I thought the mayor had announced last month that he was "untying" the hands of the cops.  If so, I'd like to see a little bit more roughing up of these gang members and drug dealers. 

 

Man, I could not agree with that more........ But, through years of complaints by lawyers, televised citizens, politicians,  and self proclaimed "community leaders", we are getting exactly what was asked for.... a kinder, gentler police department. Which equals harder, more aggressive criminals.

 

 

Here is my simple solution to turn this city around........ and I know it will never happen. GET RID OF SECTION 8..... "Idle hands are the work of the devil."

 

I hope MyTwoSense is in approval of this post because I did include a solution....

It doesn't sound like there are enough police to rough up gang members all over town. And in some neighborhoods, it sounds like even if they haul away 200 kids, they're still stuck with monsters. I read somewhere that Cleveland doesn't even have a gang unit. If true, WTF?

 

Here's my public safety proposal. I say we rescind the arts tax that passed last year and transfer that money to safety forces. I voted for that tax, but now that I think about it, I think it's more important to keep order in our cities. I'm as artsy as a non-artist straight guy comes, but I seriously think crime in this area needs to be combated with tidal wave force or we're totally screwed. All these developments around town are going to be for nothing if people are afraid to come to the city.

From the 7/16/07 PD:

 

 

Cleveland homicides on track to top 2006's 119

Bloody Sunday: 3 people slain

Monday, July 16, 2007

Jesse Tinsley

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Cleveland is on track for another record-setting deadly year, after a bloody weekend pushed the city's unofficial homicide total to 71.

 

If slayings continue at this rate, more than 130 people will have died violently by year's end - beating last year's 119 homicides.

 

Three people were killed early Sunday morning in unrelated shootings, and another person is being treated at MetroHealth Medical Center for stab and gunshot wounds.

 

...

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 216-999-4889[/i]

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1184574773124870.xml&coll=2

 

I agree with the suggestions being here, but if we were to increase the police force it needs to be in community policing.  Police in patrol cars don't do anything but respond, police on foot and bikes stop crime before it happens.  Once reason I don't think adding police to the Warehouse District does anything is that they all just stand and huddle in a group anyway talking to themselves.  They need to do actual community policing...not hang out policing.

I agree with the suggestions being here, but if we were to increase the police force it needs to be in community policing.  Police in patrol cars don't do anything but respond, police on foot and bikes stop crime before it happens.  Once reason I don't think adding police to the Warehouse District does anything is that they all just stand and huddle in a group anyway talking to themselves.  They need to do actual community policing...not hang out policing.

 

That's what I mean, have the cops actively patroling The WHD and all Cleveland Neighborhoods. I know what you mean about the cops huddling around a black and white in front of Traffic night club. Just sitting there.

I agree with the suggestions being here, but if we were to increase the police force it needs to be in community policing.  Police in patrol cars don't do anything but respond, police on foot and bikes stop crime before it happens.  Once reason I don't think adding police to the Warehouse District does anything is that they all just stand and huddle in a group anyway talking to themselves.  They need to do actual community policing...not hang out policing.

 

That's what I mean, have the cops actively patroling The WHD and all Cleveland Neighborhoods. I know what you mean about the cops huddling around a black and white in front of Traffic night club. Just sitting there.

 

Some of the uniformed cops may be working for a particular club rather than being on duty, though those guys will usually be inside.

I miss the days when I would stroll through tower city and see 2 or 3 cops (not the fake TC cops) walking along.

 

Hell when I worked in retail on the avenue, we knew them by name and they would pop in about once or twice a day

Just to let you know,, for a fact about the WHD or the E.4th area. Every Night Club hires 1-2 cops for security. Those cops have to stay at that Night Club. The WHD has 2 (that's right,, only 2) cops who are to patrol, on foot,  the entire WHD. There is a 3rd cop, but he/she is assigned to one of those yellow SUVs and that cop has to patrol the entire downtown area,, not just the WHD. E.4th is nearly the same. All Clubs hire 1-2 cops. There is only 1 cop who patrols E.4th on foot.

