The Lakewood Sunpost's Idiotic Editorial On Council

[Jim O'Bryan]

Charyn

I have never had a council person never call me back in a timely manner on any subject that needed a call back. They are all quick enough not to even use this as criteria.

How do they stand on the important stuff for Lakewood;
Regionalization?
$50 million dollar sewer project?
Bringing in secure clean business?

I have heard much talk of many of the things you speak of. I see much grandstanding on other topics, but I have no idea how they feel deep inside.

As you mentioned Nicki and Art Districts. I know how Nicki feels and I know her background, but what of the rest. Do they want it for the arts? For the Patrons? or for the Re-development it brings. Art they looking for an Art District to fire off the hotel project as out lined at the meeting, or do they want what DL talks of, a Sustainable Art District?

How do they really feel about the Beck? Can we as a city afford the money to fix their roof, or is it taking time and effort form something else?

I talk with council a lot. Some more than others. Because of the amazing amount of differences many of the members have on everything, I have boiled it down into different categories and memes, which now seems to run pretty true. It is a fascinating group, going to be an interesting election.

As for Mayor Tom George. I have never had him not call me back when I left a message needing a call. I used to call all the time, now I have learned who to call for what. The call backs usually range from 1-3 days depending on the department. Planning, Building and Law seem the busiest.

My point they all can do a better job reaching out. Many of the methods you mentioned would add to their all ready busy schedules, or add substantial cost to our city's budget. It is tough, but it can be done.

I still find it hard to believe that you know council so well but know so little of the mayor. But I suppose it is possible. Just discussing not trolling.


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[Gary Rice]

People have wondered why the mayor has not jumped into the fray more often, here on the deck.

No doubt about it, there are lots of issues to be discussed concerning Lakewood, and a number of questions as well, that will come forward in the coming months.

The fact remains, as Jim has pointed out, the administration people are busy down at City Hall! Every time I'm around the mayor and the city people, they are moving. Keeping up with this city is a full-time job indeed!

The dynamics of running a city are complex and time-consuming. As Jim pointed out, each of these people are willing and able to respond to your individual concerns, and they do so, as part of their every day activities, as the mayor did for me, with that running urinal situation.

Our city council people may be heard more often on this 'deck because they technically have part-time positions with the city. (although to be fair, I believe that there are council people who give their all to all things Lakewood!) As well, and understandably so, some may want to increase their visibility with the voters.

I for one, am pleased to have a mayor who remains focused on doing a good job for the city, rather than being a banter-jockey in the chat rooms.

As we all have learned, interactions on the 'Deck, while interesting, also require time and thought, on the part of all participants.

I would rather see our mayor (whomever he or she may be) keep their time and attention focused on the problems of the City, rather than feel the need to defend their every move or utterance, for hours a day at their computer screen.

If they are doing a good job, their actions will speak louder than words. If they do not? No amount of banter-jockey claptrap could ever explain why things fell apart.

[Mike Deneen]

If they are doing a good job, their actions will speak louder than words. If they do not? No amount of banter-jockey claptrap could ever explain why things fell apart.

Never underestimate the power of banter-jockey claptrap. Our national politic is dominated by it, and the entire cable news industry is based upon it. The trend is quickly spreading downward into local politics.

As Stephen Colbert says, people don't want to THINK, they want to FEEL.

[Gary Rice]

Wow!

"Banter-jockey claptrap"

Did I just come up with a new sound bite?

[Bryan Schwegler]

The fact remains, as Jim has pointed out, the administration people are busy down at City Hall! Every time I'm around the mayor and the city people, they are moving. Keeping up with this city is a full-time job indeed!

How much time would it honestly take for the Mayor to write a weekly blog post about his thoughts, etc.? How about a bi-weekly Observer article? Too busy? If that's the case, then I must assume that all Observer articles are written by people who are not employed...but I know that's not the case.

Our city council people may be heard more often on this 'deck because they technically have part-time positions with the city. (although to be fair, I believe that there are council people who give their all to all things Lakewood!)

You forget to mention that most if not all also have a full-time job in addition to their part-time council duties so let's call that 1.5 full-time jobs. They still find time to post here, send e-newsletters to their constituents, etc. I fail to see why the Mayor could not do the same, except it's his conscious choice not to.

I for one, am pleased to have a mayor who remains focused on doing a good job for the city, rather than being a banter-jockey in the chat rooms.

So you feel that Demro, Butler, etc are just "banter jockeys" and add no value here? I personally find their insight extremely helpful and they get a lot of respect from me for taking the time to be part of the community conversation.

In today's world of easy, cheap electronic communications, there is no reason in the world why anyone, even the Mayor of Lakewood, could not do a better job of keeping in touch on a regular basis with the citizens of this city.

