city where thought and knowledge remain unbiased. We hope the paper is the second.
It is my goal to get everyone onboard by year's end if not sooner. This is not my paper, it is not your paper, it is Lakewood's paper.
Jim O'Bryan
