The Observation Deck

Download here: http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/issue ... sue_13.pdf

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Benjamin Franklin

It was nice to see Tom Frazier of FFL join the list of Business people of the year. I remember when I won it, a great day for the Lakewood Observer.

Heroin ODs on the rise.

Thanks to everyone connected with the Lakewood Observer for their never ending act of love and respect for this city.

We understand that to live and move a city forward a community needs unedited, uncensored real conversations and real facts backed up by documents.

Which is why we do it.

Keeping it real.

.

Thanks for the folks who put it together.

However, I must say I am very disappointed that perpetual liar Tom Bullock was given free space on the front page.
This man is the most dishonest, disingenuous person I've met in my 26 years of Lakewood activism. Also, he and his allies are actively working to undermine the Observer Project.....yet here he is on the front page to spew his propaganda.

If City Hall doesn't see fit to submit news items to the paper, then why should the paper print their political propaganda?

Mike

I believe the city is quickly seeing the Observer for what it is, and City Hall for what it is. The same is true with the highly city hall controlled discussion board which has spawned others dedicated to who knows what.

One group has history of conversations going back nearly 14 years. Only one group builds a paper every year, every two weeks based solely on love and respect for the rest of the community.

The Observers.

City Hall controlled all but one media source, and that one would print what they sent in, as with all, to make a record, and ask questions.

For that, and asking for the truth, Summers Administration has gone to war with the Observer, something every other administration awarded, lauded and was eager to work with.

As we knew from day one, show people as they are, let the community observe them, and sooner or later everyone learns, gets educated, and sees things as they are.

Mike and all, thank you for the work, the words, the time, and the fellowship.

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:I believe the city is quickly seeing the Observer for what it is, and City Hall for what it is. The same is true with the highly city hall controlled discussion board which has spawned others dedicated to who knows what.

I don't think I'd agree with that. People aren't paying attention.....they are already too busy with their own day-to-day lives.
Whatever time they have to follow the news is dedicated to the psychotic exploits of Trump.
Team Summers shenanigans are flying safely under the radar....no one cares that Fitzy is part of the hospital scheme, no one cares that the cop beat up the black kid at the library, and that City Hall covered it up. Heck....if anything they approve!

City Hall is winning.....transparency, honesty, and decency are losing.

Michael Deneen wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:I believe the city is quickly seeing the Observer for what it is, and City Hall for what it is. The same is true with the highly city hall controlled discussion board which has spawned others dedicated to who knows what.

I don't think I'd agree with that. People aren't paying attention.....they are already too busy with their own day-to-day lives.
Whatever time they have to follow the news is dedicated to the psychotic exploits of Trump.
Team Summers shenanigans are flying safely under the radar....no one cares that Fitzy is part of the hospital scheme, no one cares that the cop beat up the black kid at the library, and that City Hall covered it up. Heck....if anything they approve!

City Hall is winning.....transparency, honesty, and decency are losing.

'
'
I'm with Mike.
Reading through some of the discussions on either "Lakewood, Ohio" or "Lakewood Community," there's an astonishing degree of ignorance. To borrow a talk radio term, we've got a City of "sheeple."
Mike mentions Fitzy. I bet most of them don't know who he is (or was).

We joke that "nobody reads the Deck" when we know it has a very large audience, including many who deny reading it, and decry it at every opportunity. But a solution to this ignorance would be to increase that audience.

I believe that the problem in Lakewood appears to be that many of the residents are afraid to stand up to Mr. Summers and hold him responsible for the theft of our hospital and city, as well as his "friends that appear to be involved in this whole mess.

I have noticed lately that when persons, especially Mr. Essi, bring proof to the Deck, instead of commenting and being outraged, it has become a race to bury his posts.

Wake up people and take action. These alleged crooks are nothing special and have no powers. United we stand. They can't keep getting away with these alleged crimes if more people start showing up at city hall, write to the newspapers and just spreading the word when out and about in Lakewood. I will say though, that the word is definitely getting out.