 

There is no way 2 cops on foot can handle the Warehouse District. Unless of course we were to expect people to act civilized and govern themselves...... But we don't have that expectation in Cleveland. 

^Who says we don't have that expectation in Cleveland?

^^That would be an amazing factoid if it were true.

All of the clubs in the WHD (not the restaurants) have cops hired for the weekends and sometimes the weeknights, depending on special events.

Check you facts, my friend.

 

^  That is what he said..clubs DO hire cops, but they aren't responsible for the streets when they are hired off duty by a club....I believe what he is saying is that there are only two ON duty cops to patrol the WHD.....and that is not nearly enough.

My bad.

Sorry.

This was interesting :lol:

 

From cleveland.com

 

Councilman Polensek's letter threatens drug suspect, mother says

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Susan Vinella

Plain Dealer Reporter

The mother of a drug-trafficking suspect accuses City Councilman Mike Polensek of threatening her son in a letter that refers to the 18-year-old as a "crack dealing piece of trash" and closes with "go to jail or the cemetery soon."

 

Polensek sent the letter earlier this month after Arsenio T. Winston was arrested and charged with selling drugs near a convenience store in Polensek's East Side neighborhood.

 

More at cleveland.com

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1184834117148930.xml&coll=2

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

 

Wasn't he just convicted of embezzling from Workers Comp?

Why yes, yes he was!

I think the kid deserved the letter personally. This is a hate letter, in that it sounds like Polensek hates this kid for the crimes he's committed time and time again. If she was smart, his mother would keep this kid off the streets. The councilman is telling the truth about where this kid is headed.

One side, I agree with her being upset about verbiage used in the letter.  The councilman should know better and even if he feels a certain way he should have known better than to put in writing - as it could come back to kick him in the butt.  He should raise above the "mud slinging" and keep it professional. PERIOD. There are many ways to get your point across.

 

One the other, I feel for the councilman and the neighborhood. Why wasn't Mother Winston concerned when her kid was raising hell the FIRST time?  Disrespectful kids need some home training and I don't blame the community for being upset!  Some of these disrespectful kids - and their "parents" - need a good ass whipin' from an adult!

 

I grew up in a day and age that if I "thought" about being disrespectful - let alone committing a crime - I would gotten a beat down.  thank God I was the "good" kid.

 

Back in i think 83 or 84, my mom, brother and I were entering Higbee's at Severence and my brother didn't open the door for a woman coming out and sucked his teeth and the woman gave my brother a look of di.  My mother apologized and after the woman was out of our site, my mother slapped me for not saying I'm sorry to the woman, then told me to stand at the door and make sure nobody was coming.

 

Next thing I know, my mother grabbed my brother up around his collar (as they say) [keep in mind my brother is 6'6" and my mother is 5'11"] and told him that if he ever did anything like that again she would kick his ass all the way to Puerto Rico!  She was like how dare you embarras me and act like you don't have any manners, home training or common sense!  She went on to say that, "when you leave the house, your actions are a reflection of how your father and I raised you!"  Then she went off in Spanish for like a half-an-hour.  I was scared to death.  I can't imagine what my mother would have done if my brother had ever committed a crime.

 

I think a better written letter was warranted and parents need to do a better job of "parenting"!

 

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.

 

Wow.

 

Sometimes someone says something that no possible comment does justice, even from a notorious smartass like me....

 

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.

 

Wow.

 

Sometimes someone says something that no possible comment does justice, even from a notorious smartass like me....

 

That comment was more than a stretch. She should just "man up" and take responsibility for her delinquent son, instead of turning this into a racial issue (we have enough of those as is). Its people like her son that are part of the blame behind why we are on track to reach 130 murders this year.

That comment was more than a stretch. She should just "man up" and take responsibility for her delinquent son, instead of turning this into a racial issue (we have enough of those as is). Its people like her son that are part of the blame behind why we are on track to reach 130 murders this year.

 

I couldn't agree more!

