Growl Of An Old Hippie - Safety? Quality? Laziness? - Grrrrr

[Jim O'Bryan]

yawwwn, getting old.

As I sit here this morning reflecting over the past 9 months of campaigning(!) and the many "safety meetings" I have attended, I cannot remember any real safety issues coming up, with the exception of at the first one, with the discussion around Roosevelt School, and the guys getting in a fight at their girlfriend's apartment that went into the street.

Almost all of it was "quality of life" issues that came into safety meetings. Neighbors that are loud, hanging gutters, baggy panted kids walking in the street, cars parked during rush hours causing loud tow trucks to wake people up and bother them. Which for some reasons ends up like crime is out of control, to those that do not attend. Quality of Life is a huge issue, I am aware, please do not now paint me as a "Pro-Bad Quality Of Life" person.

As I was recently painted as the old hippie that is now pro-crime, it has caused me to think about all of this. The group that is crying the sky is falling the sky is falling is also way short on facts and figures, even worse they have offered no solutions. This is yelling fire in a crowded theater instead of careful reaching for the fire extinguisher, and putting the damn fire out. Even worse when we look back at the Observer dialogs, it is like watching a cigarette burn a theater seat, and wondering if it will catch fire, then yell fire.

Rick and Suzanne seem to be most vocal on "Crime on their streets." Which I believe was loud red motorcycle, and various incidents some serious on Rick's street. Have you both joined or started a block watch? Have you both walked the streets even with family? How many nights? I have done Rick's street about 4 times, and C.Dawson's street about ten times, and not noticed any "problems." It could be the timing, it could be bad/good luck on my part. I do not have those answers.

But as I am the fool that is pro-crime, while trying to "build the brand" of an energized community that is engaged in arts, thought, food security, fun, etc. I would like to point out. Four years ago the Observer tried to start block watches. Look at who started the thread. These were going to be funded in part by the bars. Two people signed up. The LO plea was let's do it while it is safe and fun, and get in front of the curve. Again, two people signed up. Recently SOME MEMBERS of the advisory board thought it would be a great idea to get a police levy going. This was to put 15-30 more police on the street, and send a message to criminals in other communities to STAY OUT OF LAKEWOOD! This again was poo-pooed by the group that think building a Lakewood brand of clean, safe fun is stupid. Now most cry for the same things.

Now we go through a summer of CRIME, CRIME, CRIME, "thank god that murder happened it was a gift from god..." and the very public county wide display of CRIME, CRIME, CRIME Lakewood is unsafe, CRIME, CRIME, CRIME over loose gutters and parked cars, and parks 27 year old people are afraid to walk in during daylight.

I have to wonder, was it all worth it? Was it worth the 20% hit in home sales and value? Was watching "Dancing with the Stars" instead of walking and living in this town, worth it? Was proving your point, worth it? Was beating down the few trying to make a positive difference, worth it? Was getting "your guy" elected, worth it? Was scaring people off the street instead of getting them on the street, worth it?

Was it our own fault?

Have we brought this on, while blaming others?

I have no answers, but I am thankful that there is a new group of residents in town working their collective asses off to make Lakewood better and build the brand. I should have given my political checks and backing to them.

After all, at the LEAF HARVEST FESTIVAL, Held in one of the most dangerous and deadliest parts of the city, would we believe the hype. Rapes = 0, Muggings = 0, Assaults = 0, Hanging Gutters = 0, People Afraid = 0, Quality of Life in Lakewood = through the roof, when you participate in the city we live in.

Call it the rant of old age. The Observer, now almost 5 years old from concept is a little heavy on my mind today.

.

[David Lay]

For what it's worth Jim, I feel A LOT safer here than I ever did in Elyria, a city similar in population...

[sharon kinsella]

Jim -

We're so on the same page as on the quality of life, crime issue.

But I beg to differ with you on one thing (you know I do that a lot on here).

We are "crappy old hippies" for pete's sake.

Kumbaya, peace out, power to the people y'all.

[Mark Crnolatas]

Jim,

As you know, I've been a poster for the whole LO project time, and before that, since you and I met on the Buzz. In just a stream of thought type of mind-set this a.m, again I tried to get the "watch" going, and again, lack of interest, except for far less than a handful, more like a couple fingers full.

While I might come off as a pessimist, since I keep calling for law and order, I am not a pessimist at all. In the shopping sense, I'm like Kenneth, I won't shop outside of Lakewood, unless it absolutely cannot be found in the city.

