The Observation Deck

There is an interesting and thoughtful article in the recent Scene regarding a lawsuit by the property owners of the Hidden Village Apartment against the City of Lakewood, written by Michael Gill. The present Mayor is not part of the lawsuit.

Hidden village houses one of the re-entry programs run by the Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries. This particular program assists young people coming out of foster care. It is also one of the places in Lakewood that receives a lot of 911 calls. Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries is not part of the lawsuit.

Allowing the Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries' to operate this particular program was something that need the formal approval of the Lakewood City Council that was seated at that time.

Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries is one of the very few organizations in this area that works to provide housing for people in need (who are often part of a program) and it does not provide 100% of the tenants in the Hidden Village building.

DL

While I like Michael writing and editing, and he is a damn fine Lakewoodite, being one of the founders of LEAF and was my partner in crime on the very illegal railroad tracks area clean up every year that was done under threat of arrest and full prosecution. I found the story
to be strangely lacking things like...

This is actually the second try a this lawsuit. The first was dismissed by the courts. This
version drops a couple names from the lawsuit, but brings in back.

I do like the fact that Michael was able to point out that there was no "special treatment"
in the investigation of the problems there. To my knowledge nearly every time they went
to check on the illegal halfway house, there calls of the complainers were justified, and corrections
were called for, but met with resistance. The owner thought it would be far easier to paint
the city of Lakewood as racists, instead of other choices.

What really pains me in all of this was that the city had kept this under wraps to avoid
negative undeserving press. But now it is out, and between the media machine and
the owners lawyer who is regularly seen on MSNBC, CNN and others this might get
dragged into the spotlight.

FWIW

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It is a missing bit of info that this is the second time it was re-filed. But if you note that, it's also worth noting that it was dismissed because the plaintiffs asked for it to be dismissed . . . not because the court didn't see merit to the case.

I weighed those concerns, Jim, and whether writing about the case was validating it, therefore playing to one side.

I decided that --bearing in mind that the owners have had long history of bad relations with the city and dragging out their repairs until the city takes them to court; and that other unrelated properties have been similarly inspected; as well as the fact that neither tenants nor the support program but the landlord has filed the case (all points noted in the story)--that writing about it was shining lights on their possible motivation as much as validating their claim.

It is admittedly a touchy thing, but not something we should be afraid to talk about because we're concerned about attention.

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/hid ... id=1962979

Michael

WE both know that I think you re one of Cleveland's finer writers and editors. And I know
that you know that I appreciate all you bring to the table, and do for this city, and the Gill
family is a wonderful addition.

When I was first shown all of the information on this the first trial had just started and we did
as much digging as possible. At the time it had appeared that the city did lean on Hidden
Village, but with good reason, and no harder than many, many other property owners.

The Lakewood Building department is often misunderstood, but one thing is easy to understand
is if you jerk them around, and or Judge Carroll, they will get as tough as they wish, within
the framework of the law. As for the Lakewood Police, and others mentioned in the lawsuit,
I have never known with them to behave in a "racist manner." So the LO sat back and
waited, and sure enough the case was dismissed. At that point for ALL the parties involved
we had decided to not run a "There was no fire today story."

The other very real fact was that the entire operation was "illegal" but gets pretty grey
quickly as to my understanding the building department, housing, and police did not
know, but Health and Human Services did assist. DL somewhat glosses over the "style"
of tenants brought in, as some have lets say history. Since changing from Diesel Tech to
this new project, crime has sky-rocketed in the area. Though I have no numbers that
would link directly to Hidden Village, some of the shop keepers like Sapelle's certainly
blame their recent rash of shop lifting on some of the residents.

I know you have the background to know what a stigma of "racists city" can do to a town,
and severe penalties that could be leveled against that town by both the courts and the
court of public opinion for decades to come.

When a couple names were dropped and the lawsuit brought back, I am still convinced the
city and the players will rise above the charges. Again "No Fire Today."

With that said, you have ever right to shine the light wherever within the city, schools, non-profits, etc. Your story is both factual and in the great impartial style you have become
known for in all of your reporting.

As always thank for stopping by the deck, and linking the story.

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That's right, there's no racism in Lakewood.

sharon kinsella wrote:That's right, there's no racism in Lakewood.

Sharon

The is a huge difference between racism in Lakewood, and the City of Lakewood guilty
of racism. This is the exact reason why the LO never covered this.

