BLChair Pam Smith takes on Citizen Meg Ostrowski and Loses

[Brian Essi]

BL Chair, Pam Smith is mistaken on both of her major premises and other premises that served as her basis for criticizing Meg Ostrowski’s post here on the Deck. This is more seemingly logical thinking built on false premises by BLers and their leader.

The CCF agreements create both direct and fiduciary liability to the City (and to you and me as citizens.) It is all right in the agreements. Also, there is now clear evidence of serious CCF breaches of its legal duties and tens of millions of dollars of resulting damages that the City can recoup. I am told that CCF paid the City of Cleveland millions of dollars in settlement for the closing of Huron and Cleveland did not even own Huron or have an agreement like in Lakewood. Nevertheless, I should think that as a loyal Republican, Pam Smith would be all for holding CCF accountable and recouping the damages, if for no other reason than to increase the amount money Blers want put in the foundation for their causes.

As recently as October 9, 2015, a private for profit developer and operator of acute care hospitals began discussions with Mayor Summers—Surgical Development Partners (SDP). They have already offered more for the Columbia Road facility than CCF has offered. Why did LHA’s Chair Tom Gable reject that offer without consulting the full LHA Board? Why did he say Columbia Road is not for sale? Why is the CCF medical office building that CCF owes on Detroit at the east end of Lakewood listed for sale with a broker, but Lakewood Hospital/medical office buildings and business are not listed for sale nor have they ever been listed with a qualified broker/investment banker? How can Pam Smith (BL) say “no one is interested” when no efforts to sell a business and assets worth an estimated $150 million have been made in nearly 2 years and yet the SDP offer and discussions have emerged out of nowhere? Again, as a loyal Republican, I should think that Pam Smith would be jumping at the SDP opportunity, rather than the heavily government subsidized Summers/CCF deal that will cost taxpayers nearly $100 million right out of the box.

The Pam Smith/BL premise that the new facility will be an improvement for Lakewood has already been disproven. See: http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/2015/1 ... nformation

Finally, CCF may be “the best in the world” at certain specialties, but they are bloated with top heavy salaries and overhead, very inefficient and not very good at running hospitals. They are also way behind on preventative care—since there is no money in it, they are unlikely to help Lakewood in becoming healthier as some claim is a goal of this mess—they have been here 18 years and have given only lip service to the notion of preventative care. Why? $$$$$

[Meg Ostrowski]

Brian,

Thank you for coming to my defense in such a reasoned manner. Your hard work, legal expertise and intellect have been priceless in the hospital debate. While I stated in a previous post that I was not a fan of your drama in one instance, I recognize its value in bringing attention to this very dramatic situation.

As for Pam, she is clearly only listening to one side and finds my “Taking Sides” post a threat. I see little connection and lots of assumptions and misunderstandings in her response. I appreciate your taking the time to counter her claims here.

For anyone interested, here is a link to my “Taking Sides” op-ed:

http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/2015/0 ... king-sides

Four months later and more knowledgeable on the issues, I stand by its premise and would change only one word.

[marklingm]

Meg,

You are brilliant ... as always!

But ... Pam Smith insists that killing the hospital is fabulous ...




Keep it up, Meg.

Matt

[Dan Alaimo]

Meg for mayor.

[Meg Ostrowski]

Meg for mayor.

I have a much better idea.

Skindell for Mayor.jpg (32.36 KiB) Viewed 1593 times

[Dan Alaimo]

I agree and was mostly kidding. I wrote that instead of saying something like "good going" a few hours after I mailed in my ballot.

But then I thought about all the years we've worked together on Kauffman Park Friends and you would make a good mayor - seriously.