George Nemeth · Polensek is crude and obnoxious—again

July 28th, 2008

While some of the residents of my ward appreciate his dramatic, jerry springer-esque performances, I’d really appreciate someone who understands fundamental quality of life issues (like making sure the garbage cans in the main business district of his ward aren’t overflowing with trash) and doesn’t act like a pissed off union shop steward when he can’t get his way. Who wants an autocrat?

E. 185th St (my neighborhood, by the way) doesn’t need another carwash. There’s 5 of them within a two mile drive of the proposed carwash. So yeah, Professor, I’m bitching about a carwash:

You may have read in the PD’s Tipoff column this AM that Polensek had it out with another constituent. She was upset that a carwash was being built in her neighborhood.

That’s right, a carwash.

Who bitches about a carwash? Cars need to be cleaned.

So instead of holding the hand of this constituent, Polensek let her have it. The gist of his argument – would you rather have a bar there and deal with the drunks? Or would you rather have the lot stay vacant?

Is it really an either/or decision? Does it really have to be a carwash, or nothing at all? Tear it down, make a parking lot and give people a reason to park their cars and walk the neighborhood. Better yet,
why can’t it be torn down, and made into a park or a community garden?

Political Science 216: Polensek’s The One! For now.

Category: Collinwood

13 Responses to “Polensek is crude and obnoxious—again”

  1. Matt Says:
    July 28th, 2008 at 5:01 pm

    Parks and community gardens don’t produce tax revenue, they don’t provide jobs, they don’t bring any business into the neighborhood.

    Cleveland needs jobs and businesses, wherever they come from, we need to remove the roadblocks that we have placed in their way.

  2. George Nemeth Says:
    July 28th, 2008 at 5:21 pm

    Thanks, Matt. You’re correct, a park or garden won’t bring jobs to the neighborhood, but neither will a self-serve carwash. As far as generating tax revenue, it’s hard for me to imagine that it’ll amount to anything significant.

    As for “removing roadblocks”, isn’t preventing a bad business decision that will lead to another vacant property being a responsible member of the community?

    The strategic plan from Northeast Shores describes critical issues for commercial development as being 1.Inconsistent matches between commercial districts image and commercial business operations. 2. Improved consistency of vision between board, staff and community. 3. Future “shared vision” for each commercial district. Does it seem to you that this plan addresses these points in a productive way? It sure doesn’t to me.

  3. John Says:
    July 29th, 2008 at 3:15 am

    How many banks within a two mile drive?
    http://maps.google.com/maps?q=&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_en__229US229
    10 - count em 10 - banks in a two mile drive.
    Yet two new banks may be built on 185th without complaint.

    How many drug stores within a two mile drive?
    http://maps.google.com/maps?q=&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_en__229US229
    10 - count em - 10 drug stores in a two mile drive.
    Yet two new drug stores are built on lake shore without complaint.

    lotta room for new business.
    don’t see the consistent logic to welcome some yet turn away others.

    Don’t want to marry my daughter off to the first suitor.
    The horseshoe is a condemnable old maid.
    Marry her to the car wash

  4. George Nemeth Says:
    July 29th, 2008 at 10:59 am

    Thanks, John. How many of those do you suppose will remain open in the next 2-3 years? Sooner or later, we’re going to have to come to terms with the fact that Collinwood (and Cleveland) is a shrinking city and that 10 banks, 10 drug stores, 5 carwashs and 10 barber shops withing 2 miles is probably more then the local economy will support.

    Who’s logic are you referring to? I’ve said on several occasions that I didn’t want another drug store, or another bank, or the tops to become a save-a-lot. Polensek wanted those things, and apparently, what Polensek wants, Polensek gets because if he doesn’t he throws a tantrum.

  5. Gloria Ferris Says:
    July 30th, 2008 at 1:08 am

    Twenty years ago, intersections would have gas stations on 3 of 4 corners. It now appears that the trend has moved to drugstores on three of four corners. At the corner of Fulton and Clark, where there were two vacant lots among four commercial buildings and probably five or six houses facing Fulton and another side street,
    all structures have been demolished, making way for a new Walgreens. One corner is home to a Rite Aid. The corner directly opposite the new Walgreen’s is the gas station corner and the other is occupied by the vacant Zannoni wholesale grocery property-home to another drugstore soon? Did I say that there is presently a Walgreen’s two stoplights east on Clark? What happens to that property when Walgreen’s moves to its new digs a few blocks west? Oversaturation of the market happens and those with better market share survive. But is the real story about the amassing of LAND? was anyone aware that BP Petroleum is the largest landholder in Cuyahoga County? I wasn’t. If we were playing monopoly would they be the winners?

    I agree with George just because someone comes to you with a proposal for a property does not mean that it is the best fit for a neighborhood. We need to stop thinking that any development is the right development and begin to plan strategically how to shape our neighborhoods.

    In this planning, we should not underestimate the value of green space. It cools the atmosphere, has a calming effect, and provides areas where people can walk, play, and interact.

  6. lmcshane Says:
    July 30th, 2008 at 2:01 am

    Polensek lives in the city and I doubt he will leave the city, which is more than can be said for our other council reps. He generally does a good job fighting for his constituents. I don’t think we need another car wash, but as Gloria points out, our fill-er up mentality shifts every generation, depending on how long we can go without–whether it be gas, fast food, drugs, and car washes–so Polensek is just pandering to us. Meanwhile, we have our own distorted development proposed for Ward 15. Does any one care?

  7. lmcshane Says:
    July 30th, 2008 at 2:31 am

    Can anyone tell me about http://www.goinvestwisely.com? They have just picked up about 60 foreclosed city lots, most from Stonecrest Investments, most vacant. Bill Callahan–does Brian tell you anything?

  8. lmcshane Says:
    July 30th, 2008 at 2:33 am

    I don’t remember asking anyone for subsidized senior housing to be planted on our neighborhood park.

  9. Derek Arnold Says:
    July 30th, 2008 at 2:55 pm

    It’s about population density. What do those numbers look like in that neck of the woods?

    If the density is there to support a business, then all’s ok but if not, then there’s a problem.

    Still, my opinion of Polensek is still pretty low.

  10. lmcshane Says:
    July 30th, 2008 at 3:43 pm

    My coworker sits on the board of Northeast Shores, bought a house in North Collinwood, and has only good things to say about Mike Polensek. He’s not perfect, but he is not afraid to talk and pick up the pieces. We all need to start talking and stop skirting around the issues destroying our communities.

  11. George Nemeth Says:
    July 30th, 2008 at 8:22 pm

    Polensek’s not afraid to talk, that’s for sure. What I’m not sure about is his willingness to “pick up the pieces”, let other people talk and deal with issues destroying our community without “letting people have it” and referring to them as “dumber than mud”. Not exactly my kind of leader.

  12. lmcshane Says:
    July 30th, 2008 at 9:16 pm

    He’s the first one to admit that he’s uncouth :) We’re all dealing with childish name calling. Dumb and dumber is the name of the game here.

  13. Toni Says:
    August 3rd, 2008 at 10:54 pm

    I also live in North Collinwood, not too far from George. And, I hate to say it. A car wash is a bad idea. I am for progress, and jobs and more jobs. I love the idea of a park. I agree, what is wrong with some green space. Maybe a dog park. Why not. Let’s beautify the neighborhood instead of filling it up with stuff that we don’t need; and a car wash will destroy the street. My father had a restaurant in the neighborhood and I am sure he will not be too happy about a car wash of all things. Not to mention an eye sore for me because I won’t be too far from it. Not to mention, more riff raff to hang out in. I hope it falls through…