The Road Less Traveled

[cmager]

Request for Legislation for New Department of Public Health.jpg

Great idea. Make it permanent, and for more that COVID-19.

[Mark Kindt]

Keeping This Beyond Simple

1. The City of Lakewood has a neighborhood-by-neighborhood report and analysis (May 2018) that describes various vulnerable communities in each neighborhood.

2. This can easily be used to justify the re-establishment of a Lakewood Health Department.

3. Many of these vulnerable communities are threatened by Covid-19.

4. Many other cities in the State of Ohio have their own health departments.

5. Why not Lakewood?

[Dan Alaimo]

Keeping This Beyond Simple

1. The City of Lakewood has a neighborhood-by-neighborhood report and analysis (May 2018) that describes various vulnerable communities in each neighborhood.

2. This can easily be used to justify the re-establishment of a Lakewood Health Department.

3. Many of these vulnerable communities are threatened by Covid-19.

4. Many other cities in the State of Ohio have their own health departments.

5. Why not Lakewood?

Do you have the names of these other cities? I'd be mainly interested to know if other inner-city suburbs in the Cleveland area (Euclid, Cleveland Heights, Parma, etc.) are on the list.

[Mark Kindt]

A Short Testament To Lost Ohioans

In less than 80 days, over the 2020 Memorial Day Weekend, the death toll in Ohio from Covid-19 reached 2,002 individuals.

This death toll is larger than the combined populations of:

Lucas, Ohio

Butler, Ohio

Perrysville, Ohio

During their mourning and grief may the families and friends of the deceased find comfort and solace.

I am closing this thread. Please do not post here. I will not respond.

[Mark Kindt]

TO AVOID CONFUSION LET ME CLARIFY:

At this time, I am no longer advocating that the City of Lakewood form a new Department of Health.

Since I made that proposal on April 23, 2020, the pandemic in our State has worsened.

I only advocate that the City of Lakewood do everything that it can do to mitigate the contagion of Covid-19 under its statutory or home rule powers in cooperation with other public authorities as necessary.

I value and appreciate the steps taken to date by our local elected and appointed public officials.

I support their leadership during these extremely strenuous conditions for all.

I regret any confusion this proposal may have imposed them. They already have their hands full.

Please do not respond to this thread.

[Mark Kindt]

Another $284,000 To The Cuyahoga County Board of Health

This is on the agenda for the City Council Meeting tonight.

Again I want to suggest that the amounts being spend by Lakewood on the CCBH might have a more focused use in our City during the pandemic.

DOC-10-19-20 12.jpg (358.92 KiB) Viewed 9876 times

[Mark Kindt]

As of October 15, 2020 -- Cuyahoga County -- Level Three

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[Mark Kindt]

Why Not Retain An Independent Epidemiologist?

Eight months into a national pandemic of historic impacts, I have to echo Mr. O'Bryan's comments posted today in another thread.

Consistent with those comments, I would recommend that the City of Lakewood and its School Board retain the services of one or more professional epidemiologists who could directly assist local government officials in assessing whether their proposed policies are consistent with the mitigation of pandemic conditions.

Based on my own communications with local elected officials, I found little comfort in their responses or lack of response on public policies related to the pandemic.

Of course, I am just one citizen.

I have repeatedly emphasized that experts be sought for consultation. Maybe they have been. I don't know, do I?

And that's a problem for all of us.

Maybe the Cuyahoga County Board of Health has provided Lakewood all the guidance it needs.

Well, more guidance couldn't hurt, could it?

[Dan OMalley]

Another $284,000 To The Cuyahoga County Board of Health

This is on the agenda for the City Council Meeting tonight.

Again I want to suggest that the amounts being spend by Lakewood on the CCBH might have a more focused use in our City during the pandemic.

DOC-10-19-20 12.jpg

FYI this item was referred to council's Health & Human Services Committee. They will meet to discuss it on November 9th at 5:30.

[Mark Kindt]

You Wore A Mask Today, Didn't You?

Please keep in mind the context in which this thread has been written. --Most of you are living this context, just like I am.

Each day I wear a mask under a Lakewood municipal order to protect myself and others. I do so in a sense of civic cooperation and respect for others.

I have no meaningful information on the scope of the impacts of Covid-19 in the city where I live.

And, unbelievably so, our local state senator advocates that bars be returned to full hours of operation.

I think that bars are probably a significant source of community spread; epidemiologists think so too.

I've lived in Lakewood for about 40 years and we have owned our home here for 25. My business has been here for 20 years, too.

When I first moved here Lakewood had a Health Department and a Hospital, now it has neither.

When I commenced this thread, reactivating our city health department seemed like a "no-brainer". Months later in the depths of a historic pandemic this still seems like a "no-brainer".

I sincerely appreciate the commitment of our local public employees and elected officials in difficult times.

I may submit written comments to the committee prior to its meeting on November 9th.

[Mark Kindt]

Time To Pick The Low-Hanging Fruit

So just what does the Lakewood Planning Department actually do? Every urban planner is professionally trained to understand the role of public health in urban life. It's in their textbooks.

Let's ask our Planning Department to get to work on these public health needs.

It seems to me that a new public health department could be created for the City within 90 days and then fully operational by the end of Summer 2020.

This is not a heavy-lift. I encourage each reader to raise this issue with their city counsel-person.

This was posted last April.

What did we witness since then?

Permanent legislation to expand outdoor dining so that bars could do business on our sidewalks and streets.

No warning to residents or visitors of the risks associated with this novel use of public property.

No liability protection for residents or visitors who contract Covid-19 there.

Continued issuance of conditional use permits to bars.

What am I missing?

[Mark Kindt]

Simply This

The obvious fact that each of us complies with the City's order to wear a mask to prevent Covid-19 contagion informs me that the City must "reboot" its department of health. The sooner the better.

[Mark Kindt]

Most Recent Minutes of the Lakewood City Council's Health & Human Services Committee

Please take the time to read these meeting minutes. None of them are recent. Though old they confirm worsening conditions and excessive optimism about managing those conditions.

I completely understand why the Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH) has its hands full. It's a pandemic of historic impact.

Both are solid reasons that the City of Lakewood reestablish its own Department of Health.

Especially considering that the City has committed (or will commit) more than $1M to fund CCBH between 2019-2022.

Please read these minutes. More in a while.

minhhs-06-22-20.pdf

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minhhs-05-18-20.pdf

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[Mark Kindt]

Not Sure What Even To Write

I think I can safely say that the City of Lakewood will not be reestablishing its former Department of Health this year. --AND---Probably never.

I can also safely say that the City of Lakewood will continue to issue conditional use permits to bars/restaurants to use our sidewalks and streets for outdoor service this year and next year.

In September and October, I wrote our local municipal officials additional formal letters on each issue with fully-formed presentations based on the unmitigated growth of Covid-19 contagion.

I appreciate the fact that the mayor, the president of council, and a couple of others responded.

I appreciate their professionalism and commitment to public service in difficult times and I have assured them of my appreciation.

After repeated formal letters since last April, neither of these issues have gained any traction. --In my estimation, none whatsoever.

I wear my mask as mandated. I stay 6 to 10 feet apart from others. I was my hands frequently. I patronize local businesses as I am able.

I'm sure you do too.

I hope for the best. For those of you who took the time to call me -- a big thank you! May all be safe and well!

[Stan Austin]

Mr. Kindt-- May I add another complicating factor. What we do within the boundaries of Lakewood is one thing. However, most of our daily lives include contact and travel to neighboring and adjacent cities. Just sayin' keep your mask on wash your hands (love to see Bucks win, but REALLY want them to come back healthy)