The Observation Deck

For over 5 years, many of us involved with the LO Project have attended meeting after
meeting dealing with regionalism, and the regionalist dreams. They come in a variety of
flavors, colors, choices, cute sounding names like "voices and choices" and hundreds of
groups like CLE+ and Team Neo. They will tell you of their dreams for the region, but
rarely speak of their dreams for individual areas.

To highlight this I have asked so many to ask their friends in the region their thoughts on
Lakewood, our city, our home, and also ask what they think of us and our future. That is when
it gets very, very disturbing. Prisons, malls, industry, dumping ground for indigents, etc.

I saw this circulator, yesterday from the REGIONAL Transit Authority and thought it would give
great insight into how they really think but aligning the buslines, and what they really think
of Lakewood and our hard working residents.



Do we really want to give up everything that is so good in Lakewood just to save money
on rock salt?

Think about it.


FWIW


.

Hi,
Thanks, Jim. Very insightful.

What troubles me the most about this "regionalism" push is that they have convinced some of Lakewood's "leaders" to buy into the notion that Lakewood does not possess the talent and brainpower to know how to fix Lakewood's problems and outperform the other towns around us. If we do what everyone else is doing the best we can hope for to to remain equal to them. But as you picture suggests they do not want Lakewood to even remain equal to Cleveland Hts, Rocky River, Parma, etc. They are more than willing to demote Lakewood. And why not, Lakewood's "leaders" are nodding their heads like that dog in the rear window of my Grandfather's car.

Remember when This Old House featured this great article about Lakewood?

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/ ... 08,00.html

Remember that the Plain Dealer featured that article on its front page? Remember that the picture of the house they chose to feature was abandoned and covered in graffiti? I ride around this town a lot and I NEVER saw a house covered in graffiti. Yet the PD found one. What a coincidence!! Just in time for the morning addition!

That type of treatment of this town is typical and it is not an accident.

Bill Call wrote:Remember that the Plain Dealer featured that article on its front page? Remember that the picture of the house they chose to feature was abandoned and covered in graffiti? I ride around this town a lot and I NEVER saw a house covered in graffiti. Yet the PD found one. What a coincidence!! Just in time for the morning addition!

That type of treatment of this town is typical and it is not an accident.

Bill

Of course it is not by accident. Can we find that home? Was it really from Lakewood?

They come with very powerful snake oil. It has to be to sell out your community, neighbors
and friends. I mean think of how powerful it would have to be to convince you or me that
our very future is tied to Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown? Well Akron and Youngstown are
excited that they are managing their decline! Cleveland is looking forward to becoming
a farmland as they manage their decline! I might be way off base but that would make
it seem like Lakewood better learn to swim, because the "civic leaders" are rearranging
the deck chairs on the Titanic, while the band was conviniced to keep playing and be brave.

Think how powerful it has to be to keep you dancing in the street, while 30% of the
population, and businesses leave. The value of your home falls 30%, and they take
you hard earned tax dollars and squander them on friends, and shiny babbles and
reports that there is ZERO chance of funding or happening. A powerful mix of smoke,
mirrors, spiral dynamics, and peer pressure. Once they zero in on your button you sell
your soul to the machine of mediocrity. Being their "friends" is so much easier than
using critical thought. I mean why would "friends" lie?

I have been preparing a special piece called "They promised..." It will look at what was
promised and by who over the past 15-20 years, and what it actually did. It is staggering
that these same people are turned to again, and again, and again, and again.

But maybe we will turn the corner after Medical Mart!

.