Cleveland Fires Back At Web Videos Mocking The City As "Mistake On The Lake" (WATCH)

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CLEVELAND -- Come to Cleveland, where the economy is based on LeBron James, the streets are filled with drifters and broken-down homes can be had for the price of a VCR.

A comedian's sarcastic YouTube music videos trashing Cleveland have so unnerved tourism officials that they asked residents to fire back with videos of their own showing the city is not really the "Mistake on the Lake."

But take it easy, Cleveland. Mike Polk, 31, a hometown comic and video producer, said his two videos _ which also maligned the city for such things as its abandoned buildings and polluted waters _ were all in fun.

"I don't really believe all of the fish in Lake Erie have AIDS," said Polk, whose YouTube contribution to Cleveland's inferiority complex landed him a job judging the mostly feel-good contest videos.

WATCH:

The winner of the contest sponsored by the city's travel promotion agency, Positively Cleveland, will be announced Thursday.

Entries had to cost $2 or less to produce; be 2 minutes long, tops; and highlight favorite spots and the "unexpected side of the area about which tourists may not be aware."

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The winner gets a Cleveland travel package, including a stay in a downtown hotel, dinner and passes to attractions.
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Polk's favorite spots? The Playhouse Square theater district and corner music clubs.

But there's another inescapable part of Cleveland, including a dwindling population, shrinking manufacturing base, a high poverty rate and rampant foreclosures. Polk hits on many of the anti-highlights in the bare-knuckle video:

_ Its manufacturing might? "Here's the place were there used to be industry," the song says against a backdrop of urban desolation.

_ The resilient blue-collar population? "Cleveland leads the nation in drifters," the video warns.

_ The city's economy? It's based on the Cavaliers' James, Most Valuable Player in the NBA.

Positively Cleveland played off Polk's "Hastily Made" video title with a "Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video Contest" and paid homage to Polk and "this video making the rounds out there. ... You know who you are, funny guys."

Samantha Fryberger, who promotes the city as director of communications for Positively Cleveland, said there were no hard feelings about Polk's video ribbing.

"We thought we would not get defensive about it," she said Wednesday. "We're not mad about it; we're just going to have a little fun with it."

Clevelanders unhappy that Polk knocked the city are silly to suggest he shouldn't point out shortcomings, he said.

"I love the city and or else I would have left a long time ago," he said. "But I'm also realistic and I'm not going to pretend like there aren't a lot of negatives around here."

Still, Polk offered Cleveland a glimmer of hope, ending one video with the chant: "We're not Detroit."

Comments

[Rog49Thomas]

Please the "Great" Mistake on the Lake.

[larry278]

There are 2 states in the USA where the wind never blows. Those states are NJ & Oh. The wind sucks in Oh & NJ. Everything that the wind sucks in Oh goes to Cleveland. Everything that the NJ wind sucks goes to Newark.

[larry278]

It's much worse for Cleveland. Cleveland is the axilla of the Great Lakes. Detroit is the anus of the Great Lakes. That's right water & feces floats from Detroit to Lake Erie. Cleveland is the bubble in the cess pool, no more mistake on the lake. Geneva is the 21st century's mistake on the lake. Chill, don't break the bubble, bubbles keep flowing to the top of cess pools. Think of it as Cleveland renewing itself each time a bubble surfaces on your cess pool, Lake Erie.

[Elyriaohio]

Sad but true...Cleveland does suck.
We are the red-headed stepchild of Ohio.
The only revenues are from over-policing any tourists that come to town.
As for tourism. "Service with a sneer" is standard policy.

A lot could be learned from Chicago - They treat tourists like gold.

[SpaghettyIrish]

Most of Cleveland's (or anywhere else in the Rustbelt)problems can be solved by ending free trade. Within a few years, off that one move alone, these cities would start to come back to life, without major gov't backed construction boondoggles that all seemed to be called "Renaissance (something or other)."

Now, can you guess what city I live in?

[laborgrunt]

Detroit?

I agree kill NAFTA

[SpaghettyIrish]

Nah. If I was from Detroit... I dunno what I'd do.

[King Cashaw]

I have been to Cleveland a number of times, and each time I am impressed with what I see. Is the city perfect, no, but hey I was just passing through and do not know the city well.

The only negative experience I had was while passing through the City driving a car registered in Pa., I got egged and stoned. I was told to go back to the burgh. Not even a football fan.

The last time I was in Cleveland, spring 2008, I stayed within walking distance of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, a true waste of money, and enjoyed some very nice dining downtown. The Flats were going as well as the area around my Hotel, which used to be a train station, I think.

[clevelandchick]

The Flats are dead. You were probably in The Warehouse District.

Actually next time you're in town you should head to the Ohio City and Tremont neighborhoods. And you have to go to The Westside Market. You'd be even more impressed. Also check out East 4th Street, excellent dining...Iron Chef Michael Symon's restaurant Lola is there.

I've lived here all my life and I love it. I'm two streets from the lake, we have fabulous dining, great cultural destinations: Playhouse Square, tons of art galleries, The Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Institute of Music, The Art Museaum, MOCA.....I could go on and on. We're in the forefront of the green movement with 5 urban farms and 200 community gardens.

