Obstructionist Council Blows Opportunity To End Strife With March Vote

After a series of unaccounted for delays, Lakewood City Council decided to postpone a March vote to Save Lakewood Hospital.

The decision was made at a special council session that was called to discuss placing the issue on the March ballot.

The issue will either be placed in a special election in August at a cost to taxpayers of between 100,000 and 150,000 dollars or placed on the November ballot.

The popular conjecture is that council is playing the obstructionist card and purposely delayed the vote hoping that citizens would forget about it and move on. But the more citizens come to grips with the fact the hospital is closed, the more frustrated they become with their elected officials.

It was with council’s 7 votes that the hospital was closed. Pit those 7 votes against the 2,686 certified signatures for the referendum to repeal the ordinance and it is easy to understand that a large and potent movement has begun.

As the lawsuit continues, The Save Lakewood Hospital Committee will be setting up forums to educate the public. These forums will carry on until the time that the issue is voted on, be it August or November.

In the meantime, the future of the hospital remains in limbo and our city remains divided as council missed a golden opportunity to end our city’s strife sooner than later by placing the issue on the March ballot.

Save Lives, Save Jobs, Save Lakewood. Save Lakewood Hospital.

Kevin Young is part of the Save Lakewood Hospital Committee.

Kevin Young

I've lived in Lakewood since 1986. I have my BA from Kent State. I worked in radio from 1980 to 1986. I've worked in the music industry since 1986 with many well known musicians.

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Volume 12, Issue 4, Posted 1:37 PM, 02.16.2016