Build Lakewood Does Not Speak For The Recreation Department!

[marklingm]

I am a member of the Youth Athletic Commission, which is a sub-commission of the Lakewood Community Recreation and Education Commission.

During the July 13, 2015 Youth Athletic Commission meeting, I shared with the Youth Athletic Commission, as well as Community Recreation & Education/Operations Coordinator Robert J. Curtin, the fact that Build Lakewood is representing on its website that:

The mission of [the Lakewood Community Wellness Foundation] would be to foster the health and wellness of all Lakewood residents through helping to fund such efforts as:

• Senior transportation to medical appointments both inside and outside Lakewood.

• Park improvements, playground construction, and other improvements to community spaces.

• Art, literacy, music education, and other programs that increase our quality of life.

• Adult and youth recreation leagues and other active lifestyle programs.

• Existing non-profits such as Lakewood Alive, Lakewood Community Services Center, and Northcoast Health.

http://www.buildlakewood.org/#!foundation/c1rf1 (emphasis added)

Coordinator Curtin affirmed that the Lakewood City School District has no plan to turn any aspect of its adult and youth recreation leagues and other active lifestyle programs over to the City of Lakewood or any foundation - Lakewood Community Wellness Foundation or otherwise.

Coordinator Curtin also affirmed that the Lakewood City School District has no plan to turn any aspect of its art, literacy, music education, and other programs that increase our quality of life over to the City of Lakewood or any foundation - Lakewood Community Wellness Foundation or otherwise.

Coordinator Curtin further affirmed that the Lakewood City School District has no plan to turn any aspect of its Community Recreation & Education Department over to the City of Lakewood or any foundation - Lakewood Community Wellness Foundation or otherwise.

I have also shared Build Lakewood's Lakewood Community Wellness Foundation misrepresentations with several members of Jay Foran's Active Living/Recreation Task Force.

The members of Jay Foran's Active Living/Recreation Task Force echoed Coordinator Curtin's affirmations and even stated that they have not even seen Foran's Active Living/Recreation Task Force Proposal. They haven't even seen Foran's final proposal!

So, Pam Smith, you and your fellow Build Lakewood pals should just stick to speaking for yourselves and stop misrepresenting facts and pipe dreams on your propaganda materials.

[Michael Deneen]

If nothing else, Jim Kenny has injected the phrase "speak(s) for" indelibly into the Lakewood psyche.

[Bridget Conant]

Senior transportation to medical appointments both inside and ouside of Lakewood

So they acknowledge that seniors will have to go to Avon or other communities to see their doctor thanks to a closing hospital and medical buildings. I don't see how that's something you'd want to pat yourself on the back for.

[marklingm]

The discussion on the Lakewood Observer's Facebook Page is interesting.

The overall pro-Build Lakewood mantra seems to be that this post is misleading because Build Lakewood is just promising to give money that it doesn't have to a foundation that doesn't exist for programs that don't exist and - by the way - maybe Build Lakewood is referring to another entity that doesn't exist but does the same thing that is already done by the Lakewood City Schools Community Recreation & Education Department.

In any event, it appears that everyone is in agreement that what is on the Build Lakewood website are just ideas of what could happen - in spite of the fact that the Build Lakewood website itself states that:

This is not a pipe dream. It is exactly what has been proposed as part of the Lakewood Hospital redevelopment project--a new, $32M Lakewood Community Wellness Foundation (LCWF) that benefits the health and well-being of all Lakewood residents.

http://www.buildlakewood.org/#!foundation/c1rf1

[Bridget Conant]

Are they all standing in line for part of the expected windfall? Sounds to me like they are trying to "buy" votes with false promises.

They will be sorely disappointed when the cash fails to materialize.

[Bobbie Hendrick]

Please do not set up a strawman argument. Use clear critical thinking.

The Build Lakewood site, as you quote it, did not say that art and athletics would be "turned over" to them. Bob Curtin is naturally denying an untrue premise. (Prosecutor: When did you stop beating your wife?). They propose to "help fund" such endeavors. "would be" ... "such as..." are hypothetical suggestions.

