The Observation Deck

I agree with much of what you say.

There are two other points to consider, though.

The first is that, as sure as night follows day, the Beck will be looking (overtly or implicitly) for some kind of "public commitment" from the city. That means tax dollars, TIFs, abatements, whatever. I think Mr. O and the others are right that, if they're going to play that game, they ought to at least tell Westlake "thanks, but no thanks". Not-for-profits may be businesses, but I think there's some kind of call to act responsibly in exchange for the benefits not-for-profit status confers.

If you want to operate like Fairchild, then don't be surprised if you're viewed like Fairchild. Just another outfit that abandoned the city.

The second is purely psychological. Lakewood has seen retailers, manufacturers, and even churches pull up stakes and head for the greener pastures of the outlying suburbs. Naively or not, the Beck was seen as "belonging" to Lakewood. So while the antipathy toward out-of-towners may be unfair, it may also be understandable.

Make sense?

Bill

Using logic, one would think the first letter went out to Lakewoodites, and that the response was not as it should be. So they thought maybe if we put some Lakewoodites on the board... No proof, just makes sense.

As I suggested in another note. It would be best for all concerned to put this affair behind us. Let's have Beck give the property it was given by the city back to the city. Let the city sign a long term lease to the Beck for them to run a majority of their operations(schooling, theater, etc) out of the Lakewood location. Then let's all work together to solidify their finances.

We know of at least two meetings with Stark just from what Fred Unger has said. That would be meetings not phone calls. But you seem to have a good head for business. Would you have sent out the "looking at Crocker Park" release if you had only had one meeting and a maybe!

If you did, do you not think the city that helped you so much would deserve something equally as splashy saying that says we love Lakewood and would never leave? What would the Mrs. ask from you to make your peace with the world after the PD claimed Bill Call looking to move in with young blond Jezebel? And the story was never denied.

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Jim O'Bryan wrote:What would the Mrs. ask from you to make your peace with the world after the PD claimed Bill Call looking to move in with young blond Jezebel? And the story was never denied.
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Just between you and me she is a brunette.