There are many persons still working in the background on all these alleged crimes that the Summer's gang allegedly have, and continue to commit.

There is still a lot to be told. I believe that the Summer's gang believes that being under the wing of Armond Budish and the Cuyahoga County Courts is going to save them.

Why has Judge O'Donnell not acted on the hospital lawsuit in over six months? Why, after over two years has this lawsuit not even made it past the pretrial stage? I believe that save Lakewood Hospital attorney's wrote to Judge O'Donnell over two weeks ago and asked for a conference. Why has he not answered them yet? Is he giving the Summer's gang more time to flee so that it will become impossible to depose persons? It appears that if Judge O'Donnell is not a part of this, he certainly appears to be aiding and abetting the Summer's gang.

The Observer is, other than word of mouth, the best way to fight these alleged crooks. Do not just start accepting this. Fight back, be outraged, and hold their feet to the fire.

If we ignore persons coming to the Deck with facts, such as Mr. Essi, then Summer's gang wins. Do NOT let this happen. I myself will not. I will keep writing, even if, like Mr. Essi, my posts are ignored and buried by the "Deck Watchers".

To posts and constantly complain is a start. To be proactive is another. Residents of Lakewood, it is time to dig in your heals and get busy!

Dan Alaimo wrote:

Michael Deneen wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:I believe the city is quickly seeing the Observer for what it is, and City Hall for what it is. The same is true with the highly city hall controlled discussion board which has spawned others dedicated to who knows what.

I don't think I'd agree with that. People aren't paying attention.....they are already too busy with their own day-to-day lives.
Whatever time they have to follow the news is dedicated to the psychotic exploits of Trump.
Team Summers shenanigans are flying safely under the radar....no one cares that Fitzy is part of the hospital scheme, no one cares that the cop beat up the black kid at the library, and that City Hall covered it up. Heck....if anything they approve!

City Hall is winning.....transparency, honesty, and decency are losing.

'
'
I'm with Mike.
Reading through some of the discussions on either "Lakewood, Ohio" or "Lakewood Community," there's an astonishing degree of ignorance. To borrow a talk radio term, we've got a City of "sheeple."
Mike mentions Fitzy. I bet most of them don't know who he is (or was).

We joke that "nobody reads the Deck" when we know it has a very large audience, including many who deny reading it, and decry it at every opportunity. But a solution to this ignorance would be to increase that audience.

I am with Mike and Dan on this one. People are not willing to hear the truth. They want to "move on" even at the expense of holding Lakewood's representatives accountable for the lies and deceit they have used to exploit the citizens of our fine city.

MANY people have told me that they are tired of the hospital issue. Even at the Dem Club meeting last month, an older woman stopped me after the meeting to get over it and go on because "Lakewood is such a nice place". She stated she has been hearing about this issue for over a year. I asked her had she read any of the studies, financials, reports, the Master Agreement etc... Her response is typical of those who advise me to "Let it Go". They say NO, they have NOT taken the time to read anything. They just want it over. They don't care about the fraud, the lies, the theft involved. They want everything to be settled QUICKLY.

Many of our citizens do not have the ability nor the motivation to study a problem. To read any information beyond sound bites generated by those with the marketing tools & the money. They have lost their ability to concentrate on a problem until it is solved.

We have lost our belief that we can go back and fix a problem by correcting what went wrong. We have lost the patience to try. We have lost the concern with taking the time necessary to do what is RIGHTEOUS. We let our elected and appointed officials off the hook because it takes too much effort to hold them accountable.

When WE don't personally have the time to put forth the effort (& that IS understandable), we BERATE those that want corruption to be highlighted in order to correct what has been done. We are BORED by the ongoing discussion. We would rather talk about the new, shiny baubles the City Administration is dangling in front of our eyes.

