The Observation Deck

Washington-style Politics in Lakewood

A recent headline in the Sun Post made the claim that Nickie Antonio is “leading the wayâ€Â

Councilman Demro,

Have you made these points in private to Councilwoman Antonio, or are you skipping the step of negotiation and coalition building to go straight to public grandstanding?

The *way* we do things is as important as *what* we're doing.

Tom

Tom,

I, along with Councilwoman Madigan, have made these points several times in private. There is little room for "coalition-building" with a commitee of two.

If bringing an issue of public concern to the attention of citizens is considered grandstanding, then so be it. When necessary, I consider it to be responsible public leadership. It is quite in sync with Dennis Kucinich's style, I know you think highly of him.

I'll keep your philosophy in mind though as we lead up to your campaign against me for city council in Ward 2.

So while we're at it, where do you stand on the carts?

Tom:

I know you are a democratic partisan. The civic bar we are raising is not about political grandstanding; it's about understanding the positions and values of people and decision-makers and subjecting the kit an kaboodle to critical pressure with the intention of formulating the best possible result.

It only seems to be grandstanding when the other agents absent themselves from the stand.

Tell Nickie to get on the Deck and explain herself and her position.

That's the democratic way, and these are critical times.

Kenneth Warren

Another law (ordinance)? Ugh.

Doesn't Lakewood already have laws against stealing?

I find it difficult to understand the logic behind fining a grocery store when its carts are stolen by individuals. Are grocery stores also responsible if their blue bags are found blowing around our streets or clogging up our sewer drains?

How can someone simply walk down Detroit pushing a shopping cart, seemingly unnoticed?

How about posting signs in grocery parking lots indicating that individuals will be fined $500 for removing a cart from the plaza (maybe signs are posted already)? This wouldn't require a new ordinance - again, stealing should already be covered - but would assign a specific fine.

Is Council considering any options that keeps the focus on those responsible for stealing the carts in the first place?

Personally, I like the Aldi's system. The grocery must invest in the chain system, an unfortunate cost of doing business, but customers are given an incentive to return carts.

(Maybe Council could authorize a relationship with a private company to retrieve and hold carts until the fine is paid - similar to Baker Motors' role in working with police to tow illegally parked cars. A 1-800-Get-Cart hot-line could be established.)

I appreciate Councilman Demro's passion for proposing ways of dealing with Lakewood issues. I really do. However, this seems akin to using an ICBM missile to light a cigar.

My thought is that right now there is no financial reason for stores to cheap there carts from leaving their premises. I'm sure cart replacement is built into their budgets. A fine would encourage them to find ways to keep their carts on their premises. Heinen's doesn't allow carts in their lots and Aldi's requires you pay a minimal deposit. Both of those stores maintain cart free lots and I have never seen either of their carts around. I know many people feel this is a non issue but we have to stop the ghettofication of our city. We need to keep our city clean, which includes keeping it cart free. Now if only we could get the graffiti cleaned up.

David Anderson's post reminds me of Olmsted Falls and their dogs.

http://thelondonfog.blogspot.com/2004/0 ... dards.html

Tom Bullock wrote:The *way* we do things is as important as *what* we're doing.

Tom,

I was just made aware of this thread.

What are you, Tom Bullock, doing to remedy the shopping cart plague in the 'Wood today?

Can you explain the way you, Tom Bullock, are going to remedy the shopping cart plague in the 'Wood today?

Here is a shopping cart we saw walking back from the car show yesterday (Hilliard and Mars):





I love Bullock's quote!

Just imagine how much different the hospital mess that Bullock and his pal Mike Summers created would be today if Team Summers followed Bullock's own words of wisdom ...

Tom Bullock wrote:The *way* we do things is as important as *what* we're doing.