There is a world of difference between those words and what you are fussing about.

[marklingm]

Please do not set up a strawman argument. Use clear critical thinking.

The Build Lakewood site, as you quote it, did not say that art and athletics would be "turned over" to them. Bob Curtin is naturally denying an untrue premise. (Prosecutor: When did you stop beating your wife?). They propose to "help fund" such endeavors. "would be" ... "such as..." are hypothetical suggestions.

There is a world of difference between those words and what you are fussing about.

That's a fair comment, Bobbie.

So, to clarify, the Lakewood Recreation Department is also unaware of any FUNDING coming from Build Lakewood or the non-existent LCWF.

None.

So why is it even listed on Build Lakewood's website?

Matt

[Michael Deneen]

There's a larger point here.

Ever since the Observer exposed Summers' secret plan to demolish the hospital for a rec center, many folks have been under the impression that the Rec Department was part of the scheme.
Average folks don't follow the "inside baseball" of the various boards in town.

It's important that folks know the Rec Department is not part of the plot.
In fact, they are something of a target.

[Bill Call]

I guess I have to defend Build Lakewood.

Councilman Juris and the Lakewood Hospital Foundation have stated that the new foundation would serve neighboring cities. I am sure v they are referring to parks, recreation, arts education and all the rest for surrounding communities like Avon, Rocky River etc.

[Bridget Conant]

For all the denying that goes on regarding building a rec center, Jennifer Pae's last post in the "refuse" thread pretty much acknowledges that that IS the plan.

First, I want to say, what is so bad about a rec center? It is an asset to many communities and benefits the wellness of a city's residents, and I'm sure there are a lot of people in Lakewood that would like one.

Apparently a recreation center concept was discussed by LHA as a potential option for the hospital site, and Section II.O of LOI from LHA and Clinic leaves open that possibility.

I've posted links before on how city rec centers drain city finances and are used by less than 1 in 5 residents. However, we will ALL be taxed heavily to build and maintain a rec center, which in my opinion, is untenable in an already highly taxed city with middle to working class residents. It is the WORST possible use of that land, and would be the most COSTLY to the city.

Those people who would like a rec center have lots of other options. Go pay for your gym yourself.

[marklingm]

From the thread entitled, "City finances: hospital & refuse collection" at http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13611&p=95995#p95995:

According to their research hospital employment has a 2.2 multiplier affect around the local community. How will the City make up that lost activity? The only proposals so far call for a recreation center.

Here is what I posted on the Buzz regarding the recreation center discussion:

I think one of the unfortunate outcomes of the community dialogue is idea that the hospital is going to be torn down and a city run recreation center will be built in its place. That hijacks the conversation.

First, I want to say, what is so bad about a rec center? It is an asset to many communities and benefits the wellness of a city's residents, and I'm sure there are a lot of people in Lakewood that would like one.

Apparently a recreation center concept was discussed by LHA as a potential option for the hospital site, and Section II.O of LOI from LHA and Clinic leaves open that possibility.

However, with all of that being said, I personally do not support the construction of a City-run recreation center at Lakewood Hospital site. I would like to see the highest and best use of the land if the hospital is no longer viable.

Like you mentioned with Winterhurst, the user fees covered the cost of operations, but there were not sufficient revenues to cover the significant capital needs for the facility, and tax dollars were needed to cover those expenditures.

This is what municipal recreation centers run into. They may be "profitable," but typically not profitable enough to cover the capital needed to build and maintain it.

What is the economic benefit of a recreation center?

See my comment above

Thank you for your post, Jen.

I take exception with the comment that the "idea that the hospital is going to be torn down and a city run recreation center will be built in its place ... hijacks the conversation."

In fact, the idea that the hospital is going to be torn down and a city run recreation center will be built in its place has always been part of the conversation between Mayor Michael P. Summers and his Administration.

As you even admit in your post, "[a]pparently a recreation center concept was discussed by LHA as a potential option for the hospital site, and Section II.O of LOI from LHA and Clinic leaves open that possibility."

