The Observation Deck

In this edition of The Lakewood Observer, the Lakewood City Schools openly share survey results demonstrating that Lakewood residents and families love our Recreation Department. See http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/2014/07/08/rec-dept-survey-shows-high-satisfaction.

In a separate thread, Mike Deenen writes:

This is no surprise....I've had many great experiences over the years, as have many of my friends and acquaintances.

The Rec department is a vital part of Lakewood's quality of life.

viewtopic.php?f=142&t=12748

I agree with Mike Deenen, yet again.

That's why it's so surprising that Mayor Mike Summers and City Council are trying a coup d'état on one of the best recreation departments in the State of Ohio.

Name a better one, City Hall.

Will Mayor Mike Summers and City Council still try to sneak in a property tax to pay for the "Michael P. Summers Recreation Center & Natatorium" in the near future?

In the meantime, jump over to http://www.lakewoodrecreation.com and get involved in Lakewood's outstanding recreation department!

The Deck has gradually evolved into a local version of the Alex Jones Show.
Conspiracy theories are wildly tossed around like the X Files.
The county is out to get Lakewood....LCA and LSA are "out to get" the parks....a city manager is taking over.....etc etc

The "Rec Dept" conspiracy is one of the most frequently mentioned.

The whole thing sounds too stupid to be true.
Everyone agrees that the School Board does a great job running the Rec Dept.
Everyone agrees that City Hall has enough issues on its hands already.
Everyone agrees that noone likes to pay higher taxes.

So what exactly is the motive behind this conspiracy?
What exactly is the evidence that this takeover is happening?

Michael Deneen wrote:The whole thing sounds too stupid to be true.

And yet it is.

Michael Deneen wrote:Everyone agrees that the School Board does a great job running the Rec Dept.

While not surprising, Mayor Michael P. Summers and City Council don't agree with everyone.

Michael Deneen wrote:Everyone agrees that City Hall has enough issues on its hands already.

Again, while not surprising, Mayor Michael P. Summers and City Council don't agree with everyone.

You remember this, Mike:

Lakewood City Council Seeks Candidates For Lakewood Recreation Task Force

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Lakewood City Council seeks candidates to fill three positions on the Lakewood Recreation Task Force. The Recreation Task Force was created for the purpose of studying the current state of recreation offerings in the City and making recommendations for the future. Applicants must be residents of Lakewood, have a desire to serve their community in a volunteer capacity, and be willing to contribute the necessary hours required for the position.

Applicants are asked to send a letter of intent explaining their interest to the Clerk of Council of Council Office; 12650 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio 44107. The submission deadline is 5 P.M. Friday, March 21, 2014.

The Task Force shall make a report to Council and the Mayor within six months of its first meeting, and may be disbanded without further action of Council after 12 months from the date of its first meeting.

# # #

For more information, please contact Mary Hagan, Clerk of Council, at (216) 529-6055.

http://www.onelakewood.com/News.aspx?NewsID=375

Michael Deneen wrote:Everyone agrees that noone likes to pay higher taxes.

Yet again, while not surprising, Mayor Michael P. Summers and City Council don't agree with everyone.

Just ask Mayor Michael P. Summers and City Council Members at your next Lakewood Democratic Club meeting.

They will all gladly tell you that a property tax is heading our way for their "Michael P. Summers Recreation Center & Natatorium" dream.

There has even been mention of a special city recreation tax as a backup to the property tax plan.

Michael Deneen wrote:So what exactly is the motive behind this conspiracy?

Power.

Names on a plaque.

Not being blamed for a vacant Lakewood Hospital location.

I'm sure that others can add to the list.

Michael Deneen wrote:What exactly is the evidence that this takeover is happening?

The evidence is a call, email, or handshake away.

Again, just ask Mayor Michael P. Summers and City Council Members at your next Lakewood Democratic Club meeting.

It's not a secret.

City Hall wants to takeover our wonderful Recreation Department.

I know it's crazy.

But this is City Hall we are talking about.

Matt

Michael Deneen wrote:The Deck has gradually evolved into a local version of the Alex Jones Show.
Conspiracy theories are wildly tossed around like the X Files.
The county is out to get Lakewood....LCA and LSA are "out to get" the parks....a city manager is taking over.....etc etc

The "Rec Dept" conspiracy is one of the most frequently mentioned.

The whole thing sounds too stupid to be true.
Everyone agrees that the School Board does a great job running the Rec Dept.
Everyone agrees that City Hall has enough issues on its hands already.
Everyone agrees that noone likes to pay higher taxes.

