Sunday, May 22, 2005

To the shores of Tripoli: A very good Tribune Sunday

It’s been just shy of a year since the NA Confidential household elected to ignore the abundant lessons of previous history and subscribe to the New Albany Tribune.

Some have suggested that I have a love-hate relationship with our local newspaper, but this is not the case. When high expectations on one end are often met with underachievement on the other, a certain measure of disappointment is bound to occur.

But not today.

The Sunday edition of the Tribune has much to recommend it, including:

Managing Editor Chris Morris on the Saturday dedication of the restored Division Street School.

City Editor Amany Ali on yesterday’s Da Vinci Downtown festival.

County Reporter Kyle Lowry on the reconstituted New Albany Merchants Association, now known as the New Albany Historic Business District Association.

A page three press release presumably authored by the Floyd County YMCA/LifeSpan Resources partnership, titled “New Albany downtown business leader excited about future growth.”

Guest columnist Terry Cummins in the lead editorial slot, writing on the Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy’s “Daily Thoughts to Nourish the Soul.”

A travel report by frequent contributor Doug Eads describing a visit to Libya.

That’s right – not the Huber Farm, Branson MO or Cancun, but Libya.

In the Tribune.

Today.

All this would make today’s Tribune worth reading, and even paying $1.25 for the privilege, and yet there’s more.

In an op-ed essay titled “City officials work to keep city operating,” Mayor James Garner describes New Albany’s current budgetary problems, traces their origins, outlines the Garry Plan for dealing with the situation, dispassionately reports the City Council’s “mixed” response to the plan, indicates encouragement with the outcome of last Thursday’s council meeting, expresses hope that cooperation will avert worst case scenarios, and does so with clarity, grace and a measured, statesmanlike tone throughout.

With an ever-calculating 1st District Councilman Dan Coffey now recognizing the tactical benefits of a climb-down on the Garry Plan, who among the city’s “no progress at any price” sect cares to attempt such a concise explanation of what the flat-earthers are against, as contrasted to what Mayor Garner has so aptly summarized he is for?

Will 3rd District Councilman Steve Price, whose recent embrace of the lowest common denominator outpaces even that of his 1st District political puppet master, attempt to author the response?

If so, expect a reprise of the Grouch Marx song:

We don’t know what they have to say
It makes no difference anyway
Whatever it is, we’re against it

No matter what is or who commenced it

We’re against it

1 comment:

na girl said...

One point not mentioned in the story about the rededication of the Division Street School is the impressive attendance. While I am no authority on estimating crowd sizes there were easily 300 people in attendance. It is very encouraging to see so many people who have an interest in our community and its history.

It took 10 years and $400,000 for volunteers to complete this project. This is more proof that there are dedicated people with vision here and that it is possible to clean up and preserve New Albany.

Just remember what two people with an idea have been able to accomplish.