The Observation Deck

The "deal" has been made by Summers, Madigan , Bullock, CCF, LHA and LHF to close the hospital in Lakewood forever.

But we can't see the details until next Monday Dec 7th--Pearl Harbor Day---at the Council Meeting--they will continue to hide as much of the details as they can from the public.

What is clear though is that the "deal" has far less than $50 million in benefits for Lakewood.

In exchange for the "deal" Lakewood will be asked to surrender:

1. Public money and property valued at $120 million.
2. The largest employer in Lakewood--$990,000 in income annual taxes.
3. $7 million per year in charity care for our underserved.
4. Over $ 1 million in rent.
5. $ 5 million in annual capital improvements to the Hospital through 2026--$55 million.
6. Valuable legal rights against CCF that could be worth more than $100 million at settlement.
7. Economic Activity estimated at over $250 million annually.

Additional results of the "deal" will be as follows:

1. Lakewood businesses will close,
2. jobs will be lost,
3. homes and business properties will be foreclosed,
4. property values will drop,
5. tax revenues will go down,
6. the elderly will suffer,
7. crime will rise,
8. the underserved will be even more underserved.
9. taxes will rise
10. schools will suffer


What could be worse than all of that?

1. CCF will be the sole provider of healthcare in Lakewood---they have already shown their lack of respect for Lakewood.
2. The people who have caused this calamity and pressed for this "deal" will be in control of $30 million of the $50 million of "benefits"

Lakewood's Pearl Harbor Day is Monday December 7, 2015

Brian,

Sadly, the crime is already here. Lakewood has been averaging about 1-2 break-ins per night for the last few weeks. Homes have been broken into between 3 and 5am while people are home. Electronics are the main items they are after. I assume an easy sell for drug money as most professional thieves realize that breaking and entering while a dwelling is occupied carries a stiffer penalty. ( Unless it is dismissed at the court level. ) I believe we are now up to 14 rapes, and there have been several calls to police about shots being fired. Last night the police were chasing after 3 or 4 juveniles by the Forest and Arlington Road area for stealing a car. I shutter to think what it will be like if the crime gets worse. It appears as though our Safety Director is plowing forward with his demolition plan for the hospital, along with our council members who say "I", and follow right along. They obviously can not think for themselves. Mr. Summers, can you please tell us here on the Deck what your benefit will be from closing OUR HOSPITAL, NOT yours? It appears that our leaders are so fixated on what appears to be a sweet deal they will receive from CCF, that they have forgotten that they have a city to run and citizens to protect.

Brian Essi wrote: Lakewood's Pearl Harbor Day is Monday December 7, 2015

I have spoken with many people all over this deal, this "production," pro-hospital, pro-tear down hospital. NO ONE thinks this deal was handled well by City Hall. That City Hall through lack of accountability and transparency has caused much speculation and "fear." We were told that the deal had to be done in secret, that the deal had to be handled off the grid. EVERYONE thinks the roll out, the follow through and PUBLIC RELATIONS was a failure. Well it seems pretty silly keeping it a secret any longer.

Here is a chance for City Hall to be up front, and present to Lakewood, "The Deal," and why it is the best deal for Lakewood. NO BS like, "It is not closing." No BS like, "It is a $120 million in new development." Just the way the Mayor sees it, and what the facts are. Sell it to us, don't shove it down our throats. We have beat it to death and the city is better served for the discussion, now let us hear the facts, the deal, and digest it.

Mayor Summers, be the leader I grew up with and knew.

Be honest, Is it honey, or poison?

BONUS QUESTION:
Does this mean we will finally see the Active Living Task Force Report, that we have been assured has ZERO connection to the hospital deal?

.