"How hypocritical, how embarrassing . . . "

[Alex Belisle]

Alex - do you know who set the "no photos" policy? Was it the League of Women Voters/Chamber of Commerce or City Hall?

Was any explanation given for why photos of this event were banned?

When I asked why, I was told, "Because this is a League of Women Voters event" Which caught me by surprise since it made no sense knowing that the primary goal of the LWV is to create an informed public and this was a public event in a public venue. Then when I asked how will the public know what's being said here without a media presence, I was told not to worry since they were sure people would be taking notes.

[Peter Grossetti]

When I asked why, I was told, "Because this is a League of Women Voters event" Which caught me by surprise since it made no sense knowing that the primary goal of the LWV is to create an informed public and this was a public event in a public venue. Then when I asked how will the public know what's being said here without a media presence, I was told not to worry since they were sure people would be taking notes.

Alex - Do you know if the person who told you "Because this is a League of Women Voters event" a LWV employee/volunteer/representative or a City of Lakewood employee?

[Lori Allen _]

I agree with you Matt.

Throughout history there have been many people who have been brainwashed and will follow one particular person, even to death, if necessary. Typically these leaders turn out to be mentally unstable. Some of Build Lakewood members, and I believe David Stein is one of them, refuse to read the many documents relating to the destruction of Lakewood Hospital. In other words, rather than think for themselves they will get in line and follow their leader. I feel that persons that refuse to read both sides of the story are just plain ignorant, or, perhaps brainwashed.

The only reason Summers did not want photography or video taping is because he did not want any of his words to come back to haunt him. I wonder if Lord Lakewood realizes that there were many people there last night with cell phones. I assume that some were possibly recording.

[Alex Belisle]

When I asked why, I was told, "Because this is a League of Women Voters event" Which caught me by surprise since it made no sense knowing that the primary goal of the LWV is to create an informed public and this was a public event in a public venue. Then when I asked how will the public know what's being said here without a media presence, I was told not to worry since they were sure people would be taking notes.

Alex - Do you know if the person who told you "Because this is a League of Women Voters event" a LWV employee/volunteer/representative or a City of Lakewood employee?

Can't say. Remember, I'm new around here and I was so flabbergasted by her response, I didn't think to get her name.

[Stan Austin]

Hold on--- Wait a Minute Something must have gone terribly wrong here. For the past HALF a Century-- that's 50 years-- the Lakewood League of Women Voters has been committed to educating and enlightening and expanding the electorate.
Candidates' night has always, always been open to the media. It was print media in the past and then Cox Cable came in and video taped it so that folks could see it when their schedule permitted.
There must have been a missed communication, memo or whatever here.

Let's have a do over!! Next week, Thursday at Lakewood City Hall (a public facility) and let's have the "League" do it right this time with full notification to ALL media since that is the League's PRIMARY Mission.

Apologies to the candidates but you should have your talking points down pretty well by now.

Stan Austin (former member of the Lakewood League of Women Voters)

[Jim O'Bryan]

Video and photos were always allowed in prior "Candidates Forums."

Video and photos were allowed when I was a candidate for the Lakewood City School District Board of Education.

I suspect that video and photos were not allowed this year because the Lakewood League of Women Voters and the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce is a Team Summers/Build Lakewood "Who's Who" ... and since the focus of last night was on the Lakewood Hospital ... getting the facts out to the voters doesn't support the mission of Team Summers and Build Lakewood.

But, that is just my opinion.

Note to Team Summers and Build Lakewood: If you want to shut out the press and the public, don't hold your events in public forums - i.e., Lakewood City Hall.

Matt

The person I spoke to from the LWV last night had fears that people would take things out of context, and use partial statements on social media. I explained that it was not really up to them to control the message, as much as get information out. She said they had video taped them in the past, the schools and the library had helped. This year they had no one to do it. I made sure she knew next year we will cover the cost of the video. If it is available to the general public.

But you are right, if you need to control the message, have the meetings where you can do it legally.

The Lakewood Public Library was on the media, this one was on LWV, City Hall, and the goons that kept stopping people illegally fault.

.

[marklingm]

Jim,

Isn't it ironic that the Ohio League of Women Voters (http://www.lwvohio.org/site.cfm/About-L ... itions.cfm) supports the mission of the Ohio Coalition for Open Government (http://ohioopengov.com) while, here in Lakewood, the Lakewood League of Women Voters supports the mission of the Lakewood Coalition of Closed Government - i.e., Team Summers and Build Lakewood?

