The Observation Deck

This past weekend was a tough but fun weekend in Lakewood. With bad weather all around us the Lakewood League of Woman Voters had their 2nd Annual Fun Run. So I ran down to Lake to take some pictures.

I had the misfortune of running into a high ranking public official that does not live in Lakewood, and who did not know who I was. I asked if he knew how far they were running, and he said, "Down to the triangle to turn around?" I asked, "The triangle in front of the homes I could never afford?" and he answered, "No that would be the homes you can not afford, but it doesn't matter because who would want to own one in this city. They would be nice anywhere else but in Lakewood."

I smile, nodded and moved to Lakewood park where hundreds of runners and their families were having a great time.

It reminded me of before the Observer was started I was down waiting for the mayor, and a high ranking member of his staff who does not live in Lakewood walked out said hello and said, "If I were you I would move out of Lakewood as fast as you can." Again, it was not till minutes later that I was introduced as the person trying to start a local paper.

One of the reason I like Tom George as mayor is that he grew up in Lakewood, lives in Lakewood, and breathes Lakewood. I can say the same about Brian Corrigan, Mike Flynn, and Tony Beno to name but a few. But I am getting a little tired of the swipes at the city from the very people that are suppose to be keeping us on the right track. Isn't it time they put their heart where our money goes?

Now I have no need to control the thoughts of these individuals, and in America they are entitled to their thoughts and words. But do I have to pay them to do it on the clock?

Does this not underline the entire thought behind residency requirements. Maybe people work a little harder for the city they live in. Believe it is better, etc.

Has our city been taken over, and being fast tracked into regionalism, programs or projects by people that do not live here, spend money here, or do it as nothing more than a job?

Dare I say we all have had jobs where we did not like the boss, the working conditions, or even the impact we are making. Dare I also say that we lose interest in those jobs very quickly. While ending up merely going through our paces, waiting til 5:00pm or payday which ever comes first.

Is this not a cancer in any business, or city? Would or should any business or city be forced to put up with it?

While illegal to make teachers, police and fire live in a city. Maybe it is time we looked at incentives. Also possibly we should ask if those appointed by the Mayor, might have enough faith in their work to live here. Isn't the appoinment enough of an incentive? Or do they not wish to be part of the seeds they sow for the rest of us?

Thoughts...?

Regionalism is simply a tool to prop up property values in Lorain and Medina with a big white flight or green flight wave. The banks will make a fortune when older residents of Lorain and Medina county refinance their homes. I guess Bay Village homes could be considered very undervalued. It just takes the right Nudge....

You can rent an apartment in lakewood for not much more than the yearly property taxes on a freshly purchased 160,000 dollar house in Lakewood. Sometimes they even throw in free heat and water.

ryan costa wrote:Regionalism is simply a tool to prop up property values in Lorain and Medina with a big white flight or green flight wave. The banks will make a fortune when older residents of Lorain and Medina county refinance their homes. I guess Bay Village homes could be considered very undervalued. It just takes the right Nudge....

You can rent an apartment in lakewood for not much more than the yearly property taxes on a freshly purchased 160,000 dollar house in Lakewood. Sometimes they even throw in free heat and water.

Ryan

Regionalism is simply a tool by people that have run out of ideas, and now need the cover to say, "Not my fault."

It always becomes the tool of the drowning city that reaches out to others, which often, as in real life drags them down as well.

As one student at CSU's Levin College put it. "They only teach us to manage the decline of cities."

Take a breath, they are coming for us...


.

We just completed major renovations to our century home, including updating all the electrical, hardwood floors, new kitchen and baths. Yet we were hard pressed to get a home improvement loan due mostly to the fact that hardly any of the people estimating the value were from Lakewood. We got lots of comments like, "Wow, this is a great place. Increadible inlay floors, beautiful stained glass windows, too bad it's in Lakewood."

I've got a hundred year old Victorian house that offers over 3,000 square feet (without the attic and basement), three bedroom, 1.5 baths and all the amenities, and apparently it comps out as about the same value as a two car garage in Rocky River.

I'm sick of people who don't want to live in Lakewood trying to convince me that I shouldn't either.

Time to put up the toll booth on the Rocky River bridge

Jim,

A few things.

1. The race held Saturday was hosted by the Lakewood Junior Women's Club and not the League of Women Voters.

2. You will be happy to know, The Housing Advisory Task Force, (organized as an outgrowth of the Grow Lakewood Report) is putting their final touches on their report to the Mayor and Council. These citizens have worked diligently for the past 6-7 months identifying key levers that, if implemented, will maintain and improve our beloved housing stock. One of those key levers is "residency incentives" and I think when the report is presented you will see some concrete suggestions on how our city can leverage residency incentives...not only to generate greater self-esteem by the people that work for the city/schools but to improve our city's financial position as well.

