The Observation Deck

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Matthew John Markling wrote:Jim,

Finally … here is something that we can both agree on!

And kudos to City Hall for letting “Bike Night” come to Lakewood.

In speaking with some folks at QS&L when it first opened, City Hall was “allegedly” putting the squeeze on QS&L to not “encourage” or “publicize” bike nights.

And all the money being spent on new lights on Arthur Avenue now makes more sense.

Bikers will have a “well-lit” path on their way home from QS&L Bike Night!

I now have a reason to go to QS&L on Monday nights.

Thanks, QS&L!

Matt

Matt

You hit on some interesting topics in this response.

The first is you cannot invite and have ribbon cuttings for place like Quaker Steak and
Lube and then ask them to go against what they do. Would you ask World of Beers to stop
selling beer? Would you ask Melt to sell healthy food? How about asking First Federal
to stop making home loans?

This is exactly the slippery slope many of us have spoken about since day one of this
project. It is also one of the reasons many have decided to not come here and help us
understand their point that Commercial Development is a plus for the residents of
Lakewood.

Right now, City Hall is about to go to war against the residents again in an effort to save
$40,000 by spending about $570,000 on new trash cans. While I will be taking this up in
another thread, I would ask City Hall, The Chamber of Commerce, and others, When do we
get the big bonus we were promised? The promise that as we gave our tax dollars to
business districts, and we allowed them to change Lakewood from the "Best Suburb in the
County" aka a wonderful bedroom community that was the best place to raise a family into
a mall-like city that rivals Pearl Road in ambiance? When do the tax payers and voters of
this community get the rewards of the promises made, that the additional taxes would
help offset the residents' cost of living here? I mean Arthur Ave. gets to pay for lights, new
garbage cans, and get more loud traffic? Absurd?

At the same time I know first hand what Quaker Steak and Lube is going through. They
were doing OK last summer with the addition of the front patio. Not great, but near
projections. When the bad weather came and the patio closed, they were losing money.
Money that can only be made up by doing what has succeeded in other locations.

I hope no one says, "Who could see this happening?" Because for a decade we have put
out in various forms, Bedroom Community or Mall Community? They do not exist together.
To try to do both borders on suicide for a community. Do we invest in our houses, and residential
neighborhoods, or do we pump hundreds of millions into propping up a business district
that at best seems unsustainable by comments from 5 Guys, 56 West, and Quaker Steak
and Lube?

We should all sit and think, and ask, Is City Hall here for the residents and to provide us
with the services we have always had? Or, do they at the whim of a few, continue to
balance their books on the backs of the residents while closing our parks so that QSL and
other bars have access to our public park's parking lots? How much do we pay to make their unfulfillable dreams for business come true?

I look forward to QSL Bike Night, but with a tear in my eye for the neighborhoods left behind.

.

Matthew John Markling wrote:



The first Lakewood QS&L Bike Night is believed to be May 6th!

Dave Mechenbier wrote:Maybe Bike Night can be turned into a municipal revenue making event. Don’t our noise ordinances kick in at 9pm?

Matthew John Markling wrote:

Dave Mechenbier wrote:Maybe Bike Night can be turned into a municipal revenue making event. Don’t our noise ordinances kick in at 9pm?

Dave,

I don't violate any ordinances by riding my motorcycle down Arthur Avenue after 9:00 p.m.

Why would 500?

I doubt that I can get cited for a noise violation simply because my 499 friends are riding with me.

Matt

Matthew Lee wrote:Matt,

I'm sorry. Are you honestly asking if there is a difference between 1 motorcycle down Arthur Avenue after 9 PM and 500 motorcycles down Arthur Avenue after 9 PM? Just want to be sure I understand the salient points before adding anything else.

Thanks!

Matt

Matthew John Markling wrote:

Dave Mechenbier wrote:Maybe Bike Night can be turned into a municipal revenue making event. Don’t our noise ordinances kick in at 9pm?

Dave,

I don't violate any ordinances by riding my motorcycle down Arthur Avenue after 9:00 p.m.

Why would 500?

I doubt that I can get cited for a noise violation simply because my 499 friends are riding with me.

Matt

Matthew John Markling wrote:
It's not really a "feelings" question.

What specific ordinance(s) am I violating as I leave QS&L bike nights?

Matt

Matthew Lee wrote:

Matthew John Markling wrote:
It's not really a "feelings" question.

What specific ordinance(s) am I violating as I leave QS&L bike nights?

Matt

Hi Matt,

You are avoiding the above question.

***

Is that a law? Probably not.

Paul Schrimpf wrote:Driving by about 7:30, it looked like about 495 of Mr. Markling's friends didn't get the memo. Or they were fashionably late.

Matthew John Markling wrote:Now that Peter doesn’t have the whole gang going to a City Hall meeting, there may be more than five bikes at bike night … it’s awfully cold though …

I’ll be there in spirit.

Matt