The Observation Deck

http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/issue_pdfs/Observer_Vol_10_Issue_11.pdf

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What a couple weeks since the last paper, lots and lots of fun, and some trying moments. Such is life. The City of Lakewood and City Services, police and fire cranked it up as we celebrated music and spring on the streets of Lakewood. Spring, real spring like we just had is a beautiful time to be in town. Leaves on the tree, the Emerald Canyon in deep bright green, runners from the Ambulance Chase, the Rite Aid Marathon (Read story "Is It Worth It?") and now the sounds of music throughout the city.

One of the first ideas kicked around after year one of the Observer was that co-counder Steve Davis wanted to bring “Busking Days” to Lakewood. Busking is the “art” of street entertainment. Musicians, jugglers, poets, artists, magicians, and those pesky mimes all throughout the city. Like “Porchestra” on steroids. Hmmmmmmm, maybe its time is coming. “Porchestra” was great for all. I did not run into one person at any of the venues saying. “God damn orchestra…” The city truly loved it. Thank you to all, City of Lakewood, LakewoodAlive and the Cleveland Orchestra.

Then we got into some more earthy matters, courts locked, kids shut out, threats made, bodies found… For me, personally it was an interesting study of people, government, response, and Pavlovian training, with heaping scoops of frustration and irony thrown in. One can certainly understand all sides of this, this is community living in a nutshell. Especially when the community is 5 square miles of Los Angeles density. But in the end this will fall on City Hall because this is why we have City Halls, clean and safe, not fun. Behind the scenes a neighbor that has been repeatedly talked to by “helping parties” was finally labeled "a credible threat to children.” It is sad, as it never should have gone this far.

Facts - The man has been disgruntled for decades, and why shouldn’t he be? The city completely neglected Kauffman Park for decades. The city has been busy shopping deals to Cleveland Clinic and other developers to come in and build everything and anything on that spot. So in their effort to build the case for the “under utilized” park, they let it go feral. Feral parks are not busy parks, so a person that lived next to something live and vibrant for decades, which now is quiet, and peaceful, you get kind of used to that. When the 2 half basketball courts were thrown in there to shut up LOBC, the status quo changed and the fuse was lit. I am sure all of us have been with someone who just does the smallest thing but it pisses us off. For some, it may be receiving these letters. The second it arrives, “Goddamn that jerk is spouting off…” Now instead of this letter, imagine a very loud, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce. Like the ticking of a clock, each bounce another second of hell ticking off the life clock. “Wait what was that?” The little bastards are laughing! Those SOBs… I am sure he lives in a hell he created with help from the city. But the larger point is, this is a city where we are pushing healthy lifestyles, families, parks, and safety. Any threat to these law-abiding families can never be tolerated. City Hall exists to keep us safe and clean. So Mayor Summers making the best of a terrible situation closed court. Seems simple enough.

Except, the city is desperately wanting a bigger say in recreation, the residents are watching and have been watching your every move with these parks for years. Lakewoodites love our parks, even the small little micro ones. When for no reason other than “lack of money” Madison was closed early residents were upset, but not as upset as when they saw the city waste thousands on vanity, worthless studies, and things that at best were temporary. All of this done before our parks were restored to full hours. It has been noticed. Yesterday, someone from City Hall said, “the courts are closed not the parks.” Ironically it was broadcasted at dusk, and indeed the park would be legally closed.

The City has called a Recreation Task force, heavily loaded with people who want to see the City of Lakewood take over Recreation not for the betterment of any program or aspect of recreation, but to make sure the group they represent is taken care of. No matter what comes out of it, it is another bad idea pushed through. A note to City Hall, you want the Recreation Department, then make me, and every resident in this city want you to take it over. Right now it is run very well even going through management changes. It is run by the Board of Education, which has shown time and time again they can run things smoothly and well within budgets. The have a history of being successful running Recreation, you are still trying to figure out parks.

Before the task force commences, help me, and many others take this seriously. Open our parks to full hours. Re-open Kauffman Park Hoops, and announce a plan for two full courts, somewhere. Keep the hamster alive first.


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