If Polensek's letter avoided the "Go to jail or the cemetery soon" in his sign-off, I think the letter would have been just fine, thankyouverymuch.

Well there's something to be said about a engaged & vigilant councilperson.. However, he sure sounds like a looney tune from that letter. Nothing that would keep me from voting for him though.

If any of you heard the councilman's interview on the radio yesterday you would have understood his points and why he used the words he chose.  I support every word he said...and as far as pulling the race card on this one, it makes me want to vomit.  These scumbags are the reason more and more people want to leave the city proper.  It is about time that someone has the balls to step up and say what many people feel, but are too afraid to say because of the ultra political correctness police.  More of these letters should be sent out to the many pieces of crap that are ruining the neighborhoods of this city.  Bravo!!!!!

JDD, I don't think anyone disagrees the kid AND family should have received the letter. 

 

I support the councilman action. Personally, I think it should have been "edited" so that a situatioin like this didn't occur.  He could have gotten his point across without those "choice" words and phrases.

 

 

a letter my friend sent to Polensik

 

Dear Councilman Polensek,

 

I have just become a resident of Euclid, just east of 260th, which I  assume

borders on the 11th ward.

 

I read your letter to Mr. Winston and about the surrounding  controversy.

All I have to say is GOOD FOR YOU!    Yes, the letter  was a tad harsh, but

I could sense your frustration.

 

As far as the mom writing Al Sharpton and a lawyer regarding the  "racist"

remarks of your letter, I can tell you that the only reason  I thought/knew

the addressee was black was because of HIS remark  regarding his "black

ass."  Would she have preferred dumber than wet  sand - representing a

lighter shade, or perhaps dumber than green  Jell-o - a race neutral shade,

when making analogies to the relative  "dumbness" of her son?

 

Thank you for standing up to the threat of people like Mr. Winston  and his

mother.  And by "people like", I don't mean black, lest Al  think me a

racist,  but common criminals, parasitic scoundrels,  cowardly bullies,

and their hapless supporters.

 

XXXXXXXX Johnson

Euclid, Ohio

 

"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."

 

Some will find any excuse to pull out that all too often used race card. He is comparing IQ points to that of mud, she is comparing skin color and cleanliness to mud. Who's the racist??

True - she was being interviewed (I forget which channel) and let's just say SHE didn't seem very convinced :roll:

Well the letter has made The Smoking Gun and BoingBoing. Hilarious.

The letter was harsh but oh so necessary for this young man.  They had Polensek and the kids mom on Fox 8 yesterday morning verbally duking it out.  I've read the letter several times and didn't sense any hint of racism, and I'm African-American myself.  That one got me fired up, there is no reason to pull the race card in this situation; her son is a knuckle-head who is contributing to the decline of this city, that's all there is to it.

 

His tone was a little strong, yet I applaud his effort and hope it empowers others to start to stand up and take more pride in their neighborhoods and have a greater awareness of things happening in their neighborhoods.

More on the letter...with a lot of irony.

 

Cleveland Movement, those people are crazy. I think parts of the letter could have been worded differently to get the same affect, but in no way should he resign!

 

The local media needs to do more "take back your communty" reporting.

---

 

Polensek has his own neighborhood watch

Many support his ‘hate letters’

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Susan Vinella

Plain Dealer Reporter

Cleveland City Councilman Mike Polensek keeps a running list of troublemakers in his neighborhood.

 

He calls it his “Misery Index.”

 

The names are culled from weekly police reports of those arrested for violent crimes or drug offenses in his East Side neighborhood.

 

Index members get what the longtime councilman calls “hate letters.” They generally go something like this: You’re causing trouble in my neighborhood. We’re watching you. Cut it out — or stay out.

 

...

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/118509315326130.xml&coll=2

"The Cleveland Movement, a weekly gathering of residents who advocate for black and poor people,"

 

Since only black and poor people live in Cleveland, I guess it makes sense for them to have that name :roll:

I think parts of the letter could have been worded differently to get the same affect, but in no way should he resign!

