Letters To The Editor

The beautiful homes were torn down over 50 years ago. All the sidewalks and trees were removed. The neighborhood was torn in half.

To the Editor:
 
Lakewood is on a roll due in large part to the wisdom of her residents. The schools are strong, which contributes to making the housing market one of the hottest in the region. We have lovely parks and a wonderful arts community. The vision of responsible city leaders, together with the hard work of residents, has made that happen.
 

I was born in Lakewood. I grew up in Lakewood. As an adult, I stayed in Lakewood. My address has always been at the same house in Lakewood. I do business in Lakewood. I invest in Lakewood. I put my life into being a Lakewoodite. I stayed for many reasons. I'm still here for many reasons. I live in a different City now. I haven't moved, but I live in a different City now. Life is different.

“NO ENDORSEMENT”!! Exactly one half of the unusually large crowd at the Thursday, September 29th, 2016 meeting of the Lakewood Democratic Club breathed a sigh of relief; the other half was mostly silent, but most likely grimaced in frustration! “No endorsement” was the result of the vote taken at this meeting of the Club on Issue 64, the referendum on the ballot in November to either “save Lakewood hospital”, or move forward into the 21st century with a state-of-the-art Family Health Care Center based on the healthcare needs of the demographics of Lakewood and its immediate surrounding area! Yes, each side had exactly half the votes cast For and Against and a number of members had also cast votes to Abstain. An incredible phenomenon that many in the room who had expected the Club to endorse the view of the “Savers” (an epithet by which they have come to be known over this rancorous and divisive year in Lakewood) did not think would happen.

February 5, 2016: You receive notice that you must vacate your home; no one else is allowed to occupy the dwelling that used to be your home.

November 9, 2016: You receive notice that you must bulldoze your home; you are responsible for all costs.

VOTE AGAINST 64.

In December 2015, when Mayor Michael P. Summers and City Council voted for a Master Agreement that shuttered Lakewood Hospital, they placed the City of Lakewood - your home - into this exact position.

In August 2007, Fred M. DeGrandis (then President and CEO of Cleveland Clinic Regional Hospitals) wrote that by 1985, Lakewood Hospital was the last city-owned hospital in the state of Ohio. Therefore, if you live in the city of Lakewood, you are ‘part-owner’ of Lakewood Hospital.

Lakewood Friends and Family,

There are many in Lakewood concerned about not having a full-service hospital in the city. There are others upset about the loss of Lakewood's largest employer and the millions in lost tax revenue. However, this didn’t move me to get involved. However, when I saw what was really happening behind the scenes… I quickly became an activist for this cause.

When it came to closing the Lakewood Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic saw an opportunity to save money and increase profits. For them, there are simply too many Medicare and Medicaid recipients in and near Lakewood. Too many senior citizens and single mothers. Too many people working two or even three jobs to make ends meet without any healthcare benefits. Too many under-insured young people, just starting out on their own (and I was one of them.) The Cleveland Clinic views these groups as liabilities. They'd much rather move the capacities of Lakewood Hospital to Fairview and Avon, where they are likely to increase Clinic profit margins.

On the November 8th General Election ballot, Lakewood voters will have their first and only opportunity for a direct vote on the deal that closed Lakewood Hospital. It will appear as Issue 64 with options for or AGAINST Ordinance #49-15.

Like many of you, I believe in the values of fighting for Lakewood, of fairness in regards to the proper use of taxpayer assets and providing residents with the services necessary for a healthy and active city. This is why I fought to ensure that the Cleveland Clinic provide Lakewood with 21st Century health care in the form of a state of the art Family Health Center and fully accredited 24/7 Emergency Room to serve residents long into the future.

The Cleveland Clinic is now promoting the current emergency room at Lakewood Hospital with advertisements mailed to Lakewood residents. People are being wrongly told that, “Our board-certified emergency medicine physicians skillfully treat everything from cuts and fractures to cardiac arrest and stroke.”

I was cleaning my garage when a neighbor stopped for a visit. She saw my Build Lakewood yard sign and asked, “what’s the group about?” After sharing my response, her reply was: “Wow! You guys saved healthcare for Lakewood.”

Dear Editor,
 
Lakewood voters have a choice this November: a state-of the-art family health center with a 24/7/365 emergency room and dozens of outpatient health care services at the same convenient downtown location--or yet another lawsuit.
 

