Comments on: On hiatus http://www.abetteroakland.com/on-hiatus/2009-01-05 The Continuing Story of a City Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:06:35 +0000 hourly 1 By: Erin Battlefield http://www.abetteroakland.com/on-hiatus/2009-01-05#comment-52434 Erin Battlefield Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:00:56 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1749#comment-52434 Peition: President Obama, please give Mayor Dellums a job http://www.petitiononline.com/dell09/petition.html Peition: President Obama, please give Mayor Dellums a job
http://www.petitiononline.com/dell09/petition.html

]]> By: Max Allstadt http://www.abetteroakland.com/on-hiatus/2009-01-05#comment-52167 Max Allstadt Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:42:23 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1749#comment-52167 V, Do you have a good enough reason to come out of retirement yet? V,

Do you have a good enough reason to come out of retirement yet?

]]> By: Patrick http://www.abetteroakland.com/on-hiatus/2009-01-05#comment-51610 Patrick Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:36:22 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1749#comment-51610 What an incredible insight, das88, I've never thought of it that way. There is truly much to love about our city...and then our city government concerns themselves with censorship while at the same time making me responsible for the liability of the sidewalk in front of my house - which was installed in 1925 and never looked at by the city again. I'm still hoping that the FBI Edgerley investigation turns up many more rotten apples - and sends a decent portion of our government running for the (other side) of the hills. The scandalous way this city is governed is the source of many of its problems, but I guess its ultimately the citizen's fault for the way we vote. What an incredible insight, das88, I’ve never thought of it that way. There is truly much to love about our city…and then our city government concerns themselves with censorship while at the same time making me responsible for the liability of the sidewalk in front of my house – which was installed in 1925 and never looked at by the city again.

I’m still hoping that the FBI Edgerley investigation turns up many more rotten apples – and sends a decent portion of our government running for the (other side) of the hills. The scandalous way this city is governed is the source of many of its problems, but I guess its ultimately the citizen’s fault for the way we vote.

]]> By: das88 http://www.abetteroakland.com/on-hiatus/2009-01-05#comment-51528 das88 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:14:21 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1749#comment-51528 When I had to take a break from Oakland, I ended up moving to Los Angeles for eleven years. I certainly hope V's hiatus is not as severe. Oakland seems to have this same effect on a lot of people that they vacillate from civic booster to harsh critic and back and again. I actually think this manic reaction makes a lot of sense. Oakland has a lot of great things going for it all in a fairly small package that is not so overwhelming. However, no matter how good things look or how strong the future looks, Oakland never comes close to its full potential. There is always disappointment for opportunity lost and squandered away. Still I have faith that civic conditions will continue to improve and that V. will be back to inform us on how they could have been better. When I had to take a break from Oakland, I ended up moving to Los Angeles for eleven years. I certainly hope V’s hiatus is not as severe.

Oakland seems to have this same effect on a lot of people that they vacillate from civic booster to harsh critic and back and again. I actually think this manic reaction makes a lot of sense. Oakland has a lot of great things going for it all in a fairly small package that is not so overwhelming. However, no matter how good things look or how strong the future looks, Oakland never comes close to its full potential. There is always disappointment for opportunity lost and squandered away.

Still I have faith that civic conditions will continue to improve and that V. will be back to inform us on how they could have been better.

]]> By: jessica http://www.abetteroakland.com/on-hiatus/2009-01-05#comment-51480 jessica Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:57:24 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1749#comment-51480 I'm all for breaks. I look forward to your return. I’m all for breaks. I look forward to your return.

]]> By: erocking http://www.abetteroakland.com/on-hiatus/2009-01-05#comment-51475 erocking Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:42:48 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1749#comment-51475 Add me to the list of admirers of V Smoothe and count me as appreciative of all she's done for Oakland via this blog (and Oakbook). Thanks, V! Add me to the list of admirers of V Smoothe and count me as appreciative of all she’s done for Oakland via this blog (and Oakbook). Thanks, V!

