The Observation Deck

Council needs a raise. They are up against a staff of six figure staffers that appear to be working 24/7 pushing the mayor's agenda. The council needs independent staff. I must admit that my eyes quickly glaze over while reading the legislation that council votes on. Personally, I would need a trusted adviser to help me navigate through legislation and contracts. But it appears they all rely on the same council, which, in my opinion, is a recipe for disaster.

$13,000. If you spread that out over a year at minimum wage it's about 30 hours a week. We are seeding corruption and/or limited attention to detail with this arrangement. The executive has way too much power and resources.

Sorry, that won't work.

For Exhibit A, I submit: Cleveland City Council
They are full timers with benefits....but still act as a rubber stamp for corporate interests.
A similar dynamic is going on at the federal level....the GOP Congress knows that Trump is a ticking time bomb, but they continue to kiss his ring out of fear of "the base".

The problem with our political system isn't that the salary isn't adequate.
The problem is that the cost of running for office....from school board to POTUS....has ballooned out of control.

Running for office requires that you either sell your soul to special interests (in order to raise the money to run), or that you spend tireless days and weeks going door-to-door trying to build a grassroots campaign.
Most people have too much pride to beg for money, and not enough time to build a campaign infrastructure of volunteers (not to mention a structure capable of beating professional politicians).

I think groups like CCPC are helping....Bernie is encouraging people to run for office at every level.
CCPC and similar groups around the nation will try to supply the volunteer muscle needed for success against the moneyed corporate interests.

I always thought council was doing full time job for a part-time stipend. Maybe a full-time salary isn't the answer, but something more substantial would be appropriate.

In the City of Lakewood, for what this Council has done to the citizens, they aren't worth a plug nickel!

Since the Summer's Regime has taken over the city, the only thing these clowns have to do is go along with everything Summers says and wants and say"aye".

I can't believe they have the nerve to even run again. I feel that these alleged criminals along with their alleged criminal boss should be in jail.

Stay tuned. Hope is not lost! Mr. Summers may control the media, but, there are other organizations that he has no control over. These are the organizations they all fear the most, and they should.Time is running out. Tick tock. Tick tock.

All these alleged criminals don't need more of our money, I believe they should be paying the City of Lakewood back for everything they have allegedly stolen or given away to friends for kick backs!

May I add that the rising cost of campaigns is exactly how we got Trump and Summers.

Millionaires and billionaires are increasingly "eliminating the middle man" by either running for office themselves or taking federal cabinet positions.
Rather than fight this trend, the foolish national DNC has jumped on board....they are recruiting billionaires to run for office (see West Virginia governor). I'm sure that will help them reach the working class.

Unlike most Lakewoodites, Summers is capable of self funding a campaign....not that he needs to, since he is connected to other wealthy donors. This influence among donors gives him control of council, since they need money to pay for mailings, yard signs, etc.

We need campaign finance reform...at least at the federal level.

This concern is about Lakewood Ohio.
It has really become a challenge to get some people in Lakewood to open their eyes and see that Summers and friends, and Council have allegedly stolen our hospital, our tax dollars,stolen homes from the elderly, terminally ill and minorities, and I believe it is all a money laundering scam.

Council members are NOT your friends! They, like Mr. Summers and Company, are alleged thieves and criminals. I believe it is time to take out the trash at Lakewood City Hall.

None of them will turn over documents or tell us where all OUR missing money went. I allege that they probably used it to advance their own agendas.

I believe we may be seeing more evidence in the future to show the doubters out there just what these alleged criminals have done to our city. Now is not the time to slack off. Keep riding their asses and demand answers.