I'm so pro-Lakewood, it's probably strange to some people, in fact.
It's strange how things go. I have a Nina Simone in the backround, and this morning woke up to reflect on a few things myself.

My wife's job burned down, and we feel the age-discrimination that "doesn't exist". She's not eligible for unemployment, and ironically we moved in to help my mother and father. Who is helping who now, or trying to?

Odd how when I had the business on the lake, driving a Lincoln, that my vision of the world around me appeared much wider. It really isn't and I am more interested in what's going on now, than ever. I think the vibe is different by the lake.

My wife is still looking for part time job close to home. She doesn't look her age. Her work record is 3 days off in 20 years, except when she had our little one. We had our business for 14 yrs without any time off.

I think to myself as now King of the Hill is on, what can I do for our city? For all these years I've tried to get the mobile watch going, and I'll still keep trying. If not that, I'll find some other aspect to get behind.
I love it here, and that is that. Always have.

I think the best thing about the LO, among all the other things, is one little guy like me, can stream some thoughts somewhere, and like leaning on fence between two neighbors, we can just yammer on, and while we might take some heat or comments about it, we can still do it.

That in itself is worth the price of the ticket.

Mark

[Shawn Juris]

Well Jim, Dan has my compilation from the FBI reports over the past 7 years. Maybe you would like to add the article to attach to it. My intent was only to provide the numbers and let other decide without my blabbering on in an op ed piece. Oh, maybe you can asterisk the number of these incidents that can be explained away because they were drug related, lived in cleveland at some point in their life or knew one another.
If you have any other facts and figures to support the claim that Lakewood is safer than ever before (if your going to exaggerate with phrases like the sky is falling it only seems fair to counter with equal inaccuracy) you can add your evidence. I think it would make for some interesting reading.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Shawn

Fine with me. It was my understanding that you were going to put those numbers in some form on context for the printed version.

I did not see you at any of the meetings, but will love to go back. But it should always be done with context. Like the context of surrounding cities and country.

One of my favorite writers for the Observer, was writing a piece on drug abuse. It was out of control, I was told. That was until the numbers were put next to Westlake, River, Bay. Cleveland, etc.

In the larger view, the numbers were unchanged.

Now Mr. Juris, how do we separate ourselves from the facts of the surrounding environment without creating the "island" you make fun of? How do we make Lakewood safer, something I have been for since day one, without more police, taxes, or ideas you have scoffed at? How do we build the brand, through city subsidize business groups that put out fliers on the "increase in rapes and people getting assaulted in downtown Lakewood" or by working with groups that actually promote Lakewood at no cost?

Shawn, the other day that i saw you out walking with the family, 110' from the scene of Lakewood's last murder. You were smiling, cordial, and the family seemed to be loving the sun and the time out. Was this just an illusion?

Please point out where I was PRO-CRIME ever.

if you can stop domestic violence, you would be a saint.


.

Well Jim, Dan has my compilation from the FBI reports over the past 7 years. Maybe you would like to add the article to attach to it. My intent was only to provide the numbers and let other decide without my blabbering on in an op ed piece. Oh, maybe you can asterisk the number of these incidents that can be explained away because they were drug related, lived in cleveland at some point in their life or knew one another.
If you have any other facts and figures to support the claim that Lakewood is safer than ever before (if your going to exaggerate with phrases like the sky is falling it only seems fair to counter with equal inaccuracy) you can add your evidence. I think it would make for some interesting reading.

[Diane Helbig]

Reading this thread, I feel compelled to post.

1. For those of you who feel you've tried to start a watch of some sort but only a 'handful of people' showed interest - guess what - start it with that handful. I've found with all of the watches I've been involved with over the past couple of months that a handful step up at first while many hang back. Once it's up and communication is getting out, others will opt on. I still get calls from people SOM (South of Madison) who want to join their street.

It's a live, evolving thing - but it has to start somewhere. Go for it.

2. As many people know, I believe strongly in the Law of Attraction. We attract to ourselves what we think about. Those people with negative outlooks and who concentrate on the negative attract more negative events to themselves. Conversely, those of us (like Jim) who think positively and talk about the great things about our town attract good, positive, better experiences to ourselves.

I'd love to see the following experiment - one day of positive thoughts throughout Lakewood about Lakewood.

And here's the key - you can't say 'there is no crime' because the word crime is what goes out. You say - there is lawfulness and peace. Get it? Great! Give it a whirl.

I can tell you that I use it daily and it works.

