The Observation Deck

Lynn.

I agree that a shared income tax makes perfect sense. But I did happen to be here in the mid-90s, when you had a much less politically ambitious city government, and there STILL was no will on the part of council to push for an income tax hike. After the Demro-Fitzgerald coup, you'll get as many contributions to the Brother Petty Legal Defense Fund as you will council votes for a tax increase.

Go talk to Mr, Dever or Ms. Madigan or Mr. Demro about sticking their necks out for a shared income tax hike. Tell me what they say,if they can find your phone number to call you back.

As to filling up those doubles. Which magic bullet is going to do that? What makes them more attractive now than when they began to empty out around 1975? Vision is one thing, delusion is something else again.

Put a Hampton Inn at Warren and I-90 and tax revenue comes in from everywhere. Put up more condos, and the money still comes 100% from inside the borders.

Stll, condos, yeah, sure. No real argument against them. Bran muffins can be good, too., but not if that's all you eat.

And to Charyn, I will only flip back the request you made of me the other day. This can be a frustrating experience because there is a prevailing mindset which may or may not be reality-based. But perhaps the goal isn't as much to win arguments as it is to plant that little seed of thought, which you have done in spades. Your voice matters.

Joan Roberts wrote:Lynn.

...As to filling up those doubles. Which magic bullet is going to do that? What makes them more attractive now than when they began to empty out around 1975? Vision is one thing, delusion is something else again.

...And to Charyn, I will only flip back the request you made of me the other day. This can be a frustrating experience because there is a prevailing mindset which may or may not be reality-based. But perhaps the goal isn't as much to win arguments as it is to plant that little seed of thought, which you have done in spades. Your voice matters.

Joan

A couple quick notes. No one is hoping they magically fill. Owners(some) are hard at work fixing them up and modernizing them. Some have been completely gutted. It takes time but they are beginning to fill up again. Interest rates will also help.

Over night, no way. But the Hampton will not go up over night either. Hillard Triangle will not go up over night either.

All I suggest, is doesn't it make sense to work on something while we wait for the Hampton Inn? Would it make sense to make Lakewood as nice as we can to attract the Hampton Inn? Seeing how there is no reason to stay at the Hampton Inn for downtown the poorest city in America. Wouldn't it be nice to fill the city with residents so people come to visit? Have fun events that pull people in? Make Lakewood the nicest, city to stay with walkable streets and storefronts?

Everything I talk of doing from my end, benefits the Hampton Inn, Progressive Insurance, Beijing University, Aldi's, WalMart, The little shop owner, the homeowner, and the renter. Without a concept of the "brand" as you have pointed out we do not know what we are selling and it becomes impossible to sell the city to others.

Another difference is if some of the ideas vetted here and in other meetings attributed to the VAL have no negative impact on the city. Not in bad reputation, bad press, lower property values, unsafe streets, etc. But a Hampton Inn built with abatement, over the houses of some, that fails can be a town killer.

As for the board, you nailed it. You, me, Ken, DL we throw it on the wall and it sticks and reverberates in NetLand forever. Leaving a virtual trail of residents wanting a Hampton Inn in Lakewood, a young woman wanting a peninsula, of people working together for free parks and concerts, of LakewoodAlive a group that wants to bring economic development, of Mayor Tom George's Open Door Policy, of the Cliffs, Rosewood Place, and Rockport.

We all throw little pebbles out, and watch the rings grow as they travel across what some have called the thought puddle known as the Observation Deck. Some disappear before hitting a rock or edge, some hit and cause ripples coming back, even waves. Anyone can look and listen. You, me, Tom George, Tom Jordan, George Bush whoever. Maybe from our open discussions they will find the nugget they need, maybe we can find the comfort we need.

In the end, I get 5 storefronts filled, help business stay, and fill a couple homes, and you get the Hampton Inn, we are better off than yesterday.


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Charyn

Of course I was wrong.

As for the email, we are working as hard as we can to figure out how to keep anyone from stealing email lists. No one is more aggressive on this than DL, who refused to turn over an email list gathered by one employer to another on the staff for political means. I believe she takes it so seriously she lost a client on that one.

I have given my word on many things here. One is email that will not be given to anyone for any reason. If someone is spamming you using an email obtained through this board, I will do everything in my power to close the hole, and prosecute the individuals responsible.

As for ALL THE REST, my bad I guess I was wrong again. I think my quote from the Dalai Lama says it all.