We listen to Mike Summers talk about curbing Urban Sprawl without making sure he explains how his being involved with the Lakewood Hospital Association, being the Mayor and executing the DECANTING OF LAKEWOOD HOSPITAL Plan is 180 degrees from curbing sprawl. His actions and those of City Council, LHA, Law Director Butler, Finance Director Pae etc... are a lesson in PROMOTING URBAN SPRAWL.

Summers lies about the documents the city has provided to the courts, the people are clueless. Fitzgerald is on his way back. The people are clueless. The City hides documents, the people are clueless. City Council does not want to be apart of Transparency, the people are clueless. The City is getting ready to upgrade a Charter that has the potential to give more power to individual city administrations and reduce the safety net that comes from some ethical and financial decisions being clearly delineated in a City Charter, the people are clueless. Cronyism is rampant, the people are clueless.

The lady that stopped me after the meeting was about my age? and African American. Thank GOD people did not stop after hearing about slavery abolishment, civil rights and women's rights for only a year or so. It takes many years to effect change and to correct what has been wrong. She and I might still be barefoot in a kitchen somewhere with no voting rights.

We have people dedicated to finding the truth about what has been going on in Lakewood for the last 10-15 year. Brian Essi, Mark Kindt etc.... are just 2 of the hardest working people. Brian has sacrificed much time so that you and I would know the truth. We are luck to have a venue like LO & the Deck to share this information. Many people have been working on the behalf of Lakewood, despite the fact that many do not appreciate seeing the truth come to light.

If you do not want to know the truth, I am sorry for you. The truth is the truth. Please do not stand in the way of Jim O'Bryan, Brian Essi and others who are taking the time to really understand what has gone on here in Lakewood. We may or may not ever have a hospital again. The odds are against it but we need to know the truth about how this happened so that it cannot happen again. Do not try to stop people who are on the side of transparency, even when it makes you feel uncomfortable. The Mayor and City Council smiles are not necessarily a reflection of any concern for you as an individual.

What I find amusing is that the same people who rail against Trump, his lack of transparency, his disregard for their healthcare, his cronyism etc.... are the same one's who are turning a blind eye to those same issues here in Lakewood. Yikes!

We have a wonderful City here but we have problems that we cannot just "Let Go!". It is NOT over until we have all the facts and we hold this administration responsible.

Mike & Dan are correct...

Regards,

pam

(again..in a hurry..please excuse typos/grammatical booboos!)

Pam Wetula wrote:

Dan Alaimo wrote:

Michael Deneen wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:I believe the city is quickly seeing the Observer for what it is, and City Hall for what it is. The same is true with the highly city hall controlled discussion board which has spawned others dedicated to who knows what.

I don't think I'd agree with that. People aren't paying attention.....they are already too busy with their own day-to-day lives.
Whatever time they have to follow the news is dedicated to the psychotic exploits of Trump.
Team Summers shenanigans are flying safely under the radar....no one cares that Fitzy is part of the hospital scheme, no one cares that the cop beat up the black kid at the library, and that City Hall covered it up. Heck....if anything they approve!

City Hall is winning.....transparency, honesty, and decency are losing.

'
'
I'm with Mike.
Reading through some of the discussions on either "Lakewood, Ohio" or "Lakewood Community," there's an astonishing degree of ignorance. To borrow a talk radio term, we've got a City of "sheeple."
Mike mentions Fitzy. I bet most of them don't know who he is (or was).

We joke that "nobody reads the Deck" when we know it has a very large audience, including many who deny reading it, and decry it at every opportunity. But a solution to this ignorance would be to increase that audience.

I am with Mike and Dan on this one. People are not willing to hear the truth. They want to "move on" even at the expense of holding Lakewood's representatives accountable for the lies and deceit they have used to exploit the citizens of our fine city.

