Brent Larkin’s Sniper Attack On Lakewood

[Bill Call]

The Plain Dealer’s editorial page included an article by Bren Larkin bemoaning the fact that the State of Ohio does not fund local government expenditures. At the end of the article he slipped in a few paragraphs attacking people who oppose issue 64 under the line “Lakewood’s Unlovable Losers”.

I’ve had a few email conversations with Mr. Larkin in the past. He made no apologies for his support of regionalism, regional government and his disdain for Cities like Lakewood that were strong, independent, economically viable and healthy. In his mind successful cities undermined the argument for regionalization.

Therefor I wasn’t surprised at the drive by nature of his attack. A few falsehoods surrounded by snarky intolerance.

Issue 64 is not just about the approval or disapproval of a bad business deal. It goes to the heart of honest government and the democratic process. People like Larkin are willing to sacrifice both on the altar of regionalization.

The people of Lakewood should reject a very bad deal and vote against issue 64.

I've also submitted the above to the Plain Dealer as a letter to the editor.

[Michael Deneen]

Both Build Lakewood and Mary Louise Madigan both proudly shared his comments on Facebook, referring to him as "the venerable Brent Larkin".

The PD's contempt for Lakewood is well known.....just look at what little coverage our community receives in the "Sun-Whatever-It's-Called-Now" newspaper.
If the PD hadn't ruined the Sun Post, the Observer never would have happened.

I'm also reminded that Regina Brett, another of the PD's deep thinkers, sided with Rocky River during the "Dog Park Feud" a decade ago. Like Mr. Larkin, she never reached out to any civilians in Lakewood before rendering her opinion.

Let's also not forget the PD's regrettable track record of endorsing corruption....they were on board with Dimora right up until the FBI raided his home.
This link lists a few of those endorsements:
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index. ... ndors.html


The PD is also the preferred mouthpiece for the numerous corporate boondoggles perpetrated on our area in recent decades.
For more detail, I highly recommend browsing Roldo Bartimole's extensive writings. Here is a link to some of his most recent:
http://havecoffeewillwrite.com/?page_id=43906

[Lori Allen _]

Perhaps Mr. Larkin would like to come to Lakewood and interview Mary Louise and any Build Lakewood folks who might be a part of the alleged house thefts and tear downs that appear to be currently taking place in Lakewood. Perhaps, if he has any reporter skills at all, which I doubt, he could look into what appears to be possible illegal use of Housing and Urban development money here in Lakewood and possibly also at the county level. Perhaps he could look into what appears to be the illegal and fraudulent sale of Lakewood Hospital and the control of all healthcare in Lakewood for a fraction of it's worth by our Mayor and Council to Cleveland Clinic.

He is just one of many of what I believe to be media hacks. It appears Summers and Company control the media. Remember when the reporter from channel 5 said that the Lakewood Police department will not give press releases? They said this is why our crime never makes the news. I called over a year ago about the 15 plus rapes in Lakewood. I was told that their producer did not think it was "news worthy." Really? A ton of rapes in Lakewood, with one being a two year old boy down by Ridgewood and Detroit, it isn't news worthy? I believe that the control of the media even reaches up to the county level and possibly beyond.

It appears that Summers and Company have many friends in the local news media. As far as the Plain Dealer, I believe a first grader has better reporting skills than these clowns! Remember the good old days when the news media covered EVERYTHING? It appears the media is like our city officials, reward me enough, and I will say or print anything you want!

Thanks to Jim and the Lakewood Observer for allowing all of us to print anything and everything, including the truth!
Bring back Demora and the Cleveland Press!

[Bridget Conant]

Larkin always fawned over Ed Fitzgerald, claiming it was he who was responsible for bringing Cleveland the RNC. Until...Fitz got outed as a loser and pulled the statewide Dem ticket down with him.

Anyone who thought Fitz was great has some cognitive dissonance issues. I haven't even bothered to read Larkin the last 2 years. Does anyone?

[Lori Allen _]

Bridget, I would not be surprised to find out that possibly, Fitz may have a part in the alleged housing and hospital scams here in Lakewood!

[cameron karslake]

"Unloveable Losers"?

Geez, I guess it takes one to know one.

[Bill Call]

"Unloveable Losers"?

Geez, I guess it takes one to know one.

Larkin also repeated the canard that "health care is changing".

What Larkin and others mean by that is that health care is changing in Lakewood. The only solution? We must destroy a perfectly good hospital in Lakewood so the Clinic can build new hospitals in Avon, Brunswick, Mentor and Twinsburg, buy hospitals in California and spend $1 billion on a new hospital in London, England.

In all fairness to the Mayor he is aware of the problems caused by the lack of health care choice in Lakewood. The City will provide bus service to Avon so the people of Lakewood can see their doctor.