Matthew John Markling wrote:Well, Jimmy ...
... the system of government/administration for public schools was/is established by the Ohio General Assembly and is codified in the Ohio Revised Code ...
... but now that your "red herring" has been addressed ...
... let's talk about this city manager charade ...
If a city manager is so great for Lakewood, why are you the only one willing to openly talk about it (other than me)?
Well
Matty, I believe it is the tone of this discussion, the same excuse often given on the Deck,
as one gets dug in calling others out. While you and I seem ready to rumble at any time
others, look and say, "Why bother."
What you and I see as learning opportunities for ourselves and others, is not always shared
by others, to a certain extent I can understand. However to let things go unchallenged
always takes me back to the Martin Luther King Quote, "History will have to record that
the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the
bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people." or maybe this one applies as
well, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” or,
“Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.”
So to use your logic on this. You have decided that Mayor Summers should have a 2nd,
3rd and 4th term? It had seemed to me that you of all people should be somewhat
excited to even have the possibility of replacing the regime, which in its current form is
more of a Oligarchy with a little Totalitarian, a pinch of Authoritarian and dressed as Republic.
I have turned to thinking it is certainly worth look at, as so many of the recent leaders
seem to either not understand Lakewood and its strong points, so then charge off like Don
Quixote fighting little windmills while explaining to us they are battling giants. If Lakewood
politics, on all levels has one problem is that it is too inbred, and the public has decided
it just doesn't matter. You vote for a guy in that is against, whoring the city out, wants
good clean living for residents, and a way to keep Lakewood's individuality, and he is
smiling at the ribbon cutting for QSL, 5 Guys, Taco Bell and CVS.
It has occurred to me that many Lakewoodites forgot why they moved here, why they
originally fell in love with Lakewood. It has also occurred to me that many of Lakewood's
politicians have forgotten the most important parts of Lakewood, that make Lakewood
what it is, the residents. It is easy to see how this happens. A republican mindset descends
on City Hall with the ultimate evil being asking for a tax raise. Something the citizens
would have gladly given the city at the start of the FitzGerald administration. We had
identified a number of about $325 a year at the time, that the average Lakewoodite would
have voted through to keep the city unique, safe, clean, and a top shelf brand. Instead
as Ed was looking for higher office, and would not do well as a tax and spender, decided
it would be best to homogenize Lakewood into Cleveland. Dragging trash to curb to save
$40,000 a year in 8 years time. Pushing the outright lie that "Economic Development"
will reduce taxes or at least fill the gap as we move forward. To this date residents still
carry business instead of the other way around.
So, maybe it is time for a PROFESSIONAL. I pray they do not trot out some "Oh now he
has credentials in 'city management'" and push it through. Maybe, the charter review
takes a nice hard look and says, "3 FULL TIME At-Large Council members is all we need
with the pay increased to $70,000, and a City Manager budget of $200,000." As that is
what we would need to get someone with enough experience and quality to run this city.
Being a mayor as a hobby, or to fill in a blank on your resume or history seems to not be
the best way to run a city.
At the end of the day, both the City Manager and a Mayor are people that are open to the
same influences, and myopic vision that has effected Lakewood for a decade or more.
But, we would have to vote it in as a community, and we could always go back should it
not work out.
I simply am tired of City Hall not understanding what they have or had.
What I am beginning to understand, elected offices desperately need strong oversight
by the residents that voted them in.
.
