Kauffman hoops closed?

[Michael Deneen]

It's a paid gig with benefits, which is very nice nowadays.

However, if my memory is correct, only one person was willing to run in the last election.
Going back over the past few election cycles, many who did run for the job were only doing so to set themselves up for higher office.

That's a pretty strong clue that it's not a cushy job.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Unlike some of the others here, I am generally supportive of the Mayor on most issues.
Overall he's done a pretty good job in a very thankless position.

However, this situation has been badly mangled on many fronts, and could quickly get worse.

1. For all the reasons already mentioned, the decision to close the courts was a terrible one. It creates the appearance of one person holding the city hostage.

2. The lack of an official statement for numerous days only aggravated the situation. Everyone was left to speculate on the matter...which brought out all of the numerous grievances and conspiracy theories about City Hall.

3. Today's statement only makes things worse. The terms "recent, credible concern over public safety" and "basketball courts" are like chum to the local broadcast media. There is a good chance that TV, radio and the PD will run with this story. If so, citizens from Ashtabula to Sandusky will interpret this situation as a gang-related problem. This is poisonous for the local brand.

I agree completely with you except for the mayor being in a thankless position. When you are collecting a paycheck from the taxpayers you don't really need to be thanked.

Danielle, six figures works for a bit of a thank-you. Right.

Mike,

I would like to point out something to you and others that always seems to escape everyone. City Hall does
thousands of things each and every day. For the most part most go through, done, well done, semi-poorly done. I f my world you do not get called up or out just for doing your job. BUT, when you do something above
the job description or call of duty you get kudos, do something worse, maybe some razzzzzssss and ideas.

If you go back and look at MOST of the things that cause issues in this city you will generally find, someone not being completely honest about something and getting caught, then trying to make up for it, and on and on.

Remember this city has been a top tier city for decades, it did not just happen.
Safest city in America, 1971.

FWIW

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[Dan Alaimo]

Do I have this right? Most people here agree that the "credible concern for public safety" is the neighbor?

[marklingm]

Do I have this right? Most people here agree that the "credible concern for public safety" is the neighbor?

Dan,

I assume that if the "credible concern for public safety" is just the neighbor, Mike Summers would have said so.

I wish Mike would just be honest with our residents.

Matt

[marklingm]

Unlike some of the others here, I am generally supportive of the Mayor on most issues.
Overall he's done a pretty good job in a very thankless position.

Mike,

I believe that Mike Summers has done a pretty bad job in a very thankful position.

Being the mayor has many perks and benefits.

The dude isn't going for want of attention and affection.

If Mike Summers actually supported our residents and was honest with what is going on in Lakewood, he would get more respect from me ... even with all his shortcomings.

So, I agree with Jim:

If you go back and look at MOST of the things that cause issues in this city you will generally find, someone not being completely honest about something and getting caught, then trying to make up for it, and on and on.

Matt

[Stan Austin]

Let's get laser like----- you're the cop on the beat--- you get a complaint of noise at the park--- you see kids playing basketball, you've been saturated with the killing in CA, and the inability of government to have intervened, you know that today's "concerned citizen" {see the Tremont art gallery shut down} might just be a crank

what do you do?

[marklingm]

Let's get laser like----- you're the cop on the beat--- you get a complaint of noise at the park--- you see kids playing basketball, you've been saturated with the killing in CA, and the inability of government to have intervened, you know that today's "concerned citizen" {see the Tremont art gallery shut down} might just be a crank

what do you do? [Emphasis added.]

Stan,

I disagree with your premise.

I believe that the Lakewood Police Department has the ability to handle any situation in Lakewood if our mayor will simply let them do their job.

We have an outstanding police department!

Matt

[Jeff Dreger]

Sorry, Jim.

http://fox8.com/2014/05/27/noise-disput ... wood-park/

Also, sounds like "temporary" is going to be a long one. Perhaps the neighbor(s) will pay for the move if that's what actually comes out of this?

