The Observation Deck

I am disturbed by the number of people who are raking their leaves into the STREETS and not their tree lawns. This is clearly against the City Code and can lead to basement flooding. Some of my neighbors are doing this, even though I have told them that it isn't allowed. Today, as I drove down Nicholson, I saw a a house that had blown their leaves almost a half block long on the side of their house. Why isn't the city ticketing these people? With so many of us having basement issues, I am concerned that someone's ignorance will lead to a $30,000 basement waterproofing of my house. Not only that, but this takes up valuable parking spaces. I'm not sure who to reach out to, but I think something needs to be done about this.

Hi Amy,

Thanks for bringing this up. This happens every year at this time and it makes me so mad. I really wish people would realize the dangers of doing this. First, kids can bury themselves in these piles and a car can come through and run them over. This is rare, but it can and does happen. Also, some people rake their leaves into the street and then put large or sharp objects in the pile that can damage cars.

The police and public works workers should be noting the addresses that do this and reporting back to the city so that the city can send a letter to the homeowner saying that they have 24 hours to remove the leaves from the street or they will be sent a nice court summons and fine. If you notice an abnormally large pile of leaves, I would call the police and tell them that it is a hazard and needs to be removed. Putting leaves in the street could also be considered "placing injurious material in the street", which is a violation of state law.

Amy, this post reminds me that Lakewood seems to have been thrown into a state of lawlessness over the past few years, for example:

Put garbage out any day you want? Sure!
Rake leaves into the street? Yep!
Drive 50 MPH in school zones? You bet!
Let yards grow two feet tall? Why not?! It's pretty!
Shoplift from CVS to be given a courtesy ride home? Absolutely!
Finally, run over a pedestrian at the Manor Park crosswalk and you get bonus points!

In all seriousness, it saddens me that so much work will have to be done to dig us out of the hole we are in.

Just my opinion. Thanks again for bringing this up.

Only on the Internet can a post about reminding residents to properly tend to their leaves devolve ( in just 2 posts!!!) to quote Lori Allen , "Lakewood is in a state of complete lawlessness." Really? Complete Lawlessness? To be clear, I agree that the leaves need to stay on the tree lawn. But complete lawlessness. Maybe just a tad bit of an overstatement. No?

Pat--- I just got back from my morning walk and it's pure BEDLAM out there!!! I'll tell ya--- we're entering a season of leaflessness!!! Stan

Patrick,

Children being hidden in leaves in the street and being run over has happened. Lawlessness? Yes. Speeding in Lakewood, robberies and armed robberies almost every night, young teens shoplifting at 3:00am and then being given a complimentary ride home by the Lakewood Uber Police. Just last weekend a friend of mine was robbed in the middle of the night when they were home. The perp cut the screen and went in.This was not the first robbery of this sort. How about the robbers out there now that sneak up behind you, knock you down, spray mace in your face and then rob you? We have a lot of auto theft also. Hiding crimes and not prosecuting them is a good way for the Mayor to make Lakewood look safe for the annual Cleveland Magazine review,