So, there is no hijack here.

The discussion of the City taking over the Recreation Department and creating a City recreation center was first raised by City Council leadership and the Summers Administration, respectfully.

It is still part of the discussion unless City Council, the Summers Administration, and LHA are going to affirmatively state that those two issues are now off the table, forever.

Again, thanks for the post.

Matt

[marklingm]

Over on the Lakewood Observer's Facebook Page, the Build Lakewood folks keep arguing that Build Lakewood is just proposing a hypothetical Lakewood Community Wellness Foundation that will hypothetically help fund the Lakewood City Schools Community Recreation & Education Department.

According to Build Lakewood, the Lakewood Community Wellness Foundation will have $32M to spend when they kill the Lakewood Hospital.

How long will that $32M hypothetically help fund the Lakewood City Schools Community Recreation & Education Department?

Not all of the $32M will hypothetically go to hypothetically help fund the Lakewood City Schools Community Recreation & Education Department, right?

So, how much of that $32M will hypothetically help fund the Lakewood City Schools Community Recreation & Education Department?

Certainly, the Build Lakewood folks have a plan right?

It can't just be hypothetical, right?

Or, perhaps Rebecca VanLear is correct when she posted on the Lakewood Observer's Facebook page that:

It's kind of like saying- "Hey, Lakewood- what do you think about (This Idea)? Does it have the support of the community?" The hypotheticals are just outlining what "This Idea" actually IS. Otherwise they'd just be saying- ("Hey Lakewood- what do you think about "some ambiguous organization" that would fund "random stuff") It's somewhat like political campaigns. If a candidate is going to run, they have to have a platform. In this case, the organization is framing a proposal for an election (for the community to bring the idea to a vote before the council) and the hypotheticals are the "platform" that the organization is "running" on.

[Corey Rossen]

Over on the Lakewood Observer's Facebook Page, the Build Lakewood folks keep arguing that Build Lakewood is just proposing a hypothetical Lakewood Community Wellness Foundation that will hypothetically help fund the Lakewood City Schools Community Recreation & Education Department.

According to Build Lakewood, the Lakewood Community Wellness Foundation will have $32M to spend when they kill the Lakewood Hospital.

How long will that $32M hypothetically help fund the Lakewood City Schools Community Recreation & Education Department?

Not all of the $32M will hypothetically go to hypothetically help fund the Lakewood City Schools Community Recreation & Education Department, right?

So, how much of that $32M will hypothetically help fund the Lakewood City Schools Community Recreation & Education Department?

Certainly, the Build Lakewood folks have a plan right?

It can't just be hypothetical, right?

Or, perhaps Rebecca VanLear is correct when she posted on the Lakewood Observer's Facebook page that:

It's kind of like saying- "Hey, Lakewood- what do you think about (This Idea)? Does it have the support of the community?" The hypotheticals are just outlining what "This Idea" actually IS. Otherwise they'd just be saying- ("Hey Lakewood- what do you think about "some ambiguous organization" that would fund "random stuff") It's somewhat like political campaigns. If a candidate is going to run, they have to have a platform. In this case, the organization is framing a proposal for an election (for the community to bring the idea to a vote before the council) and the hypotheticals are the "platform" that the organization is "running" on.

Will it support fixing the drainage issues at Harding Middle School's softball field?

Corey

[marklingm]

Will it support fixing the drainage issues at Harding Middle School's softball field?

So, I don't see why not, Corey.

Hypothetically speaking, of course.

And I'm sure that Build Lakewood would love to buy your vote, too.

Matt

[Brian Essi]

I will soon release the 8th Version of documents that prove this was well thought through and planned with drawings of the Recreation Center and affiliated partners being the Lakewood YMCA as manager, Lakewood City Schools and the Lakewood Recreation Department as of May 15, 2014.

This is not "random stuff"---Summers and others have been cooking this concoction for years!

So Build Lakewood is part of the lie, or they are being lied to and repeating the lie.

Neither bodes well for them.