4th of July - Signs of progress or decline?

[Ryan Salo]

Lakewood is in the national news again...

http://www.ijreview.com/2014/07/153601- ... d-point-2/

Favorite pastimes for the 4th of July include grilling out, spending time with the family, and setting off a few fireworks when it gets dark. But not for the park-goers of Lakewood, Ohio.
This posted sign, which has been making the rounds on the internet and comes to us from YoungCons, declares that 4th of July has one central theme: no fun allowed.

I stopped by the park to see the signs again (they were used last year) for myself. There were more signs than I expected. I saw at least 7 of those just along the sidewalk on Lake plus some more that the city has made. I will post those pictures in another post.

At least the signs looked clean and organized... every flag on the north side of Lake was wrapped around the power lines and a couple were showing a lot of wear...

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Rather than focusing on all the restrictions maybe we should try to make it more fun?!?

http://www.bradenton.com/2014/07/02/523 ... force.html

PALMETTO -- It was a split decision by the Palmetto City Commission last month to allow alcohol to be sold from city property for this year's Fourth of July festivities

Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant said the whole concept of the Fourth of July festival is to showcase the city.

"We want people to come see what the city is like and showcase our businesses, which is why they can set up at the festival for free," she said. "We like to show off everything the city has to offer."

[Ryan Salo]

New signs.

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#6. No dogs of any kind - That seems ADA compliant

[Ryan Salo]

Planning on taking the kids to the park early to play? Think again.

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My family went to the Orchestra event last night downtown. There were thousands and thousands of folks there. It went off without a hitch and guess what? They did it all without dozens of warning and rule signs...

[Grace O'Malley]

How can you blame them for this? Over the years the fireworks display has attracted more and more non-Lakewoodites to the city. All I've heard for the last several years is complaints about the size of the crowd, their rowdy behavior, unattended kids, fireworks blown off in the crowd by hooligans, cigarette smoking and butts all over, trash left on the lawn, and so on. I think this is a reaction to complaints and fears that the crowd was getting out of control.

I don't think it looks very welcoming, but perhaps that's the point.

I think knowing the rules up front makes it crystal clear what will be tolerated and what will not and no one can complain that they "didn't know. You just cannot have it both ways - you can't 6itch about bad behavior and then act surprised when the city or police crack down.

[Michael Deneen]

I'm with Grace on this one.

The annual fireworks show is one giant disaster just waiting to happen.

As more and more other towns ditch fireworks, we get more drunken degenerates coming to Lakewood to watch stuff "blowed up real good".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUtdXzBSVaU


The perverse irony is that this City Hall will close a harmless basketball court due to alleged "safety concerns", then turns around and hosts a giant, open, drunken party for our freeloading neighbors.

[Tim Liston]

Agreed with Grace and Mike (which is not always the case). How can you expect to host an event with maybe what, 20,000 people packed into a couple dozen acres and not make it clear that covered tents and propane tanks are not allowed? And outside incendiaries? Honestly, get real!

If the rules in place made the fireworks no fun then nobody would show up. These simple rules rob nobody of their fun.

Thank you to the City of Lakewood for putting on this event as best as you possibly can. See you tomorrow!

[Jeff Dreger]

I haven't been for some years now. Just watch it from my front porch. It was never fun for me or what I would consider family friendly. The size and composition of the crowd made it hard to relax and enjoy. Found it next to impossible to avoid nonstop swearing and clouds of cigarette smoke and drunken people and just generally inconsiderate folks. Maybe if there were actually more rules I'd consider coming.

[marklingm]

I'm not convinced that #3 is constitutional in light of:

AMENDMENT IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

I hope that the Fourth Amendment applies to "non-Lakewoodites" and "our freeloading neighbors," as well as "Lakewoodites" ... which according to these signs ... the Fourth Amendment doesn't appear to apply to anyone on the 4th of July.

[Grace O'Malley]

Well you can thank 9/11 for the bag searches. I went to the House of Blues this week and my purse was searched. I fly and my body gets searched. Go to a ball game and you get your bags searched. I go to Cedar Point and I can't even TAKE a bag or cooler in!

How can you say it's not legal?

[marklingm]

Grace,

This is a public park - i.e., our property - and the government is searching you so the 4th Amendment applies.

I hear what you are saying about airports ... but ... are we really saying that there is a REAL fear that criminal activity is taking place at the Lakewood Park such that everyone MUST BE presumed to be a criminal suspect to protect "public safety?"

If so, based upon what fact?

When did terrorist activity take place at Lakewood Park on the 4th of July?

When did gang violence take place at Lakewood Park on the 4th of July?

When did random acts of violence take place at Lakewood Park on the 4th of July?

Is this what Summers' Wood has become?

Is Lakewood now a city where families can't go and enjoy fireworks in a city park without police officers searching you with no suspension or probable cause?

#3 says that you will be searched "for reasons of public safety."

What are the public safety reasons that will trump the 4th Amendment?

Is this all about that one neighbor over by the Kauffman Park basketball hoops?

Is he attending the fireworks display at Lakewood Park, too?

Matt

[Michael Deneen]

No terrorist has ever hijacked a plane from Hopkins.
However, Hopkins searches bags because it has happened elsewhere.

Fireworks shows in other communities have attracted fights, crime, drunkenness, etc....not shocking since the target audience is people who are fascinated by loud noises and shiny things.

The problems at fireworks shows have gotten bad enough that most inner-ring suburbs have canceled this practice.
http://www.cleveland.com/shaker-heights ... ncele.html

If we continue to host this annual event, it is simply a matter of time until there is a MAJOR problem like a huge fight, stabbing, shooting, or god knows what.
The local media will be all over it.

[marklingm]

No terrorist has ever hijacked a plane from Hopkins.
However, Hopkins searches bags because it has happened elsewhere.

Red herring!

Should the schools search every kid who walks in the schoolhouse gates?

Fireworks shows in other communities have attracted fights, crime, drunkenness, etc....not shocking since the target audience is people who are fascinated by loud noises and shiny things.

The problems at fireworks shows have gotten bad enough that most inner-ring suburbs have canceled this practice.
http://www.cleveland.com/shaker-heights ... ncele.html

Other than our "alleged" Kauffman Park Hoops neighbor, has this been a problem in Lakewood?

If we continue to host this annual event, it is simply a matter of time until there is a MAJOR problem like a huge fight, stabbing, shooting, or god knows what.

Then, if true, our fearful leader - Mayor & Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers - should just shut this event down.

In your words:

The perverse irony is that this City Hall will close a harmless basketball court due to alleged "safety concerns", then turns around and hosts a giant, open, drunken party for our freeloading neighbors.

Matt

[Paul Schrimpf]

Man, what a depressing thread. As for us, we will take our son to march for St. Ed's at the parade and take in an awesome morning, then later on ride our bikes to see the fireworks. Rock on, Lakewood, don't go sissy on us. No cancelling, no "going Fairview" and doing it a week early. Our Holiday, our City.

[Grace O'Malley]

NYC has 100 cameras in Central Park. During events they have signs stating that bags may be searched. That, too, is a public park.

Today it is a given that anytime there is to be a large public gathering, precautions must be taken for security reasons. I don't see how Lakewood is immune from these concerns nor is it operating outside of accepted legal restrictions.

[marklingm]

I believe that #3 is unconstitutional.

But, when individuals don't care about their own constitutional rights and civil liberties, I don't expect them to stand up for my constitutional rights and civil liberties.