At the January 19th City Council meeting, 3rd District Councilman Steve Price publicly doubted the sincerity of “9 out of 10” property developers, offhandedly commenting that they’re only in it for the money, as opposed to the lone uinidentified but saintly altruist, whom we persist in presuming to be The Gary.
At the time, we thought this statement peculiar even by CM Price’s abundant standards of recurring malopropism, itself one of those $10 words barely understood by Sellersburg grandmothers and other local creationists.
While not a property "developer" along the grandiose vista-altering lines of The Gary, CM Price indeed owns more than one rental property within the boundaries of his council district, and one would think that in spite of the councilman’s generally favorable landlording marks, he might seek to avoid dismissing the motives of profit-mongering "developers" when so many small-time slumlords feel precisely the same itch.
Yesterday we began a consideration of this topic in “For New Albany to inaugurate a rental property reform program with teeth would be Priceless -- and it must occur, with or without him.”
My friend and co-blogger Bluegill offered the following comment, which some readers may have missed:
Given that the rental property problem affects all socio-economic levels and our current non-system has obviously failed, any elected or appointed official that's not willing to support a strong rental property reform program should be voted out of office and/or fired. This is especially true of those officials who specifically represent districts with a disproportionate concentration of rentals such as Price.
The responsibility for improving the rental situation falls on every level of city government. The City Council can start the process by passing legislation that makes regular inspection mandatory and by funding the proper enforcement mechanisms. The Mayor can help by hiring a Building Commissioner that takes inspection and enforcement responsibilities seriously. At the very least, the person filling that role should recognize violations when he or she is coerced into viewing them, which isn’t the case now. Although he's due credit for doing so recently, Mr. Toran and the rest of the Board of Public Works shouldn't have to baby-sit.
While Steve LaDuke raises some valid issues concerning potential areas of compromise in the actual rental ordinance requirements, there's no excuse at any level for not moving forward on the issue. Rental inspection/licensing programs have consistently worked in similar situations. Based on those successes, it also seems feasible to make such programs either entirely self-supporting or close enough that the investment to pay-off ratio is so favorable as to make a debate about cost irrelevant.
If the Tribune is looking for a lead (and they damn well ought to be given their lackadaisical coverage lately), this is it. There are numerous stories and photo ops within walking distance. They could do a year-long series of features, starting with the headline Why Steve Price Doesn't Support Clean, Safe Housing, and continue on indefinitely without ever putting the keys in the ignition.
As someone mentioned to me recently, there's a difference between apathy and malice. How long, though, do elected officials have to flaunt that apathy before it becomes maliciousness in effect?
Of course, CM Price insists that he does support “clean, safe housing,” just so long as it remains a conjectural aim that won’t cost anything in the reality-based community.
And that’s precisely the point where apathy becomes malicious.
For a useful introduction to what we're up against, let’s turn now to the discussion forums of Mr. Landlord:
I received a letter today from city hall informing me that all of my rental properties will require 2 inspections a year at a whopping $100.00 per inspect. The letter stated that this is the same occupacy inspection that I was paying $40.00 for. Has anyone else delt with this? Is there any way to fight it? How does this affect the tenants rights.I have so many problems with this I dont even know where to start. If you have any comments or insight I would love to hear from you.
First comes tender concern for the poverty-stricken tenants:
Join a local landlords' association, if there is one, and together fight this. Contact media, explain that landlords will be forced to pass along to their impoverished tenants what the rich city just did. Explain that two inspections a year is ridiculous and an insult to the fine job you do of landlording and keeping your tenants happy. Also mention how much that comes to per hour. I suspect that each inspection runs 30 min tops, so the city is charging you $200 an hour.
Then, from the Lobster State:
Check with your landlord association on what is going on. In Maine, some idiot attempts to put manditory inspections into law every so often, but the LL association does a great job of fighting the bill until it dies. I dread the day that happens in Maine! Your LL assoc should have been on top of this and provide some insight on the situation.
Perhaps it’s time to find another sucker of a city or county …
The best advice I can give you is to put them all up for sale and buy in the next county. This can't be a state rule. It is just a local county rule. It must have already passed which means it will be very hard to over turn it.
… so Go West, young man:
In Kansas City the topic of inspections frequently comes up, but so far it has always gotten dropped. The owner update from this site which I got yesterday had some good ideas on fighting city hall and inspections.
The Gary’s rental property owner, The Larry, weighs in:
Wow-what baloney. We don't have those here but I'm pretty sure that the day they pass will be the day I put the rentals up for sale. Does anyone else get sick and tired of jumping all these hoops and then paying for the privilege?
Another respondent suggests going for the political jugular vein …
We went through the same thing about 2 years ago in Kirksville Mo., the city council voted in a rental inspection ordinance with a fee. The very next election for council, the ones who voted for it were soundly defeated, and the very FIRST item on the new councils agenda was to repeal the ordinance! You may be able to google it and get some good ideas to rid your area of this ordinance.
… while finally, the faint voice of reason ends the discussion:
I don't like the idea unless your town is notorious for stacking and slumlording such as Morristown, NJ is noted for (Morristown is a neighboring town to mine). The inspectors in Morristown are cracking down big-time on stacking/slumlording and make frequent surprise inspections. Unless your town is trying to make a quick dollar, they may be reacting to conditions as I outlined above. If that's the case, do everything in your power to ensure your neighboring landlords do not participate in stacking/slumlording because they ruin it for everyone.
It's enough to make a person wonder why anyone ever gets into such a business. One possible answer comes from "landlord and author Steven A. Boorstein's How to Buy Rental Property blog:
Homeownership is great BUT, the fact is that it's not for everyone. There is a certain (large) percentage of the population that should not own a home. They SHOULD be renters. Their job instability, shaky family situation, cavalier lifestyle, inability to care for a house, ineptness at their finances, etc. all warrant that renting is better than buying. Yet this is some of the lastest demographic that has recently been lured to buying their first (and maybe last) home by a mortgage market promising 0% downpayments and low "starter rate" loans. And unfortunately, it's this group that could be hurt the worse when inflation takes hold and housing prices fall...
Ah, yes; compassion, not profit, is the key to rental property success.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Monday, January 30, 2006
For New Albany to inaugurate a rental property reform program with teeth would be Priceless -- and it must occur, with or without him.
During the course of idly Googling “rental property” and “accountability,” we’ve come across an incisive presentation of an aggressive rental property reform program that is discussed within the context of an economic vision plan formulated by a wide spectrum of community leaders in Vallejo, California.
Readers will recall that the question of rental property inspections was one of many clumsily sidestepped by 3rd District Councilman Steve Price in his recent interview with NA Confidential.
And yet the largely uncontrolled and unregulated proliferation of rental properties contributes -- in some ways, enables and perpetuates -- the culture of unaccountability and dysfunction that must be reversed if the city of New Albany is to move into the future.
In no uncertain terms, and contrary to CM Price’s transparently lukewarm (and toothless) advocacy of “cleanliness” and “homeowner’s … responsibility,” we feel that the precepts elucidated in the Vallejo Rental Property Program below eloquently testify to the need for New Albany’s elected officials to publicly identify and confront the abuses intrinsic to those rental properties that are poorly maintained and intentionally neglected, often (but not always) by absentee landlords who profit from the vulnerability of those in society who rent living space, but more insidiously, bear a disproportionate share of the responsibility for the degradation of New Albany’s neighborhoods.
But this is only one part of what is needed to help reclaim our neighborhoods.
In 2005, the city of New Albany made an important start by establishing the position of ordinance enforcement officer. Concurrent with the work of the OEO and a rental property program like Vallejo’s, we must have a functioning city court and a full-time city attorney to complete the cycle of accountability and to establish a foundation upon which to build a better quality of life.
It simply isn’t enough to have rules on the book. There must be the means of enforcement.
And there must be the political will to provide those means. Do we have it? We know who doesn’t. Who does?
It isn't enough to say that we can't afford it, because we can't afford not to try.
None of this is to imply that rental properties should be eradicated by Stalinist executive order, or that the full range of community housing options should not include apartment living, either downtown in older homes that have been turned into apartments, or in suburban apartment complexes built to order. Renting is part of life … and what we need most is to regulate it for the greater good of the community.
As the following clearly indicates, the benefits of rental property inspections are many, impacting both the quality of neighborhood life and economic growth in the city as a whole. Add to this the mechanisms of a city court and a full-time legal presence, and the benefits are obvious.
As with all things even remotely progressive, Steve “we can’t” Price already has opted out, so who among our elected officials intends to take the lead?
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Vallejo's Economic Vision Process
Vallejo's Economic Vision came about through a series of meetings with community leaders, including civic entrepreneurs, elected officials, municipal professionals, education and health care, business and industry, tourism, neighborhood and environmental leaders.
The participants developed an economic vision based on the principle that a vibrant economy is necessary to achieve a healthy, proud community and a high quality of life. The vision confirms and reinforces the need for community partnerships to address the human, social and infrastructure needs of Vallejo as it moves toward economic sustainability.
The number one priority of the City Support Structure subcommittee of the economic vision process is to develop and implement a comprehensive program to ensure code compliance for rental property and landlord accountability.
With the Economic Vision Process determination that improving rental housing was a high priority of the City, a preexisting group, already looking at rental housing, was asked by the City to develop a solution. This group, comprised of the Chamber of Commerce, rental property interests, realtors, community members, Fighting Back Partnership, and others, had been meeting for over a year prior to the Vision process recommendations. The Rental Property Sub-group has been meeting for over two years developing a rental program that reflects the interests of all interest groups on the committee.
VALLEJO RENTAL PROPERTY PROGRAM
A Comprehensive Community Model
This is to be accomplished by developing, passing and implementing a new city ordinance that would, in part:
Follow the links … there’s much more at the site itself.
To reiterate, if you're the elected official who's going to take the lead on this issue, please step forward.
Time's getting short.
Readers will recall that the question of rental property inspections was one of many clumsily sidestepped by 3rd District Councilman Steve Price in his recent interview with NA Confidential.
And yet the largely uncontrolled and unregulated proliferation of rental properties contributes -- in some ways, enables and perpetuates -- the culture of unaccountability and dysfunction that must be reversed if the city of New Albany is to move into the future.
In no uncertain terms, and contrary to CM Price’s transparently lukewarm (and toothless) advocacy of “cleanliness” and “homeowner’s … responsibility,” we feel that the precepts elucidated in the Vallejo Rental Property Program below eloquently testify to the need for New Albany’s elected officials to publicly identify and confront the abuses intrinsic to those rental properties that are poorly maintained and intentionally neglected, often (but not always) by absentee landlords who profit from the vulnerability of those in society who rent living space, but more insidiously, bear a disproportionate share of the responsibility for the degradation of New Albany’s neighborhoods.
But this is only one part of what is needed to help reclaim our neighborhoods.
In 2005, the city of New Albany made an important start by establishing the position of ordinance enforcement officer. Concurrent with the work of the OEO and a rental property program like Vallejo’s, we must have a functioning city court and a full-time city attorney to complete the cycle of accountability and to establish a foundation upon which to build a better quality of life.
