The Observation Deck

Jeff,

I wrote the last piece when I was very upset so I left some parts out, but have decided to post them.
The Mayor told me that it is not the city's fault but RTA and Perk. He said there is nothing preventing them from keeping a safe path. He told me he was working with them to get it completed as fast as possible. I told him that no matter what it was not going to be fixed today by 3:00 when kids walk and it was a 5 minute fix to move the cones to the street. I said I could have it fixed in no time, his response "Then go do it" @!#$@?#%$@#% I told him that I would probably get arrested and that it was his %$^$& job to keep us safe. I told him to go get one of his public works guys to go do it and it would be fixed.

It was the first time I have ever yelled at a public official but I felt it was due. He claimed that my point was well taken and he would take care of it.

We will see.

I know I am going to the city council meeting tonight and I encourage others to come as well.

Why would any leader or public servant drag their feet or finger point about something like this??! Do they think it's really no big deal but aren't willing to say so? Do they think just calling someone to say "take care of this" is enough?

Jeff,

The funniest part of my call with the Mayor was that when we first starting talking he said he agreed that this situation was "completely unacceptable" Maybe he doesn't realize that the title he "won" in his uncontested election victory allows him to fix things that he believes are "completely unacceptable". I think he needs to flex some of his power to make things right, if he truly cares about us common folk.

Here is another idea. Cover the sidewalk with plywood until they are ready to pour.



There are so many walks to proactively keep people safe. Come on city call, stop playing the blame game.

This is, indeed, completely unacceptable. The picture of those poor children walking on the curb upsets me so. So easy for one to be hit by a car and what is most aggravating is that it's unnecessary.

Thank you, Ryan, for bringing this to our attention and trying to correct it. I appreciate you efforts.

Ryan Salo wrote:The funniest part of my call with the Mayor was that when we first starting talking he said he agreed that this situation was "completely unacceptable" Maybe he doesn't realize that the title he "won" in his uncontested election victory allows him to fix things that he believes are "completely unacceptable". I think he needs to flex some of his power to make things right, if he truly cares about us common folk.

Ryan,

In fairness, Ed FitzGerald has been busy recently so maybe Mike Summers didn't get a chance to run it by Fitz! first.

But, now that you and Jeff have made this issue public here - on The Observation Deck - and with photos nonetheless, I'm guessing that the problem will be solved before tonight's city council meeting.

Thank you, Ryan and Jeff!

Matt

Was this so hard? Thank you to either RTA, Perk or the Mayor for finally starting to do your job.

If that photo means that it's now being addressed, then great. However, it should not have taken citizen action. And it most certainly should not have taken repeated requests or public humiliation. The mayor, public works director, project manager... whoever sees something like this should always be asking "what's the safety impact? what's the impact on citizens?" I cannot pat anyone on the back for doing their jobs after being shamed into doing it. As soon as anyone heard that sidewalks were being affected, plans for safe and marked alternate paths should have been the priority. Especially along a main road like Clifton. Especially when they're en route to a school - an elementary school.

Brittany Harris of FOX 8 News stopped by to interview Ryan Salo and Jeff Dreger, after reading about the problem on the Deck.


Ryan Salo watches as Jeff Dreger makes a sensible case for kids safety.


Brittany shoots lead in footage of the two talking.


Ryan Salo and Jeff Dreger walk as the kids were made to walk in rush hour traffic. In the boxes are some of the metal
spikes and ribar just waiting to catch the child that stumbled!


While there Perk Construction trucks pulled up.


When asked if they were "moving the barrels," one gentleman acted like he was surfing. The other said, "call the office."


Ryan and Jeff just didn't seem amused.


5 minutes and 4 days, 10+ phone calls to officials, and one surfing lesson later, kids are a little safer on their way to school.

Good work guys.

.

Hi Ryan,

I had to repost this because I'm still sitting here shaking my head. I separated your lines so they could be seen more clearly. I also highlighted one sentence in red.

Ryan Salo wrote:Jeff,

I wrote the last piece when I was very upset so I left some parts out, but have decided to post them.

The Mayor told me that it is not the city's fault but RTA and Perk... I said I could have it fixed in no time, his response "Then go do it"

@!#$@?#%$@#%

I told him that I would probably get arrested and that it was his %$^$& job to keep us safe. I told him to go get one of his public works guys to go do it and it would be fixed.

It was the first time I have ever yelled at a public official but I felt it was due. He claimed that my point was well taken and he would take care of it.

We will see.

I know I am going to the city council meeting tonight and I encourage others to come as well.

