The Observation Deck

Even though no one addressed my posts on the gay thread, I still decided to post a couple of thoughts here.

As a social activist I spent a lot of time working on issues involving trying to find solutions to issues involving poverty and violence.

Part of the problem is underemployment. Part of the problem is jobs that do not pay a fair wage. It is also largely an issue of parents being emotionally and physically exhausted. How can you be emotionally present for your children when you are busting your butt working menial labor jobs trying to feed and clothe them?

In addition, I have spent a little bit of time looking into and discussing the drug/crime issue with other Lakewoodites. If we bust the juveniles who are dealing drugs, or committing other crimes, we have not got a facility in Lakewood to house them pending a hearing. When they are taken to the county facility, they are turned away because of overcrowding.

The rise in drug use in our region and in our city are representative of what is going on in the rest of the country. If your parents are overworked or high you will take to opportunity to run around and act out.

If you are addicted to drugs or alchohol - treatment is rarely available to those without the health insurance to cover it.

These issues are not the fault of the Lakewood Police they are societal and as such people need to be involved in creating change. I'm not saying this in defense of the Lakewood Police department, I'm just stating facts.

We are getting ready to vote for Mayor. Now is the time to speak directly to the candidates and tell them what you expect out of them and how you
will assist in making that happen.

We are also gearing up for a Presidential election - we have to keep these issues in mind when looking for leadership on the national level. The erosion of services are local, state, regional and federal responsibilities.

We need to hold our leaders accountable. We need to work for change and we need to take responsibility and action on the issues we see need changing.

Joe Whisman wrote:One undercover unit could pretty much take care of the dealers on the corner. Do they really need the money? How would it be spent?
Let's face it the east end of Lakewood is not very fun at night.

I have to agree with Joe, if plan citizens can see drug deals going down. Why can't the police do something about it?

I would love to be part of a neighborhood block watch. However the few times I have called the Lakewood police department when I have seen something going on, the person on the phone treated me like I was bothering them.

I'm for a levy, but I would also like to know how the money would be used.
Bea

sharon kinsella wrote:Part of the problem is underemployment. Part of the problem is jobs that do not pay a fair wage. It is also largely an issue of parents being emotionally and physically exhausted. How can you be emotionally present for your children when you are busting your butt working menial labor jobs trying to feed and clothe them?

In addition, I have spent a little bit of time looking into and discussing the drug/crime issue with other Lakewoodites. If we bust the juveniles who are dealing drugs, or committing other crimes, we have not got a facility in Lakewood to house them pending a hearing. When they are taken to the county facility, they are turned away because of overcrowding.

Sharon

I agree with much of your post however, cannot wait for fair or even unfair employment. In this region layoffs far out number job creation, so I have to think to blame underemployment is not valid excuse as employment seems not a solution.

As far as drugs, we all know the war on drugs failed. Lakewoodo Municpal Judge Patrick Carroll and surrounding cities have worked together for a special prison for addicts, alcholics, and those without full mental facilities. Plenty of room, plenty of help.

FWIW


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Jim -

Thanks for your reply. While I agree that we may not be able to wait for the employment issue to be solved - what I probably should make more clear is that we need to be working towards facilitating more employment.

This is not a pitch for the Lakewood Democratic Club, however we are having a speaker, tonight at the meeting at the Women's Paviilion in Lakewood Park at 7:30, for the group opposing the Meatal (sp?) Steel facility. I am making a special effort to attend tonite to hear about it - we used to be the rust belt - now we are becoming the empty belt - and I really want to know about the objections.

I commend Judge Carroll for trying to establish prison facilities for drug and alcohol addicts. I would hope that we could find a way to provide help before it reaches that point. As a mom of three young adults, I have personally observed many of their peers parents unable to cope because of these problems.

Thanks again Jim.

Bill:

You want stats. I’ll give you one, completely relevant to your economic development dreams.

1 window blown out of a Rockport condo on Hopkins.

You want another stat reported by the owner of a Rockport condo:

1 African American male urinating on the fence of his Rockport condo, accompanied by two others who took magnetic security signs from property there, heading east toward North and South Lane.

Here’s another:

2 robberies by gunpoint with suspects connected to the North Lane and South Lane complex.