It simply isn’t enough to have rules on the book. There must be the means of enforcement.
And there must be the political will to provide those means. Do we have it? We know who doesn’t. Who does?
It isn't enough to say that we can't afford it, because we can't afford not to try.
None of this is to imply that rental properties should be eradicated by Stalinist executive order, or that the full range of community housing options should not include apartment living, either downtown in older homes that have been turned into apartments, or in suburban apartment complexes built to order. Renting is part of life … and what we need most is to regulate it for the greater good of the community.
As the following clearly indicates, the benefits of rental property inspections are many, impacting both the quality of neighborhood life and economic growth in the city as a whole. Add to this the mechanisms of a city court and a full-time legal presence, and the benefits are obvious.
As with all things even remotely progressive, Steve “we can’t” Price already has opted out, so who among our elected officials intends to take the lead?
----
Vallejo's Economic Vision Process
Vallejo's Economic Vision came about through a series of meetings with community leaders, including civic entrepreneurs, elected officials, municipal professionals, education and health care, business and industry, tourism, neighborhood and environmental leaders.
The participants developed an economic vision based on the principle that a vibrant economy is necessary to achieve a healthy, proud community and a high quality of life. The vision confirms and reinforces the need for community partnerships to address the human, social and infrastructure needs of Vallejo as it moves toward economic sustainability.
The number one priority of the City Support Structure subcommittee of the economic vision process is to develop and implement a comprehensive program to ensure code compliance for rental property and landlord accountability.
With the Economic Vision Process determination that improving rental housing was a high priority of the City, a preexisting group, already looking at rental housing, was asked by the City to develop a solution. This group, comprised of the Chamber of Commerce, rental property interests, realtors, community members, Fighting Back Partnership, and others, had been meeting for over a year prior to the Vision process recommendations. The Rental Property Sub-group has been meeting for over two years developing a rental program that reflects the interests of all interest groups on the committee.
VALLEJO RENTAL PROPERTY PROGRAM
A Comprehensive Community Model
This is to be accomplished by developing, passing and implementing a new city ordinance that would, in part:
- Contain an inspection process for all rental property
- Impose fines for violations of the ordinance on property owners/property images
- Establish a database of all rental property, and
- Include an enforcement process
- Would, as much as possible, be financially self supporting
- Increased property values
- Increased rental demand
- Decreased general calls for police services
- Decreased calls about rental property problems to Code Enforcement
- Increased property management involvement in solving rental property issues
Why Does Vallejo Need a Rental Inspection Program?
Rental inspection programs are designed to accomplish three main goals:- To clean up rental stock
- To improve the quality of life in neighborhoods
- To increase the economic value of single family homes and other rental residences
Follow the links … there’s much more at the site itself.
To reiterate, if you're the elected official who's going to take the lead on this issue, please step forward.
Time's getting short.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Stop the presses: NAC talks high school basketball?
Insofar as the outside world cares, and this is unlikely, New Albany currently is known as the place where a runaway barge is lodged against an elderly railroad bridge across the Ohio.
A higher percentage of that select breed known as Court TV watchers probably are completely unaware of the barge, but are familiar with our city’s peripheral role in the murder trials of David Camm and Charles Boney.
NA Confidential isn’t interested in devoting time or space to either of these events, while at the same time recognizing their newsworthiness. The barge mishap serves as a timely reminder that proximity to rivers, airports, railroads and interstate highways – to any mode of transport – brings with it possibilities for accidents, some quite serious.
The seemingly eternal legal proceedings over the Camm family murders are our particular, local manifestation of the very essence of human tragedy in all its varied shades and colors. While there’s nothing like a criminal trial to bring out the “expert” in us all, we’ll happily defer from comment.
Instead, let’s talk sports.
Long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away, the author was a two-year varsity basketball player at Floyd Central High School. Teammates included Floyd County Commissioner Charles Freiberger and Scott Cecil, the New Albany fireman who was sleeping inside the Charlestown Road Fire Station No. 6 last Thursday when a drunken Taco Bell customer drove his minivan into its side.
Without going into details that are irrelevant after 28 years, it proved not to be the sort of empowering, life affirming experience suggested by movies like “Hoosiers,” the collegiate and professional Hall of Fame career of Larry Bird or even the political odyssey of one-time hoopster Lee Hamilton – which is to say, it was a fairly uneventful couple of years.
We won more than we lost, advanced to the regional both years, and went no further. Some games I played, and others not. The experience did little to promote success with cheerleaders, but helped in keeping my weight down until after graduation.
Last Friday night, my alma mater played its annual homecoming game against Seymour on the heels of an exciting, come from behind victory the previous weekend that raised the previously winless team’s record to 1 and 10 on the year.
The Highlanders promptly lost to the Owls by 50 points.
That is not a misprint. Fifty points.
Obviously, the basketball program at Floyd Central has fallen on hard times, and the trend didn’t begin on Friday night. There have been two head coaches since the venerable Joe Hinton departed, and his latter years at the helm were marked by consistently mediocre play. In fact, there probably hasn’t been a truly outstanding Highlander basketball squad since Pat Graham was a senior, circa 1988 or 1989.
Why?
To have spent any appreciable time in Indiana is to have been exposed to the glorious mythology of Hoosier Hysteria, and to have grown up in Floyd County during the era of Hinton’s fabled Super Hicks of 1971 is to have absorbed another stiff dose of epic overachievement against long odds, such as when the the Super Hicks rolled up 41 fourth quarter points in a regional final win against senior star guard Baron Hill's Seymour five -- five points more than the Highlanders scored the entire game in the homecoming loss on Friday.
Obviously, the world has changed since then. Floyd Central’s suburban district is more affluent than ever before, and the school itself is rated highly in all areas of academic measurement. The musical arts and theater departments continue to be veritable monoliths.
Even in terms of athletics, FCHS varsity sports other than boys’ basketball have excelled, particularly those stressing individual achievement like golf, swimming, tennis and wrestling. The football and baseball teams have been strong more often than not. The girls’ athletics program seems solid, and the basketball, volleyball and softball teams are competitve most years and quite good in others.
Some will cite the deleterious influence of the class basketball, and of course kids have much more to occupy their time now as compared to four decades ago. Others may point to facile conclusions derived from shallow black vs. white demographics, but there probably isn’t much truly scientific about this or any perspective, as would be attested by examples of programs at other demographically similar schools enjoying sustained success under analogous conditions.
Commissioner Freiberger, who still teaches at Highland Hills Middle School and lives in the county, might be able to shed some light on these questions, but along with Mr. And Mrs. Confidential, Scott’s a New Albanian now, and his children were (and are) Bulldogs.
There'll be no answers here. Contrary to popular troglodyte opinion, NAC knows it doesn't know everything. There may or may not be a larger truth resting somewhere in this story about high school basketball, and either way, it's a stimulating diversion from the norm.
To be sure, there are many more important topics, although the utility of periodic grappling with demons from one's past should never be entirely dismissed.
A higher percentage of that select breed known as Court TV watchers probably are completely unaware of the barge, but are familiar with our city’s peripheral role in the murder trials of David Camm and Charles Boney.
NA Confidential isn’t interested in devoting time or space to either of these events, while at the same time recognizing their newsworthiness. The barge mishap serves as a timely reminder that proximity to rivers, airports, railroads and interstate highways – to any mode of transport – brings with it possibilities for accidents, some quite serious.
The seemingly eternal legal proceedings over the Camm family murders are our particular, local manifestation of the very essence of human tragedy in all its varied shades and colors. While there’s nothing like a criminal trial to bring out the “expert” in us all, we’ll happily defer from comment.
Instead, let’s talk sports.
Long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away, the author was a two-year varsity basketball player at Floyd Central High School. Teammates included Floyd County Commissioner Charles Freiberger and Scott Cecil, the New Albany fireman who was sleeping inside the Charlestown Road Fire Station No. 6 last Thursday when a drunken Taco Bell customer drove his minivan into its side.
Without going into details that are irrelevant after 28 years, it proved not to be the sort of empowering, life affirming experience suggested by movies like “Hoosiers,” the collegiate and professional Hall of Fame career of Larry Bird or even the political odyssey of one-time hoopster Lee Hamilton – which is to say, it was a fairly uneventful couple of years.
We won more than we lost, advanced to the regional both years, and went no further. Some games I played, and others not. The experience did little to promote success with cheerleaders, but helped in keeping my weight down until after graduation.
Last Friday night, my alma mater played its annual homecoming game against Seymour on the heels of an exciting, come from behind victory the previous weekend that raised the previously winless team’s record to 1 and 10 on the year.
The Highlanders promptly lost to the Owls by 50 points.
That is not a misprint. Fifty points.
Obviously, the basketball program at Floyd Central has fallen on hard times, and the trend didn’t begin on Friday night. There have been two head coaches since the venerable Joe Hinton departed, and his latter years at the helm were marked by consistently mediocre play. In fact, there probably hasn’t been a truly outstanding Highlander basketball squad since Pat Graham was a senior, circa 1988 or 1989.
Why?
To have spent any appreciable time in Indiana is to have been exposed to the glorious mythology of Hoosier Hysteria, and to have grown up in Floyd County during the era of Hinton’s fabled Super Hicks of 1971 is to have absorbed another stiff dose of epic overachievement against long odds, such as when the the Super Hicks rolled up 41 fourth quarter points in a regional final win against senior star guard Baron Hill's Seymour five -- five points more than the Highlanders scored the entire game in the homecoming loss on Friday.
Obviously, the world has changed since then. Floyd Central’s suburban district is more affluent than ever before, and the school itself is rated highly in all areas of academic measurement. The musical arts and theater departments continue to be veritable monoliths.
Even in terms of athletics, FCHS varsity sports other than boys’ basketball have excelled, particularly those stressing individual achievement like golf, swimming, tennis and wrestling. The football and baseball teams have been strong more often than not. The girls’ athletics program seems solid, and the basketball, volleyball and softball teams are competitve most years and quite good in others.
Some will cite the deleterious influence of the class basketball, and of course kids have much more to occupy their time now as compared to four decades ago. Others may point to facile conclusions derived from shallow black vs. white demographics, but there probably isn’t much truly scientific about this or any perspective, as would be attested by examples of programs at other demographically similar schools enjoying sustained success under analogous conditions.
Commissioner Freiberger, who still teaches at Highland Hills Middle School and lives in the county, might be able to shed some light on these questions, but along with Mr. And Mrs. Confidential, Scott’s a New Albanian now, and his children were (and are) Bulldogs.
There'll be no answers here. Contrary to popular troglodyte opinion, NAC knows it doesn't know everything. There may or may not be a larger truth resting somewhere in this story about high school basketball, and either way, it's a stimulating diversion from the norm.
To be sure, there are many more important topics, although the utility of periodic grappling with demons from one's past should never be entirely dismissed.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Historic New Albany web site showcases historic properties for sale.
