The Observation Deck

Marguerite Harkness wrote: I was the first one to ask a question. I'm SURE hizzoner was "thrilled" to have me question him.

As closely as I can recall my comment:

We have two related issues here. You have just GIVEN our Lakewood Hospital to Cleveland Clinic, instead of them paying $300 million for it - and sent 1400 jobs averaging $59,000 which is WAY more than the $44,000 median FAMILY income you have cited - sent these jobs and the city income tax, to Avon, out of Lakewood, and out of CUYAHOGA COUNTY. Meanwhile, we are the epicenter of the opioid epidemic, and we have 100 empty rooms in our closed hospital. We COULD have our 24-room REAL Emergency Room for opioid and other serious medical issues, AND an attached rehab facility for short-term rehab, medium, long-term, and outpatient.

Thanks for the information. I wish I could have been there.
Marguerite: What was the question, and did he answer?

Dan, mine wasn't exactly a question. Grant Mackay (Dem Club pres.) asked me, too, what is the question? And I think I said something like, "why don't you make Cleveland Clinic PAY for the hospital?"

There was, of course, no reply. Summers just stood there and didn't say anything.

Hello Everyone,

Recap of Dem Club Meeting:

Mike Summer gave a brief run through of his State of the City address from March, even using the same slides. Resilient & Thriving City!!!!!!

1. Marguerite was the only other person other than myself to put up a hand with questions or comments. She has already stated here on the Deck that she pointed out that we have a facility right here in Lakewood that could be utilized to serve & save those addicted on opioids in our current opioid crisis. Of course the question was obvious...Why wasn't the Lakewood Hospital building being used to care for those suffering from addiction.

Summers didn't want to answer so ignored the implicit question. So he stated that Marguerite did not ask a question.

2. NO ONE ELSE PUT THERE HAND UP SO.... I decided to ask as much as I wanted or they would allow because I knew Summers wouldn't answer any question I asked.

3. I started by supporting Marguerite's fair assessment that the hospital could be useful in the opioid crises to care for those afflicted.

4. THEN I ASKED:
a. What part of Summer's presentation that stated they were trying to curb urban sprawl would allow the city to allow Lakewood Hospital to be repositioned in Avon, Ohio. What was HIS definition of urban sprawl?
b. Why would the city want to replace the hospital with "RETAIL" shops when retail is dying & "OFFICE SPACE" when Lakewood has not been able to fill the office spaces they have for YEARS (economic dev)
c. Why would the City align with a company that would hire Ed Fitzgerald as a Consultant, a man who has exhibited a lack of moral compass. (esp when hew would not step back from the gubernatorial race so that the Dems could put up a candidate with some integrity- ) I could sense the discomfort & really did not elaborate on this question as I would have preferred...
d. Why was the library incident that occurred last November only heard about just recently?

I could barely get the last 2 items out as I was being shut down by the Grant. Finally, I insisted and he did let me ask a fairly non-stressful question.

e. What are the rules for bikers and the bike paths- how many abreast. I like the paths but it is dangerous when they travel 3 abreast..(safety)

Mike Summers, as expected would answer NONE of my questions, stating that he would talk to me after the meeting.,

AFTER the meeting, Mike Summers would not even look my direction. I stayed a while to give him an opportunity but he spoke to a number of others, packed his gear & left. I admit I let him off the hook finally because he had NO intention of dealing with my questions.

Grant was nice and explained he has to be fair...to all sides etc... I get it...Mike Summers was uncomfortable and unable to handle the pressure.

As a side note... I signed up to be on the team that would revisit the Lakewood Democratic Club Charter. I asked about my status and was told that they were going with all JD's but that my input would be welcomed.
1. No mention of being an attorney was listed on the criteria to be on this committee.
2. Even the re-working of the City of Lakewood's Charter had a team from many different fields. They most certainly were NOT all attorneys.
3. It is impossible to give concrete feedback when you rely on "note" from a committee. They rarely contain the nuance one needs to understand all that is going on. For Example: At one of the Foundation Task Force meetings, the group asked about the CCF "Right of First Refusal" over the funds that CCF "gives" the foundation. How would that work, they asked if the money was combined with other funds etc... the ANSWER was give quickly by Mike Summers who stated" I DON'T KNOW, YOU WILL HAVE TO ASK THE CLEVELAND CLINIC!". The problem is that the Notes from that meeting do not tell you that the MAYOR, who PUSHED FOR THE MASTER (shitty) MASTER AGREEMENT to be accepted by City Council (without understanding an important section?) was the one who answered that question. THAT is the depth of understanding you get from being at the meetings that you can never get from notes. This is why I wanted to be a part of the Charter review committee of the Democratic Club and be able to hear the ideas of both or several sides for myself.

Happy 4th of July to all of you. Hoping there are not too many typos in here!

pam

Pam,

Thank you for your more complete report of the meeting.

AND, for asking more questions ...

AND, for volunteering for the Dem Club charter review committee.