What the!!!!!!

[DougHuntingdon]

Mr Fitzgerald

Thank you for the post. What is the URL of the public record?

Doug

[dl meckes]

Charyn & Jim-

Hate to tell you, but back-up usually happens at the end of each day. Even so, sometimes not everything can be restored. Since I don't know what it is I'm supposed to be looking for, that needle is more difficult to find.

Jim-

Would you really like to see city reps show up and rip down offending signs on the spot?

P.S., you missed the signs on the former Capsule.

Joan-

As usual, I enjoy your posts. I also can envision the alternative style being welcomed in a different section of town.

While I missed Moe's offending signage, I regularly see the action around the East End Market. It's odd how people perceive things. When I saw the word "market" I hoped that the place would turn into a little specialty market and felt a bit of excitement.

And when I finally noticed the signs at Harrison's, I told DH that we really should see what's on sale. I assume those signs won't be there for too long.

Nobody likes ugly signs, including the things we see taped to the insides of storefront windows.

But we really hate the ones that say "Available" or "For Rent."

[Jim O'Bryan]

Joan

You always get me laughing and thinking.

Perhaps you are right about Madison Village.

Of course a sign hung inside the window could be construed as a temporary sign which is another loophole, as is signage 10" or more back from the window.

To me the single biggest problem was safety, and fairness. As Ed has pointed out that the building department was all over this it would seem fair. However I still think the safety issue alone, would get faster action. But that is not my deal.

Ed thanks for posting.

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[Jim O'Bryan]

DL

When it is a flagrent as this. Yes.

I mean there is a huge difference between, a mistake, a bad sign(taste), an illegal sign, and a safety issue. As I said, a piece of particle board falling from the height of this sign could kill someone. But I suppose the fact that it was illegal, unsafe would have you waiting as long as ??????????

Again, I am more than willing to give Moe space in the paper about his store opening as we give anyone. I am willing to listen to Moe explain. I am willing to work with Moe on a legal sign that he can afford in payments.

As for the Harrison signs, someone saw them bringing furniture in from their other store. Also I was told that they plan to stay the full two years of their lease. Maybe they took a lesson from your other favorite store North Coast Beds and just decided that huge Out of Business signs were a better way to go.

FWIW

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[kate parker]

That is not the behavior of a community - it is the behavior of a lynch mob.

That is not the behavior of a community - it is the behavior of a lynch mob.

at least racism fingerpointing isn't limited to the immigration debate. who'd have thought lakewood was full of so many bigots, sheesh. i wonder, do new residents get a 'race card' when they move into this city?

[Jim O'Bryan]

That is not the behavior of a community - it is the behavior of a lynch mob.

That is not the behavior of a community - it is the behavior of a lynch mob.

at least racism fingerpointing isn't limited to the immigration debate. who'd have thought lakewood was full of so many bigots, sheesh. i wonder, do new residents get a 'race card' when they move into this city?

Kate


What on earth are you talking about?



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[Mark Crnolatas]

Mark

It is funny that we all get caught up in these kind of things. But by the end of the day we find everything is as it should be. I probably over react to a sign, because it is my business, and I know how hard this administration is working to bring in new business, and how hard Tom George and crew are working to bring in development like Rockport, Rosewood, etc. and I viewed this as counter productive to that effort, and it touches so many hot buttons, and we all proceed to overreact, but I think a lot of good comes of it.

As I went to bed last night I had to laugh. What started off as a "bad story" but the end of the day had turned into a "positive story" for everyone, including the owner of Moe's. City doing their job, very well, and think of how many people now know Moe is helping people get hooked up with gear!

No one said Moe's should be closed down. All we did is work to correct a possible program, while pointing out ways that it could be fixed easily to get Moe's business a member of the community. quickly, easily and on a level he/she can afford.

This is the secret to a vibrant, healthy, growing community.


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[Ruthie Koenigsmark]

Went by Moe's this am and the sign is down.

[dl meckes]

It seems that yet another of Mark Crnolatas's posts has been accidentally overwritten.

As the main administrator of the Deck, I profusely apologize for my colleague's haste in replying, wherein Mr. Crnolatas's post was overwritten.

Mr. O'Bryan, as the publisher of the Observer, must have full access to all parts of the Lakewood Observer; the paper, the "front end" web site and the Observation Deck.

Occasionally, in the excitement of being part of the conversation, he has literally hit the wrong button.

