The Observation Deck

60th and Lorain is the closest free rec center I think, so why can't those that want free go there? I am just afraid if we copy a broken system, Cleveland is not something we want to become. All of the other suburbs do have to charge, and I am guessing that the sliding scale will make the Y cheaper than most if not all of them depending on your income. As far as I know the Y is not ending applications for the scholarship, so if you were implying they don't have enough, why don't we test it and have 200 families that can't afford it apply?

I just think we should try to use what we have before stretching our money even further than we can spend it now.

West Blvd. and Detroit is Cudell - free rec center.

PS. We also charge for swimming and ice skating - they are not free.

Great idea Ryan - I'm willing to help work on a rec center even though my kids are grown - why don't you spearhead the Y 200 families project?

Sharon,

I would totally be up for helping get the word out and getting 200 families to apply. Joe Cerny and the Membership person at the Y would love to meet with those that are interested sometime next week. Post publicly or private IM me if you are interested in Sharon's Y200 family project.

Good for you Ryan - and I love the name "Sharon's y200 Families Project" - has a nice ring to it.

In two other threads posted here today there are statements that the Chief of Police reported that crime is DOWN in Lakewood and that there is no real gang activity in the city.


This conflicts with the statements made by Ryan Demro on why a new, more restrictive curfew law was needed in Lakewood.


Mr Demro, do you care to address this yet?

You have not defended your new curfew law nor have you responded to requests for FACTS on crime statistics. Especially those upon which you based your argument for a restrictive curfew law.

In fact, we now are being told by the police that crime has not increased.

If this is true, why do we now have a redundant, restrictive, potentially unconstitutional law on the Lakewood books, thanks to you?

Looks like Grace hit that nail right on the head.

Cleveland Heights has a great rec center, with several skating rinks, a huge area of multiple basketball courts, elevated walking/running track above the basketball courts and a nice, although small, gym/workout space. And it also has child care space, and is home to the senior center (handy during the day when many of the seniors use the gym upstairs to workout).

Best of all, it's $154 a year for an adult, or $250 for a family (though of course, it's subsidized through taxes).

Our Y is lovely here, and there's nothing like it over there, but perhaps a community center is a way to go in the future? A lot of cities build them as perks to attract new residents, and keep their current residents and families. And certainly utilizing the space occupied by a now-closed school or parish school might be an advantage.

But yes, it does raise the spectre of more taxes, though are they necessarily bad if they translate to increased services? Tough question, with answers both positive and negative.

But shouldn't it be something that the city should at least explore to find out how much it would cost, where would be the best location, and most importantly, would the populace support it?

It appears Ryan Demro is too busy tooting his own horn at "the other place" to bother answering any questions about the law he trumpeted.

I'll ask again, Ryan.

Upon what FACTS did you base your campaign for an intrusive, redundant, and worthless curfew law on?

Grace O'Malley wrote:In two other threads posted here today there are statements that the Chief of Police reported that crime is DOWN in Lakewood and that there is no real gang activity in the city.


This conflicts with the statements made by Ryan Demro on why a new, more restrictive curfew law was needed in Lakewood.


Mr Demro, do you care to address this yet?

You have not defended your new curfew law nor have you responded to requests for FACTS on crime statistics. Especially those upon which you based your argument for a restrictive curfew law.

In fact, we now are being told by the police that crime has not increased.

If this is true, why do we now have a redundant, restrictive, potentially unconstitutional law on the Lakewood books, thanks to you?

Grace


The Chief of Police said that to Ryan when asked if crime was up. Also to come out was that no gang activity, in complete disagreement with Ryan's assertions and also that a lot of man hours in nuisance calls and curfews. Of course Ryan came back to correct that as well.

There is also some talk the the nuisance law is not the Demro law, but a complete rewrite of the original as it was not legal and only pertained to Lakewood High as it was written. This could have been political in nature.

