Michael Polensek

Michael Polensek is a councilman for the 11th Ward of Cleveland, Ohio. He has served as a councilman, continuously re-elected, twice unopposed, since 1979.

Mr. Polensek created a swirling storm of controversy when he sent a letter to an 18-year-old drug dealer named Arsenio Winston, who was most recently arrested for selling crack in front of a convenience store to an undercover officer. Polensek had come across Winston on a number of occasions.

The letter reads:

Dear Mr. Winston:

As councilman representing Cleveland's 11th Ward, I have been notified once again that you have been arrested for dealing drugs in my ward, this time at the Convenient Food Mart located at 18506 St. Clair Avenue in the parking lot.

Mr. Winston, you have to be "dumber than mud." Don't you know that one of your so-called "friends" from the "8th Avenue gang" ratted your "ass" out that you were dealing drugs from the parking lot? They cut a deal. So much for your wonderful pals, you idiot. I am so glad that you are now 18 years of age, because now you are an adult and can no longer hide behind the juvenile court system, Mr. Quarterback, loser. Remember when you told me to "kiss your black ass" at R.J. Taylor playground and that you were going to be an NFL Quarterback? Well, the NFL, despite perceptions, is "not for losers!"

In closing, I told you just recently to stay out of my neighborhood, you crack dealing piece of trash. Yet, you keep coming back because you think you are a big man. Well, real men go to school or to work every day and take care of their family, and not through illegal drug activity. You are a "thug" and you know what? There are only two places you will end up at the rate you are going -- that is, prison or the nearest funeral home. Quite frankly, I don't care which one you get to first as long as your dumb stupid ass is out of my neighborhood.

Have a wonderful life, Arsenio. I'm sure you have made your mother real proud. Remember when I spoke to her one of the other times that you were arrested for assaulting a police officer on East 185th Street? Only a moron would do that. Your fate is totally in your hands; which is a scary thought.

Go to jail or the cemetary soon,

(signature of Michael D. Polensek)
Councilman, Ward 11

cc: Mr. Martin Flask, Director, Department of Public Safety
Chief Michael McGrath, Chief of Police
Commander Wayne Drummond, 6th District Police Headquarters
Mr. Phillip Morris, Plain Dealer

As you might expect, Polensek was immediately labeled a racist. Winston's mother lovingly played the Race Card:

Winston's mother, Tonya Lewis, said she plans to speak to her attorney, former City Council President George Forbes, about filing a lawsuit against Polensek. She said she also has written a letter to black activist the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Lewis said she views Polensek's letter as a death threat against her son because the councilman said "he didn't care which one came first, that he went to jail or the cemetery."

She also complained that the letter referred to Winston as "dumber than mud," which she considers a racist remark because mud is black and dirty.

Polensek says:

The longtime councilman said in a telephone interview Wednesday that he often writes blunt letters to troublemakers in his neighborhood and makes no apologies for the one to Winston.

He also is unrepentant:

I'm fed up and the people in my neighborhood are fed up," Polensek said. "There's no political correctness left in me."

"If my letter was offensive, fine, so be it," he said. "If my letter is going to make his mother and family think about what he's done, I'm glad."

Yes, because of all that, there is clearly a problem. The problem is this:

There are not ENOUGH Michael Polenseks to go around. Each government entity should be staffed with a host of Michael Polenseks.

Finally. Someone who is unafraid to see a situation as it is and to focus attention on an individual's ACTIONS. Polensek is about as racist as my houseplant. He IS, however, forceful and unapologetic.

Apologetic he should NEVER be.

And the LARGER, overarching problem?

• This letter should have been written by a BLACK MALE IN A POSITION OF AUTHORITY but, sadly, was not.

Everyone reading this blog knows quite precisely that Arsenio Winston is a loser indeed; his mommy speaks for him at age 18, he deals drugs and he WILL eventually filter out into the prison system or into a cemetary.

Kudos to Michael Polensek for DARING TO SPEAK AND WRITE THE TRUTH.

BZ