Lakewood Hospital has now been closed as an inpatient facility since the end of January. Employees have been successfully relocated. Business in Lakewood is thriving. Our housing market is experiencing a boom. People want to live here. The doom and gloom predicted by the Save Lakewood Hospital group is simply not coming to fruition.

To the Editor:

As a resident who lives near Wagar Park and goes there regularly with my young children, I was thrilled to learn that the city was planning on redesigning this space. I attended the second “re-envisioning” meeting for Wagar Park, where the three new park design concepts were unveiled to the public for the first time, and was disappointed that the two groups which seem to use the park the most (families of small children and middle school children) where not in attendance, most likely due to the time of day that the meeting was held (dinner/ bed time).  In response to this deficit of input, I hosted my own informal meeting on August 23rd to ask other parents what they would like to see in the new Wagar Park and their opinions of the three concepts put forth by the city. These were my findings. 

Lakewood insiders who orchestrated the closure of Lakewood Hospital, boldly handing over its $150M in assets to politicians and private corporatists for pennies on the dollar, have resurfaced as “Lakewood Voters for Progress” ahead of the November 8 referendum. Formerly known as the discredited dark money group “Build Lakewood,” this new group is comprised of many of the same City of Lakewood politicians and Lakewood Hospital Association trustees that opponents say acted in violation of their fiduciary responsibilities to the hospital and its citizen-owners.

The discussion of Donald Trump should begin with the large irony surrounding his campaign thus far in that he is the exact embodiment of the idea of the corrupt insider politician that he claims to be running against. He says whatever he needs to say, masking it as if he is speaking his mind. He ignores large segments of the country in favor of his own self-interests and those who align tangentially with his own self-interests. He is at his very core, a dishonest individual, which we have seen repeatedly in his business dealings and his short time in political life.

Imagine , if you will, a thank you note from the residents of Lorain County who will soon have a new in-patient hospital in Avon.

To the Editor:

The drama concerning the future of Lakewood Hospital continues even though it should have been resolved with the election results last November. Voters re-elected Mayor Mike Summers, an opponent of the proposed referendum, and defeated Issue 64 which would have forced a vote of the people before any decisions could be made regarding the hospital.

He had to leave in order to come back and win. He had to go out there to Miami with the scrutiny and the hate in his rearview mirror and pretend he didn’t hear the volume of it all. He watched them burn his jersey and yank down his posters. He heard the former pros wreck his name and speak poorly about abandoning his hometown. He made the mistake of answering freely, when asked about how many championships he might stockpile there in the city where he “took his talents,” by joking with his ring-less digits 1, 2, 3 maybe more….. ha ha ha.

I've been thinking lately about how Cleveland will be hosting the Republican National Convention for four days starting July 18 and that we Clevelanders should really roll out the welcome mat to make them feel more at home!

As a veil of smoke from the annual July 4 fireworks show mingled with the mist and expanded outward from Lakewood Park the night of Monday, July 4, some of those leaving the display cast a pall on tree lawns, sidewalks, and streets as they vamoosed from the show.

In my opinion, any grants allocated to a faith-based outreach program that enhances knowledge on human developmental psychology and family law to the general public would help prevent the scourge of domestic violence in our communities.

Kudos to Lakewood City Council for voting 7-0 to outlaw discrimination in private employment and public accommodation based on one's sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. This legislation benefits every member of our community both socially and economically and makes Lakewood a better place for all the residents.

Fifty-two Meridian owners object to ordinances 25 and 26/16 for the following reasons:

The revetment project is doomed to fail according to the recommendations of both geotechnical experts who studied the cliff. To avoid cliff collapse and erosion, they recommend only to place drainage and monitors above. However, the ordinance calls only for a revetment at the base, something both experts did not feel is recommended for at least 25 to 50 years.

Ex Cuyahoga co. Law director, attorney Majeed akhlouf, hired by concerned owners listed overwhelming legal precedent that makes this project illegal. For example, he states: "Approving this ordinance and its funding by council will be the usurpation of property and thus is illegal because it fails to have 100% owner's approval. The ordinance constitutes abuse of power and misapplication of the municipal funds without just compensation through the eminent domain process as determined by the US's Fifth Amendment and Article 1 of the Ohio constitution. Should city council approve this ordinance without 100% owner's approval, Lakewood council must pay for this job. (see US constitution Loretto V Teleprompter 458 US 419 (1982)"

My first memory of visiting Malley's Ice Cream parlor was when I was 4 years old, I am now 73. I fell in love with the glory that was friendly decor and service and most of all the creamy, sweet ice crem covered in the glistening thing that was chocolate fudge...warm and melty all over. Over the years my parents, grandparents and now my kids and grandkids are treated regularly to this experience when they come to town as recently as last week. Other out-of-town guests have tasted Lakewood in the parlor while hearing me expound on the virtues and history of the quality of the establishment.