Here’s another:

1 15 year old pregnant out-of-control cokehead, honey-pot attracting studs from across the Cleveland border to Birdtown.

Here’s another:

Estimate that 80% of the thugs coming to Birdtown to hang at Madison Park and Birdtown environs are coming from Cleveland.

Here’s another:

3 cops in the narcotics unit who can’t keep up with the action.

Want a watch some action - check out the payphone at Diana’s during the night.

Let’s get a grip city. We need a police levy.

See Brian Thornton’s “The Way Of The Gun: A Gay Liberal Explores Ohio Gun Culture By Taking Matters - And Weapons - Into His Own Hands in the Free Times:

“…..IT BEGAN WITH A BURGLARY â€â€

If a police levy is needed/desired, do we need to wait for city council or the mayor to do something? Couldn't the citizens of Lakewood force the issue on the ballot with a petition drive?

Bill:

One more stat, especially troubling for me:

Tonight at Madison Branch Library at around 8:05 p.m. a high school student from Lakewood, who uses the library regularly, was punched in the eye and worked over briefly by a group of three or four males. Staff broke up the fight and the group left the library laughing.

Staff called police. Response time was very good.

According to an informant I spoke to at Madison Branch these thugs came by car from the Dennison area in Cleveland to Lakewood looking for revenge from some slight made at a party.

There was a heavy police presence, with bicycle patrols, in the Birdtown area.

Clearly an effort is being made early to button down the chaos making with some sense of urgency.

Birdtown has been swarming with chaos-makers, not necessarily residents, but now with visitors - friends and enemies - coming into town by automobile.

Jim spoke to a long-time resident on Halsted, I believe, whose car was stolen two nights ago.

Given the action around Birdtown and Madison Park, I will attempt to hire off-duty Lakewood police officers to secure Madison Branch Library.

Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

Bryan:

I have spoken to citizens from Parma who told me the Mayor and Council led the process.

In early May, I sent this e-mail inquiry to a citizen involved in a police levy in southern Ohio suburb.

Here was my inquiry

*Ms. Rebori:
>>
>> I am a public library director writing from Lakewood Ohio to inquire
>> about any organizations that might have assisted your community in
>> organizing for a police levy. Who / how was the need established and
>> case made? I am interested in seeing if something similar might be
>> organized in Lakewood. Was your initiative citizen led? did the Police
>> Chief or FOP provide data and support?
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>> Kenneth Warren

---Mr. Warren, our group KPPIP is all citizen member. We only consulted with the township for information and to use the officer's daily run sheets for stats. The reason why we formed was due to the lack of interest that previous township trustees / administration had in realizing that the police funds would run out and a levy had to be put on the ballot. Once, the administration realized what their goal was to maintain the services, we sought out funds from our local businesses and prepared pamphlets for our residents so they too could be educated about the needs. Ohio law does not allow administration/chiefs etc.. to be involved in such levies as they have a vested interest. The officer's wife's are involved in the phone bank and will work at the polls. I did seek out legal advise as to what role we as citizens had and how to create and form the committee. If you have questions feel free to contact me. Karen
================================

So I am only beginning to educate myself in the mechanics of such a process.

I will continue to research the issue and invite anyone else to do so as well and let's share our knowledge and information in a transparent process on the LO Deck.

How much distressed feedback over chaos-making and violence from the community, how much push-polling, block-walking, anthropological folk inquiry or whatever, will it take for the elected officials and candidates to step up and take responsibility for making the case for obtaining the resources required to sustain the shakiest pillar in city's tripod of safety, schools and services?

Citizens on the LO Deck are serving up the issue of a police levy on the proverbial silver platter. Even the most tax adverse to whom I speak say I'd vote for that.

The time is now, Lakewood. Either we place on large strategic bet on police security, or we lose any claims Lakewood might make about safety and diversity.

Kenneth Warren

Ken

I believe what we saw tonight was nothing less than a hit from a gang on Dension on a citizen in Lakewood. As I went through tonight's photos it occurred to me that the terrorist gang from Denison, pulled the shell game and we were part of it all.

