The Observation Deck

Last week came news that a majority of City Council would be working with Mayor George on a face mask policy for Lakewood. Of course this point is moot, as the State of Ohio has once again stepped in to be the adult in the room. Meanwhile Lakewood Council says screw it. Too hard to enforce.

This is just bad public policy, especially in a city that prided itself on "home rule" for decades before the current class of council people. The other councils would always work hard to be at the cutting/progressive end of an issue. Cutting things off before they got out of hand. Today's council, well the restaurants, and some of the major owners in this town told us not to do it.

Wait, COVID-19 is running through Cuyahoga County so fiercely, even the President's task force called Frank Jackson to say, "Get your shit together." Gov. Mike DeWine has threatened and threatened to make masks mandatory. Ohio, Cleveland and Lakewood all said no way, we have drinking to do. The CDC has come forward to say groups of people, inside or out are a hazard. One of the top 5 ways to get COVID is sitting inside with anyone doing anything for 15 or more minutes. It spreads so fast, so quickly, with no warning signs that DeWine finally said party is over, masks are mandatory.

Lakewood Council... I'm sorry, couldn't hear you over the glasses clanking and the low roar of people talking at the bar.

So while Republican after Republican gives in to masks, and the fact that COVID-19 is out of control, our Democrats and Progressives on Council say..

"Have another drink..."



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Julie and I went on a walk yesterday. During our walk, we passed O'Tooles on the corner of Elbur and Detroit. They have apparently gotten a permit from the City and now have seating on the sidewalks of both Detroit and Elbur. And, although the tables have been spaced 6 feet away from each other, when you add in the chairs all of the sudden you have people sitting just 2 feet apart!! How was this allowed to happen? I even looked on the City's website for the ordinance and its regulations, but there is NO MENTION of social distancing at all in this ordinance!!! As I said . .


HOW IS THIS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN???

Amy Martin wrote:Julie and I went on a walk yesterday. During our walk, we passed O'Tooles on the corner of Elbur and Detroit. They have apparently gotten a permit from the City and now have seating on the sidewalks of both Detroit and Elbur. And, although the tables have been spaced 6 feet away from each other, when you add in the chairs all of the sudden you have people sitting just 2 feet apart!! How was this allowed to happen? I even looked on the City's website for the ordinance and its regulations, but there is NO MENTION of social distancing at all in this ordinance!!! As I said . .


HOW IS THIS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN???

Ms. Martin, I have written at length about the expansion of outdoor dining and its risks in several recent Deck essays. See, for instance, "The Burden".

Please visit this link that describes the growth of Covid-19:

https://publicintegrity.org/health/coro ... e-efforts/

Months are passing and vulnerable communities are at risk in Lakewood.

Today's Covid-19 Fatality Number is 3,256

This number exceeds the numbers of Ohioans lost in the Vietnam War.

Dr. Terry Allan of the Cuyahoga County Board of Health has identified bars as one of the sources of the case increases in the county.

It is now time for bars and nightclub venues to close temporarily on either a voluntary or involuntary basis.

This should be a major and immediate enforcement objective.

No liquor license grants these venues health or safety powers during a pandemic.

To let them continue to do so turns 100 years of alcohol-regulation on its head.

Nor should our own local public safety officers risk being exposed to Covid-19 while on their premises during "drop-bys".

The thought just occurred to me that there may be some quiet, and not quiet, influencers on coucil to slow up its.compliance efforts. I don't have any direct knowledge but it would pain me to know that they would put the immediate action needed to safeguard the health of our city aside for monied interests.

Dan-- that fact would deeply trouble me --- maybe the local version of Issue 6 Stan

Dan Alaimo wrote: I don't have any direct knowledge but it would pain me to know that they would put the immediate action needed to safeguard the health of our city aside for monied interests.

Almost all of my posts since I joined here in December 2016 appear to demonstrate exactly that.

How's Lakewood doing?