It is so easy to play word games, and set the tone for something that is not correct.

To be honest, I have been treated rougher by the building department that them.

Racism, when leveled against someone or something that is not is far worse than
the act itself.

I have seen the charges, the paperwork, and know the people.

This was someone from outside the city, deciding he would fight every way he could,
and pulled the racist card.

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Jimmy, have you not heard of driving while black? Have you not seen 3 lakewood police cars surrounding a car with a young black woman and her kids? Or any black person who has a broken blinker being pulled over by cars? in the meantime 10 cars with white people in them drive by with broken blinkers.

I asked our illustrious mayor the other day on here to check with the chief.

Do you see a response? I don't.

Sorry, I didn't realize I was glossing over anything. "Re-entry programs run by the Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries" means that these are people who need a lot of help to get from wherever they were to a more stable place.

Usually this means former offenders, but includes people who have been homeless, who have been addicts, who have been in the foster system or the juvenile justice system, etc.

This housing initiative did not slip into the Hidden Village building in the middle of the night, unbeknownst by anyone.

That was my point.

dl meckes wrote:Sorry, I didn't realize I was glossing over anything. "Re-entry programs run by the Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries" means that these are people who need a lot of help to get from wherever they were to a more stable place.

Usually this means former offenders, but includes people who have been homeless, who have been addicts, who have been in the foster system or the juvenile justice system, etc.

This housing initiative did not slip into the Hidden Village building in the middle of the night, unbeknownst by anyone.

That was my point.

Sharon

For the record, Mayor FitzGerald was NEVER mentioned in the lawsuit. Major Tom George
was, Ed Favre was, building department was, police department was, the CITY WAS. All
because a landlord who is white, who lives in Beechwood, or works out of Beechwood, did
not like the fact that the city, where he broke laws, was asking him to fix property and
make it safe for the tenants.

Mayor FitzGerald worked with the federal task force on this, and they rarely do not find
some amount of guilt. When Ed was waiting for deliberating he even called and said to me,
I am not sure how it will happen, but this department nearly always finds some form of
discrimination. They found none.

AT NO POINT did the city hassle black, brown, green, blue people. Over what they are
being sued for. This is a person being served citation for violations and calling rape, errr
racist. In my book, there is a special place in hell for those people.

Go to Parma, here is a city 15 years later after being declared racist that is still dealing with
the stigma. Those residents that were, are now way over the top with their hatred because
the government came in and MADE THEM... No organics. Meanwhile the city is so tied up
they are just getting back to functioning normally.

When a person is branded "racist" it take on crazy dimensions. But when a city is branded
racist in court, it is a nightmare this city does not need, nor do we deserve.

This is exactly why I never brought this lawsuit up.

DL

No but the building department nor planning or the mayor new about it from what they
have said.

From what I have been told we can pretty much ignore your first three reasons for where
these young adults come from


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You know this gets into a whole different older discussion.

Morally, what does this city owe the county and the region?

Some of us have been watching various charity groups fill some of the rentals around here
with case studies for years. Why does this city have to be the dumping ground?

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Jimmy you are not speaking to what I said. I already know that Ed didn't do this. I also am not holding him responsible for old crap that goes on with DWB stuff here in Lakewood.

Here's the thing, he has the opportuniity to fix this. It will make his name bright and shiny and make many of us happy that it no longer happens in our town. I hate with my black friends don't even want to come here because of this or when I see it around town.

I nave just tacked this on to this because of the issue Ed and I talked about. I apologized to him (which I hated to do but I did it) and then I asked him to find out about the DWB issue.

Michael Gill from the Scene Magazine stops by the Root and talks with Kenneth Warren,
about this article and many other things. Ken was in town from Austin Texas for a couple
days to meet with the LO and Rich Weiss from the Human Tribe Foundation.

Sharon

Sorry, I was following the thread.

I still do not believe it. Lakewood has more than a handful of minority officers on the force,
it is not the same as it was back in big Bob Lawther days.

And while two wrongs do not make a right, I get pulled over about 1 in 5 trips to East
Cleveland and have been told, "Yeah well white guys from Lakewood are usually over here
heroin or crack." When talking with the police after the initial pull over what they have
said is one of their real problems is kids from the suburbs coming to the hood for drugs
they get lost and get in trouble. Like those kids on Division Ave. the other day. Funny when
you hear their story it almost sounds like neighbors taking care of punks.

