The Observation Deck

Word from the latest City Council meeting is that Lakewood's Law Director Kevin Butler
has announced that the Lakewood Hospital Association has allowed the Cleveland Clinic's
Letter of Intent to expire, and that a new definitive agreement will be sought.

Also there will be a big announcement from Toby Cosgrove in the coming days.

Stay tuned!

“If you know the enemy and yourself, you need not bear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” Sun Tzu

Leonardo da Vinci “He who does not punish evil, commands that it be done.”

"I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat" Winston Churchill

The expiration demonstrates that citizen action, in particular the efforts of "Save Lakewood Hospital", has made a difference.
Thank you to everyone that has stepped up.

HOWEVER.....this is not the time to hang a "Mission Accomplished" banner.
The fight is very, very, very, far from over.

Everyone needs to stay involved.

Please visit www.savelakewoodhospital.org to learn how you can help.

Silence, secrecy and vague statements are not the answers.

LHA's silence from their June 4th vote until Director Butler's announcement of that vote last night is not acceptable. Why is Butler announcing a decision by LHA? After the vague statement about the possibility of a new definitive agreement, City Council went into executive session to discuss matters that require SUNSHINE by law--the Huron consultant, the defunct LOI, the possibility of a "new" definitive agreement---no basis for secrecy--on the contrary that secrecy is fomenting anger on the part of the public. Butler is a great guy who has been under siege since January and doing the best he can under intense pressure, but he needs to take a deep breath, ten steps back and crack open a law book to properly advise Council e.g. there is nothing the Huron Consulting firm can say or do that should not be public. Also, LHA and the Clinic negotiating a new definitive agreement is not a "competitive bid" situation requiring executive session. How about a post on the City website today to clarify what's going on?

For their part, if Mayor Summers, LHA trustees and the Clinic work on the new "definitive agreement" behind closed doors and without the right team independent advisors and representatives chosen with input from the public it will be another "definitive failure."
If the new agreement involves closing the hospital, then they should have the courage to say so publicly now. If they intend to keep the hospital open, they need to say so publicly as soon as possible to stop the bleeding. What is wrong with these people?

Critical thinkers with fresh ideas, no financial motives, no conflicts no prior bad decisions to defend are needed. Lacking that, at least LHA could start with openness and honesty with those they are obligated to serve.