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Eton on Chagrin Boulevard is bustling. Outside Trader Joe's, mothers carry heavy brown bags filled with organic apples and expensive cheeses as they fish for their Volvo keys. Inside Anthropologie, pre-teens with Coach purses and Invisalign braces ogle pairs of $175 jeans. At Paladar, businessmen check iPhones and munch yucca chips with thick guacamole.

To see Eton today, you would never guess that the surrounding village of Woodmere was once the stepchild no one wanted. Seventy years ago, it was one of five municipalities that made up Orange Township, its footprint just a quarter-mile square. To the surrounding towns of Hunting Valley, Moreland Hills, and Pepper Pike, however, it might as well have been a tuberculosis ward.

In the 1800s, Woodmere served as a stopping ground on the Underground Railroad. When slavery ended, its reputation as a place friendly to blacks remained, though that distinction didn't particularly thrill white neighbors. The simmering reached full boil in 1944, when black residents woke in the middle of the night to the scent of burning wood. They ran for their children, then stood outside to watch their homes burn.

Township trustees would eventually try less incendiary ways to force the mostly poor black population to leave. They prohibited the use of secondhand wood in constructing homes and forced owners to put up $1,000 bonds before work began. If residents couldn't or wouldn't comply, police allowed them to rethink their posture in jail.

It would take another 14 years before black residents finally had enough. In 1958, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled on their discrimination suit, declaring the housing codes illegal. The court decided that Woodmere should be able to establish its own ordinances. The village was now in charge of its own destiny.

Slowly, the town developed an identity of its own. The woodsy area attracted blacks leaving the city and whites looking for cheap homes. Yolanda Broadie's family was among them.

She remembers that day in the 1970s, her 11-year-old face pressed against the car window as her family headed east, past the huge trees that leaned like overprotective parents, the young saplings with branches as thin as a ballerina's arm. That's when she decided she hated the place. "I thought it was totally country."

Adjusting was hard. Her elementary school in Cleveland was all black. Now she was being bused to Orange, where she was the only black kid in class. The others viewed her curiously, as if she were a llama. "It was a culture shock for my brother and I," Broadie says. "It's a big shock to spend all your life around African Americans, then move to a community where you are actually the minority."

Broadie made the best of the situation, inviting classmates home for sleepovers and lavish southern dinners, trying to be everyone's favorite friend. But she lived a split life: the one at school, where integration was encouraged, and the one at home, where bitterness was sometimes nurtured.

At times she'd overhear her mother talking with friends about the racism they once faced — the inability to build homes on their own property, the way they were treated like field hands on a farm. Slowly, the town's history became intermingled with Broadie's. At school, she saw the belittling way whites treated her brother, who was neither as strong nor as outgoing as she was. She watched helplessly as he retreated into the solace of his own mind.

All of this left an impression on her. It also seemed to provide a guidepost. Thirty years later, she would be accused of doing the same discriminatory things to whites.

With just 850 residents tucked within an upscale shopping village, Woodmere is still governed like most small towns. The ladder-climbers occupying the higher rungs of politics don't bother with places like this. Here, government is left to those with a volunteer spirit, or at least free time on their hands.

The latter brought Broadie to the Woodmere City Council. An elder member died; she was appointed to replace him. Over the next few years, she became the queen bee of this group of leading citizens. She was intimidating, persuasive, sweet — the popular girl everyone follows. "People listened to her," says former member William Blakemore.

But neither she nor her colleagues were known for running the kind of sparkling city government suggested in civics classes. When state auditors examined the town's books in 1995, they were appalled. Contracts and bank statements hadn't been maintained. Planning and zoning commission members were paid for meetings they never attended. And no one was minding the cash register: The village general fund was handsomely overdrawn.

Its municipal court system wasn't much better. Filing "consisted of stapled pages and lacked pertinent information such as the ticket number, proceedings, payment amounts received," according to the audit.

Improvement was hard to find in subsequent years. Officials violated hiring laws, failing to publicly advertise positions and handing out jobs at whim. When lawyers subpoenaed records two years ago, they found that the person charged with overseeing equal-opportunity hiring had been dead for two years.

But few in town seemed to notice. Like most Americans, they preferred to ignore government, simply hoping that it wouldn't behave too stupidly. In Woodmere, only 140 or so people typically vote in elections. The audience at council meetings can be counted on one hand. And governments rarely behave well when left unsupervised.

