The Observation Deck

It should be noted here that as of 1/19/2017, Ryan P. Nowlin has pulled petitions with the Board of Elections to run for another term of Lakewood Council At-Large.

Others that have pulled petitions are Tristan W. Rader and Brian Taubman.

In my opinion, this takes a lot of nerve on the part of Ryan P. Nowlin. Even if he is not directly a part of all of them, I believe he is at least aware of:

1. The alleged land bank/housing scam. See http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewt ... 3&start=60

2. The "holding public records hostage" scam.

3. The "Friends of Michael P. Summers don't have to pay taxes" scam. See http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewt ... es#p172528

4. The "Kauffman Park basketball hoops must be closed for one friend of Michael P. Summers" scam. See http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewt ... all#p90877

5. Of course, the Lakewood Hospial scam.

I will be holding all of the candidate's feet to the fire this year. I want specific, in-depth answers and a plan of action to tackle the following issues:

1. The city-wide bedbug infestation/outbreak.
2. 24/7 early garbage set-outs.
3. Potholes that aren't patched until June.
4. The graffiti spree that is really city-wide, but especially in Ward 4.
5. The issue that I appear to be the only one reporting burned-out streetlights.
6. Garbage trucks that leak hydraulic fluid like sieves and constantly break down. The mechanics are scrambling to keep them running.
7. House flippers that use Lakewood and its homes as a cash cow, and do not keep their worksites clean and safe (**cough** Darren **cough**)!
8. Chronic nuisance properties that take up countless police time and resources (**cough** Around The Corner **cough**).
9. Rental properties that are not being inspected once per year, as required. This puts tenants and possibly even neighbors at risk.
10. Noisy, loose manhole covers and storm drains throughout the city that can't seem to get fixed.
11. Perfectly fine, historical houses being plowed down by Michael P. Summers & Co.
12. Long grass taking three weeks to be cut, when the deadline is 48 hours after a citation.
13. The graffiti and blight-plagued portion of Madison Ave. between Wyandotte and Clarence, although Councilman John D. Litten shares some responsibility as well.
14. Nick's now-demolished property at 13351 Madison. Nick owes Cuyahoga County $89,000 in property taxes and City Hall $60,000 for demolition. What is the plan to hold Nick accountable, despite his claim "I don't own it and do not know who the current owner is"?
15. Bars and taverns that serve underage persons and minors, over-serve patrons, and do not keep their patrons under control. Alcohol-related crime and DUI's are rampant.
16. Vacant, graffiti-plagued buildings on Berea Rd.
17. The Hilliard Square Threatre. What is the plan of action to hold this owner accountable? The Summers administration is chomping at the bit to demolish it, instead of holding the owner accountable long ago.

The list goes on. This is what happens when you have a city lead by Michael P. Summers. Nobody is held accountable, nothing is fixed, and problems mushroom, so-to-speak. However, our councilpersons are also to blame. A solid at-large council candidate should be prepared to have a plan of action for the above issues. These are issues I will be following closely this year and reporting on.

It is worth noting that Councilperson Cynthia A. Marx has pulled petitions to seek another term for Lakewood Council at-Large:

I believe it would behoove Ms. Marx to explain her apparent relationship with the following individuals:

- James W. Kemp Jr., Managing Director at Huron Consulting (Ms. Marx recieved $1,000 from Mr. Kemp)
- Michael J. Mervart, M.D. (Cleveland Clinic doctor)
- William Riebel (Cleveland Clinic doctor and Lakewood Hospital Association member)

Furthermore, I believe it would behovve Ms. Marx to explain her plan of action to tackle these issues in Lakewood:

- 24/7/365 garbage set-outs. Thus far in 2017, I have documented roughly 134 early garbage set-outs in Lakewood. We are only halfway through February.

- Rampant graffiti. As of 2/13/17, there are roughly 146 instances of graffiti that remain of Lakewood. Much of it has remained for almost a year. Why?

- Increased water and sewer rates. City Hall claims this is due to the City of Lakewood being forced to comply with EPA regulations. Does ignorance on City Hall's part constitute an emergency on everyone else's?

- Bars that insist on serving alcohol to minors and underage individuals. Thus far in 2017, the Ohio Department of Public Safety - Ohio Investigative Unit has "busted" roughly six bars in Lakewood for serving alcohol to minors.