You may defend his silence as staying away from sound-bites, polticking, etc (which is not my position or what I'm asking for at all so I'm not sure why you all keep bringing that up), but to me, his silence is deafening and dissappointing. Jim and crew have done a great job with the entire Observer project, it's sad that the Mayor chooses not to leverage the power here.

[Mike Deneen]

[
So you feel that Demro, Butler, etc are just "banter jockeys" and add no value here? I personally find their insight extremely helpful and they get a lot of respect from me for taking the time to be part of the community conversation.[/quote]

I find Demro's name calling very insightful. Same goes for his comments about how we'lll all be mugged hauling our garbage to the curb.

[Bill Call]

As Stephen Colbert says, people don't want to THINK, they want to FEEL.

Who is Stephen Colbert?

That's a good point. When did we start asking people how they feel about an issue instead of what they think about an issue?

I suppose its like the story about the evolution of elementary school arithmetic text books.

In the 1940's students were asked to compute the estimated board feet of lumber produced by 15 acres of land given the species of tree and the average size of the tree. By the 1990's the arithmetic exercise had evolved into the question "How do the squirrels feel about losing their homes?" How do you feel about the squirrels losing their homes? Remember, there are no wrong answers!"

Anyway, what do you think about the coming insolvency of the City of Lakewood?

Why do you suppose the Mayor has chosen to pretend that it is not going to happen?

Why is it that a simple thing like removing graffiti paralyzes the public works department?

And remember, in real life there are wrong answers!

[Mike Deneen]

Who is Stephen Colbert? He's the greatest American visionary since Howard Beale!

Also, can you tell me SPECIFICALLY where you have seen these textbooks about how squirrels feel?

Regarding the city, we all know times are tight. However, budget deficits have been predicted past years as well. I believe the 2006 budget was origninally forecast to have a $2 million shortfall, but that did not happen. Unless I am mistaken, the city is actually starting 2007 in the black.

People on this thread have been applauding council members about their great communication and openness. However, when Bill opened a thread on "what would you cut", not a single one of those council members posted an idea or suggestion.

I am not criticizing politicians or candidates for not participating....in an increasingly polarized political world, online comments can come back to haunt you (I am guilty too, making fun of Demro's comments).

However, you cannot have it both ways.

[Bill Call]

Who is Stephen Colbert? He's the greatest American visionary since Howard Beale!

That cannot be. Ayn Rand was the greatest American visionary!

Also, can you tell me SPECIFICALLY where you have seen these textbooks about how squirrels feel?

It was just a story to illustrate a point about the dumbing down of textbooks. See this: http://www.opinionjournal.com/forms/pri ... =110006873

Regarding the city... Unless I am mistaken, the city is actually starting 2007 in the black.

The City avoided those deficits by raiding various fund balances,(water, sewer, etc and by maximizing the City's debt load. By this time next year those funds will be empty and the City will have no borrowing authority.

It's like financing your household budget by cashing in your 401(k), mortgaging the house and pawning your furniture. It's not necessarily a bad way to deal with a short term cash crunch. It is a bad way to fund a systemic financial problem. The City has a systemic financial problem.

However, when Bill opened a thread on "what would you cut", not a single one of those council members posted an idea or suggestion.

I have to admit that I was a little disappointed that no one offered any "cuts". I was expecting something like you get from the schools, "All I can think to do is to stop buying text books!" I didn't even get that!

[Gary Rice]

Bryan,

A thoughtful and insightful post, even if I did happen to be the target :-)

For the record though, you wrote:

"So you feel that Demro, Butler, etc are just "banter jockeys" and add no value here? I personally find their insight extremely helpful and they get a lot of respect from me for taking the time to be part of the community conversation."

No Bryan, I just write what I feel, I made a general remark.

Like Mike, I do feel that Ryan could have handled a few posts better, but I think I could have done better with a few of mine too.

I agree that the mayor should interact with the constituency. The question of course, is how best to do that in the framework of his day. I suppose that I was thinking that I don't want my tax dollars paying for any government official's chatty computer time, whether it would be the mayor's or the council's.

And of course, what they choose to do with their personal time is their own perogative.

Perhaps there will be a balance here somewhere. Jim's working on that "Lunch with the Mayor" column, but then, do we "Dine with the Council?" or have "Breakfast with the judge?"

We'll leave aside, for the moment, the question of who we might wish to spend our evenings with :-)

Bill,

I love your Math problem analogy! (although I love squirrels too!)

I've seen that kind of thing too in the past, although if you look at Ivor's "Math Homework" post, I think you'll see that Lakewood Schools are on the right track.

