LakewoodAlive Party Gluttony – The Lakewood Way?

[marklingm]

DISCLAIMER: I actually like the new direction LakewoodAlive is taking under the new leadership of Ian Andrews!

That being said, throwing a party for LakewoodAlive to pat itself on the back seems like nothing but gluttony, but that does appear to be “The Lakewood Way” for “City Hall & Friends.”

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In good news, I guess this "PartY" isn’t being paid for by a grant or other taxpayer dollars.

Or is it?

Oh … and for those of you familiar with tax deductions … notice the difference between the Patron and VIP deductions vis-à-vis the actual costs … interesting math … or something crazy is happening at that VIP event ...

From: LakewoodAlive [mailto:info@lakewood-alive.ccsend.com] On Behalf Of LakewoodAlive
Sent: Friday, January 10, 2014 5:27 PM
To: Matt Markling
Subject: LakewoodAlive (1/10): LakewoodAlive 10th Anniversary, Housing Outreach Corner

LakewoodAlive to Celebrate 10 years
"Loving Lakewood:Alive and Thriving"


Purchase Tickets Online Starting January 13 to
"Loving Lakewood:Alive and Thriving"
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Lakewood Center North
14600 Detroit Avenue
Second Floor

Join LakewoodAlive as we celebrate our 10th anniversary and a decade of partnership between Lakewood's economic development organization and the City of Lakewood.

$100 Patron Ticket
Celebration from 7:30-11:00 p.m.
-Hors d'oeuvre Food Stations
-Complimentary Wine, Beer, and Signature Drink
-Live Music
-Silent Auction, Raffles, Prizes
-$70 tax-deductible

$150 VIP Ticket
VIP Party from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
-Select beverages, food and entertainment
-All benefits of Patron Ticket
-$110 tax deductible

Checks are to be made out to "LakewoodAlive" and returned to:
LakewoodAlive, 14701 Detroit Avenue, #LL10, Lakewood, OH 44107.

Contact info@lakewoodalive.com with questions.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Matt

Just curious.

If the Lakewood Observer had a party to celebrate our 10 years, would it be gluttony?

The idea from the party grew out of one of many committees that LA has, and is being
handled by some of the old members.

Now the old guard at LakewoodAlive is very much like current Lakewood City Hall, in so much
as they never did anything that was not worth a huge celebration and passing out kudos to
themselves and their friends.

However current LakewoodAlive is not like that at all. Ian is very solid, and prefers work to
celebration of one's self. But when the elders demand idolization, the new kids have little
to do but suck it up, forget the real work they do and throw a party for the old guard. That
let's be honest is feeling a little left out having not being able to award themselves
anything for a couple years.Not to mention LakewoodAlive is doing better than ever since
they moved on to helping take the credit for other things.

I'm going, after all it is probably being catered by 5-Guys, and all of the other high end
stores they brought to Detroit Avenue. While steering millions from residents into
delivering 5 Guys, and all of those high end stores to Downtown that have helped lower
our taxes, and keep the schools not needing to raise money through Bonds and levies.

.

[marklingm]

Just curious.

If the Lakewood Observer had a party to celebrate our 10 years, would it be gluttony?

Jim,

That's a question based upon many faulty premises.

But, let's focus on just one.

You would never charge anyone $100 or $150 to celebrate the Lakewood Observer by having a party. You would ask folks to donate the money to Lakewood charities.

Nonetheless, assuming you have become an overnight narcissist, I suppose it depends on where the money is going.

Based upon the tax deduction calculations and the "profit" margin of past LakewoodAlive, City Hall, and Lakewood Hospital parties/events, I'm guessing that this celebration will not pay for itself.

If true, that means Ian's ability to do the good work that the new LakewoodAlive crew is striving to do will be harmed to pay for a party to celebrate the old guard.

And, if true, that means that public funds will pay for this party.

I could be wrong.

Maybe there will be a "profit" from this celebration?

In that case, celebrate away!

So, when is the Lakewood Observer party, Jim?

Matt