[Suzanne Metelko]

Ok Jim, you wanted to draw me out and you have, temporarily. My response to your statement, a thinly veiled endorsement of Tom George AGAIN, is this:

In the past several weeks my small section of Arthur has experienced the following: 2 garage breakins (not door left open - breakin); two BACKYARD car breakins (when one owner called LPD to make a report they were told "why bother?"); a young man from Harding pulled a knife on a group of kids playing after school - when LPD was called it took them between 15-20 minutes (I wasn't there, but I was told by the parents who called) to arrive and even then they didn't immediately look for the knife wielding youth (40 minutes to discuss why he might have pulled the knife) and the icing on the cake was the home invasion by two men at 5:30 a.m. in the morning at the house across the street. A young single woman, getting ready for work has two men break in (not door left open) to the back of her house, steal her ID, her money, her keys and drive off in her car. Didn't read about that in the LO or see it reflected in the crime statistics. And yet there were several LPD cars at the scene. Guess you missed that on the scanner - must have been peacefully sleeping because there is no crime where you live.

I've said all summer - for those of you who live in Bratenahl life may be just fine, for those of us in East Cleveland it's not so good. I'm glad the elite of Lakewood can afford to bury their collective heads in the sand but I have a street full of young couples who paid top dollar for their homes and aren't happy with their neighhboorhood.

Bob and I have lived on Arthur for 30 years. We've owned three houses on this street and my parents live across the street from us. You might say we're invested in this neighborhood. As for walking my neighborhood, not after dark, not anymore. And my neighbors would tell you the same. We've got a block watch organizing as I speak, but my opinion of block watches is the same as my opinion of ballot initiatives and referendums. When citizens resort to either it is a clear indication of a government that is failing its citizens.

The red crotch rocket - it took them all summer but the LPD finally got their man. 3 months to catch one bike that arrived m-f at the same time.

As for Rick - he can speak for himself but I have friends who also live on Rick's block and as soon as they can move they will. It's not good.

I sit in meetings with community members and in community institutions who get what's happening and are ammending their budgets to reflect the increased problems with security. Reality is a new budget item.

And while I'm on a roll let me say that I'm tired of crime victims being told that it's their fault. What a boatload of ......

I appreciate that you feel safe walking Lakewood at all hours, but when you think about it who in their right mind is going to approach a man of your size out walking the streets of Lakewood at the wee hours? No offense but you are more likely to be mistaken for a perpatrator than a potential victim.

[Bill Grulich]

Suzanne,

I realize that you're passionate about Lakewood. Do you think you can lay off the personal attacks against Jim O'Bryan?

Bill Grulich

[Shawn Juris]

[quote="Jim O'Bryan"]Shawn

Fine with me. It was my understanding that you were going to put those numbers in some form on context for the printed version.

I did not see you at any of the meetings, but will love to go back. But it should always be done with context. Like the context of surrounding cities and country.

One of my favorite writers for the Observer, was writing a piece on drug abuse. It was out of control, I was told. That was until the numbers were put next to Westlake, River, Bay. Cleveland, etc.

In the larger view, the numbers were unchanged.

Now Mr. Juris, how do we separate ourselves from the facts of the surrounding environment without creating the "island" you make fun of? How do we make Lakewood safer, something I have been for since day one, without more police, taxes, or ideas you have scoffed at? How do we build the brand, through city subsidize business groups that put out fliers on the "increase in rapes and people getting assaulted in downtown Lakewood" or by working with groups that actually promote Lakewood at no cost?

Shawn, the other day that i saw you out walking with the family, 110' from the scene of Lakewood's last murder. You were smiling, cordial, and the family seemed to be loving the sun and the time out. Was this just an illusion?

Please point out where I was PRO-CRIME ever.

if you can stop domestic violence, you would be a saint.


.


Jim,
Your debate skills suck, to put it mildly. Why would I tell you when you were Pro-Crime, I doubt that anyone has said that but you. Seems that the voices that told you that I wanted an Applebees and challenged you to a dual are screaming again. FWIW I believe that when you saw me walking it was before the shooting. Yep, I'm sure of it because that shooting wasn't even a thought at the time. I've walked around plenty of times in Lakewood and rarely feel in danger. I also am sure to lock my car and my house though. Those seem to be the crimes that are rising lately.
Have you even looked at the FBI reports that I'm referring to? Unless I'm mistaken, I don't think that domestic violence is included in those numbers.
Last point, I was not asked to put it into context of the surrounding cities, it was suggested that I write an article but I thought it more valuable to simply print it and let the numbers stand on their own. I hope that no one there was waiting on me for something further, I thought that I made it pretty clear that was something I thought I would provide and they could do with it as they wanted. Since the year to year numbers won't provide you the rosey outlook that you're looking for I would suggest comparing us to Euclid or Elyria. Comparing us to Cleveland Hts, North Olmsted or Parma will just make us look bad. I saw another report that showed that Bay and Rocky River would also be bad cities to compare against, very few crime reported there. Garfield Hts might be another one that makes us look good. I'm sure these are the cities that residents compare Lakewood to when they think about safety and where Lakewood fits in.

