The Observation Deck

So it's okay for kids at Grant to get flyers for Light up Lakewood but not to get flyers about how people are plotting to close the last remaining elementary school between Athens and the railroad tracks. Wow that seems quite fishy. I guess it makes sense to keep parents in the dark about the goings on with Phase III and how a school property on a side street surrounded by homes on three sides is somehow viable for commercial development but we've got to make sure they come watch Santa arrive. *sigh*

Justine Cooper wrote:Jim,
To those of us who still don't understand the funding, etc. of the group, WHAT political power, with WHOM do they have, and WHY would they hold such power? I don't mean to sound naive but a small group that formed not long ago (I think a few years ago but could be wrong on that) would accumulate power how? And I think asked in another thread, where does the funding come from? Is there city tax-payer funds or independently financed supplemented with grants?

Justine

Many questions. How sad that a group that chose to educate at one time now leaves so many
questions by the side of the road nd the way to their goal.

Power
"One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we've been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. The bamboozle has captured us. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back." Carl Sagan

This is such a complicated subject one does not know where to begin.

First we must not confuse the good hearted efforts of volunteers for LakewoodAlive, like
Katy Davis, Rhonda Loje, Sharon Kinsella, and others with the management of LA. All are
trying to make the city of Lakewood better through their volunteer efforts, ans should be
commended and supported.

The next question is; What do you think is best for Lakewood? Beldin Village? Bay Village?
North Lakewood? Lakewood? Aristocrats? Democracy? Hidden agendas? Public discussion?
Empowerment? Total Control? Diversity? No Diversity except when allowed? Equal education?
Education for only the gifted? Doin what we do so well better? Or a complete overhaul chasing
old dreams that no longer work or apply in this world today? $100,000 for dead flowers,
or $100,000 for home improvements and security? Frosting a cake because it is easy and
fun? Baking a cake then frosting it because frosting almost always tastes and works better with cake?

Justine Cooper wrote:I did receive a mailing yesterday asking for donations for Lakewood Alive and listing all their accomplishments. I know housing was listed, but no mention that grant money came in for it, which makes it look like they funded it. I would love to know the truth.

What concerns me deeply on a related topic is that hundreds (thousands?) of mailers are going out to solicit donations for this "non-profit" group with the "love of Lakewood" theme in mind. Working in a non-profit agency, I just heard up to 50 people could be laid off, all in a therapy department, which also means children and families will be cut off from therapy and help desperately needed. This is because donations to United Way and such agencies that strive to help the neediest individuals, are down.

Justine

Again, we have to look deep into our hearts and heads over what we believe as individuals.

Is the Holiday season of giving better suited to help those down on their luck, or those
wishing to change the city into their dream? Do we donate to Lakewood Christian Service
Center, United Way, Red Cross, Salvation Army? Or do we donate to the group that is trying
for the past five years to make "DowntowN" into their dream?

I have many problems with LakewoodAlive, almost all with the management, and their
refuusal to understand they are still a political pac, until they clean house. But one that
really drives me nuts is them asking for donations, when we have so many groups that
really need it more at this time of year. To me it underlines their true nature of being
deaf to those that need help and support. Which then carries into the whole housing issue.
Can we trust a group whose leaders have told others to paraphrase "you cannot afford to
live here" with helping those in need stay here in their homes?

Justine Cooper wrote:I didn't see any credit to any group listed on the flyer, from Rhonda's Spooky Parade, to LIA's and Ruth's Bandgroup and political clout and WHY? THis is not rhetorical and if Mike is associated maybe he can answer any of these questions, but things just don't make sense.

Justine
What can I say?

Sharon

I believe the term steal, is not the right term. Muscled maybe, but not "stolen."

Why on earth would I talk down to you? You can kick my ass in nearly every region we
could ever venture into, including physically. It is a no win, and you know I know it.

Meg/Justine
I would think another show of "perceived power." But I would say more the actions of
desperate characters trying to keep they plans alive and moving forward.

All of this should be public and carried out in public. The back rooms and alleys is their
game, and should not be the game of those trying to do the right thing.

My complaint over the back-pack mailings is one of tax payers time, money, and that they refused
to allow our president to say "Stay in School...." but they allow this cult to suck in the
wee ones, so that they role over for regionalism, malls, and the dreams of one or two people.



