Dear Hal:
While
looking at your most recent additions to "Open Government (???) in Glendale" site, I was reminded of a
time about 14 years ago when I first stood in your living room and looked over
a collection of newspaper clippings from your then already massive
collection. You provided me with copies of clips and documents from
a variety of sources documenting the background on an issue I was researching
at the time. In one place and organized in a
manner even the library couldn't match, you had diligently documented literally
all sides and perspectives on a controversial debate.
It wasn't long after that
the city was boasting a system it was developing in-house to store and
disseminate public records (the limited array of stuff they were grudgingly
willing to admit were public records in that era), in the process spending
tens of thousands of dollars on a system city officials maintained was going to
earn Glendale millions through sales of the city
developed software. And I remember you urging them to look into
something called the World Wide Web, which you argued would accomplish the same
goals, using existing technology, and for significantly less money. I
clearly recall the department director from the city assuring the city council
and the public that their system was far superior, and that "the web"
had already been proved to have been a failure.
Of course, it was only a
matter of months before you were proved right, but not before the city had
spent an enormous fortune on its ill-fated venture.
After you'd spent years
prodding the city into so many of the policies that are now a matter of
routine, such as televising meetings, releasing staff reports to the public AT
THE SAME TIME council members see them, and so many more, I also remember how
dismayed I was to learn you'd decided to "retire" from your activism
a couple of years ago.
Clearly, that didn't last
long, because today you have once again amassed an astonishing collection
of materials, and it's even more accessible thanks to your
posting it on the web. Perhaps just as important, I know you've been a
guide for countless area journalists and citizens alike, also showing them the
many sources for information, data and points of view far beyond what most
people know about.
To my knowledge, your
circulation and preservation of information has never once been limited in any
way by your own personal feelings on an issue. Indeed, that's why
I've so often found your collection and site so useful, because I've repeatedly
found you don't just offer the information that supports your
perspective. On multiple occasions I've even been surprised to find the
amount of time and space you've devoted to materials related to issues and
controversies you don't have a particular interest in.
I know the hours of work at
the keyboard that are required for what you do, and the mind-boggling amount of
time you've put into everything from personally video-taping events, to
scanning documents into a computer system. And throughout these years and
all these truly countless HOURS of work, you've never received compensation,
never received a paycheck, never charged anyone for your time.
Well, with all that in mind,
I figured I should take this opportunity to say, "Thank you."
Yes, given what you've done, that's pretty paltry. I don't pretend
otherwise.
I wish I was the director of
some local organization or community group so that I could, at the very
least, arrange for a special dinner event to offer you a gala extravaganza,
complete with testimonial speeches and an absurd plaque or trophy to honor your
efforts. In fact, there should probably be an annual award in your name
for those in the future who exert even a fraction of the efforts you do in
getting the public access to the information they need and deserve.
The citizens of
Sorry to go on so long about
it, but it's really your fault for doing so much, and for doing all of it for
so many years.
Again, thank you.
Sincerely,
Will