This week the city finally took action on the hole dug by the last two administrations on Belle and Detroit, the former site of Lakewood's Award Winning city-owned hospital.
As we all know the last two administrations had done a deal to get their supporters' hands on over $70 million in cash. This was a form of payment for their help on closing the hospital and selling the property to the Ex-Mayor that started the debacle, for $1.00, Which was accomplished by the Mayor he had personally appointed to take his place, and was given the task of liquidating over $250,000,000.00 in community owned assets for nothing. The Mayor that started the whole thing earned a quick $500,000 acquiring it for a company he worked for, similar to the liquidation on McKinley School which was also sold for a dollar to an ex-city planning director, which is now the space occupied by over $5 million in new homes.
The "Holespital" as it has become fondly known, was found to be a brown field so nothing has been built while they try to handle that crisis, bleeding the community in more millions as they try to clean the field for development.
In an effort to stop the massive loss of money brought on by the last two administrations and their supporters, Mayor George wanted to try a sheep or two to keep the grass and weeds under control. As is often the case, council said "no." Instead they were asking for a small, high-end strip mall for the homeless. As is often the case the Mayor said, "No." In the end they both finally worked together and adopted the "sheeple program" in honor of the way many Lakewoodites follow people and groups that harm or mislead them the most.
This past Monday 8 sheep were brought in. One for the mayor, and one for each council person to keep it fair. Council will dedicate their sheep in a series of media events to their personal favorite causes.
If the entire project is successful they are talking about allowing families to adopt pairs of sheep which will be brought in. If that program is successful they will expand it to all of the vacant lots around town. So in time we may all have a sheep/petting zoo near you!!!!
Moments after the sheep were loaded yesterday in to the "Holespital."
A small crowd had gathered to witness the release. One developer with history working for Lakewood and developing in Lakewood was heard to say, "If Lakewood had one more school, especially in the center of town that I could get for a dollar, all the dreams promised during, the WestEnd Debacle, the 50 Year Committee, the Build Lakewood Regime, and DowntownLakewood might come true this time." A couple people in the crowd applauded the idea.
April Fools????????