What Did The YMCA Know and When Did They Know It?

[Bill Call]

Back in March of 2013 the Lakewood YMCA was considering an expansion in Birdtown or some other Eastern Lakewood location. And then ..nothing.

http://patch.com/ohio/lakewood-oh/ymca- ... son-avenue

Now we found out that around that time there were serious discussions between City officials and the Lakewood Hospital Association and others about replacing the Hospital with a recreation center. The recreation center was to be operated by the YMCA.

What did YMCA officials know about the plans to demolish the Hospital and when did they know it?

Will it take a subpoena to find out? What were they promised?

If had any artistic talent I would draw a cartoon with two vultures labeled "Lakewood non-profits" hovering over the Hospital under the caption "When do we eat?"

[Corey Rossen]

Back in March of 2013 the Lakewood YMCA was considering an expansion in Birdtown or some other Eastern Lakewood location. And then ..nothing.

http://patch.com/ohio/lakewood-oh/ymca- ... son-avenue

Now we found out that around that time there were serious discussions between City officials and the Lakewood Hospital Association and others about replacing the Hospital with a recreation center. The recreation center was to be operated by the YMCA.

What did YMCA officials know about the plans to demolish the Hospital and when did they know it?

Will it take a subpoena to find out? What were they promised?

If had any artistic talent I would draw a cartoon with two vultures labeled "Lakewood non-profits" hovering over the Hospital under the caption "When do we eat?"

I love the YMCA, always have, but it is not a public rec center. It is membership based and not open to the public. I often wonder(ed) why people refer to the YMCA when mentioning the proposed rec center. If the proposed rec center was run by the YMCA wouldn't that make it a private business, not a community center?

Corey

[Bridget Conant]

Corey

I'd like to clarify, before going any further, that a community rec center, while owned by the city, does not mean that it is free to the public, like a park or a playground. That is a common misconception.

To use any community rec center requires a membership, just like the YMCA. For an example, Rocky River charges an adult $240 per year. Family plans are higher, up to $440 for a family of 5.
Middleburgh Heights fees are $135 per adult and $230 per family: city employees pay $220 adult. Fairview Park fees are adult $110 and family of 5 $330.
Brooklyn fees are adult $120 and family $210. These are yearly fees.

Rocky River passed an ongoing property tax to build the center and it is a continuing levy. Brooklyn, like most municipal rec centers, lost $680,000 last year and expects a similar loss this year.

No rec center could be built in Lakewood without some form of tax increase. It would likely need a subsidy to maintain and run the facility. Why any city would take that burden on is mind-boggling.

Currently, 25% of the tax collected by Fairview goes toward the Gemini Center:
http://www.fairviewpark.org/finance-department/tax-information/

Rocky River ongoing tax mileage for center:
http://www.rrcity.com/finance-department/

[Corey Rossen]

Corey

I'd like to clarify, before going any further, that a community rec center, while owned by the city, does not mean that it is free to the public, like a park or a playground. That is a common misconception.

To use any community rec center requires a membership, just like the YMCA. For an example, Rocky River charges an adult $240 per year. Family plans are higher, up to $440 for a family of 5.
Middleburgh Heights fees are $135 per adult and $230 per family: city employees pay $220 adult. Fairview Park fees are adult $110 and family of 5 $330.
Brooklyn fees are adult $120 and family $210. These are yearly fees.

Rocky River passed an ongoing property tax to build the center and it is a continuing levy. Brooklyn, like most municipal rec centers, lost $680,000 last year and expects a similar loss this year.

No rec center could be built in Lakewood without some form of tax increase. It would likely need a subsidy to maintain and run the facility. Why any city would take that burden on is mind-boggling.

Currently, 25% of the tax collected by Fairview goes toward the Gemini Center:
http://www.fairviewpark.org/finance-department/tax-information/

Thank you.

[marklingm]

No rec center could be built in Lakewood without some form of tax increase. It would likely need a subsidy to maintain and run the facility. Why any city would take that burden on is mind-boggling.

