Were Civic Leaders Delusional - Or All Smoke And Mirrors?

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Jim O'Bryan
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Were Civic Leaders Delusional - Or All Smoke And Mirrors?

Postby Jim O'Bryan » Mon Jul 19, 2021 8:40 am

Many of the Civic Leaders from the past 20 years who seem to have a death grip on most non-profits and community groups including everything from the Planning Commission to Soccer, parks, etc. All pushed a narrative for years: "We need a proper downtown area like other Ohio cities." With that concept, and the news they could buy Lakewood into the "Mainstreet Ohio Program" for a mere $30,000 a year, and giving themselves jobs and power dove in with "Mainstreet Lakewood."

This would have us looking and feeling like Bellevue, Milan, Wellington, etc. A very well meaning effort, except not only does it not fit in Lakewood, but it went against many of the other things they were planning for Lakewood. You know things like a Rec Center where the hospital was located. Like beautifully restored century homes that spew history on every board and corner. But had they been truthful with the residents and themselves they would see the truth. But the smell of money and power tends to blind people.

It has been noted here in the past that they wanted a "town square" in front of the Board of Education building. Of course they were also working together to sell off the BOE building and working hard towards a ring road that would go down Hillard and the tracks and connect at Bunts and Lakeland Ave. This is also why that area was chosen to represent "Downtown Lakewood." Then came the fraudulent search for what to call this area, and the burning of $80,000 to come up with an idea and logo for this new yet unnamed area. And sure enough they came up with an idea and a test and all sorts of smoke and mirrors that saw them choose something that had actually been done already in a map produced 6 months earlier. All documented in print and online.

Then even with Rec Centers failing all over Northeast Ohio, our mayor and civic leaders met with Bay Village, Independence, Seven Hills and even Fairview Park, because they had Rec Centers, and there was a new plan growing. At the same times cities closer to Lakewood's finances and abilities were all closing their rec centers. It didn't matter. They wanted to take the $80 million in foundation dollars to keep the hospital solvent, and act like they wanted to build a rec center, while moving the $$$$$$ into a privately controlled fund, that they alone would control. After all, this group's major failures were from no sane company wanting to invest in their schemes(British definition). So with the hospital gone, and no rec center in sight, all that was really accomplished was the transfer of funds, and the loss of our largest employer and hospital.

The reason this comes up today, is after a month of scraping paint, I found myself in Milan, Bellevue, and Lyme Ohio. All "Mainstreet Cities" and all with amazing historical presence. What took me back, was that these cities actually respected history, and their community. No one was trying to gouge the community for $$$$, power, or political futures. It also took me back that the same people destroying Lakewood's history sat on the Board of the Historical Society, Planning Commision, Building Commission and nearly every other board in this town. Not just a death grip on our history but also our future.

Of course much of this was offset with good meaning people that couldn't see the forest for the trees. As is outlined time and time again in "Slaughter of Cities," they become pawns and fronts in the war on the community and the $$$$$$$ they have. We will be covering more of this in the lead-up to the election, as many do not realize just how deep, just how inbred these groups still are. While many have fled the scene, others are still here running the same tired schemes(British definition). Where is Sam O'Leary? Heading up the Planning Commission which seems to no longer have regular meetings. Where are the Ed FitzGerald foot soldiers? Running for office. And what of the rubes that were used? Look around, easy to spot, they get the blessings of the power brokers. While they all hide in the confusion and diffusion they created with one of the 293 Lakewood Facebook pages out there.

With that in mind, let's look at what they tried to sell us after they failed at building the strip mall at the end of Lakewood called, "The West End" know known as "WE." Same people same bullshit.

Let's got to Milan...

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Milan Public Library, on the town square.

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The Kelley Building on Milan town square.

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Also on the town square.

While these towns were saving buildings, Lakewood Historical Society watched historical building after historical building get razed. All of this while actively seeking funds to "save Lakewood buildings." Of course at the same time, on other committees, they were working to clear the land for NEW development. Lakewood, you never had a chance.

Bellevue
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One block off downtown.

Lyme
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As the LO has proven time and time again for the past 12 years, Lakewood you have been played.

This election, take notice. Instead of electing friends, try electing people without connections, or better yet, some that are actually qualified for public service.

Thank you.

.


Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident

"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg

"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama

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