MANY people have told me that they are tired of the hospital issue. Even at the Dem Club meeting last month, an older woman stopped me after the meeting to get over it and go on because "Lakewood is such a nice place". She stated she has been hearing about this issue for over a year. I asked her had she read any of the studies, financials, reports, the Master Agreement etc... Her response is typical of those who advise me to "Let it Go". They say NO, they have NOT taken the time to read anything. They just want it over. They don't care about the fraud, the lies, the theft involved. They want everything to be settled QUICKLY.

Many of our citizens do not have the ability nor the motivation to study a problem. To read any information beyond sound bites generated by those with the marketing tools & the money. They have lost their ability to concentrate on a problem until it is solved.

We have lost our belief that we can go back and fix a problem by correcting what went wrong. We have lost the patience to try. We have lost the concern with taking the time necessary to do what is RIGHTEOUS. We let our elected and appointed officials off the hook because it takes too much effort to hold them accountable.

When WE don't personally have the time to put forth the effort (& that IS understandable), we BERATE those that want corruption to be highlighted in order to correct what has been done. We are BORED by the ongoing discussion. We would rather talk about the new, shiny baubles the City Administration is dangling in front of our eyes.

We listen to Mike Summers talk about curbing Urban Sprawl without making sure he explains how his being involved with the Lakewood Hospital Association, being the Mayor and executing the DECANTING OF LAKEWOOD HOSPITAL Plan is 180 degrees from curbing sprawl. His actions and those of City Council, LHA, Law Director Butler, Finance Director Pae etc... are a lesson in PROMOTING URBAN SPRAWL.

Summers lies about the documents the city has provided to the courts, the people are clueless. Fitzgerald is on his way back. The people are clueless. The City hides documents, the people are clueless. City Council does not want to be apart of Transparency, the people are clueless. The City is getting ready to upgrade a Charter that has the potential to give more power to individual city administrations and reduce the safety net that comes from some ethical and financial decisions being clearly delineated in a City Charter, the people are clueless. Cronyism is rampant, the people are clueless.

The lady that stopped me after the meeting was about my age? and African American. Thank GOD people did not stop after hearing about slavery abolishment, civil rights and women's rights for only a year or so. It takes many years to effect change and to correct what has been wrong. She and I might still be barefoot in a kitchen somewhere with no voting rights.

We have people dedicated to finding the truth about what has been going on in Lakewood for the last 10-15 year. Brian Essi, Mark Kindt etc.... are just 2 of the hardest working people. Brian has sacrificed much time so that you and I would know the truth. We are luck to have a venue like LO & the Deck to share this information. Many people have been working on the behalf of Lakewood, despite the fact that many do not appreciate seeing the truth come to light.

If you do not want to know the truth, I am sorry for you. The truth is the truth. Please do not stand in the way of Jim O'Bryan, Brian Essi and others who are taking the time to really understand what has gone on here in Lakewood. We may or may not ever have a hospital again. The odds are against it but we need to know the truth about how this happened so that it cannot happen again. Do not try to stop people who are on the side of transparency, even when it makes you feel uncomfortable. The Mayor and City Council smiles are not necessarily a reflection of any concern for you as an individual.

What I find amusing is that the same people who rail against Trump, his lack of transparency, his disregard for their healthcare, his cronyism etc.... are the same one's who are turning a blind eye to those same issues here in Lakewood. Yikes!

We have a wonderful City here but we have problems that we cannot just "Let Go!". It is NOT over until we have all the facts and we hold this administration responsible.

Mike & Dan are correct...

Regards,

pam

(again..in a hurry..please excuse typos/grammatical booboos!)

Ms. Wetula and Allen and Messrs. Deneen, Alaimo and O'Bryan,

I don't think that anyone is "right" or "wrong" about whether or not people in Lakewood care about the "Grandest Scandal Of All" in Lakewood--it is all opinion. I do agree with Ms. Wetula and Ms. Allen ---exposing the entire truth is the key, whether anyone pays attention or not, is another matter.

The litmus test from my own personal perspective ("my opinion') was the Insiders' reaction to my "blood on your hands post" in October, 2015---That more than anything else showed me who some of them are --their misplaced fear, anger and vindictiveness---they don't fear me, they fear the truth.

