The Observation Deck

I've been told that when I post here I'm too kumbayah-like, too kind. Here I thought I was trying to not just bitch but tend toward solutions. As a problem solver and person of action, it's my nature to lean toward a solution.

Having said that - here goes. I'd really like to know who is running Lakewood. We have no outside basketball hoops because hoodlums have caused trouble in them. I just heard that there are no grills at Madison Park because hoodlums knock them down.

It appears that the hoodlums are actually running the city. Decisions are made based on their behavior. Those decisions negatively impact my family - yes that's right - a law-abiding, tax paying, recycling, dog walking, gardening, civic minded, family. Where are the decisions in favor of us??????????????????????

You remove basketball hoops so my tween son - who REALLY needs to be outdoors playing like a tween boy - can't. You remove grills so my neighbors who every year enjoy a holiday picnic at the park - can't. AND, the bathrooms at the park were closed today until a call was made to the emergency number to get it opened. AND, no security guard is up there.

Are we going to continue to remove everything the hoodlums decide to take ownership of? If so, let's roll up the sidewalks, close all of the businesses, tear down the houses, and move on.

THIS IS OUR CITY - US LAW-ABIDING, TAX PAYING, CIVIC MINDED, RECYCLING, DOG WALKING, GARDENING, PICNICKING FAMILIES. And we want our city back. Start making decisions that put an end to the hoodlum activity without penalizing my family and my neighbors. Start running the asylum.

I agree Diane to alot of what you say. It's unfortunate that because of the small few, we all are being treated like criminals in the cases you listed above.

I would add to those some of the new policies at the library as well.

We always have the choice, do we treat everyone like a criminal, or do we find a better way?

The difficulty sometimes though is figuring out what the better way is and will it work?

Bryan:

While the situations you group point to responses to chaos, disorder and crime, I believe there is substantial difference in the response that the library has made in recognition that preventive measures are required to sustain access, with greater effort, sure. But the access and service are still available.

I can assure you the inmates are not running the asylum at LPL where the board of trustees carefully evaluates reports and recommendations from the administration.

You might not perceive the situation as I do, or as the off-duty police officers with whom I work. You might not like the solution to the situation we perceive. That’s fine. You don’t see a situation that I do.

However, I do believe you are conflating different solutions with a problem or inconvenience, and unfairly tarring a solution driven organization that has maintained and preserved the service, while other responses have given up the service.

In fact, I would also suggest that a similar arrangement with basketball hoops as we have put into place in AV would be consistent with Situational Crime Prevention Techniques recommended by the Center for Community Policing.

You will see controlling access to facilities, screen exits, deflect offenders and reduce anonymity are key techniques.

See:
http://www.popcenter.org/25techniques/

These situational crime prevention techniques have informed LPL’s response to the situation. And I believe these techniques possess merit for anyone who recognizes the effects of bad apples on a community situation and is looking to construct a solution.

Byran, I sincerely hope that no matter how you feel about the library's policy your consideration of the community component in situational crime prevention might lead you to feel that an effort in which we share does not mean that you are being treated like a criminal.

Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

It is up to police, merchants, and other officials to simply kick people out based on how they are behaving. Filing charges is too expensive and time consuming for the smaller nuisance stuff. Just kick them out.

and another thing. what's up with the tennis courts at lakewood park? the one court with the backboard is chained shut.

Either fix it up or tear it down. Here's a thought - if you aren't going to open it up so i can use it, why not tear it down and plant grass. After all, it is a PARK.

I'd like to know when we will be able to actually utilize the city services we're paying for. hmmmm . . . .

maybe I should be communicating with the hoodlums - they seem to be the ones running this asylum.

Kenneth Warren wrote:Bryan:

While the situations you group point to responses to chaos, disorder and crime, I believe there is substantial difference in the response that the library has made in recognition that preventive measures are required to sustain access, with greater effort, sure. But the access and service are still available.

Ken I agree. I was mainly trying to highlight the fact that even the library has chosen to take extra measures due to the potential of theft and crime.

The fact remains that we are subjected to extra scrutiny due to the new policies because of the criminals. In other cases in the city, services have been lost entirely because of them.

Diane,

I appreciate your frankness. I also appreciate that you were involved and continue to be involved in both city and school matters prior to and after your run for city council. Your insight is valuable. Thank you.

The issue of basketball hoops was raised at the joint city/school board meeting on June 30, 2008. I was very impressed by the manner in which City Council and the Mayor handled inquires to those questions.

I found City Council and the Mayor to be very respectful to everyone in attendance at our joint meeting.

The Mayor shared that the City was willing to explore all basketball hoop options – to which Dan Slife made a nice suggestion involving passwords and the like.

Matt

Matt,
While the Mayor is open to listening to all options in reguards to outdoor basketball hoops, it was clearly stated that there was NO city money for the return of these hoops or to pay for the security that would be required.

