The Observation Deck

Kauffman Park Friends will meet Thursday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m. in the Library Multipurpose room. We will mostly be discussing things that are not hoops related, and don't want to spend the whole time talking hoops during the meeting - we only have until 8:30 in the library - but I'm sure some members will be willing to talk about this situation before or after the meeting.

Sorry to have not jumped in on some comments last summer. My notifications on this topic must have timed out.

I was curious as to status of the Kauffman Courts so I drove by this morning.

The “Kauffman Courts Temporarily Closed Until Further Notice” sign is still up.




Both of the Kauffman Park basketball hoops have now been removed.




So, here are a few follow-up questions:

1. Since the “Kauffman Courts Temporarily Closed Until Further Notice” sign is still up, how does Mayor and Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers define the word, “temporarily” for purposes of the Kauffman Courts?

2. Since both of the Kauffman Park basketball hoops have now been removed, does anyone know whether Mayor and Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers continues to consider this person to be a "credible concern for public safety near the park" since the Kauffman Park hoops were taken down?

3. If Mayor and Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers continues to consider this person to be a "credible concern for public safety near the park," does anyone know what help has been provided to this alleged "credible concern for public safety near the park?"

4. What was the final response from Mayor and Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers to these two letters?

5. Does anyone know whether outdoor and indoor basketball hoops and courts will be included in the "Michael P. Summers Recreation Center and Natatorium" once City Hall & Friends kill the Lakewood Hospital and replace it with the WRECK center given one of the newly found smoking guns?

... from the "Smoking Gun-DISCOVERED!" thread at http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13543 ...




See, also, http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13559; http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13553; and more threads as the list of City Hall deception grows.

Hi Matt,

I noticed this too. Apparently, this alleged threat has been in trouble with the law before. According to Lakewood Municipal Court Records, this alleged threat was charged with disorderly conduct/intoxicated back in May of 2013 when he was allegedly getting rough with kids at Kauffman Park. At a May 2014 council meeting, the alleged threat spoke at a city council meeting and asked for a solution to the noise at the Kauffman Park basketball courts. This alleged threat is allegedly a friend of Mike Summers. Shortly after the alleged threat asked for a solution, the courts at Kauffman Park were closed. Apparently, if you are allegedly a friend of the mayor's, ask and you will receive.

I know that since a small court was placed a Wagar Park last year, several residents on Orchard Grove, Rosewood, and especially Park Place have complained about the noise. As far as I know, that small half-court is still open.

Although I am not positive, I am pretty sure any member of council could introduce a resolution at a council meeting to re-open the basketball courts. Should such a resolution receive enough votes, I believe council could override Mike Summers and choose to re-open the courts. In actuality, the City of Lakewood is not a dictatorship, it is a democracy.

Soon after I moved here (6 months ago) I knew something wasn't quite right with only 1 basketball court available. I figured that some influential people didn't want "unsavory elements" on the courts.

Matthew John Markling wrote:Both of the Kauffman Park basketball hoops have now been removed.

Oh my. I feel so bad the the good folks at LOBC who raised the $$$ to put those hoops up! I hope at least Art or Stephanie or Nadhal got the hoops back!


Jim O'B - I'll be The Rock Thrower is livid!

The courts are still "temporarily" closed. Since both hoops are down, we've asked if they could now open it up to tennis players, but that hasn't happened.

The Mayor asked Kauffman Park Friends' input on "temporarily" relocating the hoops to a place where they used to be, adjacent to the small children's play area, and the same distance - if not closer - to Lakeland Ave. neighbors. We said no. There is no good place within Kauffman Park for hoops besides the enclosure with a sound barrier. Then the Mayor offered to cut funds for Kauffman Park improvements, and he said yes to that offer. We haven't spoken much since, and aside from the trail, which was already in the works, and many new trees, not much has happened. We are now trying to raise our own money and hoping for the best from the City.