For example, a little more than a week ago, a high ranking LHA trustee had a family member go to Avon "Hospital"--as the story goes there was no MRI technician on duty there so the patient was life flighted to Marymount "Hospital"---turns out there may have been a long wait for the MRI there, but luckily (as the story goes) a CCF ER doctor diagnosed the problem and the patient was flown to CCF downtown for life saving surgery--this LHA family member was "lucky". 2 years ago, that patient would likely have gone to Lakewood or Fairview and would not have come within minutes of dying by going to Avon. If the patient had died, how do you think the LHA trustee would have lived with that? Don't you think that LHA trustee knows how "lucky" his family member was? And how "unlucky" other have been and will be?

In my opinion, we aren't even close half-time in the "Scandal"---people will die and many of the Insiders will have blood on their hands and suffer serious personal consequences for years to come--many will carry this to their graves.

FWIW, I think that the Bullock piece is priceless! He is a complete empty suit--did he also invent the internet while saving Lakewood's housing market? LOL!

Just to be clear, when I say "City Hall is winning", I am only referring to the short term "spin game".
Their campaign of lies and deception is still fooling people. For example, a few days ago one very active citizen asked me "Which one is the Jen Pae Facebook page?"....the fact that she was confused shows how clever the City Hall PR campaign has been.

When it comes to the substantive issues, this administration is doomed to suffer the scorn of future generations.
On the matter of facts and substance, City Hall is a definite loser.....but unfortunately our whole community will pay the price for their sins.


In the past I have compared the Lakewood Hospital matter to the Iraq War campaign.
If you recall, Bush and Cheney did a masterful PR job in the early years of the war. The corporate media was bullied into flag waving, the Dixie Chicks were scorned for questioning Bush, and "Freedom Fries" were America's favorite snack. This lasted until about 2005 or so....long enough for Bush to win re-election, and long enough to sink our nation into a long, bloody, costly mess.

As the years have gone by, each and every Bush lie has been exposed....everything from "We'll be greeted as liberators" to "the oil money will pay for it".
The same thing will happen with the hospital.....short term euphoria over "our new health center" will give way to the reality of budget shortfalls, long ambulance rides, loss of downtown foot traffic, and the realization that the Foundation money was plundered for projects outside of Lakewood.

The Iraq War has damaged our nation in ways much deeper than any 2003 war critic could have predicted. We've lost military power, money, lives, created a new generation of disabled vets, and created ISIS. The war also solidified the permanent fracture between "red" and "blue" America. The right's zeal to vilify war critics permanently scarred the discourse in this nation. Perversely, the War set in motion the machinery that elected Trump as president....an event which itself has been devastating for our nation.
Noone....not the Dixie Chicks, Bill Maher, or any other protestor..... could have imagined this chaos in 2003.

The hospital closure will have similar unforeseen impact on Lakewood. For starters, our town is permanently fractured.....despite whatever empty rhetoric you hear from Team Summers. Team Summers has cleaved the city into two factions, and humpty dumpty isn't getting back together.

More importantly, the closure has done colossal damage to the city's image around the region.
Northeast Ohio doesn't see Lakewood as part of "a healthcare market that is changing".
Northeast Ohio sees Lakewood as "a city that is now too poor to support a hospital".
The region sees Lakewood as just another aging, high tax inner ring suburb in decline -- just like Euclid, Parma, Garfield Heights, etc.
Summers and Pals will deny this, citing a "hot housing market" and "lots of buzz". Much like the flag waving of 2003, those are a house of cards.

Michael Deneen wrote:
More importantly, the closure has done colossal damage to the city's image around the region.
Northeast Ohio doesn't see Lakewood as part of "a healthcare market that is changing".
Northeast Ohio sees Lakewood as "a city that is now too poor to support a hospital".
The region sees Lakewood as just another aging, high tax inner ring suburb in decline -- just like Euclid, Parma, Garfield Heights, etc.
Summers and Pals will deny this, citing a "hot housing market" and "lots of buzz".

