Charlestown's Bob Hall channels his inner Gahan. Are the cattle cars on their way?

We can't demand politicians be honest and transparent without congratulating Bob Hall for his candor.

If we're all being honest (paging Mr. Dickey), there can be little doubt that the conceptual basis of ersatz Democrat Jeff Gahan's public housing putsch in New Albany is perfectly synchronized with the undoubtedly genuine Republican Hall's crusade to erase Pleasant Ridge from the map of Charlestown.

Both seek to make the right kind of space for the better sort of citizen. Think of it as a neatly refashioned "Lebensraum" for River Ridge -- after all, it isn't like those low-rent, anti-social elements work, or anything as useful.

To paraphrase Pete Townshend, "Go to the mirror boys."

Mayor denies Pleasant Ridge accusations, says 'low-rent' neighborhood needs to be removed, by Kirsten Clark (Courier-Journal)

SCOTTSBURG, Indiana — Charlestown Mayor Bob Hall — who is accused of improperly colluding with private developers to wipe out the low-income Pleasant Ridge neighborhood — testified Friday he did nothing wrong in trying to help remove a "low-rent" neighborhood that can attract people "who are not contributing to society."

During a hearing before a judge, Hall maintained that enforcement of the city’s property maintenance code through inspections and fines — which Pleasant Ridge residents allege is part of an “illegal scheme” to force them out — was carried out lawfully and has been effective in addressing issues of crime, garbage and substandard housing in the neighborhood.

“I know it’s not politically correct to say this, but when you have a low-rent district, it invites people who are not contributing to society,” Hall said.

As a closing thought, I fixed Hall's statement:

"I know it’s not politically correct to say this, but when you have One Southern Indiana, it invites people who are not contributing to society."