Murder On Waterbury - Lakewood Police Update

[Stephen Eisel]

were imported by the city of Lakewood as part of a Lutheran Church Ministry
outreach program that has been a complete nightmare since it arrived. How in the world
anyone in the city of Lakewood could ever think it is a good idea to create an entire
apartment complex for early release violent teenage offenders is beyond me. It has to be
the same kind of thought process, that believed it would be a great idea educating them
in grade schools filled with kids 10-15 years younger than them!

Are the teens at least supervised?

[Jim O'Bryan]

were imported by the city of Lakewood as part of a Lutheran Church Ministry
outreach program that has been a complete nightmare since it arrived. How in the world
anyone in the city of Lakewood could ever think it is a good idea to create an entire
apartment complex for early release violent teenage offenders is beyond me. It has to be
the same kind of thought process, that believed it would be a great idea educating them
in grade schools filled with kids 10-15 years younger than them!

Are the teens at least supervised?

I believe last time I spoke with any of them, they have curfew, and I am sure a parole and/or
probation officer. These are not "teens" as they sound. They are released because they are
no longer "Teens" in the juvenile court system. Example, you kill someone at the age of
seventeen, in theory you could be released at eighteen, because you are no longer a
juvenile. In many cases this makes sense, you would hate to see a kid lose a second
chance at a proper life, because he was in a stolen car, or mixed up with the wrong people,
whatever. It is the current system, and I am a firm believer in 2nd and 3rd chances. But
to see this as a good idea for filling space, is ridiculous.

The north east corner of Lakewood has been in a virtual crime wave since they moved in.
The stories coming out of there are CRAZY. They include, what one must do to get
accepted by the rest of the residents! Let me give you a hint, it is not keep the drapes clean.

I have to think, outside of public officials and police, and those that live there, few have
spent more time in the "Snake Pit" and "Hidden Village" than me, and Ken Warren. Some
of the people, in the snake pit, including the Somali Refugees, are good people. Others
are not. It is a public apartment, and I have very little say in what is right and wrong
there. But Hidden Village is a "project." And it is one that the city needs to say: it is time
to shut it down.

Bill Call's numerous posts on this subject are correct. My flaming liberal brothers and sisters
are delusional on this. But let me preface it with this. I believe every human in the world
deserves a chance to be happy and safe. In 2012, I believe the same should be said for
food, an education, and medicinal coverage. It is absurd to me, that in 2012, any of this
is still a problem. With that said, how much of this any city, county, state, country, can
take on is very finite, and to take one step over that line or even dance with it, is insanity.
NO ONE wants to look in the icy waters in a life boat and say, "no we cannot take you in."
But when the water is close to lapping over the side, and sinking the entire boat, some
adult has got to look at those in the boat, and say. "No, we cannot do it." The closer that
boat is to going under or falling apart, the greater the need to take action.

In the last issue of the Lakewood Observer, the superintendent has said plainly, to
paraphrase, If the city continues to fill our schools with refugees, they will have to share
some of the money they are getting with the schools, or the city needs to pay their way.

People that know me, know I am a generous, loving person, who does not have a racist,
sexist, elitist bone in my body. I judge people by deeds, not colors, religion, gender,
lifestyle, etc. AND AS YOU KNOW, I get angry over bad deeds. But you also know
I am more than willing to give others a 2nd and 3rd chance. But this city needs to shore itself up,
and do so very quickly. An adult needs to come into the room and say, "Really?"

Every Lakewoodite should live without fear from crime, with a chance for a good education,
and a shot at proper family services and help when needed. To go out and find people who
are going to rely on that system for years and years if not life, and never pay into it is
insanity. To bring in agents from outside that will possibly make the city, the businesses,
and residents unsafe, is suicidal. "Yeah great little starter home, perfect for you and
possible family. I know our taxes are high, but instead of basketball, pets, and safety we
invest in bringing in criminals." "WHAT!" "Yeah we like to keep it local."

There is ZERO reason to try to attract new business and God forbid new residents, if we
are going to work against that by bringing in indigents, and criminals. It is counter-productive
and insane. It is like having someone in the front of the life boat bailing, while at the back,
another is scooping water in.

