Build Lakewood Compares the Deck to "E! News"

[Michael Deneen]

The folks over at Build Lakewood had another rough day yesterday...they got more bad news on a number of fronts.

I paid a visit to their Facebook page, and it was clear that are very frustrated and increasingly desperate.

I invited them to come over to the Deck to discuss their issues, but was rebuffed.



They went on to offer the following opinion of the Deck's readership and expertise:



They capped off the insightful discussion by comparing the Deck to "E! News"



As things get increasingly desperate for them, I expect their anti-Observer rhetoric to escalate.
It's all very sad.

[Bridget Conant]

They all read it.

[Michael Deneen]

They should know that's silly to compare the Observer to "E! News".

Everyone knows that I REALLY work for "Entertainment Tonight"!

[Jim O'Bryan]

I am always amused and amazed when people talk or attack the Lakewood Observer or Deck like
it is one group, or like them deep in group think. As if they think we get talking points from a
central clearing house. They cannot even comprehend that it is a 100% open and legit discussion
without agendas.

This is the very clubiness I have spoken about for years.

It is the same peer pressure and group think that will kill Lakewood.

Everyone who has ever fought and or died in American wars fought and died for the FIRST
AMENDMENT, this country was built on the FIRST AMENDMENT, and no other Administration and
their sisters group have worked harder at stopping people from talking and sharing thoughts.

It is a sickness, that must be cured.

Sunshine is the best disinfectant.

.

[Phil Florian]

Hey!

Long time, no post. I will be honest while I find the E! comparison not very accurate there is something about a clubhouse where you are last to the table. I stopped posting here years ago finding that just because there is an intended open forum that does not mean it isn't hard to get a good discussion going. Never seemed worthwhile use of time and blood pressure medication. I love Lakewood and love what the Observer can do but also know that lines drawn in the sand, even unintentionally, can make it hard to engage.

The Lakewood Hospital issue has captured the fun look and feel of the good old days of the West End discussions where neighbors stood on either side of a line and hollered. Have we reached that again with this issue? Have we all found our safe corners that act as echo chambers where feeling validated is more important that finding common ground with people we do not agree with 100%?

[marklingm]

The Lakewood Hospital issue has captured the fun look and feel of the good old days of the West End discussions where neighbors stood on either side of a line and hollered. Have we reached that again with this issue? Have we all found our safe corners that act as echo chambers where feeling validated is more important that finding common ground with people we do not agree with 100%?

Phil,

Great post!

I am always looking for common ground with people with whom I do not agree with 100% of the time.

Jim O'Bryan and I often chuckle at the notion that some folks think that we always agree with each other.

Frankly, Jim and I disagree with each other more often than we agree with each other. Let's all do coffee sometime so you can see just how much Jim and I disagree with each other. Parental Advisory: Our discussions get somewhat heated. And don't bring up city managers, please.

That being said, what I do agree with Jim on is his belief in "honest, transparent, and accountable" government.

Sadly, not everyone does.

In fact, elected officials and folks from Team Summers and Build Lakewood often chide me for constantly demanding "honest, transparent, and accountable" government.

The response is usually something like:

Markling, you keep demanding "honest, transparent, and accountable" government. Those are just meaningless Frank Luntz words. That isn't how the real world works.

Well, those words mean something to me in my real world.

And they mean something to Jim in his real world.

So, I will always work to find common ground with people with whom I do not agree with 100% of the time provided they agree that "honest, transparent, and accountable" government are real words that can exist in the real world, and that we should all demand the same.

Welcome back!

Matt

[Brian Essi]

Its a good thing "Nobody Reads the Deck."

Like Chris Dawson---I love his logic--let's "squeeze the best deal out of the Clinic" he says.
RIGHT! Summers managed to reduce CCF's opening investment offer of $40 million in their FHC down to $34 million in 7 negotiating sessions. We get nothing. Good "squeeze" Mike.

Go ahead Chris "squeeze" while you close your eyes, click your heels together and say "there's no place like home.... and Toto too."

You have to start in the real world and know who you are dealing with---the Clinic. The Clinic is playing HARDBALL--stealing employees, programs--threatening our elected leaders--threatening our liquid investment funds--destroying an asset to try to get their way.

The only response to that is HARDBALL in response---DeVito & Co. have exposed an ugly truth--worse than we all suspected existed---he and his clients went around CCF's pawns--Summers and Madigan et al because soft marshmallows like those are not effective tools at "squeezing" anything out of the Clinic--they didn't even understand the basics of the legal rights at play.

You have to arm with nuclear warheads, point and fire.

I did this in courtrooms and boardrooms for the past 30 years--you don't get things accomplished by playing "patty cake" with the Clinic. You have to show them your gun, prove its loaded and that you can hit the targets. Getting Summers to "squeeze" the Clinic would be like pushing on string--he doesn't know where his gun or bullets are---he has never shot it before.

So with all due respect, Chris Dawson has no idea what he is talking about.

[Bridget Conant]

Mr Dawson and Mr Wadden both keep referring to "pushing for a better deal." In my mind, that means they don't like the deal they got.

They also insist that the Clinic is almighty and will do exactly as they wish, no matter what we say. Why, then, do they believe Summers can get a better deal?