[Jeff Dreger]

People that move next to a public city park and then complain about the noise of kids playing are the same people that gave us the "do not use toaster in bathtub" warning stickers.

[Jim O'Bryan]

People that move next to a public city park and then complain about the noise of kids playing are the same people that gave us the "do not use toaster in bathtub" warning stickers.

Jeff

No the people that gave us this, are the people that tried repeatedly to make this person happy, and all they
were doing is making him more and more anxious to complain, call, get crazy.

This has been going on since 2011, and some politician should have said to him. "You bought a house next to
a tennis court, school, and public park.

They treated him special, they closed the parks early, they told the police to keep kids away, and look where we
are today. National news talking about a person that needs mental health, and outside news just won't get it.

Oh well, 2 steps forward, 2 steps back.

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[marklingm]

Today's statement only makes things worse. The terms "recent, credible concern over public safety" and "basketball courts" are like chum to the local broadcast media. There is a good chance that TV, radio and the PD will run with this story. If so, citizens from Ashtabula to Sandusky will interpret this situation as a gang-related problem. This is poisonous for the local brand.

Mike,

This will indeed be viewed by some as coded language.

And some may even argue that such coded language is intentional.

Matt

[Danielle Masters]

People that move next to a public city park and then complain about the noise of kids playing are the same people that gave us the "do not use toaster in bathtub" warning stickers.

Jeff

No the people that gave us this, are the people that tried repeatedly to make this person happy, and all they
were doing is making him more and more anxious to complain, call, get crazy.

This has been going on since 2011, and some politician should have said to him. "You bought a house next to
a tennis court, school, and public park.

They treated him special, they closed the parks early, they told the police to keep kids away, and look where we
are today. National news talking about a person that needs mental health, and outside news just won't get it.

Oh well, 2 steps forward, 2 steps back.

.

Exactly Jim, making concessions for this guy is just making him happy, he wants more and more because he is getting more and more. Closing the hoops is only empowering him.

[Dan Alaimo]

From that TV news clip, the mayor makes it clear the threat is not the kids. He doesn't say it's the neighbors, but it seems clear from the context. And since it is not neighbors but one neighbor, why can't they deal more directly with the problem and keep the basketball courts open?

[marklingm]

Well, here is an interesting find.

From the "public comment" section of the May 20, 2013 city council meeting ... a year prior to the 2014 Summers Kauffman Park Hoops Lockout ... the minutes read:

David Heller – 1371 Lakeland
Mr. Heller expressed concern about outdoor basketball. He remarked that there is a lack of supervision. He stated that he called the police 10 times in April and May. He stated that basketball was being played on days the courts were supposed to be closed and after hours. Mr. Heller blamed the Outdoor Basketball Committee for the problems. He spoke about how other solutions have failed. He asked for a solution.

Mayor Summers responded to Mr. Heller’s concerns.

http://www.onelakewood.com/pdf/CouncilMinutes/2013/Minutes2013_0520.pdf

Are we all witnessing Mike Summers' "solution" to David Heller's "concerns" play out a year later?

[Jim O'Bryan]

From that TV news clip, the mayor makes it clear the threat is not the kids. He doesn't say it's the neighbors, but it seems clear from the context. And since it is not neighbors but one neighbor, why can't they deal more directly with the problem and keep the basketball courts open?

Dan

Here is the problem with airing dirty laundry nationally.

If the kids are in gangs, we lose.

If the streets are filled with "crazy people" we lose.

There is no way to sugar coat any of this once it goes BIG.

Mayor Cain, taught me an interesting point of view one day. Police found a bomb from
WWII in the basement of a house near me. Talking with her while waiting for the bomb
squad to come, I mentioned calling Channel 8 and getting a coffee cup. Her answer was
"Really? For a coffee cup? Jim not everything is BIG news, some things are neighborhood
news." I questioned it then but today I get it.

Oh well, thank guy the guy wasn't dead face down on Detroit Ave for a couple hours. That
would have been really bad. Whew!!!!!

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