The Observation Deck

As the project is owned by the community, can we have the nitty gritty of all the financials published on the deck? I'd be interested in how the income and expense is looking.
Thanks in advance.

If you would name the grants that were made to the LO I would encourage, indeed insist upon public disclosure of their finances. Until such time, I would encourage you to go back and search for their 501c3 status. Good luck with that.

Nice try Sharon. Never claimed it was a 501C3, just that its the "community's".
If it was though I would find no obligation for more than the tax returns and checks and balances through the CDBG committee (or whatever agency dispenses funds in this hypothetical).
But again, since the organization at hand is public then it only seems natural that documents and finances be open. I'm sure that everyone involved would agree, no?

Shawn,
Have you requested the same information from the Plain Dealer?
Just to be fair??
Right?

I don't recall the LO asking for, or receiving, any taxpayer monies.

As Sharon stated, if so, then I do expect full disclosure, as mandated by law.

Do you have different information, Shawn? Are you claiming that the LO is benefiting from taxpayer monies?

I must have missed where the PD promoted themselves up as owned by the community. Have I misunderstood the LO? Is it on the same plain as the PD? If so, I have a whole new set of questions.
I am optimistic that the bookkeepers are preparing the requested materials and look forward to learned the nitty gritty about the dollars and sense of Civic journalism.

Lakewood Alive Mission:

LakewoodAlive is a nonpartisan economic development corporation whose mission is to improve the quality of life of residents by creating alliances with community leaders, leveraging community assets and expanding the pool of available resources in order to facilitate economic stabil­ity and growth in the City of Lakewood. A 501-c (3) nonprofit organization, LakewoodAlive is a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation Trust and Heri­tage Ohio, which is the oversight organization for the Ohio Main Street Program.

I'm still waiting for some transparency in LA mission statement.
I think that is more important.
It is our tax money they are spending.

Shawn, I know your a LA guy...but why aren't you more concerned about the organizations that are funded by your tax dollars?? Don't you care?

Just having a little fun with Jimmy? We'll then call it as it is.

Your more concerned about giving OB a poke than finding out where our tax dollars are really being spent.

So your question productive how?

You hit the nail on the head, Rhonda.

I care where MY tax money is being spent.

LA receives MY tax money and YOUR tax money.

When an entity receives public taxpayer funds, I have a right to know how they are being spent. If an entity does not receive public finds, I have no such right.

What's so hard to understand, Shawn? You really look silly playing this game here and if I was in a position such as yours, I would not be embarrassing myself on a public forum where my colleagues could read.

I am so overwhelmed with all this "goodwill".

It's all because of you Shawn...you bring the best out in all of us!

We're just trying to "insure" you know what you're talking about Shawn.

Sharon,

I think his intent was just to poke at OB.

There is no substance here or he would have given us some facts.

He does not seem to care about where our tax money has gone.

Or he is unwilling to tell us.

He talked about goodwill...

Where is the goodwill for the public?

Only for the "gifted" Rhonda.

Hi,
Mr. Juris, could you tell me if you are an Officer of LakewoodAlive? I would like to know what your affiliation with LakewoodAlive is.

My how things have changed. Not even an effort to address the question, just throw out distractions and insult the person. I had found it odd that a community building forum that has a tag line of good neighbors would have an option for friends and foes. After a few were banned I had heard many got fed up with the animosity and personal attacks. After a year, I figured it would be a good thing to give up for lent, to stop watching people be so hateful and engage in the discussion. I figured there was no way that rational, normal people could be so blind with hatred that the would be willing to spread rumors and in essence attempt to cause harm to an organization or fellow resident. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe, real names or not, mission statement, taglines don't set this apart from any other online arena where people are awful to one another.
It's not about me. This Deck could be good for the public but a few have spoiled it and made it nasty. I'm not at all surprised that so few post here. It's not good for the soul. Can't wait for Easter so I can go back to enjoying my days. Maybe something can be resolved by then and this can be what it promises.