Since our readers are what drive us here at LALtoday, at the beginning of January we asked you what you wanted to talk about this year. We’ll be using your questions + conversation topics to create our content in 2019, helping you be more entertained, informed + engaged.

We were blown away with the 35 responses you gave. Without further ado, here’s what you asked (verbatim, without editing for spelling + punctuation).

5️⃣ of our favorites

✉️ How to get restaurants to Lakeland

✉️ What can and can't be recycled?

✉️ What is Lakeland’s five year plan? Like what are they doing to keep more college students/young adults in the area?

✉️ Maybe a behind the scenes with companies? Publix, a day with Mayor Mutz, etc.

✉️ When will the new Barnett park be completed?

And our personal favorite request: With the many colleges/universities in the surrounding area, why won’t Apple open a store in Lakeland?

Here are 30 more responses from our readers. ⬇️

What can we help you understand?

✉️ Why so much growth on south side but not north side?

✉️ How a Trust works vs Will or do you need both?

✉️ Why the red light camera money needs to be spent instead of applying it to the cities debt.

What about upcoming developments or construction you’ve seen around town?

✉️ Everywhere....what is coming

✉️ The place similar to armature works

✉️ Up and coming restaurants and hangouts

What can we help find out for you?

✉️ New businesses coming to Lakeland

✉️ How can we get the roadsides cleared of trash.

✉️ Why doesn't Lakeland do a First Night?

✉️ Will there be a Culver’s on the south side of Lakeland?

✉️ Where are all the 55+ communities in Lakeland.

✉️ Non faith based senior activities and resources

✉️ Would love any and all info on the possible rail line from Tampa to Orlando and potential for a stop in Lakeland.

✉️ People in Lakeland to get to know. Philanthropists, business owners, unique people with stories we need to hear.

✉️ I am very much missing my bocce league from "back home". I can't even find a court to play by myself. Could you find out IF there are any courts around, and if they have reams or not? I know there is lawn bowling, which I'm going to try, but it's not the same. Thank you in advance, Betty S.

What do you want us to talk about this year?

✉️ Trash on the right of way on the side of roads. It seems that there are an abundance of litter on our right of way roads. Publix set the standards for cleanliness in our city so why not clean up our city’s right of way. On Providence Road between Griffin Rd and Alameda South, the trash alone side of the road is astounding as well as other areas like Lake Parker near the AAA office.

✉️ First Night

✉️ The amount of trash and litter on our highways and streets. How can we clean this up. When we first moved here in 2002 Lakeland was so clean that we even commented on it. Now the streets and highways are littered. How do we make America clean again?

✉️ Repairing our roads, getting as bad as Tampa's roads. Where is the money going that is collected on the gas tax.

✉️ Improving the bus system in South Lakeland

✉️ Zoning changes that can help more people live downtown (not everyone can afford/wants/needs a 4/2 house on .25 acres in south lakeland), pedestrian safety around our lakes and frequent jogging/biking paths, and anything local - local food, beverage, crafts, pop-up events etc.

✉️ City provided high speed internet. I would like to know more about the possibility and how to support it.

✉️ Unique spots to visit/eat at

✉️ Recycling

✉️ How about some annual fundraiser events that happen every year. Or a greet to know this local Lakeland leader and have interviews with B&B, 1961, cob and pen, etc.

Want to know how something works?

✉️ When a retail store, for example Trader Joe’s, wants to expand into Lakeland (🤞🏻) does the company just find a suitable space and buy/lease or do they have to negotiate with the city council about establishing a presence within Lakeland? Is there a way the city council can reach out to businesses like TJ’s or restaurants and shops to encourage them to open establishments within the city?

✉️ Registering your pet when moving to lakeland

What don’t you know that you’d like us to investigate?

✉️ Lakeland should be booming due to its location

✉️ We need a southside Aldis!

✉️ I'd like a short regular recap of city council each meeting.

✉️ Native Lakeland plants/species

Have a question you didn’t submit? Just reply here– or let us know on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. We’ll add it to the list. And keep checking back to see what we’ve answered so we can continue this conversation.

Now, we're off to start finding out answers for you.

- The LALtoday Team