Around the county, Woodmere's cops were legendary. In the '90s, one officer used his police gun to kill his wife. Another was indicted on drug charges. A third was accused in federal court of roughing up motorists during routine traffic stops.

Write Your Comment show comments (24)

  1. I read this earlier today...really interesting. My first reaction was that while she is wrong for discrimination...whites have doing things like this (perhaps not so blatantly) for years...they call it the "Good Ol' Boy System".

    Comment by D. E. — October 25, 2007 @ 12:17PM

  2. I read this earlier today...really interesting. My first reaction was that while she is wrong for discrimination...whites have doing things like this (perhaps not so blatantly) for years...they call it the "Good Ol' Boy System".

    Comment by D. E. — October 25, 2007 @ 12:17PM

  3. If you think this is bad you should do some research on what is going on in East Cleveland with the mayor. "Absolute power, corrupts absolutely". Somethings never change.

    Comment by C.W. — October 25, 2007 @ 12:58PM

  4. So it's ok to use your power to discriminate against white people as long as it isn't black people because of what a few white people did along time ago ? Or is using someone's skin tone against them only acceptable when they're from the north of the equater ? People like you help keep the racial tension alive. And also create many racists as well.

    Comment by Erik — October 25, 2007 @ 03:55PM

  5. Erik wrote:

    "So it's ok to use your power to discriminate against white people as long as it isn't black people because of what a few white people did along time ago?"

    First of all, it's NOT "OK" to discriminate against ANYONE.

    Secondly, are you living in the Land of Oz?!? What makes you think that discimination from whites - against people of color - happened "a long time ago"?!?!?!?!? This happens EVERYDAY, still, all across the country.

    I'm not saying this to justify what this person has done. There is NO justification for that. I only wanted to remind you to come back to reality.

    WE are ALL responsible for making things better, racially. It's time to STOP PLAYING THE "BLAME GAME"!

    Wake up! Racism, from ANYONE is still simply called RACISM. There is NO such thing as "Reverse Racism."

    Please. We need to get rid of that term, once and for all. Racism is Racism, regardless of who is being racist. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "REVERSE RACISM." That is a total and complete fallacy.

    Comment by Lazarus Banks — October 25, 2007 @ 04:25PM

  6. I worked there and everything that has been said is true, and now its even worse because the new Chief will do anything she says, even though he knows its wrong........................Ask the last two officers whom quit Woodmere. I believe they would talk if someone asked them too, and could help out with any case.

    Comment by Private — October 25, 2007 @ 05:44PM

  7. The only thing wrong with this article is the title -- racism is racism is racism, there's no such thing as 'reverse racism.' What's more, as a black woman -- hell, as a human being -- I am thoroughly disgusted with this woman. Her so-called attempts to empower blacks only results in us having to work harder to prove ourselves, and the fact that this country's history is what it is is certainly no excuse. Discrimination is disgusting in all its forms.

    I found one thing to be very interesting, however; at one point the woman (who doesn't deserve the title 'mayor') said, "I have friends who are white, doctors who are white...even my law director is white."

    This is generally the same line white people throw out to "prove" their diversity. If a person's race was really of no consequence to her, she wouldn't be keeping count.

    Comment by B — October 25, 2007 @ 05:55PM

  8. This woman is disgusting. She is breeding racism. Can you imagine being an young idealistic white person and dealing with this train-wreck of a mayor? You might start second guessing your open-mindedness. I hope the DOJ takes over this disaster of a police department and sends the racist mayor packing.

    Comment by Ray — October 26, 2007 @ 10:34AM

  9. So the mayor doesn't know of any other officer that have gotten in that many accidents. How about Fire Chief James Cartwright who was backing in the ambulance while drinking on the job and backed into the garage doors that he had forgotten open up due to his being drunk. You want to investigate someone, he's the man.

    Comment by Bob — October 26, 2007 @ 11:06PM

  10. Rebecca- I thought that your article was very well done!I enjoy reading your stuff! I strongly suggest you read the short book REDEMPTION,BY Nicholas Leman. I really think that every junior high and highschool kid should have to read this. If I had kids, I'd make them read it! Things really have not changed much since the Civil War. There will alaways be racism. Somethings just can't be changed.

