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Will Brown wrote:One man is not dictating policy. He is demanding that the policies that exist be enforced. From what has been written in this thread, it appears that there have been numerous incidences where the closing time has been ignored, and some of the posters here even threaten to hassle this resident for demanding that the rules be obeyed. So the major has acted to defuse the situation and I praise him for that.
Do you realize that the mayor was the person to blame for the courts not being opened and closed at the correct time? So he fails to do his job then closes the hoops to eliminate his responsibility and you praise him???
J Hrlec wrote:You need to realize that "Observers" love to focus more on the mayor and government conspiracy side of a topic, not really concerned about moving forward and getting more hoops up.
J,
Fact Check: The Markling Family has been a strong supporter of the LOBC since its inception.
Identity Check: I don’t know how you get away with not using your “real name” here on the Deck.
Reality Check: When Jim O’Bryan, Ryan Salo, Nickie Antonio, and I use our “real names” to all agree on an issue … maybe … just maybe … Mayor and Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers should step back and reflect.
J Hrlec wrote:You need to realize that "Observers" love to focus more on the mayor and government conspiracy side of a topic, not really concerned about moving forward and getting more hoops up.
Complete nonsense.
Hoop supporters are a selfless group, donating lots of time, money, and energy to the cause. Noone is profiting from the issue. It is also among the most diverse group I've ever been associated with in Lakewood, among age, race, and political lines.
J Hrlec wrote:You need to realize that "Observers" love to focus more on the mayor and government conspiracy side of a topic, not really concerned about moving forward and getting more hoops up.
I call BS. Do you have any proof of this statement? The pro-basketball "Observers" I know and talk with all want hoops at every park the city will allow. I was even willing to buy portable hoops to put up and take down at open tennis courts and was told I would be arrested.
The mayor is the person restricting basketball, the "Observers" are calling him out and helping to make things happen.
Well I guess we all have an opinion, and many opinions stated here have no proof... so why care now? Oh, and you should be cited and/or arrested if you try to put your own hoop in a public park regardless of your personal opinion.
J Hrlec wrote:You need to realize that "Observers" love to focus more on the mayor and government conspiracy side of a topic, not really concerned about moving forward and getting more hoops up.
Complete nonsense.
Hoop supporters are a selfless group, donating lots of time, money, and energy to the cause. Noone is profiting from the issue. It is also among the most diverse group I've ever been associated with in Lakewood, among age, race, and political lines.
Well I guess you would be an expert in nonsense in the perfect forum.
Anyhow , "Observer" doesn't exactly equal hoops supporter so your talking different things. I am a hoops supporter... but definitely in the manner conducted on this site. Thanks for the input though.
You need to realize that "Observers" love to focus more on the mayor and government conspiracy side of a topic, not really concerned about moving forward and getting more hoops up. [/quote]
J Hrlec/Ryan Salo
One needs to be careful when thinking "Observers" is any single thought, or single purpose. I am reminded of this nearly weekly on our Face Book link page.
Some people focus on government conspiracy, well, let's hope they conspire ehhh? Otherwise it would be one person acting alone. Which is worse? To conspire, implies means to plan.
What I would prefer to think we offer here, is hundreds of years of practical knowledge, and 12 years of written record history and conversations. We can literally trace for example, Brian Powers, a longtime Lakewood resident, and his work on The WestEnd, the formation of the economic development group LakewoodAlive, his ascension to City Council, his backing of LCA and Lakewood Soccer Association to his input on things today. This is not to say Brian Powers ever did anything wrong, but we know Brian Powers is PRO economic development, and PRO turning neighborhoods into mix use or commercial. He is bright, well educated and get things done. While on council one would think when teamed up with Mary Louise Madigan, Ryan Nowlin and Shawn Juris we had a heavy pro economic development council.
That is not a conspiracy, those are facts, proven out over a long time.
I am not saying any one of them are bad, or wrong, or doing anything illegal. But you could bet anything coming out of council was benefiting business more than residents if there was a choice.
Do some people seem angry at the city or the mayor? I suppose, at the same time "Observers" broke that they finally learned how to plow snow, and complemented them all winter long. I believe even the most negative person here was happy to see the 4th of July go off without problems. I think that even the most negative person here wants the city to run well, and never think about the little shit.
"Conspiracy" is often merely used to belittle and marginalize the poster. I would say for anyone that could prove me wrong on my posts to call me out. Correct me. Educate me, and maybe others along the way.
J. Hrlec/Mike,everyone, thanks for taking part.
.
Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident
"The very act of observing disturbs the system." Werner Heisenberg
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it." His Holiness The Dalai Lama
There is a lot of talk on this thread about the parks being closed at night. Sort of understandable, as supervision is more difficult at night.
But why is there not a word about, for example, Garfield's beautiful track/field shut down DURING THE DAY, all summer long? Why are the schools getting a pass here? We taxpayers support them too. Probably equally to the city itself. We're forced to, regardless of whether we have children.....
