The Observation Deck

Lori Allen _ wrote:Jay Carson and Nickie Antonio signed up to run for State House District 13. Carson is a Republican and Antonio is a Democrat. These two people were once signed up to run in this district. Jay Carson then withdrew his candidacy after the filing deadline. In other words, nobody could take Carson's place to run against Antonio as a Republican or Democrat, as the deadline to file signatures to get on the ballot had expired.

It is no secret that Antonio stood up at a council meeting (I believe it was December 21st) and sided with council and the mayor to move forward with the Master Agreement. At least, I think this is what most people took by her comments. Bear in mind that this was after she endorsed Skindell for mayor and probably learned many of his campaign strategies or tactics. Was it an honest, innocent 180 degree turn in thinking or was she a "double agent" all along?

In summary, did Jay Carson conspire with Nickie Antonio, Summers, and maybe others to ensure that nobody would sign up to run against Antonio and that she would sail back into the State House for another two years? Was Jay Carson a "plant"? Perhaps he wears the "plant" hat.

Not trying to pick on Jay Carson or single him out, but it does make me wonder what his true intentions were with this, considering Antonio's sudden change of mind and Carson's connection to Summers.

FWIW.

T Peppard wrote:I watched in shock when Nickie Antonio spoke at that final December 21st meeting. I was originally a big supporter of her. She came to my door within a few months of my moving to Lakewood. She seemed honest and eager to represent her constituents. Sadly, she did not represent anyone except the CCF when she spoke that fateful evening. I would like to know why she would do this and invite her to speak on the deck so that all of us can understand her side.

Jeff Dreger wrote:I don't like this. I don't like these kinds of personal attacks at all. That said, I’m not even sure what accusations are being made... or if any are being made at all. Are you simply faulting him for having a different opinion and behaving accordingly?

Bill Call wrote:

Jeff Dreger wrote:I don't like this. I don't like these kinds of personal attacks at all. That said, I’m not even sure what accusations are being made... or if any are being made at all. Are you simply faulting him for having a different opinion and behaving accordingly?

I am not a big fan of calling out people by name on the deck but in this case it is warranted. There is a secret campaign to use City funds to fund private goals and I suspect that Jay Carson is in on the secret.

How so?

The Clinic uses its non-profit status to destroy the competition. Last year the Cleveland Clinic spent about $100 million on "charity care" on revenue of over $6 billion and profit of over $700 million. If the Clinic was a for profit organization they would have paid $300 million in taxes. Not a bad deal.

Where does Jay Carson enter the picture? Lakewood Hospital was a major provider of charity care for the people of Cuyahoga and Lorain County. That charity care will be picked up by North Coast Health. Where will the money come from? The taxpayers of Lakewood.

Where was the public discussion?
Where was the economic analysis?
Where was the Council?

Why should the City of Lakewood have to pick up the charity care for the Cleveland Clinic?

The Lakewood Hospital Foundation has been converted to a regional foundation controlled by the Cleveland Clinic. $34 million in City assets have been converted to private use without any discussion or debate. Jay Carson owes us all an explanation.

I don't expect one.

Brian Essi wrote:

Bill Call wrote:

Jeff Dreger wrote:I don't like this. I don't like these kinds of personal attacks at all. That said, I’m not even sure what accusations are being made... or if any are being made at all. Are you simply faulting him for having a different opinion and behaving accordingly?

I am not a big fan of calling out people by name on the deck but in this case it is warranted. There is a secret campaign to use City funds to fund private goals and I suspect that Jay Carson is in on the secret.

How so?

The Clinic uses its non-profit status to destroy the competition. Last year the Cleveland Clinic spent about $100 million on "charity care" on revenue of over $6 billion and profit of over $700 million. If the Clinic was a for profit organization they would have paid $300 million in taxes. Not a bad deal.

Where does Jay Carson enter the picture? Lakewood Hospital was a major provider of charity care for the people of Cuyahoga and Lorain County. That charity care will be picked up by North Coast Health. Where will the money come from? The taxpayers of Lakewood.

Where was the public discussion?
Where was the economic analysis?
Where was the Council?

Why should the City of Lakewood have to pick up the charity care for the Cleveland Clinic?