- Bars that insist on over-serving patrons that often get in fights and hurt others. Shouldn't these bars be "chronic criminal nuisance properties" in accordance with LCO 510.01.? If not, why not?

- A Heroin problem that has been documented as the worst in the area by several agencies. I see that Mayor/Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers finally woke up from being asleep at the wheel for six years and finally decided to call in the Ohio Attorney General's Office for help with the problem. This is a noble idea, but it is about six years too late. Problems tend to mushroom.

- Donation box laws that are not being enforced. In accordance with LCO 721.02, no more than one clothing donation box shall be permitted on any single parcel of property. There are, at a minimum, six parcels where this ordinance is being broken. One of these parcels can be seen from Ms. Marx's front yard.

- Shopping cart litter laws that are not being enforced. According to City Hall, businesses are no longer fined when their carts are found lying around town. Why not? Better yet, have the police stop the shopping cart thieves when they are seen and arrest them for theft.

- The infamous long grass issue. A few years ago, City Hall touted new laws that would hold property owners accountable for long grass. Specifically, the new laws allow City Hall to cut long grass after 48 hours and fine the owner. Why is it taking three weeks when the law allows 48 hours? Residents don't want to live next to long grass that attracts rodents, pests, and other nuisances. This past summer, some parts of Lakewood looked borderline bucolic because grass was so long.

- Rental properties and apartment buildings that are not being inspected once per year, as is the law. This is actually a safety issue. When apartment buildings have not been inspected since 1995, 2001, or 2005, that opens the door for faulty electrical components that could catch fire, malfunctioning fire alarms or smoke detectors, mold that could make residents ill, and the list goes on.

- Kevin M. Butler holding public records hostage for months. That doesn't count the backdoor COW meetings that were conducted over the past two years. Here comes Mr. Anderson to regurgitate the same scripted line of "Judge Firedman ruled" etc.

- Halfway houses being moved into neighborhoods and the operators not being held accountable. While certain federal laws may prohibit City Hall from refusing to allow halfway houses into the city, federal laws do not prohibit City Hall holding those who operate the halfway houses accountable. There is a halfway house on Clifton that the police are called to almost every night. Not to mention many of the residents have access to knives and often become "out of control" as the police like to say, all because one of the resident's roommates took their cigarette lighter, or their beer. I would think the mayor would understand how upsetting it would be to have your beer stolen.

With all of these issues in Lakewood not being corrected, they are now blossoming and spreading to nicer streets in Lakewood. With all of these issues not being corrected or not being corrected in a timely fashion, why should we trust Ms. Marx or Mr. Nowlin to lead our city for another four years? What makes them deserve our vote? I have never seen this city look so much like a train wreck as I have during the past six years. Coincidentally, that just happens to be since Summers took office.

Ryan and Cindy, why do you deserve our vote? I welcome you to come here, on the Deck, and explain your specific plan of action to deal with these issues, in your own words, and not those of Law Director Kevin M. Butler or Mayor/Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers.

Ms. Marx and Mr. Nowlin's feet will be held to the fire during this election season. Issues around Lakewood will be posted here on the Deck and their responsiveness will be evaluated. Everyone knows that virtually everyone at City Hall reads the Deck, although most City Hall folks claim that the LO sucks and is a terrible paper. Go figure.

Lori, When are you going to pull petitions?

Dan,

For several reasons, I would not stand a chance against the Summers establishment. Besides it being a rigged system for lack of a better term, I would not be an "aye" man. Perhaps the most obvious reason would be that I wouldn't say "any way you want it" to the mayor every council meeting.

In regards to the mayor, perhaps this should be city council's theme song:



The title says it all. Any way you want it, sir!

I thought about running...but then I remembered I dont like people enough to have them pester me 24/7. its bad enough in my job i am hounded...

Lori Allen _ wrote:
... it being a rigged system ....

Lori -

Throughout the entire presidential campaign season (and even on election day), your pal Trump insisted it was a rigged system ... and look where he end up: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/11/08/on-elect ... ystem.html

I say go for it; you may end up at 12650 Detroit Avenue.

If Nowlin and Marx are running again, City Hall must be getting really desperate.

In any case, I am still awaiting answers from the pair, especially from Ms. Marx regarding her apparent relationship with James W. Kemp Jr. from Huron Consulting and the CCF physicians.