The Observation Deck

Snark, snark, snark.

I don't know about all you guys but this "City Shuffle" thing.....no matter which way it goes...bothers me alot. I think that the fact that we could have several appointed council people and even the mayor appointed shortly after an election bothers me greatly. It does not serve the people of Lakewood to deny them a voice in a popular vote that concerns a significant portion of those that serve them.

This tactic could backfire.

Well said Rhonda. I vote for someone because I think they will be the best for said position. This idea of several possible appointments really ticks me off.

If some of the "conspiracy" theories are true, and time will tell, then we are in danger of paying high taxes and then not having a voice in this town because certain people connected to one group will be pushed through to council and school board without a popular vote. That is scary. And unfair. Like bait and switch which is illegal in the consumer world, and in this case the consumer is the taxpayer and the product is our city. Our city. Our schools. Our kids. Everything.

Justine...I have the same concerns..valid or not.....they are concerns...all taxpayers should have a voice in electing their officials. Especially if there are many appointments to fill. I would suggest a special election.

Many of us have been on this band wagon since this current group took office and once they began acting in ways that are against the interest of the City of Lakewood and her residents. That is why we have spoken up, dug around for information and tried to make their behavior more public.

Decisions made by any and all elected officials who plan on moving up need to be examined closely and fought against by, not just a committed council but also by residents. The political climbers every move should be questioned and made to be proven to be in the best interest of those they were elected to serve.

Deals made by political climbers must, by common sense, be looked at and examined closely for past and future campaign contributions and favors.

A request to the Election Board for past contributions is easy and inexpensive. As is acquiring campaign finances for any and all future runs for political office. Finding out who finances these politicians, where they live and what affiliations they have gives enlightened insight into for whom political climbers work for and enrich.

Are the deals made by these schemers in Lakewood’s best interest? Or will some financial gain be had only for the politician in their future run for higher office and their crones‘?

Watch closely the campaign finances of those you folks have mentioned (and others) to see to whom they answer and for whom their decisions are meant to serve and enrich.

Take notice of who gets opportunities, appointments and enriched in ways that seem premature, unwarranted and undeserved.

Lakewood is not unique in this wheeling, dealing, selling off, leasing out, outsourcing, selling out… This game is played out over and over by many political climbers in many city and county public offices each and everyday. That fact does not make it ok, excusable nor tolerable. These guys count on the fact no one wants to question them. Let alone have the nerve to try and stop them.

They will do whats good for them. They will take what enriches them. And they appoint who will do THEIR bidding. Lakewood and her residents do not even factor into the equation.

Now the question is. What are you willing to do to preserve Lakewood.

How much more of these shenanigans are you all willing to allow to transpire before you say enough is enough?

How much more of these shenanigans are you all willing to allow to transpire before you say enough is enough?

I always wonder why people don't speak up more on these issues. I know we are talking about the City, but the same concern can be said for the Board of Education (which I mentioned in an earlier post on this thread). John Kamkutis ( I hope I didn't butcher the spelling of his name) was appointed in January and he as well as the other BOE members up for re-election are running unopposed. Now, to be clear I have nothing against Mr. Kamkutis. My point is that NO ONE ELSE IS RUNNING. Yet, earlier in the year it looked like some good people were thinking about it. I think that parents don't speak out because they feel it is too much of a personal risk. I think why people don't run against the BOE is because of political reasons, or feel like they can't win since members have served so long. People have to be willing to take a risk, speak out, and stay true to their convictions. This is the sort of person I want to vote for and get behind--what group or party is not important. Where are these people?

I spoke up about our then, mayor elect, Ed Fitzgerald and Tom Bullock during the last elections. I did it over and over and over again.

People didn't believe me, didn't want to believe me or didn't care.

I've fought at the Dems club about them and the stuff they pull. I've stood up and opposed them wherever and whenever I could. It's like they are all part of a cartel.

Many residents don't care until it hits them squarely in the face and they wonder why it happened.

