The Observation Deck

What a bleak election, only Democrats are on the ballot so we have to vote for the best of a bad lot. Not a single one of them has posted what they they plan to do if elected. We can expect the incumbents to continue the Lakewood moto, if it's broke, but still functional. don't fix it.
If I recall didn't Tom Bollock vote to close a full service hospital for 55,000 residents, and felt that up to 7 mile ride in an ambulance, and delay of critical care would benefit the residents.
In the meantime the school board is closing neighborhood school buildings to introduce their new the elementary exercise health program The kids will get exercise walking for blocks after blocks. Winter it's a bonus for the kids, they will have the thrill of path finding through the snow, skating on the ice, and the rush of ducking high volume traffic on primary streets. What I don't understand, less students, fewer buildings, excess revenue and the tax rates remains the same.

---Pretty much have to concur with Richard.

After watching Lakewood tank for the past decade (and I mean right-up to the most recent FAIL related to closing our schools) and now witnessing the elections results, my take is that the path to more failure for Lakewood is set in stone.

Despite considerable voter discontent, no incumbent was unseated. (SS/DD)

I was really impressed by all of the thoughtful and competent writing on school board failures that surfaced in the Lakewood Observer this year! Thank you to the writers! Citizen journalism is crucial.

Thank you to the LO team for completing their technological upgrades!

Morning, Richard,
I ran as an independent—I was straightforward with Lakewood voters about my plan to make Lakewood a little bit better for us all to call home. The establishment discredited me at every turn, and in some cases, had people I have never talked to or met in my life spread false information about me.

City council has the authority to lower the inside millage rate today if they wanted to lower property taxes in Lakewood—they refuse to do so. Instead, they wait on Republicans in Columbus to do something.

Transparency, accessibility, and accountability are severely lacking across city government in Lakewood. Transparency, accessibility, and accountability aren't just words to me. I live by them. I believe that when we all have a seat at the table and our voices are heard, we achieve better outcomes.

The heartbeat of Lakewood is our neighborhood schools. It's a shame the Board of Education decided to close Lincoln. What's a bigger shame in my eyes is that no one on city council decided to take a public stance on how important our schools are to Lakewood—for property values, traffic, environmental reasons, and most importantly, our neighborhood schools promote community among neighbors.

I didn't campaign in 80% of the city and still was able to get almost 2,000 votes—I believe that's a promising sign going forward. Change doesn't happen overnight.