Is the City Being Intimidated by the Crips & Bloods?

[Lori Allen _]

Recently, I had a conversation with management at GetGo here in Lakewood. We were discussing the issue of students from Lakewood Schools hanging out at GetGo when they should be in school. They informed me that there are always tons of students in their dining area between 1:30 and 6:00 every school day. Management also informed me that they have had several complaints from customer regarding some of the students selling drugs in the back row of the dining area. Management has hired their own security guards. However, management reports no support from the police or schools.

As the conversation continued, this person informed me that there were originally red umbrellas over the outdoor dining tables, but that the city informed them that they would have to be removed, as the red color symbolized the Bloods street gang. The city reportedly told management that blue was also not an acceptable color, as it symbolized the Crips street gang.

I seem to recall the city releasing a statement a while ago that said that there were no gangs in Lakewood, only subcultures that promoted damaging property through graffiti. Has there been a change of tune or have these international gangs infiltrated Lakewood recently? I have family members that graduated from LHS in 2005 & 2002. At that time, they told me that the Bloods and the Crips were already alive and well at LHS.

If gangs have now infiltrated the city, there needs to be a community dialogue now so that the issue (s) can be dealt with.

[Lori Allen _]

A friend of my family's works at LHS. We were having a conversation about this topic earlier today. She told me that last school year, sometime in May, there was a large gang fight between students that had Bunts Rd. blocked. She informed me that John Crane (Security Supervisor) told the security guards at the school that nothing could really be done and just to try and take down some names of those involved. Basically, let them go at it. According to http://www.tos.ohio.gov/transparency_teacher.aspx, Mr. Crane makes $68,620 per year. I also believe Mr. Crane is a retired Lakewood Police Officer.

Just an observation.

[ryan costa]

Peter Moskos can help these young adults.

[Lori Allen _]

Ryan,

You do not live in Lakewood or have kids in the schools here. As a parent, I am disturbed by this. I believe a Community Forum would be nice, but, I am not expecting it. Have a Great New Year!

[Jim O'Bryan]

Have a Great New Year!

Lori,

I have a pretty good working relationship with police, schools, library and even City Hall most of the time.
I have not heard of any of this, from any source. Not even the Get-Go clerk.

Have a happy and safe new year.

.

[Lori Allen _]

Hi Jim,

Glad to hear you have not heard anything. It would be nice if we could great a straight, honest answer from officials. Unfortunately, I do not see that happening.

Happy new year to you as well!

[Jim O'Bryan]

Hi Jim,

Glad to hear you have not heard anything. It would be nice if we could great a straight, honest answer from officials. Unfortunately, I do not see that happening.
Happy new year to you as well!

Lori

For the most part, people are dealing with second hand "facts" even at City Hall except if they are actively involved. I know enough at all levels to believe if this was true, it would have come out. Also the schools do not screw around with student safety and they have shown time and again to be over active in releasing potential dangers.They have never had a problem talking about issues, and the charter schools in the area loving talking about public school issues. Then there would be a large murmur from parents.

I am not really well versed in Bloods and Crips, but I thought they were now actively working together.

.

[Lori Allen _]

Hi Jim,

What I heard was simply by word of mouth. I think we can find common ground when I say that if there are "gangs" in Lakewood (they are everywhere, the Heartless Felons are in Rocky River), then it is time for discussion and input from all (schools, City Hall, citizens, non-profits, etc.) It takes a village.

I hope you and your family have a safe and happy evening.

[Valerie Molinski]

As the conversation continued, this person informed me that there were originally red umbrellas over the outdoor dining tables, but that the city informed them that they would have to be removed, as the red color symbolized the Bloods street gang. The city reportedly told management that blue was also not an acceptable color, as it symbolized the Crips street gang.

This is not true. It has nothing to do with gangs. The umbrellas (and the bollards fwiw) have always been gray. Since opening. Like many businesses who have architectural standards, when they submitted to the ABR before being built, they were shown as either blue or red, and the ABR had them change the color of the umbrellas to gray so that they would be less obtrusive looking on the outside of the building towards Detroit Ave. Same with the bollards- as the Get Go Standards have them with red covers. This happens all of the time when national businesses build in cities and their standards are changed for aesthetic reasons. I also remember the canopy over the pumps was supposed to be brightly painted and ABR had them finish it out in gray.

You can find this somewhere in the meeting minutes of the ABR meetings. The meeting minutes are posted on the city site... I would find it for you, but I refuse to waste my time further. The meetings for that project happened in mid to late 2012. Search 'minutes' on onelakewood.com and they are all there.

I am sure you won't respond to this because you never seem to when someone calls you on the ridiculous nonsense you post, but I think posting this kind of untrue BS is extremely damaging. I would consider determining the veracity of these claims before you post for 500+ people to read it.

[Valerie Molinski]

Lori, to help refine your search on the city site, I referred to some posts on this site about the Get Go project. The first approval meeting for that was the meeting of April 2012. That was a big year (Humble, Barrio, Value World, Dollar store, etc... were on those agenda). I attended more than a few of the ABR and BZA meetings because a few of those projects affected my neighborhood.

I am familiar with presenting projects to local municipalities, so these changes and discussions are likely over several meetings from the project approval date onward. Anytime you change a window or brick color, you have to re-present to most review boards. The Get Go was posted about a bit online, so you also still might be able to find pdf renderings if you are so inclined as well. Good luck.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Hi Jim,

What I heard was simply by word of mouth. I think we can find common ground when I say that if there are "gangs" in Lakewood (they are everywhere, the Heartless Felons are in Rocky River), then it is time for discussion and input from all (schools, City Hall, citizens, non-profits, etc.) It takes a village.

I hope you and your family have a safe and happy evening.

Valerie

Thanks for jumping in. I would say many posts come from what Lori stated word of mouth.
One of the many concepts of the Observer was a way to stamp out rumors publicly, so they die quicker. You post does this very nicely.

Lori
I myself go back to another thought process on this. Gangs are not unique now or in the past. It takes a village, but it takes a village for a lot of things. Retaining property values, attracting new like minded or different people, attracting commerce all which lead to our bottom lines. It becomes self defeating spending $125 million(?) on schools just to announce they are filled with violent gangs. If it was the case it needs to be out there, if it is just rumor, it could have terrible multipliers for the community.


It really would not matter if we saved the hospital or built a new building.

Lakewood has some tough years ahead, not bad, just tougher, we need to get smarter, and better. All of us.

Than you both for your participation.

.