As we drove up Clarence we saw some very strange car activity. 14 males and one female in different cars would stop. Exchange cars, Chines fire drill style then drive to Madison Park, turn around and go back and do it again. We found that activity so strange we circled the block as many times as they did. I took one photo of three males walking from a red car just out of the photo to thee black car on the right. Just behind that car is a brown car with 4 males and a green SUV with 4 more.



They drive up to the library, mob style, as Tom Mahall was watching the whole thing. They go in and rough the kid up. Bruised face, but let's not forget brave people at the library stepped in and broke it up. They leave get into the car head east and up Plover.

Now think about this. The group leaves the library in a hurry, Ken, Steve and I hear the call go out while we are on Lake photographing a LightSpeed Box. We drive to the library slowly. As we pass Plover the first police car heads up. We had driven slowly from Lake and Cove, up Highland Ave, down Madison Avenue. The police stop the car seen leaving the scene one-and-a-half blocks from the scene of the crime. Why? As they turned onto Plover they stopped and switch cars.

The police and Ken Warren arrive.



Police talk with kids. Notice a complete second set of kids that look very different from the first. Completely confusing if you are trying to identify someone.



The police asked each kid to get out of the car. Problem is, 4 kids at the library, only three in the car. None of them look or are dressed the same.

The kids during the entire session worked their cell phones. After the police let them go, we saw the red car, the green SUV and the brown rustbucket hook up with the black car and drive east.

Very professional.

Had we called instead of watching when we saw something wrong maybe that student had not gotten beat up?

Time for all of us to be Observers.


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Jim O'Bryan wrote:
Time for all of us to be Observers.


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I fear that, after hearing this story, more people's reaction will be:

"Time for all of us to get out."

Faced with spending your summer nights standing guard looking for Crips from Dennison or barbecuing in a low-crime suburb, can you really blame those who want to bail?

Kenneth Warren wrote:Birdtown has been swarming with chaos-makers, not necessarily residents, but now with visitors - friends and enemies - coming into town by automobile.

Jim spoke to a long-time resident on Halsted, I believe, whose car was stolen two nights ago.

Given the action around Birdtown and Madison Park, I will attempt to hire off-duty Lakewood police officers to secure Madison Branch Library.

Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

So... we pay some of the highest taxes in the entire COUNTRY, we have 100+ more City employees than we did in the 1980's and if you want police protection you have to hire your own security force?

This situation is manageable. It is not manageable with a City workforce that lives elsewhere and views the City as its private piggy bank.

I still would like to see some crime statistics.

The passage of the police levy in Parma was a scam. The administration slashed and burned the police department to fund the city bureaucracy and then cried "We don't have any money for police!"

The money to fund more police manpower can come from the fire department overtime budget. I am tired of hearing "If you give us more money THIS time we will act responsibly.

How did it come to this? What has happened over the last few years?

Dee Martinez wrote:"Time for all of us to get out."

Faced with spending your summer nights standing guard looking for Crips from Dennison or barbecuing in a low-crime suburb, can you really blame those who want to bail?

Dee

Before we all panic let's stop and think.

No Crips, No Bloods.

No low crime suburbs, that is an illusion and a lie. As I mentioned a couple threads ago, when the Lorain mayor was asked why his crime stats were so much higher than Avon, Avon Lake and surrounding areas. His answer was simple and very truthful. "When I came into office I told them I want all crime in the reports. Judging by the scanner I think you have a much higher chance of being a victim in River, Bay, and Westlake than Lakewood. That is the latest crime spree cities on the Westside.

Read the FBI revised numbers for the past three years. Crime was not down, but up 10% each year all over America. Once again the FBI made this simple mistake!!!

I was at a meeting where a person that should have known better told me "we need Citistat numbers, then we can move police where they are needed." Fact is they are needed everywhere. Domestic violence up in every neighborhood, Last night while we were out at least three calls for daughters running away from home. That is three calls 6 cars. One had the police looking the streets for one girl from a nice neighborhood that is continually running away from home. then we had a group on Robinwood fighting over parking on the street.

According to what we have found on the streets, talking with kids, police, and thugs. They are coming in front outside of Lakewood. When I say coming in I do not mean armies, I mean kids.

Bay, Westlake, Fairview, Rocky River(in lock down) all are having the same problems. Listen to the scanner, Lakewood is not unique or even getting the brunt of any of this.

