The Observation Deck

It pained me to no end to read Michael Gill's column about no one wanting the job of
mayor of one of the "coolest city's to visit" in the country and best suburb in the County.
To me that story erased a year of great news with the stark reality that NO ONE
immediately wanted to help Lakewood continue to improve, and stay in the limelight. I
was not willing to let that thought stand, nor let our city fall. After all it was for nine
months, and I am at a point where papers are starting with their staff, the LO has a great
staff, and my others companies have strong leadership. I could do 9 months, while people
ran for the office in the fall.

Of course one of the reasons no one wanted it was there is zero money in the budget, and
no way to pull miracles out of hats. But to me that seemed like a great opportunity to get
the little things done that have bothered me for years. The things that do not need funding
merely better attention and care.

So I went out to talk to political leaders that had held the office of mayor, merely asking
"What do mayors really do?" The responses that came back from a series of ex-mayors
indicated that it was not that different from a normal day in my office. Much multi-tasking
a lot of figuring how to move things to get the most effectiveness from the smallest dollar.
Over the past month I also stumbled onto some amazing ideas that could save the city
another $1.5 million right out of the box, and some other ideas that are currently available
that the city is not using. And some of the major mistakes made over the last year that
could be easily corrected to keep this city moving in the right direction.

Then of course there is the unions that Bill Call often points out as one of the major
problems with overhead in Lakewood, and they are, and I think, with Bill Call's help some
of this can be reigned in, and compromise can be set.

The problem is that none of this can really be done, by someone that needs to be
re-elected. This was one of Ed FitzGerald's strongest points. He managed like he was
not getting re-elected. I have no interest in mayor for life, higher political ambitions,
all I care about is Lakewood, and making sure this 9 month transition years from now
is not looked at as the moment we as a city dropped the ball.

Lakewood has at best a year to cash in on the "cool" factor we have built together, next
year another city could win, another suburb could be best.

Housing
Safety
CLEAN
Structure
Fun


It has to be addressed, the money is there, and so are the players. It will take the right
person from outside the box to activate, motivate, and carry it off.

The city has given me a lot, I felt time once again to give back. While some have pointed
out to me that you are not "running for office" and that I understand. I still want to make
sure I walk the talk of accountability, transparency, and taking this city to a new level of
openness by posting my thoughts, and ideas publicly for all to see, comment on, pick apart
and maybe agree with.

The residents and businesses of this city deserve that, and so very much more.

Peace.


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Jim O'Bryan wrote:Of course one of the reasons no one wanted it was there is zero money in the budget, and
no way to pull miracles out of hats. But to me that seemed like a great opportunity to get
the little things done that have bothered me for years. The things that do not need funding
merely better attention and care.
.

Fitzgerald and his council made some long overdue decisions that balanced the budget
and brought a bit of strategic thinking to City Hall. Even though it wasn't easy it WAS the easy part. Whoever follows him will be faced with tougher choices and starker realities.

Fitzgerald is leaving just in the nick of time.

The irony here is that the current County administration has been busy making long overdue decisions that balanced the County budget and removed large layers of fat from County Government so;

those stark choices Fitzgerald left behind at City hall will be waiting for him at the County Administration building.

Who said God doesn’t have a sense of humor?

What about Lakewood?

An outsider like Jim O’Bryan might offer some innovative ideas that might make a difference. IF they were offered as part of an idea driven election campaign. The fact that he is presenting himself as an outsider who would challenge the status quo is all the evidence council needs to say no to his appointment.

If you want the job run for it.
If you have ideas spell them out.

That is not a criticism of O’Bryan or of Council.

There is a lot to be said for the appointment of a competent, knowledgeable, experienced and well liked person like Mike Sommers. He might surprise us with some boldness.

On the other hand, cities have little control over their own destinies so competence, knowledge and experience only gets you so far. The only path to real control is the path they will not take.

First, I will not be dragged into anything at this point, talking about Mike Summers or any of the other applicants. I have been lucky enough to call Mike Summers a friend since 1st grade. I think Mike has done a wonderful job serving the city, the schools, his business and family.

Mike Summers is the safe choice, and will certainly get elected in the fall if he runs.

But I see no boldness in the history books. I do know that one person has consistently taken bold entrepreneurial steps with every step since being born. I know one of them has rehabbed buildings in Lakewood, owns rental property in Lakewood, has more than one business in Lakewood, employs only Lakewood residents in his businesses, and is open to any and all discussions about the city, state, public entities, or thoughts.

I know there is one candidate that has ZERO interest in anything political, which frees that person from having to do things to get votes or favors from other influential groups in Lakewood.

Mike Summers, is the sane choice, yes, but not the bold choice.

Our city has been branded cool, artsy, entrepreneur driven, but very few in office have actually dealt with any of those issues, like small businesses or creating organizations on a personal level. Getting people to work together around unique ideas and programs. I have done that a couple times.

I am unwilling to post too many of my ideas here, because, as always I am looking at things that set us apart from the region. But if any applicant wants to post here, I am more than willing to come back, and see what we can get out there. I think if you look at the Observer project, and what we have started, it underlines what kind of ideas I could bring to the city. It is BOLD, out of the box, extremely successful thinking.

