The Observation Deck

Lakewood is on the way to losing our back yard pick up after tonight’s Council meeting.

Is privatization the final stage in the Mayor and Councils plan?

Are we losing our refuse department to make room for the Mayors new Jail?

Or are we losing our refuse department so the Mayor has the money to finance his Endeavour?

There is NO way people in Lakewood can pay for trash pickup with the taxes we pay, and yes they are high and the gas prices to heat these old houses. No way. That can't even be a thought.

Shelley Hurd wrote:
"Steve can you assure me and the rest of Lakewood’s residents that this isn’t just Phase 2 in the outsourcing of the refuse collection?"

Stephen Eisel wrote:
"This could be an issue either way..."


Shelley Hurd wrote:
"Thank you for your candor Steve. Sad, really really sad whats happened and is going to continue to happen to this city...Heartbreaking"

"Do you know if the refuse department property is being considered for the site of the new jail the Mayor plans on building?

Can you say definitively it is not a site that is being considered or will be used?"

Stephen Eisel wrote:
"I did not know that.."

Find more of the discussion which lead to the question being posed by this thread under the "Backyard trash pick-up. Should this continue?" thread

Shelley Hurd wrote: "Do you know if the refuse department property is being considered for the site of the new jail the Mayor plans on building?

Can you say definitively it is not a site that is being considered or will be used?"

Shelly

I can say that I have not heard that in over two years. I would prefer to not say the latest area considered because it is just rumor.

That is not to say it is not possible, but during the last administration, that area was considered, as was moving trash completely to Berea Road. This administration is looking at an area that is nearly 50% larger than what is available behind city hall.

I would still say the best bet for a new jail would be in Cleveland, just over the border on Madison Ave. I believe we could even get TIF money for it.

FWIW


.

Jim,

Can you say definitively that we are not we losing our refuse department so the Mayor has the money to finance his new jail?

And can you assure Lakewood residents that refuse collection definitely will not be privatized?

Shelley Hurd wrote:Jim,

Can you say definitively that we are not we losing our refuse department so the Mayor has the money to finance his new jail?

And can you assure Lakewood residents that refuse collection definitely will not be privatized?

Absolutely not.

I have often wondered about the privatization of refuse and water departments.

While the refuse would frustrate me and others, as witnessed in Justine Cooper's comments. I would be very disappointed to see water privatized, when one member of the community who used to work there claims we could be pulling $5 million a year profit out of it.

This person quit, went to Oberlin and has completely turned their water department around to making money with less staff. At lunch he actually monitors and makes things happen through his blackberry.

To me privatization should only be looked at as a lat resort. After all it is nothing more than saying, this company can do what we cannot figure out on our own.

I was merely speaking of the space, not the department.

FWIW

.

Shelley Hurd wrote:Shelley Hurd wrote:
"Steve can you assure me and the rest of Lakewood’s residents that this isn’t just Phase 2 in the outsourcing of the refuse collection?"

Stephen Eisel wrote:
"This could be an issue either way..."


Shelley Hurd wrote:
"Thank you for your candor Steve. Sad, really really sad whats happened and is going to continue to happen to this city...Heartbreaking"

"Do you know if the refuse department property is being considered for the site of the new jail the Mayor plans on building?

Can you say definitively it is not a site that is being considered or will be used?"

Stephen Eisel wrote:
"I did not know that.."

Find more of the discussion which lead to the question being posed by this thread under the "Backyard trash pick-up. Should this continue?" thread

sorry I didn't read since I am embarrassingly still finishing Christmas cards!

Justine,

I have a few cards to write myself.. I can scratch off the Mayor and Council, as of tonight they made my "naughty" list.

And I agree with you. The audacity of this Mayor and Council is mind boggling.

With the high tax rate we pay here we should not be seeing all of our services gutted, cut and outsourced. Remember there are more cuts & gutting to come in other departments...

But hay, lets not forget we will have a shiny new jail to brag about

Hopefully in the morning and over the next few days residents will finally be made aware of what has been going on and what seemingly has no end in sight.

And hopefully we will have enough folks to tell them this is unacceptable and to hold them accountable for their disregard of the publics trust.

Shelley Hurd wrote: Can you say definitively that we are not we losing our refuse department so the Mayor has the money to finance his new jail?

It sounds like you are implying that our Mayor is trading our refuse department for a jail.

It just sounds wacky. What’s your basis for this?

Charlie Page wrote:

Shelley Hurd wrote: Can you say definitively that we are not we losing our refuse department so the Mayor has the money to finance his new jail?

It sounds like you are implying that our Mayor is trading our refuse department for a jail.

It just sounds wacky. What’s your basis for this?

umm Reason and Deduction ( wacky concepts huh?)

Are you saying the Mayor is not planning to build a new jail?

Or are you saying he will not need money to build his new jail?

And are you saying that no funds from his latest hack and slash job to our city services he has just done by abolishing our back yard service will not be used in any way for his new jail?

And are you denying for the Mayor that in January/Febuary, " a draft will be provided to Lakewood PD shortly after the New Year. This is the first step in the jail planning process." ?

Now please be nice. You and I have no issues with each other. We just are in a disagreement as to the Mayors agenda. So peace. And lets be civil to one another

( wacky concepts huh?)

Just for the record, I am not sharing Area 51..

Stephen Eisel wrote:

( wacky concepts huh?)

Just for the record, I am not sharing Area 51..

Scooch over fellah and make room for a weary traveler, the "Twilight Zone" is not being kind :cry

Shelley,

Not to speak for Charlie but I think he was being nice and meant nothing malicious.
I'll ask the question as well. What's the basis for this line of speculation? I'm not doubting what you are saying in any way and it sure seems like you do your homework but a claim of this magnitude should be backed with sources. That's all I'm asking is what leads you to think this is what is going on?

Thanks
Ed

And I would remind folks, I saw this coming back in March when I wrote an article which appeared in the Sunpost and can be found on the Lakewood Observer site:

http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/4/6/lakewood-city-of

So believe me, I have gads of information, reports and a solid opinion on what the Mayor has in store for this city.

And I strongly OBJECT