The Observation Deck

This will be a series on City Hall spending, as documented in the online checkbook. This tread will mention any spending that appears to be suspicious, frivolous, note-worthy, or otherwise questionable.

First is a transaction that took place on 8/25/2015. It was on this date that City Hall's Department of Planning & Development forwarded $16,800 to a John Cianci. The "expense type" for this transaction is listed as "other."
First, You cannot write down "other" as an expense type in a checkbook. If "other" is listed in the real checkbook, City Hall better hope they aren't audited, as this would be a big "no-no".

Second, John Cianci. Who is this guy is the million dollar question. Even through Google-ing him several times, he would appear to be your average joe (don't bother looking at the "Find-A-Grave" or "1940 Census" results, those aren't him.

Apparently, Cianci lives in Geauga County in a mansion that would literally make a Lara Croft Mansion look like a shack. He is 47 years old.

Normally, you would think you could find out more on a guy that lives in probably close to a $5 million dollar house. Google-ing him indeed turns up almost nothing, just the fact that he owns some LLC contracting company that I have never heard of.

Who is this guy? What does he do? What project or other reason did City Hall funnel him almost $17,000 for? How does he know Summers?

Those are all million dollar questions.

Between spring 2011 and fall 2015, the City of Lakewood has funneled $14,615 to the below individual for "Planning and Development".
It has come to my attention that this person's wife sat on the Lakewood City Planning Commission in 2014. This person and/or their wife also contribute to political campaigns that support the mayor, council, and/or their causes.

Why is the City of Lakewood funneling thousands of dollars to these alleged friends of the mayor with no explanation?

I had no idea that Lakewood had a "Director of Ideation."

http://www.onelakewood.com/accordions/startup-lakewood/

Bridget, good find

Isn't it an ethics violation to be giving business to your campaign contributors?

With City Hall's lack of explanation as to the exact services being done, maybe we should have the State of Ohio audit their accounts. IRS?

Same old, same old. It appears that Summers and Company have no fear of the Ethics Commission or anything else. Who do these people know that appear to keep them out of trouble?

I'm a little more interested in what is coming in than what is going out considering what the city has given up. Both are important and need to be in balance, but while we have some visibility into the "checkbook", we know little about the accounts receivable.

There is a Cianci Builders, LLC out of Chesterland, OH that is registered to a John C. Cianci. So there was most likely work done but for what? What is more concerning is the $99,777.39 of CDBG money that Liberty Development got for building McKinley place. What skids got greased to land Liberty that deal? Oh yeah... it was filed under "Miscellaneous" in the "Community Environment" department grouping.

Jared,

I agree, that is highly suspect. Our Mayor and Council should really be utilizing these HUD funds to repair the housing stock on Lakewood's east end. I drove through Birdtown today. Much of it is a disaster. Falling down steps, mattresses on porches, peeling paint, and you name it. Some of these people need help, but the majority of the owners are "slumlords" and force their tenants to live in deplorable conditions. Summers and the respective Councilperson (s) that represent Ward 4 should be ashamed. Then again, I recall the last time Lakewood having a Ward 4 Councilman that lived outside of the Gold Coast was back in the 1950's or 60's.

Getting back on track, it is worth noting that it is now official: Dru T. Siley is the Vice-President of Liberty Development. Is it another coincidence that the President and CEO of Liberty Development is a Lakewood resident and Summers campaign donor? Could these factors have played a role in almost $100k in CDBG funds being funneled to Liberty Development? Maybe it's another coincidence.

If anyone with clout at the United States Department of Housing & Urban Development is reading this, I believe it would strongly behoove HUD to do a complete, comprehensive audit of how CDBG and other HUD funds are being spent in the City of Lakewood, Ohio.

Speaking of questionable spending, why did the City of Lakewood funnel $62,500 to Dimit Architects between 9/17/2010 and 11/30/2011? This is that architectural firm that is run out of the first floor of the building at 14414 Detroit. I drive by there almost every day. You can see in the windows, and I never, ever see anybody working in the place. Day, night, never.