[sharon kinsella]

Shawn -

Actually, in any set of crime statistics Domestic Assault is usually wrapped up into the Physical Assault category.

Where are these statistics? I called the FBI and asked for them and I didn't get them. I would certainly like to see them. I would also like to compare them other inner ring suburbs. I'll bet Parma and Cleveland Hts. show up with a lot more crime than we do.

But, if I'm shown to be wrong, I'll admit it, will you?

[sharon kinsella]

Suzanne -

I'm going to let you and Jim have your own battle.

However, I need to ask, in what context do you and Ryan use the term elite. Would it be to denote a higher intellectual capacity? Or to intimate that the person to whom you refer is part of the "ruling class" (and our president is certainly not a democrat)? Or would it be be a term used to convey economic status? And if so, owning a house on Arthur and giving thousands of dollars to a political campaign are not the hallmarks of someone who economiacally deprived.

Just want to know.

[Shawn Juris]

Sharon,
I'd be happy to share. Unfortunately I've yet to figure out how to post them online. They get out of alignment and become an indecipherable mess. If you would like to PM me your email I can send it as an attachment.
As to the 2 items you mentioned, unless they are considering domestic violence escalates to be chargeable as murder, forcible rape or aggrevated assault then I doubt they are included in these reports. This leads me to wonder if Jim believes domestic violence to be the most frequent call and it's not even on the list that has raised my concern then maybe we're even worse off than I thought. The second item about the suspicion that Parma and Cleveland Hts being far worse is not the case based on these reports. Again, they are not conclusive and should only be used as one component but I don't know what else to look at.
By the way I've been open to information to pursuade me otherwise since this discussion started some 7 weeks ago. Throughout that time I have been shown nothing to prove that crime is down or even steady. Once you look at what crimes are making up the totals it becomes evident that anyone saying "all's well" has an agenda that is less than honest. This doesn't mean that the sky is falling it's just about being clear, honest and treating one another like adults like can deal with the facts and not like a bunch of children that need to be coddled and hushed to sleep.

[sharon kinsella]

Not knowing the terminology of the report, I'm going to go for aggravated assault. Communities are required, by Ohio law to list domestic violence reports. They are not required to break it out separately.

Will pm you my email. Thanks.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Ok Jim, you wanted to draw me out and you have, temporarily. My response to your statement, a thinly veiled endorsement of Tom George AGAIN, is this:And while I'm on a roll let me say that I'm tired of crime victims being told that it's their fault. What a boatload of ......

I appreciate that you feel safe walking Lakewood at all hours, but when you think about it who in their right mind is going to approach a man of your size out walking the streets of Lakewood at the wee hours? No offense but you are more likely to be mistaken for a perpetrator than a potential victim.

Suzanne

You know i had to draw you out. i know how hard you worked and know how hard you have worked for the city. The sooner we can get you back kicking my ass the better we all will be.

That said, this is not a thinly veiled endorsement of anyone. I am sick of my property values being assaulted. I am tired of the hard work you have done with the schools and the library, which should find a Metelko/Shaw park somewhere be destroyed for the sake of what.

I am calling out my boy as well, you know that, and it pains me as such.

I am not making light of crime, and I feel Rick's pain, which is why I am walking his street lately. I also feel yours, but I do not see it as any worse than when we were kids, and you have to know that.

I see you on your bike and walking all over town. You seem happy and safe, and i feel pretty good as well. I remember this past spring leaving my ipod, phone, police scanner on top of my car at 8:00am and coming out at 2:00pm and it was still there.

As for Rick and other streets, it is getting cooler and that keeps people in. I give in to the full possibility that I am there at the wrong time, but I am trying.

I agree any victim painted as the problem is wrong.

Might be my size, but I think I would still see something. I travel some pretty wild streets, some of the wildest in town I hear.

i have been preaching safety, more police, block watches since the second edition of the paper. But that is kept inside the city. Going on TV and proclaiming LAKEWOOD HAS A CRIME PROBLEM, borders on criminal neglect.

Suzanne, glad to see you post.

Really.


peace