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Lakewood 2019 Budget Hearings

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Every mid Nowmber Lakewood starts its public vetting process for the city’s annual comprehensive budget. Below is the public hearing scheduled of City Council’s Finance Committe, chaired by Coincilmember Dan O’Malley.

Everyone is welcome. The public is encouraged to attend.

Take a look at the budget here: 2019 Budget

Date
 
Time
 
Agenda
Monday, November 26 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Water & Sewer Discussion
Topics to Include: Capital Budget, Rates
Attendees:  Joe Crea, Director Beno, Mayor Summers
Saturday, December 1 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Department Budgets

·         Law Department
·         Mayor’s Office
·         Council Office
·         Human Resources
·         Human Services
·         Planning & Development
·         Building & Housing

Health Insurance, Workers’ Comp & Salary Ordinance (64-18)
Attendees: Human Resources Director Yousefi
CDBG/ESG Allocations Resolution (9042-18) Discussion
Invited attendees: CAC Co-Chairs, Lakewood Alive
Monday, December 3 (Council night) 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Lakewood Municipal Court Budget                                     
Attendees: Judge Patrick Carroll & Clerk of Courts Christina McCallum
Public Safety Budgets
·         Police Department
·         Fire Department
Monday, December 10 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Capital Budget II (other capital items not related to water/sewer)
Public Works Department Budget
Monday, December 17 (Council night) 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Substitutions and finalization
Attendees : Finance Director & Staff

Lakewood Downtown Development – The Agreement

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Today, Lakewood City Council will be briefed on the progress of the Downtown Development of the Lakewood Hospital Property. After this meeting, I will add to this post with a timeline and other links and info relating to the development. I have submitted questions and comments to City Hall in advance of this meeting, which I have linked below. Thank you to the members of the community who helped in the drafting of these questions and comments. Once these questions have been answered, I will replace this document with a Q & A document or I will make a new Q and A post.

UPDATE : Here are the responses to the questions submitted:

Responses to D&U Questions

Council will not be voting on this agreement as Council voted to delegate the authority to enter into this agreement the Mayor.

More information is posted on the City website http://www.onelakewood.com/downtowndevelopment/

D&U Agreement Questions

City of Lakewood – Carnegie Development Agreement

Vote Yes on Issue 1

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I support Ohio Ballot Issue 1. This measure would move our criminal justice system it the right direction. Everyone I know has a close friend or family member touched by the opium epidemic, the response to addiction should never be punishment. We NEED to be moving individuals suffering from drug addiction into treatment and NOT long jail sentences, which is exactly what issue one aims to do. This measure will also require that savings from sentencing reduction go into rehabilitation programs.

Here’s what this measure will do, according to the official ballot language, provided by the Secretary of State:

“If adopted, the amendment would:

  • Require sentence reductions of incarcerated individuals, except individuals incarcerated for murder, rape, or child molestation, by up to 25% if the individual participates in rehabilitative, work, or educational programming.
  • Mandate that criminal offenses of obtaining, possessing, or using any drug such as fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, LSD, and other controlled substances cannot be classified as a felony, but only a misdemeanor.
  • Prohibit jail time as a sentence for obtaining, possessing, or using such drugs until an individual’s third offense within 24 months.
  • Allow an individual convicted of obtaining, possessing, or using any such drug prior to the effective date of the amendment to ask a court to reduce the conviction to a misdemeanor, regardless of whether the individual has completed the sentence.
  • Require any available funding, based on projected savings, to be applied to state-administered rehabilitation programs and crime victim funds.
  • Require a graduated series of responses, such as community service, drug treatment, or jail time, for minor, non-criminal probation violations.”

Many, like myself, who support this initiative understand that it is not a magic bullet. However, it is a substantial change that will have positive long-term effects, particularly in communities of color across our state which are disproportionately jailed for low-level drug offenses.

Please, consider supporting Ohio Ballot Issue 1 this November 6th.

Read more at Ohio Issue One on Ballotpedia 

Response: Neo-Nazi Posters

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Neo-Nazi poster at bus stop

On Memorial Day, Lakewood woke up to find these neo-Nazi posters illegally posted in bus stops up and down Clifton Blvd. The group identified on the posters is a Neo-Nazi, white supremacist group active here in the United States. RTA did not approve these to be in their stops and I believe that something of this nature would not have been approved, even if submitted to the proper channels.

This overtly racist, Nazi propaganda, in my view, is hate speech.  We are a community that welcomes diversity. We are actively seeking to break down barriers that have caused hyper-segregation, lack of opportunity for minorities, disparity and many other serious issues relating to race. These posters are hateful and are promoting the exact opposite of what we are trying to achieve.

RTA has said that we are welcome to pull these down if we see them. What I would ask is that you take a picture of any posters still on bus stops, then take them down, send photos with the locations to the City. Please, include a note letting the City know you took them down… send this through the Lakewood website (link below.) Hate is not welcome here.

Report a Problem / Concern

As always, feel free to reach out to me if you need anything.

Tristan Rader – 440-315-2852

Why I Voted No on Clinic Police in Lakewood

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During a March 19th, 2018 meeting, Lakewood City Council considered a memorandum regarding Cleveland Clinic Police in Lakewood. It passed 5-2 with Councilmember O’Leary and myself voting no. This decision allows Cleveland Clinic Police to continue to function as full-fledged police officers within Lakewood city limits. Basically, they can arrest people in Lakewood.

