The Observation Deck

Here are the 8 Lakewoodites that had their petitions accepted at the Board of Elections for the 3 Lakewood City Council At-Large openings in the November election.

Because of the number of candidates there will be a primary.

Kyle G. Baker
Tom Bullock
Keith Davey
Sarah Kepple
Tristan Radar
Laura Rodriguez Carbone
Mark Schneider
Susannah Selnick

Good luck, and Lakewoodites VOTE!

I look forward to meeting these candidates during their primary campaigns.

The candidate that I most want to meet is Kyle Baker, because I need to have some clarity on his role on the Planning Commission and the expansion of alcoholic beverage service onto our municipal rights-of-way.

I need to met candidates that have some understanding with respect to the impacts of alcoholism and why it is poor public policy to expand state liquor licenses with public asset funding or other public support.

Enough is enough.

As part of the new Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), I hope that we can focus on the impact of State liquor licenses in Lakewood and whether steps can be taken to limit the continuing expansion of alcoholic beverage service here.

For me, this is now issue number one!

Earning My Support

I will support any candidate for office in 2021 who can present to me their plan or any plan to block any business holding an Ohio liquor permit from opening another outdoor drinking facility like the one approved for Detroit and Edwards and now in full "noisome" operation.

If we can't control this, we can't control anything.

Lakewood need a fresh view in the council that not tainted and bias by; previous public service, incumbent, law degree, socialist do-gooder, or a claim of color. The mission of a city is to provide essential services to the residents, fire, police, water, sewer, streets, garbage, etc. as economical as possible. Social services provided by county, state or federal services need not be duplicated. There is only one candidate in the group that lives in the world of reality, owns his own small service business, understands a balanced budget, has knowledge of what is going on in Lakewood, knows the deplorable condition of city streets left unattended to support social programs, and the current and future burden of taxpayers of an ever expanding dynasty of city employees.

Richard Baker wrote:Lakewood need a fresh view in the council that not tainted and bias by; previous public service, incumbent, law degree, socialist do-gooder, or a claim of color. The mission of a city is to provide essential services to the residents, fire, police, water, sewer, streets, garbage, etc. as economical as possible. Social services provided by county, state or federal services need not be duplicated. There is only one candidate in the group that lives in the world of reality, owns his own small service business, understands a balanced budget, has knowledge of what is going on in Lakewood, knows the deplorable condition of city streets left unattended to support social programs, and the current and future burden of taxpayers of an ever expanding dynasty of city employees.

And that is...

Mark Kindt wrote:Earning My Support

I will support any candidate for office in 2021 who can present to me their plan or any plan to block any business holding an Ohio liquor permit from opening another outdoor drinking facility like the one approved for Detroit and Edwards and now in full "noisome" operation.

If we can't control this, we can't control anything.

And, folks, I mean noisome in its actual original meaning as "smelly"

The corner of Detroit and Edwards is now crowded, noisy and smells like a carnival.

--The new Lakewood, I guess.

Dan Alaimo wrote:

Richard Baker wrote:Lakewood need a fresh view in the council that not tainted and bias by; previous public service, incumbent, law degree, socialist do-gooder, or a claim of color. The mission of a city is to provide essential services to the residents, fire, police, water, sewer, streets, garbage, etc. as economical as possible. Social services provided by county, state or federal services need not be duplicated. There is only one candidate in the group that lives in the world of reality, owns his own small service business, understands a balanced budget, has knowledge of what is going on in Lakewood, knows the deplorable condition of city streets left unattended to support social programs, and the current and future burden of taxpayers of an ever expanding dynasty of city employees.

And that is...

An old Republican crank bitching with no facts.

There are less workers at City Hall than FitzGerald, and Summers. Good? I am not sure but the crews we have now rock.

City Services, Trash Collection, Police are doing far more with less than they should be able too.

At the same time I had the pleasure of spending time with some Lakewood Hardcore Seniors!!!!! All I could say was you people have stop reading facebook.

The shit that rolled off their tongues as facts blew my mind.

It still shocks me in a city where one small group of people damn near bankrupted us for their own money and power, how can adults go on believing this shit?

Lakewood's "influencers:" are a mixtures of cons, criminals, and and awarded schills.

Meanwhile Lakewoodites, the rubes, repeat utter nonsense designed to push a course of action they are too foolish to see.

One of my current favorites, Why haven't they done anything with the Holespital. It has been nearly 2 years?

Really almost 2 years. Do you realize the last two administrations worked in secret for over 10 years to screw us out of our hospital for their own gains? If a plan that short sighted, selfish and bad took that long, how long will a real plan take? Something designed to benefit the community, not just 20 or so people.

