Where will you be this morning?

[Gary Rice]

Good Morning Lakewood:

An election analysis:

I'm not entirely sure whether we're all ready for a banjo sing-a-long quite yet, but at the same time, it is quite apparent that Lakewood has taught a sublime lesson to the rest of the world, regarding participatory democracy.

No matter which side you happened to be on, or which candidates you supported, you should be comforted to know that a great many people agreed with you, and a great many of them got involved and worked very hard on your behalf.

In my opinion, there were heroes on all sides in this election. Those were, and are, the hard working people who care very much about our city and took the time to get involved for what they believed in. Those are not going to be people who will throw up their hands and go away, either. They will likely continue to be involved, whether with the democratic process, or in the courtrooms, or in the fourth estate of the press and public forums, like this Observation Deck.

The election results clearly show significant numbers of participants that should be taken into consideration by all sides. They show the importance of reaching out so far as possible to others having different opinions and perspectives. In order for Lakewood to go forward, those who have prevailed yesterday will need to be magnanimous in victory, and those who did not prevail will need to be gracious in defeat.

All sides here have far more in common than they may realize. All sides stood up for their beliefs and struggled mightily to achieve them. All sides care about Lakewood, and for that reason, I remain optimistic about our city's future.

See, my virtual and actual campfire sing-a-longs neither imply, nor support, the victory of a single point of view, but the inclusion of all points of view, respecting the kaleidoscope of Lakewood life.

Let's go forward.

Back to the banjo...

[Amy Martin]

Gary, I appreciate your "Switzerland Approach" to all things divisive, but would appreciate if for once you would actually take a hard stance. Burning both ends of the candle just gets you burnt quicker.

My partner and I are middle-class folks. We already pay over $5,500 a year in property taxes on our home. Now, to some of you, that is nothing, but to us, it is almost 8% of our combined income. When we lose Hospital tax revenue, two things are going to happen. #1, our city provided services get cut drastically, or #2, our taxed continue to skyrocket. When we purchased our home 16 years ago, our taxes were under $3,500 a year. I think it will be safe to assume that instead of cutting services, our taxes will increase. How many people may be forced to have to consider moving when this happens? My partner and I, for one.

I don't think that we are the only homeowners in Lakewood facing this dilemma. Mayor Summers and his administration want to make Lakewood the "New Tremont". Look at what is happening there already. Lakewood needs my family and others like mine to survive.

[Gary Rice]

Amy,

I do appreciate your point of view, and your tax points just made here are indeed VERY significant, and I believe deserve more discussion.

My "Switzerland approach"? Never heard that one, and I love it!

Actually, I think my stance is closer to the old Quaker thought that there are three sides to an argument, (thine, mine, and Truth) but I digress here.

I actually do have a candle in my living room with a wick on both ends, constantly reminding me of the point you just made!

Finally, did you ever consider that a "Switzerland approach" might just BE a hard stance?

Back to the banjo.

[Brian Essi]

Gary,

I'll be flying to Pelee Island and enjoying my third week of pheasant hunting in the beautiful sunshine.


I've met some great people in the last 9 months who make the sun shine on Lakewood--including you.

Keep playing your tunes.

[Missy Limkemann]

I will be at home, playing with a gaggle of dogs, while browsing realtor.com because I cannot afford taxes anymore. At least I found a house that I like with a barn and acres that will allow me to continue with my dogs and they will have more room to run and play.

[Peter Grossetti]

Amy,


Finally, did you ever consider that a "Switzerland approach" might just BE a hard stance?

B I N G O !


And gray is a beautiful color; much lovely than either black or white.

"A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece." ~Ludwig Erhard

[todd vainisi]

Regardless of whether people move out of town or not, Lakewood will continue to collect property taxes on the houses they leave behind - it matters not who owns the house (unless its lakewood). The taxes have been too high in Lakewood for a very long time - even 16 years ago the taxes were considered too high. It stinks that they keep going up while our services and quality of schools seem to go down (I'm an idiot who pays ridiculous Lakewood property taxes and private tuition). The loss of the hospital and whatever tax base it provides is just more of the same. If people see better situations for their family somewhere else, they should go. I've been planning my exit strategy for years - just not quite time yet. People are getting offers above listing for their homes. There is every incentive to make a move. Nobody is "trapped" here unless they have screwed up their mortgage - and I know plenty of people who didn't let something like that "trap" them either.