It just doesn't make sense no matter how you look at it. They don't like the deal, but they want us to move forward on it. They want us to quickly sign on because CCF will ditch us, but in the meantime, let's try to get a better deal.

Lots of talking in circles.

[marklingm]

Mr Dawson and Mr Wadden both keep referring to "pushing for a better deal." In my mind, that means they don't like the deal they got.

They also insist that the Clinic is almighty and will do exactly as they wish, no matter what we say. Why, then, do they believe Summers can get a better deal?

It just doesn't make sense no matter how you look at it. They don't like the deal, but they want us to move forward on it. They want us to quickly sign on because CCF will ditch us, but in the meantime, let's try to get a better deal.

Lots of talking in circles.

Hurry, Bridget!

Get screen grabs fast since Build Lakewood and Team Summers keep changing their missions, visions, facts, and arguments.

As of now, Build Lakewood and Team Summers are arguing that City Council must accept the dirty deal brokered by Mike Summers and gang:

Each day City Council fails to act, operating costs for the current Lakewood Hospital drain over $28,000 from the Lakewood Hospital Association fund - money that would otherwise go to fund the future Lakewood Community Wellness Foundation. That translates into over $840,000 per month and over $10,000,000 per year lost to delays.

http://www.buildlakewood.org/#!mission/c14e3

Q: What have the Cleveland Clinic and the LHA proposed?
A: The original Letter of Intent can be read here (PDF). While this letter has expired, it remains the best expression of what is on the table for consideration by Lakewood citizens. Moreover, it's expiration does not mean the Cleveland Clinic has given up on the project, but it does point to a need for action lest we miss the opportunity to build a new Lakewood ER & Family Health Center, redevelop nearly six acres of prime downtown real estate, and create a new Lakewood Wellness Foundation with an endowment of over $32,000,000 funded by the Cleveland Clinic.

http://www.buildlakewood.org/#!faqs/c1dqg

Q: How can I help?

A: Get involved and call your Lakewood City Councilperson to tell them that you want them to move forward immediately with the proposal put forth by the LHA and Cleveland Clinic to redevelop the Lakewood Hospital properties. Each day that passes costs Lakewood taxpayers money and risks losing the opportunity at hand.

http://www.buildlakewood.org/#!faqs/c1dqg

And, yet, as you point out, on the Build Lakewood/Team Summers blogs, they keep arguing for a better deal?

On the one hand, the world will come to an end if City Council doesn't accept the expired CCF deal now.

On the other hand, the world will come to an end if City Council doesn't try to get a better deal from CCF now.

And they argue that Save Lakewood Hospital folks don't have a plan!

Matt

[Brian Essi]

Lakewood Hospital Association unaudited FS - June 2015.pdf

(32.62 KiB) Downloaded 106 times

Bridget,

Its "Jim Kenny speak"--talk in circles but real nice and calm.

Matt,

BTW, despite CCF trying to kill the golden goose and stealing the eggs, the LTIP (LHA's investment portfolio) only dropped by $316k through the YTD 6/30/15. (See attached) That's only $1,736 per day.

So Build Lakewood is WRONG AGAIN---this time on simple math---by a factor of over16X. Who are these people? Where did the learn math and English?

Never mind that its SLH that is engaging in the "politics of fear" LOL!

[marklingm]

Matt,

BTW, despite CCF trying to kill the golden goose and stealing the eggs, the LTIP (LHA's investment portfolio) only dropped by $316k through the YTD 6/30/15. (See attached) That's only $1,736 per day.

So Build Lakewood is WRONG AGAIN---this time on simple math---by a factor of over16X. Who are these people? Where did the learn math and English?

Never mind that its SLH that is engaging in the "politics of fear" LOL!

No, Brian.

You are wrong!

This guy says it is OVER $28,000 per day. Each. And. Every. Day.





OVER $28,000 per day. Each. And. Every. Day.

I have never seen this guy around prior to the Build Lakewood movement but he seems to know his facts.

OVER $28,000 per day. Each. And. Every. Day.

Matt

[Brian Essi]

Okay Matt,

I just wrote Jeff Rohrs at Build Lakewood to let him know about Ankit Chhabra's numbers, i.e. those he prepares for LHA. (see my email below in RED). We'll just see who is right as between you and me.



From: Brian Essi <bjessi@sbcglobal.net>
To: Buildlakewood Info <info@buildlakewood.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2015 3:15 PM
Subject: $28K Per Day Claim is False

Hi Jeff,

Its me again.

I note that you finally corrected the bogus "hospital" claim thingy--thanks.

I was chatting on the Deck with Matt Marking and another factual problem has arisen.

Attached is the Financial statement of LHA for the YTD six months ended 6/30/15.

Your website claims: "Each day City Council fails to act, operating costs for the current Lakewood Hospital drain over $28,000 from the Lakewood Hospital Association fund - money that would otherwise go to fund the future Lakewood Community Wellness Foundation."

Note that the LTIP (LHA's investment portfolio) only dropped by $316k through the YTD 6/30/15. That's only $1,736 per day.

I'm sorry, but I think another correction to the claims on the site is in order.

Don't hesitate to call to discuss.

Sincerely,

Brian J. Essi

[marklingm]

Brian,

Any update from Build Lakewood?

Matt

[Brian Essi]

Dead Silence!