The Observation Deck

Lakewood residents - please share to make sure everyone who’s considering a run has access to make a statement.

Here is what I sent to the 4 people that I have seen publicly announce their intentions to apply for Mayor Elect George’s At Large seat (Jennifer Pae, Lindsey Grdina, Laura Rodriguez Carbone, & Greg Mahoney):

Hi, I’m writing a piece for the Lakewood Observe about everyone who has announced their intentions for the at large role, and I wanted to ask you a couple questions.

I’d love a quick phone call or even to meet for coffee to discuss.

As it is the holiday season, I can appreciate that everyone is busy. If you don’t have the time to talk, would you be able to answer at least these three questions?

- [ ] Why are you interested in the role?
- [ ] What qualifications do you have?
- [ ] What would be your top priority (or priorities) if selected?

If there’s anything additional you’d like to add, feel free. I’d like the readers to have as much info as possible so they can provide feedback to their elected officials on their preferred choice.

My deadline is December 13, so if we could meet or have your responses to me by December 11, it’d be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for putting yourself out there. My phone is 216.288.7045 and email is bpresutto@gmail.com.

Sincerely
Brad Presutto

As I posted on the Facebook thread, here are my questions.

I’d like to know if they fully support mayor-elect George and will work with her to achieve her goals, how they will work towards healing the divide in the city, and how their candidacy would reflect the diversity of Lakewood.

Also, do they believe they have the time to devote to the job? It requires regular meetings and constituents may be contacting them by phone or email. Do their current job/family responsibilities allow for this? One of the biggest complaints I’ve heard is that councilpeople do not respond to constituents.


If I recall, one of the candidates that ran had time and commitment issues due to personal/family demands. That likely affected their performance and doesn’t give me confidence that things would be any different if appointed versus had been elected.

In addition, Pae injected herself so forcefully into the hospital issue and by starting her Facebook group, and the way she handled it, deleting posts and blocking residents, gives one great pause as to whether it would be wise to install such a polarizing and divisive figure onto city council.

I do hope those that will be voting consider this. Who they appoint will send a clear message to city residents. They cannot afford to cling to the past.

It’s time to MOVE FORWARD with new blood.

Mr. Presutto, you should apply for open seat.

You would be wasting you time because the vote has already been taken and the decision has already been made but you should apply anyway.

Bill Call wrote:Mr. Presutto, you should apply for open seat.

You would be wasting you time because the vote has already been taken and the decision has already been made but you should apply anyway.

Bill - thank you for your kind words. I appreciate everyone's support, but I campaigned pretty loudly and openly that someone should not be appointed to an elected position if they had recently lost an election. I feel that is an insult to the voters wishes.

Maybe in the future, I will have another opportunity of becoming a civil servant; but it is important to me to live the values I spoke of on the campaign trail. I don't want to be a politician that says "do as I say, not as I do." Ideally, my work with The Observer allows me to stay involved while also keeping residents informed.

At the end of the day, we all want Lakewood to become a better city for all residents.

With all due respect, you have serious Bi-Polar issues. shut down the chatter and take the POS horse shit.

Richard,
I'm not sure who you directed this to, and in fact I really don't want to know, but I personally think it's pretty damn inappropriate.

Richard Baker wrote:With all due respect, you have serious Bi-Polar issues. shut down the chatter and take the POS horse shit.

Hi Richard - I'm not sure if we have officially met, nor do I know if this is directed at me; but if it is, you are correct. I speak frequently and openly about my mental health issues and encourage all people to do the same. The current stigma around them have caused too many people to take their own lives because they were unable to get the care and support they needed.

If you have anger issues where you feel the need to utilize mental health issues as a pejorative, perhaps you should consider speaking to a professional too. It's ok to not feel ok. We're in this together. Happy holidays.

xoxo
Brad

I think Richard Baker has the explaining to do, not Brad Presutto.

But thanks Brad, for showing what true class is.

But thanks Brad, for showing what true class is.

ditto

Brad Presutto wrote:

Richard Baker wrote:With all due respect, you have serious Bi-Polar issues. shut down the chatter and take the POS horse shit.

Hi Richard - I'm not sure if we have officially met, nor do I know if this is directed at me; but if it is, you are correct. I speak frequently and openly about my mental health issues and encourage all people to do the same. The current stigma around them have caused too many people to take their own lives because they were unable to get the care and support they needed.

If you have anger issues where you feel the need to utilize mental health issues as a pejorative, perhaps you should consider speaking to a professional too. It's ok to not feel ok. We're in this together. Happy holidays.

xoxo
Brad

Love Trumps all!

Happy Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy Holidays! Etc.!

As a person who has faced a lifetime trying to cope with multiple so-called "disability issues", and with people who have, shall we say, brought them to my attention, my first reaction here was one of dismay.

Then, having read Brad's response, I find myself really getting into the spirit of the season.

See, EVERY ONE OF US has issues, and the longer we live, the more issues that we shall have.

That's just how life works.

Matters not a twit whether those issues are mental, psychological, emotional, physical, or whatever.

We ALL have 'em; perhaps even a case of simple loneliness, or fear, or isolation, or that feeling that life is passing us by.

Some of us struggle with post-traumatic stress, others, with anger, others with anxiety, and ALL of us struggle with relationships.

I need not remind everyone that this can be a VERY tough time of year.

Help is out there. Just ask.

Thanks for your example Brad. Even those of us who have worked for greater peace and understanding here on the 'Deck need people like you to remind us how important all this is.

Kind words, encouragement, and even prayers are never out of place for ALL of us.

Back to the banjo.

Merry Everything Everyone!

Gary-- Our mutual Harding education taught you how to rite good Stan

Brad Presutto wrote:

Richard Baker wrote:With all due respect, you have serious Bi-Polar issues. shut down the chatter and take the POS horse shit.

Hi Richard...

If you have anger issues where you feel the need to utilize mental health issues as a pejorative, perhaps you should consider speaking to a professional too. It's ok to not feel ok. We're in this together. Happy holidays.

xoxo
Brad

Might be the best thing ever posted on the Deck. Thank you Brad.


.

[quote="Brad Presutto"][quote="Richard Baker"]With all due respect, you have serious Bi-Polar issues. shut down the chatter and take the POS horse shit.[/quote]

Hi Richard - I'm not sure if we have officially met, nor do I know if this is directed at me; but if it is, you are correct. I speak frequently and openly about my mental health issues and encourage all people to do the same. The current stigma around them have caused too many people to take their own lives because they were unable to get the care and support they needed.

If you have anger issues where you feel the need to utilize mental health issues as a pejorative, perhaps you should consider speaking to a professional too. It's ok to not feel ok. We're in this together. Happy holidays.

xoxo
Brad[/quote]

Brad, my comment wasn't directed at anyone specific. If you took it personally, my apology. My Dad was bipolar, and I observed him as a child his battle between the highs to the lows, so you can be assured that the comment was not directed at any individual. His treatment was in the days of shock treatment, psychiatry was primitive then, and hasn’t improved that much except today they can mask the symptoms with drugs. I could tell you his stories of the mental horror that he experienced during those witch doctor shock treatments.

Since I’m an infrequent visitor to the Observer, I don’t’ remember precisely why I made a comment; however, it was probably an analogy of the City of Lakewood government and it appears I didn’t finish my thoughts. That aside, just who are you are to think that I’m angry and need mental help? You don’t have an MD or the right to accuse me of needing psychiatric help. I have seen more horror in my life than you will ever imagine. If you don’t like my displeasure of the city’s Democrat political circus, you have the option of skipping my comments, without defending 2.3 million bipolar Americans with your political correctness.