A. Global pandemic of historic proportions...

B. Lakewood abandoned all or most of its public health powers...gone for good.

C. Lakewood "Hospital" deleted from its Charter...gone for good.

C. Vast empty hole where an award-winning acute care public hospital once saved lives...gone for good.

D. Tens of millions of dollars related to that public hospital now liquidated and outside of any public control...gone for good.

C. Bars and nightclubs operate with no enforceable legal restrictions against vectors of contagion.

This is a famous town -- Pottersville.

Amy Martin wrote:Julie and I went on a walk yesterday. During our walk, we passed O'Tooles on the corner of Elbur and Detroit. They have apparently gotten a permit from the City and now have seating on the sidewalks of both Detroit and Elbur. And, although the tables have been spaced 6 feet away from each other, when you add in the chairs all of the sudden you have people sitting just 2 feet apart!! How was this allowed to happen? I even looked on the City's website for the ordinance and its regulations, but there is NO MENTION of social distancing at all in this ordinance!!! As I said . .


HOW IS THIS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN???

Recently, the NY Times printed an article 'How Risky Is Dining Out During Covid-19...'

The writer was strongly disenchanted with the whole concept.

I did a Google search for the article, so that I could post the link, however 'the page is no longer available.' I suspect that it's been pulled.

Anyway, the writer went into great detail that tables really need to be 10' apart, because when chairs are factored in, the distance between diners narrows considerably. Take the depth of the chair (and add the pushing back) will approximate 2 feet per table. If the patron requires more space due to weight or pregnancy, that needs to be considered.

The writer also considered the maneuvering of wheelchairs; as well as the size of the sidewalk, as there needs to be at least 6' between pedestrians and those dining. And, let's not forget there being enough space for servers to deliver orders. There were a few more examples as to why dining out is a very bad idea.

In my opinion, it simply Is Not The Risk.

Dan Alaimo wrote:The thought just occurred to me that there may be some quiet, and not quiet, influencers on coucil to slow up its.compliance efforts. I don't have any direct knowledge but it would pain me to know that they would put the immediate action needed to safeguard the health of our city aside for monied interests.

Dan

I do not think they are so quiet. Follow the money... (I am not saying Council is being paid off)

Do you think the Tarrymore on Madison has Council's ear? Or Deagen with 3 restaurants within 300 yeards of each other? Do you think West End Tavern is leveraging their might or Bobby George with his chain of food places and dope stores in Lakewood? Did Madison Take Out, one of the freshest places in town, open up and call Council to allow all 6 of his seats to be used?

Today's council believe Lakewood's industry is food and drink. They are wrong. But they are panicked. Council members have said to me, "Up to 75% of restaurants COULD close or be out of business. That is a lot of empty store fronts in Lakewood." While this fact is much publicized. When you read the stories closer you see that many refer to that fact as part of the SECOND shutdown, not the first. Also let's not forget the fact that over 50% of all restaurants fail in their first three years.

I have no desire to see any Lakewood business fail. But, to turn our city over to a vocal group lobbying not for public health and safety but against it seems silly at best.

We shall see.

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With respect to the newer members of city council -- Kepple, Rader, Shachner -- I appreciate their sincerity and commitment. I wish them the best in difficult times.

Mayor George faces a very challenging year and I wish her courage, stamina and fortitude.

I expect that they are all probably very surprised to learn that they have few funds and seemingly no enforcement powers during a public health and public safety emergency of historic proportions.

Enforcement powers got regionalized by a prior administration and the money was privatized by the last administration.

When I asked Councilperson Bullock about the loss of public-civil infrastructure, I was soundly and verbally abused for 20 minutes. --An experience unprecedented to me as a citizen and a former public official of some standing.

If you shut down government, it won't be there when you actually need it.

Guess what? It isn't.

Drive along Detroit and Belle and see the outcome for yourselves.

Drive along Detroit and Edwards and see how powerless we are to control disease vectors.

Cheers!