An essential aspect of protecting the safety of our community is timely, open communication. In recent weeks, there has been confusion about where the public should go for official communication from the mayor's office and council members. While many council members have been proactive in engaging with the community on social media, and there were eventual written and video statements from the Mayor, there remains a lack of clarity about where the public should turn for information, particularly in emerging situations. I encourage the Mayor and City Council to establish a central point of public communication about crime and other threats to public safety. Whatever measures our leaders take to protect our city and citizens, threats to peace will happen, and people need to know where to go for official information that is comprehensive and timely.

I do not support the actions that were taken by Mayor George at the request of LPD to remove the basketball hoops at Madison Court. Throughout history, things that are taken away or given up are seldom returned. I implore Council, the Mayor and LPD to work together and with community-based organizations and community members, on a comprehensive, diverse, and equitable solution to bring the basketball hoops back immediately to Madison Park, implement short-term strategies to discourage disorderly and other negative activity in Madison Park, and work with the community at-large, for a longer-term investment and strategy for crime prevention, resolve, and restorative justice. Evidence shows that intentional use of public areas can serve as a deterrent to crime and disorder, and I encourage the Mayor and City Council members to examine and reimagine Madison Park. I grew up in Lakewood and Madison Park was the park where I spent plenty of summers at the pool, and hanging with friends and my family. This park is an important asset to the neighborhood and its families, in the area and beyond. As a public asset, it is in Lakewood's best interest to maintain it as an asset and do everything it can to keep it that way. Lastly, I support fully, Councilmembers Kepple, Shachner, and Neff's communication for intersectional and holistic safety approaches. Crime is certainly not limited to only one root cause and only one race as the offender. It is multi-dimensional and multi-faceted and therefore will need an intersectional approach to truly make an impact that lasts. I encourage the City's leadership including its Police Force to examine and have the courage to do things different, and by different use evidence based strategies and approaches, which do not perpetuate systemic racism, and are void of bias, and work to enhance safety, and make Lakewood a safe place for all, and Safer Together.

As a lifetime resident of Lakewood, I am opposed to the removal of any basketball hoops throughout the city.

The actions of Individuals are responsible for the recent gun violence to have taken place in our community, as is the case in scenarios like this across the country. The scene at which it occurred is not the issue. We don't remove produce from the shelves of grocery stores, tear down movie screens, or halt the delivery of FedEx packages because these locations have experienced similarly tragic events.

The weather is on a turn for the better, and especially because of the events of the past year, citizens are thirstier than ever to be active and get outdoors. Naturally, crime throughout the city will reactivate and increase during these warmer months ahead as well. Additional patrolling by foot and bicycle police units in parks and other heavily populated areas of the city would probably be a more effective solution. If a perp wants to run amok in our community, removal of basketball hoops will not deter, but only relocate the ruckus.

The basketball courts, along with the baseball fields, skate parks, bike paths, playgrounds, etc. not only encourage physical fitness and healthy activity, but also act as a therapeutic means that can help all of us cope with the struggles and misfortunes of everyday life.

Lakewood is known for being a friendly, diverse community inhabited by citizens from all walks of life. Basketball is a sport that encourages diversity and participation from all walks of life. It would go against the identity of our community to not have outdoor public basketball hoops available.

I would like to speak in support of the recent grass roots movement to promote safety, fun, and inclusion at Madison Park, at the basketball court and the park in general.

I do NOT support the removal of the basketball hoops at Madison Park. Basketball is not the problem. Are we, as a community, just not supposed to gather outdoors anywhere. It feels like the removal of the hoops is a band-aid to the real problem.