Sharon, I believe you realize I am not a racist. Not much of any ist, except Obist. I have
listened to police for over a decade on the radio digital radio and cell phones all of
which can be picked up. I have NEVER heard anyone even come close to saying "Black
people pull them over, watch them whatever."

Since starting the Observer one of our biggest charities in West Shore SWAT, which is
also funding for the wives and families of fallen officers. I would never believe I am "in
with them" but I have been in hundreds of places and parties where officers are relaxed
and just talking about Lakewood and issues. I cannot remember ever hearing a Lakewood
Officer say anything close to "We have to keep on the black people." I have been told
"you are nuts walking around Hidden Village and "The Snake Pit" late at night. I am going
to get shot by some drug dealer." I have not heard "Black Drug Dealer"

Will Ed come in and say he has checked into it and found something or nothing. I doubt it.

But I do not think anything less of him or the police force for not doing so.

Do you have examples? Dates? Times? People I can talk with? I am more than willing to
look into this, but I really believe this city has moved past this. Now if only the residents
quit hating each other because of color, or success, of jobs, or lack of we would be a pretty
cool town eh?

As always thanks for the time, and the conversation.




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I'll start writing them down when I see them, but, as you know, I'll be off the roads for two months come Friday - the knee surgery thingie.

Of course you never heard that call over the radio, what you hear is a request for backup on a suspicious person or whatever the nomenclature is that it used. Racism is not always overt, it hides in the shadows of actions and I do believe that driving while black is a problem.

As I said before, Ed could come out bright and shiny about this or say nothing.

I'm just staying my experience here. As you know, I miss very little and am extremely observant.

sharon kinsella wrote:I'll start writing them down when I see them, but, as you know, I'll be off the roads for two months come Friday - the knee surgery thingie.

Of course you never heard that call over the radio, what you hear is a request for backup on a suspicious person or whatever the nomenclature is that it used. Racism is not always overt, it hides in the shadows of actions and I do believe that driving while black is a problem.

As I said before, Ed could come out bright and shiny about this or say nothing.

I'm just staying my experience here. As you know, I miss very little and am extremely observant.

Sharon

I will go toe to toe with you over this observant thing. Also Stan like myself and others have
scanners on all of the time in the background. I would encourage all that have ever heard a
racist comment from a Lakewood police officer to post here.

The scanner is monitored, the digital stuff is monitored, and I know more than one person in this
town that can also listen to cell phones, and tracks that, which really makes me mad, because
they are listening to far more than police and fire calls.

Racism is not always overt, and in fact is not illegal, until it infringes on a person rights. It is the
act of desperate, ignorant people, that are afraid they are losing their place in life. But I just do
not see it on the Lakewood Police Force as it was in the 60s.

I generally find calling people racists without hard proof to be as bad as racism. Infact it is just
like racism. We have to learn to stop hating people because they are better off than us, or worse
off than us. We have to try to understand those that are different. It is through that understanding
that true strength and progress can be made.

I know you believe that.

Hidden Village last night, these images are from about 8pm last night
please excuse the darkness and fuzziness.

Is actually looking much nicer than it did two years ago. New blacktop, stripes,
gutters and edging fixed, lawns mowed.


It is the back complexes that are used by Lutheran Ministries.




Meanwhile over at the Snake Pit, pool is open!
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Jim, without commenting on the validity of the lawsuit's claim:

No, a person doesn't run a "no fire today" story.

But what if a person's motivations for shouting "fire" point to a whole different problem?

I think your points--the history, the code violations unattended until the city repeatedly summoned the landlord to court, the distinction between making such a charge vs. an individual as opposed to a city with four allegedly complicit departments--are all there. In fact, even your point that the suit was withdrawn by the plaintiff and then re-filed (which I earlier said was missing) appears in paragraph 5.

We both know there's plenty of information that's not here. Our pages are only so big. But whether there is a fire or not is only a part of the point. The other part: why would someone shout?

Michael

I was speaking why the LO has not run the story.

You had every right and reason, and as you point out there is validity in running it in the Scene.

I would say one of my larger reasons for not running i was the lawyer was one
who loves the TV cameras, and as you know, A story like this would normal be a lead
and the information not guilty would not even make the news on MSNBC, CNN, FOX
where his lawyer is often seen.

FWIW


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