News Release from Chief Tim Malley

[Ryan Salo]

Does anyone know if any of the shooters have been on section 8? I have heard a lot of talk about section 8 problems, but I have not seen any real numbers showing the connection.

Sharon,

I agree with you about not focusing on just the short term fixes and ignoring the long term. I also agree that we need to focus on the current laws that we have.

I also think we need a complete citi stat study on all of the current police, we need gps tracking to see where they are. I go to Giant Eagle late at night a lot and there is always a particular police officer that I now, that is just hanging out with his off duty friend while he is ON DUTY! How much of this ABUSE is happening? If an officer is slowly trolling problem neighborhoods rather than hanging out at a grocery store maybe we could prevent more problems. I also see the another officer hanging out behind drug mart by the old huntington drive through sitting and reading the paper.

My fear is that if we have a police levy without a change in management we will just have more lazy cops on the street sitting behind drug mart reading the paper or standing inside of Giant Eagle while they are on duty.

I really appreciate the risk these officers take when they put on the uniform and go to work, but lets not lower the standard and be afraid of pointing out weakness!

Lets hold city employees accountable. If this was private business half of them would probably be fired.
[/quote]

[Bill Call]

I also think we need a complete citi stat study on all of the current police, we need gps tracking to see where they are. I go to Giant Eagle late at night a lot and there is always a particular police officer that I now, that is just hanging out with his off duty friend while he is ON DUTY! How much of this ABUSE is happening?

You are wasting your time.

Why is it that on many days so many firefighters call in sick that the City is stuck paying overtime for several firefighters?

Why is it that on any given Friday some City departments give their employees a "free" day off while complaining that they just don't have enough help?

Why is it that the City has 150 more employees than it did 20 years ago but that services are declining?

Why is it that the City has no housing policy?

Why is it that the City has no policing strategy?

Why is it that entire focus of City government is on making the employee happy?

Why is the middle class fleeing?

Why is it that everyone but the political leadership knows that there is a problem?

Why is it that the highest taxes in the country just aren't high enough?

Don't ask. If just upsets people.

Can Lakewood get its groove back?

It is very unlikely.

The mention of accountability for City employees causes consternation at City Hall. The mere talk of new housing, new shopping opportunities, new parks or demolition of obsolete housing gives the citizenry a case of the vapors. WHAT!! you want to tear that down! Oh my God!

[Jim O'Bryan]

Bill

Can you give me examples of this. I found fault with much of what you have posted in this thread. as we both love to shoot from the hip, can you enlighten me?

Can we get the groove back?

As long as we do not depend entirely on City Hall, yes.

Some think we are already doing that.

2008 calendar of events seem pretty grovvy to me.


.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Ryan

I am curious what CitiStats would show us about the "headline" incidents and what we should do with that.

Do we put police in the parking lots of McDonalds?, behind Cerny Shoes? at an otherwise peaceful corner of Hird and Lake? That is 1/3 of police on at night. We already know some would complain to see police sitting there waiting for the crime "CitiStats" highlighted to happen again.

Another little thing between, CitiStats and/or more police on the street. Criminals generally fear police more than stats.

FWIW

[Gary Rice]

The tragic circumstances that caused this posting do not change the fact that Lakewood, in so many ways, continues to be a positive and pleasant place to live.

Drugs are not a new phenom. Nearly one hundred years ago, they were singing about "Cocaine Bill and Morphine Sue". A small percentage of society will abuse illegal drugs, and a larger percentage will abuse legal drugs.

And all this will transpire in every community in this country.

Neither are guns, unions, so-called "Section 8" (a term no longer in use anyway), or "thugs" (what a thinly-veiled, politically-inspired hate word THAT seems to be) to blame here.

No, let's face it. There simply are those among us who like to seem to like to stir the poop pot for their own reasons. For some, it seems to be classic attention-getting behavior, For others? Politics may enter in. For others? Philosophical polemics seems to warp any thoughts for constructive interaction.

It's easier to criticize than it is to contribute constructively.