Ed Fitzgerald brought up that it is impossible for politicians to talk about raising taxes in an election year. Mayor George point out the action being taken and ready to lead the discussion. Ryan getting his name out. I am sure we are but hours away from Ryan radio interview on how unsafe Lakewood is!

Whatever.

.

Jim-

You're misquoting me. I said that difficult decisions don't tend to get done in election years, but we owe it to residents to try and find solutions. The first step is admitting there's a real problem. I also didn't hear the mayor say that he's going to be leading a discussion; his consistent position has been that crime is down, as was re-iterated last night.

Crime is not down. It's up over the last few years, significantly in some categories. The statistics show it and the residents know it. We'll be having some committee hearings where all of the data we have will again be made public.

I don't feel safe here. It's fabulous that as I am taking my child to H2O camp I have to explain again why people graffiti private property. I feel real safe when my kids tell me the foul names they are called as they walk to school. I feel real safe when I listen to horror stories I heard last night from one resident at a council meeting. I feel real safe when my parents have their tires slashed in their driveway. I feel real safe when my parents store is broken into twice. I feel real safe when my friends car is broken in to. I feel real safe to hear of car jacking. I feel real safe when the police chief tells us this isn't the 60's or the 70's, times change. I feel real safe when people in this city make excuses for thugs because they are bored. I am really tired of being told this is a safe city. I don't feel safe, my family doesn't feel safe and many of my friends don't feel safe. I have only lived here 12 years and this isn't the city I moved to.

I'll stop now and go drink my kool-aid so I can join you all with my head in the sand!!!!

Danielle - I can relate to feeling unsafe here - no it's not the Lakewood you moved to 12 years ago - it's not the same country as 12 years ago and societal problems have escalated to catastrohic proportions.

I will say that I have never had my head in the sand - I have spent my life working for social change and since moving back to Lakewood - I grew up here many centuries ago - I have devoted a large amount of volunteer time in the political arena - mostly behind the scenes - to try and facilitate proactive, positive change that will impact the lives of all people who live in Lakewood. My contributions are not huge but they are basically what I can do.

Not everyone has their head in the sand or in the clouds.

Danielle Masters wrote: I have only lived here 12 years and this isn't the city I moved to.

This isn't the same Lakewood I moved into 3 years ago.

What if we show all the kids Breakin 2: Electric Bogaloo and let them have at rehabbing the old Hilliard Theater. Quick little montage and with some cheezy background music and everything will be okay. Or more realistically we can set up work scholarships based on cutting lawns, shoveling snow and picking up the parks. Kids can work and Lord knows there's plenty to be done. This FREE idea doesn't teach anything other than reinforcing the attitude of living off of others hard work. I think it's time that the city stop attracting non-productive residents with handouts and programs.
Bravo, for the honesty Danielle. Hope it isn't followed with an invitation to move you out of town.

My 12 year old son broke down crying as he was leaving the house this morning to ride his bike and meet his friend, who lives on BAXTERLY, and ride from there to a basketball camp together. I wouldn't let him leave until he told me what was wrong. 12 year olds don't just randomly cry. Seems he overheard the discussion with my husband and I about the City Council meeting, specifically the crimes that have occurred on and around Baxterly. He was afraid. Very afraid to ride there. Very afraid those boys would jump him too, with " 'just' a BB gun" as Chief Malley put it last night!(Don't EVER put 'just' in front of the word gun!) I assured him he would be OK, that 2 of the 3 juveniles have been caught. (What about the 3rd juvenile???) I offered to ride my bike with him to Baxterly. He and his friend agreed to meet in front of the Fire Station on Madison. He felt safe knowing the Fire Men would not let some punks jump him for his bike with 'just' a BB gun. I dried his tears and off he went.

I spent the rest of the day milling over the who situation concerning crime in Lakewood, feeling like the powers to be really do get it. Do I really want my kids to live in fear? Do we (ALL AGES) really feel like we are being heard? That we are not making up these stories of crimes in Lakewood?

I'm not bad mouthing Lakewood. I am proud to be a RANGER!

This is not the Lakewood we moved into 17 years ago.....