The Observation Deck

Jim,

I'm a news columnist, right?

Having "no intention of running at this time" does not mean you WON'T!

Whether or not you are considering running, the very fact that this thread has generated about a thousand readers in 2 days tells me that this is a serious topic of interest in our community.

I hope that the other three candidates (more or less) will take note of what clearly expressed vision and pro-active, positively laid-out plans can achieve, even for a presently non-candidate.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Make chickens legal

Ok, your not running. I really just wanted to vote for the "chicken ticket".

Jim,

I am serious! I think you should run just to make sure all the issues that are relevant to the city are addressed. It sure would make the election more interesting and would make sure that all the candidates addressed the problems that most of us are worried about in the community.

We need someone to confront the issues!

That, my friend, is you!

Rhonda

What is exciting or depressing depending on your viewpoint is that you in a few hours laid out a more comprehensive and creative plan to improve the city than the other 3 have.

Come on I want to see a plan from all 3 candidates running that is as exciting as this one.

I must say I'm skeptical of the chickens - but the rest is wonderful.

[/quote]

at this time

Jeff-- I read that fine parsing myself Stan

I just overheard a friend of a friend at a coffee shop say that Jim OB got $20,000 from his grandmother to hire a campaign manager!

Will the "Chicken Dance" replace "Kumbayah"?

Lynn Farris wrote:What is exciting or depressing depending on your viewpoint is that you in a few hours laid out a more comprehensive and creative plan to improve the city than the other 3 have.

Come on I want to see a plan from all 3 candidates running that is as exciting as this one.

I must say I'm skeptical of the chickens - but the rest is wonderful.

Lynn

Do not be skeptical of the chickens. It all figures in very nicely, and is legal in 90% of large metropolitan cities.

I really feel silly going into this because at three different meetings today I had to answer questions about this.

Here are the facts, here is the slogan, he it is.

SAFE CLEAN FUN

Lynn you have been part of this since day one. That was uttered at first meeting and it is still true today.

Affordability. I tell you the way it is. Your taxes are never going down. they will climb. Everyone's will climb. So we must bring down the cost of living in Lakewood. Emerald canyon Co-Op was this. Mass buying of roofing, concrete work, painting, all sorts of things that can be bought and stored.

I have this feeling, we are not that far from making this city all we want.

SAFE CLEAN FUN - affordable

If I get some time this weekend, I will take my random thoughts and weave the web of how they all work together to accomplish the four things we care about.

Of course the easiest solution is the peninsula.

New platform items

#11 ALL WIRES UNDERGROUND as the streets are redone. Within ten years all wires and BOXES, off the street. Companies could be welcome to buy building or space from residents' backyards.



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With the "at this time" insertion, taking it from all the politicos we've all seen, its a done deal. (measures self for a JimOB for Mayor T-shirt)

Mark Allan Crnolatas
Count me in on your campaign staff Jim.

Bill Davis wrote:I just overheard a friend of a friend at a coffee shop say that Jim OB got $20,000 from his grandmother to hire a campaign manager!

Bill

I can assure you this is not true.

As I am not running, it would make no sense to hire a manager.

This group last night assured me I have until July to make up my mind.

I do think it is silly that so many have asked.

Nope I am not using Grandma's or Observer money to run.

I have no idea about these petitions I am supposed to file for, but do not give anyone money to help me run.

Well not yet.

13 - Bring back Lakewood Days. Try for at least two events a month all summer long. As we clean up Detroit and Madison working with the new civic groups, we need to showcase the city to others.

14 - My staff and appointees would live in Lakewood. All civic and tax funded groups, would be encouraged to do the same.

15 - I would teach council and all people working in city hall how to use computers so that they could use this marvelous thing called the internet to keep in touch with residents. I understand pressing the flesh, but in 2006 we have hundreds of ways to contact fellow Lakewoodites that respect everyone's time bank better.

Maybe have training days if needed.

16 - Tighten up the temporary sign law while relaxing the permanent sign rules.

17 - Seek to become the County Seat, and bring those jobs and offices into the newly annexed parts of Cleveland.

18 - Ask for yearly reports from "civic groups" receiving city money to look at their effectiveness in what they are paid to do.



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Work with insurance groups and the Cleveland Clinic to find a way to guarantee health care for all Lakewoodites.

Maybe not free, but a cost effective alternative to HMOs that promise the world, then leave you high and dry.

We have the library, the schools, now we work on health. Lakewood, the city where people live longer, better and smarter.

I believe as does Matt Markling running for school-board. We have enough good things here to make Lakewood a destination to live.

20 - Make the new yacht club on the peninsula residency driven. discounts or first pick if you own or rent in Lakewood.

21 - Create a stand alone mediation group for residents to go to settle neighbor disputes. Has to be far more cost effective than calling the police on loud music. A rule like any three neighbors can bring in another neighbor for mediation for "bad behavior." There it will be laid out, not race, religion or even style of music. You have moved into a neighborhood, based on your selection you obviously wanted to live and fit into that neighborhood, so start doing it.

22 - Maybe a renters court/mediation group as well.

23 - Speed traps on I-90. Clifton headed into Rocky River

24 - Reprogram meters for 35cents an hour, no free time. With the cost of gas no sane person would drive to another city to save 35 cents! Allow businesses to sell hour tokens for 25 cents, they would get them for 20 cents.

25 - Do a study on how to create a place preferably not city owned where serious residents using real names can carry on public discussions about real issues with their elected officials. This place would have to be available 24/7/365 and allow people to read the elected officials responses to questions they might have. To protect those that are worried, you would not have to sign in or leave any personal information to read these notes.

26 - Yearly bike license based on the value and age of the bike. As this groups is saving so much money not using gas, and they will live longer because of the exercise, we must tap into this resource.

27 - Diagonal Parking spots at the ends of all city blocks in business districts for scooters, and cars like the new SMART car coming in this year.

28 - Look seriously at turning Riverside Drive into a long park. Benches, tables, bike and jogging areas. All streets now ending on Riverside would become cul-de-sacs. Allowing us to compete with other cities in the cul-de-sac wars.

29 - Find a way to buy the apartments at the end of Detroit for gold coast style buildings overlooking the Emerald Canyon Boat Ramps.

30 - But the Silvercoast, the theater, the gas station and approach Peter B. Lewis about building one of his acid head office buildings in Lakewood. This could be used as an office building or a satellite site for the Cleveland Art Museum.

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Jeff Endress wrote:

Well not yet.

Haven't even thought of it yet.

You know how busy I am with other projects.

So busy I have not been able to even think of how to make the city safer, cleaner, better, more affordable.

31 - Make all side streets between Clifton and Detroit, Detroit and Madison, Madison and Lakewood Heights, One Way, alternating streets.

32 - Sign a promis to the city that I would never enter into any regionalism project that does not add value to the city.

33 - T1 WiFi/WiMax through the entire city so we do not need those boxes anymore.


FWIW


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