    Comment by Rob — October 27, 2007 @ 03:15PM

  11. Read this article knowing that Rebecca Meiser tends to exaggerate everything. Maybe she is being completely even-handed and journalistically unbiased, but more than likely, half of the so-called "facts" in her report are fabricated for ratings and shock value. Get a life Ms. Meiser.

    Comment by Eric — October 28, 2007 @ 02:08PM

  12. Face it people: blacks dont like whites, whites dont like blacks, jews dont like arabs, arabs dont like jewsm shiites dont like kurds, kurds dont like shiites....the list goes on. Its a fact of life. It is that way in every culture and in every nation. It has been that way for thousands of years and it will stay that way for thousands of years. Quit crying about how you are getting screwed "just because", pick yourself up and move on!

    Comment by Kenny — October 28, 2007 @ 03:58PM

  13. This article is not all true. Rebecca Meiser is a 3rd rate reporter who has to creat lies and add untruths to all of her stories...I use to work there, and let me tell u lockhart's no angel. This story is so bogus its crazy to read and quite funny at times. Meiser u should be working for the national inqurer ur such a joke yourself..

    Comment by jay — October 29, 2007 @ 06:54AM

  14. wow- now we are resorting to calling the reporter names, unbelieveable. I as a woodmere resident know for a fact that the article was extremely accurate with it tending to leave out quite abit more of the corruption that is really going on there. As for chief Lockhart not being an angel......No hes a saint to have put up with the stuff that went on there without the backup of administration. At his appeal hearing there were chiefs from all over showing there support for him knowing what a class act man of integrity he truly is.He was excellent at what he did as chief and is continuing his excellence at his new job. Now lets just put a stop to wrongs and make things right. Know that this mayor does not reflect the opinions or the intelligence of the residents of this village!

    Comment by breeze — October 29, 2007 @ 11:31AM

  15. It looks as though, or should I say, it reads as though, someone's camp has gotten word of the article and is attempting to do a little "crowd control"; "Jay's" comment at 6:54am-nonetheless, very telling... As someone quite familiar with this village, it's safety forces, and administration, I can say that this article is true and that Ms. Meiser didn't need to fabricate anything, as she's been accused of doing. Should one care enough to know the facts prior to name calling and belittling the reporter, one only needs to do some light and simple research. They'd quickly find that, in fact, much was left out that supports the conclusion already reached by the EEOC, (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) and the United States Department of Justice, both of whom investigated the Mayor and the Village of Woodmere and found that this discrimination and retaliation did take place. And for "Kenny" who thinks all races hate each other, and that's just how it is, that is extremely sad, and you must have grown up in a hateful environment. You are obviously not familiar with this case or this Village. Without people willing to stand up for what is right, there would be no change and hate would prevail. As Martin Luther King Jr once said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

    Comment by J.S. — October 29, 2007 @ 02:47PM

  16. "And for "Kenny" who thinks all races hate each other, and that's just how it is, that is extremely sad, and you must have grown up in a hateful environment. You are obviously not familiar with this case or this Village."

    I grew up in a very loving environment. I grew up liking and trusting alot of people. But, look at the world! If you are white, go hang out in a bar in East Cleveland for a night. If you are black, hang out in one in Chagrin Falls. People like others who are similar to themselves. I have seen it here and have seen it when I visited Europe.

    I am familiar with Woodmere. I have friends who work(or who have worked)for the safety forces there. It's a screwed up town. Thank God I am far away from it.

    Comment by kenny — October 29, 2007 @ 07:11PM

  17. Refering to comment number 13. This article is completely true. As a former employee of Woodmere, I am relieved that someone finally brought this womans injustices into the light. I saw everything that was happening within the police department, as well as the department that I worked for. The corruption trickels down throughought all of the city leadership. Chief Lockhart was the only honest department head as far as I can tell. The only reason that he was singled out was that he had the gusto to stand against the mayor when she was wrong.

