The Observation Deck

Gary,

There can be no singing with the banjo when we have a mayor, council, and many others who have allegedly money laundered our hospital away. This group has also allegedly stolen homes in Lakewood from the elderly, terminally ill, Blacks, Hispanics, etc., and then torn them down. This group is allegedly committing fraudulent acts with HUD money. Now there appears to be something going on with North Coast Health.

We need to forget about people remaining anonymous. How about Summers and Extended Company taking off the masks they are hiding behind and tell us the truth? How about Butler releasing the documents that he is holding hostage? How many of those documents have been shredded by now since council shortened the city's records retention schedule?

Don't be fooled. Our city leaders don't give a damn about us tax payers. They only care about their rich friends and what they themselves will be rewarded with for serving all of them so well.

Vote against issue 64. This can be the beginning of taking back OUR city that Summers and Council have taken over with their alleged illegal business deals!

Gary Rice wrote:Labels? I've looked all over and I don't think God ever stuck one on me.

And if HE didn't? I ain't fixin' to let anyone else stick one on me either.

Is it time for the banjo sing-a-long yet?

Just sayin'...

Back to the banjo...

Mr. Rice,

I'm afraid the banjo sing-a-long may have to wait.

If the For 64 people "win" tomorrow, they with stomp on the minority and dance a happy jig.

If the Against 64 people "win" tomorrow, the Insiders at City Hall have vowed to ignore the people and go to court to sue the majority.

There are currently 4 lawsuits pending.

It seems to me that a Mayor and a City Hall that claim they do not like lawyers and lawsuits have relied on some really bad lawyers who have led the City to the "Chaos of Litigation" and a "Feast For Lawyers."

How well do you and your banjo play the Blues?

Save the banjo playing for after Summers and Council go to jail for their MANY alleged crimes committed against the citizens of Lakewood!

Mr. Summers and Council, remove your masks!

Then you can explain to your citizens that pay your salaries about the alleged hosing thefts, the alleged money laundering of Lakewood Hospital, the alleged HUD funding scams, etc.

Sorry, my bad! I meant alleged housing thefts.

Dear friends, (and occasional adversaries... )

Yes, the call has often been made that this is NOT the time in Lakewood's history for a banjo sing-a-long, or for that matter, a banjo, period.

Of course people sometimes say THAT in the best of times.

But these points made....sorry.

You have your agendas, I have mine.

(By the way Brian, yes, the banjo is a VERY nifty blues instrument, or rather it was in the 19th and early 20th century, under the very capable hands of "Papa" Charlie Jackson and others. )

Now more to the point, why would the banjo sing-a-long be appropriate, perhaps even MOST appropriate now?

Well, a bit of a history lesson would be in order. In the darkest days of WWII, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union. In a matter of days, German troops covered hundreds of miles, until before long, they were on the outskirts of Leningrad for a 900 (actually 872) day seige, costing more casualties than any other city in history has ever suffered. Leningrad resident and composer Dimitri Shostakovich has decided to work what would become on his 7th Symphony. Bombs literally rained around Shostakovich's apartment as he worked on that as-yet unfinished symphony. When he was evacuated from Leningrad, he barely had space to bring his work with him. Later, the symphony was performed in Moscow, London, and the United States, but Shostakovich knew that it HAD to be performed in his besieged home city, bombs or no bombs.

People were starving and dying by the thousands in Leningrad. There were only 15 members of the Leningrad orchestra left, and they were skin and bones. A call for musicians went out. Soldiers came from the front to play. (then, but a few miles away) On August 9, 1942, in Leningrad's Philharmonic Society Hall, well within range of the German guns, a concert by 79 mixed civilian and military musicians ensued to a capacity crowd. Although the siege would last until January of 1944, It was said by many that, musically at least, a great victory was achieved on that day.

That's sorta how I feel when I drop in some light-hearted banjo here from time to time in the midst of Lakewood's "trials" and "travails". (that are absolutely nothing, in comparison with Leningrad's.)

It's like this: Issues come, issues go. The music will always remain...and prevail... and... is absolutely crucial for our souls during the dark days of life.

Back to the banjo...

Patrick Wadden wrote: Cmager is Bill Mager and I have zero issue with him and his posts from Phoenix. We have mutual friends in Ciaran Simon and Marty Tarr.

Back to the thread, Jackie, accountability is key. Using a fake name on the deck is frowned upon and I agree.

Patrick Wadden
Lifelong Lakewoodite

Patrick

You are friends with my little brother Ciaran Simon?

Small world.

.

Great reply.

Great reply