The Observation Deck

Dan-- Charlie Watts saved his money and bought 'em Stan

Mark Kindt wrote:For The Future

I write this for the any local elected official who reads this:

I'm sure other Ohio cities have been abandoned by their largest employers to the detriment of their communities.

Only in Lakewood, Ohio did the elected official close-down their largest employer.

'nuff said.

The Lakewood Hospital debacle was the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of the city. Lakewood will lose out on millions in tax revenue while the bar/restaurant economy are being crippled by COVID. Who/what make up these losses?

All along city council went silent. Some were aspiring for a future in politics, others were fearful of taking on Lakewood’s powerful.

These questions remain:

1. How does the former mayor of Lakewood (Fitzgerald) representing the developer secure the deal with past mayor Mike Summers?
2. How/why did members of council believe that “healthcare is changing” when in every case, hospital spending is increasing? Moreover, healthcare spending is set to break records in the next few years. Sadly, Lakewood will miss out.
3. Why was there not a concerted effort to get state and federal regulators involved? Not one member of council had the stones to write an open letter to the Department of Justice or the Ohio Attorney Generals office?

You get the government you tolerate.

Nadhal Eadeh wrote:

Mark Kindt wrote:For The Future

I write this for the any local elected official who reads this:

I'm sure other Ohio cities have been abandoned by their largest employers to the detriment of their communities.

Only in Lakewood, Ohio did the elected official close-down their largest employer.

'nuff said.

The Lakewood Hospital debacle was the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of the city. Lakewood will lose out on millions in tax revenue while the bar/restaurant economy are being crippled by COVID. Who/what make up these losses?

All along city council went silent. Some were aspiring for a future in politics, others were fearful of taking on Lakewood’s powerful.

These questions remain:

1. How does the former mayor of Lakewood (Fitzgerald) representing the developer secure the deal with past mayor Mike Summers?
2. How/why did members of council believe that “healthcare is changing” when in every case, hospital spending is increasing? Moreover, healthcare spending is set to break records in the next few years. Sadly, Lakewood will miss out.
3. Why was there not a concerted effort to get state and federal regulators involved? Not one member of council had the stones to write an open letter to the Department of Justice or the Ohio Attorney Generals office?

You get the government you tolerate.

I agree with the "government you get" piece.

Question 1 - is the key.
Question 2 - Healthcare is changing, but council stopped thinking there. (Let's be honest, 3 council members were in on the entire scheme, Bullock, Litten and Madigan.)
Question 3 - 2 Council members did, kind of. I read the letter, but the third who will remain nameless political advisor thought it would be unwise for their political future.

That morning, was one of the most depressing days I have ever had. Months/Years of hard work by dozens spending hundreds of thousands, stopped by an unelected consultant.

One of the easiest ways to spot a politician over an elected person working for the people in office, is when they decide to skip the war for their political future.

I have no use or respect for politicians, elected officials I love and respect.

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How does PERCEIVED political future take precedence over the economic, health and moral well-being of the city? Is there a statute of limitations? Why the need for multiple council members?

Dan Alaimo wrote:How does PERCEIVED political future take precedence over the economic, health and moral well-being of the city? Is there a statute of limitations? Why the need for multiple council members?

Dan

In the past 30 or so years, Cities, that used to make themselves "nice" and then hope for families and businesses, have gotten more aggressive, and become developers themselves. This was caused in the early years because no one else wanted their city. So instead of waiting and hoping for development they too got into the development business. More often than not to disastrous results.

Do you remember my story of the "Center of the World" where the city in an effort to capitalize on being at the crossroads of the Turnpike and another freeway the city renamed themselves, changed the city, spent thousands on a concept that never caught on.





Over the years, as people get desperate they start to look and copy ideas. Most of the "cool" ideas do not work, nor fit the community. This is what happens when a small group gets going. Especially with the damn hell or high water attitudes. These we have witnessed with one group that tried desperately to shove mediocre plan after mediocre plan down Lakewoodites throats. The West End strip mall, Sinagra Parl, City center Strip Mall, The Lutrell Strip Mall (never got launched thought they are still enacting parts today), and on and on.

