Lakewood Hospital:What is at stake?

[Meg Ostrowski]

Lakewood’s largest employer; 1000+ good paying, skilled jobs; easy access to critical healthcare; 288 million dollars in annual local economic activity; 70 million dollars in city owned assets; annual revenue from payroll taxes and lease payments putting us at risk for higher taxes, reduced city services and declining home values.

From another discussion found at http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewt ... f=7&t=2221, Lori Allen writes:

Summers talks about new businesses and jobs in Lakewood. How can you compare the wages of a clerk or bartender to hospitals professionals? Summers says that keeping the hospital open will cost taxpayers money. Actually, I think it is the other way around. I invite him to come on the deck and explain to all of us how he plans on making up the revenue we will loose from the loss of the payroll taxes from 1500 hospital jobs."

Lori,

Don’t hold your breath for an explanation here but publicly Summers has said that the money he’s been squirreling away, the anticipated windfall from the recent property assessments and small businesses adding a few jobs at a time, over time will sustain us. That may be true in the short term but once the economic impact of losing 1000+ good paying jobs catches up with us a few years down the road, we are likely to run into BIG trouble. Residents and businesses will see it and feel it, home values will reflect it and it could be all downhill from there.

While Summers insists that we must accept a long term solution for healthcare delivery, he is shortsighted on his economic solution. So far the only ones I have heard are small business infrastructure and housing. I am afraid it is NOT going to be enough.

[marklingm]

An excellent post, Meg.

Thank you.

I'm interested in reading how everyone responds.





Matt

[Lori Allen _]

For review, Avon needs a hospital with 20,000 residents, Lakewood does not need one with 52,000 residents. Why is health care changing in Lakewood, but not in Avon? Avon residents have money and good insurance, I'm sure better than what those of us here have. That equals more money for CCF. I have to ask again, why would the mayor pass up Metro Health? Why has there NEVER been an open process for other health care providers to come in?

I believe that CCF should change their slogan from World Class Care to Dumb Ass Care. Folks, I think we all believe that CCF is going to make this deal really sweet for Summers and probably others as well!

I assume that Summers cares more about his buddies from CCF, LHA, and LHF than he does the rest of his citizens. Does he really have our best interests in mind?

[Bridget Conant]

Meg is spot on, as usual.

When I first heard the rumor that the hospital would close, my first thoughts were "how are we ever going to replace that economic engine!"

You simply cannot compare retail development, with its overwhelmingly minimum wage jobs, to the benefits of a hospital with its high paying professional salaries and the ripple effect on the surrounding economy from all the workers and visitors.

I truly fear the loss of the hospital will signal the downfall of Lakewood, which as an inner ring suburb, is very vulnerable. NO development will be able to "fill the shoes" of the hospital. I fully expect a tax increase, both an income tax and a property tax, as a result of the loss of the hospital. Those increase will be the beginning of a downward spiral for the city, as housing becomes devalued and poverty increases.

[Stan Austin]

The only economic aspect that I would ad to Meg's excellent analysis is that those 1000 employees represent a well qualified group of potential renters or home buyers that would be taken out of the real estate market. As Bill Call has pointed out so many times there is a limited pool of qualified buyers/renters that all communities in this region are competing for.
Stan Austin

[Lori Allen _]

I imagine looking at boarded up store fronts,and Bridget is right, a tax increase. I feel that we pay enough taxes now. I think more people will move out of Lakewood seeking lower taxes and a hospital. A city can not sustain itself on section eight alone.

[Bridget Conant]

So how many people might move to Avon now? THEY have a hospital AND much lower taxes!

They already have an advantage over our older, more highly taxed city. Our government policies promote urban sprawl.

We are doing nothing to stop it, to our own detriment. Letting the hospital close accelerates our decline.

[Brian Essi]

Excellent.

[cameron karslake]

So how many people might move to Avon now? THEY have a hospital AND much lower taxes!

They already have an advantage over our older, more highly taxed city. Our government policies promote urban sprawl.

We are doing nothing to stop it, to our own detriment. Letting the hospital close accelerates our decline.

Good point Bridget.

I have only one edit and it's that the SUMMERS ADMINISTRATION (not "We") are DOING NOTHING TO STOP IT. WE, as concerned citizens of Lakewood, are doing all that we can to prevent this catastrophic deal from going forward.

Skindell for mayor!

Yes on 64!

[Meg Ostrowski]

So how many people might move to Avon now? THEY have a hospital AND much lower taxes!

They already have an advantage over our older, more highly taxed city.

I wouldn't be surprised if some BUILD LAKEWOOD supporters are the first to go. I've considered that their support may be a personal exit strategy. They must recognize that properties will get a short term boost from redevelopment. I'll be watching to see how well they time the market.

Our government policies promote urban sprawl.

We are doing nothing to stop it, to our own detriment.

Ward 2 Council Member Sam O'Leary talks about the need for a discussion on sprawl in the NEOMG Council Video Debate. You can watch it here:

http://www.cleveland.com/lakewood/index ... il_ca.html

Letting the hospital close accelerates our decline.

I couldn't agree more.

[Meg Ostrowski]

I have also considered that their desire to create a foundation is an attempt to alleviate their conscience of those they leave behind.