The Observation Deck

Bill:

Ayn Rand does that to the local civic fauna and feral flora.

Cheers,

Kenneth Warren

I'm not convinced that regionalism is the cure for everything.

We already have some cooperative efforts and while you may save some money in a coop, you give up a lot of independence. For example, if our schools enter into a cooperative to buy text books, the price of the chosen books would probably be less, as you usually get a break when buying in bulk, but the selection would be limited to the supplier approved by the coop, and his inventory; if you wanted a text from another publisher, it is likely the terms of the coop would forbid such a purchase, as they would be getting their discount based on a promise of volume to the chosen supplier.

In like vein, if we entered a coop for medical insurance for employees, we would likely be limited to those insurers approved by the coop. If we wanted a pay for services program, while the majority of the coop favored an HMO, we would be stuck with their choice.

As to poaching, regionalisation will not help with that, as it happens even within cities or organizations.

On the other hand, there would be some benefit from certain standardizations. On those occasions when our Fire Department responds to assist with a major fire in Rocky River (or vice versa), it would be nice if the hoses hooked up to the foreign hydrants, and if the communications equipment was compatible.

Finally, with respect to this forum, I find it offensive when some self-important poster asserts that anyone who uses certain legitimate words is speaking in code. If that person thinks the word Cleveland invariably means black people, the association is in that person's head, and informs us as to the quality of that person's thoughts.

Jim O'Bryan wrote: I just wonder about the little things, the little things that other cities will benefit from and we will not, like the erosion of the good services we have with police, fire, schools, library, etc.

You are assuming that regionalism would erode these things... however, I should point out that according to the Library Journal's ranking system, Lakewood Library received 3 out of five stars for circulation, visits, program attendance and internet use, while Cleveland Public Library received five stars for those categories.

http://www.libraryjournal.com/index.asp ... =CA6629180

chris richards wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote: I just wonder about the little things, the little things that other cities will benefit from and we will not, like the erosion of the good services we have with police, fire, schools, library, etc.

You are assuming that regionalism would erode these things... however, I should point out that according to the Library Journal's ranking system, Lakewood Library received 3 out of five stars for circulation, visits, program attendance and internet use, while Cleveland Public Library received five stars for those categories.

http://www.libraryjournal.com/index.asp ... =CA6629180

Huh?

Chris did you even read that site?

I stick with the company that has been rating Libraries for decades, not weeks.

Besides, we build a Library that is noted all over the country, with a building by Robert A. M. Stern. We have the Mick Jagger of Librarians, and we turn it over to the county?

Let's be honest, you still are a little upset with LPL, right?

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Disappointed is more like it. That building is not as innovative as it should be for a library in the 21st century.

And you can stick with HAPLR, but is has been highly criticized by Library professionals.

And, according to HAPLR, Lakewood in 2008 ranked 9 in it's population category, while Cuyahoga County ranked 2 in it's population category. So.... still, my argument stands that services in Lakewood may not actually deteriorate.

Chris and Jim, both of your points are well taken. We are truly blessed in Lakewood to be able to take advantage of so many amazing libraries.

I personally think the Lakewood Library is terrific and I'm a big fan of the new building. But more importantly the programming that occurs is amazing. I also love the Downtown Cleveland library - it is a spectacular building too and it has an amazing art history collection. While I'm at it, the Fairview Library which is part of the county system is also very nice and has a great geneology section. It also has a nice mural by Mrs. Fanin, one of our great Lakewood artists.

Plus it is nice to be able to use all of the online research at each of the three library systems, they complement each other. I think we have always used the Cleveland Library for JSTOR articles for example. That way our libraries are sharing - they aren't overlapping infrequently used books and services.

Toronto is one of the great success stories of regionalism and if you talk to people there, one sees that it is working very well and they do achieve economies of scale.