 

---

 

I agree, the letter was a little tacky, but it was written out of his own personal frustration.  It was a little harsh coming from a public official, especially on a city letterhead, but I have no problem with it in this situation.  It's time someone stands up to take back some of Cleveland's neighborhoods.

 

A death threat to her son????... give me a break, he's a death threat to himself which is the message Polensek was trying to get across. 

I agree, the letter was a little tacky, but it was written out of his own personal frustration.  It was a little harsh coming from a public official, especially on a city letterhead, but I have no problem with it in this situation.  It's time someone stands up to take back some of Cleveland's neighborhoods.

 

A death threat to her son????... give me a break, he's a death threat to himself which is the message Polensek was trying to get across. 

 

Because its on Cleveland letterhead is what I have a problem with.  I whole heartedly hope other councilman work with the block groups/associations in their wards to help bring back their neighborhoods.  I know I've gone to Kenneth Johnson's home and mailed something to Patricia Britt, since they both live in Shaker Square when I've had a problem.

 

But a city is only a strong as the residents. If idiot parents like Ms. Winston let their kids run wild we'll never take the streets back.  I say more cops on the STREET walking, riding bikes, on motorcycles physically interacting with neighbors is a start.

 

But a city is only a strong as the residents. If idiot parents like Ms. Winston let their kids run wild we'll never take the streets back.  I say more cops on the STREET walking, riding bikes, on motorcycles physically interacting with neighbors is a start.

 

Motorcycles makes sense, but the other two often don't for two simple and practical reasons.  Motorized cops can cover more ground, and non-motorized cops have a lot of trouble chasing down suspects.

 

During the early 80s, my first column of the year in Case's paper discussed the crime problem (something orientation made a point of not mentioning) and I suggested (armed) undercover cops in high crime areas as "bait".  But they'd of course need backup and I daresay said backup needs to be motorized.

A fellow Observer alumnus?  Niiiiice

A fellow Observer alumnus?  Niiiiice

 

A left-liberal and I switched off columns in the opinion section for a couple years during the early-mid 80s.  I'd occasionally throw in something libertarian or smartass because 1) that's how I am and 2) I liked messing with the stereotypes.

Nerds!

Nerds!

 

LOL!  Why do you think I liked messing with stereotypes so much?

 

(and no, I don't mean my high volume usage of my walkman or car speakers....)

This better not be built in Cleveland.

Seriously, the rest of the county needs to step up to the plate and quit whining NIMBY

 

 

 

 

cleveland.com:

 

Cuyahoga County gets six months to act on detention center

State would pay $10.6 million if plan in place by January

Monday, July 23, 2007

John Caniglia

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

The state has offered Cuyahoga County $10.6 million to build a 200-bed detention center for nonviolent felons, a plan that local officials have debated for years but never acted on.

 

But there is a catch. County officials must agree on a site and have advisory boards in place by January or lose the money.

 

...

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

 

[email protected], 440-324-3775

Yeah, put this accross from crocker park or in strongsville!

This better not be built in Cleveland.

 

Why not?  Cleveland wants it, Cleveland has the empty space, and assuming that the majority of Cuyahoga County nonviolent felons are from Cleveland or the inner ring (a fair assumption, I suspect), locating it there makes it easier for friends and relatives to visit....particularly using RTA.

 

Its my turn to play NIMBY.

 

Besides, this is supposed to be a job training facility as well as a rehabilitation center.

Where are the jobs that the people will likely be trained in? I say Brookpark, Euclid, Solon, maybe Berea.

 

And, like i implied, as a region, the other parts of the county need to take part in helping those that need help. Adding another prison to Cleveland will be perceived as another "nail on the coffin." These "nails" are getting harder and harder to defend, despite the overflowing optimism of my Urban Ohio influenced personality.

Its my turn to play NIMBY.

 

Besides, this is supposed to be a job training facility as well as a rehabilitation center.

Where are the jobs that the people will likely be trained in? I say Brookpark, Euclid, Solon, maybe Berea.