We, as Americans, love beginnings, we love the sure-footed reach of what might become of our hope, hopes-- the general desire and the specific desire. We want our candidates to speak of some honesty of intention, some intention that will lead to fulfillment. You, dear candidate, must say you will achieve some prospect, some beginning toward the most good. But, we are not too particular about the course to such a goal. I say this in the general not the specific, many of us are proud to call ourselves wonks, policy hounds on a scent, combers of things. And, this is not to say the many that reach for broad goals are not specific or understanding-- it’s a general outlook of, “Say The Dream.”

In December 2015, Lakewood City Council rushed the vote to close Lakewood Hospital. They called extra council meetings to pass this "emergency" measure because the seven members of City Council believed that the $50 million Lakewood Hospital Foundation was about to go bankrupt.

Like most Americans, I just finished handing 15% of my income over to various government entities which included three different municipalities because I work outside of Lakewood. A socialist (Democrats) would tell you that you are receiving numerous services for that money. Really? Well, if you don't have any children or send your children to private school you are essentially paying someone else's tuition. You may not have needed to dial 911 this year but it could be argued that you still benefited from the coverage.

There are many who object to Bernie Sanders plans for America. They say that his proposals are too grandiose, too expensive and will lead this country into crippling debt. They will turn us into a socialist nation, with our citizens overly reliant on big government.

Lakewood residents deserve a fulltime acute care hospital! Lakewood is the most densely populated city between New York City and Chicago. 52,000 residents live here. Senior citizens have been encouraged to move here to senior apartments near our hospital. They are less likely to have a car to take them for medical attention.

I spoke to hundreds of people in their homes, in  parking lots and on the streets of Lakewood in 9 degree weather to gather signatures on the petition. Why? Because we promised we would have a referendum to repeal Ordinance 49-15 that council passed that gave all the assets of Lakewood Hospital to the Cleveland Clinic for pennies on the dollar. With our current city council puppets, a referendum is the only way for the citizens to influence what will happen to their asset, Lakewood Hospital.

So what comes next?  A few years from now, the former site of the Lakewood Hospital will be ready for redevelopment. Now is the perfect time for bold visionary leadership from our elected officials.  We are presented with a unique once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the City of Lakewood to plan, develop and implement a major and enduring civic achievement on the more than five acres that will be shovel-ready for redevelopment in a few short years.

Dear Editor,
 
In an expert study released this week, scientists found that the last two decades of record-breaking hot temperatures are almost certainly the result of man-made climate change.
 
Earlier this month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA announced that 2015 was the hottest year on record,underscoring the need for urgent climate action. Ohio has good reason to be concerned about this alarming trend: driven by carbon and methane pollution, climate change is fueling costly and deadly extreme weather events, including droughts, heat waves, hurricanes, and record winter storms. Luckily, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized the Clean Power Plan, which sets the first ever federal limits on carbon pollution from power plants.
 
The heat is on and there's no time to wait. I urge Govener Kasich to serve Ohio's best interest by implementing the Clean Power Plan and reducing the pollution that drives climate change while creating new clean energy jobs. The future of our children and the planet depends on it.
 
Brittany Chanley
 
 

My name is Ted Nagel, and I am the current Vice President of the Lakewood Soccer Association (LSA). Effective immediately, I tender my resignation to the Board of LSA. There are a number of reasons why I am doing this, and also, why I am doing it publicly. I will explain my reasoning below and end with a challenge to the people who are currently in positions of trust related to soccer in Lakewood.

On Monday, December 21, 2015, Lakewood City Council rubber-stamped a secretly negotiated 11th-hour plan to surrender Lakewood Hospital to Cleveland Clinic. The Clinic intends, with this authority, to complete its illicit decanting of what has always been a community-owned hospital, and to lock up healthcare in Lakewood for Clinic-owned hospitals elsewhere. Facing an ongoing lawsuit and possible investigations of their maladministration, the Clinic and its apologists apparently hope to thwart justice with a fait accompli.

The people of Lakewood do not have to let this happen. Council has embraced a false narrative of "the Clinic or nothing," blatantly ignoring the active overtures of a fully qualified alternative. Lakewood owes it to future generations, as well as the most vulnerable populations now and tomorrow, to employ every legal means to block the handover of our hospital and negotiate an alternative to the Cleveland Clinic’s dishonesty and theft.

