The Observation Deck

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Dan Alaimo wrote:Yes, we've been working on the plan for years now, and it has been approved since mid last year.
We still can discuss issues, but for some time now, we have established this meeting as a time to get our organization in order. We have plenty besides the hoops to work on and we desperately don't want to see the meeting sidetracked - time is precious, especially in an evening meeting at the library. If you would like to head up a committee to consider hoops at Kauffman, you would be very welcome, and that would be an appropriate action for this particular meeting

For those that have not followed the ongoing discussions about Kauffman Park, Plans and the good work of Friend of Kauffman Park...



See the entire document online at:
http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/media/docs_1361210202.pdf

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Jim and Dan,

My understanding is that the Kauffman Park plans are not binding on Mayor Mike Summers even though the plan have been approved by City Hall ... and those plans include improved basketball courts as you know.

It looks like Mayor Mike "Spud Webb" Summers is about to execute a perfect double pump, tomahawk, windmill, baseline, under the leg, elbow hang, slam dunk on the LOBC and Kauffman Park Friends.

Matt

Dan Alaimo wrote:That shouldn't take long to acquire.

Kaufman has been closed for 3 weeks and the Mayor mentioned Wagar park almost 2 weeks ago.

I am reminded of when I mentioned to Mike Summers that I could go quickly move the cones on Clifton to keep kids safe walking in the streets, and his response was "then go do it".

Maybe he is waiting for a citizen to offer to do it for him...

So I just called the police department to ask if I would be breaking any laws by temporarily putting up a portable basketball hoop in a tennis court at a park and then taking it down when I was done. The officer on duty said she wouldn't advise it. I then asked if I would be breaking any laws and she said she could find one to arrest me on.

SO - the police don't have time to keep semi's off Clifton, stop people from doing 50+ on Clifton, stop an old man from making threats, etc, BUT they will make time to arrest a dad playing basketball in a tennis court with kids.

This is not the city I love and fight for..... We need a change from the top down.

Is time for Mike to admit he is in over his head??

Ryan Salo wrote:So I just called the police department to ask if I would be breaking any laws by temporarily putting up a portable basketball hoop in a tennis court at a park and then taking it down when I was done. The officer on duty said she wouldn't advise it. I then asked if I would be breaking any laws and she said she could find one to arrest me on.

SO - the police don't have time to keep semi's off Clifton, stop people from doing 50+ on Clifton, stop an old man from making threats, etc, BUT they will make time to arrest a dad playing basketball in a tennis court with kids.

This is not the city I love and fight for..... We need a change from the top down.

Is time for Mike to admit he is in over his head??

Sounds like you love intentionally provoking trouble.... why not put the hoop in your backyard? Why need to drag it to the park?

We can't play 3 on 3 with my kids and their friends on my driveway. If you are volunteering your driveway I would be happy to use it.

As Mike Summers has said, we have a lot of unused tennis courts. I just wanted to let my kids and their friends play somewhere. How is that intentionally provoking trouble?

If anyone is intentionally provoking trouble it is the one loud neighbor that is shutting down the existing court.

J Hrlec wrote:.... why not put the hoop in your backyard?

Ironically, that's just what the folks at City Hall tell our residents and families.

"Just put a hoop up in your backyard and shut up!"

... unless your backyard is Kauffman Park ... then ... Mayor Mike Summers will declare you to be a "credible concern for public safety near the park" ... and ... then ...

"No hoops for you, Lakewood!"

Not everyone in the 'Wood has a backyard.

It's okay to have basketball hoops and courts in city parks.

For some reason, Bay Village, Rocky River, and the like seem to do just fine with basketball hoops and courts in their city parks ... but ... not here in Lakewood.

Why is that?

Our city leaders have different priorities. They prefer spending time and money to track our every flush.

http://www.onelakewood.com/News.aspx?NewsID=412

“These new meters will give a water consumption history, broken down to each hour,” said Beno. “You can tell what time of day, and how much, water is getting used. The city can also detect leaks by receiving notices of inordinately high use from the reading system on a daily basis.”

Remember - "let's keep things in perspective, it is only a basketball hoop"

Ryan

Many things have become painfully obvious lately.

Representative form of government - gone, does not exist.

Work your power channels, everyone else becomes "a whiner, or crazy and caustic."

Try to stop us from turning your neighborhoods into malls and your parks into dead zones! Go ahead and try.

You know, if one were cynical, and Lakewoodites have no reason to be cynical, one might think it has to do
with the Mayor's Recreation Task Force, or whatever it is called this week, formed to take Rec from the schools
and turn the vacant Lakewood Hospital into a desperately need gym, and ohhhh yeah free sports fields to LCA
Lakewood Soccer Asociation.

Most of the city agrees with the hamster theory, if you can't keep two tiny half courts open, why
would you even you even want to bring the discussion of recreation up?

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Ryan Salo wrote: it is only a basketball hoop"

To some residents of this community, it (the hoops/courts) is their entire universe.

Following is a letter from Kauffman Park Friends to Mayor Summers. This position passed unanimously at the group's June 10 meeting:

June 11, 2014

Mayor Michael Summers
City of Lakewood
12650 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, Ohio 44107

Re: Closure of Kauffman Park Courts

Dear Mayor Summers,
After taking a vote at a recent meeting, it is the unanimous consensus of Kauffman Park Friends that we want to see the return of basketball to the now closed courts.

We understand your responsibility for the safety of our citizens, but we see the hoops at Kauffman as a positive for our park, for our kids, and for our city. They are an integral part of our plans for the park. We hope that you will re-open them as soon as it can be done safely.

Thank you for your continued support, and for watching out for us and our children.
Sincerely,
Dan Alaimo, President
Meg Ostrowski,VP & Secretary
Missy Toms, Treasurer & Development

This morning the hoops sound barrier at Kauffman was being taken down. The workers said it was in disrepair, but didn't know if it would be replaced.

Dan Alaimo wrote:This morning the hoops sound barrier at Kauffman was being taken down. The workers said it was in disrepair ...

Undoubtledy damaged by hoodie-wearing thugs ... after the sun went down.

I just spoke with the Mayor. The new pole at wagar will be up tomorrow and they will take one of the back boards from Kauffman and it should be available to play on by this coming weekend! While I hope the Mayor takes care of the neighbor issue and opens Kauffman back up I will just be glad a new hoop will be available.

The new pole is being installed.

Taking down the sound barrier was one thing. It did look like it had deteriorated. But the news about cannibalizing the Kauffman hoops backboard is very worrisome. It makes me think of the long death by neglect of Little Links.