 

And, like i implied, as a region, the other parts of the county need to take part in helping those that need help. Adding another prison to Cleveland will be perceived as another "nail on the coffin." These "nails" are getting harder and harder to defend, despite the overflowing optimism of my Urban Ohio influenced personality.

 

I've worked for companies on the receiving end of NIMBY. 

 

To make NIMBY work you need to have city government in the loop.  Sweeney's trying to keep the project in Cleveland, and the local councilwoman hasn't commented.

 

If you think there's NIMBY at work here, ask Sweeney if he wants it in his district.  That's a fair question, actually.  What about your own councilman?

 

As for "another" prison, what's here (other than local jails) except the women's prison by the E. 34th rapid station?

Let's start a Prison District!

Maybe we can put this on Jacob's lot next to Public Square!

^yes, I like it.

 

 

I've worked for companies on the receiving end of NIMBY. 

 

To make NIMBY work you need to have city government in the loop.  Sweeney's trying to keep the project in Cleveland, and the local councilwoman hasn't commented.

 

If you think there's NIMBY at work here, ask Sweeney if he wants it in his district.  That's a fair question, actually.  What about your own councilman?

 

As for "another" prison, what's here (other than local jails) except the women's prison by the E. 34th rapid station?

 

 

I think in order to make NIMBY work, you need to have a grassroots citizen action. The politicians will follow. If they do not follow what the citizens want... well, just ask former Lakewood Mayor Kahn about that.

 

So it does not matter what my council(woman) wants... its what the residents want.

 

I stand corrected on the term "another." It was supposed to be "Adding A prison." The statement I was attempting (poorly) to make in that sentence was meant to imply social services. (CSI at Metrohealth, Juvy, countless Temp centers, the huge proportion of low-income housing) All of these things sit mostly within the city limits. Why add another? Why can't the rest of the county start taking up the slack (I sound like I'm arguing with my wife - repeating)?

 

To be clear, I never implied that NIMBYISM is at work here. I was invoking my chance to have a say. My own personal batch of NIMBYISM that I bought fair and square at the flea market at Memphis Drive-in before they closed.

I stand corrected on the term "another." It was supposed to be "Adding A prison." The statement I was attempting (poorly) to make in that sentence was meant to imply social services. (CSI at Metrohealth, Juvy, countless Temp centers, the huge proportion of low-income housing) All of these things sit mostly within the city limits. Why add another? Why can't the rest of the county start taking up the slack (I sound like I'm arguing with my wife - repeating)?

 

To be clear, I never implied that NIMBYISM is at work here. I was invoking my chance to have a say. My own personal batch of NIMBYISM that I bought fair and square at the flea market at Memphis Drive-in before they closed.

 

Fair enough.  But the fact is, your social services "customers" live, for the most part, in the city or inner ring suburbs.  This may not directly apply to the prison, but I daresay their families live in those areas, when they have them.  I'm no sociologist, but I would think family input would be an important part of rehabilitation, unless of course one's mom considers "dumber than mud" to be a racist term.

 

Since RTA is very Cleveland-centric, you'd be making things difficult for said families if they don't drive.

 

Finally, I suspect that outside of downtown, land is cheaper in Cleveland and the inner ring than it is in the outer ring. 

Finally, I suspect that outside of downtown, land is cheaper in Cleveland and the inner ring than it is in the outer ring.  [/b][/color]

 

I think thats quite the opposite.

E Rocc:

 

Ok

Read your response tomorrow and ask yourself:

 

"Self... why?"

"Why are all the "customers" living only in the city, when many of the jobs are located outside said city?"

"Why... self?"

 

Finally, I suspect that outside of downtown, land is cheaper in Cleveland and the inner ring than it is in the outer ring.  [/b][/color]

 

I think thats quite the opposite.

 

I don't. Why would land in Cleveland outside of downtown and in the inner-ring suburbs be more expensive? If housing prices are any indication, the land has got to be a bargain, too!