FWIW


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From Justine Cooper:

I did read that over a million dollars was given to the group to improve housing but don't know if that is accurate and/or why the money was allocated to the group instead of the city?

Justine this PDF may help you answer part of your question. There was also another request I will try to find to download for your. This is just part of what they asked for from what I can find.



Rhonda

Justine,
Here is the other application. You can judge for yourself.

From what I can find this is what the Mayor recommended:

Jimmy and all -

I am not, nor have I ever been, nor will I ever be, a volunteer for LakewoodAlive. As a matter of fact, when the organization that I am on the board for does activities in conjunction with LakewoodAlive, I work with my organization and stay clear of them. I would never associate with people like their leadership.

In addition, I have not used the word "stealing" in reference to any of these issues. I always have plenty to say, most of which many people like to challenge and make threats over. But I know what challenges I issue and what charges I make.

Finally, Jimmy, I will emerge victorious in battle with you. We have engaged before and we will again if you don't call me so I can scream at you. It won't hurt, you're used to it.

Blessings all.

Grace O'Malley wrote:

I don't want mix topics here but Grant PTA asked permission to distribute notices through school about the recent Phase III Work Session and was turned down.

Now THAT is concerning. It was clearly a topic of concern to parents and directly related to the schools and they refused to distribute?

I am not a conspiracy theorist, but if anything would push me over to that side, this would be it.

Who made the decision that the PTA could not send that info home?

Well if you are pushed over the side, you will most likely fall into a pile of other people to cushion your blow.
If there is nothing to hide, why no real answers to real questions?

Why not collect donations for families who have parents in the military fighting this war so many believed in? Why not solicit funds for the hungry and unemployed?

What is so disturbing is the verbage in the flier stating that they are about "loving Lakewood". Let's get real. They are about a strip of Lakewood. A small one. Where are the Madison Avenue events and where is money going there? It is interesting that you, Jim, are on the strip they are "building up" yet still fight for transparency and fairness with money and power in Lakewood. I would hope all businesses in that "strip" would do the same. We reap what we sow. And when we all help each other, miracles happen.

sharon kinsella wrote:
In addition, I have not used the word "stealing" in reference to any of these issues. I always have plenty to say, most of which many people like to challenge and make threats over. But I know what challenges I issue and what charges I make.

Blessings all.

ahh hem....

sharon kinsella wrote:Jimmy - I don't care about Mike or Katie - but I guess YAY them.

It's still smarmy that the Spooky Pooch Parade (an event that was stolen) had fliers distributed through schoolchildren. Do other non-profits have the same access?

Don't presume to preach down to me Jimmy unless you are addressing my remarks. This is where you and I get into it.

Justine

The real question is what I have asked all along. Why did you move to Lakewood? If you
moved to Lakewood because it was a good city, with good schools and libraries. A walkable
community that was safe and clean, and cozy. It was able to be that because we were
minutes from the airport, downtown, 5 colleges, 4 golf course, riding stables, boating, fishing, 5 large shopping areas, with civic and artistic intelligence.

Or a city that had bottomed out and needed to be changed so radically that no one would
recognize it it five years.


FWIW



.

Grace O'Malley wrote:Who made the decision that the PTA could not send that info home?

One of our PTA Co-President's asked the Principal, the Principal asked someone in the administration. Permission was denied. I do not know on what grounds. I heard that PTA might be allowed to send out a notice for the next work session at which public comments would be accepted. The problem I have is that unless you were on the Phase III Committee or at that recent work session, you don't know what is in the Phase III Report...so what is the likelihood that you would comment?

Jim O'Bryan wrote:So just to make sure they have a lock on FREE printing ***.

Jim,

The Administration has informed me that the "Light Up Lakewood" flyer that was recently distributed was not printed by the Lakewood City Schools. LakewoodAlive used an outside firm.

Matt

Mr. Markling

As long as you are here reading, may I ask you about this situation where the PTA asked, but was not given permission, to distribute info on the planning meetings?

Would you be able to investigate WHO made that decision and WHY the decision was made to refuse the PTA?

I've been discussing this with many of my neighbors and other Lakewood friends and there are a lot of people who are very concerned about this. I suggested we wait to hear some answers before grabbing the pitchforks.