I'm not speaking of Dimit specifically necessarily, but why is City Hall funneling money to these architects? We don't have any economic development. I will save you the speech about bars, etc. You get the idea regarding the double-standards between being healthy and many at City Hall's bad habits.

I will continue to obtain information about the City Hall Ohio Checkbook and post it here.

Hopefully, Jared and Bridget will continue to share here as well with any information they can find.

I will list the contact information below on how to contact the HUD Fraud Department, the IRS Fraud Department and for Dave Yost, Ohio Auditor.

HUD OIG HOTLINE : toll free 1-800-347-3735, FAX: 202-708-4829, E-MAIL: HOTLINE@hudoig.gov
In writing: HUD INSPECTOR GENERAL HOTLINE ( GFI )
451 7th Street S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20410

Dave Yost, Ohio Auditor
Pubic Integrity Assurance Team: 1-866-FRAUD- OH, 1-866-372-8364, E-MAIL: FRAUDOHIO@ohio auditor.gov
In writing: Ohio Auditor, Dave Yost
88 E. Broad St.
PO# 1140
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Attn: Attention Fraud Department

IRS: Can only be done in writing
IRS
Stop 31313
Fresno California, 93888
Attn: Fraud Investigation Unit

I will post any updates here as they arise.

The more important question is what taxpayers got in return for $62,500?

Wow! Summers and Extended Company are really feeling the heat!

They appear to be getting very nervous!

Lori Allen _ wrote:Wow! Summers and Extended Company are really feeling the heat!

They appear to be getting very nervous!

FYI, I have asked the moderators to delete my prior response to Lori Allen as it was past the editing window. Doing the same thing and expecting different results is the very definition of crazy and it is a waste of my time- I do not know why I continue to contribute to this forum to try to balance against the terrible comments coming from her. The LO should consider moderating her comments- it is damaging to the validity of others who contribute in a respectful and factual way, in addition to being damaging to those she targets. Those of you who contribute meaningful discussion here should consider that.

Thank you.

Do Tweets matter, too?

The above says it all. At least $5,000 and possibly as much as $7,500 from the Finance Department to this individual for "management consulting". Again, that would not pass an audit. More money given to another individual who just happens to be a known longtime Summers supporter and Voters for Progress supporter.

It is my humble opinion that if we had an Ohio Ethics Commission that was doing their job, City Hall would be raided and shut down.

Then again, maybe this is just another coincidence.

Valerie Molinski wrote:

Lori Allen _ wrote:Wow! Summers and Extended Company are really feeling the heat!

They appear to be getting very nervous!

FYI, I have asked the moderators to delete my prior response to Lori Allen as it was past the editing window. Doing the same thing and expecting different results is the very definition of crazy and it is a waste of my time- I do not know why I continue to contribute to this forum to try to balance against the terrible comments coming from her. The LO should consider moderating her comments- it is damaging to the validity of others who contribute in a respectful and factual way, in addition to being damaging to those she targets. Those of you who contribute meaningful discussion here should consider that.

Thank you.

Valerie

I sent you a note back, asking for what you were speaking of. I spent the afternoon with lawyers talking about Lori's post and the adjectives used.

It is under discussion. It is highly unusual.

Val, I would hope your posts, my posts, Lori's post etc have no impact on each other. We are all separate people, with very different dreams, needs and concerns.

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Valerie Molinski wrote:

Lori Allen _ wrote:Wow! Summers and Extended Company are really feeling the heat!

They appear to be getting very nervous!

FYI, I have asked the moderators to delete my prior response to Lori Allen as it was past the editing window. Doing the same thing and expecting different results is the very definition of crazy and it is a waste of my time- I do not know why I continue to contribute to this forum to try to balance against the terrible comments coming from her. The LO should consider moderating her comments- it is damaging to the validity of others who contribute in a respectful and factual way, in addition to being damaging to those she targets. Those of you who contribute meaningful discussion here should consider that.

Thank you.

Valerie, All

Your post has been moved to Legal Review, where it will be held, until cleared.

Many people, miss the edit timing window, and there has been some talk about making it longer, even leaving it open with notation.

Thank you for going through the channels, and send a note.

I would like to remind all, that all it takes is a click to put a post into review.

Carry on.

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