Really, hmmmmmm what do you think should go there? Retail? failing everywhere? Restaurant, twice as much dining space as in the 90s.
No Lakewood, one of the power groups in town screwed us good, and because you are so shallow, they are stilling trying to get more, while continuing to rewrite history.

It's getting embarrassing. Maybe its the lead in our water pipes, or the pollution emanating from the Holespital?

This election, vote for honesty, truthfulness, integrity, good ideas that fit Lakewood. Not just the people your friends told you are cool.

Does the city have a future, or do we let them continue to flush on down the HOLE they built?

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"The Education Of Mark Kindt"

I admire the autobiography of Henry Adams of a similar title.

If I ever wrote something similar it would NOT begin until 2015; when I learned in my early 60s how the City of Lakewood was being systematically wrecked by its civic leaders.

I'm with Mr. O'Bryan on this.

That wreckage is all documented in the court records downtown in multiple lawsuits related to that time period.

I know what I know. Enough is enough.

The wreckage is literal, not metaphorical, and is also physically documented by the trip tickets at multiple landfills where the City of Lakewood's most valuable asset was dumped after demolition.

When you speak with any of these candidates ask them to visit the corner of Detroit and Belle and the corner of Detroit and Edwards. Please ask them how we got there?

Ask them, if they have ever seen the movie "It's A Wonderful Life." I know Tom Bullock hasn't seen it. We are now living in his idea of Pottersville. Hey! Thanks, Tom.

I'm with Mr. Baker too on his points.

No choices in the judicial races. No choices in the at large races.

I'd like to meet a veteran of military service running for office here -- A woman or a man who understands why we protect what we have built over generations.

I went through an emergency medical procedure at 3:30 AM two months ago at Fairview Hospital. This should have been done at what was one of the best regional hospitals-Lakewood Hospital. All I know is the simple monetary numbers. There is a disappearance of several hundred million dollars of money. Evaporated-up in the air. What is the recourse and accountability for this?

Stan Austin wrote:I went through an emergency medical procedure at 3:30 AM two months ago at Fairview Hospital. This should have been done at what was one of the best regional hospitals-Lakewood Hospital. All I know is the simple monetary numbers. There is a disappearance of several hundred million dollars of money. Evaporated-up in the air. What is the recourse and accountability for this?

Well let's not forget the $250,000+ used to fight residents who merely asked "Could we see the paperwork?" And another $100,000+ spent on fighting the residents' lawsuit for a right to know what was going on. So nearly a half million dollar$ wasted in cover-ups, lies, and court cases, all of which were lost by the city. After all they did not care what it cost, all they cared about was keeping the scheme and the lie going.

Then there is the payoff. Yes the payoff, and it underlines just whose idiotic idea it was. A $70,000,000.00 pay off to the Cleveland Clinic. This is all you need to know. When a person wants out of a contract, they must buy their way out of it. This payment was the city's loss for ending the contract early, and breaking it.

You ask why would a city break a contract with the largest and most advanced healthcare system in the world? Why would the city, or at least the "city leaders" pay $70,000,000.00 to close Lakewood's largest employer, and the profitable center of Lakewood Healthcare in an economy where the only business one can count on is HEALTH CARE? The reason is simple and borne out through stories and documents, all they cared about was off-loading the $80,000,000.00+ in foundation money. No not just offloading it, but off loading it into a PRIVATE FOUNDATION they alone could control.

These are the only facts people really need to focus on. We could talk about the Hospital needing renovation and updates. Expensive updates, as health care is changing. But that point is moot, as the repairs would have come to around $80,000,000.00. In other words, the cost of ALL of the renovations was already covered by a foundation that was set up to keep the hospital up-to-date, and solvent.

So screw the truth, screw the 1,600 good paying jobs most medical or union, screw the future of Lakewood's healthcare.

ALL THEY CARED ABOUT WAS THE FOUNDATION MONEY. Money they could not get if if the hospital was standing.

I find it embarrassing having to explain this to Lakewoodites.

Even more embarrassing is the fact that the "groups" that pushed the lies and the scheme are back looking to continue power and the sacking of Lakewood.

I did this in the first year of the hospital discussion, it is still true today: "The Sacking if Lakewood."



I love this piece, as it underlines the fact that we are being sacked by fellow Lakewoodites, not outsiders. While the good people of Lakewood prefer to see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil, even when it comes to self preservation of the community.