Lakewood has a tremendous chance to continue to be the best city in the county. At the
end of the day, that is really only the best we can hope for. WE cannot move the city
anywhere. And why should we? Let's be honest, that should be easy to maintain. All of this
talk about "the region" I will save for another day. But let's be clear and honest about one
thing, and do not be fooled: Lakewood is not competing against West Haven,CT, Oak
Grove Il, Jacksonville, Fl, or even Gahanna, Ohio; it is competing for businesses and
residents LIVING IN OR NEAR CLEVELAND!

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[David Brainard]

Would someone please explain what 'Hidden Village' is?

-30-

[Jim O'Bryan]

11849 Clifton from above.


From Clifton. The building in this photo is not part of it. You have to go down the driveway.


These two and another two buildings.

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[Kirsten Reading]

Hidden Village is a complex of apartment buildings that run from Clifton Blvd. south to the railroad tracks. The complex is a couple of blocks west of W. 117th.

Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries (LMM) operates a program that used to be called Youth Re-Entry. I believe it now has a kinder, gentler name. The program serves two populations - children aging out of the foster care system (think Antoine Fisher in Finding Fish), and individuals who are exiting ODYS (juvenile detention) who have no other place to go - no suitable family or foster living option is available. Per a friend who is a magistrate, either Children and Family Services or ODYS pays LMM to house the students. ODYS pays a higher rate.

Youth Re-entry used to be housed in Cleveland. Several years ago, they decided to move to a better neighborhood and negotiated a lease with Hidden Village. They lease efficiency apartments at the south end of the complex - near the railroad tracks. As I remember, the buildings have separate hallways that lead to 8-12 efficiency apartments. Each building has about three hallways, and LMM leases all of the units in a hall. I think they have more than one of the buildings now. I met with the director several years ago, after a friend of my daughter's was robbed at gunpoint by two of the residents.

I think LMM and Hidden Village entered this agreement on the sly. When people found out, the issue went before the Zoning Board. LMM and Hidden Village either requested a variance or claimed they were exempt from zoning regulations for group homes. I read the minutes of the Zoning Board meeting several years ago, and I don't remember the specific language. LMM claimed that they were subleasing the apartments to their clients, therefore it was not a group home. I'm not a lawyer, so I'm not sure how accurate that is. The meeting was emotional - and at the end the zoning board decided that it was okay.

There was one comment made by a LMM employee and noted in the minutes that still makes me mad. He said that no felons were housed in this program. If someone commits a felony act, but goes through the juvenile justice system, he/she is technically not a felon, but a delinquent. LMM can say what they want, but to me, they are bringing felons into Lakewood.

LMM used to house girls and boys at Hidden Village, but I've heard that the girls are now housed somewhere else.

It would be interesting to see some statistics from LMM - what percentage of clients come from foster care vs. the juvenile justice system. What percentage of clients are jailed, or kicked out of the program for refusing to comply with the rules. And the successes - how many graduate from high school or complete a GED.

I think the program is a noble idea. But I don't think LMM was honest with the Zoning Board, and I find it hard to trust them now. They bring in clients, collect money, pay salaries, but I don't see any accountability - to Lakewood.

FWIW

[Jim O'Bryan]

When the city found out that it was to be used for these purposes, of course it sent inspectors down to make
sure it was up to code, and safe. This is one of many inspections. The owners, thought that the city was being
overly diligent in making sure their buildings were safe and filed a case in Federal Court, claiming racism.

http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/media/docs_1326336509.pdf
This is a link to that .pdf

The case was dropped and the owners went back to work to make their case better and it has reemerged.

http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/media/docs_1326336534.pdf
It is currently in court, so no public official will comment on any of this on the record.

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[David Brainard]

Thanks. As soon as I saw the photographs, I knew right where is.

-30-

[Bill Call]

In the last issue of the Lakewood Observer, the superintendent has said plainly, to
paraphrase, If the city continues to fill our schools with refugees, they will have to share
some of the money they are getting with the schools, or the city needs to pay their way.