Bill, another thing we both know is that salaries and benefits have got to be brought into line with a little bit of reality. I think not needing support down the road, and being an effective employer myself, I could have an interesting conversation with city employees.

I am looking for other applicants to join with me in a public meeting to discuss the
future of Lakewood.


FWIW

(This message was made possible without union help or political connections)
.

So what is the process to officially get your name in the hat-to have council appoint you or are you officially in the running?

I can't think of anyone in this city who loves the city more and has the city's best interests at heart without regard for political friends or favors. Or special clubs or any of that. Time to take the politics out of politics!

Justine Cooper wrote:So what is the process to officially get your name in the hat-to have council appoint you or are you officially in the running?

I can't think of anyone in this city who loves the city more and has the city's best interests at heart without regard for political friends or favors. Or special clubs or any of that. Time to take the politics out of politics!

Justine

Thank you for the kind words.

SECTION 8. ACTING MAYOR.

(A) If the Mayor’s office becomes vacant, the following individuals shall succeed to the office in the following order: Director of Law, Director of Finance, Director of Public Works, President of Council, and an elector of the City chosen by Council.

(B) If a vacancy occurs more than two years and 105 days before the next regular election to be held for the office of Mayor, a successor shall hold office until the first day of January following the next regular municipal election, as provided for in this Charter. If the Mayor-elect dies, resigns, or removes his or her residence from the City, after election but before taking office, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment made by Council prior to the commencement of the term to be filled, and the person so appointed shall hold office until the commencement of the new term for the office of Mayor following the next regular municipal election. In either case, a Mayor shall be elected for the unexpired term at the first regular municipal election following such event.

(C) If that vacancy occurs two years and one hundred five days (2 years and 105 days) or less before the next regular election to be held for the office of Mayor, the successor shall hold office for the balance of the term of the Mayor who is succeeded.

(D) If the Mayor is temporarily absent from the City, or becomes temporarily disabled for any cause, the duties of the Mayor shall be performed during such absence or disability by one of the officials named, and in the order provided, in this Section, under the title of Acting Mayor.


But alas it will take more than love of a city to get the seat.

However what the city needs, after having for mayor an ex-nun, realtor, and ex-FBI agent,
is a resident who understand the issues with renting and renters(nearly 50% of our
housing), who understands first hand the issues with small businesses, and how to get
them filled on Detroit and Madison(I personally have three businesses on Detroit, all
started by myself and my wife), who understands the real issues in this community. I
have been going through homes and sitting in housing court, talking with Judge Carroll.
I understand what is going on on the county level and would not be afraid to speak up
to protect Lakewood's interests. And then there are the recent awards coming from outside
of the city. I am figuring we have about nine months to cash in on that, and either win
them again, or start enough of a movement to keep the big MO going.

Justine, you have worked with me, and you have seen how I can pull sides
together, how I often go against my own beliefs when the room or the others feel that my beliefs are
not right, and how quickly I learn during OPEN discussions. If this city is really to believe
the hype, then we need a person who can deliver the goods.

As I said, Mike Summers would be the sane choice, business as normal, tied into the
political scene for decades. OR, the city takes a chance with 9 short months, while Mike
and others campaign for the job which would allow him to finish his important work on
Lakewood's finance committee.

Bill

You know I was thinking this morning, when you wanted to sue the city over what you
thought was overtime abuse, who was sitting next to you? When you wanted to look at
Lakewood Hospital's Books who arranged the meeting? When you were going nuts over
salaries before a bond issue a couple years ago who went to the Superintendent for
answers, and when he hesitated, I requested all the documents and supporting mail?

I am not saying because you are my friend you should blindly support me. That is the
crazy clubby thinking that permeates this city now. If there is one thing we know, I am
not afraid of asking the hard questions, or demanding to know where the public money
is going and who is being served, the residents/businesses or the servers?

Might be why I never end up getting a shot at this. I ask too many tough questions to
public entities, the same entities that owe residents the answers.

PS - I check and return email and phone calls within 24 hours.



.

Hi Jim,

That seems like a great idea. The Deck could function exactly like a candidates' forum, at at time that EVERYONE could attend. Whenever they sign on. The power of the internet.

Who are the people who have thrown their names in the hat for mayor? Do they provide basic information that's available to the public? It would be a service to all of us just to let us know their names, and their basic information.

And it would be great if they could come on and answer simple questions like, why are you interested? What would be your priorities? Describe what you like and don't like about Lakewood?

Something like that.

Betsy Voinovich

Betsy Voinovich wrote:Hi Jim,

That seems like a great idea. The Deck could function exactly like a candidates' forum, at at time that EVERYONE could attend. Whenever they sign on. The power of the internet.

Who are the people who have thrown their names in the hat for mayor? Do they provide basic information that's available to the public? It would be a service to all of us just to let us know their names, and their basic information.

And it would be great if they could come on and answer simple questions like, why are you interested? What would be your priorities? Describe what you like and don't like about Lakewood?

Something like that.

