New Laws? Marketing The City? How About This...

[Jim O'Bryan]

IT would seem that city does not understand much about marketing, or residential
communities. So it is of little wonder that while they look for ways to market themselves,
they keep shooting themselves in the foot with negative stories flowing out of City Hall.

The best way for a city to market itself is through its actions. A perfect example is the Dog
Park. Years ahead of its time in this part of the world. The opening of the Dog Park caused
a ton of positive press being developed over the course of months. When Rocky River decided
to sue Lakewood over the Dog Park, even more good press was generated as City Hall gladly
took on the lawsuit so that the residents would enjoy the park forever. People love seeing the
city fight for the people. It makes people want to live in that town.

Of course, as the City of Lakewood does, it then proceeded to shoot itself in the foot with the
very people they had become heroes too. Breed Specific Laws, already on the book became
the battle cry of City Council. Now dog owners, and wise people realize, BSL are both wrong
and now illegal. Not to mention the law was already on the state books, where it was shot
down in the courts. No matter, the city had already pulled out the gun and blown their
toes off. So one step forward, 3 back. All surrounded by PR.

The city sends out press releases about the millions of dollars spent in DowntowN and the
improvements for all. It is picked up by the media, and good PR swims out from the city
to the surrounding areas, and instantly City Hall mentions they are now making it illegal
to walk, skip, sit, loiter, walk your dog, or even breathe in public parks after dusk. And
instantly BLAM! there goes another couple toes as those anxious to be viewed as doing
something, well anything, take a moment of great PR and turn it into disaster. And the
PR filters out: Lakewood Parks unsafe, dirty, unkept, and the city has no money to keep
them open or usable.

Now, the same group that brought us a ban on yard sales and signs, have closed our parks
and worked to make laws proved unconstitutional on state levels, is working on banning
texting, something already banned statewide. I personally see this as nothing more than
City Council desperate to keep their names in the news, no matter how foolish or
redundant. I mean at the end of the day, all that matters is their name in the news doing
something no matter how ineffectual it is.

Well how about doing something positive for the residents and the visitors to Lakewood,
how about some laws that make good people want to move to Lakewood? I am not talking
about the bullshit ad that Lakewood takes out in the PD a couple times a year but a series
of laws and changes that make residents go, "Damn that city has its act together, I want
to move there." It has all of these things going on, and City Hall actually likes and respects
its residents and works to make their lives better, the city safer, and the streets cleaner.

So drop the texting law, move on, it is not enforceable, and it is already on the books.

HOW ABOUT...

Draconian laws for stealing bikes. I have had 6 friends get their bikes stolen this year. In
four of the cases, it was their only mode of transportation. They moved to Lakewood as
it was seen as a walkable bikeable community. They believed the hype so much they sold
their cars and committed to biking and walking everywhere. Yet, when their bikes were
stolen the response by the police and city workers was, well, we will try. To date none of
them have been recovered. So why not CRANK UP the level of apprehension and
prosecution, so that bike theft becomes a thing of the past. So bikers will understand that
we are not just committed to the "cool" factor, but that we are committed to their lifestyle.
If it is tough enough, the city will cause many ripples locally, and nationally with the correct
undertone.

As I has said before, and I repeat now, how about some laws, some actions, some movement
from City Hall that is pro-residents, pro-living, pro-Lakewood?

For that is the best way to market a city,

Deeds and actions.

Instead of hiring a lobbyist that is pro-Lakewood (what happened with Nickie Antonio,
has she become anti-Lakewood) for $10,000 how about using the money to open the parks
Councilman Juris was so quick to close?

Deeds and actions.


.

[Betsy Voinovich]

IT would seem that city does not understand much about marketing, or residential
communities. So it is of little wonder that while they look for ways to market themselves,
they keep shooting themselves in the foot with negative stories flowing out of City Hall.

The best way for a city to market itself is through its actions. A perfect example is the Dog
Park. Years ahead of its time in this part of the world. The opening of the Dog Park caused
a ton of positive press being developed over the course of months. When Rocky River decided
to sue Lakewood over the Dog Park, even more good press was generated as City Hall gladly
took on the lawsuit so that the residents would enjoy the park forever. People love seeing the
city fight for the people. It makes people want to live in that town.

Of course, as the City of Lakewood does, it then proceeded to shoot itself in the foot with the
very people they had become heroes too. Breed Specific Laws, already on the book became
the battle cry of City Council. Now dog owners, and wise people realize, BSL are both wrong
and now illegal. Not to mention the law was already on the state books, where it was shot
down in the courts. No matter, the city had already pulled out the gun and blown their toes off. So one step forward, 3 back. All surrounded by PR.

The city sends out press releases about the millions of dollars spent in DowntowN and the
improvements for all. It is picked up by the media, and good PR swims out from the city
to the surrounding areas, and instantly City Hall mentions they are now making it illegal
to walk, skip, sit, loiter, walk your dog, or even breathe in public parks after dusk. And
instantly BLAM! there goes another couple toes as those anxious to be viewed as doing
something, well anything, take a moment of great PR and turn it into disaster. And the
PR filters out: Lakewood Parks unsafe, dirty, unkept, and the city has no money to keep
them open or usable.

Now, the same group that brought us a ban on yard sales and signs, have closed our parks
and worked to make laws proved unconstitutional on state levels, is working on banning
texting, something already banned statewide. I personally see this as nothing more than
City Council desperate to keep their names in the news, no matter how foolish or redundant. I mean at the end of the day, all that matters is their name in the news doing
something no matter how ineffectual it is.

