When I first moved to this “City of Homes” some eighteen years ago, the prestige of and affection for living in Lakewood was something I was very proud of. The charm of lavish Victorian houses which dominate her tree lined streets was well known and celebrated far beyond her borders. The diversity and sense of community was cherished by her residents and envied by her neighboring suburbs. Lakewood was “The” place to arrive at. Settling here meant your children would have an outstanding education. Your family would have small town security and community coupled with big city conveniences and opportunity. Our seniors were revered and cherished members of our community. Lakewood was a mix of old time street gatherings and modern advances.

Residents (and business) started to flee the city as their children aged and opportunity diminished. But unlike in the past, new middle class families stopped seeing Lakewood as an appealing, promising destination to fulfill their dreams. Lakewood ascetically had become tarnished, tired looking and run down. Where once immaculately maintained properties greeted those who passed through this city with a sense of promise and hope, the now depressed looking properties warned of deterioration yet to come. Where once a city ensured her appeal by enforcing her housing codes, a blind eye was turned to the dilapidation rotting away at the aesthetic appeal of the "City of Homes" and the sense of security well maintained properties instill in families looking to invest in a community was lost.

Fitzgerald had many pollsters out and about Lakewood when he was running for mayor. The residents told him that their number one and number two concerns for this city were absentee land owners and crime. Fitzgerald ran successfully on his promise to be “The” candidate to address these issues. Since becoming Mayor he has focused on dismantling the tax paying employee base, dismantling and outsourcing the infrastructure, and promoting a new jail on Berea road… but has not done a single thing to improve Lakewood or address the very passionately verbalized concerns of her residents. His energies are seemingly in promoting the interests of himself and those of his connected friends.

Once you dismantle a successful, independent, and beneficial infrastructure you fall prey to being subjugated, dependant, and ultimately exploited. The cost upfront for a 3 or 5 year contract would at first glance perhaps look appealing - after all they want you to become incapable of surviving without them. Then once you dismantle your self sufficiency they can hold you forever captive to rate hikes, hidden costs and diminished services. It's basic business 101. Remove the competition, entrench dependency, then unleash the exploitation.

Most of Lakewood’s blue collar city employees live in the city. Not because they have to, but because they choose to. They pay taxes here and are engaged in policing and protecting that which is good about Lakewood, because they have a vested interest. Further eroding a engaged, invested tax base is not just short sighted, it is self destructive.

Dismantling the city infrastructure and ensuring dependency on for profit companies, encouraging her to become a prison city, and ignoring the delapataion of her housing stock is not a recipe for growth or attracting families or businesses to "The City of Homes". It is cementing her growing reputation as a slum to avoid and a ghetto to flee from. Is our biggest bragging right going to become our new jail? Will we replace our old motto with Lakewood, City of Criminal Housing? Is that a selling point for would be home buyers? Is that how we retain our current residents and attract businesses and new homebuyers?

Mayor Fitzgerald apparently thinks so. Personally I do not.

Appearances make statements on which we are rightfully or wrongfully judged. Choices have lasting consequences. And it appears that Lakewood’s current statement is we are, and plan to ensure our place as, no longer a desirable suburb of and for families and businesses, but as a community for housing criminals and a rundown extension of Cleveland.

A city that diminishes its ability to maintain itself is a city that destroys its ability to sustain itself. Preserve the treasures which are uniquely Lakewood. Ask Mayor Fitzgerald to accentuate Lakewood’s assets not entrench her short comings. Stop Mayor Fitzgerald from entangling our infrastructure on dependency. And tell Mayor Fitzgerald to act on his promises when running for Mayor. To reengage the building department in residential maintence, to grow our tax payer appeal, to preserve our city services (many of which generate revenues for the city) and enhance our once proud reputation of diversity, security, and of being a desired destination.

I am filled with nostalgic hope for what this city once had to offer her residents and fearful of the decay and ultimate destruction and dependency our current mayor's shortsightedness, nepotism, and self-interest is dragging her down into.

With deep concern and sincere Affection for "Lakewood, City of Homes."

Shelley J. Hurd