The Observation Deck

I fail to see what if anything Mr. Polensek has accomplished. He can throw around insults and complained. Big deal. Any moron can write an inflammatory letter to a drug dealer. I think the letter is to quote Mike "dumber than mud". We are people looking for real solutions to problems.
Please don't buy in to hate. The people causing the problems are the ones who need the most help. What is Mike doing to bring jobs and social services to his ward? There are thousands of children ready to take the place of Aresnio when he goes to "jail or the cemetery". What about them? What did Mike's letter do? Nothing.

ryan costa wrote:The crack dealer's mother is accusing the councilman of being racist. She took particular offense to his use of the phrase "dumber than mud".

...Sometimes you have to call a spade a spade.

OH NO YOU DI'NT! *calls Al Sharpton*

Joe Whisman wrote:I fail to see what if anything Mr. Polensek has accomplished. He can throw around insults and complained. Big deal. Any moron can write an inflammatory letter to a drug dealer. I think the letter is to quote Mike "dumber than mud". We are people looking for real solutions to problems.
Please don't buy in to hate. The people causing the problems are the ones who need the most help. What is Mike doing to bring jobs and social services to his ward? There are thousands of children ready to take the place of Aresnio when he goes to "jail or the cemetery". What about them? What did Mike's letter do? Nothing.

That letter caused me to create this thread. Actually, this topic was supposed to be about a passion he showed for his ward (whether you agree or disagree how he approached the situation) and directed toward discussion on which candidates for the City of Lakewood have true passion for positive change. But I'll revert to your question Joe. What has any City of Cleveland Council person done to seriously change their ward? Create jobs? Rid the area of crime? The letter has Northeast Ohio talking. Seriously talking.

I find it amusing that anyone would try to say if this letter did or did not accomplish anything. I'm sure like most things, this letter has a different affect on different people.

"Your" views are not the only ones...

Passion and bitching are to different things. Polensek sounds like an uneducated clown. I think the "letter" does do not really has Northeast Ohio talking. Most people are either laughing at Mike or drug dealers. It is a publicity stunt. It is easy to condemn and name call. Mike's take on crime,"get your dumb stupid ass out of my neighborhood." Maybe all the criminals he runs out of his neighborhood could come to Lakewood and set up shop. We need jobs, social services, health care, working schools, compassion. We don't need blow hard loser politicians sending pointless letters to distract from the real issues.

Bryan Schwegler wrote:

sharon kinsella wrote:And just what did he accomplish?

If nothing more, it was refreshing to see a politician speak his mind truthfully on an issue. You don't get a whole lot of that.

And even more refreshing was that he didn't back down when confronted and apologize saying "I'm sorry, I should'nt have sent the letter bla bla bla". I'm tired of people aplogizing for speaking what they feel...whether someone is offended or not.

However, I don't know if his intentions (whatever they are) will give him the results he is looking for.

Dee Krupp wrote:

Bryan Schwegler wrote:

sharon kinsella wrote:And just what did he accomplish?

If nothing more, it was refreshing to see a politician speak his mind truthfully on an issue. You don't get a whole lot of that.

And even more refreshing was that he didn't back down when confronted and apologize saying "I'm sorry, I should'nt have sent the letter bla bla bla".

I agree...

Joe Whisman wrote:Passion and bitching are to different things. Polensek sounds like an uneducated clown. I think the "letter" does do not really has Northeast Ohio talking. Most people are either laughing at Mike or drug dealers. It is a publicity stunt. It is easy to condemn and name call. Mike's take on crime,"get your dumb stupid ass out of my neighborhood." Maybe all the criminals he runs out of his neighborhood could come to Lakewood and set up shop. We need jobs, social services, health care, working schools, compassion. We don't need blow hard loser politicians sending pointless letters to distract from the real issues.

I think that the Polensek addresses issue and made a great point... He is glad that there will be one less criminal in his ward..

While listening to 90.3FM, Regina Brett had former gang members on air. The men that left the gangs had something in common. People stepped up and ask them what are you doing. These roll models helped them find jobs. These men need self worth and positive influence. We need to look at children and get them education. Why not start a Lakewood Observer mentoring program? There are make ways to make a difference. Let's look for opportunity for change. We all want a better society, but who is ready to step up? Message me and I can help you find a place to make a difference.

Well he sure accomplished a lot.

He represented the City of Cleveland's Legal Department, on their letterhead.

He sent and defended a rant, a crazed and hateful statement.

He made national news as an idiot.

Not to mention, he gave reactionaries a platform to rant from.

Again I ask, what are any of you doing to make the world a better place?
Do you think hate speech is helpful? Do you think that the world is only fit for "certain" people. Do you think that everyone agrees with you?

Did it ever occur to you that other people, besides a couple of us on this forum, don't even bother to point out the flaws in your thinking because of your reactionary rants?

Joe Whisman wrote:While listening to 90.3FM, Regina Brett had former gang members on air. The men that left the gangs had something in common. People stepped up and ask them what are you doing. These roll models helped them find jobs. These men need self worth and positive influence. We need to look at children and get them education. Why not start a Lakewood Observer mentoring program? There are make ways to make a difference. Let's look for opportunity for change. We all want a better society, but who is ready to step up? Message me and I can help you find a place to make a difference.

Good for you! I work at an adolescent chemical dependency treatment center in Ohio City....we have many Lakewood teens as well as inner city teens pass through our doors....and one of their biggest hurdles???? They don't have anyone at home guiding them. They come here for drug treatment and then go home to alcoholic parents.

BTW...Big Brothers/Big Sisters has a shortage of male role models...there's a waiting list to place a boy with a Big Brother.

Joe Whisman wrote:While listening to 90.3FM, Regina Brett had former gang members on air. The men that left the gangs had something in common. People stepped up and ask them what are you doing. These roll models helped them find jobs. These men need self worth and positive influence. We need to look at children and get them education. Why not start a Lakewood Observer mentoring program? There are make ways to make a difference. Let's look for opportunity for change. We all want a better society, but who is ready to step up? Message me and I can help you find a place to make a difference.

Do we know for a fact that nobody ever tried to help Arsenio or reach out to him?

sharon kinsella wrote: Again I ask, what are any of you doing to make the world a better place?
Do you think hate speech is helpful? Do you think that the world is only fit for "certain" people. Do you think that everyone agrees with you?

Did it ever occur to you that other people, besides a couple of us on this forum, don't even bother to point out the flaws in your thinking because of your reactionary rants?

Sharon,
You may want to approach those with a different point view a little less angrily. Your response demonstrates many of the qualities you profess to be against. You seem to be trying to shut down those with a differing opinion.

People all have different points of view based on their own personal experiences. Learning from them and understanding where they come from is the only way we can overcome differences. Trying to make those whose opinions differ feel as if their opinion is wrong or they're bad people isn't very effective. But that's just my opinion.

The councilman's letter wasn't hateful. It was critical. I'd say it would be out of line if directed to a 12 year old or 15 year old. But it was directed at an 18 year old who made his living treating his community like his 'bitch'.