In Progress Report: Preservation Forum 2005, the New Albany Renewal blog recalls last May's "Preserve New Albany's Older and Historic Neighborhoods" forum at Destinations Booksellers, and points out that one of the goals expressed at the forum has come to fruition: Historic New Albany.When you locate in New Albany, you enjoy the pleasures without the scuffles of big city life. New Albany sits just minutes away from the market place and business center of downtown Louisville, Kentucky. And with easy access to interstates, driving any direction connects residents to other stirring metropolitan areas or charming rural towns.
The Historic New Albany site spotlights historic properties for sale in New Albany, including commercial and residential properties, and with a new link to information on sheriff’s sales.In my opinion, the local real estate community has been slow to appreciate the potential of the market for historic properties, but they’re starting to come along, and web sites like this one are handy tools for encouragement and education.
Those of us who are not real estate professionals still can play a part by referring prospective residents and business people to the Historic New Albany site.
As was noted Thursday night at the East Spring Street Neighborhood Association meeting, each of us needs to sell a house – just not our own.
(Photo credits: Historic New Albany web site)
Friday, January 27, 2006
Part 3: NA Confidential examines Councilman Steve Price’s interview responses.
As a preface to this third and last installment of the series of NA Confidential's examination of interview responses offered by 3rd District Councilman Steve Price, we're happy to report that hits and page views this week are running around 20% more than normal for the days on which the installments ran.
We know you're reading. Thank you.
Part 1: NA Confidential examines Councilman Steve Price’s interview responses.
Part 2: NA Confidential examines Councilman Steve Price’s interview responses.
Our original questions are numbered, and CM Price's original responses italicized. Commentary follows. Note that while two-thirds of the questions asked of CM Price were formulated by Jeff "Bluegill" Gillenwater, the commentary is entirely that of the blog owner. Jeff is invited to join the discussion, either as a team member or in comments, and of course, all readers are likewise encouraged to provide their thoughts subject to our identity policy.
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11. What ideas do you have, if any, to restructure and enhance educational opportunities in New Albany?
As we know from following the news regarding the implementation of the federal “No Child Left Behind” Act we as a municipality are somewhat limited in our ability to legislate public education. However, that does not leave us without options. Other cities are finding ways to increase their school systems services and success. I strongly believe we as a city government owe it to our children to research and investigate plans from other cities to see if they are feasible for New Albany.
Fair enough; if, as it is obvious by the lack of a direct response, CM Price has no immediate ideas of his own, looking to the experience of other cities isn’t without merit. In fact, seeking information in such a manner is a large part of any educational experience.
But is the councilman willing to apply this precedent to other areas of inquiry?
We’ve already seen that Louisville’s successful Frankfort Avenue area is regarded by CM Price as “overcrowded,” “landlocked” and unsuitable as a goal for New Albany.
Can he provide an example of another school system worth studying, one that fits his obviously narrow crieria, i.e., as long as it doesn’t cost the city anything, it’s potentially useful?
More importantly, what else besides educational opportunities do we owe to our children?
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12. What is your plan for giving more meaningful authority to the historic preservation commission and ordinance enforcement position? Do you support the expansion of the city attorney position to full-time and/or the creation of a city court to better deal with the violations cited by those entities? If not, how do you envision the city being able to deal with them adequately?
The City Council established a position of ordinance enforcement officer to enforce the existing ordinances. While doing so, we outlined the consequences of violations to these ordinances. When properly enforced, I feel the message will get out that the city will not tolerate housing in substandard conditions. The City Council has discussed the possibility of a full time attorney. While I am not opposed to the idea, obtaining an accurate account of monies is a more immediate need at the present time.
On Thursday, January 26, the East Spring Street Neighborhood Association had its monthly meeting (as is his habit, CM Price did not attend this meeting).
One local couple went into great detail in describing their renewed efforts to demand accountability for a prominently ramshackle adjoining property. Indeed, after some years of effort, there is cautious optimism that meaningful action finally has been initiated to resolve the rampant code violations and filthy living conditions found in the house by the ordinance enforcement officer, the building commissioner and other officials charged with tending to such matters.
Our point in recounting this episode is that the ensuing discussion, one laced with understandable frustration and pointing of fingers, yet again pointed to certain realities as contributing to – in some ways, of enabling -- the culture of unaccountability that must be reversed if the city of New Albany is to move into the future.
While not excusing indolence on the part of city officials, it remains that in the absence of a city court, and without a full-time city attorney, the chances of successfully following up on building code violations is minimal. The same applies to parking fines.
Furthermore, in the absence of a division of city government responsible for regulating and inspecting rental properties, there are equally limited opportunities to bring the slumlord to heel, and it is the slumlord’s rental properties that are the prime source of “substandard housing.”
In essence, we are asking public officials to do 100% of the job with 50% (or less) of the tools needed, and when asked whether he is in favor of providing the tools – in the end, providing citizens with the tools to take back their neighborhoods – CM Price can offer only a lukewarm acceptance in principle, with the disclaimer that we’ll almost certainly not be able to afford it.
Can we afford not to?
Characteristically, he does not attempt an answer.
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13. As an extension of the preceding, do you agree that New Albany should institute rental property inspections with real teeth? Why or why not?
As a reminder, I spearheaded the cleanliness ordinance. I think homeowners’ period should take responsibility for their property. At the present time, I feel we need to focus on enforcing the established ordinances before entertaining new ones.
See the analysis of #12, preceding.
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14. Is there a difference between being a “taxpayer watchdog” and expressing public contempt for the ideals of civic progress? Please explain.
The difference is the “taxpayer watchdog” is open-minded and looking out for the better good of the community and supports “community-based “ progress and takes a stand on force fed growth. A “taxpayer watchdog” knows taking out a 2nd mortgage to go to Disney World isn’t the smartest business move you can make. While the latter would say no without just reason, the “taxpayer watchdog” says lets look at ways to make the progress happen without tax increases. We can progress ourselves into bankruptcy. After all, Grandma’s don’t spend it if you don’t have it philosophy left wealth not debt with her memory. Let history be our teacher.
CM Price closes the NA Confidential interview on a palpable note of impatience, defiantly welding together a handful of favored themes and convenient catchphrases into a rousing homily designed to rally his constituency to his defense.
Stripping away the tired rhetoric (second mortgages to finance a vacation, “progress” into bankruptcy) and unsupported premises (force-fed growth, “better good” of the community), we’re left with the fundamental premise – one that CM Price has articulated throughout his term in office – that government finance is the same thing as household finance, and by extension, that if Dave Ramsey can instruct Steve Price how to keep his family debt free, that should be good enough for the city of New Albany as a whole.
It should be noted that NA Confidential does not deny the efficacy of the “taxpayer watchdog,” for we, too, pay taxes like all the rest.
Rather, we believe that by the very nature of the social contract (as implicitly recognized by CM Price, though perhaps not by our Libertarian friends and readers), government is entrusted with performing a number of tasks the likes of which are not directly applicable to household or business finance.
These tasks pertain to the commonweal, or the public good. Police and fire protection are among them, although they’re not the only examples.
Money in this context is a means to an end. Yes, it must be accounted for, properly audited and explained to the citizenry. Yes, we are certain that it does not grow on trees. But there are indeed matters of importance to the community in general, and insofar as these are the domain of elected officials and their appointees, they must sometimes be considered in ways that differ from the calculations made by those living from paycheck to paycheck.
If these considerations and expenditures are botched and the monies misused, legal and electoral ramifications will come into effect.
Government has never been as simple as grandma’s cookie jar philosophy, and it never will be, but there will always be those among us who seek to simplify the world in such a way, and who do so from both noble and ignoble motivations, but sometimes for other reasons, too.
Perhaps grandma was frightened, unwilling to confront the uncertainties of a changing world, content with her lot in life but unaware of the possibilities. With some encouragement and information, she might have seen that sometimes one spends money to make money – as in the case of her grandchildren borrowing to attend college.
Maybe then, instead of fearing the future, she would have embraced it. Rather than be intimidated by the inevitable force of change, she would have seen in it the seeds of diversity that carry within them the potential for community-wide empowerment, achievement, success.
Throughout the NA Confidential interview, Councilman Steve Price clearly enunciates a tri-partite “vision” about the city of New Albany and its future.
We don’t comprehend the future.
We can’t afford the future.
We can’t.
When one considers CM Price ’s policy alternatives, it becomes clear that he, along with fellow Councilman Dan Coffey, speaks as the foremost local prophet of decay management as the only attainable goal.
This is completely unacceptable to the majority of CM Price's constituents.
NA Confidential is dedicated to a differing proposition.
“We Can.”
You, our readers and citizens, are invited to join us.
----
15. Neil Young or Bob Dylan?
What do you think?
We think neither. The Manic Street Preachers came close with "If you tolerate this/Then your children will be next," but they come from a place (Wales) where they don't even speak English all the time.
Although we may not enjoy the music, the only artist that matters is the one embraced by the young New Albanians still in school, because that artist will provide the soundtrack for their future.
We're working toward their future being here, in New Albany.
We know you're reading. Thank you.
Part 1: NA Confidential examines Councilman Steve Price’s interview responses.
Part 2: NA Confidential examines Councilman Steve Price’s interview responses.
Our original questions are numbered, and CM Price's original responses italicized. Commentary follows. Note that while two-thirds of the questions asked of CM Price were formulated by Jeff "Bluegill" Gillenwater, the commentary is entirely that of the blog owner. Jeff is invited to join the discussion, either as a team member or in comments, and of course, all readers are likewise encouraged to provide their thoughts subject to our identity policy.
---
11. What ideas do you have, if any, to restructure and enhance educational opportunities in New Albany?
As we know from following the news regarding the implementation of the federal “No Child Left Behind” Act we as a municipality are somewhat limited in our ability to legislate public education. However, that does not leave us without options. Other cities are finding ways to increase their school systems services and success. I strongly believe we as a city government owe it to our children to research and investigate plans from other cities to see if they are feasible for New Albany.
Fair enough; if, as it is obvious by the lack of a direct response, CM Price has no immediate ideas of his own, looking to the experience of other cities isn’t without merit. In fact, seeking information in such a manner is a large part of any educational experience.
But is the councilman willing to apply this precedent to other areas of inquiry?
We’ve already seen that Louisville’s successful Frankfort Avenue area is regarded by CM Price as “overcrowded,” “landlocked” and unsuitable as a goal for New Albany.
Can he provide an example of another school system worth studying, one that fits his obviously narrow crieria, i.e., as long as it doesn’t cost the city anything, it’s potentially useful?
More importantly, what else besides educational opportunities do we owe to our children?
----
12. What is your plan for giving more meaningful authority to the historic preservation commission and ordinance enforcement position? Do you support the expansion of the city attorney position to full-time and/or the creation of a city court to better deal with the violations cited by those entities? If not, how do you envision the city being able to deal with them adequately?
