The Observation Deck

WTF Jim!? I haven't posted on here in probably well over a year, and you felt the need to call me out in a condescending manner, mischaracterizing my statement, over a topic that was discussed 4 years ago? I'm trying to take a nice break from this kind of crap after writing for your paper for 7 years. I don't agree with you on a lot, but I have left you alone for quite some time, would you be so kind as to give me the same courtesy? I have just been trying to enjoy life with my family for a little while without getting wrapped up in this kind of futile and unproductive debate.

What? Was the deck getting trite and boring without suitable sparring partners and you thought you would try to pull me out of retirement?

Please, leave me out of this. If I feel like coming back to the deck and jumping into the fray, I will let you know.

james fitzgibbons wrote:What steps did the city take Jim?

James

I am missing something but the thread is 5 years old.

They changed Detroit, Madison, and Franklin/Hillard to 1 lane.

Then changed light and traffic patterns.

Until, the streets have the illusion of being busy.

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Christopher Bindel wrote:WTF Jim!?
Please, leave me out of this. If I feel like coming back to the deck and jumping into the fray, I will let you know.

Chris

It was used as an example, not calling YOU out. It was a post reposted in its entirety, not taken out of context.

We are talking elsewhere about how the City can get away with so much, with so many people upset, but never talking about it, or covering it up with excuses.

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Try driving on Detroit between 2:30 and 6:30. I call it the "Michael P. Summers traffic jam". It is backed up from Arthur to Marlowe, 9 times out of 10, during this time.

Meanwhile on Clifton, we have several lights that stop traffic on Clifton for 50-60 seconds even when there is no cross traffic on the side streets. Edwards and Summit are the worst.

Lori Allen _ wrote:Try driving on Detroit between 2:30 and 6:30. I call it the "Michael P. Summers traffic jam". It is backed up from Arthur to Marlowe, 9 times out of 10, during this time.

Meanwhile on Clifton, we have several lights that stop traffic on Clifton for 50-60 seconds even when there is no cross traffic on the side streets. Edwards and Summit are the worst.

Lori

The traffic issue predates Mayor Summers, and possibly Ed FitzGerald, maybe TG can answer.

Lori, you are wrong, I was assured there is no waiting, "the cameras are there to cut downtown waiting, and keep the flow going," to paraphrase Law Director Butler.

The cameras are only on the poles, for smog and traffic congestion, he was positive the cameras could not read plates, faces, etc. even though the same camera installed at the same time on Clifton in Cleveland could according to Cleveland City Hall do all of that and much more. Even though they were paid for by homeland security. Which brings the strangest thought to my head, they BS on the small stuff, and the large stuff, even when they do not have to. Why? It seems childish.

"Homeland security has given us a large grant to put camera on the intersections to help in time of trouble, crime, security." Seems to me a great message. "Oh and by the way we are going to piggyback new signage, and whatever." Another plus. "We got nicer poles though we had to pay more." Still winning. But you had to dig to find out the truth.

Makes no sense.

Residents not holding them accountable makes no sense either.

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Any statement looked at by itself, even in the statements entirety, 4 YEARS later is taken out of context by the sheer fact of time.

Whatever conversation you were having elsewhere please leave me out of it.

BTW, I checked. I haven't posted on here in 2 years, until you decided to drag my name into it today.

I could be mistaken, but, if these cameras were paid for by DHS, isn't there some sort of records kept at city hall to monitor progress? How many crimes were helped or solved by the use of these cameras, etc.?

I believe, unless terrorism is involved, these should be public records.

In the past week, I conservatively estimate that I have become stuck in roughly eight "Michael P. Summers Traffic Jams". These are not minor traffic jams we are talking about, these are long stretches of standstill traffic.

I was wondering who was responsible for timing and maintaing traffic signals on Detroit and Madison. According to LCO 313.09, it appears that it may be none other than Mayor/Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers. See below:

Stop signs or yield signs shall be erected on all streets intersecting through streets or main thoroughfares. The Director of Public Safety is authorized and directed to place and maintain such traffic control devices and traffic control signals upon all streets as he shall deem necessary to indicate and to carry out the provisions of this Traffic Code or to regulate, warn or guide traffic. (Ord. 35-10. Passed 7-19-2010.)

In other words, The Director of Public Safety (Summers) is authorized and directed to maintain traffic control devices and signals upon all streets. While Mayor/Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers may not be timing the lights himself, he certainly is authorized and directed to do so and/or oversee the timing of such.

While I will try to minimize thread-drift here, I thought it would be most appropriate to mention that there are several other ordinances that give Mayor/Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers power over vehicular traffic around Lakewood.

LCO 351.21 states that the Director of Public Safety is authorized to regulate or prohibit the parking of vehicular traffic when "in his judgement, the public safety or welfare requires such limitation".

LCO 355.03 states that the "Director of Public Safety shall be responsible for the regulation, control, maintenance, and use of parking meters."

LCO 373.10 states that the "Director of Public Safety is authorized to erect signs prohibiting bicycle riding on certain stretches of sidewalk.

LCO 339.02 states that the Director of Public Safety is authorized to regulate vehicular load limits on city streets and erect signs in relation thereto.

LCO 351.11 states that the Director of Public Safety is authorized to regulate rush hour parking.

LCO 313.10 states that the Director of Public Safety is authorized to regulate "no turn on red" zones and erect signs in relation thereto.

The list goes on. If I didn't know any better, I would believe that Mayor/Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers was also acting as our City Traffic Engineer and possessed a B.S. in Civil Engineering from an accredited university.

Maybe this is why people always complain about traffic in Lakewood. Based on what is written, in print, on the books, it would appear that Mayor/Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers is practicing civil engineering without a license or degree.