I think your analysis makes sense, but I am not very good at seeing things how others see things.

I know how I see Bullock--- as an unabashed selfish prick and a liar---using his children to promote a fraud is disgusting.

Here is evidence Bullock lied, and people are going to die---Bullock knew what he, Summers and CCF were selling was a lie all along, but he was in lock step sending people to die for his own political fortune:

From: Ken Haber <ken.haber@sbcglobal.net>
Sent time: 02/27/2015 08:33:57 AM
To: Bill Gorton <bill.gorton@gortco.com>; Barb Paynter <paynter@crisiscommunications.com>
Cc:
ja@ardentcgroup.com; fourgablemgmt@aol.com; Garrett, Melissa <Melissa.Garrett@lakewoodoh.net>; McEwen, Colin
<Colin.McEwen@lakewoodoh.net>; Bullock, Tom <Tom.Bullock@lakewoodoh.net>; Summers, Mike <Mike.Summers@lakewoodoh.net>
Subject: Re: outlines for next two community meetings

Agreed.

Ken
K. Haber
216-308-0186 (Cell)
216-521-8240 (Home Office)
This e-mail transmission contains information that is confidential and may be privileged.
It is intended only for the addressee(s) named above. If you receive this e-mail in error,
please do not read, copy or disseminate it in any manner. If you are not the intended
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assistance in correcting this error is appreciated.

From: Bill Gorton <bill.gorton@gortco.com>
To: Barb Paynter <paynter@crisiscommunications.com>
Cc: "melissa.garrett@lakewoodoh.net" <melissa.garrett@lakewoodoh.net>; "colin.mcewen@lakewoodoh.net"
<colin.mcewen@lakewoodoh.net>; "ken.haber@sbcglobal.net" <ken.haber@sbcglobal.net>; "tom.bullock@lakewoodoh.net"
<tom.bullock@lakewoodoh.net>; "ja@ardentcgroup.com" <ja@ardentcgroup.com>; "fourgablemgmt@aol.com"
<fourgablemgmt@aol.com>; "mike.summers@lakewoodoh.net" <mike.summers@lakewoodoh.net>
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 9:36 PM
Subject: Re: outlines for next two community meetings
Barb:

The $120 million slide was demolished at the last meeting. As it should be as it is bogus. My strong
recommendation is to remove all reference to that unfortunate number.
Bill
Bill Gorton

On Feb 26, 2015 6:26 PM, "Barb Paynter" <paynter@crisiscommunications.com> wrote:
Team,
I'm attaching outlines for both the March and April meetings, based on today's discussion. I will send these to
Heather Phillips at the Cleveland Clinic in a separate email, copying our PR team on that email. Please let me
know if I missed anything or if you have any additions or revisions.
I will be traveling all day tomorrow and out of the office next week. The best way to reach me is by email or cell
phone.
Thanks!
Barb
Barbara Paynter, APR
Hennes Paynter Communications
216-321-7774
cell 216-965-6543
paynter@crisiscommunications.com
LKWD - HNNS PYNTR001316
LKWD -

"The $120 million slide ... was demolished at the last meeting ... as it should be, because it is bogus."

by Bill Gorton, and shared with all those "fine folks" ...

Lori Allen _ wrote:I have noticed lately that when persons, especially Mr. Essi, bring proof to the Deck, instead of commenting and being outraged, it has become a race to bury his posts.

Hi, Lori - I'm not sure what you mean by this. Are you saying no one should comment on anything other than threads that discuss the "proof" issue and/or that no one should start any new threads? Thanks in advance for your clarification.

With regard to the free space issue for Mr. Bullock (or anyone else for that matter), I have long been a proponent/advocate of the Charlotte Bronte quote, "Give him enough rope and he'll gang himself."