One Person's One Way Causes Outcries From Many

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Jim O'Bryan
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One Person's One Way Causes Outcries From Many

Post by Jim O'Bryan »

After two accidents happened where the driver's were dead on one corner in Lakewood
the home owner sought to make his street one way to protect his kids, and "the neighborhood"
However the deaths from both accidents happened before the accidents even started, as
both were heart attacks that lead to the accidents. The only other real issue with the
corner which had been widened to be safer and easier decades ago, was the tall hedges
in one person's yard blocking a safe view of the street.

You would be correct in thinking it was the same person, that was looking to make the
street one way, there by making life much more difficult for 60+ residents, and the Beck
Center. He was also the person that got white stripes added to Riverside Drive when a
car hit his telephone pole, and cause him to lose some sleep. I know you are saying, how
could one person have such pull at city hall? Insider with connections.

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After more than 60 years, the street was considered unsafe. The street only has 3
addresses on it, but leads to 50+ houses that have now been much harder to get to, and
or routes traffic down one street with tens of young kids playing on it daily.

Image
The recently installed no turn onto Crest Lane sign.

"I have lived here for 50 years, and we have never had problems with the corner." said
longtime resident Jim Pohorence, whose mother started the Lakewood Community Festival.
"The problem is the guy on the corner refuses to keep his bushes trimmed at a safe height." Karen and Chuck Reidy might be one of the two people most upset. Their
driveways and garages point west, so that entering their driveways from the east is
nearly impossible in the best of conditions, in the winter without perfect plowing their
driveways and garages will be unusable, which will have to have a negative impact on
their property values should they wish to sell, which could be a possibility. "I am really
getting tired of the good old boy network ruining this city." Said Karen, what ever
happened to what is best for the community.

Fire Chief Scott Gilman said, "I made sure everyone knew that the reason given for the
need to change was not true. The accidents were not caused by the turn, and did not
result in deaths, they were dead way before the turn."

Right now residents are collecting signatures to get the signage taken down, with many
names and residents joining the call for the change.

Image
The extra wide turn for safety means little with hedges in the way.

.
Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident

"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg

"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
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marklingm
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Re: One Person's One Way Causes Outcries From Many

Post by marklingm »

Jim,

Thank you for sharing this news.

If there is one thing City Hall does well, it appears to be making sure that the good old boys and girls get their special perks.

While the residents of Arthur Avenue get assessed the cost of light beautification, did this alleged good old boy get charged with the cost of his new private cul-de-sac?

Perhaps this person isn't a good old boy at all?

Perhaps there is a valid reason for this new private cul-de-sac?

Perhaps the taxpayers didn’t get stuck with a bill.

In any event, I do agree with Karen on a general matter.

I am also getting really tired of the good old boy network ruining this City.

Matt
Bill Call
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Re: One Person's One Way Causes Outcries From Many

Post by Bill Call »

Matthew John Markling wrote:I am also getting really tired of the good old boy network ruining this City.

Matt


Can I help out even if its not in Ward 2? :D
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marklingm
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Re: One Person's One Way Causes Outcries From Many

Post by marklingm »

Bill Call wrote:
Matthew John Markling wrote:I am also getting really tired of the good old boy network ruining this City.

Matt


Can I help out even if its not in Ward 2? :D



That's the kind of leadership we need!

See http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=12265.

I’m sure Jim can point you to the folks who are addressing this issue.

I’m also sure they would welcome your help.

And I’m sure that City Hall would welcome any and all public record requests dealing with this issue.

Thanks, Bill.
Glenn Palmer
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Re: One Person's One Way Causes Outcries From Many

Post by Glenn Palmer »

I have been up and down that lane hundreds of times and NEVER had any issues that remotely came close to being dangerous or ever exciting to any degree. My guess is that a majority of Lakewoodites don't even know that it exists, it serves a few streets but by no means saves any time as a shortcut. Good use of city employees time? I think not.
Grace O'Malley
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Re: One Person's One Way Causes Outcries From Many

Post by Grace O'Malley »

Actually, it cost more than just the city's time. There are very confusing signs in both directions on Riverside and two honking big signs at the entrance to the street.

I walk every day on Riverside and I can say that there is more of a problem there right now. I've seen cars stop on Riverside, confused and trying to read the signs and figure out where to go. I have a feeling the new "pattern" will cause more accidents than the way it was.

And, why doesn't someone make that idiot owner cut down those bushes? I thought there was an ordinance that bushes could not block views for people backing out or traveling down a street.

Finally, I've seen this too many times - the city caters to a person or small group. Was there a traffic study done? Any discussion with the people who live around there? I find it very odd that it was done without ANY consideration of all the factors.
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Re: One Person's One Way Causes Outcries From Many

Post by marklingm »

Grace O'Malley wrote:Finally, I've seen this too many times - the city caters to a person or small group. Was there a traffic study done? Any discussion with the people who live around there? I find it very odd that it was done without ANY consideration of all the factors.



Great points, Grace.
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marklingm
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Re: One Person's One Way Causes Outcries From Many

Post by marklingm »

Grace O'Malley wrote:And, why doesn't someone make that idiot owner cut down those bushes? I thought there was an ordinance that bushes could not block views for people backing out or traveling down a street.



