The View from Ward 2: Issue #21

Applications for Expanded Outdoor Dining

The Planning Commission has already received eight applications from bars and restaurants for the expansion of outdoor dining made possible by the Outdoor Dining Resolution! The applicants are Melt, El Carnicero, Cleveland Vegan, Salt+, Harry Buffalo, LBM, Mars Bar, and Mahall’s. The expansions requested vary in size and scope. Melt is seeking to add six tables by extending its current patio to cover two and a half parking spaces that they already control. Salt+’s plan will allow them to maintain their current level of service capacity and increase the space between tables by moving three tables from their existing patio to their proposed extended patio space. Both plans are pictured above.

The applications will be considered at the June 4th Planning Commission Meeting. You can view the proposed plans here and please visit http://www.onelakewood.com/acc... for instructions on how to participate in the upcoming meeting.

Parklets

We had a robust and productive discussion about parklets at last week’s Housing, Planning, & Development Committee meeting. Along with the Mayor, Lakewood’s safety forces, and the Planning Department, the Committee discussed when and how we would like to see parklets implemented. We concluded that we should focus on creating rules and guidelines for Temporary Parklets and that we should have those guidelines completed by the end of June.

We are going to be using the City of Dallas Temporary Parklet Permit Guidebook as a template. If you would like to learn more about parklets and the different forms they can take please read the Better Block Foundation’s Parklet Guide.

Congratulations Class of 2020!

Congratulations Lakewood High School Class of 2020! LHS Seniors took part in a virtual graduation ceremony this weekend. Although this is probably not how you envisioned your senior year, it will certainly be a year you will always remember. As senior Yusra Abdi said, you are making history. We are proud of you all and wishing you a bright future ahead!

Virtual graduation ceremony: http://dv.lakewoodcityschools.tv/show?video=244aec18ea82&fbclid=IwAR2-o9pwHTvJEdjW7GMdP98SzEzIHcnhrQmsOJ1bYGIAteFnUukOjqivhjQ

Lakewood Democratic Club May Meeting

The Lakewood Democratic Club held its May meeting virtually. The highlight of the meeting was a presentation on climate change, sustainability, and the Green New Deal. Glenn Campbell, a club member and activist, explained that even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans are worried about climate change. The pandemic has created a need for a stimulus, and economists think it should be green. There is a lot to be done but, at a local level, we can support local initiatives, like Cuyahoga County Residential Solar Co-op, Lakewood Solar Cooperative for Community-Owned solar, Lakewood East and Food Community (LEAF), and Lakewood citizens' group to support city government in realizing Lakewood's commitment to 100% clean energy.

We also discussed the new outdoor dining resolution and heard from the Chair of the Planning Commission, Kyle Baker, about the Commission's process for reviewing conditional use applications.

George Floyd

On May 25th, George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer. Sadly, George Floyd’s death is not an anomaly. The number of people of color whose lives were cut short by the police is overwhelming. The killing of George Floyd has ignited a passion amongst us that has burnt away decades of apathy. I have often described white privilege as the power of being afforded the benefit of the doubt. I cannot imagine the burden of having to constantly prove to those around you that you are not a threat. It must be exhausting, the never-ending exercise of making those around you comfortable with your existence.

Nearly ten years ago, when I worked with Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People, I met a woman from Mt. Pleasant that shared a story about her son. Growing up, her son was respectful and incredibly hardworking. Every day after school he would go to the bus stop to get to his after school job. He was never late. Until, one day, a police officer stopped, and strip searched him at the bus stop. Why was he suspicious? Because he was at the stop at the same time, every day. His mother told me that the incident had a great impact on him, and he was never the same. He quit that job and eventually started down a path that led to his incarceration.

You can’t win for losing. You can do everything right your whole life, but if your skin is a certain color, then to some that’s all that matters, that is all that defines you. That anger, exhaustion, and exasperation sparked protest throughout the country, including here in Cleveland. We saw images of people marching in solidarity, and images of people being destructive; images of police being supportive, and images of police brutality. The message is clear. Enough is enough. As a country we never truly grappled with our history of racism and it is about time we start listening when communities are telling us that something is wrong. I will continue listening and working to bend the arc of the moral universe towards justice.

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