Mayor's L2L Event Must Be Canceled or Moved

[Leo Wetula]

Mayor Summers has organized a Listening to Lakewood (L2L) session at Rozi’s Wine Bar on October 13, 2015, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. I believe it is a conflict of interest for the mayor to hold this event at Rozi’s Wine House, whose owners have made thousands of dollars in in-kind campaign contributions to the mayor’s reelection campaign. Holding this city-sponsored event (a thinly veiled campaign event in my opinion) and advertising that event on City of Lakewood Water Department bills concurs a benefit on Rozi’s Wine using City of Lakewood resources. The mayor must cancel or move this event to another venue. There are meeting spaces at City Hall for events like this.

Two important side notes:

On August 15, 2015, Rozi’s Wine House instructed a friend and me to immediately leave the premises (threw us out) for wearing Save Lakewood Hospital tee shirts. We were shopping for wine for a SLH event and there were no other customers in the store at the time (hey Rozi’s, there are other wine stores. Good riddance). Aside from the conflict of interest noted above, it is inappropriate for the city to hold a community event at a venue that discriminates against citizens for their political views.

Rozi’s Wine House received a $30,000 storefront renovation grant from the City of Lakewood in 2011 (using federal CDBG funds mind you). I will leave it to others to draw their own conclusions about that.

[Amy Martin]

Thanks for letting me know to stop shopping at Rozi's. I refuse to support those businesses who advocate for the demolition of the hospital. If someone could post other Lakewood businesses that they are aware of who also support Build Lakewood, I'd appreciate it.

[cameron karslake]

It's a shame, but if local businesses take an active part in pushing a political agenda they must assume the consequences, both good and bad. It's also a shame they will actually throw the people with the opposing view out the door. Rozi's must be doing very well to treat customers that way!

I'd say, if this L2L takes place at Rozi's on Oct. 13, the SLH supporters swarm the place and ask the mayor what he thinks about all the "discovery" evidence that's been revealed recently.

[Bridget Conant]

I found that most of the restaurant owners in the area DO NOT support the plan to destroy the hospital because they KNOW it will negatively affect their business.

But yes, if I know a place that supports the mayor's plan, I'd take my money elsewhere.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Really?

Yes I am friends with all branches of the family. Yes my offices are in the building, and they are my landlords, but...

Really?

If we were to discount businesses that have given to the mayor, LHA, LHF, etc. you might as well boycott the Observer that broke the story, and has helped both sides find facts while venting and vetting opinions.

To my knowledge, like other businesses in town, Rozi's has stayed as uncommitted.

L2L is a way fro the Mayor to speak with residents, so let the discussion happen. Attend, ask questions, protest in the public park across the street and let freedom ring.

FWIW

.

[Bridget Conant]

The difference here, to me, is that customers who walked into the store, to SHOP, were asked to leave because their Tshirts supported SLH. That is NOT being neutral and it is offensive regardless of what cause their t-shirt supported. Would they be asked to leave if they wore a Bernie Sanders shirt? Or a Donald Trump?

That act crosses the line.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Bridgett

I called and talked with Gary, he has zero recollection of throwing anyone out, what alone for what was being worn.

I'm not calling anyone a liar, but Gary has put up with far worse from me, and my people, with nothing more than a royal ball busting.

Through this whole thing he has friends on all sides, and like other Lakewood businesses are very careful not to throw allegiances around.

That said, the future is going to be tough enough on DowntowN businesses, to start penalizing them.

I will stop and ask on the way to work again.

.

[marklingm]

L2L is a way fro the Mayor to speak with residents, so let the discussion happen. Attend, ask questions, protest in the public park across the street and let freedom ring.

Jim,

For right now, I'm not going to get into why Mike Summers selects the businesses of his city employees, friends, and campaign supporters to host these L2L events as opposed to City Hall or a city park. We can discuss that later, as well as why Summers' supporters seem to find so many jobs at City Hall.

For now, let's focus on the fact that Summers has knowingly created public forums at Rozi's, Deagan's, Mahall's, and the private businesses of Summers' other supporters so all of our First Amendment rights apply. Protest. Boycott. Picket. Attend. Support. Listen. Talk. Have at it!

And, since Summers knowingly sent Tommy Bullock out to heckle Congressman Dennis Kucinich at his press conference, I would submit that the Team Summers and Build Lakewood gang have knowingly lowered the bar for civil discourse - ironic since that's what the Team Summers and Build Lakewood gang constantly complaint about when residents simply post and publish facts and opinions in The Lakewood Observer and here, on the Deck.

Personally, I have no desire to listen to Summers lie to Lakewood at Rozi's ... Deagan's ... Mahall's ... City Hall ... or anywhere ... but I support the First Amendment rights of folks who want to attend any "Listen 2 Summers Lie" event.

I would hope that folks don't behave like Tommy Bullock but, again, Bullock and his Team Summers/Build Lakewood gang have certainly lowered the bar for public discourse. Correct?

FWIW

Matt

[Peter Grossetti]

And always remember ....