    Comment by The Nameless Ex Employee — November 1, 2007 @ 08:51AM

  18. I have yet to see anyone write a comment stating that these allegations are false...so lets not worry about who is black and who is white in this case, lets just worry about how to bring this to justice

    Comment by B.P. — November 7, 2007 @ 11:06PM

  19. Everyone has their flaw and so does every city. Igrew up in Woodmere and I heard stories of corruption with the police and have seen unfairness with higher ups in the city, what do you expect people are the product of their environment. I am not supprised at this crap going on in the city I love because of private encounters.
    Woodmere is a wonderful city, peaceful and loving full of wonderful friendly people both black and white.
    I am sure that the police chief was not perfect but I am confident that he did not earn the treatment that he received(none of them did). For sure the city is very good to its residents and the residents love the city, but we should not treat anybody a certain way because of color PERIOD it's wrong. Here's my two cents.
    MNo

    Comment by mark — November 13, 2007 @ 01:33AM

  20. Everyone has their flaw and so does every city. Igrew up in Woodmere and I heard stories of corruption with the police and have seen unfairness with higher ups in the city, what do you expect people are the product of their environment. I am not supprised at this crap going on in the city I love because of private encounters.
    Woodmere is a wonderful city, peaceful and loving full of wonderful friendly people both black and white.
    I am sure that the police chief was not perfect but I am confident that he did not earn the treatment that he received(none of them did). For sure the city is very good to its residents and the residents love the city, but we should not treat anybody a certain way because of color PERIOD it's wrong. Here's my two cents.
    MNo

    Comment by mark — November 13, 2007 @ 01:38AM

  21. Everyone has their flaw and so does every city. Igrew up in Woodmere and I heard stories of corruption with the police and have seen unfairness with higher ups in the city, what do you expect people are the product of their environment. I am not supprised at this crap going on in the city I love because of private encounters.
    Woodmere is a wonderful city, peaceful and loving full of wonderful friendly people both black and white.
    I am sure that the police chief was not perfect but I am confident that he did not earn the treatment that he received(none of them did). For sure the city is very good to its residents and the residents love the city, but we should not treat anybody a certain way because of color PERIOD it's wrong. That's my two cents.
    MNo

    Comment by mark — November 13, 2007 @ 01:40AM

  22. I am sorry Woodmere should be merged with Orange, Chagrin needs a couple well placed parking garages and the whole strip could be redeveloped to reflect the style of Eaton.
    Less parking lots widen chagrin to prevent traffic jams and disconnect all the side streets from Chagrin. An east west road could connect all those north south road to Brainard.

    The Village is mismanaged the area is highly developable, this mayor prevent her own citizens from benefiting from the potential equity, the area is gold potential gold mine.

    Her highness should be dethroned, all she manages is to hold the area hostage.

    Comment by oengus — December 14, 2007 @ 02:41AM

  23. Not to bring children into this but, it is a shame that this mayor has a younger daughter who is beginning to follow in her mothers footsteps. A product of her own society (her mothers household), now she too is being led into a world of racism without even having the chance to learn and grow on her own. She IS learning from her own mother who learned from her mother and so on, it won't end in that home. I am ashamed to say it but I used to work for that department, I have long since moved on in my career and am not a "woodie for life" as Old Dirty Bastard Mesia Brown and others may want believe. Some of the things that I witnessed there was just outright BS. You want to talk about a power trip or abuse of power, lets talk about certain officers being the only officers on the road for a 8 hour shift and being designated to drive the mayor to her physical therapy appointments in WESTLAKE, in a woodmere squad car, using gas payed for by woodmere. These appointments would last upwards of 5 hours, this officer would then be requested to either wait outside in the car or go drive around westlake in a woodmere cruiser for this time period. Blatant abuse of her position. Woodmere needs to be cleaned out, divided in half and taken over by Orange and Pepper Pike.

    Comment by Ex Employee — December 21, 2007 @ 08:57AM

  24. Those of you who think or say that the Mayor is completly at fault for this mess has no ideal of what your talking about. It's interesting to read all of the negative comments about Woodmere and the Mayor that seem to only be comming from former employees who had their own ax to grind. Get over getting fired, or forced to resign or quitting. Lockhart is a joke. He's not a man but a punk who can't even walk right. Yea thats right. He's carrying a gun for RTA and couldn't pass his range qual. Someone should look into this and call Tom Meyers or Carl Monday to investigate that. Im not saying the Mayor is a great person she has major issues but The two Officers (both white) should have gotten fired, not because they were white but because they deserved it. Get over it and get a life loosers

    Comment by Keisha Sanders — March 31, 2008 @ 01:32PM

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