What would you ask ?

[Alex Belisle]

I have the opportunity to ask Mayor Summers questions on Thur. 5/28 at the Lakewood Democratic Club monthly meeting.

Since I'm new here I really have hardly any experience with life in Lakewood, so if you've lived here for awhile, what burdens/questions do you have?

The only thing besides the lack of transparency issue re: Lakewood Hospital, would be a question about possible plans to work on the "greening of Lakewood"

Oh yeah, just remembered: why so few basketball courts?

[cameron karslake]

When is all the technology installed on Clifton going to relieve all the congestion since that street has been "up graded"?

Nothing but traffic jams every work day, all the way back into Lakewood. Shame! Stop wasting our tax dollars on projects that make everything they are supposed to make better, WORSE! What a joke!

Thanks for asking, Alex.

[Peter Grossetti]

Oh yeah, just remembered: why so few basketball courts?

Please let Hizzoner know that Peter says "hello" (all the way from Akron).

Alex - Next time I'm up that way, I'll try to look you up so we can chat.

[m buckley]

Alex, I won't suggest any questions but what I will suggest is that you read Colleen Cotter's article for The Observer, titled "Grace Ave. Lessons To Be Learned", complete with timeline, if you want some real insight into how Mayor Summers, Dru Siley and Mary Louise Madigan operate. In many ways what occurred on Grace Ave. was a dress rehearsal (admittedly on a smaller scale) for what is being attempted now. They cut their teeth on Grace before taking their sleazy act to Lakewood proper.

[Sandra Donnelly]

Looking forward to your update regarding the meeting!

[Alex Belisle]

Well, I got there early (Lakewood Democratic Club monthly meeting - my 1st) and sat right next to Mayor Summers. We discussed everything I mentioned and all of his answers aligned with what has been discussed here and other places on the "deck."

He was initially taken aback slightly when I told him I was from NYC and worked in their press corps. As for the Clifton Blvd. issue he laid the blame on Cleveland, saying that the traffic was fine in Lakewood but deteriorated as it got into Cleveland.

As the lack of basketball courts , his reasons were aligned with his friend who lived behind the courts and deemed "dangerous" plus Cleveland also took some blame since those "unsavory elements" (not his words) came from Cleveland to use our courts.

As for the "greening" of Lakewood his answers and following presentation was on point as far as I was concerned.

And Peter - he says "hi" back.

Lastly Mark, I will read what you suggested.

[Sandra Donnelly]

I can imagine that he was taken aback by being asked questions by a professional. I've known Mike for years; however, I am completely disappointed by his lack of transparency regarding several city issues of late. These issues directly impact my elderly parents who have been residents of Lakewood for 80+ years; therefore, I am completely invested.

[Alex Belisle]

Wow! Just read : http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/20 ... be-learned

and Madigan announced her plans for re-election in Ward 4 (our Ward, Mark)) So my question is why does she get re-elected in light of these facts and the direction she is leading the City Council (IMO) re: Lakewood hospital?

[m buckley]

Alex, For starters I'm sure that those champions of diversity, The Lakewood Democratic Club, will endorse her. Then there is the political inbred clique that runs Lakewood and relies on each other to stay afloat. She can count on them. What it comes down to is, finding someone in a position of power, who along with all of us, is willing to say ... " No more of this, no more of them". To borrow from Jim O'Bryan - this could be an interesting summer.

[Lori Allen _]

Hi Alex,

Thank you sharing your conversation with the mayor here on the Deck. I do not recall ever reading any police reports about people coming in from Cleveland to use our courts and causing any significant problems. In the summer, I sometimes take my lunch up to the park and watch the young people playing basketball. There are different races and ages that all play together. They are a nice bunch of people and they are always laughing and having a good time, as it should be.

When looking through public records, I discovered that on May 2nd, 2013, Mr. Heller (the mayor's alleged friend that lives behind the basketball courts that are now closed at Kauffman Park) was charged with disorderly conduct/intoxicated at Kauffman Park. I believe the police report stated that Mr. Heller was being verbally abusive toward the children using the basketball courts. On May 20th, 2014, Mr. Heller spoke at the City Council meeting regarding the basketball courts. In a nutshell, he told council that the rules of the court were not being enforced in regards to opening/closing hours and that he wanted a solution. Less than ten days later, the basketball courts at Kauffman Park were closed. It appears that the mayor's alleged friend is more important to the mayor than the other 51,000+ residents that live in this city. I believe that instead of making the other residents of Lakewood suffer by closing the courts, that the mayor should do the right thing and hold this citizen accountable for his actions.

Perhaps I'm beating a dead horse, but I felt it necessary to put some facts on the table.

[Alex Belisle]

Hi Lori,

We spoke extensively about the basketball courts situation and 1) I told him this his friend was foolish knowing that he had issues with noise and buying a house that abuts a recreational center and 2) do what we do in NYC which is to fence the courts in with a door that is locked at certain times to deter players from just hanging out and doing things other than basketball.

He admitted that his friend had "mental issues" and was worried that he could cause bodily harm to those playing on the courts. He then said that he is concerned about this issue of a lack of courts and is looking into setting up more.

I told him I want to set up a shoot with him for "Faces of Lakewood" at which time I plan to grill him again but with a camera in front of his face (LOL)

Let's wait and see?

[John LePlae]

Excellent coverage Alex! I also live in ward 4. For the record, Mary Louise Madigan ran unopposed in the last election (November) and I believe, is not up for re-election this year.

[Alex Belisle]

Hi John,

Unless I mis-heard, she is running again(?) and there were 2 males running also, one of whom had experience working with labor and unions. (I should've taken notes)

Those living on Grace Ave. like me should be sure to vote this Nov. with the DrugMart fiasco heavy on their minds.

[Alex Belisle]

I just remembered - I also asked about the lack of minorities and his first response was that there was a small percentage of Afro-Americans in Lakewood but I responded by asking "why aren't you grooming any, not just Afro-Americans" and after that, this discussion became sort of vague (again, I should have brought my digital recorder but I didn't want to overwhelm him as a stranger in the midst)

As I cast my arm over the members in attendance, I also asked, "where are the young people, the future of Lakewood?" and was told my him and another person standing close by that what I saw was typical for political clubs in Cuyahoga County and I said if he's interested in bring more business and vitality to Lakewood, he should reach out to young entrepreneurs (the hipster generation)

If I remember more, I'll post it.

[m buckley]

Alex, After some thought , I guess if given the opportunity I would ask Mike if he was still comfortable with his response to Amy Martin (on The Observer) regarding his silence concerning a serial rapist last year. A response that bizarrely included a burgeoning popcorn enterprise and a bicycle shop. I would add, a silence that as likely as not, had very serious consequences.