The City Council established a position of ordinance enforcement officer to enforce the existing ordinances. While doing so, we outlined the consequences of violations to these ordinances. When properly enforced, I feel the message will get out that the city will not tolerate housing in substandard conditions. The City Council has discussed the possibility of a full time attorney. While I am not opposed to the idea, obtaining an accurate account of monies is a more immediate need at the present time.
On Thursday, January 26, the East Spring Street Neighborhood Association had its monthly meeting (as is his habit, CM Price did not attend this meeting).
One local couple went into great detail in describing their renewed efforts to demand accountability for a prominently ramshackle adjoining property. Indeed, after some years of effort, there is cautious optimism that meaningful action finally has been initiated to resolve the rampant code violations and filthy living conditions found in the house by the ordinance enforcement officer, the building commissioner and other officials charged with tending to such matters.
Our point in recounting this episode is that the ensuing discussion, one laced with understandable frustration and pointing of fingers, yet again pointed to certain realities as contributing to – in some ways, of enabling -- the culture of unaccountability that must be reversed if the city of New Albany is to move into the future.
While not excusing indolence on the part of city officials, it remains that in the absence of a city court, and without a full-time city attorney, the chances of successfully following up on building code violations is minimal. The same applies to parking fines.
Furthermore, in the absence of a division of city government responsible for regulating and inspecting rental properties, there are equally limited opportunities to bring the slumlord to heel, and it is the slumlord’s rental properties that are the prime source of “substandard housing.”
In essence, we are asking public officials to do 100% of the job with 50% (or less) of the tools needed, and when asked whether he is in favor of providing the tools – in the end, providing citizens with the tools to take back their neighborhoods – CM Price can offer only a lukewarm acceptance in principle, with the disclaimer that we’ll almost certainly not be able to afford it.
Can we afford not to?
Characteristically, he does not attempt an answer.
---
13. As an extension of the preceding, do you agree that New Albany should institute rental property inspections with real teeth? Why or why not?
As a reminder, I spearheaded the cleanliness ordinance. I think homeowners’ period should take responsibility for their property. At the present time, I feel we need to focus on enforcing the established ordinances before entertaining new ones.
See the analysis of #12, preceding.
----
14. Is there a difference between being a “taxpayer watchdog” and expressing public contempt for the ideals of civic progress? Please explain.
The difference is the “taxpayer watchdog” is open-minded and looking out for the better good of the community and supports “community-based “ progress and takes a stand on force fed growth. A “taxpayer watchdog” knows taking out a 2nd mortgage to go to Disney World isn’t the smartest business move you can make. While the latter would say no without just reason, the “taxpayer watchdog” says lets look at ways to make the progress happen without tax increases. We can progress ourselves into bankruptcy. After all, Grandma’s don’t spend it if you don’t have it philosophy left wealth not debt with her memory. Let history be our teacher.
CM Price closes the NA Confidential interview on a palpable note of impatience, defiantly welding together a handful of favored themes and convenient catchphrases into a rousing homily designed to rally his constituency to his defense.
Stripping away the tired rhetoric (second mortgages to finance a vacation, “progress” into bankruptcy) and unsupported premises (force-fed growth, “better good” of the community), we’re left with the fundamental premise – one that CM Price has articulated throughout his term in office – that government finance is the same thing as household finance, and by extension, that if Dave Ramsey can instruct Steve Price how to keep his family debt free, that should be good enough for the city of New Albany as a whole.
It should be noted that NA Confidential does not deny the efficacy of the “taxpayer watchdog,” for we, too, pay taxes like all the rest.
Rather, we believe that by the very nature of the social contract (as implicitly recognized by CM Price, though perhaps not by our Libertarian friends and readers), government is entrusted with performing a number of tasks the likes of which are not directly applicable to household or business finance.
These tasks pertain to the commonweal, or the public good. Police and fire protection are among them, although they’re not the only examples.
Money in this context is a means to an end. Yes, it must be accounted for, properly audited and explained to the citizenry. Yes, we are certain that it does not grow on trees. But there are indeed matters of importance to the community in general, and insofar as these are the domain of elected officials and their appointees, they must sometimes be considered in ways that differ from the calculations made by those living from paycheck to paycheck.
If these considerations and expenditures are botched and the monies misused, legal and electoral ramifications will come into effect.
Government has never been as simple as grandma’s cookie jar philosophy, and it never will be, but there will always be those among us who seek to simplify the world in such a way, and who do so from both noble and ignoble motivations, but sometimes for other reasons, too.
Perhaps grandma was frightened, unwilling to confront the uncertainties of a changing world, content with her lot in life but unaware of the possibilities. With some encouragement and information, she might have seen that sometimes one spends money to make money – as in the case of her grandchildren borrowing to attend college.
Maybe then, instead of fearing the future, she would have embraced it. Rather than be intimidated by the inevitable force of change, she would have seen in it the seeds of diversity that carry within them the potential for community-wide empowerment, achievement, success.
Throughout the NA Confidential interview, Councilman Steve Price clearly enunciates a tri-partite “vision” about the city of New Albany and its future.
We don’t comprehend the future.
We can’t afford the future.
We can’t.
When one considers CM Price ’s policy alternatives, it becomes clear that he, along with fellow Councilman Dan Coffey, speaks as the foremost local prophet of decay management as the only attainable goal.
This is completely unacceptable to the majority of CM Price's constituents.
NA Confidential is dedicated to a differing proposition.
“We Can.”
You, our readers and citizens, are invited to join us.
----
15. Neil Young or Bob Dylan?
What do you think?
We think neither. The Manic Street Preachers came close with "If you tolerate this/Then your children will be next," but they come from a place (Wales) where they don't even speak English all the time.
Although we may not enjoy the music, the only artist that matters is the one embraced by the young New Albanians still in school, because that artist will provide the soundtrack for their future.
We're working toward their future being here, in New Albany.
Bistro New Albany reschedules opening for February 6.
We don't intend to become known as the blog that cried "bistro," but the fact remains that opening day for Bistro New Albany has been pushed back a week, to Monday, February 6.
To date, with all regulatory inspections finished and only touch-up decorating yet to be completed, only one thing is missing, albeit a crucial component of a successful operation.
Sufficient staffing.
Both Greg and Dave have indicated to me that they're getting closer to stocking the human resources roster. Dave posted on the Louisville Restaurant Forum tonight, so let's hope that they get the people they want soon, and unlock the doors on the 6th.
I'll continue to keep you posted.
The photo above is from a montage, A few of my favorite things ... , assembled by Ted Fulmore at his Our History in New Albany blog.
To date, with all regulatory inspections finished and only touch-up decorating yet to be completed, only one thing is missing, albeit a crucial component of a successful operation.
Sufficient staffing.
Both Greg and Dave have indicated to me that they're getting closer to stocking the human resources roster. Dave posted on the Louisville Restaurant Forum tonight, so let's hope that they get the people they want soon, and unlock the doors on the 6th.
I'll continue to keep you posted.
The photo above is from a montage, A few of my favorite things ... , assembled by Ted Fulmore at his Our History in New Albany blog.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Part 2: NA Confidential examines Councilman Steve Price’s interview responses.
Part 1: NA Confidential examines Councilman Steve Price’s interview responses.
Our original questions are numbered, and CM Price's original responses italicized. Commentary follows. Note that while two-thirds of the questions asked of CM Price were formulated by Jeff "Bluegill" Gillenwater, the commentary is entirely that of the blog owner. Jeff is invited to join the discussion, either as a team member or in comments, and of course, all readers are likewise encouraged to provide their thoughts subject to our identity policy.
----
6. What have you done or what will you do to express a clear preference for the redevelopment of existing city neighborhoods as opposed to continued sprawl?
New Albany in the past several years recognized the neighborhood associations. It has been a pleasure to watch a growing relationship between the associations and the city government. Maintaining an open line of communications between the two is a positive step toward redevelopment of existing neighborhoods. I have assisted the associations within my district as they work with city officials to devise and implement proactive problem resolutions. For instance, there was growing concern among my constituents regarding a car lot being placed in their highly residential neighborhood. I was able to help them voice their concerns to the city and reach a positive resolution.
Small communities within a larger city working to improve their particular area in relation to the city as a whole is yet another example of new urbanism planning in action.
I will continue to work with the existing groups that are dedicated to improving their piece of New Albany, Which in turn will improve New Albany as a whole.
CM Price’s most recent pronouncement on this topic came at the January 19 city council meeting, when he remarked that “9 out of 10” property developers just want to make money; having voted previously to approve exurban projects initiated by Gary “The Gary” McCartin, we’re left to surmise that the 10th developer referred to by CM Price as not being interested in profit is The Gary himself, who has dismissed existing city neighborhoods as places devoid of lawns and churches, and suitable only for bulldozing and replacing with discount big box stores.
It has already been established that temperamentally, CM Price lies much closer to the “evil government” school of the GOP’s Grover Norquist than to the core ideals of his own Democratic affiliation, an identification that looks increasingly opportunistic placed within the relevant context of New Albany’s traditional Democrat-heavy political apparatus.
Accordingly, when asked to state a “clear preference” for the needs of the people of his own 3rd District – needs previously referred to by the councilman as his motivating factor in public service – and to contrast the benefit of inner city redevelopment with the exurban sprawl perpetuated by The Gary and his peers, CM Price can do no better than point to his heartfelt support of good communications between existing neighborhood associations and city government as evidence of his preference.
Like any good politician, CM Price also provides the example of his intervention in a dispute over a used car lot as proof of his involvement in neighborhood advocacy.
Neither does CM Price comment on his lack of engagement in similar issues, nor does he attempt to answer the question asked of him, i.e., to explain the merits of redevelopment of existing neighborhoods vs. sprawl.
---
7. Have you or do you intend to approach county officials to develop, in partnership, a countywide plan for smart and coordinated growth?
As I mentioned above, new urbanism or progressive urban planning is a team effort. It would be pointless to try and conceive a plan of progress in New Albany without consulting and coordinating with those who it will have the impact on.
If it will benefit my constituents and city government as a whole, I am certainly not opposed to opening a dialogue with county government regarding a mutually beneficial relationship to further “Smart Growth”, as it can only help.
CM Price’s answer to this question might be summarized as “I’m for it, unless I’m against it,” but he at least manages to indicate allegiance to the vague principle of city-county cooperation, albeit at the cost of avoiding the advocacy of potentially harmful specifics.
Incidentally, as the councilman is eager to imply support for the “smart growth” referred to in the question, here’s an introduction to what the term means: Smart Growth Online.
In communities across the nation, there is a growing concern that current development patterns -- dominated by what some call "sprawl" -- are no longer in the long-term interest of our cities, existing suburbs, small towns, rural communities, or wilderness areas. Though supportive of growth, communities are questioning the economic costs of abandoning infrastructure in the city, only to rebuild it further out. Spurring the smart growth movement are demographic shifts, a strong environmental ethic, increased fiscal concerns, and more nuanced views of growth. The result is both a new demand and a new opportunity for smart growth.
----
8. What have you advocated for or will you advocate for that would provide an incentive to or lessen the risk for the early redevelopment "pioneers" who are now making themselves known around the city? Have you played a role in attracting these people and/or how do you hope to empower and encourage them and other similar people?