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[marklingm]

Peter,

That photo says so much about the differences between Team Summers and Build Lakewood, as well as Team Skindell and Save Lakewood Hospital ... even to the "point" that Mike Summers needed to send Tommy Bullock in to obstruct Congressman Dennis Kucinich's press conference.

By the way, why was Mike Summers hiding?

Does Mike Summers really believe that Lakewood will forget that he owns this hospital debacle?

Where would we be today if Summers would have sent "pit bull" Tommy Bullock - or anyone - after the CCF with the same zealousness he did in directing Bullock to obstruct a simple, little press conference?

But, that would require everyone to forget about the fact that Summers hid (or was complicit in) the decanting of the Lakewood Hospital for years.

In any event, that's a powerful photo that you pointed out, Peter.

Matt

[Lori Allen _]

I will have to side with Leo on this one. I have had the chance to get to know him over the past several months and I DO NOT think he would lie. There are plenty of places in Lakewood to buy wine. I WILL NOT be supporting this establishment anymore. It is OK to not have the same opinions as others. This is not an excuse to be rude and ignorant. Thanks for posting this LEO.

By the way, why are Summer's L2L always held at bars? Just curious.

[cameron karslake]

"By the way, why are Summer's L2L always held at bars? Just curious."

Lori,
I think the reason the L2L events are held in bars/restaurants is the availability of decent spaces with lots of tables and chairs.
Plus, and you can relate to this, these bars are all over town so the mayor can answer the questions from people in different parts of the city.

[Pam Wetula]

Just a few thoughts on this topic:

1. There are many venues in different areas of town that are not retail in nature where the Mayor could hold his community talks.

Library..Main or Madison branch.
YMCA
At any of the schools.
City hall auditorium.

2. There is a world of difference between a shop owner having a difference of opinion with a customer and throwing the customer out because they don't agree.

I have many friends of many years who have opinions on many matters that are 180 degrees apart from my views. We respectfully agree to disagree. We may even argue the topics but we don't throw each other out like dogs.

Rozi's owner was out of control and disrespectful to customers. My family and I will buy our wine elsewhere. My brother, Leo, has never lied to me and the other person, a friend of 45 years who grew up on the same street I did in Lakewood & ditto..she has never lied to me. They called me distressed by their treatment as they walked away from Rozi's. They were stunned by the treatment.

You don't throw people out of a retail store because they are wearing a T-short that says Save Lakewood Hospital. Unless the customer is drunk or disorderly or cussing and I can assure you my brother and friend were not.

I believe my brother and friend on this because although I did not see them get thrown out, I saw them and spoke to them immediately after the incident.

3. The mayor can use whatever venue he prefers, and he does. He spent 15 minutes of the official Landlord Training Session last week talking about the new developments that will happen on the remaining acres left after the hospital is torn down. It makes little difference where Mayor Summers goes, he will speak the same rhetoric.

[Pam Wetula]

Just a few thoughts on this topic:

1. There are many venues throughout different areas of town that are not retail in nature where the Mayor could hold his community talks.

Library..Main and Madison branch.
YMCA
At any of the schools.
City hall auditorium.

2. There is a world of difference between a shop owner having a difference of opinion with a customer and throwing the customer out because they don't agree.

I have many friends of many years who have opinions on many matters that are 180 degrees apart from my views. We respectfully agree to disagree. We may even argue the topics but we don't throw each other out like dogs.

Rozi's owner was out of control and disrespectful to customers. My family and I will buy our wine elsewhere. My brother, Leo, has never lied to me and the other person, a friend of 45 years who grew up on the same street I did in Lakewood & ditto..she has never lied to me. They called me distressed by their treatment as they walked away from Rozi's. They were stunned by the treatment.

You don't throw people out of a retail store because they are wearing a T-short that says Save Lakewood Hospital. Unless the customer is drunk or disorderly or cussing and I can assure you my brother and friend were not.

I believe my brother and friend on this because although I did not see them get thrown out, I saw them and spoke to them immediately after the incident.

3. The mayor can use whatever venue he prefers, and he does. He spent 15 minutes of the official Landlord Training Session last week talking about the new developments that will happen on the remaining acres left after the hospital is torn down. It makes little difference where Mayor Summers goes, he will speak the same rhetoric.

[Leo Wetula]

I would probably not NOT patronize Rozi’s simply for contributing to Summers’ campaign. However, I will NEVER again patronize Rozi’s for throwing my friend and me out for wearing SLH tee shirts. Thankfully there were no other patrons in the store. In addition, it is an ethical violation for the mayor to confer public benefits on those who contribute to his campaign. Rozi’s should have known as much and opted out of this event, which smells to high heaven. I try not to do business with persons and organizations that I believe are unethical, so that is just another reason that I will NEVER again patronize Rozi’s.

To iterate, I would likely NOT stop patronizing a store due to the opinions of its owner or staff (unless they were totally in my face). In this case, it was not the opinion of the owners; it was and is their actions. The mayor must cancel or move this event. Otherwise, this needs to form part (a small part…there is so much) of an ethics violations against Mayor Summers.