I can't help but wonder if those involved with the decision to remove ALL of the outdoor basketball hoops in Lakewood would have taken a proactive approch such as Ken Warren has done with the LPL, we would not have the situation we have in Lakewood.....not one single public hoop has survived.

Why not charge a yearly fee for a permit to cover the cost of the hoops and security?

You have to pay to swim, why not pay to play basketball?

Matt,
Thank you for your kind words. As you know, I believe that, should we decide to, we can make Lakewood the BEST place to live in NE Ohio.

Unfortunately, I had to leave the meeting the other night before the basketball hoop discussion. I've been surprised that there has been no thread here regarding that meeting. Maybe I've missed it. I do know that there were observers at that meeting.

I support Mayor Fitzgerald and was confident when he rolled out his law enforcement initiative. However, I am left to wonder - if we've decided to increase the police presence and enforcement, doesn't that work toward solving some of this behavior? I'm reminded of the Tipping Point, which I mentioned during my campaign. It's the little things that can make the biggest difference.

Case in point, most of us would feel better about the 'community' of Lakewood if we felt that it was OUR community. I'm tired of having every day services taken away from my neighbors and my kids because the powers that be can't, or won't, figure out how to deal with a less than pleasant element.

Well, guess what - that's what we hired them for.

I want my city back.

Diane

As for the hoops.

While walking in Slavic Village at Midnight a month ago, we came around the corner, and there were the first basketball hoops I had seen up in the county in a year. Kids playing a quiet game of basketball, as it was late.

Last week I noticed that hoops are back up in Cleveland and East Cleveland.

Yesterday a person biking pas my house stopped me and asked what the story was on Lakewood hoops. We talked for awhile and he mentioned that was one reason why he moved to RR. But if we put them up, he would come back to use them.

With a smile I said, "That is why they came down, undesirables from Rocky River and other cities coming in to use them."

We did talk about how there is not a lot for kids to do in Lakewood but hang out and walk the streets. That at least it gave kids exercise and a place to go.

Not to go into the "in my day..." But in my day we had after school activities, places to go, stores that welcomed kids to hang out with pin ball machines, fields, and access to much more. Much of it available without Mom and Dad having to be there with us.

It does seem counter-productive to have the group with the most energy to burn, and minds for the most mischief, not occupied.

That said, the residents cried out for safety, after everyone running for office assured us the city was under siege. The correction has to be quick and tough, then we can trickle back in services and "freedoms."


FWIW



.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:That said, the residents cried out for safety, after everyone running for office assured us the city was under siege. The correction has to be quick and tough, then we can trickle back in services and "freedoms."

I don't understand what that means.

Jim, the basketball hoops at Roosevelt were taken down after some punks were fighting in the cage very late at night. The residents complained, apparently the police couldn't do anything about it - why I don't know - and so, the hoops came down.

Here's a thought - how about locking the cage at 11pm? Here's another thought - how about the police patrol the problem areas until the undesirables get the point and hit the skids.

Oh wait, those are too logical; make way too much sense and allow my children access to the things you were able to enjoy as a child.

THis is absurd. The elementary schools have the kids sitting on the floor during inside recess instead of blowing off steam and getting exercise. The tennis courts are a shambles. The basketball hoops are non-existent.

And yet, studies show not only that obesity is directly related to low test scores, they also show that children need SUNLIGHT to activate vitamin D in their systems - to grow healthy bones.

Where's the common sense? the vision?

You said it Jim - these kids need to be engaged in positive ways. Idle hands and all that.

Bryan Schwegler wrote:Why not charge a yearly fee for a permit to cover the cost of the hoops and security?You have to pay to swim, why not pay to play basketball?

I don't think that kids in our city should have to pay to play basketball in a park or school parking lot. If we're a kid friendly city, and I think we try to be, this should be a readily available activity for all of the obvious and previously mentioned reasons. I can understand the need for security or the desire to be sure that hoops are being used predominately by Lakewood residents, especially if it is going to cost money to supervise.  But we can't start charging for every pass time.  That leaves our low income families at yet another disadvantage. And here's a thought.  For those who have kids really into basketball, is there anything that prevents them from putting up a hoop over there own garage door?  In Oklahoma, where we visit relatives, someone on just about ever street has a hoop on wheels that they wheel into the street to play games with more people.  Certainly, I'm not advocating that we send our children into the street...but there are some places where that might work.  A good game of basketball might even slow down those crotch rockets!

Diane Helbig wrote:
Case in point, most of us would feel better about the 'community' of Lakewood if we felt that it was OUR community. I'm tired of having every day services taken away from my neighbors and my kids because the powers that be can't, or won't, figure out how to deal with a less than pleasant element.

Ding Ding Ding. We have a winner. Give the lady a kewpie doll.

I totally agree with you.