The opponents of 200, principally Mayor Paul, and others on the Lakewood City Council, are emphasizing it is now their job to “implement” 200.
And in implementing 200 they must “interpret” 200.
But Mayor Paul and others want to limit the interpreting to themselves, and of course City Attorney Cox.
There is a suggestion that Cathy Kentner be excluded from the process of interpreting 200. Even though she wrote it.
We already know from how City Attorney Cox and Mayor Paul manipulated the Big Sky IGA memo that they will do the same.
We have to assume that they will “interpret” 200 in such a way as to undermine or poison the intended operation of the new citizen ordinance.
So. Those who supported 200 must remain vigilant. And demand that the City formally give Ms. Kentner a seat at the table. Her interpretation of 200 as it is being implemented is far more honest and valuable than Mayor Paul’s or Attorney Cox’ interpretation.
If Paul and Cox are to interpret 200 you might as well have all the developers and real estate folks – who paid almost half a million dollars during their NO campaign – be in charge of implementing and interpreting 200.
Because Paul and Cox speak for them. These two are the representatives of the development and real estate special interests.
And the best evidence of that is when Mayor Paul approached Ms. Kentner – two times – and offered to “make her whole” if she would drop the 200 campaign. Walk away. With money in her pocket.
Pay her litigation costs for defending herself and 200 from the lawsuit Mayor Paul himself initiated.
Offered to buy her off.
Offered to pay her to abandon 200.
Offered to buy her out.
Not with his money.
Not with City money.
With developer money.
Mayor Paul is the “bag man” for the special interest developer and real estate folks whose only goal is to make money by building as much as they can in the limited space available.
So. Vigilance. Cathy must have a seat of table. And we have to make sure “implementing” and “interpreting” 200 is not left to the very people who tried to destroy it.
John Henderson
I agree, it is time for a change – get rid of Paul!!
Concerned and watching: Your initial post, while emotional, is not erroneous. I attended the Monday, July 15 Special Council Meeting and it is obvious some on council are continuing to delay, circumvent or minimize the results of the vote of the people. I hope all will pay more attention and have good memory to apply in November. Time for change!
For those of you who were actively involved in supporting 200, you (and any others you can get on board) MUST become involved in supporting Ramey Johnson for mayor of Lkwd. There is a “kick-off” party for her election campaign TONIGHT at Addenbrook Park. If you can’t make it, I suggest those of you who regularly contribute to and receive this blog organize, then approach all council candidates supporting responsible growth and volunteer to help them. Lkwd city government will have no chance of being even somewhat “transparent” with Paul at the helm. $$$$ are going to start to flow into pro-devel. candidate campaigns and only through organized grass roots politics will Lkwd residents have any chance of effecting positive changes in our community.-ldg
I’m suffering poster-remorse. After spouting off regarding the ward meeting, I did not follow up and attend Monday’s meeting regarding 200 implementation. Our representatives can only be accountable if we are watching and part of the process. I hope others are better at getting involved and helping the process.
Full marks to John regarding the “interpretation”. I attended the Ward 4 meeting yesterday as well and heard directly from Councilor Skilling that it is now his job to “read the words as written” to decide where to draw the line on projects in process. I too heard him say he could call on the writer, but not that he would. I have no faith that he will. The meeting Monday sounds like a key. They are already finding ways to not meet deadlines and intent. If they can do that, there should be a way they can incorporate Ms. Kentner formally. Is there a mechanism for this we can support? When someone asked about a committee, Councilor Skilling firmly denied willingness.
As long as Adam Paul is Mayor, it IS being left to the very person who used every device to defeat this citizens’ initiative. The present Mayor cannot possibly be expected to implement new regulations he fought so hard to defeat, publicly and not so publicly, even going so far as to use thinly veiled bribery to block citizens from their state constitutional right. I was also appalled to see the Mayor’s staunch supporter, ward 5 councilor D Gutwein (running for re-election) already jump to turn ward-against-ward on this issue as a way of undermining implementation of 200. Then just yesterday it was disappointing to hear ward 4 councilor D Skilling declare emphatically he would not take under advisement the intent of the author/s and council would interpret 200in their own vacuum. (He recanted & agreed that the initiative’s initiator would be consulted if needed on questions of intent when called out by another councilor C Able and citizens sentiments in the room. This type of resistance to a vote of the people rolls downhill from an aggressive mayoral stance against the will of the people.
I, personally, as a private citizen, had mixed feelings about 200 from the start as a methodology, bUt years of non-responsiveness & foot-dragging from present mayor, formerly councilman, is how it came to be. Turns out tge thousands of citizens who wanted it brought forward and the majority of voters who voted for it knew well, the foot-dragging would continue & a ballot initiative was necessary for change.
Regardless, for any Mayor to misuse his position to subvert, block or fight a constitutionally allowed citizens initiative, whatever the issue, is questionable if not tyrannical. This point should be considered thoughtfully no matter which way you voted.
Furthermore, now that the vote has been cast by the majority of voters—-despite the mayor’s strongly expressed fight against it— the yes vote represents just how out of alignment the Mayor of Lakewood is from the will & welfare of the people of Lakewood.
That there should be suspicion that 200 will continue to be undermined as long as he is in the driver’s seat is well-founded. This Mayor has made it clear that he does not wish to represent the will or desires of the Citizens of Lakewood.
It also should be dawning on the developers/development industry who support him, that after two failed elections toward which they put hundreds of thousands of dollars (the last Councilor election and this citizens’ initiative), that his word does not carry the influence they are trying to buy with the citizens they are contributing to him and his causes to influence.