Does the Summers gang hate puppies?
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2019 12:43 am
It finally happened. I was booted from the Lakewood Community page on Facebook and as a result I am now in elite company of many who dared speak against this mayoral administration and the heavy-handed tactics of those who run that particular page which supports the Summers crowd.
What did I do? I posted about a lost dog, a post they deleted. That, and they've probably been looking for a reason to give me the boot for a long time. I'm a staunch supporter of the Lakewood Observer and a "moderator" of the Deck. I've made ousting me difficult because I scrupulously follow their many rules - but one of those rules is they reserve the right to be arbitrary at any time. Away from their page, I'm an unabashed critic.
Here's what went down: Shortly before the fireworks started on the Fourth of July, a dog named Tripp escaped from a neighbor's house. The dog was important to me because until a couple of days before, he lived at my house as a foster. The dog, a black greyhound, is a few weeks short of his second birthday so, strictly speaking, he is a puppy. For a couple of hours, Tripp put on quite a display of greyhound speed for the folks standing around for the Fourth as he ran around the neighborhood. Eventually, he found his way back to my next-door neighbor's yard. Of course that was a frantic time for the many people trying to find him, and I posted a note on several Lakewood groups. Only the Lakewood Community page deleted the note, presumably because of its author (me).
But can we go so far as to say Mayor Summers, his administration and his followers hate puppies? It would be hyperbole, for sure, but why not. They have opposed outdoor basketball, ignored neighbors who opposed a commercial development, enacted and fought a losing battle for a breed specific pit bull ban, sent out a henchman to stalk and harass opponents, closed our city hospital, and have engaged in some very suspect dealings with developers. And more. There's plenty on all these matters elsewhere in the Deck archive. While they clothe themselves as civic leaders, it is a very bad, vindictive crowd.
Who are the key players ("admins") on the Lakewood Community page? There are many of them, and a few come with interesting histories. Kris Williams, who booted me as a volunteer to Kauffman Park Friends because of my advocacy for the hospital; Corey Rossen, who has a checkered history with the various Lakewood social media outlets, including the Deck; and Jenn Karaffa Pae, who started the "Community" page and may have a legal conflict, like Trump and his Twitter account, because of her job as city Finance Director. Others I don't know as much about: Toni Kulma; Benjamin John; Doug Crouch; Caitlin Magner; Jon Wagner; Sue Tamilio; and Patrick L. Wadden, who I've had a few civil conversations with.
What does this mean now? We have an election coming up in November where we can rid ourselves of the Summers gang. Sam O'Leary is his chosen successor, so vote for Meghan George. Laura Rodriguez-Carbone is highly regarded for the Ward 1 council seat. I've met Brad Presutto of Ward 2 (where I live) many times and think highly of him. In Ward 3, John Litten is a supporter of the mayor and his agenda; I don't know his opponent Jeff Wise, but I've heard very good things. Ward 4 has Dan O'Malley running unopposed and for good reason, he's done a great job in his first term.
The Summers gang likes to paint its opponents as negative critics of Lakewood, but do you like the picture I've presented of them? Does this sound like a "Lakewood Community" that would even come together to find a lost puppy? Remember this bit of hyperbolic truth when you vote in the local elections in the fall. We deserve better than what we've got.
Note: When it comes to local politics, I see no advantage in stoic acceptance. I prefer to hit back, especially if it might benefit others. "Tell the world" is my advice to others in a similar position. It's a good policy with bullies, which the Summers gang is mostly comprised of. It's also good advice during election season in Lakewood. Put another way, the Lakewood Community page admins gave me a political football to kick through the uprights. For that, I say thank you.
What did I do? I posted about a lost dog, a post they deleted. That, and they've probably been looking for a reason to give me the boot for a long time. I'm a staunch supporter of the Lakewood Observer and a "moderator" of the Deck. I've made ousting me difficult because I scrupulously follow their many rules - but one of those rules is they reserve the right to be arbitrary at any time. Away from their page, I'm an unabashed critic.
Here's what went down: Shortly before the fireworks started on the Fourth of July, a dog named Tripp escaped from a neighbor's house. The dog was important to me because until a couple of days before, he lived at my house as a foster. The dog, a black greyhound, is a few weeks short of his second birthday so, strictly speaking, he is a puppy. For a couple of hours, Tripp put on quite a display of greyhound speed for the folks standing around for the Fourth as he ran around the neighborhood. Eventually, he found his way back to my next-door neighbor's yard. Of course that was a frantic time for the many people trying to find him, and I posted a note on several Lakewood groups. Only the Lakewood Community page deleted the note, presumably because of its author (me).
But can we go so far as to say Mayor Summers, his administration and his followers hate puppies? It would be hyperbole, for sure, but why not. They have opposed outdoor basketball, ignored neighbors who opposed a commercial development, enacted and fought a losing battle for a breed specific pit bull ban, sent out a henchman to stalk and harass opponents, closed our city hospital, and have engaged in some very suspect dealings with developers. And more. There's plenty on all these matters elsewhere in the Deck archive. While they clothe themselves as civic leaders, it is a very bad, vindictive crowd.
Who are the key players ("admins") on the Lakewood Community page? There are many of them, and a few come with interesting histories. Kris Williams, who booted me as a volunteer to Kauffman Park Friends because of my advocacy for the hospital; Corey Rossen, who has a checkered history with the various Lakewood social media outlets, including the Deck; and Jenn Karaffa Pae, who started the "Community" page and may have a legal conflict, like Trump and his Twitter account, because of her job as city Finance Director. Others I don't know as much about: Toni Kulma; Benjamin John; Doug Crouch; Caitlin Magner; Jon Wagner; Sue Tamilio; and Patrick L. Wadden, who I've had a few civil conversations with.
What does this mean now? We have an election coming up in November where we can rid ourselves of the Summers gang. Sam O'Leary is his chosen successor, so vote for Meghan George. Laura Rodriguez-Carbone is highly regarded for the Ward 1 council seat. I've met Brad Presutto of Ward 2 (where I live) many times and think highly of him. In Ward 3, John Litten is a supporter of the mayor and his agenda; I don't know his opponent Jeff Wise, but I've heard very good things. Ward 4 has Dan O'Malley running unopposed and for good reason, he's done a great job in his first term.
The Summers gang likes to paint its opponents as negative critics of Lakewood, but do you like the picture I've presented of them? Does this sound like a "Lakewood Community" that would even come together to find a lost puppy? Remember this bit of hyperbolic truth when you vote in the local elections in the fall. We deserve better than what we've got.
Note: When it comes to local politics, I see no advantage in stoic acceptance. I prefer to hit back, especially if it might benefit others. "Tell the world" is my advice to others in a similar position. It's a good policy with bullies, which the Summers gang is mostly comprised of. It's also good advice during election season in Lakewood. Put another way, the Lakewood Community page admins gave me a political football to kick through the uprights. For that, I say thank you.