Well how about doing something positive for the residents and the visitors to Lakewood,
how about some laws that make good people want to move to Lakewood? I am not talking
about the bullshit ad that Lakewood takes out in the PD a couple times a year but a series
of laws and changes that make residents go, "Damn that city has its act together, I want
to move there." It has all of these things going on, and City Hall actually likes and respects
its residents and works to make their lives better, the city safer, and the streets cleaner.

So drop the texting law, move on, it is not enforceable, and it is already on the books.

HOW ABOUT...

Draconian laws for stealing bikes. I have had 6 friends get their bikes stolen this year. In
four of the cases, it was their only mode of transportation. They moved to Lakewood as
it was seen as a walkable bikeable community. They believed the hype so much they sold
their cars and committed to biking and walking everywhere. Yet, when their bikes were
stolen the response by the police and city workers was, well, we will try. To date none of
them have been recovered. So why not CRANK UP the level of apprehension and prosecution, so that bike theft becomes a thing of the past. So bikers will understand that
we are not just committed to the "cool" factor, but that we are committed to their lifestyle.
If it is tough enough, the city will cause many ripples locally, and nationally with the correct
undertone.

As I has said before, and I repeat now, how about some laws, some actions, some movement
from City Hall that is pro-residents, pro-living, pro-Lakewood?

For that is the best way to market a city,

Deeds and actions.

Instead of hiring a lobbyist that is pro-Lakewood (what happened with Nickie Antonio,
has she become anti-Lakewood) for $10,000 how about using the money to open the parks
Councilman Juris was so quick to close?

Deeds and actions.


.

So we have $10,000 for marketing, and $10,000 for a lobbyist? So there's where the fireworks refund went.

Who is the marketer for? To get people to move here? Or to get people to shop or eat here and then leave? That's a big difference right there. Let me check what Chris Bindel's article said on the front page of the Lakewood Observer site.

Councilwoman Monique Smith (At-Large) then asked Council to consider using a portion of the remaining funds in their economic development fund for 2012, to seek outside professional marketing support that can help “craft and promote an identity that fully reflects all of the best qualities” of Lakewood. By engaging marketing industry professionals the city can take advantage of their experience in compiling attributes into a marketable identity, and crafting a marketing strategy that works best for the intended outcome. In addition, by using money already allocated to Council’s economic development fund they would not have to allocate extra money in the budget to pay for these services.

"Craft and promote and identity that fully reflects the best qualities." Crafting a marketing strategy that works best for the intended outcome. I guess my question is what is the intended outcome? Shopping or living or both?

If it's just shopping I really don't want to spend that money. Because it seems to promise that we'll tear down the tops and bottoms of more residential streets (but only the ones South of Detroit) to put in more stores hoping people will visit. (Though why they would want to come all the way here to visit the vast number of drugstores we keep building is something I don't understand) While we compromise and destroy our identity as a a great place full of neighborhoods to live in.

Okay, back to Chris' article--

Councilwoman Smith pointed out that Lakewood would not be the first community in Northeast Ohio to market itself, Shaker Heights and Mentor both have done so in the past. Although those who live in Lakewood are aware of all the great things the city has to offer, there are plenty of small businesses and homebuyers looking for a community to settle in who might not. This would be a great way to get the word out.

So Councilperson Smith makes it more specific. Small businesses and homebuyers to settle here. Okay. That brings me back to the original point. As Jim says, DEEDS. Our parks must be unsafe if we have to close them early. And if they are closed early so they can be carved up for parking.. that seems like its catering to visitors once again, not families who might want to live here.

And what about the DEEDS that have caused such a loss to the neighborhoods around Dunkin Donuts, the new/old McDonalds, and the new/old CVS? I understand not liking vacant lots-- they aren't that attractive. But these places just moved, creating different vacant lots. Leaving vacant lots at the tops of neighborhoods. And each time we lose houses, which are easy to fill compared to vacant lots. Same thing with the new/old Get Go.

I guess the point could be made that an expert marketer might sit City officials and development groups down and try to resolve the schizophrenia. We might be better off hiring a psychiatrist first.

Betsy Voinovich

[marklingm]

And what about the DEEDS that have caused such a loss to the neighborhoods around Dunkin Donuts, the new/old McDonalds, and the new/old CVS?

***

I guess the point could be made that an expert marketer might sit City officials and development groups down and try to resolve the schizophrenia. We might be better off hiring a psychiatrist first.

Did someone say, McDonald's?

[Michael Deneen]

Apparently eating too much McDonalds can lead to sideburns.

[marklingm]

Apparently eating too much McDonalds can lead to sideburns.

Funny you should say that, Michael.

I believe that City Hall and McDonald's will soon announce a task force to address this “sideburn side effect.”

As opposed to sending out notices of public meetings to the public (as the Lakewood City Schools does), City Hall buries their public notices inside their website. Rather than force you to play “City Hall Hide & Seek,” keep an eye on http://www.onelakewood.com/PublicNotices/ for the upcoming sideburn side effect task force meetings.

Who knows … maybe City Hall will even commission a sideburn side effect study.

BA DA BA BA BA, I'm lovin' it!

Matt

[Corey Rossen]

Matt - This could be good for you. I hear sideburns go well with a bow tie.

Corey