This was our slated Christmas Cover back in 2014. We had just learned
about the the closing of the hospital. The rumor was, City Hall and Council
were going to strike down a small mention of "Ethics" in the new Charter
Review. In the end it went in and has been ignored by City Hall every minute,
every day, in every way they can.
For over 15 years the Lakewood Observer has had the pleasure of working with, and observing mayors in the City of Lakewood. I have also had the pleasure of working with various mayors in Cleveland, Westlake, Bay Village, Westlake, Brook Park, Parma, Parma Heights, Independence, Euclid, and City Managers in University Heights and Cleveland Heights. So I have had some time discussing hypotheticals of government and governing, laws, budgets, etc.
Lakewood City Hall seems to be out of control and unresponsive to the simplest needs of the community, trading in their solemn pledge to be honest fiduciary agents for the residents of Lakewood, into a scheming clique willing to do anything, and say anything to protect their project and the Mayor. Talk to nearly any Department Head, they can go on for hours about why it is OK to hide documents, why the City does not have to comply with court orders. This City Hall now makes it their daily work to mislead, cover up their misdeeds, and trample First Amendment Rights of Lakewoodites.
In America we live in a representative democracy. We elect representatives, fellow residents, to sit in elected office and to fill out the boards and committees. Representatives, to oversee the day to day hiring and running the city. They are our fiduciary agents working for all of us. History has shown this form of government to be easier and more efficient than having 50,001 residents standing and shouting in the Council Meeting Room. But, the only way any of this works is with checks and balances. City Hall's Administration got lost, it went off the rails. It started to represent and work for their secret dreams, and the schemes of friends, supporters and business associates. Not running the city. Instead of holding a check on the Mayor, City Council has become his gang, rubber-stamping everything.
Now this sounds terrible, but imagine how bad it can get when this entire management structure takes pride and pleasure in their refusal to be accountable. Where the Mayor, Law Director, City Council and their flunkies brag and crow about shutting down requests for documents, conversations and editing legal discussions. It is over the top, and a sign of a City Hall out of control.
When FACTS, DOCUMENTS, PROOF and SIMPLE QUESTIONS become the enemy of City Hall, and need to be "regulated" and when the intimidation of those who speak up or post is encouraged, it becomes evil.
Recently a new resident, well 8 months here, stopped by for coffee. They made an interesting observation. "It is a great city, but there seems to be a darkness in every group, every committee, every event, and on every discussion board. It is very troubling."
Welcome to Lakewood 2019...
A parody based on "The Sacking Of Rome" and a Mad Monopoly Game, where the goal is to run everything into the ground. (From 2015)
If you believe that elected officials and city workers are not immune from good ethics, and oversight, join with us in demanding better.
"Honest, Transparent, Accountable" is not just a political slogan, it is how we make sure our government is all that they claim it is. It is also the law.
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