It’s one year since my first post on Reports From a Political Hobbyist in Lafayette Colorado. Somehow all the stars lined up and with no planning from me, it’s also my 100th. So what does one say on such a momentous occasion? That’s a no-brainer. Thank you.
Thank you to everyone who signed up to receive my ramblings in your inbox. Some of you I know from all my years of posting on Nextdoor (which I still do), some even go back to the “Citizens For Lafayette” newsletter my late husband Toby and I published in the 2000s. But there are many new names in the subscriber list that I don’t recognize and I appreciate you signing up for my Substack newsletter and reading my reports about our fair city.
WHY DO THIS KAREN? ARE YOU CRAZY?
Excellent question. I do wonder that sometimes. (I tell people I am quirky working my way up to eccentric.) There are a few reasons.
I LOVE THIS PLACE
As I have said for many years we’ve got something special here, let’s not mess it up. Many of you share that love and let me know you appreciate what I do. Those words of support keep me going.
When I started this city-watching gig in the 1990s I knew nothing about how the city worked. Nothing. It took lots of time and research to figure out how to navigate the system. I want to save others that frustration when they try to get something done so I am sharing what I know. I also know how fast rumors spread and I think it’s kinda useful to have the correct information. I work hard to provide that. Got a gripe or complements to share? I can point you to the right person too.
PEOPLE HELPED US
I’m going back even further to the late 1970s and early 80s to share a bit of personal history. My late husband Toby and I were homeless on the streets of the San Fernando Valley in California for over 6 years. We lived in a Ford Econoline van with four dogs before it burned up while in the repair shop. Friends, and people whose houses I cleaned, helped us buy a replacement vehicle, an old water and power truck made by International Harvester. We had something larger to live in, named it Friendship 1 (an homage to the help we received via a play on friendship won), and added one more dog. And yes as you can imagine, I have many stories about that time.
Sonoma, Spirit, Ziggy, and Waukeesha
Cherokee, she was deaf and we taught her sign language.
DURING THOSE YEARS PEOPLE KEPT HELPING US
They were “cleaning out their pantry” and thought we could use some food items they were “getting rid of” or they had just shopped for their dogs but wanted us to have what they bought. One Thanksgiving we were cooking our meal on a Colman stove in one of the parks where we hung out and a woman stopped and came over, pie in hand. She said, “I am taking this pie to my friend’s house but I want you to have it”. It was a long slow road from there that ended with us buying our house in Lafayette in 1989. I have never forgotten those acts of kindness, some from friends and some from total strangers. I see what I do as a way to honor that help we received.
IF I CAN DO IT, SO CAN YOU
Look, I’m nothing special, I’m a high school dropout, who was incredibly shy before I started doing all this stuff, and I have little to no skills that apply here. It takes me hours to write a 5-minute speech for city council meetings and it’s still difficult to get up there and speak. But I am determined.
When I write about an accomplishment it’s not to brag. It’s to show others that it is possible to make a difference on a local level because if I can do it so can you. There are many folks in town you don’t hear about who are members of city committees or non-profit groups working on projects that benefit all of us. I happen to have a newsletter where I can tell you what I’ve been up to and supply you with information. What you do with that info is up to you. But I hope that once in a while you might take some action and send an email, speak at a meeting or try and turn your idea into reality.
I also think it’s important for readers to know who I am and what I do if I am opining on a subject. If you are finding this site for the first time I want you to be able to take a quick look at past posts and at least have a sense that maybe I share some of the same hopes and concerns you have for this community. Plus I might know a thing or two about how things work here that could help you.
When people tell me I’ve inspired them to write a letter or email, speak at a meeting, or do some research, it warms my heart. It can take years to make something happen, sometimes it doesn’t happen at all. But you’ll never know if you don’t try. This I know for sure.
ABOUT SUBSCRIPTIONS, ANOTHER NO-BRAINER
I know many Substack writers offer the option to bump up to a paid subscription and with that comes extra benefits. A one-year anniversary seems like a good time to address that. It’s not for me. I want you to have information, that’s why I spend the time to write this newsletter. Money’s tight for many and I don’t think what I do is paid subscription worthy anyway. I’m amazed that people even sign up at all!
Instead I thought I could riff on the “buy me a coffee” setup that others use. Since I don’t drink coffee and “buy me a cup of tea” doesn't have the same ring, starting with this 100th edition there will be a “buy me chocolate” button at the bottom of the page. If you feel like sending me a couple of bucks now and then because you appreciate a particular report and are grateful that I watch long drawn-out meetings and read boring documents (just kidding city staff members!) so you don’t have to, that would be appreciated. Nothing else changes, I’ll keep sending out reports on topics I think you should know about.
Thank you again for your support and your thoughtful comments. A shout-out goes to our city staff who are always ready to answer my questions and provide me with more information to share with you.
On this one year anniversary of the newsletter I hope I’ve given you some insight into who I am and why I do what I do. And remember, we’ve got something special here, let’s not mess it up.
Want to offer more support? Awesome!
Karen, you are the best! I've known you for quite some time now, and can vouch that you are sincere, honest, dedicated, well-meaning and even humorous as appropriate 😉 Keep on trucking 🚚 You know chocolate is an aphrodisiac!!
Thank you Karen. I haven’t met you yet (I hope that changes soon). We’re relatively new to Lafayette, 9 years now, compared to moving to Louisville in 1980, then Cherryvale Road in 1989 until we moved here. (We must like this general area. )
Learning about what is going on in our town is so helpful. Chocolate is the best!!