Everyone has concerns, qualms and of course they should, I only offer potential solutions. Eliminating the basketball courts may be a deterrent, but we need to face facts here. I grew up playing in Madison park and it always had a negative stigma in the eyes of many. A lot of that comes from the area of the basketball court. However it is not the court themselves that are the issue, but the isolation of that area, the one section of the park that seems cut off from the rest of the park goers. Unless someone is specifically walking to that area, or parks directly by it, no one knows what actually goes on there. I offer two suggestions: 1. Re-locate the basketball courts closer to Madison Avenue, where there is more traffic from the people, the police, and may invite new players who actually want to play. Eyes on that area would reduce criminal activity, criminals don’t want to do illegal acts in broad public view where everyone can see them and report on them. 2: Create more paths back there, make new equipment, maybe an outdoor gymnasium to promote health, increase reasons for the population to want people to travel back there, increasing more sights on the courts, and people who will report issues. Lakewood citizens do not turn a blind eye on criminal activity in their neighborhood. I have been in that park for over 25 years, I’m in my 30’s, I have seen criminal activity and know what these people do not want, and that’s attention to what they do. Create a reason for everyone to feel welcome over there and interrupt the comfort at which the criminals perceive to do as they wish. The courts themselves are not the issue, the perception that they know no one goes back there and interrupts what they’re doing is. Our primary defense is seeing and reporting. Basketball attracts many races, ethnic groups, and statuses together to play, removing it only increases people’s needs to find something to do, which may have potential to be negative, give them their outlet.

I fully support the recent communication presented by Council Representatives Neff, Kepple and Shachner and would like to speak to the value of a comprehensive approach to public safety.

I strongly oppose the removal of the basketball hoops at Madison Park. While i understand this is a difficult time for leadership, I strongly oppose the lack of transparency being shown by council, the police and the mayor's office and request a valid reason that the hoops were taken down be given on the record tonight. Finally, I request that the LWPD proactively recruit a far more diverse workforce.

I implore the council members to support re-instating the basketball hoops/court at Madison Park, and to encourage the use of Madison Park by people from all walks of life, without the use of intimidation or surveillance. Promoting inclusivity and accessibility needs to remain at the forefront of Lakewood's public agenda.

I oppose the taking down of basketball hoops at Madison Park. I oppose Lakewood Park basketball courts being closed. I believe we should ensure that Lakewood hire police officers who are completely vetted so that no racist persons are employed by the citizens of Lakewood. I further support that community policing is done by officers on bicyles throughout the community.

I oppose the recent decision to close the basketball courts at Madison Park in response to recent gun violence that occurred. It was a hasty decision that will do nothing to address the problem and will punish the responsible kids/citizens who wish to play basketball. LPD should engage the public instead of labeling basketball as a breeding ground for crime. Speaking of which, where is the diversity in the LPD? I don't think I've ever seen a person of color among its rank. Address the underlying causes of gun violence instead of making a knee jerk reaction. What about the car jackings that have happened this spring? What do those have to do with basketball? There are larger issues at hand.

I oppose the recent temporary removal of the basketball hoops at Madison Park. It was mentioned in the Mayor's statement on April 16th that the anti-racism task force will be looked to as we ensure all members feel safe and welcomed everywhere they go. My question is did the anti-racism task force have an opportunity to advise on the decision before it was made? I am also greatly discouraged by the racism within our community that the Safer Lakewood page can provide evidence for. I would like to know if the anti-racism task force will be making a statement to the community. The root cause must be addressed otherwise the superficial, temporary solutions will be short-lived and we seek sustainable change.

The dismantling of our basketball court has happened without explanation. Those of us who want it back are being asked to trust the police, that the decision is for our safety, and in our best interest. It is my pointed goal at this meeting, to ask that the hoops be put back immediately, and in turn, request that the police and our government officials show the concerned citizens some trust that we are banding together to solve the issue of violence in our park. Trust that we will be crowding around the court to make sure we can be there to help resolve any basketball related conflicts. Trust that our neighborhood players AND cleveland players will be welcomed. Trust that we are interested in getting families involved. Trust that residents in birdtown (like myself) and those nearby want to be a part of creating a fun atmosphere around the basketball court. Trust that our congregation around the basketball court will prove to be an observable, tangible, and undeniable change. Trust that we will shatter the narrative that basketball attracts violence and or crime. Trust that we are changing that narrative to "basketball at madison park is inclusive and inviting to people of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. Basketball at Madison Park, is fun, 7 days a week."

I'm rather surprised and dismayed that we would yet again take down the hoops in Lakewood. The community has fought for years to get them back and stress their importance to the community.

Removing them is another short sighted attempt to address violent incidents. From what we understand, the shootings didn't happen because of foul calls and wins/losses. We only hurt our kids when we both remove outlets to play outside and build bonds through sports.