I'm tired of doing it. I've been a devil's advocate for too many years.

Someone else do it. You have my support.

So anyone have any ideas?

I wonder too in such an enriched town of people why they aren't running for school board? It is insane that some are running unopposed! These are our schools and kids and competition is NEEDED. That was the premise for charter schools in this country-to bring some competition to the public school to raise some standards. I have no complaints about my kids' school and think our town is doing well by most issues.

But no way should back door deals be done, people put into positions that weren't voted in, etc. This is really sad.

Shame on anyone trying to get in or get someoneelse in through the back door and not be our popular vote. Do back door deals in Cleveland and Parma not teach people anything? The cities are now hurting, there is jail time involved and families destroyed. Greed and power do amazing things to people. We can't let that wreck our town. And we ARE the paying consumer, some forget! To dismiss our vote is a slap in the face.


Where can we find more Matt Marlkings for school board? Honest, hard-working, caring. We need more of that.

And speaking of honest, Monique may have a decent resume, but if she is in charge of HUD funds and some of those are now going to Lakewood Alive and she is running for council, isn't that a conflict of interest? We need people for council who care for the whole city, not the desire of Lakewood Alive. Are there public records for that money available?

Nothing ever changes because it takes coming together and collectively putting your selves out there. It takes a lot of Courage from folks to say “This isn’t right”.

But the price paid to allow it to continue is much greater then the price extracted from fighting to make it stop.

Funny thing is, all the scary stuff that keeps folks from coming together and standing up for themselves and THEIR interests, even if the worst really came to be, is not nearly as destructive to our lives and our loved ones, as what transpires by NOT taking a stand.

Schools become a place parents fear sending their children. And where education is slipping.
Streets become a place no longer safe to walk.
Cities become a place folks flee from and the only desire they instill in potential home buyers is to flee to some where else. Anywhere else to buy a home and raise their families.
And we become complacent and compliant in the moral crimes waged against us.

The Powers that be?

They will dictate who will serve and represent you (sic)
Who will they appoint?
They will appoint who they owe a favor? Who helped them? Who is connected to who they owe? Who will do their bidding? Or maybe those who came in second in the last election? At least those people had votes cast for them.

Or will this paper , this public board and her many readers and posters ensure a new election so the residents get a say and can cast a vote on who their ELECTED officials‘ will be?

The powers that be doubt any of us will have the strength or the stomach for that. Infact they are banking on it.

These people, by the grace of our fears and complacency will:
Be further enriched.
The politicians will move up and out of the city they bled out and sucked dry to position themselves
And the circle continues unbroken
Unending
Without shame
With out consequence

With out our imput or paritcipation in who will be our elected representitives.
Merely with the grace of our fear and complacency.

So again, “How much more of these shenanigans are you all willing to allow to transpire before you say enough is enough?”

Hold on Folks------- Based on the tone of the recent posts in this thread am I supposed to be led to believe the a complete absence of prior elective service is supposed to be the prime qualification for elevation to next levels of government?
That's plumb crazy.
Stan Austin

Stan,
I don't think anyone is entitled to anything....I think that is the point.

I think the people of Lakewood should elect who they feel should represent them.

I think their qualifications should be evaluated by the electorate.

The electorate, not the power brokers, should decide who should represents them.

Oh...and by the way running for a council seat does not count as "prior elective service".

And speaking of honest, Monique may have a decent resume, but if she is in charge of HUD funds and some of those are now going to Lakewood Alive and she is running for council, isn't that a conflict of interest? We need people for council who care for the whole city, not the desire of Lakewood Alive. Are there public records for that money available?

Is this really true?

This is disturbing.

Rhonda,
I don't know if it is true but hoping ot find some truth here. I would rather be blasted for repeating it then it be true so hopefully someone can shed some light. This is serious and serious tax payer money. And housing.

It is serious....can anyone shed any light on this subject?

Is this correct?