The Observation Deck

Ryan Nowlin is a gentleman--a quiet gentleman.

Among elected officials, he seems to have the least to say in public and rarely makes public comments.

Mr. Nowlin is also a lawyer--he and his law firm were the subject of ethics opinions pertaining to the closure of the hospital.

The Ohio ethics Commission wrote concerning Mr. Ryan:

"The council member, whose law partner serves on the board of LHA, cannot participate in decisions regarding the closing of Lakewood Hospital because his law partner has a fiduciary interest in the public contract that would result in the city acquiring healthcare services for the benefit of its residents."
His law partner, Joe Gibbons, resigned from LHA amid the ethics issues. It took me over a year of requesting the public record of Mr. Gibbons' resignation for the city to produce it. Mr. Nowlin was part of numerous emails concerning my requests, but remained silent.

It has been reported that an associate in Mr. Nowlin's law firm also resigned from the LHF board amid the ethics issues related to the hospital closure.

Mr. Nowlin remained silent concerning these ethical issues.

It is now also clear that Mr. Nowlin was among those council member who participated in violations of Open Meeting Laws.

This week, Ryan Nowlin's attorney, Kevin Butler conceded in a Court filing: "A cure recognizes that there was a violation" [of theOpen Meeting Laws]...

Mr. Nowlin, a lawyer, who knew or should have known the law, has remained silent concerning these violations offering no explanation of apology.

Among Mr. Nowlin's few public comments on the hospital matter was his claim that the Master Agreement and Ordinance 49-15 were "the only way to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of emergency services in our city." https://youtu.be/lChNMhrAXCk?t=5m37s Since the city never put the delivery of emergency service out to bid with any other provider, Mr. Nowlin's primary publicly stated reason for his decision on his hospital vote was simply not accurate. That statement was made prior to an public deliberations.

Given the controversy in Lakewood about the lack of government transparency and now the belated admission a violation of Open Meetings Laws, Lakewood needs to heal and needs new, more open and transparent leaders.

Mr. O'Leary has said of Mr. Nowlin: "I don't know why he is even on Council..." adding that a seat of city Council seems to belong to Mr. Nowlin's law firm (an apparent reference to Mr. Gibbons' prior tenure as a member of Council.)

Mr. Nowlin should reconsider what is best for Lakewood and withdraw his re-election bid. Mr. Nowlin should set aside and allow Lakewood to heal.

Mr. Nowlin missed a lot of City Council meetings.

"Not-so-quiet" Brian Essi should reconsider non-election bid.

Just think-- the City would have to hire a public information officer just to handle all the legitimate and voluminous data and documents which is rightfully in the public domain!

Thank you Brian for your extensive research and keeping us informed about the alleged immoral and illegal hospital scam.

We can all assume that every council member voted to support Summers and Extended Company, or they sat by and let it happen.

Marx and Nowlin are a disgrace and should NOT be running again. In fact, Summers and Council should all be resigning.

It appears that Council, instead of sticking up for the citizens of Lakewood, have decided to let the reign of terror over Lakewood by Lord Lakewood continue.

Shame on all of you!

Dan Alaimo wrote:"Not-so-quiet" Brian Essi should reconsider non-election bid.

Mr. Alaimo,

Be careful what you write. There was a spike in Lakewood ER visits since your post---people with Blue t-shirts arriving in the ER with chest pain and uncontrollable anxiety attacks.

I am worried that people will be going to the police to report you because they "feel threatened" by your post.

Brian Essi wrote:

Dan Alaimo wrote:"Not-so-quiet" Brian Essi should reconsider non-election bid.

Mr. Alaimo, be careful what you write. There was a spike in Lakewood ER visits since your post---people with Blue t-shirts arriving in the ER with chest pain and uncontrollable anxiety attacks. I am worried that people will be going to the police to report you because they "feel threatened" by your post.

Fake News Release:
Lakewood OH (LO): Today Bleed Lakewood took to the streets in blue shirts to announce their opposition to the council candidacy of Brian Essi...

Stan Austin wrote:Just think-- the City would have to hire a public information officer just to handle all the legitimate and voluminous data and documents which is rightfully in the public domain!

Mr. Austin,

I know we are just talking hypothetically, but all of the data and information, i.e. public records are already there at City Hall.

Any increased payroll that might be needed to hire a "public information officer" to handle public dissemination of that data would be more than offset by a larger corresponding reduction in the Law Director's salary.

The Law Director would not have to spent so much time dancing on the head of a pin while he claims he does not understand plain English, like the words "related to".

Just imagine, what "Greater Good" the "2015 Crain’s Cleveland Business General and In-House Counsel Award" recipient could do with all the spare time and energy he would save not having to use a dictionary to understand plain English.

He might even have time do some research on Ethics Laws and Open Meetings Laws to avoid getting gentleman like Mr. Nowlin in hot water.

Brian Essi wrote:

Dan Alaimo wrote:"Not-so-quiet" Brian Essi should reconsider non-election bid.

Mr. Alaimo,

Be careful what you write. There was a spike in Lakewood ER visits since your post---people with Blue t-shirts arriving in the ER with chest pain and uncontrollable anxiety attacks.

I am worried that people will be going to the police to report you because they "feel threatened" by your post.

Did they have to take a second expensive ambulance ride to Fairview?