My concern is one of access with regionalism. Lakewood has strong city activism. The people in Lakewood know how they they can make their voices heard. Lakewood is democracy in action. People will call the Mayor and their Council Representatives. People will protest. People will do Charter Amendments, Initiative Petitions and Referrendums. Lakewood citizens may argue about what is best for the city, but in the end, the citizens make the decision - not someone with lots of money somewhere else that really doesn't care too much about Lakewood. How much of that would we lose?

That being said, there are certainly areas where we can collaborate with other cities. We do it now. Westshore Vocational School is a great example. Scanning of old records and offsite storage of records may be another service RITA can handle. I think windmills on Lake Erie may be a good area of working with the other West Shore Communities. I love the idea of allowing individuals to invest in alternative energy for their homes, geothermal or solar and allowing them to make the payments on their property tax - which is a somewhat regional function.

Also activities like payroll processing etc should be evaluated. Jobs that are repetitive make use of technical equipment that isn't being fully utilized. Maybe those are services that the schools and the city can join forces to accomplish together.

Maybe letting Cleveland bill for the water usage may make sense - I'm not sure what we gain by taking that service ourselves. On the other hand, maybe we should compete with Cleveland for the water business.

I wouldn't rule regionalism out - I think we need to look at each step on a case by case basis and determine if it makes sense for Lakewood.

The County government is in the news for the Russo Fiasco, and the Convention Center-->Medical Mart-->Convention Center boondoggle. Not sure the county has much to contribute to a wider umbrella of civic administration.

The Columbus model doesn't apply to Cleveland: The core of Franklin County wasn't as dysfunctional as the core of Cuyahoga. The Core of Columbus was surrounded by farms and villages it annexed or merged with. Cleveland is surrounded by established municipalities.

23 years ago the Cudell neighborhood was about as nice as Lakewood is today. I don't see Regionalism reversing that trend.

They are looking for ways to centralize the making of contracts so they can dole out bigger contracts at once. Nate Gray is no longer available; I am sure Mike White can recommend someone.

Regionalism will become more viable when civic management becomes even more tedious and burdened with qualifications than it is today.

Please recognize with respect the Lakewood Public Library's standing in either rankings that during the three years of construction and renovation collections were in storage, facilities sometimes closed, including the Technology Center and programs were limited. These reduced measures, due to the impact of the building project, are and will continue to be reflected in the rankings for the next two or so years, due to the compilation, reporting lag involved in the process.

I have little doubt that once 2009, 2010 statistics are benchmarked in the rankings, Lakewood Public Library will be ranked at or very near to the top.

I am sorry for the slippage but it's impossible to benchmark at the top when construction and renovation are occurring.

Finally, look to the hours of access, when the doors are open and facility staffed, as simplest, most elegant and meaningful measure for most people.

Lakewood Public Library remains the most available and accessible public library in the world.

Numbers and rankings are great. Look at the quality of the collection, not something measured by either LJ or HAPLR.

Cleveland Public Library also has a great collection, and I was pleased to see CPL finally get the recognition in rankings. But the proof of the pudding is always in the eating not in the ranking.

That Mr. Richards doesn't like the what's served and designed at LPL is very much a matter of his choice, opinion and taste. But he has not made his case through the rankings beyond the personal point that he's hungry for something and wants to eat something off the present menu at LPL.


Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

The Lakewood libraries are the most amazing I have been to across the country. The library was my favorite place as a child, even in California where there was much more sun outside. I read every detective book in the sun. When I go into the new library here, my energy changes. It is amazing and I feel privileged to be there. My children of course love it too. Even before the brand new building, there were programs I took them to as infants! All free! They saved me while I was home alone with an infant and toddler! And now, with the new building, it just adds to the passion that Lakewood libraries have to offer. I don't have to look up any rating. You feel it and your children feel it just walking in.

I agree Ryan,
Cleveland is tainted with politician after politician after elected school officials like Lake Erie was so long ago. It is on fire and I don't want that fire here.

Kenneth Warren wrote: But he has not made his case through the rankings beyond the personal point that he's hungry for something and wants to eat something off the present menu at LPL.


Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

My only point was to show that in the ranking system, in which was often touted by you and the Observer that LPL was ranked #1, that the Cleveland Public Library and Cuyahoga Public Libraries were in the top of their ranks as well. They are just as good as the LPL, and in some aspects exceed the LPL in services provided to the community.

I still think the LPL is a fine library whether or not I am disappointed by certain aspects of it.

chris richards wrote:touted by you and the Observer that LPL was ranked #1, that the Cleveland Public Library and Cuyahoga Public Libraries were in the top of their ranks as well.

Chris

A couple things before I hijack my thread back from the war between you and Ken. Not sure Ken "touted" it, but if he did he deserved to. No other library has the continuous high ranking that the library and Mr. Warren has gotten over the past decade. While I can understand your disappointment and having not been hired by the LPL while they had no open positions, it seems that have colored your view towards bith Mr. Warren and the LPL. In America it is your right.

More importantly the "Observer" touts nothing, has no agenda. Many many writers and others may have touted the the Lakewood Public Library. I know I have always been impressed with the LP and their staff. But I do not speak for the paper. I merely speak for myself, that I appreciate the Library, the staff and Ken Warren's efforts to keep the library going, growing and an integral ketstone in the community of Lakewood.

Now back to the thread. We could always try to attract a county branch, without giving them one of our prized possession. But to the very point of the thread, why do our civic leaders at the Chamber and LA, work so hard to stop regionalizing the schools and library but present program after program how it could save the city of Lakewood?

For the record, Ken Warren is one of my closest personal friends, but the Lakewood Observer nor any of my businesses have ever made a penny off the Lakewood Public Library.

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Sorry, I keep using the term "civic leaders" when these people are actually paid to do what they "do for the city or region" very, very well.

Please substitute, "residents" in the future.

Maybe "hired guns."

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Given the very powerful centrifugal forces that exert an incredible force to expand the outer reaches of an urban conglomeration, the centripetal counterweights of Lakewood are in danger of being swamped.

If land use is left to individual communities to determine, and those communities benefit from freeways, shopping malls, hospitals etc etc I fear that the centrifugal tendancies will define the future of inner ring suburbs. Without addressing why the centrifugal forces are so dominant, the great American city of Jane Jacobs will be lost and the isolation of mini-van family exurbs will continue unabated.

Richard Cole wrote:If land use is left to individual communities to determine, and those communities benefit from freeways, shopping malls, hospitals etc etc I fear that the centrifugal tendancies will define the future of inner ring suburbs. Without addressing why the centrifugal forces are so dominant, the great American city of Jane Jacobs will be lost and the isolation of mini-van family exurbs will continue unabated.

Richard

I would then put forth are any cities currently benefiting from shopping malls and freeways. Or is the weight of them now collapsing the city back after the big bang of the 80s and 90s. This week alone I have spoken with three different people from three different families looking to move back to Lakewood from Westlake. After years in the burbs they are looking back to what they have missed since moving. Parma, Westlake, Beechwood are all hurting with the exodus from malls, and the failing economics.

Trends will come and go, but clean, safe, fun cities will never go out of fashion. When I look back at all of the reasons given for NEED economic development in Lakewood, all of it is faux, or brought on by people that just do not like Lakewood. They are chasing the phantoms of where they really wish they had moved or lived. Others, the weaker one are in desperate need of building a legacy for themselves and their names. This is what is so frustrating. Why do some civic leaders hate Lakewood so much that they have dedicated their lives to changing and destroying the place that attracted them?

I can understand that developers by nature NEED to develop. I can also understand that the salves of regionalism have to force it down our throats like mom used to with cod liver oil. What I do not understand is the free thinking residents that are snowed by the BS, smoke and mirrors that any of these people, groups, etc. care about anything outside of their own very personal agendas.

Many of these people and groups have been wrong 99% of the time.

Gifted? Only in the sense that all of God's children are gifted.

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