Not invented here: a citizens' health committee

[Dan Alaimo]

Many of us have long experienced good ideas coming from citizen groups being dismissed for no apparently good reason other than they were not invented by city hall.

A very recent example was a desigh for Lakewood Park parking submitted by Ron Leaman. I'm not even sure he was even told thank you before the city moved ahead with its own desigh. I've had all kinds of experiences, everything from the long slog to approve leashed dogs in the parks, to the great frustrations of improving Kauffman Park and trying to bring back outdoor basketball.

Hopefully the new administration will be different, but admitedly they've had their hands full thus far in 2020.

A couple of days ago Mark Kiindt gave up his campaign to get the city to re-start its own health department because city government is so overwhelmed at this time. But why not start a citizens group in te meantime? If the history learned during the Summers's administration holds, it might be a colossal waste of time. But it's worth discussing here. Maybe city hall will be open to something not invented there.

[Stan Austin]

Dan---your post is very prescient. Later on in the day/night I'll write down some reflections on this topic (going back to the '70s) and how it might pertain to today.

[Mark Kindt]

Public Health And Public Safety Are The Only Issues Now

Mr. Alaimo and Mr. Austin, you are both being very gentlemanly and polite here with your suggestions.

Blunt communications need to be made to everyone in the City Administration that we are in the midst of an unchecked pandemic of an unknown nature of a disease with severe/dire health impacts.

I have spent most of the past two weeks attempting to do so.

My general conclusion is that my efforts had a marginal, if not negative, reception.

However, the Mayor of Cleveland recognizing the spike in cases in that city issued a mandatory mask order Friday evening.

[Dan Alaimo]

Public Health And Public Safety Are The Only Issues Now

My general conclusion is that my efforts had a marginal, if not negative, reception.
NOT INVENTED HERE

However, the Mayor of Cleveland recognizing the spike in cases in that city issued a mandatory mask order Friday evening.
INVENTED HERE

Not to give Mayor Jackson too much credit, for multiple reasons - but it's the least he could do.
Not to give Mayor George too little credit - this has been a hell of a first year for her, but it's time to step up.

The politicization of Covid-19 goes to the very top in this country where the president has chosen to shift the focus from the pandemic to statues and straw men. In the interests of business, this man has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of people.

We have similar factions in Lakewood, Cuyahoga and Ohio. It's long past time to step up and do the right thing.