FitzGerald/Summers Has Come To Shut You Down

[Jim O'Bryan]

Well if they had actually put their name on it.

Today we got the first peek of the Ed FitzGerald/Michael Summers piece put together to both spread lies and mistruths, and keep the community from talking.

"Lakewood Neighborhood News" hit the street, paid for by one of Ed FitzGerald's groups. It claims to be the voice of the people, but like everything Ed FitzGerald and Mayor Summers do, no names, no accountability, nothing open, nothing honest, nothing that really helps anyone but the candidates and their immediate friends.

Two ads from Lakewood, the rest from outside the city, and one full page from Team Summers. Those wondering who Team Summers is read the ad, unfortunately they really do not like letting people know who is doing or saying what, because then we would know THEY ARE LYING!

For 12 years we have given everyone a place to talk and share their thoughts and opinions. But that is not good enough for those who lie, cheat and steal, they need backroom, anonymity, spin and crisis management.

More shortly on the new ED FitzGerald, Mayor without a driver's license hometown paper.

If you are not willing to put your name on it, it is bullshit.

Ed/Mike, please quit trying to run this town in backroom deals.

Finally Say NO to FitzGerald/Summers. It stunk when he was the hand-picked successor, and now it really stinks.


Page One of the new Ed FitzGerald/Summers paper has 64 could mean DOOM! Odd they are the ones closing it down. Ed and his understudy Michael P. Summers.
Predictably they have Summers gaining momentum, as most wards have him down 20% over the candidate talking honesty and transparency.


Page 2, Couple of LO advertisers who are not sure how they got there, and a full page ad for Ed FitzGerald's hand-picked successor.


Page 2 A story written by someone at City Hall, the photo is not from within Lakewood,

Ad from Tim Laskey, the only advertiser to pull out because the LO was too fair and accountable I guess. And two lawyers from outside the city of Lakewood.


Page 3 and 4, More ads from outside the City and a big Anti-64 ad.


And the LHA ad paid for by the Cleveland Clinic.

The entire paper paid for on a check signed by Ed FitzGerald, but no mention of Ed, or the publisher, or editors or writers.

THE SAME BULLSHIT MOST OF US ARE SICK OF A CITY HALL - No accountability, No honesty, No transparency.

Ed FitzGerald take your spawn Mayor Summers and allow sunshine and honesty to return to Lakewood City Hall and the city of Lakewood.

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[Betsy Voinovich]

Wow, look at the fonts on the headlines, look at the layout--- it seems like this paper is trying to look just like the Lakewood Observer. Maybe they want people to be confused. I guess the LO should take it as a compliment.

Hint: the way you can tell an Observer paper is that there are articles from ALL SIDES of an issue. It's COMMUNITY-WRITTEN. As one of its editors, let me tell you, it is a big headache sometimes, but it is one of the things I'm proudest of.

Betsy Voinovich

[Michael Deneen]

Team Summers is obviously very nervous about this election.

[Missy Limkemann]

Is it sad that when things like this come in the mail (I get other "newspaper type" ads) I just throw them in my "puppy pee pad" pile and never read them?

[Michael Deneen]

I love the fact that they include the high school football schedules...four days before the season ends.

That is typical of Ed FitzGerald.
During a radio interview on ESPNCleveland, he was unable to name the Browns coach.

[Bridget Conant]

I do not know ONE person who doesn't think Fitz is a big buffoon. Many of them despise him for his performance in the governor's race.


But have at it, Team Summers, PLEASE!

[Margaret Brinich]

For a split second I was upset, until I realized there were no names listed. Now I think annoyed, offended, and thankful (yes, that is correct, thankful) are better words to describe this attempt at a "news" paper. If that is what they (whoever "they" is) were going for...although I'm hoping they didn't think they could actually pass this off as journalism and that I'm just overreacting).

But whatever the intent of this piece is, I'm glad they did it. Here is why.

Anyone who has ever taken the time to put together an article for the oldest citizen journalism project in the country, aka The Lakewood Observer​, knows the blood, sweat, and tears that go into each and every issue of the newspaper. Putting together a paper every 2 weeks for the past 10 years plus, is no walk in the park, but the citizens of Lakewood have stepped up to the task and helped us do so issue after issue.

A project like this can't be bought and sold. It can't materialize out of thin air. No, it takes years of cultivating relationships, building partnerships, and, yes, letting "the other side" have their say too - no matter how much you agree or disagree.

It has been more than 6 years since I joined this project as Editor-In-Chief and admittedly, it can be exhausting, overwhelming, tedious, time-consuming, and at 1 o'clock in the morning when I'm arguing about what articles are going to have to get cut with O'Bryan, it can even cause me to question my own sanity. But then I see things like this - and no, it's not about Save Lakewood Hospital or Build Lakewood or Summers vs. Skindell - and I am reminded why I, why we all, need to keep playing our part in The Lakewood Observer project.

So to whoever put together the "Lakewood Neighborhood News" (news being a rather loose term here), thank you. Thank you for the reminder that Lakewood is full of amazing individuals who are dedicated to making their city all that it can be and who allow The Lakewood Observer to serve as their voice to make their vision a reality.

[Corey Rossen]

Page 2, Couple of LO advertisers who are not sure how they got there, and a full page ad for Ed FitzGerald's hand-picked successor.
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The paper is lined with advertisers just waiting to be boycotted by some! You do realize that LO advertisers are also campaign contributors to your enemy, right? They crossed the LO advertisers picket line - that is how they got there. (wink wink, I still do not believe in emojis!)

Corey

[Michael Deneen]

The paper is lined with advertisers just waiting to be boycotted by some! You do realize that LO advertisers are also campaign contributors to your enemy, right? They crossed the LO advertisers picket line - that is how they got there. (wink wink, I still do not believe in emojis!)