Why? Well more often than not it mirrors "The Music Man" plot. I person looking to make some money has a plan for River City. Brought up to date with the Simpsons in their fabulous version of "We need a Monorail."



And it is that simple, a huckster or well meaning citizen generally with just enough knowledge to get into trouble comes up with "a great idea for a city..." when a study is finally asked for, they hire people that make sure their idea "is the best use..." for whatever city? IT is so bad that When Lakewood was presented with "Way Finding" another fad, "that makes sense" the proposal actually had two other city names in the proposal that were not deleted from previous presentations.

That's right boiler plate presentations for a "new" idea that is perfect for us!

Which brings us to your question. "How does PERCEIVED political future take precedence over the economic, health and moral well-being of the city?"

A city elects residents to political office, Some are happy to do their jobs, and make the city better for the people that live there. But there is no glamour in fixing problems, they, that is the future politicians desperately need Press and adulation for their next campaign. They need a big idea, something like a "Monorail" that they can hang their hat on. Now they have no idea of what a monorail does or why, but they saw one at Epcot Center, it was cool, and futuristic. Besides "Shelbyville" was talking about one, we need one to compete. And instantly we have a bunch of amateurs, changing into professional politicans deciding our future by tending to their political needs.

We have watched this time and again here in Lakewood, Ed FitzGerald, Mayor Summers, Tom Bullock, Mary Louise Madigan, all people chosing our future based on their political needs. Hence the Solstice Park idea being dusted off and hurried into reality, just in time for the election, not the Solstice. And the city responded with ooooohhhs and ahhhhs instead of questioning why they were getting lied to about the hospital. Of course Solstice Park, was a twice stolen idea, like many of the ideas presented to Lakewoodites. Sostice Steps is known as "Granit Prosepct" in New York. A Lakewood City worker brought it back after visiting his son in New York. Of course in New York it looks out onto the Manhatten Skyline. [url]http://yuggler.com/activities/lzkD9RZExS/#prettyPhoto[archive]/0/[/url]

So we have desperate new politicians looking to make a splash. Deciding on ideas that they have little knowledge of, nor care to, all for votes and or power down the road.

As I have rattled on a little too long, I will cover the sycophants that enable, most getting something out of it, and the evil politicians that deal for power.

That is how a community's future is hijack for political and personal reasons.

This is one of the reasons in the aerliest days of the Lakewood Observer we were trying to understand what the "Lakewood Brand" was. Not to isolate but to address both needs and and easier more organic way to develop a community. Organic growth always stronger than injected false development.

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"If you want to be a progressive, make progress." This mentioned the other day by Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York.. It was also referenced last year by Amy Kobachar, and its use goes all the way back through both Roosevelts.

There are plenty of progressives is Lakewood but not a lot of progress. Two of the parties in the meeting Jim mentioned earlier were prominent progressives in town.

Thinking back, I don't think FDR gave a lot of thought to his political future as he implemented many progressive measures. Recently, Cuomo took many unpopular steps to get Covid-19 under control, and make peace between the BLM protesters and the police - at the same time.

"If you want to be a progressive, make progress." Often that will mean putting a political furure on the line.

Dan Alaimo wrote:Recently, Cuomo took many unpopular steps to get Covid-19 under control, and make peace between the BLM protesters and the police - at the same time.

Hi Dan, I tried to search for the "making peace" between BLM protesters and police but couldn't find anything. Do you have a link? Definitely want to understand this a bit more. Thanks!

Matthew Lee wrote:

Dan Alaimo wrote:Recently, Cuomo took many unpopular steps to get Covid-19 under control, and make peace between the BLM protesters and the police - at the same time.

Hi Dan, I tried to search for the "making peace" between BLM protesters and police but couldn't find anything. Do you have a link? Definitely want to understand this a bit more. Thanks!

Matthew,
Here's a Daily News article that presents part of the picture:
https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politi ... story.html

My source for all of this was listening to Cuomo's press briefings. Here's the latest one from Sept 29 where he referenced it again, i think, during the Q&A. If I thought I needed to I would have noted the time stamp. It's 1:17 hours.
https://youtu.be/utGBcnIEz-o

There's something he talks about here, and has made a big deal of in the past, that was part of the legislative package, but I couldn't find any news reports on it either.