If the mission of the “early redevelopment ‘pioneers’” is to continue to bring New Albany into the 21st century with a solid fiscal foundation then I will do everything in my power to support them.
If there is a more egregious example of CM Price entirely ignoring the intent of a question, you’ll not find it in the text of this interview.
What would the councilman do to “advocate,” to “attract,” to “encourage,” and to “empower” those willing to invest time and money into redevelopment projects?
Crickets chirp. Pins drop. Somewhere, a dog barks at his shadow.
And Steve Price is completely silent.
Cognitive dissonance is defined as:
A condition of conflict or anxiety resulting from inconsistency between one's beliefs and one's actions, such as opposing the slaughter of animals and eating meat.
Tellingly, CM Price can find nothing positive to say about the efforts of “redevelopment pioneers” because he is fundamentally hostile to their worldview in the social and cultural senses, and though he is grudgingly willing to acknowledge their work – and perhaps cognizant at some level that without their presence, there is little hope of a positive future for New Albany – he can do so only in the vacuous breach.
Given the councilman’s obvious fondness for the “debt-free” household strategies of the right-wing financial guru Dave Ramsey, and noting the breathtakingly transparent manner by which he refuses a tactically proffered opportunity to openly occupy common ground with the “redevelopment pioneers,” it isn’t surprising that he responds with a terse, intentionally lukewarm vote of indifference to the effect that as long as it doesn’t cost him or the city anything, then perhaps he’s for it – or, at best, not actively oppose it.
No single answer provided by CM Price is as indicative of his obstructionist instincts – and his inability to fathom the interests of his constituents -- than this one. Remember it. It’s going to come back again, and again, and again.
----
9. What is your reaction to this statement: “And yet, to Steve Price and those of his utterly clueless ilk, Frankfort Avenue is somehow the enemy, an inexplicable collection of strange people and alien concepts to be feared and loathed owing to the incomprehensible differences, and a revitalization equation that simply does not compute -- at least when reckoned by the slumlord’s shopworn abacus.”
This is a classic case of selective listening. Frankfort Avenue is a great example of new urbanism in a land locked area. Currently, New Albany is not land locked. I do believe there is such a thing as over crowding. When you have unimproved land throughout the city why over crowd tight spaces?
Excuse me?
In the sense that tenets of New Urbanism are applicable to New Albany, it is far from clear how being “land-locked” or not has anything to do with them.
Taken from the broader view of city limits and county lines, both New Albany and Floyd County are land-locked, but again, it isn’t clear how this pertains to the application of principles of New Urbanism to the existing neighborhoods and downtown areas of the city.
Overcrowding in the city comes from a block that originally was intended for single family homes but now is filled with these same homes subdivided into three and four unit apartments, and not from building new single family homes on existing vacant lots. While there may be points here that NAC and CM Price are in agreement, it remains that he does not explore them in his answer.
In short, CM Price provides a confusing and perhaps contradictory answer, and he sidesteps the cultural implications that were so obviously implicit in his original reference to Frankfort Avenue as something not to be wished upon New Albany.
See “cognitive dissonance,” above.
----
10. In terms of rate of growth in the state of Indiana, Harrison County ranks 4th, Clark County ranks 18th, and Floyd County ranks 44th. A local developer recently expressed to me that the "ridiculous politics" of New Albany played a major role in our low sore. Do you agree with this assessment? Please explain why or why not.
New Albany’s good ol’ boy perception has had an impact over the years. Hopefully our hindsight is becoming increasingly clearer as we pay the debt from our elected elders.
With such a brief and cryptic response, we’re forced to assume that New Albany’s “good ol’ boy perception” is considered by CM Price to be something negative in nature, and as such, we have no problem agreeing with this assessment.
Is it correspondingly clear that with hindsight, we can understand the mistakes of our “elected elders?”
Probably.
Hindsight’s like that … but what, then, of our future as a city? Do we strictly define the future by the the payment of debts in the financial sense, or is there an element of avoiding the past missteps when it comes to planning and strategic direction?
In short, is CM Price an improvement over the malady he diagnoses?
Indirectly, he seems to suggest that there is something to his positioning and political record over the course of two years as councilman to indicate that he is substantively different from these “good ol’ boy” elders that he identifies as those bequeathing disaster to the current generation.
If so, we have not seen the slightest indication of it.
Have you?
Our original questions are numbered, and CM Price's original responses italicized. Commentary follows. Note that while two-thirds of the questions asked of CM Price were formulated by Jeff "Bluegill" Gillenwater, the commentary is entirely that of the blog owner. Jeff is invited to join the discussion, either as a team member or in comments, and of course, all readers are likewise encouraged to provide their thoughts subject to our identity policy.
----
6. What have you done or what will you do to express a clear preference for the redevelopment of existing city neighborhoods as opposed to continued sprawl?
New Albany in the past several years recognized the neighborhood associations. It has been a pleasure to watch a growing relationship between the associations and the city government. Maintaining an open line of communications between the two is a positive step toward redevelopment of existing neighborhoods. I have assisted the associations within my district as they work with city officials to devise and implement proactive problem resolutions. For instance, there was growing concern among my constituents regarding a car lot being placed in their highly residential neighborhood. I was able to help them voice their concerns to the city and reach a positive resolution.
Small communities within a larger city working to improve their particular area in relation to the city as a whole is yet another example of new urbanism planning in action.
I will continue to work with the existing groups that are dedicated to improving their piece of New Albany, Which in turn will improve New Albany as a whole.
CM Price’s most recent pronouncement on this topic came at the January 19 city council meeting, when he remarked that “9 out of 10” property developers just want to make money; having voted previously to approve exurban projects initiated by Gary “The Gary” McCartin, we’re left to surmise that the 10th developer referred to by CM Price as not being interested in profit is The Gary himself, who has dismissed existing city neighborhoods as places devoid of lawns and churches, and suitable only for bulldozing and replacing with discount big box stores.
It has already been established that temperamentally, CM Price lies much closer to the “evil government” school of the GOP’s Grover Norquist than to the core ideals of his own Democratic affiliation, an identification that looks increasingly opportunistic placed within the relevant context of New Albany’s traditional Democrat-heavy political apparatus.
Accordingly, when asked to state a “clear preference” for the needs of the people of his own 3rd District – needs previously referred to by the councilman as his motivating factor in public service – and to contrast the benefit of inner city redevelopment with the exurban sprawl perpetuated by The Gary and his peers, CM Price can do no better than point to his heartfelt support of good communications between existing neighborhood associations and city government as evidence of his preference.
Like any good politician, CM Price also provides the example of his intervention in a dispute over a used car lot as proof of his involvement in neighborhood advocacy.
Neither does CM Price comment on his lack of engagement in similar issues, nor does he attempt to answer the question asked of him, i.e., to explain the merits of redevelopment of existing neighborhoods vs. sprawl.
---
7. Have you or do you intend to approach county officials to develop, in partnership, a countywide plan for smart and coordinated growth?
As I mentioned above, new urbanism or progressive urban planning is a team effort. It would be pointless to try and conceive a plan of progress in New Albany without consulting and coordinating with those who it will have the impact on.
If it will benefit my constituents and city government as a whole, I am certainly not opposed to opening a dialogue with county government regarding a mutually beneficial relationship to further “Smart Growth”, as it can only help.
CM Price’s answer to this question might be summarized as “I’m for it, unless I’m against it,” but he at least manages to indicate allegiance to the vague principle of city-county cooperation, albeit at the cost of avoiding the advocacy of potentially harmful specifics.
Incidentally, as the councilman is eager to imply support for the “smart growth” referred to in the question, here’s an introduction to what the term means: Smart Growth Online.
In communities across the nation, there is a growing concern that current development patterns -- dominated by what some call "sprawl" -- are no longer in the long-term interest of our cities, existing suburbs, small towns, rural communities, or wilderness areas. Though supportive of growth, communities are questioning the economic costs of abandoning infrastructure in the city, only to rebuild it further out. Spurring the smart growth movement are demographic shifts, a strong environmental ethic, increased fiscal concerns, and more nuanced views of growth. The result is both a new demand and a new opportunity for smart growth.
----
8. What have you advocated for or will you advocate for that would provide an incentive to or lessen the risk for the early redevelopment "pioneers" who are now making themselves known around the city? Have you played a role in attracting these people and/or how do you hope to empower and encourage them and other similar people?
If the mission of the “early redevelopment ‘pioneers’” is to continue to bring New Albany into the 21st century with a solid fiscal foundation then I will do everything in my power to support them.
If there is a more egregious example of CM Price entirely ignoring the intent of a question, you’ll not find it in the text of this interview.
What would the councilman do to “advocate,” to “attract,” to “encourage,” and to “empower” those willing to invest time and money into redevelopment projects?
Crickets chirp. Pins drop. Somewhere, a dog barks at his shadow.
And Steve Price is completely silent.
Cognitive dissonance is defined as:
A condition of conflict or anxiety resulting from inconsistency between one's beliefs and one's actions, such as opposing the slaughter of animals and eating meat.
Tellingly, CM Price can find nothing positive to say about the efforts of “redevelopment pioneers” because he is fundamentally hostile to their worldview in the social and cultural senses, and though he is grudgingly willing to acknowledge their work – and perhaps cognizant at some level that without their presence, there is little hope of a positive future for New Albany – he can do so only in the vacuous breach.
Given the councilman’s obvious fondness for the “debt-free” household strategies of the right-wing financial guru Dave Ramsey, and noting the breathtakingly transparent manner by which he refuses a tactically proffered opportunity to openly occupy common ground with the “redevelopment pioneers,” it isn’t surprising that he responds with a terse, intentionally lukewarm vote of indifference to the effect that as long as it doesn’t cost him or the city anything, then perhaps he’s for it – or, at best, not actively oppose it.
No single answer provided by CM Price is as indicative of his obstructionist instincts – and his inability to fathom the interests of his constituents -- than this one. Remember it. It’s going to come back again, and again, and again.
----
9. What is your reaction to this statement: “And yet, to Steve Price and those of his utterly clueless ilk, Frankfort Avenue is somehow the enemy, an inexplicable collection of strange people and alien concepts to be feared and loathed owing to the incomprehensible differences, and a revitalization equation that simply does not compute -- at least when reckoned by the slumlord’s shopworn abacus.”
This is a classic case of selective listening. Frankfort Avenue is a great example of new urbanism in a land locked area. Currently, New Albany is not land locked. I do believe there is such a thing as over crowding. When you have unimproved land throughout the city why over crowd tight spaces?
Excuse me?
In the sense that tenets of New Urbanism are applicable to New Albany, it is far from clear how being “land-locked” or not has anything to do with them.
Taken from the broader view of city limits and county lines, both New Albany and Floyd County are land-locked, but again, it isn’t clear how this pertains to the application of principles of New Urbanism to the existing neighborhoods and downtown areas of the city.