And that is why Team Summers wants a property tax increase to pay for the "Michael P. Summers Recreation Center and Natatorium" (plus soccer fields).

There are even some Team Summers folks who are in support of an income tax to pay for the "Michael P. Summers Recreation Center and Natatorium" (plus soccer fields).

We may even get both tax increases if Team Summers wins in November.

But, Team Summers has already shared these taxing facts with Lakewood, right?

[Alex Belisle]

I'm curious? Since the Y (where I have membership has the highest concentration of Afro-Americans I've seen in Lakewood) is probably cheaper to have a membership than a neighborhood rec center, would this move have anything to do with racism playing a part in the thinking since most minorities can't afford the higher fees?

[Bridget Conant]

Alex

I posted an interesting study in another thread that analyzed public consumption of recreation facilities. It found that while a majority of people took advantage of public parks and playgrounds, only 1 in 5 used municipal recreation centers. Typically, those who used rec centers were higher income and socioeconomic status. Here: http://agrilifecdn.tamu.edu/cromptonrpts/files/2011/06/Full-Text10.pdf

These centers appeal to those who have the income to afford the membership and user fees, not to mention the time to invest in self-improvement and health; again, activities heavily weighted toward the wealthy.

[Brian Essi]

That

Alex

I posted an interesting study in another thread that analyzed public consumption of recreation facilities. It found that while a majority of people took advantage of public parks and playgrounds, only 1 in 5 used municipal recreation centers. Typically, those who used rec centers were higher income and socioeconomic status. Here: http://agrilifecdn.tamu.edu/cromptonrpts/files/2011/06/Full-Text10.pdf

These centers appeal to those who have the income to afford the membership and user fees, not to mention the time to invest in self-improvement and health; again, activities heavily weighted toward the wealthy.

Bridget,

If your research conclusions are valid and if the proposed new foundation money goes to the Active Living and Recreation Task Force causes and projects (which I accept as well healthy and good objectives)---- it would mean that what is proposed by Madigan/Summers et al is a diverting of money from the hospital funds (which provide a substantial benefit to the underserved/poor) to wealthy folks. Would this be sort of a Robber Baron concept or scheme?

Ms. Madigan claimed in the Sun Post last week that this plan helps the east end folks---How does that work?

[Kate McCarthy]

Not sure if I am remembering correctly, but I thought the construction of the new Y was billed as Lakewood's "rec center" and a rehab center for Lakewood Hospital which were reasons to justify a significant influx of public funds.

[Brian Essi]

I'm curious? Since the Y (where I have membership has the highest concentration of Afro-Americans I've seen in Lakewood) is probably cheaper to have a membership than a neighborhood rec center, would this move have anything to do with racism playing a part in the thinking since most minorities can't afford the higher fees?

Alex,

Yes!

Not sure if I am remembering correctly, but I thought the construction of the new Y was billed as Lakewood's "rec center" and a rehab center for Lakewood Hospital which were reasons to justify a significant influx of public funds.

The Y is an great institution and in my opinion has more than fulfilled its mission. Prior to the public announcement of the hospital closure, Dru Siley had discussed with the Y the possibility of a Y facility at Madison Park, presumably to better serve the east end of Lakewood. Since the hospital announcement, that has been dropped.

Certainly a recreation center at city center would hurt the Y on Detroit. Someone suggested to me that the Madison discussions may have been a bit of misdirection on the part of the City Admin--those discussion occurred in the same time line as the May 15, 2014 document proposing the Y as manager of the Wellness/Recreation center at the hospital site. It is widely known that Summers has been courting nearly every nonprofit in town so it would not be surprising if he is trying to get the Y on board with his plan.

It is my understanding that the Y stays out of political issues, but I fear that if the city center rec center plan goes forward, it will be at the Y's expense. How sad would that be on top of all the other disastrous consequences of a hospital closure?