The Observation Deck

Last night the police were called to my house at 2:30am, as a person was in my front
yard tearing up political signs and screaming "fuck you fuck you fuck you and your signs."

Going out to confront the individual, we found out he was just a product of Lakewood's
never ending move to a alcohol based community, instead of family/education based community.

As he tore up signs representing all sides and candidates, and he had trouble pronouncing
many of the adjectives he was trying out at the top of his lungs at 3am. He seemed to not
have a political motive as Save Lakewood Hospital, JT Neuffer and 2 John Litten signs got
got destroyed along with some thought to be non-political orange barrels.

The police asked what I wanted to do, and all I could say was, "Make sure he gets home safe."

This morning a neighbor said without prodding, "Dunks? They ruin my garden all the time."

Carry on, nothing to see.

Hi Jim,

Recently, I looked at the Ohio Division of Liquor Control's website and counted 86 establishments in Lakewood that serve alcohol, including the Beck Center & Winterhurst (supposedly family-friendly establishments). Many drink responsibly, but when others don't, property gets damaged and people get hurt, and that isn't right.

It was nice of you to not press charges. However, I'm not sure if it would have made a difference because it has been rumored that our police are under instruction from the safety director to drive intoxicated people like this home instead of to jail.

I spoke at a council meeting recently regarding the mayor and council's attempt to make Lakewood one of the healthiest cities in the country. I said that I didn't see how this could happen when council approves a bar almost every two weeks. We also keep opening vapor shops, including one right next door to a house on Lauderdale and one a stone's throw away from Garfield Middle School. How can a city full of bars and vapor lounges be the healthiest city in the country? It seems contradictory.

FWIW.

Lori Allen _ wrote:Hi Jim,
It was nice of you to not press charges. However, I'm not sure if it would have made a difference because it has been rumored that our police are under instruction from the safety director to drive intoxicated people like this home instead of to jail.
FWIW.

Ward One Councilman, Kevin Butler leading a discussion of options and ideas for residents and bar owners
to successfully deescalate emotions and find a happy compromise. One neighbor wanted to hide in bushes
with a baseball bat, the bar owners did not really talk until Councilman Kevin Butler reminded them
residents could vote the ward dry. Suddenly bar owners got engage in the discussion offering up security,
neighborhood cleaning, all sorts of things. One of my favorite Kevin Butler moments.

Lori

But for the grace of god go I.

While talking to police, and listening to the radio, drunk driving, drunk fighting violations are heavily enforced
and Judge Pat Carroll is fair, but very tough. He is also very good at getting people into assessment and treatment programs.

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:the bar owners did not really talk until Councilman Kevin Butler reminded them
residents could vote the ward dry.

This reminds me of when I ran for city council and the bar association was doing endorsements. I was talking about the lack of parking and the potential to use downtown parking and a shuttle service. Two of the more well known bar owners in the city spoke up and said they would not support it because it would give the police an easier spot to arrest their patrons for DUI. I kid you not, they were more worried about their customers who they over-served instead of the welfare of the city...

LCO 509.03 Disorderly Conduct; Intoxication fits very nicely. Just let the police enforce the law. The person's identity and offense become a matter of public and court record, and property owners can then take action to recover any damages.