The Observation Deck

Pop culture geeks use the term "jumping the shark" to describe a TV show that has declined to the point of self-parody. The phrase, inspired by a long-ago "Happy Days" episode, has grown so popular that it is sometimes applied outside of the TV industry.



September 6, 2017 will be remembered as the day the Summers Administration "jumped the shark".
For two years, informed citizens have been blowing the whistle about his corrupt backroom dealings, his lies, and his overall arrogance (a byproduct of his privileged upbringing). City Hall and the Clinic have spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to marginalize those critical of Summers, depicting them as "politically motivated", "emotional", "nasty", etc.
The Clinic was able to buy a couple elections for Summers, which has apparently infused him with a sense of invincibility.

This delusional mindset led us to yesterday's "Charlie Decision". Summers now believes he outranks the Supreme Court, so he's going to waste our tax dollars on a lawsuit.
BTW, wasn't "avoiding costly litigation" one of the main reasons he gave for the "Hospital Surrender"? Remember how he and his lackey Pae demonized the plaintiffs in the hospital suit for years? Well, I guess there are different rules for different people.

I've noticed that even Summers' most ardent minions have failed to defend this decision on social media. One of his most ardent admirers even had the courage to criticize him... strange days indeed. I hope the "Charlie decision" encourages more people to take a closer look at the decision-making process behind other City Hall policies.

Lakewood has been claiming for the past 15 years that this city is somehow a bastion of tolerance and diversity. In one day, Mike Summers utterly destroyed that false narrative.... people around NEO are outraged and recognize this decision for the bigotry that it is. Many have said they will refuse to spend money here.
Ironically, the Chamber of Commerce and LakewoodAlive are getting their comeuppance. Their beloved "father figure" shattered their manufactured illusion and opened the eyes of Northeast Ohio.

On a side note, it's delicious irony that Summers makes this decision during the same week that his fellow oligarch Donald Trump made his "DACA decision".
Both decisions are extremely unpopular, very mean and cruel, and aimed to appease a racist voting base.

Many have said they will refuse to spend money here.

Social media is flooded with these comments. People vowing not to spend money in Lakewood and urging theirfriends to do the same.

Wonder if the Chamber of Commerce and LakewoidAlive will step up and comment?

Bridget Conant wrote:Wonder if the Chamber of Commerce and LakewoidAlive will step up and comment?

I doubt they will directly address the issue...if so, it would be a milquetoast comment at best.

My guess is that we'll see empty gestures like more "Hate has no place here" yard signs. Or maybe an extra "Diversity Potluck".

If you want to eat/shop outside of Lakewood, West Park has some AWESOME coffee shops, restaurants, pubs, in and around Kamm's Corners and inside the neighborhood too.

Also: festivals, parades, The Hooley (enormous party on Lorain), etc.

You could try out a different restaurant every day for a month!

Marguerite Harkness wrote:If you want to eat/shop outside of Lakewood, West Park has some AWESOME coffee shops, restaurants, pubs, in and around Kamm's Corners and inside the neighborhood too.Also: festivals, parades, The Hooley (enormous party on Lorain), etc.You could try out a different restaurant every day for a month!

There are still a lot of great businesses in Lakewood worthy of support....as well as many that are not.

However, this City Hall is poisoning the Lakewood brand for EVERYONE, not just the narrow-minded folks in Summers' clique.

I don't know how a boycott is going to impress Council. The only way things will change is by voting these people out.

dl meckes wrote:I don't know how a boycott is going to impress Council. The only way things will change is by voting these people out.

I would only suggest one slight alteration.

Things will change by voting better people in.

All of us, I think, use the convention "vote them out" at times. But I think it's important to remember that it doesn't really work that way: 1) literally, because you can't cast an actual negative vote, and 2) in more practical terms, I don't think "just vote them out" has a great track record of success.

I encourage everyone who wants change to think about what change you want; who (if anyone) you think makes a credible promise to work for that change; and how you can express that in positive terms.

Criticism is important in and of itself. But I think more people will be moved to vote for change if the prospect for change is articulated, too, not just the need.

In Out who cares, 3 have to go, for 3 to arrive.

1 will solve nothing, we need enough people to actually question something, anything. These secret meetings, lies and hating voters has got to end.

Boycott what?

For the record the Lakewood businesses feel the same way, and are also afraid to speak up. Fines are a plenty if you argue.

People are afraid to speak up, spend thousands in court if you disagree.

There is only one problem in this town, everything else is a symptom.

Morally bankrupt, dishonest mediocre leadership at all levels in City Hall.

Matt, while I agree with the premise. We have 3 people up for reelection who have come out and proven, they hate voters, they do not trust or think highly of residents, and they prefer their titles and parties, to doing honest work they promised to do FOR US when we elected them.

If they are not helping to uncover the documents and lies, they are part of the problem, and must go.

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