]]> By: oaklandhappenings http://www.abetteroakland.com/on-hiatus/2009-01-05#comment-51203 oaklandhappenings Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:41:38 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1749#comment-51203 V, thank you, regardless if you decide to continue or not. Might we still see you with Oakbook?? Do what is best, and who knows--maybe Jane Brunner as president will make a difference (...on second thought, maybe not). Rebecca K's presence may not be the same as 8 new faces on the CC, but she will hopefully be a heluva lot better than lame-duck Henry C. Rebecca, if you are still reading this, do us all a favor, and help us put Oakland on the map under in a positive limelight. Your votes could be the difference in making our city "a better Oakland" "a sh*ttier Oakland". Your call! :-) V, thank you, regardless if you decide to continue or not. Might we still see you with Oakbook??
Do what is best, and who knows–maybe Jane Brunner as president will make a difference (…on second thought, maybe not). Rebecca K’s presence may not be the same as 8 new faces on the CC, but she will hopefully be a heluva lot better than lame-duck Henry C. Rebecca, if you are still reading this, do us all a favor, and help us put Oakland on the map under in a positive limelight. Your votes could be the difference in making our city “a better Oakland” “a sh*ttier Oakland”. Your call! :-)

]]> By: VivekB http://www.abetteroakland.com/on-hiatus/2009-01-05#comment-51171 VivekB Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:59:51 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1749#comment-51171 Ditto, thanks for all your work. As someone who has a tendency to get completely absorbed in my hobbies, my advice is to take a month off. A week isn't nearly enough to get distance, and if you're feeling tired a month or two is more like it. I started what turned into a very active blog 3.5 years ago about a completely unrelated topic (ie, not my current website, *very* different). I hit the wall after about 18 months of doing it, and decided to chill with my wife/kids for a few months. I jumped back in 3 months later, which was perfect as I had a fresh perspective on things, and took my topic in a completely different but very fresh direction. Most of the readers came back, a few who didn't like the new me didn't, but they were more than offset by the new folks. The readership wasn't nearly as rewarding as the new direction & energy I felt. So...take some time. Take 1-2 months, or whatever you need. Oakland will be just as screwed up then as it is now, but perhaps you'll have some interesting new thoughts about it. Or perhaps you'll see who takes up the cause in your absence, freeing you up to do even more outrageous or innovative blogging. Ditto, thanks for all your work. As someone who has a tendency to get completely absorbed in my hobbies, my advice is to take a month off. A week isn’t nearly enough to get distance, and if you’re feeling tired a month or two is more like it.

I started what turned into a very active blog 3.5 years ago about a completely unrelated topic (ie, not my current website, *very* different). I hit the wall after about 18 months of doing it, and decided to chill with my wife/kids for a few months. I jumped back in 3 months later, which was perfect as I had a fresh perspective on things, and took my topic in a completely different but very fresh direction. Most of the readers came back, a few who didn’t like the new me didn’t, but they were more than offset by the new folks. The readership wasn’t nearly as rewarding as the new direction & energy I felt.

So…take some time. Take 1-2 months, or whatever you need. Oakland will be just as screwed up then as it is now, but perhaps you’ll have some interesting new thoughts about it. Or perhaps you’ll see who takes up the cause in your absence, freeing you up to do even more outrageous or innovative blogging.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.abetteroakland.com/on-hiatus/2009-01-05#comment-51080 Jennifer Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:33:04 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1749#comment-51080 I can understand how much energy it must take to think about Oakland politics all the time . . . Take all the time you need to detox. . . but we'll miss you. I can understand how much energy it must take to think about Oakland politics all the time . . . Take all the time you need to detox. . . but we’ll miss you.

]]> By: Jason http://www.abetteroakland.com/on-hiatus/2009-01-05#comment-51073 Jason Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:23:03 +0000 http://www.abetteroakland.com/?p=1749#comment-51073 Thanks for your work on this blog -- you probably don't hear the appreciation enough, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who reads more than I post -- and [in general] complains more than I take action. I know it takes a lot of dedication to work on something as frustrating and sometimes not all that rewarding as local politics. Your voice is an important one and I hope you come back energized. Thanks for your work on this blog — you probably don’t hear the appreciation enough, but I’m sure I’m not the only one who reads more than I post — and [in general] complains more than I take action.

I know it takes a lot of dedication to work on something as frustrating and sometimes not all that rewarding as local politics. Your voice is an important one and I hope you come back energized.

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