The challenge is simple: Listen, review, and change. So, here goes.

1. Medical care: The ER is full of those without insurance; can we set up a separate (physical) structure for their non-emergency matters? It would save tons of time and money.

2. Schools: Find a way to get physical education back in the daily schedule, along with all of the "lost" arts.

3. Library: What happened to the "Get out of Jail Free" bones they used to give out during the July 4th parade?

4. YMCA: The pool hasn’t had a thermometer for months. Can it open earlier on Sunday?

5. Lakewood Park: How about some exercise stations along the path? We have to do something about the kids sitting on the edges of the big rocks.

6. Diversity: Literally, pull up everyone's pants. The kids would certainly look better. Just what does it say to have your brand of boxers for all to see?

7. Shopping: That food store on Bunts is a rip off! They charge $2 for a grapefruit and they won’t open until 7:00 am. I am forced to take a shower, put on my Sperry’s and go to Heinen’s with all the other beautiful people.

This city was built for walking and shopping. There is a multitude of empty storefronts and there is still nowhere to park. But, if we all just stop driving and walk, maybe we can figure out a way to bring retail back. Don’t knock down existing structures to build a box.

8. Coffee, bagels, and pizza: We need bagels that don’t all look the same.

9. Watering holes: The smokers can have the patios. But, it sure seems like we have enough places to drink.

10. Our neighborhoods: Put food compost bins all over this city. Educate the people and the garbage men will have much less to pick up.

11. Our government: City council meetings on Saturdays at the Women’s Pavilion. Same for School Board. Why do we have only night-time meetings? Tell us who sits on all the boards and committees. Do you know the name of your council person?

12. Our Court: I am not a fan of lifetime judicial positions. Nothing personal, Judge Pat, but two terms should be the limit on every level of judicial administration. Too bad we have to wait for politicians to make such a change.

13. Green: What happens in all the apartments?

14. The roads: The north/south streets are an insult to all of us taxpayers.

15. July 4th: Still perfect, even if the mayor looked dumb sitting in the back seat waiting to go home.

16. Our Police: There are way too many people running red lights. Also, the police could smile once in a while. Walking and biking cops always make the people happy.

17. Public Transit: The middle of Clifton used to be a streetcar lane. Then, lots of people learned how to drive west.

18. Clifton Beach: The club is just that. We have lots of lake front and no beach. And, you will see a kid killed soon if the cops don’t keep them off of all those big rocks at the Park.

19. Lakewood Observer: Continue to make the Sun Post a waste of time to read in comparison.

20. Post Office: The do-it-yourself stamp machine is gone. Now, you have to buy stamps in bulk.

21. Restaurants: I sure wish Miller’s didn’t burn down; I need a sticky bun.

22. Giant Eagle: as noted above, the prices are high, the service stinks, and they have us by the you-know-whats.

23. The People: We hang tight, but, how many of us have ever been to city hall for a public meeting? [I haven’t; I don’t know when they meet, where they meet, why we can’t see them on our local cable network, or why we never see much in the press from the elected officials.] Ever see a column from any of our elected officials in this paper?

Lakewood, for these and lots of other reasons everyone else can name, can do so much better.