That is, all municipalities will be given an opportunity - with a gun to their heads - of totally redefining their budgets particularly with respect to the police, usually one of the biggest items. They are given the proverbial blank sheet of paper and instructed to sit down with all stakeholders, inluding the police and dissidents, and must come back with a new plan by April 1. If they don't, they lose all state funding, a very big deal. When he announced the plan, it was a couple of weeks after the George Floyd murder (call it what it is; Breonna Taylor is different), and Cuomo had Al Sharpton at his side.

This is vintage Cuomo, a my-way-or-the-highway approach to governing. No wonder so many dislike him, BUT he gets stuff done. He makes progress. If I understand my history correctly, FDR was similar.

I spent some time researching this tonight and, as I have indicated previously, I have a secret source in NY I could tap if needed. I'll continue watching for specifics.

Matthew Lee wrote:

Dan Alaimo wrote:Recently, Cuomo took many unpopular steps to get Covid-19 under control, and make peace between the BLM protesters and the police - at the same time.

Hi Dan, I tried to search for the "making peace" between BLM protesters and police but couldn't find anything. Do you have a link? Definitely want to understand this a bit more. Thanks!

Matthewb
That Daily News story referenced June 12. If you track down his update from that day, it should have all the info you are looking for. Note that it will be titled a "coronavirus briefing" and there might be a transcript somewhere on the governor's site.

Dan Alaimo wrote:"If you want to be a progressive, make progress." Often that will mean putting a political furure on the line.

Not a huge fan of either, but

There are not a lot of progressives in Lakewood. Well maybe as a title, but painting woodwork and brick white is not progressive, it is rearranging the deck chairs.

The "progressives" have given us what progress?

IMHO all but a small handful of progressives rolled over for the mostly republican Summers and FitzGerald (speaking of their programs).



Featuring the progressive stressed look, while acting unstressed. Notice the painted bricks, and stressed wood.

Just saying. But I am not a progressive, I am a flaming liberal.

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Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Dan Alaimo wrote:"If you want to be a progressive, make progress." Often that will mean putting a political furure on the line.

Not a huge fan of either, but

There are not a lot of progressives in Lakewood. Well maybe as a title, but painting woodwork and brick white is not progressive, it is rearranging the deck chairs.

The "progressives" have given us what progress?

IMHO all but a small handful of progressives rolled over for the mostly republican Summers and FitzGerald (speaking of their programs).



Featuring the progressive stressed look, while acting unstressed. Notice the painted bricks, and stressed wood.

Just saying. But I am not a progressive, I am a flaming liberal.

.

I am a progressive insofar as I believe in leaving this city, state, nation and world better than than how we found it. Call me a FDR Democrat. I did not think that abandoning a hospital could in any way be construed as progress. The same for not investigating the events that led up to the sale of the hospital for $1. The decision not to go forward with such an investigation was hardly progressive.

Mark Kindt wrote:For The Future

I write this for the any local elected official who reads this:

I'm sure other Ohio cities have been abandoned by their largest employers to the detriment of their communities.

Only in Lakewood, Ohio did the elected official close-down their largest employer.

'nuff said.

It was the greatest government, political and financial blunder in the history of Lakewood.

It was the greatest government, political and financial blunder in the history of Lakewood.

And it’s not like they weren’t warned!

Reckless disregard for the public health and welfare.

Sorta reminds me of someone else currently in government!

Settlement Payment To Carnegie On Hospital Development Disaster

Please see the attached agenda for Lakewood City Council tonight.

The amount proposed to be paid to Carnegie is unknown to me at this time.

Mark Kindt wrote:Settlement Payment To Carnegie On Hospital Development Disaster

Please see the attached agenda for Lakewood City Council tonight.

The amount proposed to be paid to Carnegie is unknown to me at this time.

You mean Lakewood will loose MORE MONEY over this deal?

Why, after all the expense Lakewood has gone through to prepare the hospital site for development, would Lakewood spend another CENT on this FAILED DEAL? If anything, Lakewood should be suing the pants of Carnegie!

Will anyone with power EVER stand up for this town?