Jul 24 2007
Michael Polensek

Councilman Gets Funky With Alleged Drug Dealer: You’re Dumber Than Mud

Councilman Michael Polensek has represented Cleveland’s 11th Ward for 25 years. Apparently when he’s not at the office, he’s kicking back and getting inspired by episodes of The Wire. Like those HBO characters, Polensek sports a nickname: Mcgruff the Crime Dog, and he has a list of people in the neighborhood on his *hitlist.

After hearing about an alleged drug dealer’s arrest, Arsenio Winston, 18, Polensek recognized the name as one of his biggest troublemakers. He fired up a copy of Word and got his bark on. “You have to be dumber than mud”.. “stupid a*s” ..“loser” .. “piece of trash” were some of the choice words from the councilman.

He laughed because Winston’s “gang ratted” him out and signed off with this tender sentiment.. “Go to jail or the cemetery soon.”

Click the pic to get a closer look.

Michael Polensek's letter

The postcard quote..

“I told you 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 ass is out of my neighborhood.”

Tonya Lewis, Arsenio’s mother was outraged. She said the letter is a death threat to her son. She’s hired a lawyer and has written Al Sharpton for assistance.

Michael Polensek shrugged, he said he writes blunt letters to “troublemakers” all the time, but it wasn’t a death threat and he’s not going to apologize.

“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.

I don’t wish that he dies. I don’t wish that any young person dies.

What I’m saying is, this is what will happen to him - it’s either the cemetery or jail - unless he changes his life.”


☼ What's Your Opinion? ☼

1 Anon Tue, Jul 24, 2007 - 11:58 pm

I stay in Cleveland and they’ve been reporting on this story everyday. The mother is claiming that the letter is “racist” because the councilman said her son was “dumber than mud.” She said that mud is black and so is her son therefore making the letter racist…

2 SqBiz... Wed, Jul 25, 2007 - 2:26 am

...Is Tonya Lewis outraged at the fact that her son has now officially become a good for nothing sack of puss or the fact that it took Cleveland’s Councilman to show her the truth?

3 The R Wed, Jul 25, 2007 - 10:03 am

I love this story. She should be sued for public endangerment for producing that A-hole. She should have to serve his time too or split it with him.

4 dmac Wed, Jul 25, 2007 - 10:40 am

great letter, we as black people always trying to make a easy dollar. have a talk with your son dummy.

5 CHIEF 00 Wed, Sep 19, 2007 - 12:02 am

TO EVERYONE THAT THINKS THAT THIS LETTER IS GOOD YOU ARE WRONG. SHOULD THAT GUY BE ARRESTED, YES, IF HE WAS SELLING DRUGS BUT THE COUNCILMAN HAS NO RIGHT TO SEND THESE LETTERS. HE ACTS LIKE A LEGALIZED THUG. HE TALKS BEHIMD THE POLICE AND SECURITY THAT PROTECTS HIM. HE ACTS LIKE HE BELONGS TO THE SOPRRANOS. THAT IS A REAL PUSSY. YES COUNCILMAN GET THEM OFF OF THE STREET BUT DON’T STOOP TO THEIR LEVEL AS YOU ALREADY HAVE. TO DMAC, TRUE TOO MANY BLACKS ARE TRYING TO MAKE THE FAST DOLLAR AND THAT IS WRONG BUT HOW MANY JOBS ARE TURNING US DOWN JUST BECAUSE WE ARE BLACK. I DON’T CONDONE SELLING DRUGS AND THINK ANYONE SELLING SHOULD GO TO JAIL BUT THIS COUNCILMAN (LEGALIZED GANG MEMBER) IS GOING ABOUT IT LIKE A THUG.

Name

Comment