The Observation Deck

We are still awaiting the Questions from Cool Cleveland; Mr. Mulready.

But as we said we would post questions on 9/5, I am posting the questions from Mr. Gill of the Free Times and Mr. Kotz of the Scene. WE will follow with Mr. Mulready as soon as they are received.

Mr. Gill poses the following questions for the Candidates:

1. Crime: Do basketball hoops create crime, or attract it, or are they an amenity that makes the city attractive by giving people a healthy way to play? If people who play basketball suddenly have no public, easy-access place to do so, will they not find something else to do? How can a city of 56,000 peopleâ€â€

We have just now received the questions posed by Mr. Mulready. I apoligise for their being tardy, but this was beyond our control. THose questions are as follows:

ALL candidates:
* What is your vision for Lakewood for * 2010 * 2015 *2025?
*All the candidates for Lakewood Mayor have served as City

Councilpersons. Why do you want to be Mayor? What will you do as Mayor
that you couldn't do on Council?
* Lakewood faces a serious financial crisis in the next few years,
with major capital projects looming and tax revenues leveling off. As
Mayor, how will you help to avert disaster?
* Over the past few years, Lakewood leadership has become divisive and
fragmented, represented most recently by the effort to take power from
the Council president. Each of you has been implicated in this power
struggle. How can voters be assured that these power plays won't
continue once you're elected Mayor?
* As an important inner-ring suburb of Cleveland, Lakewood faces
opportunities to join in regionalism efforts to reduce government
costs, improve economic development and centralize services. As Mayor,
which of the following regionalism efforts would you endorse:
* Merge Lakewood with the City of Cleveland and the rest of Cuyahoga County.
*Merge Lakewood Schools with Cleveland and Cuyahoga County schools. *Merge services (Safety Forces, Health Department, Garbage) with
regional services.
* Merge infrastructure management (water, roads) with the region.
* As Mayor, what would it take for your to recognize and work with the
gay and artist population in Lakewood to increase economic
development, or do you feel there is no opportunity for that to happen?
* As Mayor, how do you plan to deal with Lakewood's transitory role in
the flow of populations leaving the inner city, entering Lakewood, and
flowing out to the outer ring? Please comment on Section 8 housing,
absentee landlords, the unavailability of new construction homes, the
lack of retail, street parking shortages.
* What is your plan for attracting new businesses to Lakewood?
* As Mayor, how would you take advantage of Lakewood's proximity to
Lake Erie?
* As Mayor, how would you tap the immense talent of Lakewood
residents?
* What is the single biggest opportunity for Lakewood's future?

DEMRO: According to the stats on your web site, crime in Lakewood is
not up significantly, yet you have made it one of the key planks in
your platform. Why?
DEMRO: Besides lowering taxes, what are your plans for economic
development for Lakewood?


GEORGE: Since becoming Mayor, what have you done to pursue a regional approach to reducing government expense, making Lakewood government smaller, and collaborating with Cleveland and other suburbs?

GEORGE: Your web site states, "For the first time in a long time, the
major institutions in the City are all working together." Please offer
proof of this, and how has your administration facilitated cooperation
between the school system, Lakewood Hospital, the Beck Center, major
employers, retailers and residents.


FITZGERALD: Your platform for Mayor seems narrow and aggressive, and doesn't seem in sync with the diverse and progressive community that
currently resides in Lakewood. How can voters be sure you will
represent their values rather than your own?

FITZGERALD: Besides lowering taxes, what are your plans for economic
development for Lakewood?


All Observers will forward to your responses. Once again, our thanks for your participation.

Jeff