Thank goodness these people are few and far between, in the grand scheme of things.

Lakewood's in the groove. Oh yeah.

We are doing fine. See my photoblog for a viewing of a few of Lakewood's many improvements: Just click HERE:

http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... d-everyone

That does not mean that things will always be perfect. Employee absenteeism must continue to be addressed. Effective cost and accountability measures will always be on the front burner. Crime will always be an issue.

Still, most of this is a process, and it is a good one indeed, in our city.

What's the old saying? You're part of the problem, or part of the solution?

All just my opinion, of course....I just call it as I see it.

[Ryan Salo]

"Another little thing between, CitiStats and/or more police on the street. Criminals generally fear police more than stats. "

More police on the street? Do you mean patrolling neighborhoods or sitting at Giant Eagle or behind drug mart?

If I were a criminal and knew that the police were predictable I would not be afraid to do anything. CitiStat or any type of review would show where cars are at all time and what their patterns are. We cannot make general statements like "we need more cops" without know what our existing crew is even doing.

I sure am glad the hash browns are double protected at Giant Eagle but don't the citizens deserve (and pay for) more?

More police without better direction = more wasted dollars.

[Jim O'Bryan]

"Another little thing between, CitiStats and/or more police on the street. Criminals generally fear police more than stats. "

More police on the street? Do you mean patrolling neighborhoods or sitting at Giant Eagle or behind drug mart?

If I were a criminal and knew that the police were predictable I would not be afraid to do anything. CitiStat or any type of review would show where cars are at all time and what their patterns are. We cannot make general statements like "we need more cops" without know what our existing crew is even doing.

I sure am glad the hash browns are double protected at Giant Eagle but don't the citizens deserve (and pay for) more?

More police without better direction = more wasted dollars.

Ryan

What did the police, city council, the mayor tell you when you mentioned this to them?

What was the time, the badge number the car number?

Were they on breaks? They do get breaks.

You know they all work for you.


.

[Bret Callentine]

I can't speak for the whole of Lakewood, but I'll boast that I think that Elmwood Avenue is most definitely getting it's groove back. And it's because people have become active.

Jim, I don't know if artificially trying to inflate rental or property values is an option, but perhaps if you made it somewhat incentive driven.

Just throwing out ideas here...

what if you had a $1,000 per year fee per property, but offered deferments if the landlord could show that he has put at least that much into capital improvements. It would have to be something that was above and beyond the minimal building department standards.

I'm also for offering incentives for city employees that live within the city limits. I don't want to force anyone to live here, but I wouldn't mind finding people that want to work within the city where they live.

My biggest complaint is in the time it takes for the city's legal department to get anything accomplished. How long does a house have to sit, rotting into the ground before the city can affect reasonable change?

As for safety, sure, I wouldn't mind a few more officers on the streets, but the key is still the citizens themselves. And that's part of the reason I moved here in the first place. I actually LIKE having my neighbors 8 feet away.

[Dee Martinez]

Mr. Rice.

I believe you are a good reasonable and sensitive person and I commend you for your unfailingly sunny perspective on all things Lakewood.
I would also advise you that not everyone is as fortunate as you as to be able to overlook the things that too often are happening on their tree lawns

When someone is shot within a few hundreds yard of your home, it is very difficult to say "Lakewood's in the groove. Oh yeah" and really believe it.

There are people who live in some of the less-serene neighborhoods of our fair town, who are also good reasonable and sensitive people, and who agonize over the kitchen table if this is the right environment for their kids. For them "employee absenteeism" is hardly their primary concern. Some of them want easy and fast answers, some know the problems will take longer to tackle. But Mr Rice, they are not whiners and malcontents, their nervousness is very real to them.

The difference can be just a few blocks. I urge you to listen carefully to the honest concerns and in some cases, fear, your neighbors are expressing. I would hate to see anyone lose the love of Lakewood you sol obviously have but we do need to deal with reality as well as emotion.

[Richard Cole]

Why is it that the highest taxes in the country just aren't high enough?

Don't ask. If just upsets people.

