A Fun Look Back With COVID-19 Knocking On Ohio's Door

[Jim O'Bryan]

At on time Lakewood had one of the finest City run Health Departments in the state. Run by Dottie Buckon, she had found programs that benefited the Lakewood community, and kept us on the cutting edge of Health and Safety. Besides Lakewood's health and safety preparedness the department also watched over all of our food establishments. Mayor FitzGerald cut the department, Mayor Summers continued the cutting. At the same time, both worked overtime trying to rid the city of it community owned hospital and hurrying the funds to maintain it off to a private foundation run by friends and supporters. A loss to the community of at least $248 million dollars.

So, in this time of health crisis, let's set the record straight...

What the Cleveland Clinic wanted to do before 2014...


A rebuilt and brand new full service hospital at the corner of Belle and Detroit in the original foot print.

Mayor FitzGerald, Summers and friends saw their chance and wanted this instead...


The Lakewood Heatlh and Wellness Rec Center.

Of course this was proven to be folly and simply terrible judgement. The city never could have afforded this, or the upkeep. As was proven time and time again by the problems all other cities are having keeping their Rec Centers going.

It would have also needed a capital campaign, just when the schools, the Libraries, the Beck, and soon the City are looking for more money.

Total failure, so what we have gotten instead in the middle of a health crisis...


A big polluted hole, that is draining the city in hundreds of ways including, loss of 1,600 high paying jobs. A true anchor that brought people into downtown Lakewood gone.

Oh and our full service hospital backed up by one of the finest health departments in the state of Ohio. All gutted by 2 administrations. All destroyed for a strip mall that may never be built.

NOW Carnegie needs more concessions, more funding and still looking for any tenant willing to sign a long term lease of space waaaaaaay over priced.

Take a second and look back, look at all the members of Build Lakewood that assured you this was the greatest idea for Lakewood ever. Many now controlling the private funds. Go back and look at the promises made by Council, the Mayor and his sycophants, the best thing ever for Lakewood. We need to do this immediately! That of course was nearly 6 years ago. Of course they never told you they had not a single real idea after the Rec Center except for getting the $$$$$$$.

And of course as was pointed out thousands of times. They never once thought of any emergencies like tornadoes, chemical fire, or COVID 19.

Nice work people...

NOT!

Does it matter? Ohio is still one of 5 states with no way to actually test for COVID 19 anyway. Bet Dottie would have been ready for this.

Ironic note: On news that just said, the best scenario is with local health and city health officials. Well that was off loaded to the County!

So to recap health crisis, falling markets, another death blow to retail and open meeting places, and the start of a recession.

Did our community leaders really prepare us for this?

.

[ryan costa]

I try not to joke about the corona virus.

That way if it turns into a real pandemic I am not on the record

[Jim O'Bryan]

I try not to joke about the corona virus.

That way if it turns into a real pandemic I am not on the record

Who is joking around?

I am in the second largest group to get sick.

The past administration lied to make us the "Healthiest City in America."

All we got was screwed by all of them.

.

[Mark Kindt]

My Compliments To Publisher Jim O'Bryan

"A picture is worth a thousand words".

These three pictures tell an amazing story about failed civic leadership in Lakewood.

I was stunned to see these architectural renderings.

The $100 Million Dollar deal with the Metro Hospital System was sh*t-canned by the mayor because he was living with a vanity concept of a recreation center.

Like I said, I am stunned.

I think the community needs to see the planning on this.

[Stan Austin]

As to the "non compete" clause-- is there a creative lawyer out there who can make a case for "civic insanity" ?

[Mark Kindt]

Additional Comments

Here we see that by May 2014 the City of Lakewood is on Version 8 of its plan to construct a recreation center for the city on the site of Lakewood Hospital at Detroit and Belle. Obviously, this was never built.

We also know that between May and October of 2014, the planners at Metro Health System at the request of the City of Lakewood's consultant (Subsidium) were preparing a proposal to invest more than $100,000,000 to right-size and operate Lakewood Hospital.

From public documents we know that a subcommittee of the Lakewood Hospital Association that included the mayor declined to enter into negotiations with Metro on the Metro proposal and that no subsequent proposals were made by Metro in 2015.

I guess I am curious to know how the plan to construct a recreation center was also terminated--when--and by whom.

What role, if any, did the Lakewood Hospital Association and/or the Lakewood Hospital Foundation have in scuttling the plan to built a recreation center?

Lakewood Health and Wellness Center - Never Built.jpg (927.08 KiB) Viewed 6182 times

[Stan Austin]

Idiots--- Adios

[ryan costa]

there are at least two large parks and a YMCA. maybe build a rec center thereabouts.

[Jim O'Bryan]

there are at least two large parks and a YMCA. maybe build a rec center thereabouts.

Ryan

This was in the past. The truth though this is drawing # 8 of the proposed Rec Center, indicating it was probably on the cards all the way back to 2013. The City and those pushing this plan realized early on the City of Lakewood could never afford a Rec Center. How do we know they knew? Here on the Deck we documented tours the City Administration and their supporters took of Fariview, Rocky River, Bay Village, Independence, etc. All of the communities told them straight up what a huge black hole Rec Centers were in a city's budget.