Okay, I give.

Who is this narcissistic neighbor?

And are these city streets or county roads that may have been unilaterally altered with taxpayer dollars?
Peter Grossetti
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Re: One Person's One Way Causes Outcries From Many

Post by Peter Grossetti »

Grace O'Malley wrote: I thought there was an ordinance that bushes could not block views for people backing out or traveling down a street.


I wish I could remember who said it (it was a Council person or a member of the Adminstation), but earlier this year I was at a Council Committee meeting (Public Safety, maybe?), but I heard this telling nugget of information come out of one of their mouths: "Ordinances are just tools we can selectively choose to use ..."
"So, let's make the most of this beautiful day.
Since we're together we might as well say:
Would you be mine? Could you be mine?
Won't you be my neighbor?"

~ Fred (Mr. Rogers) Rogers
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marklingm
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Re: One Person's One Way Causes Outcries From Many

Post by marklingm »

Peter Grossetti wrote:
Grace O'Malley wrote: I thought there was an ordinance that bushes could not block views for people backing out or traveling down a street.


I wish I could remember who said it (it was a Council person or a member of the Adminstation), but earlier this year I was at a Council Committee meeting (Public Safety, maybe?), but I heard this telling nugget of information come out of one of their mouths: "Ordinances are just tools we can selectively choose to use ..."



Peter,

There are simply too many tools at City Hall.

Ordinances are laws.

Laws require enforcement.

Enforcement should apply to this yet to be identified narcissistic neighbor.

Which again begs the question, "Who is this guy?"

Matt
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marklingm
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Re: One Person's One Way Causes Outcries From Many

Post by marklingm »

This month’s $40,000 question nobody wants to answer: "Who is this guy?"
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Jim O'Bryan
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Re: One Person's One Way Causes Outcries From Many

Post by Jim O'Bryan »

Matthew John Markling wrote:This month’s $40,000 question nobody wants to answer: "Who is this guy?"


Nate Kelly, ex-Planning Director of Lakewood and right hand man to County Executive Edward FitzGerald.

FWIW

What matters is no the name, nor the amount of pull, but what is right.

If there is a hazard, and none was ever proven, it would be the height of the bushes, as listed in
the city laws about "living fences, 3 ft. maximum height (1153.02). [2110]."

One would then need clarification if that is from the road height, or from the base of the
plant. The bushes are in raised beds, and start at least 12" or more higher than the road
bed, which is seen as the reason for the one way "traffic issues/safety."

.
Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident

"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg

"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
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marklingm
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Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2007 7:13 pm
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Re: One Person's One Way Causes Outcries From Many

Post by marklingm »

Matthew John Markling wrote:This month’s $40,000 question nobody wants to answer: "Who is this guy?"




Image



Jim O'Bryan wrote:Nate Kelly, ex-Planning Director of Lakewood and right hand man to County Executive Edward FitzGerald.

FWIW

What matters is not the name, nor the amount of pull, but what is right.

If there is a hazard, and none was ever proven, it would be the height of the bushes, as listed in the city laws about "living fences, 3 ft. maximum height (1153.02). [2110]."

One would then need clarification if that is from the road height, or from the base of the plant. The bushes are in raised beds, and start at least 12" or more higher than the road bed, which is seen as the reason for the one way "traffic issues/safety."








Image
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Jim O'Bryan
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Re: One Person's One Way Causes Outcries From Many

Post by Jim O'Bryan »

Matt

I got this one, we have a group looking at the docs, and the laws.

The photo you posted of Nate was him talking to the Mayor, while he was Planning
Director and Mike was Ward 3 Councilman. So there was no skullduggery in that photo.

The other one was Nate doing yard work on Sunday. Nate's yard is very well kept, and he has been a great neighbor. Except we now see that the bushes are illegal at least by the
definition of the law.

There is a growing group of residents, that want to see this law reversed, and Ward 1
Councilman, David Anderson (who sold Nate the house, hard to get away from how
'inbred" this city is) is looking into it, and has offered some background, as he spoke to neighbors.

There are many other issues coming out of this as well. We have Lakewood Officials telling
neighbors that the one-way was the "fault of Jim O'Bryan" and that is also being looked at
as the City workers said that came from their bosses. That those are complete different
issues. But let's not forget City Hall blamed you and me originally for the closing of
Kauffman Park, when we found out from notes here on the Deck, Ward 3 Councilman, and
head of the Public Works Committee talked openly of closing the parks 3 year earlier.
Along with the need for a Hotel in Lakewood, Trash pickup with cars being ticketed if they
are in the way, and many other things we were told was thought up by a committee!

As we all know, rarely is it the act, but what follows that becomes the real issue.

.
Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident

"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg

"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
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marklingm
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Re: One Person's One Way Causes Outcries From Many

Post by marklingm »

Jim O'Bryan wrote:I got this one, we have a group looking at the docs, and the laws.



Thanks, Jim.

Maybe your answers will come tomorrow in the spirit of Mike Summers’ proclaimed, “Giving Tuesday” … maybe … just maybe ... http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=12285.

Matt
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