My position regarding the reaction by city officials to remove the hoops at Madison parks echoes the comments already submitted. The narrative around "unsavory people, criminals, and outsiders" being the cause of violence in our parks and then narrowed down to the the basketball courts in general is an old and tired excuse that needs to stop immediately. These issues can be remedied by community involvement, as demonstrated on Saturday when we all gathered at the court to brainstorm and collect tangible solutions to keep violence out of our parks. You are blessed with invested residents who are ready and willing be a part of the solutions that move us forward instead of the continuous steps backwards that seem to always be taken at the drop of a dime when anything happens anywhere on or near a basketball court. I think we have been more than patient and have remained calm despite how outrageous this all is. But me personally my patience is running low with how this city is dealing with the FACT it is an URBAN community with a large population of underserved that are being labeled and outright discriminated against.

While I respect the initial urge to act, given the spike in violence, as our community begin to "restart" our lives out of "lockdown", the actions that the police have suggested, including taking down of the basketball courts is unhelpful at best and out of date and racist at worst. Basketball is one of the few activities that children are able to play alone and/or without needing money for equipment, making it an ideal activity for any member of Lakewood. Shutting down the hoops in the park does a HUGE detriment to the children of our community. What is preventing the police from having to police the park on foot? There needs to be better solutions, other than ones used 20 years ago that target low income community members.

I’m opposed to violence. Regrettably our culture has always been steeped in it and now our society is flooded with guns. How the reactionary forces of more policing and surveillance will solve this problem is beyond me. Fundamentally I support the second amendment, with what I think are common sense caveats. That said I think it wise to remember- basketballs don’t kill people. People kill people. Stop criminalizing basketball.

I oppose the removal of playground equipment as a deterrent to violent crime.

The act of re-establishing these courts 3 years ago was a statement of community solidarity after several years of vacancy. The act of removing the rims in such a swift manner this week was a statement of power and misdirected show of force by our community leaders.

A stronger police presence at our densely populated parks/public spaces on days in which there is a higher likelihood of outdoor activity is public safety 101. Removing the ability for people to congregate at a basketball court does not address the violent crime in the community, it simply redirects it to somewhere else. Addressing gun violence in our community is a difficult task, removing playground equipment as a solution was simple-minded.

After a year of people being denied outdoor public goods and services due to the pandemic, young people are clammering for things to do. We are sending the wrong message to our active youth by denying them their ability to play with their neighbors and blaming their activities for the violence that they are also victims of.

PERSONAL VIEW:
I oppose the removal of the hoops. Basketball is healthy, social, & inclusive. We need more courts ASAP so Madison Park doesn't have to bear the entire city's demand of full courts. After a year of COVID-19, this court is going to be more important for our city's social/physical health than ever. As stated yesterday by a nearby resident, "If the solution to gun violence in America is closing basketball courts, then we're a lost cause." (ref: https://youtu.be/hy1vPNMDttE). There are many preventative measures we can take other than depriving our residents from outdoor activities.

WHAT I KNOW SO FAR:
We have been told the hoops were removed due to an ongoing investigation, but I cannot imagine a scenario where someone would come to the park with malicious intent, see that the hoops have been removed, and turn around and go home. Can we get some clarification on these details? Everything I've heard about the most recent event is that it happened on the north end of the south parking lot (near the soccer goals that are still installed/functional), and that it was unrelated to the basketball hoops.

WHAT I CAN CONCLUDE SO FAR:
The removal of the hoops have targeted and punished our active and healthy youth that have been happily using this court for the past 3 years. Otherwise, the adjacent soccer field and/or baseball field would be closed too (which we do not want to happen).

WHAT I'D LIKE TO HAVE ADDRESSED:
1) Caution tape or another obstruction would have communicated a "temporary" closure. Physically disassembling the hoops was a harsh message that seems more permanent. Can we get a specific date when the hoops will be up? The weather is warming up fast!

2) Can we explore alternative solutions (e.g. paid chaperone just like we have at Lakewood Park)?

3) Why basketball? Can we get a clear confirmation from the police chief that this was not a kneejerk reaction to quell the flood of racist rhetoric that targeted the hoops on social media?

The park may be a little small to give the basketball court the space it needs for people waiting to play. They should not have to be waiting in a busy parking lot.