Seems to me that with all the money Lakewood schools take in, they could afford someone to watch over their outdoor facilities and keep them open at least DURING THE DAY. Why should a million-dollar taxpayer-supported outdoor facility be blockaded ALL SUMMER LONG? Especially when all the hype is why the city parks are close only when it is dark outside?
I'm told the only school that has outdoor facilities open now is LHS. Seems cheap to me.
If I take a grandchild to the back of Horace Mann to throw a ball around, am I trespassing? Even though I live a block away and pay its taxes?
Matt since you are the biggest critic of City Hall, and as a former one-term school board member, maybe you can weigh in on what obligations the schools should and could take on regarding the schools' obligation to local (taxpayer) citizenry who may not have children attending but still pay thousands a year in taxes.
On a similar note Board Member Linda Beebe promised in 1983 in an address to the Lakewood Democratic Club that the (then) proposed improvements to the high school track would be available and open to the public 24 hours a day. Now, I recognize that a campaign promise made over a quarter century ago may not be binding on the Board today. But, suffice to say, some of us do have memories.
I was waiting to see how long it would take for the City Hall talking points to reach the Deck in an attempt to hijack this thread - about city parks.
The one remaining Kauffman Park hoop is kept closed by City Hall, not the schools.
The one Wagar Park hoop is run by City Hall, not the schools.
The two Lakewood Park hoops are run by City Hall, not the schools.
The many Madison Park empty basketball courts and hoops are kept empty by City Hall, not the schools.
As you note, Tim, I was elected by the residents of Lakewood to serve on the Lakewood School Board. I proudly served one term because I believed my family commitments were more important so I didn't seek reelection.
I don't speak for the schools at all. But, I'm an unabashed supporter of Superintendent Jeff Patterson, the current School Administration, and the School Board Members.
As to being City Hall's strongest critic, Tim, I don't hold that honor. I'm just not afraid to speak out on City Hall incompetence.
And, since my being elected to the Lakewood School Board is an important issue to you, Tim, for some reason, I would note that Michael P. Summers lost his first run for the school board and was then voted out of office once he had an opportunity to serve on the school board. After being beaten by Deb Sweeney in the school board race, Michael P. Summers hasn't won a contested city-wide election. It remains to be seen whether the voters will support Michael P. Summers' incompetence if given the opportunity to vote him out of another city-wide position, again.
As to the schools, go look at the Lincoln playground and other school playgrounds. There are families and residents enjoying wonderful playgrounds that City Hall is far too inept to run.
Tim, don't be afraid to take your grandchild to the back of Horace Mann to throw a ball around. The schools aren't City Hall. It will be okay ... unless Mayor and Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers declares you to be a "credible concern for public safety near the schools."
You are not a "credible concern for public safety near the schools" are you, Tim?
As to Garfield, Harding, and the High School, call the recreation department and find out how to use those great school facilities. Many folks do - even the folks at City Hall. When I was on the School Board, we opened gyms to the LOBC. But, let's not let the facts get in the way of this thread hijack.
And, there are laws governing the use of school facilities by the public and others. These laws don't apply to City Hall facilities. Just call City Hall Law Director Kevin Butler.
But, you two won't need to worry about those pesky school laws anyway when all our property taxes are increased to pay for the "Michael P. Summers Recreation Center & Natatorium" and the opening of more city parks opportunities.
Didn't Mayor and Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers and At-Large Councilman Tom Bullock share that property tax increase with you at your last few Lakewood Democratic Club meetings, Stan?
So, given your posts of today, I'm sure you are both cool with City Hall increasing your property taxes to pay for the "Michael P. Summers Recreation Center & Natatorium" and the opening of more city parks opportunities.
Does anyone know whether Mayor and Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers has addressed the alleged "credible concern for public safety near the park" such that we can open the Kauffman Park hoops again?
The following was posted on the Kauffman Park Friends Facebook page about an hour ago:
Last night, key members of Kauffman Park Friends and Lakewood Outdoor Basketball Committee met with Mayor Mike Summers and Council reps Tom Bullock and Sam O'Leary. The Mayor briefed us on his decision to close the courts at Kauffman and expressed his commitment to re-open them, although it may take awhile. The Mayor convinced the group that the closing was necessary for safety reasons and also that the specifics he reported need to remain confidential. The meeting addressed other relevant issues with the key takeaway being a consensus that the hoops should remain where they are and not be relocated within the park. Note that this is not a binding decision.
Matthew John Markling wrote:The following was posted on the Kauffman Park Friends Facebook page about an hour ago:
Last night, key members of Kauffman Park Friends and Lakewood Outdoor Basketball Committee met with Mayor Mike Summers and Council reps Tom Bullock and Sam O'Leary. The Mayor briefed us on his decision to close the courts at Kauffman and expressed his commitment to re-open them, although it may take awhile. The Mayor convinced the group that the closing was necessary for safety reasons and also that the specifics he reported need to remain confidential. The meeting addressed other relevant issues with the key takeaway being a consensus that the hoops should remain where they are and not be relocated within the park. Note that this is not a binding decision.
I'm told that the above post from the Kauffman Park Friends Facebook page may not be an accurate report as there may not have been "a consensus that the hoops should remain where they are and not be relocated within the park."
