Volunteer Lakewood: What? Why? How?

Our country is coming off a 60 year run where government has been viewed as the primary solution provider for many of our society’s needs. The fact is that we are looking at a future of less government resources at all levels- Federal, State, and local.

In Lakewood, we have reduced our program and service at the margins. The good news is that “the margins’ means we have and will continue to focus on service excellence at our core mission: Public Safety (police, fire, Emergency Medical Service), Public works (streets, parks, water, sewer and refuse), Building and Housing safety, Economic Development and Specific Human Service programs. All of these must and will focus on the greatest good for the greatest number of citizens.

But what about the smaller specific programs that serve a smaller number of citizens? The honest answer is that these services are at risk if we continue to rely on government as the answer. These services include snow shoveling, back yard refuse pick up, and lawn care for some senior citizens. It could include transportation as RTA shrinks. Other services include social support for dislocated families. Some of our nonprofit social support agencies such as Lakewood Community Service Center, which provides food and shelter for needy citizens, reports  a disturbing trend of seeing  past volunteers who are now their clients.

Lakewood is fortunate. We do not have to look far to see needs or travel far to help. It is not hard to spot someone in need.   The need could exist with a senior citizen on you block who needs an occasional ride to a medical appointment. It could include a neighbor with a physical limitation who may need occasional help with lawn care, snow removal, bringing the refuse container to/from the street, or some basic house repair. It could be more formal by volunteering at one the local service providers listed on the city’s web page.

The needs are growing, and the resources are scarcer than ever. This trend will not lessen for years to come, if ever.
Each of us who are more fortunate have an opportunity to help. Government is not the answer in many of these needs. Government, can, and in Lakewood’s case, will help match needs with helpers. Neighborhoods are made by neighbors.

Volunteer Lakewood is an attempt to create awareness of local needs.  You can be a solution: low cost and very efficient.  Start with http://www.onelakewood.com/volunteer/

Check out the list. Find a need that makes sense for you. Give it a shot. Please.

#1LKWD  www.onelakewood.com

When is direct intervention in a neighborhood by a government (at any level) justified and appropriate?

   Why would the City Purchase 3 boarding Houses?

Starting in the 1920’s and continuing through the 1980’s, boarding houses had a place in Lakewood’s housing mix. These boarding houses offered affordable rooms with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. Transient residents- newly arrived or temporarily dislocated persons could find very modest and affordable living accommodations in a city that was safe, easily accessible by mass transit, and most of life’s necessities could be purchased within walking distance.

1436 Grace Boarding House: 6 roomers

As Ohio and our region’s population growth became negative, the market forces provided many more options for these residents. By the year 2000, the demand for this type of housing applied more to individuals dislocated from mainstream life. Demands for city services such as police, Emergency medical, building and Housing, and fire safety grew substantially.  The surrounding neighborhoods were forced to deal with increasing  levels nuisance activity, and therefore a threat these entire neighborhoods. Ward 4 Councilperson  Mary Louise Madigan and Ward 2 Councilperson Tom Bullock each handled hundreds of complaints from nearby residents.

1446 Mars Boarding House: 8 roomers

How does this cycle get corrected? Who would have the economic capacity and incentive to challenge these trends? The current owners of these boarding houses would not have this incentive. Only the Lakewood Local Government (City Council and Mayor) could and would step in.

Opportunity presented itself when a Grace Ave resident brought to my attention that The Grace Ave Property might be for sale. To make a long story short, our government recognized and took advantage of a once in a generation opportunity to purchase these properties and reintroduce them in their original form which were as single family homesteads.

Newman and Madison Ave Boarding House: 15 roomers

While this is a very aggressive move, it is clear to me that there are unique and compelling circumstances which makes this appropriate governmental action. Government is obligated to identify and protect to collective good of all.  The private sector has no such charter.   Government’s broader duty allows it to take a longer view, and can put heavy weight on opportunity cost and, as in this case, the stabilization of values of all other homes in the neighborhood. It does so with confidence that the return will be evident in the pocketbooks of these neighbors. No private sector investor could make such a justification.

We expect to get most of the taxpayer’s money back by reselling these properties with deed restrictions preventing them from use other than single family, or possibly two family homes. But Profit is not our motive.  Neighborhood stabilization and enhancement is our goal.

This was government doing some of its best work.

#1lkwd  www.onelakewood.com

First Posting- Housing and landlords april 2012

Everyone has been a renter at some point. This means we all have had a landlord. Lakewood has 1,500 one and two family structure landlords. Tonight, April 17th, 2012, City Hall is hosting its 4th landlord training session. This session, as well as the three previous sessions, is full. 200 seats are taken.

Lakewood's landlords are responding to our call to" help them to help us." There has probably never been a more difficult time to be a landlord. The housing crisis of this downturn hurts everyone.

Landlords will learn about Housing Court experiences, laws, and advice from Judge Patrick Carroll. This is free legal information that you cannot 'buy". Federal, State, and local Fair housing laws will be reviewed. This helps landlords gain a better understanding of the boundaries of their responsibilities- to themselves and our society. This is an important and complicated subject. I learn more each time I hear it. This is my fourth time tonight. bring it on!

Landlords are also given a briefing of Lakewood’s Criminal Nuisance laws. This law holds landlords accountable for any disruption to our neighborhoods by their tenants. We have issued over 300 warning letters during the past 4 years. We have had about 100 convictions with fines during this same time period. This is very important to Lakewood's neighborhoods. Some landlords feel this accountability is unfair. I feel it is a very fair law. Our neighborhoods generally agree with me.

We need our landlords to be informed, fair, attentive, responsive, and financially successful. We need them to be all of these things so that they can and will reinvest in their house. Their house is in our neighborhood. Lakewood: many communities, one home, one Lakewood

#1lkwd www.onelakewood.com