All we have said for years is, be Observers. If you see something wrong call the police. If you want to be proactive, start a block watch, or start a block walk healthy and fun. The streets of Lakewood are safe. We are out walking Birdtown, Hird, and all streets nearly three times a week. We have never been in fear of our safety.

The group we have been interacting with at Harrison are "kids." These are kids with nothing to do. so while some try for years with a Youth Master Plan that has neither a plan or vision. Some of us wonder why no hoops on the basketball courts. This puts kids out on the streets with nothing to do. Who took the hoops down all over the city? Why?



Kids, Teenagers and young adults need to burn off energy, and get channeled into positive projects. From what I can see there are NONE. They cannot afford the YMCA, the hoops are down, and many of the parents of the kids we talk to are at cocktail parties or do not care. For years Ken has noticed that many Lakewood parents also see the Library as a baby sitting spot. Drop your feral child at the library and they will take over parenting. AND THEY HAVE. The library might be the only place in town that engages kids in positive social activities.

Ken and his staff have seen and identified this problem and taken in on with gusto. Fun activities for all ages, parental style discipline when needed. But they can no longer handle the glut of feral children in the city. Then we have social groups bringing in more troubled children to the city for reasons I cannot understand except to justify their existence. The bad boy home at Diesel Tech is a perfect example of this.

Dee the message is the same as it was before. Let's take an active part in this community, let's walk the streets in fun with open eyes. We have nothing to fear but fear itself. This is our city, I know I am making a stand as are others. No place to run, no way to sell. I know you will think this is crazy, but I cannot think of a better city to make my life in, or with better people. This is not a time for panic, this is a time for the city to come together.

Simple math equation. Lose property values, security, and at least 7% selling your home. Or take a walk with a cell phone, think about supporting a Police Levy that is far more cost effective, and will retain an build property values.

FWIW




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Jim.

Please step back for a second.
You're a mother of three little kids.

The phrase, "Cleveland gang members on my street" can bring only one immediate reaction.
The fact that the vermin dont live here but are coming from across the border isnt a comfort at all.
If they are so bold and lawless as to attack someone inside a public library, why would I believe they wouldnt attack me or my kids on my front porch if I "observed" them?

Dee Martinez wrote:Jim.

Please step back for a second.
You're a mother of three little kids.

The phrase, "Cleveland gang members on my street" can bring only one immediate reaction.
The fact that the vermin dont live here but are coming from across the border isnt a comfort at all.
If they are so bold and lawless as to attack someone inside a public library, why would I believe they wouldnt attack me or my kids on my front porch if I "observed" them?

Dee

Please read the information again. Look at the photos, think about what we are all saying. You, me, Ken, Bill everyone.

These punks came to Lakewood to settle a score, from what they viewed as a transgression in their neighborhood. The story goes, by the victim, Something said or done at one of their parties.

This is not random violence or crime. If you want that move to the suburbs mentioned. Breaking and entering, random acts of violence, that's the burbs and the country. Please note the kids stopped listened to police, car was searched nothing found.

This is very easy to fix. We need to rebuild the Lakewood brand of tough on crime. it seems from Harbarger to Cain, the brand of tough on police was allowed to erode all for political reasons. This current mayor seems to have allowed the police to do what they need. However they are overworked. This overworking is not gangs, it is domestic.

As much as I wish it were possible, you cannot run from this. Trying not to be too political, over the last 6 years the entire country has been broken, mentally, physically and financially. We have chased faux ghosts for political and financial reasons, while here at home the entire system has collapsed.

Stay, this is a great city to hang in.


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Joe Ott wrote:If it continues the way it is, I'll be putting my house up for sale in two years when the kids graduate HS while I can still get something for my house. I'll head West... in addition, if things keep going downhill, the next two school increases are going to be really tough to swallow.

We tried to sell our house and get out for over a year -- we gave up and took the sign out of the yard when the FBI agent was shot and $10,000 REWARD signs went up on our street. No one was buying and certainly, no one would ever buy a home where gun-fights and attempted Yellow Hummer Jackings occur.

Now, we're going to try and make the most of it. We like Lakewood and we never wanted to move anyway. I think a Police Levy is a good idea if it helps protect my investments -- my family and my home.