The Observation Deck

Here's a typical misunderstanding of seniors and the disabled. Requested that the City Councilperson for my building, Shawn Juris, look into more benches along the main route, down Detroit Ave. which is home to more than 700 Senior Apts. Gave him a hypothetical route from my building to the hospital "Well that's only three blocks" he says "Ummm, you're a healthy young man". "It's only three blocks" he repeats.

He interrupts about why it can't be done, I attempt to speak, he tells me I'm yelling. I'm not yelling, my voice is loud, you do not want to hear me yell.

He explains to stupid inexperienced me,things like building regs, submitting to Public Works, no money. I say it could be submitted to council for a variance, CDBG money, ADA, etc. After being interrupted 25 times (I made slash marks on my paper) he states that he's not interested in doing it. Another resident had called me earlier and requested that I try to talk to him because he wouldn't listen. Why was I not surprised?

There are 700 apartments, just for seniors in your ward, seniors vote Shawn, you are here to try and help the people you represent many of whom are seniors.

I guess Lakewood is just a walkable city for the healthy and the young.

He needs to walk in the shoes of a senior.

I never realized how difficult three blocks could be until my own mother developed heart failure. Walking ONE block was an enormous effort and I became more empathetic towards the elderly as a result of seeing her struggle.

All I can say is woe to any politician who doesn't understand the power of the senior vote.

Seniors? 40 years ago I broke my foot. I was attending CCC for a quarter at the new downtown campus. It was built according to new standards for disabilities and handicapped.
That really made me appreciate that for which I had previously taken for granted-- safe mobility.
As to the councilpersons bizarre reaction----- one can only speculate.
Stan Austin

OK I looked on street view to see the sidewalk between the areas you are talking about. Where in the world would you fit a bench? There are not even any true bus shelters until you get to the ATT building and that is on their property. Shawn was probably telling you it was impossible and you wouldn't listen. If he interrupted 25 times that just means you were not listening...

A city council person cannot widen a sidewalk into the street...

Slip one of these into your pockets if you need to take a rest.
http://www.amazon.com/Allstar-Products- ... B004P33I70

The government is not here to cater to your every need.

Jim where did your post go? Accountability to words? I am glad you removed it though, it wasn't nice.

I was going to mention that one of the reasons more people don't run is because it takes so much time talking to people like Sharon. I am sure Shawn gets a lot of "quick" calls that can take up an entire evening...

Ryan - Look at all the outside dining spots. Funny there is room for that and none for a bench right up against the building. What about the building at Marlowe and Detroit on the North side. Why couldn't a bench be right against that building. Oh because know it alls know the city doesn't allow it, bull, it's called a variance. "We don't have the money", there are funds from other sources that the two of you don't know anything about.

You are presumptious and your view is weighted by the prejudice you have against me personally. My friend called before me, I didn't know anything about this call being made until afterword. She was almost in tears because she was never given an opportunity to speak because of the negative diatribe from Shawn. She is the sweetest, least confrontational woman I have ever known. She's not a political animal, just a senior that can't walk to the hospital because there are no places to sit for a minute.

I told her that I would call and see if I could get through his verbal wall and even I couldn't. Funny thing, I could be a successful organizer for 30 years, listening to people and then help then get what they want. Some people just think they have ll the answers and people are just irritating, especially all those invisible old people and in your case the loud dyke who doesn't want to talk about religious prejudices, just peoples lives. Your god forbid.

Sharon,

My response was based solely on your story. Shawn clearly said it was a safety/city ordinance issue and could not be done and you obviously tried very hard to convince him otherwise.

The only building I see with room is the church and the bench would have to be on private property, maybe you should call the church to see if they can do it. The thing to keep in mind is that detroit has very narrow sidewalks to begin with and if you put a 20" deep bench and then have the peoples legs sticking out it could cause walkers and bikers and kids to have to get awfully close to the street to pass and without a cover to it the bench will get iced over and potentially cause harm to people. If it is against the building it will also be difficult to clear leaves and dirt from since the city doesn't have park crews clean the sidewalks, the businesses have to.

While it sounds like a nice idea I would argue that if Lakewood won't even allow RTA to but in a bench in that is RTA's responsibility, I doubt they will ever put an uncovered one in that they are potentially liable for.

I was serious about that link, I know people that have them and they are great little things.

BTW - You and I can have disagreements based on real issues, you don't have to think I am just picking on you for your crazy beliefs.

Ryan there is room in front of that building and that is a public site. There are more places that should have benches for instance the library when they their concert thingie, sure we could sit in the bus stop but it's away from all the action. The front of the Social Security building, not everyone who has to go there has a car.

The population is aging and there are ADA guidelines and the powers that be need to start incorporate these things into any plans for new or existing buildings.

My beliefs aren't weird by the way, I don't have an invisible friend like you!

I don't have an invisible friend like you!

That is brilliant! I'm going to have to steal that line from you, Sharon!

You can use it anytime you want O'Malley.

I'd expect a politician's response to be more of an "Okay, I'll look into that..." and then possibly never getting back to you about it. I'm not sure which is worse.

I can totally see this happening on Detroit ave... !!!!

Currently posting from Nashville, which I found out is actually a very forward thinking, "green", progressive, etc. city (to my own surprise).

Lakewood should do more to bring the city up to date on transportation, even if it means improving the walking. Hell, we take so much pride in being a "walkable" city, but clearly it isn't walkable for everyone. I'm in an area much more dense than "DowntowN Lakewood" and walking OR biking is much more safer here than in Lakewood. That's with rush hour traffic, which is completely different and more hectic than Lakewood sees.

While I get that some ordinances can't be changed, and sidewalks can't be widened, there ought to be some sort of compromise out there.

I get it, no one wants to sit on a bench on Detroit Ave and watch criminals flood in by the bus loads and see store fronts close one by one, but damn, we should at least give a breather to those who need it. Invest in the city and it's residents. We pay taxes, don't we? We're sitting on a unique goldmine of opportunity, a city unlike any other out there. The life of the city is in it's residents, but if they're getting shut down for raising concerns, what good is their involvement? There are so many things that work in Nashville that surprised me because the concepts are so out of the box that they'd be labeled "crazy" ideas in Lakewood. Why can they work everywhere but in Lakewood? Maybe the problem is internal? What is a resident to do when elected officials don't want to invest their effort into the city, while residents invest their tax money and trust in it? Move? Holy cow, as if that hasn't happened already..

As soon as these elected "officials" stop acting like they're our bosses and realize we elect them and put food on their table, things will change for the better in this great city. Until then, you'll have fools like Juris and Madison Drunk driving DowN property values faster than you can light a fart on fire. Unfortunately for us, our city government is nothing more than a puppet show, and it won't change unless there's the voters demand some sort of responsibility and accountability. Without it, we'll get more of the same BS we've been dealing with for years. No improvements, no advancing, nothing for homeowners to invest in. A static, stagnant situation with no light at the end of the tunnel in sight.

Igor, my oldest son visits Nashville often and adores it. Thank you for your well thought out post. Geez, some of and our radical ideas, like growth, accountability, representation, problem solving, active listening. When our politicians forget that they are their to take care of ALL their constituents and make this city the best it can be, we are doomed to the same old lack of representation and voicelessness.

Ryan, that's happened to me 5 times in the last year. You don't know until you're there, trust me. I now have to wear a very attractive medical alarm because the second last time I had to pull myself with a broken wrist, to my front door to yell for help. Not funny at all. And what a nice young man you are to laugh at your elders when they're injured. Shame on you.

Sharon,
Where did I laugh?
Ryan