Overcrowding in the city comes from a block that originally was intended for single family homes but now is filled with these same homes subdivided into three and four unit apartments, and not from building new single family homes on existing vacant lots. While there may be points here that NAC and CM Price are in agreement, it remains that he does not explore them in his answer.
In short, CM Price provides a confusing and perhaps contradictory answer, and he sidesteps the cultural implications that were so obviously implicit in his original reference to Frankfort Avenue as something not to be wished upon New Albany.
See “cognitive dissonance,” above.
----
10. In terms of rate of growth in the state of Indiana, Harrison County ranks 4th, Clark County ranks 18th, and Floyd County ranks 44th. A local developer recently expressed to me that the "ridiculous politics" of New Albany played a major role in our low sore. Do you agree with this assessment? Please explain why or why not.
New Albany’s good ol’ boy perception has had an impact over the years. Hopefully our hindsight is becoming increasingly clearer as we pay the debt from our elected elders.
With such a brief and cryptic response, we’re forced to assume that New Albany’s “good ol’ boy perception” is considered by CM Price to be something negative in nature, and as such, we have no problem agreeing with this assessment.
Is it correspondingly clear that with hindsight, we can understand the mistakes of our “elected elders?”
Probably.
Hindsight’s like that … but what, then, of our future as a city? Do we strictly define the future by the the payment of debts in the financial sense, or is there an element of avoiding the past missteps when it comes to planning and strategic direction?
In short, is CM Price an improvement over the malady he diagnoses?
Indirectly, he seems to suggest that there is something to his positioning and political record over the course of two years as councilman to indicate that he is substantively different from these “good ol’ boy” elders that he identifies as those bequeathing disaster to the current generation.
If so, we have not seen the slightest indication of it.
Have you?
And now for a word from our "sponsor" -- and its weekly newsletter link.
NA Confidential doesn't really have a sponsor, but if it did, I imagine it would be my own business, which has matured to the point of no longer requiring 80-hour work weeks, thus enabling me to write.The New Albanian Brewing Company includes the brewing arm (since 2002), Rich O's Public House (1990) and Sportstime Pizza (1987).
I'm well aware that many readers are customers, too, and make no mistake: We appreciate the patronage and look forward to a heightened rate of inflation that someday will result in a $20 pint of "Progressive Beer," as it's occasionally (and, alas, mistakenly) called.
At any rate, I publish a weekly blogletter for the business, and if you've not already checked it out, please feel free (table of contents follow).
By Friday, Part II of the Steve Price dissection might be ready ...
----
Publicanista! ... January 26, 2006.
In this edition of Publicanista!:
Did the stray keg of Dark Horse Tres Blueberry Stout finally cross the threshold? Come this weekend and find out.
As NABC serving tanks come on line, the recipe for Thunderfoot Imperial Stout is divulged.
New downtown Bistro New Albany hopes for a January 30 (Monday) opening.
Purely random reading at the Potable Curmudgeon's beer blog.
Current draft beer lineup.
Three (soon four) first-time Dogfish Head craft brews appearing on the Rich O's rotating bottle list selections; also new Belgians and bombers.
Cask-conditioned English firkins finally have been shipped. Maybe.
Hours, calendar of events and esoterica.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Part 1: NA Confidential examines Councilman Steve Price’s interview responses.
Our original questions are numbered, and CM Price's original responses italicized. Commentary follows. Note that while two-thirds of the questions asked of CM Price were formulated by Jeff "Bluegill" Gillenwater, the commentary is entirely that of the blog owner. Jeff is invited to join the discussion, either as a team member or in comments, and of course, all readers are likewise encouraged to provide their thoughts subject to our identity policy.
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1. Mr. Price, you ran for council as a Democrat. How does your performance in council reflect your role as a Democratic Party officeholder? How can we separate your public statements from those of myriad Republicans over the past 40 years? Why are your stated preferences so different from the historic and progressive ideals of the Democratic Party? Does being a Democrat mean anything to you? What would that be, and how do you differentiate yourself from a Republican?
I am a 21st century Democrat who represents all the people. I believe in standing up for what is right and speaking out against injustice. New Albany is seeing first hand the repercussions of frivolous spending. History has been my teacher. I am not against “community-based” progress just force fed growth. It is not about trying to differentiate myself from anybody; it is about fulfilling the needs of the citizens of New Albany, and doing what will ensure a positive future for this city.
CM Price’s answer to the opening question sets the tone for the remainder of the interview by indicating clearly that either the specifics of the question elude him, or just as likely, he had no intention of risking an explication of them in the first place.
Along with 260 million fellow Americans embracing a myriad of political persuasions, CM Price claims to stand up for what “is right” and to “speak out against injustice.”
He provides no concrete examples of what these might be, or how his definition of “right” and “injustice” as a member of the Democratic Party differs from the perspective of the card-carrying Republican on the other side of the aisle.
Exactly when has CM Price taken the lead in “speaking out against injustice? Exactly what was the injustice?
In the overall context of political self-identification, CM Price’s choice of words seems quite odd, for in fact there is an organization called 21st Century Democrats, which has antecedents in the political campaigns of the late Paul Wellstone and former presidential candidate Howard Dean, and connections to another contemporary “blue” Democratic lobby group called Think Blue.
It should suffice to say that neither of these philosophies seem to be in harmony with what little of his personal political beliefs that CM Price is willing to let us glimpse in his answer to our first question.
Moreover, he moves with unseemly quickness to distance himself from the obvious burden of political self-examination by establishing the existence of his own personal bogeymen, “frivolous spending” and “force fed growth.” As you will see, these concepts are vital to CM Price’s narrow worldview, but they are not defined.
What is Steve Price in the political sense? He doesn’t tell us, but he strongly suggests that it is cautious, provincial and populist.
----
2. Will you pledge to never abstain from a vote unless you can provide details, on record, of the conflict of interest that keeps you from voting?
Each vote is a separate matter to be evaluated through education and consideration before the vote is made. I will continue to vote, either by aye, nay or an abstention as it is best for my constituents. It is better to pause until further information is available than merely blindly rubber stamping.
For the record, here’s how Wikipedia defines abstention:
Abstention is a term in parliamentary procedure for when a participant in a vote is not absent, but does not cast a ballot. An abstention may be used to indicate the voting individual's ambivalence about the measure, or mild disapproval that does not rise to the level of active opposition
In the United States Congress and many other legislatures, members may vote "present" rather than for or against a bill or resolution, which has the effect of an abstention. In the United Nations Security Council, representatives of the five countries holding a veto power (including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia and the People's Republic of China) sometimes abstain rather than vetoing a measure about which they are less than enthusiastic, particularly if the measure otherwise has broad support.
It’s worth noting that while an abstention on the first reading of an ordinance might correspond with CM Price’s example of a “pause until further information is available,” that same could not be said when the vote has reached its final tally.
NAC trusts that in the future, CM Price will be willing and able to explain why a specific abstention is “best” for the 3rd District’s constituents.
----
3. Can you please explain the concept of new urbanism and how its guiding principles may help New Albany?
The basic principle of new urbanism is a focus on neighborhood development, with the end resulting in obtaining a balance of living, working and playing spaces in a given area. It is a continuously growing city wide plan, where public input plays a vital role in its success. Creating places for children to play where parents can gather, designing pedestrian friendly shopping districts and affordable safe housing is not as simple as merely drawing a map and placing an “X” where there should be a park.
Anytime a city focuses on positive growth for its economy and residents a city will benefit from careful planning in those areas.
I feel New Albany is currently working on the ground floor of putting into action these principles by enforcing cleanliness ordinances already established, while making “smart” renovations to existing parks and unimproved land areas.
The concepts that have coalesced under the banner of New Urbanism are anything but staid, conservative and dull. Whether one agrees or disagrees with them, they are dynamic, active and transformational in nature. Here are three short descriptions gleaned from the Internet:
NEW URBANISM promotes the creation and restoration of diverse, walkable, compact, vibrant, mixed-use communities composed of the same components as conventional development, but assembled in a more integrated fashion, in the form of complete communities.
The New Urbanism is a reaction to sprawl. A growing movement of architects, planners, and developers, the New Urbanism is based on principles of planning and architecture that work together to create human-scale, walkable communities.
“Part of that revisionism is New Urbanism, which also has a strong social agenda. Those who think the point of New Urbanism is to make pretty middle-class suburbs don't know New Urbanism. The point is to reform the way we build and to make good, beautiful, walkable, diverse, sustainable places with a public realm worthy of ourselves.”
CM Price addresses these dynamic concepts of New Urbanism with characteristic tones of caution and reserve.
New Urbanism is about “planning,” he says, and requires “balance”; we must be “careful” in considering it, because it may not be “as simple” as it seems, and “smart” tweaking at the existing “ground floor” level must be undertaken before anything else.
Taken at face value, CM Price provides a workmanlike description of New Urbanism, albeit one with an underlying tone of suspicion. One might follow suit by describing the Mona Lisa as a famous painting in a museum somewhere.
We learn here that while the councilman (or someone close to him) possesses a rudimentary understanding of the genre, it comes with the congenital minimalist’s lack of enthusiasm and is absent any core commitment to its comprehension or perpetuation.
----
4. Can you please explain how you intend to use your council position to advocate for those principles via legislative action? If you could give examples of successful legislation from other cities that have done a good job of improving housing and living conditions, it would be helpful.
The point of new urbanism is to serve the needs of the residents in the city. What is crucial to remember is the trends are only as useful as how they serve a particular community at a particular time.
It would be more useful to focus on serving the people who currently live in New Albany by revamping existing structures. I would use my legislative position to advocate for public dialogue of revitalization of existing city parks, how to improve the current parking situation in the downtown area and economic incentives for new downtown locally owned businesses.
I am a proponent of live entertainment, utilizing our riverfront in conjunction with the Greenaway. Live entertainment never goes out of style.
For a councilperson to “serve the needs of the residents on the city” surely is to fulfill only the most basic requirement of his or her job description, and can be accepted as a given in most cases. No one doubts the councilman’s sincerity on this fundamental point.
Consequently, the purpose of asking questions like ours is to determine how an elected official like Steve Price intends to set about identifying and “serving” these needs.
Thus, having been asked previously to define New Urbanism, and being able to provide no more than an unenthusiastic, “partial credit” response, CM Price now rushes to disavow any element of this unified and cogent theory of planning and development, perhaps fearing that such an acknowledgement implies a responsibility to inititate rather than to react, and to propose rather than oppose – to “restructure” rather than to “revamp.”
To lead, rather than to follow.
More clearly than ever, CM Price serves notice that he is wary of “trends,” and intends to remain firmly rooted in the realm of community band-aids for “existing structures” that serve the “particular community,” i.e., his own milieu, his own people, his own upbringing, and a deeply conservative point of view reflected by a recent public comment to the effect that one example of “live entertainment (that) never goes out of style” is Chubby Checker.
----
5. How do you think the city could improve its reputation and attractiveness within the circles of educated, creative, entrepreneurial people whose presence continues to be proven necessary for success in the 21st century economy?