The reason this boiled up today is I had a candidate come knocking on my door. I asked them "What is the big issue in town?" Their answer without missing a beat, "Speeding, everyone is upset with speeding." I said "speeding is the number one problem? A community just got screwed out of a quarter billion dollars and speeding is the biggest issue?!" The answer was, "Yes." These residents are either ignorant, or desperately trying not to remember the screwing they just got. Because talking to the voters, it sounds like there is no reason to worry, this time they brought chocolate and flowers with their brass knuckles, lies and BS.



A simple question, for all of us: Is there anything truthful in this mailing? Anything?

This is just one problem.

HERE I HAVE ANOTHER ONE FOR YOU, what happened to working towards unity, and our future? Something they have all promised, as they divide us.

I think the big stumbling block was much like on a national level, it all sounds good until you get to accountability, and transparency. Then they revert to the schemers and scammers and desperate followers they prey on.

I'm sorry Stan, did that answer your question?

It's politically inconveniemy to fight.

I'm not a Republican, I'm independent and vote with my mind, unlike those that pull a single lever, or punch a hole. Old crank, do you have a problem with ageism? A true liberal, when you can't debate you resort to slander. I could care a fiddlers damn, if you have a problem with my council member choice.

You live is a city of 55,000 where the governing body, closed the only hospital and would not allow another hospital group to take it over. They gave the land to their favorite developer who is already requesting changes to make more profit. A city where most potable water service pipes to residences are lead and were not replaced when the mains were. What's a little lead in the water a child drinks to a city that can't provide complete emergency or hospital care. The sanitary system leaks like a sieve, allowing groundwater infiltration and it has outfalls into Lake Erie to protect it from hydraulic pressure during heavy rains. The city keeps throwing money into socials services while increasing the size of it's dynasty while the real infrasture continues to increase the cost to maintain and replace. This city's government has had it's head in the sand so long, its growing feathers.

Under the open public records request I could obtain the personal stats for City of Lakewood for last five years, and cities in the area same size, if they provide the duplicate social services, etc. but I'm not, it would be waste of time. Liberals avoid knowing facts, they are afraid it they know one they would be accused of being conservative. Now you have a good day.

Richard Baker wrote:I'm not a Republican, I'm independent and vote with my mind, unlike those that pull a single lever, or punch a hole. Old crank, do you have a problem with ageism? A true liberal, when you can't debate you resort to slander. I could care a fiddlers damn, if you have a problem with my council member choice.

You live is a city of 55,000 where the governing body closed the only hospital and would not allow another hospital group to take it over. They gave the land to their favorite developer who is already requesting changes to make more profit. A city where most potable water service pipes to residences are lead and were not replaced when the mains were. What's a little lead in the water a child drinks to a city that can't provide complete emergency or hospital care. The sanitary system leaks like a sieve, allowing groundwater infiltration and it has outfalls into Lake Erie to protect it from hydraulic pressure during heavy rains. The city keeps throwing money into socials services while increasing the size of it's dynasty while the real infrasture continues to increase the cost to maintain and replace. This city's government has had it's head in the sand so long, its growing feathers.

Under the open public records request I could obtain the personal stats for City of Lakewood for last five years, and cities in the area same size, if they provide the duplicate social services, etc. but I'm not, it would be waste of time. Liberals avoid knowing facts, they are afraid it they know one they would be accused of being conservative. Now you have a good day.

Waaaaaaaa

A city of barely 50,000. If you had actually looked you would have seen the Republicans, ie the party you used to brag being part of, before it became an embarrassment to this country ran the scheme. Look at the names, look at how they registered. Look how they are still registered. They ran a republican as a democrat and the Lakewood Democrat Club, more of of clique than a club, bought it hook line and sinker. All they cared about was winning, never mind who or why.

I doubt anyone knows more of the Holespital nightmare than I. The deal had nothing to do with healthcare, or what followed, it had everything to do with grabbing the pot of gold for they alone to control. I only see one Dem on that board, and she got there because they basically own her.

You talk a good Trump I am crazy without numbers game. But Health and Human Services department cut to 2. City Services cut to bare minimum. Those are facts.

While many of council Bullock, Litten to name two were in on ever aspect of the dirty scheme, most still couldn't answer 5 easy questions about what went down.

I threw out the label, as you used to love them, and you refuse to look at the facts.

Blame City Council, blame the civic groups, but to blame the hard-working men and women of Lakewood Government, how many times in your past jobs did you come in for many days a month FOR FREE, or took voluntary lay-offs to help your fellow workers and the city you work for?

Between you and me as we agree on some of this, Lakewood has NO FUTURE until we cleanse the city of FitzGerlad/Summers/Bullock/Litten and crew. Nice people? One of them, good for city government, never.

PS I am not a liberal, I am a flaming liberal.

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