Kauffman hoops closed?

[Dan Alaimo]

The lock is off and the sign is down. I guess that means people can play tennis again.

[Lori Allen _]

This is good news, but we can't get too excited yet. However, I don't believe we will see any of the basketball hoops going up. Apparently, the mayor has not dealt with his alleged friend living on Lakeland that was allegedly a threat to patrons of the park.

Rumor has it that the residents on Park Place, Rosewood, and Orchard Grove have been complaining about the noise from the basketball half-court there. I believe a compromise could be reached, such as enforcing the opening and closing times of the courts. I believe Alex mentioned on here at one point about this being the way NYC handled it.

Would the tennis courts be open now if we were not months away from an election? I doubt it.

[Bridget Conant]

Wonder if the new rec center will have hoops?

[Kate McCarthy]

Stephanie and Nadhal have been tireless advocates for promoting "active living" in our community for years. So who gets marginalized? Stephanie and Nadhal ... two people who with others have put in countless volunteer hours getting the kids in our community (and their parents) off the couch and engaged in running, playing basketball, biking, yoga, the list goes on. So they will open the tennis courts but not put back the hoops purchased by LOBC?

Bring back the hoops at Kauffman and set the hours and enforce them. It shouldn't be so difficult.

[Nadhal Eadeh]

Lori,

I don't know where you are hearing complaints about noise at Wagar Park. Usually when a complaint is received, it's funneled through a council member and then to members of LOBC. We haven't received any complaints. Regarding closing times: the courts at Kauffman were closed at 8pm in the summer time, a full hour before the sun would set. We compromised with neighbors.

All,

Kauffman Park was an ideal neighborhood destination, it was a great park that had a great grassroots organization (KPF). I'd still like to see it reopened.

As soon as Lakewood Park opened, most of the traffic died down and it became a hot spot for elementary school kids from Lincoln and Grant.

It's sad to see city hall caving to one resident who began to complain about the sound of a bouncing ball.

Nadhal

[marklingm]

ICYMI: Here are two great observations from the "Scene Magazine on Brian Essi, Hospital" thread at http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/v ... =7&t=22205:

Dan

Almost forgot about the neighbor at Kauffman Park who has been documented threatening people using the courts, including children. The mayor even acknowledged the reason he closed the court was the potential danger from a "credible concern." http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/local/cu ... s/9632447/

Yet instead of dealing with this menacing neighbor, he closed the courts.

I guess he has to keep the police on the ready for really serious threats - like editorials.

I was just trying to do a quick laundry list. When it comes to the Kauffman basketball issue, I've always wondered why he didn't just call the cops on the guy - a long-term acquaintance of his, by the way. But more importantly, he tried to "negotiate" another location in the park for the courts - negotiate means he had an idea he wouldn't budge from - and became incensed when we told him there was no good place in the park for hoops besides the enclosed courts. He made no further attempt to negotiate leading me to the conclusion that he has poor negotiating skills, as well as a hair-trigger temper with his constituents. After all, if he couldn't negotiate a basketball hoop with a neighborhood group, how could he negotiate a hospital deal with one of the top health care organizations in the world?

[Lori Allen _]

Although I have not been able to find any documentation yet, I heard that this person threatened three children and that their parents took him to court. Does anybody know anything else, or can confirm this?

[Michael Deneen]

Let's keep it real, folks....Team Summers isn't embarrassed by the basketball situation.
In fact, I bet they are happy the issue is being raised here.

Many members of Team Summers are not comfortable with the people who play basketball.
They prefer the type of people that want Solstice Steps.

[Dan Alaimo]

I see this old topic has been brought to the top again. 23,736 views... wow.
Because I have a role with the Kauffman Park Friends, I feel that I need to reiterate that I speak for myself and not the group. I just want that clear.

Now back to your regularly scheduled kvetching.

[cameron karslake]

Just another example how Mayor Summers put the needs of friends above the needs of the citizenry.

Shame on him, sad for the community.

Return the hoops to Kauffman Park or at least give them back to the people who raised the money to buy them! Geez.

[cameron karslake]

Just another example how Mayor Summers put the needs of his friends above the needs of the Lakewood's populace as a whole.

Shame on him, sad for the community.

Return the hoops to Kauffman Park or at least give them back to the people who raised the money to buy them! Geez.

[Lori Allen _]

A contact at the City of Cleveland and another credible source informed me recently that this individual was at a park in Cleveland a while back. Whilst he was at the park, these sources informed me that the individual was cursing at children at this park and threatening them whilst he had weapons on his person, supposedly because the individual's sister lived in the neighborhood. From what I was told by my sources, this individual was sentenced to house arrest following this incident. I am currently researching documentation for this incident.

It begs the question, if the individual was allegedly cursing and threatening children at Kauffman Park, why the seemingly lax treatment when compared to Cleveland?

I am just curious, as this individual and his relation to the courts being closed was kept quite secretive. This begs another question, why the secrecy if the reason behind the closure is not cronyism or favoritism?

Just a thought.

FWIW.

[Lori Allen _]

Another thread reminded me of this thread. It appears that the courts are still closed. After over a year, they finally took down the "temporarily closed" signs. Summers thought that opening a tiny half court at Wagar Park was suffice. Another question: the half court at Wagar Park is almost as close to residents as the Kauffman Court was. Are residents on Rosewood, Orchard Grove, and Park Place less important than Summers alleged friend on Lakeland?

According to public records, Summers' alleged friend that allegedly had the hoops closed has lived in the same house on Lakeland behind the former court for almost 40 years. Suddenly, Summers' alleged friend shows up to a council meeting and two weeks later, the hoops are temporarily closed? Come on, Summers. Couldn't we at least try to not make it appear like cronyism?

Also according to public records, this same alleged friend of Summers has had at least two arrests for disorderly conduct while intoxicated in Lakewood.

Heller 1997 arrest.jpg (110.83 KiB) Viewed 3239 times

Heller 2013 arrest.jpg (68.43 KiB) Viewed 3239 times

This information is all public record and can be accessed easily online. Hence the heading "public docket information".

Are these arrests any big surprise to anyone? From what I have heard, it would be easier to name the City Hall people that don't have an alcohol conviction!

[Bridget Conant]

Summers has, shall we say, "interesting" comrades.


As my mother used to say, "You are known by the company you keep."

[james fitzgibbons]

Birds of a feather flock together just look outside.