So what exactly is the motive behind this conspiracy?
What exactly is the evidence that this takeover is happening?

Mike

The Alex Jones Show? Really?

You have an ex-school board member that would have been easily re-elected, the top
"government/school lawyer in the state" you really think Matt, and others are just throwing
out bullshit, and hype?

Mike here is your choice, Hoops, either one rogue person took them all down one night, or
the city and the schools talked and took them all down in a weekend. Was it just a strange
occurrence? No, people talk and in a city this small, with it small cliquishness circles,
people are bound to plan.

Calling it conspiracy theory is just a way to marginalize many things that are really happening.
Go back and "read the conspiracies" on the Deck, and then think how many
are or have been proven to be true. 90% 95%?

People have agendas, in this town, and other towns.

Here the power players are, Schools, LCA, Lakewood Soccer, and Charter Schools. All want
the use of our fields for free. All were given a chance to get them, all they needed to do was
join the very successful, very well liked Lakewood Recreation Department. To do so all
they needed to do was open their books to prove they were non-profit, and not serve
alcohol at events. SEEMS PRETTY EASY EH?

They said no, now they come for the Recreation Department through Committee.

These are facts, ask the School Board.

No one is unhappy with the rec department at the schools, the residents are upset with
the way the city handled 2 basketball nets, three parks, and a bunch of other stuff. They
claim they are too broke for hoops, then spend money on bars. Why would anyone want
the city to even touch the rec department?

.

So who is on the Lakewood Recreation Task Force? Do we know and how can we find out?

Rhonda loje wrote:So who is on the Lakewood Recreation Task Force? Do we know and how can we find out?

Rhonda,

I'm not sure who the Lakewood Recreation Task Force members are for certain so I will refrain from naming names. But, surely, City Hall will share this information with us.

I looked at onelakewood.com and can't find any public notices of these Lakewood Recreation Task Force meetings. But, before alleging a Sunshine Law violation, let's just call it my "user error."

I also can't seem to find any Lakewood Recreation Task Force agendas, minutes, or documentation at onelakewood.com. I hear that the Lakewood Recreation Task Force members were "warned" that all records and information must be kept confidential and can't be shared with anyone. Now, before alleging Sunshine Law and Public Records Law violations, let's just call it a misunderstanding and my "user error."

Perhaps Mayor Michael P. Summers and City Council members will jump in here to provide more information on this Lakewood Recreation Task Force?

Maybe even the Lakewood Recreation Task Force members can jump in as well?

Let's hear from Mayor Michael P. Summers, City Council members, and Lakewood Recreation Task Force members instead of folks like Jim O'Bryan and me.

Matt

Matthew John Markling wrote:In this edition of The Lakewood Observer, the Lakewood City Schools openly share survey results demonstrating that Lakewood residents and families love our Recreation Department. See http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/2014/07/08/rec-dept-survey-shows-high-satisfaction.

In a separate thread, Mike Deenen writes:

This is no surprise....I've had many great experiences over the years, as have many of my friends and acquaintances.

The Rec department is a vital part of Lakewood's quality of life.

http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/v ... 42&t=12748

I agree with Mike Deenen, yet again.

That's why it's so surprising that Mayor Mike Summers and City Council are trying a coup d'état on one of the best recreation departments in the State of Ohio.

Name a better one, City Hall.

Will Mayor Mike Summers and City Council still try to sneak in a property tax to pay for the "Michael P. Summers Recreation Center & Natatorium" in the near future?

In the meantime, jump over to http://www.lakewoodrecreation.com and get involved in Lakewood's outstanding recreation department!

From the Adult Athletic Commision Minutes:
B Curtain advised the commission that the City of Lakewood is soliciting applications for volunteers to serve on a
Lakewood Recreation Task Force to study the current state of recreation offerings in the City and make recommendations
for the future. The Board of Education has declined to be involved in the Task Force at this time. (see attached below)

I do not think you can sneak a tax increase past the city. i think we need to vote on it, and I believe
the residents are not up to the vote for any increase. For many reasons.

1) What are our real savings on trash collection? (Even council members can't find out)
We are carrying our trash for nothing, at best to pay for their spin machine Twitter Boy.
(I am personally waiting for apology from the mayor for the lies told by "City of Lakewood - Municipal
Goverment" on social media, and a promise it will never happen again)

2) How can we trust the City of Lakewood with anything when they tell us we are too broke to keep our
parks open and safe, then spend money and time on ridiculous things, that are nothing more than favorite
projects or dreams of friends and the inner circle. Are we as broke as you told us? Or was that another fib?