Alex brings up an interesting question, but race played no part in the decision to close the Kauffman hoops "temporarily" last spring. It was all about the sensitivity of one neighbor (an old school chum of the Mayor) to basketball noise. What motivated the City to take down other hoops around town many years ago is another matter.

One thing I've been mulling over: This controversy over basketball outdoors was taking place at the same time negotiations for the hospital plan were heating up behind closed doors. Was there a connection?

Note that I'm speaking on my own here, without approval of KPF or Lakewood Alive, which would prefer this not be said. But it's time. I'm a little out of line, but I had to endure that very unpleasant conversation with the Mayor last year.

Dan Alaimo wrote:Alex brings up an interesting question, but race played no part in the decision to close the Kauffman hoops "temporarily" last spring. It was all about the sensitivity of one neighbor (an old school chum of the Mayor) to basketball noise. What motivated the City to take down other hoops around town many years ago is another matter.

Dan is correct in that this VERY SPECIFIC instance, race was not the reason.

However, when it comes to the broader question of hoops around Lakewood, it is very much a reason.
Noone will say it out loud, of course.

The broader hoops issue dates back many years, well before Summers took office.

Dan Alaimo wrote:*** I had to endure that very unpleasant conversation with the Mayor last year.

Dan,

I've had to endure many an unpleasant conversation with Mayor Michael P. Summers.

This mayor becomes rather unpleasant when you don't agree with him.

Temper. Temper. Temper.

Matt

A civic leader recently asked me whether I know the status of the person whom Mayor and Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers diagnosed and alleged to be a "credible concern for public safety near the park."

I don't know.

Do any of you?

Matthew John Markling wrote:A civic leader recently asked me whether I know the status of the person whom Mayor and Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers diagnosed and alleged to be a "credible concern for public safety near the park."

I don't know.

Do any of you?

Matt - Simple "if-then" logic dictates that the neighbor is still a credible concern for public safety near the park.

If threat exists, then close hoops.
If hoops are closed, then treat still exists.

Peter Grossetti wrote:

Matthew John Markling wrote:A civic leader recently asked me whether I know the status of the person whom Mayor and Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers diagnosed and alleged to be a "credible concern for public safety near the park."

I don't know.

Do any of you?

Matt - Simple "if-then" logic dictates that the neighbor is still a credible concern for public safety near the park.

If threat exists, then close hoops.
If hoops are closed, then treat still exists.

Peter

If you have a credible threat to the community...

1) Tear down hospital
2) offer them jobs.

.

Peter Grossetti wrote:

Matthew John Markling wrote:Both of the Kauffman Park basketball hoops have now been removed.

Oh my. I feel so bad the the good folks at LOBC who raised the $$$ to put those hoops up! I hope at least Art or Stephanie or Nadhal got the hoops back!


Jim O'B - I'll be The Rock Thrower is livid!

Those hoops were purchased with donations, $10, $15, $20 at at time from folks who supported LOBC and our efforts to return OUTDOOR BASKETBALL to Lakewood. Those hoops belong to LOBC. LOBC never formally donated them to the city nor did the city ever officially recognize LOBC and the generosity of the good folks who made the purchase of those hoops possible for the kids of Lakewood!

Give us our hoop back!

Stephanie Toole wrote:
Give us our hoop back!

And give the courts back to the kids!

Some of the most precious moments during my 29 years in
Lakewood where experienced on the Kauffman courts as a mentor/coach.

Stephanie Toole wrote:Those hoops were purchased with donations, $10, $15, $20 at at time from folks who supported LOBC and our efforts to return OUTDOOR BASKETBALL to Lakewood. Those hoops belong to LOBC. LOBC never formally donated them to the city nor did the city ever officially recognize LOBC and the generosity of the good folks who made the purchase of those hoops possible for the kids of Lakewood!

Give us our hoop back!

Stephanie,

Has anyone formally requested the hoop back? If so, has the Mayor responded?