Ryan!

Wow! I'm still sitting here jaw dropped.

So Mayor Summers told you to GO DO IT YOURSELF!?

Can we apply this to other things???

Let me back up a second. I agree that your response was the correct one. Yes, we pay taxes so the Public Works guys can move the cones, it is completely worthy of a "@!#$@?#%$@#%" or WTF response. The Mayor needed to be told, "No you do it. You're paid to do it."

But I have to know, in your post when you wrote "@!#$@?#%$@#%" was that the response in your mind when he told you to do it yourself? Or did you say that out loud? Or, did he? Did the Mayor swear at you before he told you to "Go do it"?

Knowing you and knowing Mayor Summers I'm kind of thinking that no-one swore out loud but...

Okay, back to the original jaw-dropping thing.

Are we allowed to GO FIX THINGS OURSELVES???

Can I re-open the parks MYSELF???

Can I organize our neighbors with snow-blowers to head over to Franklin/Hilliard to clear off those sidewalks before one of our kids gets killed walking on top of a snowdrift or in the street because they can't walk on the sidewalk? That street sees a huge volume of kids, elementary school, middle school and high school. And the speed limit? 35 MPH. At all times but especially right after school in the snow with narrow sidewalks and even more narrow tree lawns.

Can I make some yellow signs that change the speed limit to 20 MPH after school, especially when it snows and nail them to some telephone poles around there? They could probably sculpt some at the Screw Factory out of metal, paint them yellow, and write "20" on them for free. And there are a lot of citizens with hammers.

Then we don't have to talk to the Board of Ed who continually say they can't clear the sidewalk because it's out of their jurisdiction, not on their property. (Not Lakewood City Schools' job) and The City that says they can't do it because the sidewalks are the responsibility of the homeowners (Not the City's job) and we don't have to print flyers ourselves and put them in the mailboxes of the residents (technically not allowed but maybe now we can), and Speedway and Gas Station owners, or knock on their doors, with our shovels in hand, begging them to either shovel, or let us do it so we can take care of our own kids' safety.

We could JUST DO IT!

I think we should take Mayor Summers at his word and see what happens.

Ryan and Jeff,

Thank you!

And Jeff I agree we shouldn't be thanking people for doing their jobs, and as dads and citizens, you and Ryan are certainly "doing your jobs" but I thank you guys for saying exactly this: "It IS my job especially if the people we elected can't or won't figure it out before our kids have to risk their lives because everyone whose job it actually and officially is somehow can't do it." Are they incompetent or don't they care, or both?

Either way, thank you.

Betsy Voinovich

Betsy,

Sorry for the confusion. The mayor was very professional on the phone, he did not swear at me although he did say what Perk & RTA were telling me was Bulls&^. I, unfortunately, could not keep cool when he told me I should just go fix the problem myself and I did swear at the mayor, more than once. I should have been more professional but I couldn't control myself. It is just upsetting that it takes parents calling and swearing at the mayor for basic safety issues to get done.

He acted as if he was stuck in a difficult position. He needs to act the part of mayor, we are his citizenry, we need him to protect us. If he had questions with RTA, Perk, the state, etc he should have ACTED FOR THE SAFETY OF HIS PEOPLE FIRST and then dealt with the political side of things later. We need to him be proactive and think things through, not just react when crazy people like me call and complain.

Approximately two hours ago, Mayor Mike Summers Tweeted:

Michael P. Summers@LakewoodMayor

RTA work blocking Clifton Sidewalks solved with temp barriers Mon PM & Tues AM, temp sidewalks Tues PM. , thx residents' alert. Safety 1st
Retweeted by City of Lakewood

Perhaps I'm dense. I'm open to that possibility. But I just drove down Clifton and there were no cones/barrels out or any other alternates to the closed sidewalks. Yes, the kids walking to/from school in the street during rush hour was my biggest concern, but they're far from the only pedestrians and they likely walk to other places at other times of the day. I guess I was hoping for a more significant "fix". Are the crews supposed to get out there before the kids tomorrow morning and every morning and afternoon? Not sure what the benefit of that is in terms of time/money for the contractor.

I am also still not sure what the real story is. It seems blame for the situation and credit for its fix are being tossed around by all parties. Just amazing that this is an issue at all and more so that it's one that took more than an afternoon to fix.

Jeff,

The contractors were making alternate paths at most of the spots, example below.



They couldn't get them all fixed so they had an officer at Westlake and Clifton.

Ryan,

I didn't see that when I drove by. I guess that helps.

Also, you sounded good. I was disappointed with my appearance.