During my School Board campaign whenever I suggested that dumping refugees on the door step of Lakewood Schools was bad for the Schools, bad for the City, bad for the students and bad for the refugees I was accused of ... well you name it and I was called it.

My grandparents were immigrants. I have no problem with immigration or a diverse community. If I did I'd be living in Bay Village. However, people coming to this country who grew up in refugee camps in a third world country with little or no knowledge of English or how to live in a modern country need more help than Lakewood Schools can give. I'm glad to read that the Superintendent gets it.

I overheard a conversation at Don's Lighthouse last year. A one time board member of Mental Health Services was complaining about the decision to relocate Tremonts homeless to Lakewood. One of the things he said was "They wouldn't want those people in Fox Run". Reading between the lines I inferred that some of the supporters of the plan lived in neighborhood called Fox Run and that they wouldn't accept a homeless shelter in their neighborhood. Really?!

How many complaints would there be if 300 homeless from Cleveland were relocated to Crocker Park? How many complaints would their be if 200 refugee children were dumped at the door step of Westlake Schools?

Cities in Cuyahoga County are in competition for good neighbors as well as good jobs.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Jim,
As often times, I tend to disagree with some of the simplification and definitions that you use. But, I think that we both have come to expect that to a degree.

Shawn

Disagreement is not bad. It often causes clarification, and vetting of those things in disagreement, and often
other things. Look, having a discussion over a random act of violence, on a quiet Lakewood street has lead to
a discussion, or what Lakewood could be looking at, another shot of awareness in neighborhoods, and the
thought that block watches and it is not wrong to demand good behavior from neighbors. The low cost of
property in Lakewood, and landlord options, and that there is a " There is another Landlord Training seminar
which has been scheduled for January 31st at Lakewood City Hall Auditorium."

Everyone that now stumbles upon this thread will be more aware.

Discussion, and even disagreement is a good thing, it provides opportunities for education and consensus
building.

Even though at times we disagree, I know you believe that too, and thank you for taking the time, to jump in.

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[Shawn Juris]

For those that stumble upon threads, it would be "nice" if they didn't read inaccurate statements.

[Betsy Voinovich]

For those that stumble upon threads, it would be "nice" if they didn't read inaccurate statements.

Hi Shawn,

What are the inaccurate statements in this thread? I'm finding this thread pretty educational, though I have to say that I'm also finding it pretty upsetting.

Thanks.

Betsy Voinovich

[Valerie Molinski]

For those that stumble upon threads, it would be "nice" if they didn't read inaccurate statements.

Hi Shawn,

What are the inaccurate statements in this thread? I'm finding this thread pretty educational, though I have to say that I'm also finding it pretty upsetting.

Thanks.

Betsy Voinovich

Same here. So for those who are in the know, can you please respond with the accurate information? Otherwise, one side gets told and that might be what people would go with until they hear otherwise.

[Michael Loje]

Betsy,
Jim Obryan said;

" were imported by the city of Lakewood as part of a Lutheran Church Ministry"

Just curious. Was this program "imported" by the city of Lakewood or by the building owner?

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

We did a story on the project during our senior year of high school for the LHS times. I was the photographer for the story..

I know the LHS Times keeps back issues online somewhere, but I can't seem to find it on their website. Anyway, that was right around the time students started to hear about the program so we covered it. They wouldn't allow us to show the actual location of the buildings, or faces of the people that lived there.

[Jim O'Bryan]

For those that stumble upon threads, it would be "nice" if they didn't read inaccurate statements.

Shawn

I expect some inacurate statements from residents and business people. I expect some misunderstood
statements from those not exactly in the know. After all it is not everyone's job to get it all right, and it
is a place where rumors are laid out, and get explained or not.

However, I am always much more troubled by city hall and the schools releasing inaccurate statements.

There is no proof, that any of the people in this would have been prohibited from renting
because of the Landlord Rules. I have yet to see a lease that does not protect the renter
more than the landlord. But what do I know about it.

As always thanks for jumping in. Please address the inaccurate statements as many are keeping track of my
flaws and fupahs. As it would always seem that a few keep me under a far more critical eye, then those we
elect or ask to run our civic programs, or for that matter corporate media.

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