Now...

As for Ayn Rand? Ah yes...The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged...

I've even got a few of those pamphlets, titled "The Objectivist".

I just happen to have Volume 9, number 5 right in front of me, and a quote from Ayn just jumped out at me; as a sad and ironic reflection on recent events, both here and overseas:

"Ideas end where a gun begins."

Reading Ayn, another quote comes forth from that same article:

"altruism is, in fact, the negation of morality"

There's just one problem with conservatism and self interest that I can see, though... What, exactly, would conservatives propose to DO ABOUT the majority of needful people in the world, who do not even HAVE bootstraps to pull themselves up by?

The trouble with having to keep looking over your shoulder, is that you keep running into things....

[Bill Call]

Here is a response from our highly talented City Finance Director:

I just wanted to point out inaccuracies to your latest posting on the Observer.

"The City avoided those deficits by raiding various fund balances,(water, sewer, etc and by maximizing the City's debt load. By this time next year those funds will be empty and the City will have no borrowing authority."

1) Per accounting rules and Ohio Revised Code, the City cannot "raid"
other funds to support the General Fund. Water and Sewer are enterprise funds, and are restricted funds that cannot be commingled with the General Fund. Those funds have extremely healthy fund balances.

2) Per accounting rules and Ohio Revised Code, the City cannot issue debt for operating expenditures. The City has nearly $12 million in un-voted borrowing authority for capital expenditures, and will so next year as well. Therefore, the statement that the City will have no borrowing authority is completely untrue.

3) The City has avoided actual deficits through conservative budgeting, i.e. lower revenue estimates, and budgeted expenditures for possible contingencies. In 2006, General Fund revenues exceeded expenditures by over $350,000

4) The depleted cash balance in the General Fund from FY 2000-FY2005 occurred for the following reasons:
* Losses of Federal and State aid such reduced Community
Development Block Grand funds, the freezing of the Local Government Funds, and the phasing out of tangible personal property tax.
* Rising hospitalization costs. In FY 1999, healthcare costs were
$2.46 million, whereas in FY 2006 the City experienced almost $4.91 million in healthcare expenditures.
* A 27th pay period in FY 2004 resulted in $1.25 million in
additional payroll expenses, which is a phenomena that occurs every 11 years.
* A shifting of General Fund surpluses into one-time large capital
expenditures, such as the FY 2005 Council request of over $700,000 transferred for street construction projects
* Retroactive cost of living pay increases for negotiated
collective bargaining agreements, and a 2% lump sum payment of FY 2004 wages issued on December 2005 for the newly formed AFSCME Administrative Unit.
* Municipal income tax revenue was flat in FY 2002, and then
decreased in FY 2003 by $240,000. However, Regional Income Tax Agency costs escalated from $451,000 in FY 2002 to $809,000 in FY 2005.
* Estate tax revenue reached its lowest point in years with
receipts of $692,000 in FY 2004, whereas FY 2006 revenues were over $900,000.

5) The $1.5 projected General Fund ending fund balance depicted for 2008 in the
2007 Comprehensive Budget Document is also conservative based on trend data. For example, in 2004 it was projected that the City would face a year-end General Fund cash balance of negative $2.5 million. As I mentioned, 2006 ended over $900,000 in the black.

All of this information is contained within the 2007 Comprehensive Budget Document.

Sincerely,

[Stan Austin]

Bill--- While we may disagee at times I salute you for having the courage to own up to your mistakes by posting the Finace Director's corrections.

As a friend I would point out that when you go too far afield from the actual facts you really diminish your credibility for any future posts.

I believe that the Director would be available in the future for explanations on the city's finances before you post so that you do no further damage to your reputation.

Your friend

Stan

[Bill Call]

Bill--- While we may disagee at times I salute you for having the courage to own up to your mistakes by posting the Finace Director's corrections.

I am not admitting a mistake. I am offering up the other side of the story. More than one person has told me about some of the practices I have alluded to. Could they all be wrong? Perhaps. Perhaps not.

There are three sides to every story. Time will tell which side is the most accurate. Perhaps someone out there would like to speak up?

This could get interesting or it could whimper away.

In any case I always appreciate your criticisms and comments.

One more thing, I don't have any particular ax to grind on this issue except this: I have a home, family and investments in Lakewood. I have a selfish interest in seeing the City prosper.

I have the fear that it won't.

[Jeff Endress]

Bill, Stan

I guess this represents one of those problems with posts, emails, electronic exchanges in general

I can't figure out which one of you is being sarcastic!

Jeff

[Stan Austin]

Bill--- There are no versions here. Facts are facts or you're calling the Finance Director a liar.

Which one is it?