Every city has it's problems but I'd never want to live anywhere else but here in Cleveland.

[lynnn]

Why do some of my post disappear?

[Ohioan730]

All the little chicks with the crimson lips go:

CLEVELAND SUCKS! CLEVELAND SUCKS!

Livin in sin where the state begins

CLEVELAND SUCKS! CLEVELAND SUCKS! CLEVELAND SUCKS! CLEVELAND SUCKS!

OHIO!!!!

(And the schools suck worse than any major city in the USA. Take Cleveland and shove it!!!)

[lynnn]

It isn't as Cleveland HAS to suck... it could get better. Heck there are also a lot of Reagan dems in that area that voted themselves out of a job.

[callmeslice23]

There is no such thing as a reagan democrat. We call them republicans.

[Ohioan730]

I've been living in Cleveland for 30 years, ever since I was 6 years old and we moved from upstate NY. My family doesn't like Cleveland, Ohio and never did. My mother moved back to upstate NY after living here for about 25 years.

The first thing my mom and dad noticed was that the entire city shuts down at a certain time and you are NOT allowed to be out in the streets. The police will get you. And don't be black and get caught DWB in the suburbs at night. Its still that way.

The leadership here is so corrupt and full of nepotism and people will do NOTHING about it. Believe me, I was an organizer here. You can't change anything unless the people are fired up.

This is one of the most racially divided cities I've ever seen. Whenever you have several ALL black suburbs to choose from, something's wrong and white flight is abundant. My bf is white. Its almost a miracle we found each other and most of his friends have offended me by talking about blacks and not knowing I'm one of them. Plain racial ignorance on both sides of the fence.

This city/state is not my cup of tea. I'm waiting for my kids to grow up and I'm going to Cali or Florida. This city is a mistake on a stoopid lake. Bash away at Cleveland, I don't care.

[lynnn]

OMG, how could you speak such heresy, don't you dare discuss this stuff, you are just bitter or something...

[Ohioan730]

LOL! You can have this city if you want it. It sucks. Badly.

[Midwestbob]

Hey you need to move where Lynn lives because I'm sure it's just a wonderful place and you could actually go out in the streets!

[Ohioan730]

I bet you love sucky Cleveland. You're probably one of the white flighters.

[Ben6768]

Cleveland or bust !!!

[Midwestbob]

I'm amazed about this continual attacking on Cleveland. I live in San Francisco (born in the midwest) travel extensively, visiting most major U.S. cities and abroad and Cleveland is really a great place and in fact kicks butt on most cities. I look forward to visiting whenever I can. I'm not saying it doesn't have problems but so do all cities. There is an issue with some locals being negative but there are plenty that are very positive. I think a lot of this is people want other cities to rag on and look down on and unfortunately Cleveland fell into this undeserved position. People that point fingers at Cleveland are largely ignorant about Cleveland, insecure about their own city, both, or just out to capitalize on it like the dolt who made the video. People need to just shut up about Cleveland. If you want to be negative look around your own city and see if you have the right or room to point fingers at Cleveland. Even better why don't you do something good for this Country by giving a great city like Cleveland props for what it does bring to the table. Visit Cleveland and see what's there because I guarantee you if you went there with me you would leave admiring this town. People who listen to blowhards like Barkley and others really need to stop and become informed if you really want to be objective.

[lynnn]

It has great hospitals there are you happy now?

[lynnn]

Not to pile on but you really can't guarantee that people who have never been to Cleveland would love it. My sister visited once (for a job at one of your fine hospitals) that city made her hate Ohio, she moved to Indy instead..

Now Indy really is a city that has turned itself around. However, most people have never been to the mid-west, and I do think that those who have not ventured there would actually find a few cities that they really like.

[Midwestbob]

Read my post again where did I say anything about a guarantee that everyone who has not visited Cleveland will automatically love it? It always amazes me what people like you take away from a post. I said if I showed you what I know about Cleveland you would leave with admiration. I can't answer for your sister but after visiting once for a job interview and she ended up hating the City? You're saying she is qualified to make that judgement on Cleveland? Perhaps she wasn't up to that hospitals standards? Seems more bitter than anything. And Indianapolis? I don't want to get into knocking any city but believe me I have been there and there is plenty to bash that town about.

[Jacques415]

I spent twenty years in Cleveland one night...

[nicole44]

Thanks, Bob. It is a great city but you have those few bitter people (cough cough right below) that just hate on anything because they can.

[lynnn]

Yes because Cleveland doesn't have any problems what so ever, if it ain't broke don't fix it right?

[Midwestbob]

You're welcome. It's just agravating to constantly hear ignorant rants about Cleveland.

[crater123]

It's a joke people. Relax. Just laugh along. These are really funny.

I'm from Syracuse... I should know!

[MaidinMossyCreek]

Cleveland does have the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Personally, I think it should be in Memphis.

[King Cashaw]

Been to the Hall of Fame, let Cleveland have it. In my opinion, an amazing waste of money.

[BitterClinger15301]

Ask any Pittsburgher, Cleveland sucks!

[Midwestbob]

And we would ask any Pittsburgher about anything because why?

[neige]

The sad thing is you can add any other large industrial city's name to that video.