Lakewoodites In The Women's March

[Jim O'Bryan]

It was great seeing so many Lakewoodites take part in the Women's March on Saturday, both here and in Washington, D.C. But I couldn't help but reflect back to Lakewood when I heard speech after speech asking women and all citizens to hold their elected officials accountable. That if you see something that is not right, speak up, get involved, question them.

Then I couldn't help but think, how many of those women stand silent or worse yet, work against the two women that started the lawsuit asking City Hall to be honest and accountable in the sale of our largest asset and the running off of our largest employer. I saw photos of Lakewood women that have lied to other, misrepresetned the facts knowingly and submitted fraudulent documents to the courts. I saw of Lakewood women that stood by while our mayor pulled strings to get a convicted predator of women, especially Jewish and of color, into City Hall first working on his campaign, then work for the city and then get caught harassing Lakewoodites including the women that tried to hold the mayor accountable.

I hope the Woman's March leads to more than some hats, and some slogans. I hope they find their voices and souls and work together to right wrong. But I hope they apply some of that to Lakewood. One of the most fervent walkers, a woman that works at City Hall told me recently, "Some residents deserve to be lied to." Holding signs and marching against Trump for lying. Another one marching that was thrown off a board for what was found to be ethical violations.

To all of the Lakewood women and men that marched, thank you, an amazing show of support and solidarity. It was amazing to see, hear and watch. Let me suggest get involved locally, and there is no better what than to ask the City of Lakewood, and the women of Lakewood City Hall to be accountable and honest to the rest of us. All of us, men and women should learn to demand more honesty and accountability from all of our elected officials. Together, we can make Lakewood City Hall respectable again.

My second offer, this to the women of City Hall, Build Lakewood and other groups in Lakewood. If the city comes clean, I will turn the Observer over to the women of Lakewood to run.


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[Bridget Conant]

I could not agree more with this post.

How hypocritical is it to attack Trump for lying when you condone our local leaders doing the exact same thing? Why is it any different?

The really funny thing about these two faced Lakewood women is they sided with MEN - men who manipulated them, men who run the show and used them as their stooges.

Good job, ladies! You really are onto something there.

[mjkuhns]

I can't help wondering whether any of Lakewood's other participants in Saturday's events—presumably thrilled at being amid a crowd of people marching and waving signs and chanting—rolled their eyes and frowned and maybe even used a derogatory word or two when the same phenomenon has appeared in Lakewood.

Argue that the issues are distinct, if you like, by all means. But unless you can demonstrate that there is only one right way on every topic and that you possess infallible ability to discern it… I submit that popular protest is by itself legitimate and meaningful, even when you disagree with its aim, or it is not legitimate and meaningful ever.

I'm sticking with "is."

[Jim O'Bryan]

I can't help wondering whether any of Lakewood's other participants in Saturday's events—presumably thrilled at being amid a crowd of people marching and waving signs and chanting—rolled their eyes and frowned and maybe even used a derogatory word or two when the same phenomenon has appeared in Lakewood.

Argue that the issues are distinct, if you like, by all means. But unless you can demonstrate that there is only one right way on every topic and that you possess infallible ability to discern it… I submit that popular protest is by itself legitimate and meaningful, even when you disagree with its aim, or it is not legitimate and meaningful ever.

I'm sticking with "is."

Matt

I can't get wrapped in much of the BS. But why is it so hard for people to want their government to be honest with them?

This is what I do not understand, public records are public records. I thought. Only in Lakewood do two women need to risk everything and sue the city for them. While other Lakewood women march for honest and accountability. Ignoring the lies and deceit in their own backyard.

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[Kate McCarthy]

I could not agree more with this post.

How hypocritical is it to attack Trump for lying when you condone our local leaders doing the exact same thing? Why is it any different?

Bridget, I believe we are now to call lies "alternative facts".

[Lori Allen _]

The majority of the protesters in D.C., when questioned, could not give an answer as to why they were protesting. I believe that many here in Lakewood choose to turn their backs, close their mouths and ears, and let others do the fighting for them. Everyone needs to stand up and hold Summers and extended Company accountable.

