Hospital Referendum on ballot in November

[Betsy Voinovich]

I didn't go to the Lakewood City Council meeting last night, but I think most people could have predicted that our council representatives would vote unanimously to put the hospital referendum on the ballot in November. They deliberately dragged their feet to make it impossible for the referendum to be on the March ballot, leaving only the options of a special election, or the next already paid for election in November. (Which will be huge, if you pardon the expression, as it is the presidential election.)

But, according to Council, a special election would be "irresponsible" as it would cost the city "more than $87,000." This from the folks who are responsible for giving away how many million dollars A YEAR of our money with this deal? Who have spent how many hundreds of thousands of our dollars on studies and consulting groups and crisis management experts to convince us that they have been making good decisions?

Here is the quote from Sam O'Leary: "We believe that it would be an irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars, and it would be irresponsible of council to recommend such a thing." Say "irresponsible" one more time.

Anyway, by November, our city will really be feeling what the loss of the hospital means, in terms of our economy, and in more life and death kinds of ways.

Maybe someone who was there can comment-- though I'm not sure exactly what there is to say.

It is a beautiful day today. Go outside if you can.

Betsy Voinovich

[Paul Schrimpf]

I would be interested in what the businesses around the hospital have to say, how foot traffic compares not just since the official "closing" in February but year over year, since the deed was really done basically a year ago. And, if everything stands and buildings start coming down, we are far from having hit rock bottom.

[Dan Alaimo]

Considering how quickly they moved to close the hospital last month, I wonder if the existing bricks-and-mortar hospital will still be there in November? If not, and if the referendum passes, what kind of lawsuit are we looking at?

For the sake of the community, I wish council and the rest of the City Hall gang would have moved this vote along more quickly. It's starting to look like it might be years - not months - before it is fully resolved. I'm truly tired of it, but I'll stick with the opposition until then.

[james fitzgibbons]

As Mayor Summers and council have shown, they really do not want voters in Lakewood to have their say. The type of government we have with this administration is appalling, Mayor Summers and council are not doing their job and has divided the community, I do not believe Mayor Summers can do anything to heal it, nor do I think he cares.

[cameron karslake]

Welcome to the land of broken promises, CCF style. Let's review:

Back in January 2015 I believe, the original plan-told to the people of Lakewood as if it were gospel-was that Lakewood Hospital would remain open until the Avon Hospital up and running-estimated to be in September 2016. Of course, the timing of it all that was a "coincidence" we were told. Well, as soon as CCF got their way in December 2015, they rushed to close the hospital by mid-February. So much for honoring your word! When will people wake up and realize that the CCF cannot be trusted? Their actions certainly prove they don't give a damn about the people here in Lakewood, as they say one thing and do another. The CCF's track record of betrayal is astounding!

It will be a miracle if our ER is still open in June 2018, when the FHC ER is supposed to take it's place. Until then, the hospital building must stay in one piece since the back up power generators for the ER are deep inside of the original hospital building.

Thing is, 2018 is a long ways away and lots can happen between now and then.

Plus, we all know how much we can trust the CCF's word, now don't we class?

[james fitzgibbons]

I would be interested in what the businesses around the hospital have to say, how foot traffic compares not just since the official "closing" in February but year over year, since the deed was really done basically a year ago. And, if everything stands and buildings start coming down, we are far from having hit rock bottom.

A Feb. 24/2016 post over on the Buzz site someone was talking to the manager at Jimmy Johns and said since the week the hospital closed this week we have only received 2 phone orders and usually get 25 a day.