Matt

[Alex Belisle]

The Greater Cleveland chapter of LWV sent me an apology:

"Mr. Belisle,

We apologize that you were unable to take photos at the Lakewood candidate forum. Our policy is generally to allow media to take pictures and video of forums as long as it is not intrusive. I spoke with the Lakewood chapter chair, Kathy Kosoriek, and she admits that, in her eagerness to assure that the forum was orderly and productive, she probably went too far in restricting photography in the forum room. She cited a controversial hospital issue in Lakewood that had made her and other organizers somewhat uneasy about maintaining constructive discourse. Again, we apologize for the inconvenience.

Maryann Barnes"


*******************************************
Maryann Barnes
President, LWV Greater Cleveland
mbarnes9515@gmail.com
LWVGreaterCleveland.org
Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't vote.
--William E. Simon

[Bridget Conant]

Aren't ALL issues "controversial?" Don't candidates often have quite passionate supporters?

I find Kathy Kosoriek's excuse rather lame. Surely the LWV has dealt with hot topics before. Was she TOLD to restrict media access?

[marklingm]

The Greater Cleveland chapter of LWV sent me an apology:

"Mr. Belisle,

We apologize that you were unable to take photos at the Lakewood candidate forum. Our policy is generally to allow media to take pictures and video of forums as long as it is not intrusive. I spoke with the Lakewood chapter chair, Kathy Kosoriek, and she admits that, in her eagerness to assure that the forum was orderly and productive, she probably went too far in restricting photography in the forum room. She cited a controversial hospital issue in Lakewood that had made her and other organizers somewhat uneasy about maintaining constructive discourse. Again, we apologize for the inconvenience.

Maryann Barnes"


*******************************************
Maryann Barnes
President, LWV Greater Cleveland
mbarnes9515@gmail.com
LWVGreaterCleveland.org
Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't vote.
--William E. Simon

Alex,

Not enough.

Ignorance of the First Amendment, as well as the League of Women Voters' own policy and practice, is no excuse.

To its credit, the League of Women Voters has a policy and practice of only partnering with folks who are unbiased on the issues and ensuring that the LWV members organizing and running its forums are also unbiased.

If you were at the LWV event, you would have seen that the event was organized and run by members of Team Summers and Build Lakewood. That should never have happened under LWV's own policy and practice.

The apology itself and comments made to Jim O'Bryan further evidence the anti-democratic mindset of Team Summers and Build Lakewood.

What in the world does a Dennis Kucinich press conference held at the Lakewood Public Libary (and the LPL's photography policy), have to do with a League of Women Voters' candidates forum in City Hall?

And why would the Team Summers and Build Lakewood folks organizing and running the event care if photos and video were used from the event?

Mike Summers and this City Hall have operated a closed government for too long.

Closed government is a disease.

Team Summers and Build Lakewood are contagious.

[Stan Austin]

After having read the exchange and letters of explanation I can only sadly conclude that in one claustrophobic decision decades of tradition and respectability and independence on the part of Lakewood League of Women Voters is down the toilet.

Stan Austin

[Alex Belisle]

I am now sitting here waiting for an apology and "cogent" explanation from the Lakewood chapter of LWV. Will I get one?

I did what I thought was the professional and socially correct thing when approaching them at the venue (City Hall). I wonder if they realize the importance of their organization, what it stands for and that this isn't just another Lakewood social club?

[marklingm]

I am now sitting here waiting for an apology and "cogent" explanation from the Lakewood chapter of LWV. Will I get one?

I did what I thought was the professional and socially correct thing when approaching them at the venue (City Hall). I wonder if they realize the importance of their organization, what it stands for and that this isn't just another Lakewood social club?

Alex,

If you can get an apology from the Team Summers and Build Lakewood gang who used their League of Women Voters affiliation as a vindictive, political tool, you - my friend - will go down in Lakewood history as a folk hero.

Nobody ever gets an apology from Team Summers and Build Lakewood folk.

Matt

[Alex Belisle]

I am now sitting here waiting for an apology and "cogent" explanation from the Lakewood chapter of LWV. Will I get one?

I did what I thought was the professional and socially correct thing when approaching them at the venue (City Hall). I wonder if they realize the importance of their organization, what it stands for and that this isn't just another Lakewood social club?

Alex,

If you can get an apology from the Team Summers and Build Lakewood gang who used their League of Women Voters affiliation as a vindictive, political tool, you - my friend - will go down in Lakewood history as a folk hero.

Nobody ever gets an apology from Team Summers and Build Lakewood folk.

Matt

I got a response, a quasi apology but no reason for their policy decision. I wrote back requesting a reason and asking who advised them to make this decision. Am waiting for a response.

[Brian Essi]

Okay Matt,

When are you going to organize the parade for folk hero Alex Belisle?