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George Nemeth · My Councilman can’t see the conflict
December 21st, 2008
Nice job by Henry Gomez for raising these questions in the article:
When Cleveland City Councilman Michael Polensek couldn’t find a favorable loan to buy a foreclosed house on his street this summer, he called in a favor that the average resident in his ward would have been hard-pressed to receive.
Polensek asked the community development agency he funds with federal tax dollars to buy the house for him while he looked for a loan that he liked. Collinwood & Nottingham Villages Development Corp. did just that, and Polensek bought the home on the far northeast side six weeks later.
Critics say the deal potentially violated several Ohio’s ethics laws because of the councilman’s close ties with the agency.
Polensek is the founder of Collinwood & Nottingham, which depends on the councilman for its very survival. The agency has received more than $900,000 from Polensek’s annual allocation of community block grant money since 2004.
In 2006, records show, more than 60 percent of the agency’s funding came from Polensek.
Ohio ethics laws prohibit public officials from using their office for personal gain, but Polensek, council’s loudest watchdog when it comes to corruption and mismanagement, insists that he did nothing wrong…
While most of the comments on the article are your typical cleveland.com trash a couple stand out:
- This from “Geary”—So many times I tried to get properties in Collinwood and was unable to due to circumstances beyond my control, and I had cash. If an average citizens can not use the Collinwood & Nottingham Villages Development Corp to hold property for them then neither should the councilman.
- From “CPDTruth”—Michael Polensek isn’t much different than Robert White or Joe Jones. He used his position to benefit himself and his family. I’m disappointed. He speaks about Council integrity and bemoans the negative image most of us have about Cleveland City Council, and what does he do… he uses the non-profit he funds and supports to cut a sweatheart deal for himself.
- “poparent”—This story likely is just the tip of the iceberg of the true nature of these community development organizations that these politicians dole out money to. And it is federal tax dollars. Let’s hope the feds take a close look at all of these agencies in the Cleveland area. Polensek’s statements that he does not think anything was done wrong here makes one wonder if his perception derives from knowledge that everyone else is doing it too…
Thanks to my friend Mister Tony for forwarding this article to me.
Councilman Michael Polensek’s house purchase raises questions – Metro – cleveland.com
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December 21st, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Wow. Cleveland’s Michael Polensek is corrupt. Seems like he should’ve learned by now though that this is no longer how politics are played. He should admit to wrongdoing but tell people it’s ok and then keep doing it. That’s how the big boys play. Wake up Polensek!
December 21st, 2008 at 8:10 pm
This is so wrong on so many levels. The CDC should know better as well.
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:56 am
where is my bailout?
from the little guy
December 22nd, 2008 at 6:55 am
Stupid and illegal–yes. But the real question is why was it hard for Polensek to get a loan? It looks like the house would have waited for him, without the CDC shell game. I would also like to know why this CDC apparently used their ability to hold property NOW, when none of the rest of CDCs are using this option to protect key neighborhood properties from vandalism and ultimately demolition. It appears that this option/ability will now transfer to the Cuyahoga County land bank.
December 22nd, 2008 at 6:57 am
BTW, this is NOT exactly breaking news…it happened over three months ago. The PD really has me on the edge of my seat. I can’t wait until they expose the shady demolitions in my neighborhood…Some one obviously called this story in to the PD.
December 22nd, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Here the councilman could use his muscle to get the bank to drop the ridiculous asking price for the theatre–
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/12/shuttered_cleveland_movie_hous.html
December 22nd, 2008 at 5:22 pm
so what are the ramifications of his conduct?
December 22nd, 2008 at 7:38 pm
There won’t be any ramifications for the councilman unless his constituents demand his conduct changes. If the comments on Cleveland.com are any indication, there isn’t much chance of that. His supporters responded similarly to his handling of the Arsenio Winston letter. Apparently though, he doesn’t have many critics. Either that or he silences them.
December 22nd, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Perhaps, Polensek knows that the Ohio Ethics Commission is a pretty toothless dog..http://www.ethics.ohio.gov/ and council policing themselves?…
Polensek’s little CDC transaction ain’t nothing…compared to the shenanigans going on over here.
December 22nd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/12/councilman_michael_polenseks_h.html#2231663
December 24th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
If Mike can’t see the conflict, he needs to be replaced. The CDC is acting as his agent, and he is the one who supplies it with funds. The flow of funds should not be through the city, in the first place; the flow has inherent conflicts.
The CDC seems to have ceased being a nonprofit and ought to be stripped of its nonprofit status–it served as the handmaiden of government, as did the GCP in the matter of the sales tax increase. If a church meddled in government, there would be repercussions. The same should apply to secular nonprofits.