Jay Foran wrote:One of those key levers is "residency incentives" and I think when the report is presented you will see some concrete suggestions on how our city can leverage residency incentives...not only to generate greater self-esteem by the people that work for the city/schools but to improve our city's financial position as well.

There is a lot I can say about this issue but I'll keep it short for now.

While I appreciate all the hard work your people have done I am going to be more than a little disappointed in a report that finds that the best solution to the City's problems is to give everyone a raise.

Is $100,000 a year enough? Apparently not.

So when do we get some action from the city in regards to abandoned properties?

I thought there was something already put together to deal with this. Wasn't there a task force or something that I saw in a local paper not too long ago. Are requests not being responded to?

Lots of talk, but no action of yet. I've been living next to a house that's been abandon for going on five years now.

Interesting. What have the promises been? Is it a maintenance/upkeep issue?

One of the reason I like Tom George as mayor is that he grew up in Lakewood, lives in Lakewood, and breathes Lakewood. I can say the same about Brian Corrigan, Mike Flynn, and Tony Beno to name but a few. But I am getting a little tired of the swipes at the city from the very people that are suppose to be keeping us on the right track. Isn't it time they put their heart where our money goes?

Now I have no need to control the thoughts of these individuals, and in America they are entitled to their thoughts and words. But do I have to pay them to do it on the clock?

I would like to hear Mayor George's response to this. I am assuming if people he hires or works with are saying these things to people on the street in Lakewood, I can only assume more of it is happening behind the scenes. Mayor George, are people asked to cool it when they start talking "get out of Lakewood while you still can!" or are they encouraged to make such flight possible?

I do agree, people have a right to their opinions. They can think whatever they want. But these are public figures and when their opinions become public, we need to address them and deal with them.

An example: Would we want a doctor who believes in not only the right to die for a patient but also thinks it is his or her job to administer this life-ending treatment when he or she feels the patient is beyond saving? I surely wouldn't. I want the dude or dudette who thinks that I can be saved even if I have a helicopter blade sticking out of my gut.

But maybe they think this way and I don't know it and there is nothing I can do about it. But if that doctor comes out and makes a statement to this effect, wouldn't that make us suspicious of his or her future medical decisions? Wouldn't that make us want to go back and see how some of his or her patients really died?

If we have people on the Lakewood payroll making decisions with a mindset that this is a City to get the hell away from as fast as possible then I have a problem with them being on the Lakewood payroll. They need to go where they are clearly like-minded.

It is this kind of thinking that puts me of a mind that people who work for the city should live in it, too. It isn't the fairest thing in the world but I really have problems knowing there are at least a few people that I am paying through my taxes who clearly don't have Lakewood front and center in their heart. It isn't fair but human nature is sometimes contrary to the needs of the community and one way to deal with that is to make them a part of the community. People don't deficate where they eat, as the saying goes.

Clearly, a lot of people that work for Lakewood don't eat here any more...

Bill,

Sorry, I am not following your post. The Grow Lakewood Report never suggested anything do with salaries and the Housing Advisory Task Force isn't looking at that subject either. Maybe you have these committees mixed up with another group???

Jay Foran wrote:Maybe you have these committees mixed up with another group???

Whenever I hear the term "residency incentive" I think salary increase.

I have heard from a lot of City employees over the years and the general attitude is "F... Lakewood, I don't give a GD about Lakewood, I don't live in Lakewood". I don't think a residency incentive will encourage those people to move into Lakewood.

As Jim O has found, you get a more honest answer from City employees about what they think when they don't know who you are.

I really do appreciate the time and effort you and others dedicate to committees like the Housing Advisory Task Force. I am sure it can be quite time consuming.

I have a hunch that most of your more innovative ideas will be disgarded but the "residency incentive" will survive.

Bill,

You will be happy to know that the committee has not considered salary as a component of a residency incentive.

While I am firmly supportive of the concept of residency incentives....for me the proof has to be in the pudding. Every incentive has to run the cost/benefit gauntlet. That is any "cost" has to generate a greater benefit or "revenue" for the city. Sometimes you have to spend money to make money. With that said, our city resources (monies) are precious and few. We must spend them wisely.

"Dare I say we all have had jobs where we did not like the boss, the working conditions, or even the impact we are making."

Jim, how many employees have you felt compelled to hold on to. that felt that way about working for you and expressed that to your customers? As employees of the city, they work for you and me - where is the oversite? This high level official should be reported and held accountable, but I won't hold my breath. I'll just file this away with all of the other stories we've all heard. And of course there are the stories we've personally experienced. But hey, everything's great here in Lakewood! No problems! Status Quo - rah, rah, rah.....

Back to the books.....