The Observation Deck

There is only one problem facing Cuyahoga County:

The dispersal of business from Cuyahoga County to Lake, Medina and Lorain County. If Cuyahoga County institutions continue to move out the people will not stay behind. All of the taxpayer subsidized downtown development won't change that one bit.

Will Budish fight for the County or just cry about what was lost?

A good place to start the fight for survival is right here in Lakewood around the issue of Lakewood Hospital. If I were a betting man I'd bet Budish will shed a lot of tears.

Has Budish made any statements about the hospital?

The only information I could find online about Budish and the clinic was this.

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/04/former_cleveland_clinic_executive_fred_degrandis_now_heads_the_global_center_for_health_innovation.html

There won't be any political help coming from the outside unless this mayor is gone.

None of the outside Democrats-- from Sherrod Brown on down -- will go against an incumbent mayor that is called (however erroneously) a Democrat.
Nickie Antonio has been especially disappointing...she should know better.

I'm not holding my breath for Republicans -- this deal is the type of urban sprawl that they love.
Plus the GOP loves Clinic money, too (and vice versa).
Theoretically DeWine should be interested...however, little old Lakewood might be "small potatoes" to him.
If he were to act on this, he'd gain enormous stature in NEO, a place where the GOP suffers.
At this point in his career, I'm not sure that matters to him.

It's the people, Mike Skindell, and whichever Council members are strong vs. the political establishment, the PD, and the Clinic.

Follow the money...

Interesting to see which campaigns Mayor Michael P. Summers gives to
http://www.followthemoney.org/entity-details?eid=2814590&default=contributor

Moving Lakewood Hospital to Avon is about more than moving 1,100 jobs and hundreds of millions in economic activity to Lorain County. If County officials are serious about reversing the population losses and economic losses they need to challenge sprawl. Lorain, Medina and Lake County have no trouble trolling for Cuyahoga County business. For some strange reason Cuyahoga County officials are afraid to challenge them or their behavior.

Instead they push for greater regionalization and more downtown development.

Their belief in regionalization makes them deaf to the appeals of Cities like Lakewood. They believe that if Lakewood thrives the regional dream suffers.

Their focus on downtown development requires them to subvert development elsewhere. Why? Because they know that in a REGION with declining population tax payer financed development at Crocker Park and Downtown just pays people to move from one side of town to the other.

That doesn't explain the behavior of some of Lakewood's political leadership. I can understand the desire of Avon officials to steal 1,1,00 jobs from Lakewood. I cannot understand the desire of Lakewood officials to help them do it.

Michael Deneen wrote:There won't be any political help coming from the outside unless this mayor is gone.

None of the outside Democrats-- from Sherrod Brown on down -- will go against an incumbent mayor that is called (however erroneously) a Democrat.
Nickie Antonio has been especially disappointing...she should know better.

Armond and Amy Budish at the Root Café last Sunday.

Mike is right, both parties are the same way. Stay out of fellow party members messes,
especially in an election year.

But also, another sign is, they cozy up to success from fellow party members. Their silence
would indicate an unwillingness to jump in, as it could drag them down.


In February I spoke with Sherrod Brown at the Fire Station before the press conference,
and before the Mayor got there. I asked what he knew about it, and he said, "The Mayor
has assured him it is all great news for Lakewood."

Sherrod's right hand guy fro years, Yanni, is LO's Nadhal Eadah's best friend in Washington.
They are watching, nothing more.

Nickie was "promised" Skindell's seat, and Bullock her seat. That is how you keep elected
officials in line, and working against their constituents. "If I just stay quiet, and not rock
any boats, I will get more power and help more people..." is what they say to themselves
in the mirror.

.

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Michael Deneen wrote:There won't be any political help coming from the outside unless this mayor is gone.

Nickie was "promised" Skindell's seat, and Bullock her seat. That is how you keep elected
officials in line, and working against their constituents. "If I just stay quiet, and not rock
any boats, I will get more power and help more people..." is what they say to themselves
in the mirror.
.

This is the definition of politicians.

We have some great human being in Cindy Marx, David Anderson and Sam O'Leary who have stood up to the Powerful Corporate Interests and shenanigans of this Administration and Fuax Council President. They are "Leaders" not politicians--they are doing what is right. If it weren't for those three LEADERS, there would be bulldozers and wrecking balls on Belle Avenue by now.

"Professionalism" is about putting the interests of those you serve above your own personal interests. Have PROFESSIONALS like these three to protect the underserved and the rest of us from power special interests is what makes Lakewood a truly great place to live. As things continue to unfold, I am confident that the other good people on Council will discover the path to protecting Lakewood citizens from the power interests.

It begins, with saying one simple word:NO Only after that word is spoken, something truly positive and transformational can happen in healthcare for Lakewood.

Brian Essi wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Michael Deneen wrote:There won't be any political help coming from the outside unless this mayor is gone.

Nickie was "promised" Skindell's seat, and Bullock her seat. That is how you keep elected
officials in line, and working against their constituents. "If I just stay quiet, and not rock
any boats, I will get more power and help more people..." is what they say to themselves
in the mirror.
.

This is the definition of politicians.

We have some great human being in Cindy Marx, David Anderson and Sam O'Leary who have stood up to the Powerful Corporate Interests and shenanigans of this Administration and Fuax Council President. They are "Leaders" not politicians--they are doing what is right. If it weren't for those three LEADERS, there would be bulldozers and wrecking balls on Belle Avenue by now.

"Professionalism" is about putting the interests of those you serve above your own personal interests. Have PROFESSIONALS like these three to protect the underserved and the rest of us from power special interests is what makes Lakewood a truly great place to live. As things continue to unfold, I am confident that the other good people on Council will discover the path to protecting Lakewood citizens from the power interests.

It begins, with saying one simple word:NO Only after that word is spoken, something truly positive and transformational can happen in healthcare for Lakewood.

Well said, I totally agree.

Anderson, Marx, and O'Leary have shown tremendous courage and strength thus far in this process.
They are now facing massive pressure from the Mayor, Council President, and political establishment to "flip" to the other side.

If this trio remains steadfast, they will earn the eternal respect and devotion of the Lakewood people.

Not to minimize any amount of money, as we all can use more, it is very interesting how little Mike Summers spent on everyone EXCEPT for the state races. $150/$200 for Bullock/Antonio etc. is literally nothing for a campaign. But the amount he gave for the statewide races is quite a bit.

I have no idea what this means but it is interesting. At least, IMHO.

I saw a County Council member Dale Miller at a recent fund raiser. I asked him why the Council members were refusing to get involved in the Lakewood Hospital issue. He declined comment.

It's not surprising but it is odd. If Cuyahoga County institutions are going to relocated billions of dollars in business to Medina, Lorain and Lake County then tens of thousands of people will move out with them. That undermines EVERYTHING the County is trying to do to stem the losses.

How can we take them seriously? Are we all better off joining the exodus? Isn't that the message of their silence?

Bill Call wrote:I saw a County Council member Dale Miller at a recent fund raiser. I asked him why the Council members were refusing to get involved in the Lakewood Hospital issue. He declined comment.

It's not surprising but it is odd. If Cuyahoga County institutions are going to relocated billions of dollars in business to Medina, Lorain and Lake County then tens of thousands of people will move out with them. That undermines EVERYTHING the County is trying to do to stem the losses.

How can we take them seriously? Are we all better off joining the exodus? Isn't that the message of their silence?

The county "leadership" has been a sick joke.
If there is a change in the Mayor's office, all these characters will be the first to flip and say "We were with you all along!"