First, let me make clear, I am very much for facilities like the new Cleveland Clinic building providing their own security, especially in light of the carjackings and robberies that have many people rightfully concerned. But there is a difference between private security and the police. A distinction which I feel is important to maintain.

A week earlier, I contacted the Cleveland Clinic Police Department (CCPD) to ask four questions:

  1. Is the Cleveland Clinic Police Department unionized on any level?
  2. May I have a copy of the CCPD use of force policy?
  3. May I have a copy of the CCPD disciplinary policy?
  4. How does the CCPD compensation compare to Lakewood Police Department (LPD)?

After about a week, I was handed over to a Cleveland Clinic administrator who did a good job answering my questions.

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Thank you everyone!

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I am profoundly honored to be a councilman-elect for the city of Lakewood.

This was a long campaign; Tuesday was a long day that stretched into a long night, before final results.

But it’s official, Lakewood has called on me to serve on City Council.

The support from this community is incredible. Over 4,500 voted for our campaign, more votes than any campaign received in Lakewood’s last at-large race four years ago. This response to my first-ever campaign for office is moving. I am more than happy with this overall second-place result, and I congratulate first-place finisher Meghan F. George.

Our swearing-in will likely take place around the first of January. There is much to do even before then, to start delivering on a more inclusive, better Lakewood for all. Please stay tuned for updates as we recover from the campaign and get to work on realizing that promise.

Meanwhile, there are far, far too many people and organizations to thank, but I will make a start and keep trying in the days ahead.

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Election Day

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Polls close for Election 2017 in a little over five hours. It has turned into a beautiful fall day in Lakewood, and I hope as many people as possible will enjoy it while being part of our community’s future.

For anyone taking a last-minute look,

My background includes degrees in business administration and public administration; two startups; volunteer work as county coordinator for OSHIIP; a great tenure doing outreach for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank; and working as regional field director for Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign.

My goals include substantive measures to protect Lakewood’s green space, and public services; improved senior amenities; promoting inclusive policies over those that discriminate like Lakewood’s current nuisance law and breed-specific dog ordinance; and better year-round communication and participation for all Lakewood residents in the decisions that affect them, before those decisions get made.

I am endorsed by the local UAW, AFSCME, Northeast Ohio Young Black Democrats, Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus, Our Revolution, Cleveland Action Democrats, DSA Cleveland and Working Families Party…

I have also been endorsed by a number of Lakewood residents, and I hope very much that you will join them when you mark your ballot.

This campaign is about our local community, and what we can do together to help make Lakewood better for all.

Where I stand on issues

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Since I set out an initial platform including better senior amenities, and protecting Lakewood’s green space, I have spoken with people throughout the community about dozens more issues that matter to them. Lead safety, youth recreation opportunities, nuisance laws, just to name a few.

Throughout the campaign, however, proactive communication and transparency has always been a priority. That’s why I have encouraged people to speak out with ideas and questions, holding frequent public events and trying to bring the conversation to people throughout Lakewood.

On Election Day, I hope you will allow me an opportunity to take these conversations further, as an active representative for you on City Council.

There are other questions on our ballots in Lakewood, however, and people have also asked me about some of these. (Especially Issue 2!) I’m glad to answer these questions also. Your vote is ultimately your decision, and I encourage you to check some independent guides like Vote411 or ballotpedia. But I think we have a right to know where people representing us—or seeking to represent us—stand on issues before the community.

So, here are the decisions I made and some comments on how I made them.

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Experience that matters

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I believe this election is about our future. But experience is very valuable in getting things done, especially in a way that’s thoughtful and inclusive.

I will bring real-world experience to Lakewood City Council:

  • Greater Cleveland Food Bank, where I was one of the first employees in a new Outreach Department, providing millions of meals per year to our most vulnerable populations
  • Business experience creating and running two start-ups
  • MoveOn.org, United Against Hate Program, Deputy State Director
  • Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP), Volunteer County Coordinator
  • Bernie Sanders Presidential Campaign, Field Director and National Ballot Access Officer
  • Advocacy at the state and federal levels for increases to food assistance programs and for banking reforms
  • Cleveland State Democrats, VP
  • Church on the North Coast, Media Director
  • BONGA Media, a nonprofit program which I organized and led, teaching media, marketing and computer skills to empower the residents of a small community in Uganda
  • Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Outreach Volunteer

I am also proud of the work that went into my Master’s of Public Administration from CSU, and of the months of experience meeting people throughout Lakewood, during this campaign. But the experience that I will rely on most, if elected to Lakewood City Council, is first-hand, real-world experience helping people. That’s what public service should be about. I’m ready to put all of my experience in this category to work for our community.

This campaign is community-focused

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“It’s not about me, it’s about us,” was how I concluded my first formal speech as a candidate. Since then, our campaign has tried to reflect this as much as possible. I have held open, community meetings throughout Lakewood. I have declined corporate contributions and run the campaign on small, individual donations. Even on our literature, we have chosen photos showing the people that this campaign is for, rather than just photos of me.

I am grateful for all the formal endorsements I have received. But the response from the Lakewood community is what matters most, and I have been honored by all the people who have voiced support for me. In the newspaper, in person, online, with yard signs…

As we begin the final week of the campaign, it’s heartening that this support is still arriving.

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