[Corey Rossen]

Amy,


Finally, did you ever consider that a "Switzerland approach" might just BE a hard stance?

B I N G O !


And gray is a beautiful color; much lovely than either black or white.

"A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece." ~Ludwig Erhard

Here on the Deck, it is better to say you are "Switzerland" than to say you are on the "fence" over an issue? Or, it just helps to be Gary Rice saying it! I have been blasted this entire time for being "on the fence" when in fact I should have been calling myself "Switzerland" - lesson learned. Besides, sitting on the fence is a hard seat to sit on.

Corey

[Amy Martin]

Todd, you only have 15 hours left on the Deck . . hurry up and get as much on here as you possibly can before you exile yourself

[Gary Rice]

With all due respect, this is not "High Noon" and Todd is not Gary Cooper.

(Boy, am I showing my age or what?)

Let's hope that our late unpleasantness doesn't chase anyone who is concerned enough to use their real name away from any chat room, so long as they show respect for each other.

Don't know about you all, but all in all, this 'Deck has provided the best entertainment that I've found since "The Flintstones"! (or was that "Law and Order"?)

Back to the banjo.

[Patrick Wadden]

Gary,

I'll be flying to Pelee Island and enjoying my third week of pheasant hunting in the beautiful sunshine.


I've met some great people in the last 9 months who make the sun shine on Lakewood--including you.

Keep playing your tunes.

Be careful. I wouldn't want you to be more than 7 minutes away from a full service hospital.

[Gary Rice]

Medical care, out-of-country, could be a concern on several levels.

I seem to recall that anyone requiring hospital care on Pelee Island would need to be flown out, either to London, Ontario, or to Leamington Hospital. (Pelee Island is a part of Canada)

That said, I've been told that Canada's medical system is very efficient, although quite a bit different than ours. How all that would work for an American, I have no idea. I would think that Pelee islanders would have all that worked out as well as possible, as they deal with American tourists all the time.

Still, this is a good reminder for anyone going out of our country to check about potential medical care, insurance issues, etc...for wherever they are going.

As anyone with a modicum of common sense is aware, it's not a question of if, but when, they or a family member will need a hospital, sooner than later, and nearer than farther. Illness is very democratic, that way.

That's why so many of us have a hard time wrapping our heads around the arguments of those who wish to get rid of Lakewood Hospital. It has nothing whatsoever to do with politics and everything to do with Lakewood's people.

I can fully understand why the Clinic might not wish to replicate expensive services with hospitals under their management that happen to be in close proximity to each other. At the same time, I do not doubt that there would be other hospital companies that would salivate at the opportunity for a contract to manage Lakewood Hospital as a full service facility, should the Clinic not wish to continue to do so.

Back to the banjo...

[Brian Essi]

Patrick,

Thanks for your concern.

Gary is right that Pelee has a great life flight system. In fact, if the Canadian Coast guard is the first responder, the transport time to the hospital is around the 23 minute time first estimated by Chief Gillman (which was clarified later) The longest estimate would be if everyone is tied up on the Canadian side, the US Coast Guard would take me to Metro--45 minute estimate.

Canada has good health care, but it is paid for by everyone through the 13% GST on everything that everybody pays, e.g. a case of beer is $32.00.

Contrary to US myth, most working Canadians also carry private supplemental insurance plans.

The wealthy come to the US when the Canadians have long wait times.

I have a friend there who could not hunt because he is on an 18 month waiting list to get his knees replaced.

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[Patrick Wadden]

Beautiful day for hunting. Great pics!

[Gary Rice]

Brian,

With that haul, I'll be expecting an invitation to a spectacular repast, although I would prefer Cider-Braised Pheasant with apples, over the creme-based Pheasant Normandy.

Of course, a well-prepared Pheasant a la Orange is always a delight.

Speaking as a born-and-bred Pennsylvanian, for all you city dwellers, Pheasant hunting is truly a sport where the tail wags the dog, that is- the longest tailed bird gets all the bragging rights for the individual hunter.

No, I'm not a hunter, but I do remember walking with Granddad through the fields in the crisp Autumn air, a half-century ago; with the brown and yellow leaves rustling under our feet...


Back to the banjo...