It was also pointed out the cities closer to Lakewood size and economy were closing down their Rec Centers, and or City Hall to keep Rec Centers going.

It was also at this time, when the City, and their supporters switched to... "This will be the greatest thing ever for Lakewood." This was while they had NO IDEA what would fill the void the Hospital would leave. That's right, the Summers Administration and supporters knew straight up it was never going to happen, and they continued down the road to our present nightmare.

Interesting side note, had nothing been done the Hospital would be just finishing up their rebuild with the $90 million that was in LHF for the rebuild.

That's right, no loss in taxes, jobs, or health services and we would be emerging into COVID 19 with a brand new Level 1 Trauma Center.

Lakewood was totally played with "Healthiest City In America" should have been "Most Played Rubes In America."

At least the economy is strong!

.

[Bridget Conant]

Huge economic downturn .

So how’s that new development progressing?

Any signed tenants yet?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Huge economic downturn .

So how’s that new development progressing?

Any signed tenants yet?

Bridget

Last I heard "nothing signed, but they are lining up!"

Generally, no one starts building until deals are signed. Likewise no one signs contracts, until they know it will actually be built.

Current talk on the streets by those that know, are figuring 70-30 that it will never happen.

Carnegie now needs many more concessions and much more assistance.

If City gives in, we lose our asses. If they don't it becomes "the big hole in the center of Lakewood" that all the get rid of Lakewood Hospitals folks told us would happen if we did not give away $248 million in solid assets to their friends. So to speak.

.

[cmager]

At on time Lakewood had one of the finest City run Health Departments in the state. Run by Dottie Buckon, she had found programs that benefited the Lakewood community, and kept us on the cutting edge of Health and Safety. Besides Lakewood's health and safety preparedness the department also watched over all of our food establishments. Mayor FitzGerald cut the department, Mayor Summers continued the cutting. At the same time, both worked overtime trying to rid the city of it community owned hospital and hurrying the funds to maintain it off to a private foundation run by friends and supporters. A loss to the community of at least $248 million dollars.

...

Take a second and look back, look at all the members of Build Lakewood that assured you this was the greatest idea for Lakewood ever. Many now controlling the private funds. Go back and look at the promises made by Council, the Mayor and his sycophants, the best thing ever for Lakewood. We need to do this immediately! That of course was nearly 6 years ago. Of course they never told you they had not a single real idea after the Rec Center except for getting the $$$$$$$.

Who are these "civic leaders" ... name names.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Who are these "civic leaders" ... name names.

CM

At this point names are not important. It was just me looking back at how very bad the secret work of the last two administrations were. And how ironic they went from the largest industry, at the time and still today. To pushing us into a restaurant bar based economy. It has got to be one of the worst decisions by elected officials EVER.

I also find it odd, that so many people backed the FitzGerald/Summers on a project we now know they had ZERO information on. NONE.

Last night at City Council I watched a council person that was not just pushing as hard as anyone to not just close the Lakewood Hospital, but also shut down Lakewood's Health and Human Services Department. Then pushed to lose control of the funds, while fighting with residents trying to point out it was all bullshit with documents, that he also fought to keep hidden from the public ask. "What is the city doing? We have not done enough? We have to do more? I demand action!" to paraphrase.



I don't know Councilman Bullock, when does the testing begin in Lakewood? What is the emergency plan? What have you come up with?

Thanks to the last administrations and councils, Lakewood is left to working with the county, and the state, and hoping they do not forget us.

For the record, the Mayor and some members of council took Lakewood's Health care seriously and are working on options.

.

[cmager]

Who are these "civic leaders" ... name names.

CM
At this point names are not important. It was just me looking back at how very bad the secret work of the last two administrations were. And how ironic they went from the largest industry, at the time and still today. To pushing us into a restaurant bar based economy. It has got to be one of the worst decisions by elected officials EVER.

I also find it odd, that so many people backed the FitzGerald/Summers on a project we now know they had ZERO information on. NONE.

Last night at City Council I watched a council person that was not just pushing as hard as anyone to not just close the Lakewood Hospital, but also shut down Lakewood's Health and Human Services Department. Then pushed to lose control of the funds, while fighting with residents trying to point out it was all bullshit with documents, that he also fought to keep hidden from the public ask. "What is the city doing? We have not done enough? We have to do more? I demand action!" to paraphrase.



I don't know Councilman Bullock, when does the testing begin in Lakewood? What is the emergency plan? What have you come up with?

Thanks to the last administrations and councils, Lakewood is left to working with the county, and the state, and hoping they do not forget us.

For the record, the Mayor and some members of council took Lakewood's Health care seriously and are working on options.

I suppose. In the interest of accountability and consequences, I'm into shaming the names who doth play with their Foundation toys. They know who they are. They should be friggin' embarrassed to show their face or participate in anything Lakewood. Were they to wear a Scarlet Letter, would it be a capital "L" for "Loser" or "Lost Lakewood" ...?? Shun them.