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Jim O'Bryan wrote:[
Over night, no way. But the Hampton will not go up over night either. Hillard Triangle will not go up over night either.

Overnight? Mayor George was elected THREE YEARS AGO.

When George Bush talks like that about Iraq, he gets nailed. Which gets done first? A working government in Iraq or a Hampton Inn in Lakewood?

I guess some of us would just feel better if the mayor, at some point, said "I want to bring more jobs to Lakewood." Just like 99 % of the mayors in the universe as we know it. I have never seen or heard that come from him. If he has ever said that publicly, I'd like to see it.

Oh, Oh. I get a chance to say something refreshing rather than my normal thing. This by the way is what I was hoping for as well, when I was asking where the new jobs were and what was going on. I'm still hopeful that there's more going on that I haven't found so if it's out there, please I'd love to hear it.
http://www.ci.lakewood.oh.us/citygovern ... _2005.html

Granted it's from 19 months ago but there were some bits of good news about attracting jobs in there.

1. From Shawn's link, wasn't the state of the city speech given in Rocky River and not Lakewood? If so, why? No place in Lakewood to give a speech?

2. Where is the state of the city speech for 2006?

3. LOL below - we're talking 2005, not 1985

"One aspect of management that I have begun to stress, and which I plan to continue stressing, is the training of City employees. I asked a key Building Department employee why there were constant delays in that department, and after a time he confided in me that none of the department's employees had ever had computer training. All paperwork was done in triplicate because several employees didn't know how to access the Building Department data through a computer. As a result the department's daily operation were inefficient and we were continuing to spend thousands of dollars investing in new computer equipment for which many employees had only an elementary understanding. Immediately I implemented a departmental computer training program for city employees. However, more training needs to be done and we are planning an aggressive employee training schedule for 2005 to make our city workers more efficient and effective."

well at least they recognized a problem and fixed it, I assume.

Joan Roberts wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:[
Over night, no way. But the Hampton will not go up over night either. Hillard Triangle will not go up over night either.

Overnight? Mayor George was elected THREE YEARS AGO.

Joan

You might be able to find fault with MTG over many items but in the end I doubt that it will not be over bringing in business.

I know of at least two developments looking to go in. I know of a couple more that are not even worth talking about, and then we have the natural progression of business moving in.

Maybe this is why I am so jumpy over the drum beat of business. When you see what is in the pipeline I do not see my fear of being the next Belden Village in my lifetime.

I know you hate to believe it, but Lakewood is seen as a hot spot. And you helped. With the right direction and marketing we have the chance to rebuild our population base. Something very rare in "inner ring" suburbs. I know you detest "building the brand" but it works. Like I mentioned before building the brand works for business as well as residents.

I can find fault, but it will not be on development issues.


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While there may be certain things that are better kept under wraps until they are announced, I think it may be beneficial to view a report on the full state of the city in regards to business. It's been referred to a couple of times but the top 10 list of businesses ranked by employees is rather unimpressive. I qualify this again with the fact that 3 of the top 10 (Municipal, Education and Postal) are not attracted to the city but are required for a city. I believe that last count was 990 employers in the city. How they stack up (on whatever factors that are permissible) would really help ease my mind about this issue. Knowing if this is an additional 980 part time jobs or 24,000 full time jobs makes a difference.

And before the usual response, I already asked the proper office for these statistics for the tentative business awards banquet. I only mention it because someone else may already know where to find it.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:
I know you hate to believe it, but Lakewood is seen as a hot spot.



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This is where you get in trouble. What's the purpose of a jab like that? Why in the world would I "hate to believe" it? Why in the world would I "hate" anything good that happens to Lakewood, or any place else, for the matter?

It's not an emotional matter."Hate" isn't an operative word.

I could come back with, "thanks once again for being Charlie McCarthy to nthe mayor's Edgar Bergen" but how would that advance the debate?

Again, if Lakewood is such a hot spot for development, then why do you yourself keep saying that finances are so tight and that people should organize to maintain the parks, keep an eye on the streets, etc, etc.?

On one hand the place is happening. On the other hand, you're pushing for organizing block watch patrols because we can't afford enough police. Which is it?

Neither you nor the mayor can have it both ways.

Shawn is right. Rather than his Nixonesque (or Corleone-esque) "plans I can't tell you about" which he feeds you and you duly report, (jab) why can't we see something tangible, some yardstick for progress?

Thanks again Joan for your support. But to be clear, I wasn't really calling for the release of secret reports. Just searching for the facts, that's all. If there is something secretive going on, then please clue me into that as well.

