I lived for a while in Bay Village, along Lake Erie, and the views, microclimate, and bugs were amazing. When I first moved there, I used to take my dog down to the water, at a little "swimming" area by Columbia Road, until we went swimming there after a storm and then both got sick as dogs, and the dog's fur started falling out. I've stayed ashore, since... and keep my kids away from the lake. Perhaps the water is not entirely unsafe, between rains, but all that shit and worse that flows into the lake, when the storm drains and sewers overflow into the lake, stays in the lake. And what industry and shipping dumps into the lake, stays in the lake... or turns into [1]fish many eat [1]. So is this a good use for the lake? Who cares, much less may make a difference? And what does the future really hold for Lake Erie, in times of global warming?
It seems all government leaders and popular media of the region are convinced the lake may serve shipping, industry, recreation, food and sewage together, but this doesn't seem to be working well to lots of international environmental and healthcare experts. So how do we sound an alarm and start changing public perception about the purpose of our natural resources, so more citizens may live better lives and lobby their leaders to lead better, and the media to report better, for the environment. May these days of $4+ gas, global warming, and believing in change spark a new era of activism against pollution, and polluters.
There are many things individuals may do to improve the quality of Lake Erie, if encouraged to do so. An important example would seem to be using rain-barrels and diverting downspouts into well designed yards. People should reduce paved surfaces on their properties, and incorporate water management into land and building planning.
Regional government leaders must take a role planning the future of Lake Erie and our other natural resources, and better manage water on city and county. While the mayor of Solon may not manage a lakefront community, every mayor in the region leads a lakefront region, and must ask is the highest and best use of the lake a dumping ground... and are they not partly to blame, and responsible for finding solutions. It seems this is one concern every politician in NEO may agree on.
Who is leading this charge in NEO today... ? Who is prepared to stand up to the port, and industry, and government, and inspire others to do the same, at the grass roots level regular people may understand? Only one person... Citizen Hauser.
It is criminal this entire region, for all it wastes on poor leadership, has not produced financial support for Ed, as he serves the public. Perhaps in times of global warming such proven environmental leaders in the community will be sought out, entrusted and compensated rather than shunned by the establishment... when the establishment finally realizes they need citizens' help to survive, as they too are citizens.