Please don’t begin the coming year by giving up on your community. If council has lost the will to fight for Lakewood’s interests, honest working citizens have not.

Listen, you can clearly hear the sound of the conical shaped, shiny, brass bugle playing in a distance. 

Even though the vote of city council on the issue to abandon Lakewood Hospital was a foregone conclusion, the auditorium at City Hall was packed with proponents on both sides. All were given time to speak.

Members of the Committee to Save Lakewood Hospital (dressed mainly in red) rendered the most passionate opinions. Council chairperson Madigan constantly referred to them as "red shirts" and admonished them to be respectful. Since when is passionate discourse delivered with a voice of moral outrage disallowed? Where would this nation be without the likes of Thomas Paine?

The votes and explanations of council were unanimous. Each one defended their decision with the same hand-wringing excuse that they were constrained by restrictions in the city charter. Not one stepped outside the box or came up with a creative solution. There were no heroics from that group--just mediocre renderings and toadying to big money.

Like so many aspects of American life, healthcare has fallen prey to profit. It was a sad night for the City of Lakewood and a foreshadowing of the dismal outcomes we face at the hands of those who are now in charge of our future.

An international alliance of doctors, nurses, and other health professionals urged world governments to respond to the public health threats posed by climate change with a strong global agreement. This alliance released declarations of a global medical consensus on climate change signed by 1,700 health organizations, 8,200 hospitals and health facilities, and 13 million health professionals at the UN climate conference in Paris earlier this month.

For those of you who so gladly embraced the Republican notion of "regime change" in the Middle East, specifically Iraq...you got your wish...though perhaps not nearly the kind of change you and they so foolishly expected. The sad events in Paris are a direct result of that totally misguided thinking. The funny part is...now the Republicans will say they have even more reason for their clannish distrust and hatred of Muslims. And I am sure their solutions to this tragedy will be equally as hateful and destructive...one or another form of bloody "an eye for an eye" multiplied a hundredfold. This kind of thinking is being caught up and carried away in a vicious cycle of violence. And what it has proven is nothing more than a self-fulfilling prophecy.    

The Clifton Club is a For-Profit corporation located at 17884 Lake Road, on 1.42 acres, and includes a 10,992 square foot building. When I found out how little the Clifton Club was valued at, according to Cuyahoga County records ($775,000), I asked the county to do an on-site appraisal of the Clifton Club. The appraisal took 4 months to finish, as the Clifton Club insisted on having their attorneys and manager there when the appraisal was conducted.

Last week's election results sent mixed signals on Lakewood Hospital's future.

Many advocates for the hospital were disappointed at the defeat of mayoral challenger Mike Skindell, who argued passionately for saving Lakewood Hospital. The narrow rejection of Issue 64, which would have provided an automatic referendum on any action by City Council to close the hospital, also appears to be a setback.

Yet Issue 64 was not, itself, a referendum on closing Lakewood Hospital. What's more, its defeat serves as a reminder that Lakewood's electorate is home to more than one viewpoint. In studying the results of last Tuesday's vote, it's worth examining the point of view of Issue 64's opponents. One of the most prominent publications to oppose Issue 64 warned that it "could doom Lakewood Hospital," which certainly casts doubt on whether its defeat represented a mandate to close that same hospital.

Am I the only one who can see the beautiful vintage buildings, the fine businesses  and homes that line Lakewood's Up Town Madison Avenue? Mostly original, others tastefully repurposed. It's too bad that some have been forgotten, neglected and are now taken for granted.  

I want to take this opportunity to thank the greater Lakewood community for considering me for the office of mayor. Our campaign was brought forth by a grassroots call to bring openness, honesty and accountability in government and to instill a fair process in determining the future of Lakewood Hospital. I want to sincerely thank all those supporters who cast a vote, put up a yard sign, volunteered or contributed our campaign. I am deeply grateful for your confidence.

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. If you revisit what happened in 2010 when the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) decided to move two departments to Fairview in exchange for the "Vision for Tomorrow" you will see that the same drama is playing out in 2015. The players are a little different, but the script is the same.

Speculation about the future of Lakewood Hospital is the hottest topic in town - long time neighbors and friends are at odds, allegations have been made that the Clinic intentionally disinvested the facility, and mistrust of the decision making process is pervasive.