Good to see that everyone is getting along so well though.

Shawn Juris wrote:Thanks again Joan for your support. But to be clear, I wasn't really calling for the release of secret reports. Just searching for the facts, that's all. If there is something secretive going on, then please clue me into that as well.

Good to see that everyone is getting along so well though.

I understand exactly what you're saying.

I understand the need to keep some things confidential, at least short term.

But I'm also a tad too old to fall for the "big things are in the works, can't tell you about them now, but just you wait....." line.

I guess after three years, I was hoping for more of a plan.

Joan Roberts wrote:I guess after three years, I was hoping for more of a plan.

Joan

Total agreement.

A huge difference between managing the waves and setting a course.

While you and I have different views or maybe not, just different ways to get there. It all needs plans and it needs to be well thought out for a variety of possible scenrios.

It would also be nice to see the plans that can be shared or concepts released by any group using city, state or federal dollars.

Not sure it is that much to ask.


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Joan

You agree no turn around over night for anyone. Not with Hampton Inn, not with residential, no lower taxes on the horizon. So does it not make sense to pick up some of the litter you walk over to do a little bit, so that the person looking for a home or an office goes, "Nice city."

When I mention picking up litter or helping I am not demanding anything. I am suggesting a course for those that choose it. Would I be better off complaining and not doing anything?

Joan, you have so much of this wrong. I was not looking for roving groups to protect the streets. I was hoping to stop a problem from developing. This came from a conversation I had with bar owners that wanted to be proactive in the neighborhoods. They do not want the flats happening here, they want to keep the cash cow going, and the neighbors happy. Mark, who I have emailed back and forth wanted to start a block watch. As proven with Beach Avenue, it is better for everyone to set up "block watches" before a problem.

The truth is the bars do not being in that much. But it is one of the few things we have going right now. As I have mentioned in my neighborhood people have moved in to walk to the bars. Most are college grads under 30. Again, beggars can't be choosers. I would love Nobel Prize Winners, but a house full of working whatever works just as good for now.

But I will be honest and I always have been on this. This US economy, Stae Economy and Regional Economy are going to be absolute bears the next 5-50 years. No steel, no manufacturing, a few tech jobs, a couple medical gigs I do not see much in the future. Maybe you see the rebound I think this country is screwed in my lifetime. I have come to grips with it. You show me what will save first the country, then the state, and then the region and I am there. We have been in a wartime economy and losing jobs in every sector but the armed services! You tell me how any of this will get better in the next 5-20 years?

This is one of the reasons when some of us ran the numbers we knew we could not count on Cleveland or the region for anything. Let's see what we have to work with, what do we need? We crunched the numbers and looked for people with the premise of oil over $6.00 a gallon, and job rate falling in the area. How can we stop hte bleeding and stay strong. What makes us different from Rocky River, Bay, Westlake, Fairview, Cleveland, East Cleveland, Shaker, Huron, Avon Lake. what makes us the same? Is it better to blend in or stand out.

There are some real simple things we can do to make Lakewood better.

Which really has a better chance of happening? Hampton Inn next year, or me saving you $300-$500 on your cost of living? If we save $500 a year on the cost of living and 3 years from now Hampton Inn comes in are we better or worse off.

As for

"thanks once again for being Charlie McCarthy to nthe mayor's Edgar Bergen"

You are killing me. Mayor Tom George and I do not see a great many things eye to eye. AT&T, The Beck, Street Repair(I thought we should have waited), the concept of plans. But I am only one vote, maybe I am wrong, maybe the rest of the coty wanted AT&T, or higher taxes to keep the Beck running.

Mayor Tom George knows Lakewood, grew up in Lakewood and never do anything intentionally to hurt it. He has an open door policy that is amazing. He returns my calls, and when we do not agree he lays his reasoning out and explains why he feels or his staff feel that way. He is a very good advocate for what he believe and he believes in his staff. Everyone of his staff is accessable at City Hall, and almost every department on the Observer. It is impressive. could be better but this adminstration is open. Room for improvement? Sure, but improvement over the last closed and locked door adminstration.

Plans, telling them when not involved, tough one, especially for me.

Joan just because I am not for playing the Hampton Inn on W150 card immediately, mean I will chain myself driveway to stop the builders. Again not my city, not my choice but I am but one small voice. I prefer what I like, maybe you are different. I adovcate for what I think can work, as do you. It seems telling plans too early could be anti-development, but they do need to come out as early as possible.

Thanks for holding me to task.


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