I hope Mr. Crnolatas will (again) accept our apologies. I backed up early last night prior to Mr. Crnolatas's post, so I am unable to recover it.

[Jim O'Bryan]

DL

I wish to voluntarly surrender this power.

I cannot be trusted.

You are a great board manager, and you certainly do not need my help.

Mark, I do not even know where to begin, once again I have screwed up your post. you have always been a very strong advocate for the Observer and a great poster.

I am not worthy of the following, support or the power.

I am sure Mark can repost better than I. But his message was one of support and understanding. That it was about the sign, not the mob.


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[Joan Roberts]

Joan

You always get me laughing and thinking.

Perhaps you are right about Madison Village.

Of course a sign hung inside the window could be construed as a temporary sign which is another loophole, as is signage 10" or more back from the window.

To me the single biggest problem was safety, and fairness.

.

I agree, and yes, aesthetics count for something, but actually there is another element to this that's worth talking about.
I have three friends/associates who are/were small Lakewood retailers. Their stories,with minor variations, had a common theme.
The city doesn't provide you with much in the way of assistance, but is always ready to give to a load of you-know-what if you screw up.
One acquaintance inquired about signage and basically had a xeroxed set of guidelines tossed at him by a building dept. bureaucrat. His questions were answered vaguely and impatiently, but when he ran afoul of a detail, THAT got everyone's attention.
I guess it ccmes down to attitude. When someone decides to invest in Lakewood, are they welcomed by City Hall? Or does the building dept see their role as cops, and businesspeople as potential perps?
My acquaintance, perhaps overstated, said gettting an occupancy permit in Lakewood was akin to registering as a sex offender. In other words, now we know we're here, and we're keeping an eye on you.
Turning government bureaucracy into a "customer-friendly" enterprise may be a daunting task, but if any place needs to do it, Lakewood sure seems like it. We need to remember that in many cases, the independent businesses we supposedly want are run by inexperiened, first-time entrepreneurs who can benefit more from a helping hand than an iron fist.

[Phil Florian]

I have heard the same thing that Joan has with other business folks, some in Lakewood now and others who wanted to come to Lakewood but got frustrated with the lack of support from the City and chose to stay out. This can't be good. I have enjoyed working with a variety of aspects of the City so far (tax department, housing, police, fire, etc.) but anything regarding new businesses has been universally panned as being unfriendly and, worse, unhelpful. If this is the kind of walls new business owners need to climb to get into Lakewood, I have to wonder if the For Rent signs in a lot of store fronts have less to do with Location and more to do with support (or lack thereof) from the City itself.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Phil

I am not sure we can fault the city for all of this. The city, especially Lakewood is really tied up on this. Lakewood is very tight on their budget, so financial help is out fo the question. Cities should stick to clean and safe and working to bring groups together.

However there is another group that is set-up just to do this. The Chamber of Commerce. There are also a couple other groups forming consisting of Lakewood businesses and Lakewood residents that can also help, MaMa and DaDa. Thes groups have been meeting, and MaMa is already helping businesses on Madison Ave. get low cost signage, help with marketing, and costs $0.00 to join. Pure grassroot efforts 100% Lakewood.


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[dl meckes]

The city (and the Chamber of Commerce?) has a very nice packet that is sent to residents to welcome them and orient them to Lakewood life.

It would be wonderful to have the same kind of thing for businesses. I always wonder how people find out about the Department for Community Development and such groups as the Architectural Review Board.

[Joan Roberts]

Phil

I am not sure we can fault the city for all of this. The city, especially Lakewood is really tied up on this. Lakewood is very tight on their budget, so financial help is out fo the question.

Not talking financial help. No one I know wanted a handout for his/her business. They were looking for expertise and maybe, a little empathy. In our present environment, I can't think of a better investment of a salary than someone who can work with businesspeople,especially the small ones Grow Lakewood says we need.
To amplify my point, one of my friends pointed out that the Building Dept people she dealt with were career public employees who spent the majority of their time checking on contractors, making sure enough concrete was poured in driveways, examining waste stacks on kitchen remodels, etc. No one seemed to have any familiaritywith the actual business of running a business.
Crocker Park, obviously, can take care of itself. Those guys are pros who do Westlake today, Atlanta tomorrow. Everything, down to the signage, is a science. Lakewood, as constantly remind ourselves, is very different.