The Lakewood Hospital Foundation has been converted to a regional foundation controlled by the Cleveland Clinic. $34 million in City assets have been converted to private use without any discussion or debate. Jay Carson owes us all an explanation.

I don't expect one.

Summers changed his answers in sworn testimony and said LHA funded the last campaign. So he first denied funding and then admitted it. Carson made a statement to city council that CCF did not fund Bleed. Carson was deputy treasurer of a Bleed PAC.

Did the Bleed PAC use charitable money in its campaign?

Was Carson open and transparent with council about Bleed's funding?

May I suggest that these are questions that Corey & Co are desperate to avoid. Hence, his bait and switch tactic of avoidance by suggesting other are avoiding answers to serous questions.

So Corey, yes or no--are you cool with using charitable money to pursue a political agenda?

Bridget Conant wrote:LHA money funded the anti-64 campaign. According to the attached document, the campaign finance report filed by treasurer Robert Petrie for the Voters Engaged to Oppose (VETO) 64, the major contributor was the LHA, to the tune of $50,000. Tom Bullock's campaign "loaned" them $1600.00.

The majority of the money ($46,000) went to a firm Mike Thomas and Assoc of Shaker Heights, for "campaign management."

veto 64.pdf

Jay Carson is the Deputy treasurer for the group.

veto carson.pdf

Here is Mike Thomas profile, a former Hennes Communications employee

http://rstrategygroup.com/mike-thomas/

Bridget Conant wrote:LHA money funded the anti-64 campaign. According to the attached document, the campaign finance report filed by treasurer Robert Petrie for the Voters Engaged to Oppose (VETO) 64, the major contributor was the LHA, to the tune of $50,000. Tom Bullock's campaign "loaned" them $1600.00.

The majority of the money ($46,000) went to a firm Mike Thomas and Assoc of Shaker Heights, for "campaign management."

veto 64.pdf

Jay Carson is the Deputy treasurer for the group.

veto carson.pdf

Here is Mike Thomas profile, a former Hennes Communications employee

http://rstrategygroup.com/mike-thomas/

Bridget Conant wrote:Kate,

Great Lakes - another Ed Fitzgerald "venture." With law director Kevin Butler as Agent.

A lot of the machination surrounding this hospital issue involves Fitzgerald.

We seemingly will never be free of him.

Brian Essi wrote:Mr. Carson,

I see you're on the Deck.

Care to explain yourself or do you like the job Corey is doing?

Bill Call wrote: There is a secret campaign to use City funds to fund private goals and I suspect that Jay Carson is in on the secret.

Where does Jay Carson enter the picture? Lakewood Hospital was a major provider of charity care for the people of Cuyahoga and Lorain County. That charity care will be picked up by North Coast Health. Where will the money come from? The taxpayers of Lakewood.

The Lakewood Hospital Foundation has been converted to a regional foundation controlled by the Cleveland Clinic. $34 million in City assets have been converted to private use without any discussion or debate. Jay Carson owes us all an explanation.

T Peppard wrote:

Bill Call wrote: There is a secret campaign to use City funds to fund private goals and I suspect that Jay Carson is in on the secret.

Where does Jay Carson enter the picture? Lakewood Hospital was a major provider of charity care for the people of Cuyahoga and Lorain County. That charity care will be picked up by North Coast Health. Where will the money come from? The taxpayers of Lakewood.

The Lakewood Hospital Foundation has been converted to a regional foundation controlled by the Cleveland Clinic. $34 million in City assets have been converted to private use without any discussion or debate. Jay Carson owes us all an explanation.

Yes, I would like to know how he could cause such devastation to our community. Charity since 1908! LHF since 1956.

I have tried to wrap my head around "why" this happened and wondered how anyone could be opposed to saving the hospital. With all of these other foundations drooling on the sidelines, it boils down to GREED; profit for a few and total decimation to the very large constituency of underserved and poor.

No wonder why there are so few speaking out on the other side of this issue on the deck. It is not about the banter, there are simply no constructive or justified counterpoints... it is all about the money.

But the Great Lakes Strategies, LLC listed in the statement of expenditures has an address in Michigan and was started in 1988.

http://www.bbb.org/detroit/business-rev ... i-4007358/