Where are all the residents of this city? I have become involved with our city government during the past year and much to my bewilderment, NO ONE is ever at the council meetings or committee meetings. Case in point, I attended a meeting on Thursday, August 9, about how Lakewood will spend $2.2 million of HUD money. There were only four residents present, out of a city with more than 50,000. I am not sure why no one wants to get involved.

Do you feel overtaxed? Well wait, because the city will have to either raise our income taxes or layoff city employees in order to balance the 2007 budget. Don’t believe me—ask your council person for a copy of the current 2007 budget and see for yourself.

Have you tried to use our un-maintained parks? They are in that state because the city is in a financial crisis. At least that’s what I was told in a letter after I asked why our parks are as bad as they are.

Do you feel like moving to the other side of the street when you are out walking with your family and you come across a group of disrespectful kids? Do you feel safe in our city? Do you feel that Lakewood isn’t the same place it once was? Did you know Lakewood has more than 800 houses for sale? THEN GET INVOLVED AND COME TO THE MEETINGS.

I understand that we all have busy lives. That’s the common excuse as to why people don’t go to meetings. Just remember that our elected officials are supposed to do what’s best for the residents as well as what’s best for the city as a whole. Our elected officials have forgotten this and it seems they are more about themselves than what’s good for you and me. I blame this and the current condition of our city on us residents for not watching what our elected officials are doing, and more importantly not going to the meetings.

The lack of resident involvement has given our elected officials the ability to do whatever they please. I understand we elected them, but the lack of interest on our part has caused this problem. Our upcoming election has the opportunity to make a great change in how the city is run. We must get involved and make our concerns heard, and not let our elected officials run amuck and destroy the very reasons why we all want to live in Lakewood.