New Laws? Marketing The City? How About This...
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 9:02 am
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.
.
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.
.