Clearly, this issue will not be resolved quickly. Residents are seeking more information, more transparency, and more input into what sort of health care delivery model would best meet residents needs.

In 2009-2010, I wanted to dream big during the Lakewood City Schools Phase III process by suggesting that the district only required six elementary buildings if you put them in the right location. (You can learn more at http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/2009/09/09/field-of-dreams-gets-a-wake.) I was dismissed. Most notably by members of the Lakewood Board of Education, members of The 50 Year Committee and those that favored maintaining Lincoln Elementary. I was told that the loss of two school communities was too much to ask and redeveloping land to build a new school was too complex and risky of an idea to consider. That idea would have opened up land in both downtown and a desirable northwest neighborhood for commercial and residential development. Of course, it did not include millions in assets for a new wellness foundation.

Sam O’Leary is precisely the kind of councilperson Lakewood needs right now. He’s young enough –at 26 - to see our City’s future while old enough  – from a 3rd generation Lakewood family; born here, educated here and still living here – to appreciate where we have come from. As the Ward 2 councilman during a period of critical and emotional issues, Sam O’Leary has shown us precisely the qualities we need for Lakewood’s governance right now, and in the future.

Dear Lakewood Observer,
 
While my children don't attend Lakewood Schools, I remain interested in the upcoming school board election. As a tax payer, home owner and part of the greater community, I want what is best for all the children of our city. Secondarily, I don’t want my taxes increasing or the value of my home decreasing because our schools aren't keeping pace academically. 
 
I have followed the school board race closely because my neighbor, Greg Calleri, is a candidate this year. In the course of our discussions he's made me aware that our school's “Excellent” rating is not the most accurate reflection of our current state. In fact, our schools are ranked 352 of 611 schools in Ohio. Our graduation rate is in the bottom half of the state. Don’t take my word for it – go to the state’s website – it’s all there in black and white on the state report card. No amount of spin can change the facts. The current board is also imperiling important programs like music and gifted, even though these remain a priority in the community. By The current Board's own estimation, we are facing a $14 million shortfall over the next 4 years and yet our spending is in the top 15% of the state! Although the updated 5 year forecast is typically submitted by the treasurer to the board in October, as of the last school board meeting on Monday, October 20th, it had not been presented. Greg inquired as to why it was late but has not received a response. I wonder why? 
 

Dear Tom Bullock, Rebecca M. Patton, Colin McEwen, Pam Smith, Ron Petrie, Jeffrey K. Rohrs,  Linda Beebe, Bob and Phyllis Dykes, Joel & Bonnie Egertson, William Gaydos, Kathy Haber, Tracy & Christine Jemison, Jim Kenny, Mary Osburn, Anne & Jack Palomaki, Scott & Holly Reba, Jenny Barnett Rohrs, Dru Siley, Vicki & Dan Smigelski, Craig & Shannon Strachan, Missy & Darren Toms, Rick & Lori Uldricks, Terry & Candace Vincent, and David Stein:

In the debate about the proposed closing of Lakewood Hospital several misconceptions have arisen.  Having been a staff physician at Lakewood Hospital for 38 years and a member of the Lakewood Hospital Association (LHA) for 19 years, I would like to bring some perspective to a number of issues.

In 1996 when the decision was made to lease the hospital to Cleveland Clinic, the environment of government regulation and commercial insurance had made it virtually impossible for the hospital to operate as an independent community hospital.  In short, it was likely that the hospital would have had to close soon after that date unless the current lease was adopted.  In so many ways this was a win-win situation for both Lakewood and Cleveland Clinic.   In today’s times, the rapidly changing health care environment is what has led to the current situation.

Mayor Summers has been criticized by some for his support of the proposed closing of the hospital, painted as a conspirator in a foregone decision by Cleveland Clinic, described as secretive about the LHA discussions that were held.  But no one spends two years, thousands of dollars on consultants and literally tens of thousands of hours of time by the volunteer Board of Lakewood Hospital Association to evaluate a foregone conclusion.

My name is Gregory Calleri and I am running for school board. My background includes 3+ years on the city’s audit committee, 5+ years in teaching, 10+ years in finance, and 12+ years of small business ownership. I’ve also regularly attended our school board meetings for years and I am a member of our Hayes PTO and Harding PTSA organizations. These real world experiences and skill sets will allow me to find the creative solutions necessary to address the financial, educational and instructional challenges we are facing.