The only threats of boycotts I ever see come from the Mayor's people.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Page 2, Couple of LO advertisers who are not sure how they got there, and a full page ad for Ed FitzGerald's hand-picked successor.
.

The paper is lined with advertisers just waiting to be boycotted by some! You do realize that LO advertisers are also campaign contributors to your enemy, right? They crossed the LO advertisers picket line - that is how they got there. (wink wink, I still do not believe in emojis!)

Corey

Corey

You completely miss the point to stir up troll stew. They are not sure how they got there, I spoke with both. Both could be paid for ads, by other people.

They could of just be letting me down gently, but one calls me an ass every chance he gets and the other is also a friend. Both remain in the Observers too, for which I am thankful.

Advertiser are free-willed and free to spend wherever they want. They are free to spend wherever. Many of our advertisers are in the Scene for example.

I only know of one person to pull their ads because of all of this, and every article sent in by that person has been printed before and after, with ZERO, reflection on what was paid to the Observer.

Competition is good for the soul. Just wish Ed FitzGerald and Mike Summers had said they were behind this nearly pure political piece, instead of hiding the truth, hiding behind others, throwing rocks from the shadows. Just once Mayor Summers should act like a Mayor, and lead by example. It is getting pretty pitiful.

I'm a massive fan of free speech and competition.


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[Jim O'Bryan]

Page 2, Couple of LO advertisers who are not sure how they got there, and a full page ad for Ed FitzGerald's hand-picked successor.
.

The paper is lined with advertisers just waiting to be boycotted by some! You do realize that LO advertisers are also campaign contributors to your enemy, right? They crossed the LO advertisers picket line - that is how they got there. (wink wink, I still do not believe in emojis!)

Corey

Corey

You completely miss the point to stir up troll stew. They are not sure how they got there, I spoke with both. Both could be paid for ads, by other people.

They could of just be letting me down gently, but one calls me an ass every chance he gets and the other is also a friend. Both remain in the Observers too, for which I am thankful.

Advertiser are free-willed and free to spend wherever they want. They are free to spend wherever. Many of our advertisers are in the Scene for example.

I only know of one person to pull their ads because of all of this, and every article sent in by that person has been printed before and after, with ZERO, reflection on what was paid to the Observer.

Competition is good for the soul. Just wish Ed FitzGerald and Mike Summers had said they were behind this nearly pure political piece, instead of hiding the truth, hiding behind others, throwing rocks from the shadows. Just once Mayor Summers should act like a Mayor, and lead by example. It is getting pretty pitiful.

.

[Corey Rossen]

Page 2, Couple of LO advertisers who are not sure how they got there, and a full page ad for Ed FitzGerald's hand-picked successor.
.

The paper is lined with advertisers just waiting to be boycotted by some! You do realize that LO advertisers are also campaign contributors to your enemy, right? They crossed the LO advertisers picket line - that is how they got there. (wink wink, I still do not believe in emojis!)

Corey

Corey

You completely miss the point to stir up troll stew. They are not sure how they got there, I spoke with both. Both could be paid for ads, by other people.

They could of just be letting me down gently, but one calls me an ass every chance he gets and the other is also a friend.

Advertiser are free-willed and free to spend wherever they want. They are free to spend wherever. Many of our advertisers are in the Scene for example.

I only know of one person to pull their ads because of all of this, and every article sent in by that person has been printed before and after, with ZERO, reflection on what was paid to the Observer.

Competition is good for the soul. Just wish Ed FitzGerald and Mike Summers had said they were behind this nearly pure political piece, instead of hiding the truth, hiding behind others, throwing rocks from the shadows. Just once Mayor Summers should act like a Mayor, and lead by example. It is getting pretty pitiful.

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I have not been home yet to see it, do they really fling political mud ("throwing rocks from the shadows") or is this stirring up stew?

I love that I am being called a troll, definitely not as flashy a title as Lakewood's own Shock Jock, err, editor, err writer, err journalist, err not really journalist, err...everyday good guy.

I am sure they are letting you down gently, as I'm sure everyone always tells you the truth.

Ads could be a tag along to campaign contributions, but not sure how that works, or if legal.

Nothing to see here, just trolling along.

Corey

[Dan Alaimo]

What terrible timing on my part - I've already voted thanks to Mike Skindell sending me the forms. I guess all the new facts they bring up won't affect my vote.

[Jim O'Bryan]

I love that I am being called a troll, definitely not as flashy a title as Lakewood's own Shock Jock, err, editor, err writer, err journalist, err not really journalist, err...everyday good guy.

I am sure they are letting you down gently, as I'm sure everyone always tells you the truth.

Ads could be a tag along to campaign contributions, but not sure how that works, or if legal.

Nothing to see here, just trolling along.

Corey

Corey, you are just like the brother I never wanted. We had called each other much worse.

I was just thinking as we talked about the most important thing in Lakewood you would shift the topic to your hair or lack of it.

On November 5th we can talk about how handsome you are and how chubby I am, just trying to stay focused.

Corey, as you well know one of the two would take great pleasure from letting me down hard. I take them at their word.

Corey, the entire piece is believed by some to be illegal as it represents a political piece.

I prefer to think about it as a chance to sharpen up the LO, and try to do better.

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[Bridget Conant]

Dan

I'd like to point out one little error in your post - these are not new facts being presented, these are continued and unrelenting bare-faced lies and misleading statements meant to confuse the electorate and influence the election.


Saying a Yes vote on 64 DOOMS the hospital was a devious attempt to mislead voters that if they want to SAVE the hospital they should vote no.

Please tell everyone you know- VOTE YES ON 64 and VOTE SKINDELL.