21st century economy is moving towards being debt free; both on a household level as well as a governmental level. Until New Albany’s resolves our current fiscal situation how can we offer an incentive package to those individuals? Statistics tell us that people want to be part of a movement toward growth. Getting in on the ground floor so to speak. When dark clouds of fiscal burdens surround the boundaries of our city – what does that say to our perspective entrepreneurial people? We are a city who is incapable of living within a budget, who is wasteful with monies. The list could go on. How can we ask for monetary investments when we have given the perception of being incapable of handling our own finances?
Intentionally or otherwise, CM Price chooses not to dispute the fundamental gist of the question, which is to establish that the presence of “educated, creative, (and) entrepreneurial people” has been “proven necessary for success in the 21st century economy.”
Instead, he sneaks through the back door, offering this assessment of prevailing economic theory:
“21st century economy is moving towards being debt free; both on a household level as well as a governmental level.”
According to CM Price, New Albany is “wasteful,” “incapable of living within a budget, and unable to handle its “own finances,” and because of this, we must conclude that the city has nothing to attract investors.
What, then, has attracted the entrepreneurial cadres already at work downtown? Why haven’t they been frightened away?
For two years, we have listened to CM Price’s twangy homespun homiles about nickels, dimes and grandma’s cigar box, but in this instance, he’s the one mistakenly putting the cart before the horse.
Just perhaps the “educated, creative” and “entrepreneurial people” and their focused investments are what helps to bring financial stability and economic growth, and that their presence in a particular place has as much to do with factors such as real estate prices, proximity to recreational opportunities and lifestyle choices as anything else.
Perhaps the “incentive package” that’s best to offer such people isn’t cash, either directly or indirectly, but a receptive and hopeful attitude on the part of the existing community.
After all, these aren’t all outsiders, although some come from elsewhere; many were born and raised here, and left to seek greener pastures precisely because there was no encouragement for their skills and aspirations here in New Albany.
Perhaps the ones who have come here from other parts of the country aren’t interested in hearing the excuses for failure, but bring with them a can-do spirit that used to be part of New Albany’s fabric when it was young and growing.
To be sure, cities far more degraded than ours have managed to revitalize themselves in spite of less to work with than New Albany possesses. How have they done it?
It might be as simple as the will to succeed.
As a side note, and in closing today’s considerations, it’s worth pointing out that by his own admission, the works of the right-wing, debt-free financial guru Dave Ramsey have a heavy personal influence on Councilman Price.
The question, as yet unanswered, is whether Ramsey’s household realm of advice and theory is applicable to the “21st century economy” in the wider sense. CM Price implies that it is.
Is it?
----
1. Mr. Price, you ran for council as a Democrat. How does your performance in council reflect your role as a Democratic Party officeholder? How can we separate your public statements from those of myriad Republicans over the past 40 years? Why are your stated preferences so different from the historic and progressive ideals of the Democratic Party? Does being a Democrat mean anything to you? What would that be, and how do you differentiate yourself from a Republican?
I am a 21st century Democrat who represents all the people. I believe in standing up for what is right and speaking out against injustice. New Albany is seeing first hand the repercussions of frivolous spending. History has been my teacher. I am not against “community-based” progress just force fed growth. It is not about trying to differentiate myself from anybody; it is about fulfilling the needs of the citizens of New Albany, and doing what will ensure a positive future for this city.
CM Price’s answer to the opening question sets the tone for the remainder of the interview by indicating clearly that either the specifics of the question elude him, or just as likely, he had no intention of risking an explication of them in the first place.
Along with 260 million fellow Americans embracing a myriad of political persuasions, CM Price claims to stand up for what “is right” and to “speak out against injustice.”
He provides no concrete examples of what these might be, or how his definition of “right” and “injustice” as a member of the Democratic Party differs from the perspective of the card-carrying Republican on the other side of the aisle.
Exactly when has CM Price taken the lead in “speaking out against injustice? Exactly what was the injustice?
In the overall context of political self-identification, CM Price’s choice of words seems quite odd, for in fact there is an organization called 21st Century Democrats, which has antecedents in the political campaigns of the late Paul Wellstone and former presidential candidate Howard Dean, and connections to another contemporary “blue” Democratic lobby group called Think Blue.
It should suffice to say that neither of these philosophies seem to be in harmony with what little of his personal political beliefs that CM Price is willing to let us glimpse in his answer to our first question.
Moreover, he moves with unseemly quickness to distance himself from the obvious burden of political self-examination by establishing the existence of his own personal bogeymen, “frivolous spending” and “force fed growth.” As you will see, these concepts are vital to CM Price’s narrow worldview, but they are not defined.
What is Steve Price in the political sense? He doesn’t tell us, but he strongly suggests that it is cautious, provincial and populist.
----
2. Will you pledge to never abstain from a vote unless you can provide details, on record, of the conflict of interest that keeps you from voting?
Each vote is a separate matter to be evaluated through education and consideration before the vote is made. I will continue to vote, either by aye, nay or an abstention as it is best for my constituents. It is better to pause until further information is available than merely blindly rubber stamping.
For the record, here’s how Wikipedia defines abstention:
Abstention is a term in parliamentary procedure for when a participant in a vote is not absent, but does not cast a ballot. An abstention may be used to indicate the voting individual's ambivalence about the measure, or mild disapproval that does not rise to the level of active opposition
In the United States Congress and many other legislatures, members may vote "present" rather than for or against a bill or resolution, which has the effect of an abstention. In the United Nations Security Council, representatives of the five countries holding a veto power (including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia and the People's Republic of China) sometimes abstain rather than vetoing a measure about which they are less than enthusiastic, particularly if the measure otherwise has broad support.
It’s worth noting that while an abstention on the first reading of an ordinance might correspond with CM Price’s example of a “pause until further information is available,” that same could not be said when the vote has reached its final tally.
NAC trusts that in the future, CM Price will be willing and able to explain why a specific abstention is “best” for the 3rd District’s constituents.
----
3. Can you please explain the concept of new urbanism and how its guiding principles may help New Albany?
The basic principle of new urbanism is a focus on neighborhood development, with the end resulting in obtaining a balance of living, working and playing spaces in a given area. It is a continuously growing city wide plan, where public input plays a vital role in its success. Creating places for children to play where parents can gather, designing pedestrian friendly shopping districts and affordable safe housing is not as simple as merely drawing a map and placing an “X” where there should be a park.
Anytime a city focuses on positive growth for its economy and residents a city will benefit from careful planning in those areas.
I feel New Albany is currently working on the ground floor of putting into action these principles by enforcing cleanliness ordinances already established, while making “smart” renovations to existing parks and unimproved land areas.
The concepts that have coalesced under the banner of New Urbanism are anything but staid, conservative and dull. Whether one agrees or disagrees with them, they are dynamic, active and transformational in nature. Here are three short descriptions gleaned from the Internet:
NEW URBANISM promotes the creation and restoration of diverse, walkable, compact, vibrant, mixed-use communities composed of the same components as conventional development, but assembled in a more integrated fashion, in the form of complete communities.
The New Urbanism is a reaction to sprawl. A growing movement of architects, planners, and developers, the New Urbanism is based on principles of planning and architecture that work together to create human-scale, walkable communities.
“Part of that revisionism is New Urbanism, which also has a strong social agenda. Those who think the point of New Urbanism is to make pretty middle-class suburbs don't know New Urbanism. The point is to reform the way we build and to make good, beautiful, walkable, diverse, sustainable places with a public realm worthy of ourselves.”
CM Price addresses these dynamic concepts of New Urbanism with characteristic tones of caution and reserve.
New Urbanism is about “planning,” he says, and requires “balance”; we must be “careful” in considering it, because it may not be “as simple” as it seems, and “smart” tweaking at the existing “ground floor” level must be undertaken before anything else.
Taken at face value, CM Price provides a workmanlike description of New Urbanism, albeit one with an underlying tone of suspicion. One might follow suit by describing the Mona Lisa as a famous painting in a museum somewhere.
We learn here that while the councilman (or someone close to him) possesses a rudimentary understanding of the genre, it comes with the congenital minimalist’s lack of enthusiasm and is absent any core commitment to its comprehension or perpetuation.
----
4. Can you please explain how you intend to use your council position to advocate for those principles via legislative action? If you could give examples of successful legislation from other cities that have done a good job of improving housing and living conditions, it would be helpful.
The point of new urbanism is to serve the needs of the residents in the city. What is crucial to remember is the trends are only as useful as how they serve a particular community at a particular time.
It would be more useful to focus on serving the people who currently live in New Albany by revamping existing structures. I would use my legislative position to advocate for public dialogue of revitalization of existing city parks, how to improve the current parking situation in the downtown area and economic incentives for new downtown locally owned businesses.
I am a proponent of live entertainment, utilizing our riverfront in conjunction with the Greenaway. Live entertainment never goes out of style.
For a councilperson to “serve the needs of the residents on the city” surely is to fulfill only the most basic requirement of his or her job description, and can be accepted as a given in most cases. No one doubts the councilman’s sincerity on this fundamental point.
Consequently, the purpose of asking questions like ours is to determine how an elected official like Steve Price intends to set about identifying and “serving” these needs.
Thus, having been asked previously to define New Urbanism, and being able to provide no more than an unenthusiastic, “partial credit” response, CM Price now rushes to disavow any element of this unified and cogent theory of planning and development, perhaps fearing that such an acknowledgement implies a responsibility to inititate rather than to react, and to propose rather than oppose – to “restructure” rather than to “revamp.”
To lead, rather than to follow.
More clearly than ever, CM Price serves notice that he is wary of “trends,” and intends to remain firmly rooted in the realm of community band-aids for “existing structures” that serve the “particular community,” i.e., his own milieu, his own people, his own upbringing, and a deeply conservative point of view reflected by a recent public comment to the effect that one example of “live entertainment (that) never goes out of style” is Chubby Checker.
----
5. How do you think the city could improve its reputation and attractiveness within the circles of educated, creative, entrepreneurial people whose presence continues to be proven necessary for success in the 21st century economy?
21st century economy is moving towards being debt free; both on a household level as well as a governmental level. Until New Albany’s resolves our current fiscal situation how can we offer an incentive package to those individuals? Statistics tell us that people want to be part of a movement toward growth. Getting in on the ground floor so to speak. When dark clouds of fiscal burdens surround the boundaries of our city – what does that say to our perspective entrepreneurial people? We are a city who is incapable of living within a budget, who is wasteful with monies. The list could go on. How can we ask for monetary investments when we have given the perception of being incapable of handling our own finances?
Intentionally or otherwise, CM Price chooses not to dispute the fundamental gist of the question, which is to establish that the presence of “educated, creative, (and) entrepreneurial people” has been “proven necessary for success in the 21st century economy.”
Instead, he sneaks through the back door, offering this assessment of prevailing economic theory:
“21st century economy is moving towards being debt free; both on a household level as well as a governmental level.”