Betsy Voinovich

Betsy

I moved this over to my thread, as to keep the other thread clear for those willing to
share their thoughts with the public on why they chose to jump in.

One of the things this project was started for was political discourse. You were not here in
the early days. The founders, some of the true civic leaders of this community, sat down
and talked with the mayor, council, the schoolboard about exactly what they needed to get
their information out, so as to be fair.

At the time, they said real names. As long as they were dealing with real people they
would join in. Of course, after a couple tough questions, a silence fell on the Deck. So
then we constructed a special section just for the school board and council to post to keep
people informed. But we said the forum would still be open to all for questions and
discussion. Of course there were no takers there.

Ken Warren was in town this past week pledging his support as an adviser should this
happen, and we revisited the early days for a book we are kicking around. The one thing
he was most disappointed in was the failure of civic leaders to take part in civic
discussions. That the people are too frail and unsure of themselves and their ideas to
take the heat of civic discourse. But ideas are like steel. They are strengthened and
tempered in the heat of public discourse, never weakened.

This project was created for one big reason to give everyone a voice. EVERYONE a voice,
no matter if they agreed with anyone else. Left right, rich poor, north south, washashore
resident.

One thing that can be said, is I would use ALL avenues to reach out to the community, and
keep them informed. That is one of the reasons why we print papers. To keep everyone
informed.


.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:However what the city needs, after having for mayor an ex-nun, realtor, and ex-FBI agent,
is a resident that understand the issues with renting and renters(nearly 50% of our
housing), that understands first hand the issues with small businesses, and how to get
them filled on Detroit and Madison(I personally have three businesses on Detroit, all
started by myself and my wife)

Political experience is not irrelevant but it is not the most important attribute in a Mayor or member of council. It helps to know policy and procedure but that can be learned. An outsider like yourself can be a great Mayor. An outsider can have much to offer on City Council. However:

Cities that have benefited from the Federal governments urban destruction program are easy to govern. Tax dollars keep rolling in come rain or shine. Cities that have been the victim of Federal policy are suffering and are much harder to govern.

Lakewood has been the victim of Federal, State and County policies but so have dozens of other communities in Cuyahoga County. Mayor Fitzgerald and Council have set a firm foundation for future growth but all that work is about to be undone. A perfect storm is about to be unleashed.

The State will be making substantial cuts to City budgets and School budgets. My estimate is about $10 million per year for the City of Lakewood and Lakewood City Schools. The State will also be demanding that Cities and schools contribute at least 10% more for the seriously under funded PERS and STERS. That’s going to blow a hole through both budgets.

How will you deal with that? And if anyone is listening, how will Council deal with that?

Bill Call wrote:Political experience is not irrelevant but it is not the most important attribute in a Mayor or member of council. It helps to know policy and procedure but that can be learned. An outsider like yourself can be a great Mayor. An outsider can have much to offer on City Council. However:

Cities that have benefited from the Federal governments urban destruction program are easy to govern. Tax dollars keep rolling in come rain or shine. Cities that have been the victim of Federal policy are suffering and are much harder to govern.

Lakewood has been the victim of Federal, State and County policies but so have dozens of other communities in Cuyahoga County. Mayor Fitzgerald and Council have set a firm foundation for future growth but all that work is about to be undone. A perfect storm is about to be unleashed.

The State will be making substantial cuts to City budgets and School budgets. My estimate is about $10 million per year for the City of Lakewood and Lakewood City Schools. The State will also be demanding that Cities and schools contribute at least 10% more for the seriously under funded PERS and STERS. That’s going to blow a hole through both budgets.

How will you deal with that? And if anyone is listening, how will Council deal with that?

Bill

If you look at my history, it is against "grants" and being on the dole. This city has the
ability to stand on its own, and it only really gets into trouble when it joins with the
regional movement. We need to look elsewhere, and within our own resources and
quickly, to address the financial shortcomings while continuing to streamline our
expenses.

One of the first things it would be interesting to revisit is the agreement that Mayor
Thomas George signed with some cities to share taxes if businesses moved here, or
Lakewood businesses moved out to their city. It seems to have been a lopsided
agreement, that has never benefited Lakewood. As we are switching to a more regional
form of county government, now is a good time to throw that out. I see the city needing
at least $4 million next year, I think there are some ways to raise that and more.
That gives us a little stability/sustainability, and allows us to move into 2012 with a
surplus, and more ways for the city to compete, and fund some very needed programs
that could bring in businesses and residents.

Let's not forget, our number one industry in Lakewood is "Homes" and the support of
those living, not necessarily working here.

It is not the Hospital, or DowntowN, it is the fact that we are a bedroom community with
at least 50,000 people, at one point as high as 70,000. As I have stated before,
burgers will not have the same impact as safe, clean, housing, and capitalizing on why
we are here now and what we have. 15,000 more consumers, living and paying taxes in
Lakewood would have a massive impact on this "cool" "best" suburb.

Good schools, livable community, safe, clean, fun. We both know the housing stock needs
help, way more than DowntowN, Marcs Plaza, etc. All of that other stuff is just BS until we
fix housing and master safe, clean, and fun.

Bill, as always thanks for the test.


FWIW