Nobody gets upset at the asking of questions; having just read this thread for the first time there seems to be a very vibrant discussion.

Lakewood doesn't have the highest taxes in the country, as has been pointed out on other OD threads.

Giving misconstrued perceptions the aura of fact, is what I find mystifying.

[Ryan Salo]

Jim,

I think I understand what you are saying.

Why hold the management responsible when we have citizens?

Isn't that your solution to almost everything?

Want better parks, fix them.

Want better housing, make more noise to your neighbors.

Want better police, write up their info and turn it in.

Thank sounds great, it is the fault of the citizens not of the PAID leaders.

What is next, want better streets... Get together and pave it???

[Jim O'Bryan]

Drugs are not a new phenom. Nearly one hundred years ago, they were singing about "Cocaine Bill and Morphene Sue". A small percentage of society will abuse illegal drugs, and a larger percentage will abuse legal drugs.

And all this will transpire in every community in this country.

Gary

Of course 100 years ago they were legal.

Which made Coke, and 7-Up fly off the shelves.

But you are right, drugs are not a new problem, and certainly not new to Lakewood. As I often point out, 1973 Lakewood, Ohio easiest place to buy drugs in America. well that is how Time Magazine saw it.

And thanks to the current White House it will only get worse.

New off the wire from yesterday. "Afghanistan has record poppy crop." This will reduce the cost of heroin, new drug of choce, again. Which is priced so low, a junkie can skip smoking and sustain his/her habit.

We have to address, we have to provide activity for kids, we have to make them know what a dead end it can be. The shooting behind my building from what I have put together was a young, kid, who had been in trouble, deciding with the help of a provider that drugs would be easy cool money. Well he paid with his life. Not so cool.

FWIW

.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Bret

I only vetted a small part of a plan we were looking at.

You are correct, it has to be tied in to incentives to help the property owner. Low cost loans, etc.

Another thing we have always looked at, and answers many of the problems in all of these threads is a REAL Co-Op for homeowners and residents. This was first floated in the first couple months of the Observer.

We will never bring down taxes, but we can bring down the cost of living in Lakewood. Bulk buys of paint, shingles, services, etc. Could go a long way to making this city better and more liveable.

Right now LEAF Community is looking to kick up their program with a building, larger space, maybe even taking over the Farmer's Market.

We have to start thinking out of the box, and not looking at City Hall for the answers.

.

[Shawn Juris]

Backing up a bit, is it a possibility to fund the police budget by increasing the amount of fines that are collected from those who violate our laws? I'm not aware if there is a state or federal limit to how much of a financial penalty can be assessed for felony crimes but if it's possible bump it up. To the opposite end of the spectrum and I know that I'll be kicking myself later for this one, ticket the meters that are expired. If marijuana is a gateway drug then being able to park for hours on an expired meter is the equivalent for misdemeanors. When was the last time you either were ticketed or saw a ticket on a car? The comparison has been made between Lakewood and Cleveland Hts often. While stats may not matter to criminals they are one of the few things we can look at academically and not anecdotally. Cleveland Hts makes us look bad when it comes to these stats and after living there I can tell you that is puzzling. The most evident difference was that there was always a "meter maid" in the retail areas waiting to collect another $15 fine. These officers are not paid as much as the patrol officers but they do have a badge, carry a gun and are trained to protect and serve.
I also think that it would be interesting to find out the correlation between crime and voucher recipients (since it's not called section . I know this will blow Sharon's mind but I don't care what color their skin is. I would just like to see if the perception is supported by any sort of evidence.
The other option in the words of Bob Marley, is to legalize it, don't criminalize it. If the goal was to be Berkley in the 60's this should fall right into the LO wheelhouse.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Shawn

Nice post.

Cigaretes and alcohol are the gateway drugs, do not let the hype blind you to the real problems.

Legalize? Not a city issue.

Parking meters, raise the rates. Many things could be done to turn this into a nice little profit center.

At the same time I meet with a couple Lakewood businesses that are claiming to loose patrons because of the cost at the meters.

FWIW