The Observation Deck

There are many pedestrians in Lakewood. You should see what I do out my window. To many elderly from the Westerly walking in the street in the winter. Frightening.

J Hrlec wrote:

Mike Zannoni wrote:I make my cats shovel. It takes a really long time, because the shovels are quite small.

Jay Hrlic: Hilarious. (Good photo work too, if you made that.)

Bryan Schwegler wrote:Then you have to deal with the reputation that Lakewood would get for doing this for people looking to move here or move to Greater Cleveland. The question is, would it be a good motivator or a bad detractor?

If the citations were given judiciously, i.e. addressing the worst problems after adequate time to deal with the walks, with understanding given to ongoing weather/precipitation, maybe with 1st time warnings given, I don't think the reputation Lakewood would get would be such a bad thing. If the choice is to pay higher taxes (we do) to live in a place that's safer, cleaner and more attended to (we do to some extent), OR lower taxes to live some place dirtier, more dangerous but where people do (or don't do) whatever they want, many could choose would choose the 1st, and some would choose the 2nd, but that 2nd choice is there for people who want it. Lakewood's attractiveness really has always been about the 1st anyway (plus the quality of the schools).

"Judiciously" also means not picking on people who aren't connected, and especially not sheltering certain people and businesses because they are. That reputation for "bias" (which we already have to some extent) is something we would want to avoid in the enforcement of shoveling/salting.

Examples ->
"Lakewood: Home of the DWB." That's a bad reputation, a detractor.
"Lakewood: They make you shovel." I like it!

It should also be revenue neutral: The fines should be modestly set to pay only for the program of enforcement. A $15 ticket might be about right. If it goes unpaid, it rolls over to the property tax. Landlords would need to recoup from tenant where applicable, with terms written into leases.

If the program required a $50 ticket and it was perceived to be just a money-maker for the city, with biased enforcement, that would give the city a bad reputation.

Old or disabled people could seek exemptions from the city, and those exemptions would make a great database of those currently needing help. This could be a list available to civic-minded people or groups, or even as a "job board" for people wanting to make a few bucks. If such a "job" would be partly paid by the city, partly by the resident, the part paid by the city could be worked into the "revenue neutrality" equation, so it didn't cost the city money.

Stan Austin wrote: let's get to the advertisers and tell them we don't support thug commercialism in Lakewood.
Thoughts?
Stan

That's hitting them where they live. I'm going to do this.

Bryan, I am in 100% agreement about the littering of these stupid newspapers. Just found two when the snow thawed, How do we stop it?

Colleen, Bryan,Mike--- Here's what I am going to do. When the next one is dumped this Sunday I am actually going to open it up and peruse the ads!!
Then, I will list those advertisers on a post here. From there we can develop a strategy of contacting them personally and informing them of our displeasure in their support of littering and thug commerce.
Stan

Stan Austin wrote:Colleen, Bryan,Mike--- Here's what I am going to do. When the next one is dumped this Sunday I am actually going to open it up and peruse the ads!!
Then, I will list those advertisers on a post here. From there we can develop a strategy of contacting them personally and informing them of our displeasure in their support of littering and thug commerce.
Stan

Yup. That's what I am going to do also.

Stan Austin wrote:Colleen, Bryan,Mike--- Here's what I am going to do. When the next one is dumped this Sunday I am actually going to open it up and peruse the ads!!
Then, I will list those advertisers on a post here. From there we can develop a strategy of contacting them personally and informing them of our displeasure in their support of littering and thug commerce.
Stan

Great idea. I'm also working on an email to my councilman to ask him what his and the city's position is on this. Seems like they'd have to care since it really makes our city trashy whenever it happens. Pun is intended there.

but PLEASE remember to save those newspapers and donate them to ADH. We love LOVE love newspapers for our pens and for puppy training. (we are getting in 8 more puppies as their mom was hit by a car and they are only 5 weeks old) THANK YOU

Missy--- Those papers are really soggy. How 'bout you create a list of supplies that you need and post it on a special thread (O'B, you listning?) and tell us how you want them to be packaged for your best use.

Stan

What is with the walks?!

Woke up this morning late for an interview and the walks were not done!

Where are those damn cats!

Sorry, just had to laugh for a moment.


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Possum Update.

I'm sorry this update regarding the fate of the frozen possum is so belated. The possum was removed from the sidewalk at some point on Tuesday, when temps rose enough that it could be dislodged from the ice.

Thank you to whoever took care of this!

Christina McCallum wrote:Possum Update.

I'm sorry this update regarding the fate of the frozen possum is so belated. The possum was removed from the sidewalk at some point on Tuesday, when temps rose enough that it could be dislodged from the ice.

Thank you to whoever took care of this!

Perhaps we have one of this opening soon in Lakewood?



While shoveling today this guy came by asking if I needed help. I mentioned it is one of
the few things I do for exercise. He told me to be careful. When I asked what he was
doing he said, I read online that people wanted walks shoveled, so I was thinking a great
opportunity to make some money.

.

Love it, Jim! I love that this guy read about all of this and decided to make some extra cash. This really made me smile!

Hello Readers of the Deck,

For all of you who would like to see the snow shoveling situation improved around our schools and within our neighborhoods, you are invited to a “snow” get together on Friday March 4th starting at 7pm at the Beck Café. Come, relax, and have a cup of coffee along with fellow Lakewoodites while we figure out how we can effectively (!) address the snow removal issue in our community. Spread the word! All are welcome! (Coffee courtesy of the Lakewood Observer & Beck Café)

See You Friday Night!