[Bridget Conant]

Any woman that accuses Trump of:

Hiring unqualified people
Not releasing tax documents
Lying and misleading
Distorting facts
Taking revenge on people
Encouraging "fake news"
Not caring about the poor and minorities

They need only look to what happened in Lakewood. The EXACT SAME THINGS - propaganda and phony newspapers (Ohio Neighborhood News), misleading statements (many outright lies), hiring unqualified people for city jobs, not releasing PUBLIC RECORDS.

Where were these women then? Did they speak out?

NO. They allowed the MEN perpetrating these shameful acts to continue.

As I said, nice job ladies. Hope you are proud of yourselves out yelling about Trump. Phonies.

[Marguerite Harkness]

Jim - thanks. Actually, three women on that lawsuit.

Bridget - right on target.

Some of those women are probably expecting (and maybe receiving) "benefits" from their deceitful and hateful behavior toward those of us who tried to save the hospital, and our city's biggest asset and economic engine.

[Lori Allen _]

Just remember to thank Summers and Extended Company for the alleged illegal hospital give away. They are all marching forward to continue their demise of our city. I allege that they all have overseas bank accounts!

[Jim O'Bryan]

Jim - thanks. Actually, three women on that lawsuit.

Marguerite, sorry. As you know I was not involved.
When I saw Obama last speech, it could have been about Lakewood.

When I saw John Lewis's speech in Atlanta I wished everyone one of them had been in Atlanta.
“Sometime, you have to turn things upside down instead of right side up when you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have a moral obligation, a mission, and a mandate to say something, to do something. we cannot afford to believe silent. now,” Lewis told the crowd. “I just want to thank you. You look so good. This is unbelievable, there’s hundreds and thousands of people, I tell you! I want to thank you for standing up, for speaking up, for getting in the way, for getting in trouble, good trouble, necessary trouble...”

Andy Card former White House Chief of Staff said, "The President should push back on media when it is wrong, but always and only with the facts." I would hope the same is true for all government workers. Though early on I was reminded by City Hall the Mayor does not take on oath that features honesty like the Preisdent.

Here City Hall with the help of those marching, have hiding the facts, fought residents rights to see them, spending millions on misinformation.

I was always taught political change starts at home on the local level.

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[Lori Allen _]

Politics won't change in Lakewood until the current administration is out. It continues to be the same corrupt politicians!

[mjkuhns]

I was always taught political change starts at home on the local level.

The Women's March in Cleveland was, I think, a very positive event about advancing goals and actions, much more than it was a protest. In any event, the organizers had an excellent flier prepared by an obviously wise CH-UH student named Fiona Macke. I believe it's online somewhere.

Meanwhile, without presuming to speak on behalf of the march, I think I may fairly quote a few of this flier's sound, solid proposals:

• Vote in every election from school board to President.
• Look up your city council members, school boards etc. Involvement is crucial at all levels!
• Join an organization / engage with a political party

You can do every one of those things in Lakewood this year. Most of them starting right now.

[Dan Alaimo]

You can do every one of those things in Lakewood this year. Most of them starting right now.

Note there is a Dem club meeting on Thursday evening.

[Matthew Lee]

Did this thread take the Women's March and turn it into a conversation on how Trump and Summers are basically the same? That their administrations are the same? Nobody on this thread mentioned the real reasons anybody went to protest the Trump administration. Not mentioned above are things like:

* His lack of interest in protecting reproductive rights
* His stance on immigration
* His America First at all causes position
* His Civil Rights record
* His stance on climate change
* His LGBTQ stance

None of this is even CLOSE to what Summers has done. Like him or not like him, like the hospital deal or don't like the hospital deal, but equating Trump and Summers does not make any sense at all (at least to me).

The march wasn't about Trump's personality. It was about Trump's stances.

[Michael Deneen]

None of this is even CLOSE to what Summers has done. Like him or not like him, like the hospital deal or don't like the hospital deal, but equating Trump and Summers does not make any sense at all (at least to me).The march wasn't about Trump's personality. It was about Trump's stances.

I laid out the case in my "Twilight's Last Gleaming" Thread.
Summers is different on a few social issues, but his economic policies and disdain for the poor is pure Trumpism.
Plus, Team Summers racism is the "soft" type that white suburbanites approve....not the "hard" racism that is prevalent in rural and southern areas.

Here is a link to the thread.

http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/v ... =7&t=23734