Why The Status Quo Is Not Acceptable
The incumbents will tell you that our schools are rated “Excellent” by the state of Ohio. What they don’t tell you is that approximately 62% of all schools in the state of Ohio are rated excellent and that our exact ranking is 352 of 611. Our graduation rate ranks us in the bottom half of the state. Over 50% of our students going to college have to take either remedial Math or English. Only 41% of our students taking the AP tests receive the 3, 4 or 5 needed to get college credit. They will also tell you that we need more money to improve the situation without telling you that over 85% of the districts in the state of Ohio that have excellent ratings do it with a lower per pupil cost.

To address this I will:

Two weeks ago Debra Sweeney announced the kick-off for Kristine Pagsuyoin’s campaign for Lakewood School Board. Sweeney, a former School Board member, knows the job. She knows what the most desired qualifications are for that position. She knows Kristine Pagsuyoin, her credentials, her community activities and her years of advocacy for Lakewood students, parents and teachers.

The idea that Judge Carroll has turned a blind eye to our community’s current spike in heroin related deaths is simply not true. It does not adequately reflect Judge Carroll’s commitment to finding common sense solutions to non-violent drug related offenders. I have been working with Judge Carroll for over ten years helping to rehabilitate drug and alcohol offenders through long-term residential care rather than spending tax payer dollars on the expensive incarceration of non-violent drug offenders.

Why I moved back to Lakewood…

Lakewood is a strong and inter-related community. Lakewood is the most densely populated city in Ohio. This proximity to neighbors, parks, schools and amenities helps to strengthen relationships among those who live here. We are urban, just to the west of Cleveland. Our public school system is strong. My sister and I were blessed to have access to these schools and to the infrastructure that this education provided us in life. We were blessed to attend a large public school with other students who were different than us. We learned to embrace and respect diversity. Lakewood’s roads are shoveled efficiently in the winter, garbage pick up is on time, I can walk down the street to a thriving public library and read a book in a well cared for park. I can enjoy this park bench with a dear friend who might be black, who might be gay, who might be poor or who might be a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic.

Our community has historically invested in our public assets. We as a community have committed to investing in our city - through higher taxes - so that our community as a whole can prosper. Think Lakewood Park, Madison pool, the fire deparements, two libraries, Lakewood High School. Our community has courageously made this collective investment in the public good and quite frankly this spirit is why I choose to live in Lakewood and why one day I hope to raise children here.

As I was walking through Lakewood, I have seen more "Save Lakewood Hospital" signs than ever before. I have taken the time to look into the issue and familiarize myself with the history. I too feel anger at the Cleveland Clinic for how this was handled, to a degree. That being said, I now ask, what's the plan? On the "Build Lakewood" side, we have city planners and accountants telling us that the best deal for the long-term future of Lakewood is to develop the community health center and utilize the money that we currently have to accomplish this transition. That money will go away as we keep the hospital open for operating expenses and possibly not last the remaining ten yers of the Cleveland Clinic lease. All of that, while not being what I want to hear necessarily, makes sense to my non-accountant, civilian brain. If Lakewood Hospital were making money, no one would be trying to close it, right? So, when the experts say that we have enough money for maybe ten more years or less, I tend to believe them because there really is no incentive for them to want to close Lakewood Hospital is there? Every one of them lives here and wants what's best for Lakewood (despite what one may read on the "Observation DecK").

When the proposed Charter Amendment first crossed my desk on July 16th for acknowledgment of receipt, I was in disbelief. As the City’s finance director, I knew it was bad news then, and I am even more convinced of that today. This is prescriptive public policy at it worse that will render Lakewood Hospital untouchable. It attempts to lock the hospital in a government controlled bubble that is destined to fail by potentially taking away the legislative powers of City Council. Lakewood voters did this once before in 1998, and it had to be undone by voters in 2005 due to the problems created by shifting powers to the electorate.

Over this past year, I have had occasion to sit as acting judge at the Lakewood court when Judge Carroll attended judicial conferences and observed first hand the operations of the Lakewood Municipal Court. We can all be proud of the court’s excellent staff who, along with Judge Carroll, are knowledgeable and conscientious public servants.

In the June 9, 2015, issue of the Lakewood Observer, Jim Kenney claimed, “…The last major building investment was in 2002 when the Emergency Rooms were expanded….” This is false.

In 1956 my parents realized that with four children, and the various relatives that lived with us throughout the years, that we needed a larger home than the one they had in Brooklyn, Ohio. For a variety of reasons they chose a colonial on Lincoln Ave.