3) If you have not been honest with our budgets and expenses, how can we trust you over any money issues?

4) If you can't manage small parks, and 2 1/2 basketball courts, how the hell are you going to manage Rec
and the Rec Center? Put up the courts you promised, open the parks to the hours they were at. Make
small improvements, prove we can trust you, and then maybe ask for the tax increase.

5) Promise the residents who have underwritten all of the improvements to the "Business District" any
money raised will be used for residents, and do not play the shell game you play now, where the money
is used for that and "other money" is diverted away from resdients.

I would say these need to be answered first before I care what any Active Lifestyle Committee (WTFIT) says,
it should be ignored just for the name alone. But prove we can trust you with our parks, then let's
talk about recreation, errrrrr Active Lifestyles...

It would appear that the Schools and the Rec Department are capable of the one thing the city seems
to be incapable of. "Planning." Then I would add, actually being honest with what those plans are, and
being upfront with the residents of the city. They also identify who is saying what, and don't have a
bunch of people and fake names working social media with BS, like city hall does. All in all
the school board is a more adult class act.

.

Michael Deneen wrote:The Deck has gradually evolved into a local version of the Alex Jones Show.
Conspiracy theories are wildly tossed around like the X Files.

That's a great summary.
Can't wait to read the standard attempt to make your comment sound untrue.

J Hrlec wrote:

Michael Deneen wrote:The Deck has gradually evolved into a local version of the Alex Jones Show.
Conspiracy theories are wildly tossed around like the X Files.

That's a great summary.
Can't wait to read the standard attempt to make your comment sound untrue.

Well ... "J" ... I think the following is a better summary ...

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Matthew Lee wrote:That is one AMAZING source, Jim. Great scoop. Now if only the national media followed the Lakewood Observer and you would be uber-famous around the globe.



Don't need or want to be uber famous.

But I hope this underlines, the bullshit talk about conspiracies and half truths being posted.

Some damn good people went to the mat to get this out, just like all the other stuff I post.

As we knew a decade ago, wait for the spin, or get the real dirt off the street.

FWIW

http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=12753

Here the power players are, Schools, LCA, Lakewood Soccer, and Charter Schools. All want
the use of our fields for free. All were given a chance to get them, all they needed to do was
join the very successful, very well liked Lakewood Recreation Department. To do so all
they needed to do was open their books to prove they were non-profit, and not serve
alcohol at events. SEEMS PRETTY EASY EH?

They said no, now they come for the Recreation Department through Committee.

Hi Jim,
Can you expand on what Lakewood Soccer and LCA are doing through Committee? Thanks.

The name of those appointed to the Task Force are within these minutes:

http://www.onelakewood.com/pdf/CouncilM ... 4_0421.pdf

Ken Lipka wrote:Hi Jim,
Can you expand on what Lakewood Soccer and LCA are doing through Committee? Thanks.

Ken

Some of the people on the committee have particular leanings. Would you agree?

I'm thinking Stephanie Toole will be pushing for hoops, and tracks. How about you?

Most people have personal preferences, and bias, this was the premise for the entire LO project.

I would ask in return, "Are you saying there is ZERO input from those groups or even LOBC?"

Should those groups be allowed to lobby committee members, or have a seat on the board?
Sure, why shouldn't they?

Lakewood Soccer is comprised of many, many families, and has taken on a true "lifestyle" in this area.
That is a good thing, that means they are successful, and well funded, with a huge base of support. As
there has been an on going discussion with Lakewood Rec over more use of fields, why wouldn't they
have a voice at the table? Right?

OK how many people on the task force have been involved in Lakewood Soccer? How many have sent
kids through LCA, and or St. Eds? Again, LCA and St Eds would both like more access to our Rec areas.
St. Eds built their parking lot only after Mayor Cain struck the deal for Kauffman. Right? Are you saying
LCA and St. Eds has no input on this?

I am not saying the fix is in, I am not saying the board is tilted. Hell we could even go through one of
those strange Supreme Court moments where people start thinking the opposite of their interests. But
the players are LCA, Lakewood Soccer, Lakewood Schools, lobc, City Hall/Hospital. I believe I also
have some insight into where many of the players want to see this end up.

The LeBron scoop took some amazing connections, politics in Lakewood, is like shooting fish in a barrel.
I have no idea where that saying comes from, but theoretically is sounds easier than shooting fish in
the ocean. I could be wrong. So fact checkers go easy on me with that part of the message.
.

Mike Callahan
Stephanie Toole
Ryan Rustad
Maureen Powers
Monique Smith

Who are the other 4?