Ah hemmm - my, my, my aren't we being condescending. I concede that I did say that. What is the difference between muscled and stolen Jimmy and why would you be the one to define it? Why do you think that you can push someone like me around? Paying my rent now Jimmy?

sharon kinsella wrote:Ah hemmm - my, my, my aren't we being condescending. I concede that I did say that. What is the difference between muscled and stolen Jimmy and why would you be the one to define it? Why do you think that you can push someone like me around? Paying my rent now Jimmy?

Sharon

I know that even if I paid your rent I could not push you around. I would hope no
one would ever allow that to happen, and I surely know you would never stand for it.

Sharon, unfortunately I have been way too involved in the Spooky Pooch debacle.
Hmmmmm funny how often the term debacle applies to, to... Well never mind.

You see I am the one that first registered the name in this state. Rhonda came to me in
February of last year with an idea for raising money and helping dog charities. She came
in and had the idea for Spooky Pooch parade and wanted mine and at the time LO help. So
I started the wheels turning, for her.

When she came back and said she had decided she was going to work with LakewoodAlive
on it, I turned everything over to her, as it was her idea, we were just there to provide
support, help and $$$$$$$$.

I believe I received a copy of every email from that point on from both sides in this debacle.
Rhonda Loje is a very dedicated very passionate person, when she believes in
something she gives it 120%. So the discussion over control of this effort and the fact that
even she has never heard how much her event raised* hit her pretty hard.

She reached out to people to give directly to dog charities, and started working with them
on a way to rasie money for dog shelters like Missy, then the LA lawyers got involved, and
it got pretty ugly for Rhonda, and a animal shelter that was told to get their name off
Rhonda's website. That's right threatening a dog shelter with legal action! One of their
lawyers reached out to me as a voice of reason and, as an interested party. They felt they
owned the name, never realizing someone had actually registered it seven months earlier
then them.

In the end, Rhonda backed down and gave her website away, and is now working with
Missy and other dog agencies on her project. So Lakewood gets two events.

Sharon, I have many, many complaints with LakewoodAlive, but none with the volunteers.
Mine is with the same management that headed the Political Action Committee, and their
inner feeling that Lakewood is lacking so much especially malls. And it needs to be like
every other city in the region to survive. They see us tied to the region which features
Youngstown, Akron, Massilon, Sandusky, and others. I see more here. I like Lakewood.

I would say the single biggest difference in philosophy is that I personally believe in
empowerment in members of the community, they believe in 100% control of everything.

As for why I am the one telling you, or correcting you. Damn it is so rare I am right in
a discussion with you, I had to climb on it and ride, ride, ride.

You are simply the best Sharon, thanks for all you do.

Even if it is usually kicking my ass, when I deserve it.

You add so much color, thought and experience to this forum and the public discussion.

peace

*Please also note that you were not the only person not allowed to know how much the
event that was supposed to benefits animal shelters 100% brought in. Even the founder
and planner or volunteers were ever allowed to know.


.

Sharon,
Just to clarify, I will not volunteer or contribute in any way to work or support Lakewood Alive.

I will not take any photographs for them and I will not allow them to use any of my photographs in any way.

I also will not take any photographs at any event that Lakewood Alive sponsors.

In working with several non-profits, I have found the best way to keep and gain volunteers is to treat them with respect. I have not been treated with respect in many ways.

I believe Lakewood Alive has a great opportunity to do great things in the City of Lakewood. But, without a clear mission statement (that is followed), tranparency to all residents, giving respect to all volunteers, improving their own professionalism and "independent" funding ([i]most of LA funding comes from CDBG grants distributed by the city), this organization will have a difficulty over time sustaining itself.[/i]

I hope they can overcome these problems to tackle what is needed to help the City of Lakewood to become a more vibrant city. I do not wish them ill will. I will only say that I will not contribute to this organization in any way until the above problems are corrected.

Rhonda Loje

Here is the Mission and Vision for Lakewood Alive:

Mission:

LakewoodAlive is a nonpartisan economic development corporation whose mission is to improve the quality of life of residents by creating alliances with community leaders, leveraging community assets and expanding the pool of available resources in order to facilitate economic stabil­ity and growth in the City of Lakewood. A 501-c (3) nonprofit organization, LakewoodAlive is a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation Trust and Heri­tage Ohio, which is the oversight organization for the Ohio Main Street Program.


Vision:

LakewoodAlive is the community agent for stimulating discussion, innovation and action that drive convergence of individuals, institutions and ideas which enhance the economic growth and vitality of Lakewood.