According to CM Price, New Albany is “wasteful,” “incapable of living within a budget, and unable to handle its “own finances,” and because of this, we must conclude that the city has nothing to attract investors.
What, then, has attracted the entrepreneurial cadres already at work downtown? Why haven’t they been frightened away?
For two years, we have listened to CM Price’s twangy homespun homiles about nickels, dimes and grandma’s cigar box, but in this instance, he’s the one mistakenly putting the cart before the horse.
Just perhaps the “educated, creative” and “entrepreneurial people” and their focused investments are what helps to bring financial stability and economic growth, and that their presence in a particular place has as much to do with factors such as real estate prices, proximity to recreational opportunities and lifestyle choices as anything else.
Perhaps the “incentive package” that’s best to offer such people isn’t cash, either directly or indirectly, but a receptive and hopeful attitude on the part of the existing community.
After all, these aren’t all outsiders, although some come from elsewhere; many were born and raised here, and left to seek greener pastures precisely because there was no encouragement for their skills and aspirations here in New Albany.
Perhaps the ones who have come here from other parts of the country aren’t interested in hearing the excuses for failure, but bring with them a can-do spirit that used to be part of New Albany’s fabric when it was young and growing.
To be sure, cities far more degraded than ours have managed to revitalize themselves in spite of less to work with than New Albany possesses. How have they done it?
It might be as simple as the will to succeed.
As a side note, and in closing today’s considerations, it’s worth pointing out that by his own admission, the works of the right-wing, debt-free financial guru Dave Ramsey have a heavy personal influence on Councilman Price.
The question, as yet unanswered, is whether Ramsey’s household realm of advice and theory is applicable to the “21st century economy” in the wider sense. CM Price implies that it is.
Is it?
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Special report: "Indiana University Southeast West Nile Virus Program Completes Mission."
By Tim Deatrick, NAC correspondent.
Four years ago, Dr. Claude Baker, PhD. Biology, was contacted by the Clark, Floyd and Harrison County Health Departments for a vital mission: West Nile Virus was on its way and the local area needed an army to combat it.
Baker took the mission, and due to the dedication, hard work and services rendered by over two hundred IUS students and community volunteers, the Southern Indiana communities are significantly more prepared and capable of reducing the risk of West Nile.
“A university has a higher mission to serve its community,” Baker said. "The local health departments needed our help and our students rose to the challenge and made a real difference. That’s what we strive for here at IUS, student achievement and service to the community.”
According to Baker, West Nile Virus was first detected in southern Indiana in 2001 in dead crows and blue jays. Following a service request from the local southern Indiana health departments, mosquito collections began in the fall of 2002 with the IU Southeast ecology class collecting 20 sites in Clark County and 12 in Floyd County. Mosquitoes were bagged and shipped to the Indiana Department of Health and tested for West Nile Virus, results showed that the virus was well established in the area and was being amplified during drought conditions in late summer and fall.
In 2003, Harrison County needed help and once again, Baker’s team answered the call. “Harrison County had a growing mosquito problem,” Baker said. “We took our model from the previous year and put it to work in Harrison County. After three years and over 10,000 mosquitoes collected with no positive results, the West Nile virus epidemic is over in Harrison County.”
Baker pointed to a milestone discovery in 2004 when IUS students discovered the new exotic Asian mosquito in Clark County, Ochlerotatus japonicus, the Japanese Rock Pool mosquito, a high risk West Nile species due to its cold tolerance and its high tendency to carry the virus.
Baker explained that the mosquito probably arrived via international commerce and tends to migrate along Railroad corridors. ‘This species was traced by molecular genetic testing to Hokkaido, Japan,” Baker stated. “ What makes this mosquito a significant health threat is its ability to carry West Nile Virus, St. Louis encephalitis. Eastern equine encephalitis and Japanese encephalitis, and its cold tolerant.”
In 2005, the program’s last year, the IUS team made history again with the first confirmed Oc. japonicus West Nile Virus mosquito pool in Indiana at a site in Clark County.
Baker summarized the benefits and significance of the West Nile program in both quantitative and qualitative terms. “The overall value to the local health departments has been nearly $500,000 based on the number of students who worked on the project,” Baker said.
“More important, however, is that the local health departments are now more equipped to combat and aggressively treat to prevent the spread of the virus and the public is more informed on ways to minimize positive West Nile breeding habitats, and are more educated on the public health risk associated with the disease. Our mission is accomplished.”
Editor's note: There is an excellent West Nile project presentation at Dr. Baker's IUS web site.
Four years ago, Dr. Claude Baker, PhD. Biology, was contacted by the Clark, Floyd and Harrison County Health Departments for a vital mission: West Nile Virus was on its way and the local area needed an army to combat it.
Baker took the mission, and due to the dedication, hard work and services rendered by over two hundred IUS students and community volunteers, the Southern Indiana communities are significantly more prepared and capable of reducing the risk of West Nile.
“A university has a higher mission to serve its community,” Baker said. "The local health departments needed our help and our students rose to the challenge and made a real difference. That’s what we strive for here at IUS, student achievement and service to the community.”
According to Baker, West Nile Virus was first detected in southern Indiana in 2001 in dead crows and blue jays. Following a service request from the local southern Indiana health departments, mosquito collections began in the fall of 2002 with the IU Southeast ecology class collecting 20 sites in Clark County and 12 in Floyd County. Mosquitoes were bagged and shipped to the Indiana Department of Health and tested for West Nile Virus, results showed that the virus was well established in the area and was being amplified during drought conditions in late summer and fall.
In 2003, Harrison County needed help and once again, Baker’s team answered the call. “Harrison County had a growing mosquito problem,” Baker said. “We took our model from the previous year and put it to work in Harrison County. After three years and over 10,000 mosquitoes collected with no positive results, the West Nile virus epidemic is over in Harrison County.”
Baker pointed to a milestone discovery in 2004 when IUS students discovered the new exotic Asian mosquito in Clark County, Ochlerotatus japonicus, the Japanese Rock Pool mosquito, a high risk West Nile species due to its cold tolerance and its high tendency to carry the virus.
Baker explained that the mosquito probably arrived via international commerce and tends to migrate along Railroad corridors. ‘This species was traced by molecular genetic testing to Hokkaido, Japan,” Baker stated. “ What makes this mosquito a significant health threat is its ability to carry West Nile Virus, St. Louis encephalitis. Eastern equine encephalitis and Japanese encephalitis, and its cold tolerant.”
In 2005, the program’s last year, the IUS team made history again with the first confirmed Oc. japonicus West Nile Virus mosquito pool in Indiana at a site in Clark County.
Baker summarized the benefits and significance of the West Nile program in both quantitative and qualitative terms. “The overall value to the local health departments has been nearly $500,000 based on the number of students who worked on the project,” Baker said.
“More important, however, is that the local health departments are now more equipped to combat and aggressively treat to prevent the spread of the virus and the public is more informed on ways to minimize positive West Nile breeding habitats, and are more educated on the public health risk associated with the disease. Our mission is accomplished.”
Editor's note: There is an excellent West Nile project presentation at Dr. Baker's IUS web site.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Joining in prayer: In defense of the 'Bune's Morris, Rep. Mike Sodrel appeals for us to "put up with" him.
(Note: Rep. Sodrel's column has yet to be archived on-line).In some mysterious way, it is flattering to have provided a suitable pretext for a campaign speech, as I have been strangely transformed with the publication in the Tribune last week of “America started and is a Christian nation,” a guest column by the noted historian, 9th District Congressman Mike Sodrel.
Plainly, had I not the audacity to dispute the paucity of facts and dubious reasoning offered by the Tribune’s Chris Morris in a similar column espousing the precisely same position, it is highly doubtful that Rep. Sodrel would have taken valuable time away from grappling with the many serious problems facing America and the world in 2006 to trot out the familiar, tired clichés about the Founding Fathers and their theocratic intentions with respect to religion, freedom and the American way of life.
That Rep. Sodrel has done so – that he must opportunistically respond in such a manner to an academic exchange of opinion (well, half of one, at least) in a small-town newspaper – tells us more about the exigencies of Red State politics and the need to bolster the fundamentalist voting bloc in key part of his district in the run-up to an election year than it does about the congressman’s selective reading of history in the context of his acceptance of Jesus Christ as personal campaign manager.
Not that I doubt his sincerity when it comes to personal religious convictions. However, the persuasiveness of his argument is another story entirely.
Whereas Chris “Ed Anger” Morris offers precious few facts of any sort in his “Religion is who we are” column, Rep. Sodrel throws out bright and bouncy clusters of them during the course of a rambling essay running twice the length of my response to Chris’s original rant, but unfortunately, few of the genuine facts are connected to each other, and just as many are anecdotal and utterly irrelevant to the case Rep. Sodrel earnestly seeks to make.
For instance, following a passage in which he cites Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution (“No religious test shall ever be required … ) as evidence of the Founding Fathers’ commitment to allowing “citizens of any faith, or of no faith” to participate in government, Rep. Sodrel proceeds immediately to a denunciation of an unidentified “minority” effort to have “In God We Trust” removed from all American currency.
Rep. Sodrel obviously is implying that these words imprinted on our money are directly related to the Founding Fathers and their Christian wisdom. What he doesn’t tell you is that not until the end of the American Civil War did the phrase “In God We Trust” began to be seen each and every time that a Druid handed a prostitute her fee in coins or greenbacks.
(As a contrarian and an atheist, seeing such a blatant religious advertisement on my cash is only mildly annoying, because when it comes time for me to spend it, my concerns are less with the unknowable deity being blurbed than with my loot’s continued viability as “legal tender for all debts, public or private.”)
(God may or may not be many things, but He is not the Fed.)
Looking around the vicinity of his office in Washington D.C., Rep. Sodrel notices visible signs of our “Christian heritage” everywhere, and to him, these constitute unmistakable evidence that, as John Adams once wrote, “we are a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to govern any other.”
I’d argue that these outward manifestations of generic Christianity tell us a great deal about theories of exterior design, style, ornamentation and the human instinct for public decoration, and that the friezes on the Parthenon provided similar “evidence” of whole panoplies of Gods that have since passed from the scene.
It remains that most of the people you hear advancing the “America as Christian nation” argument unintentionally confuse two distinct considerations, for there is a crucial distinction between believing in God in the most general sense (something that isn’t disturbing), and espousing a specific system of beliefs using God as justification (Christianity, Islam, Judaism and all the shadings of each).
Ask a man on the street whether he believes in the existence of God, and you’ll establish whether or not he’s a theist, strictly speaking. However, theism in and of itself does not provide a clue as to the belief system that follows from his basic recognition of a “higher” power.
He believes in God … but which one?
This is why arguments like Rep. Sodrel’s are ultimately unconvincing to me, because while it is true that most of the Founding Fathers were Christian, and also true that many of them uttered words to this effect at one time or another, the specifics of their respective personal theologies obviously differed as widely as their practical daily political beliefs. We must ask, then, that if they meant for their new enterprise to be “Christian,” exactly what did they have in mind?
Rep. Sodrel duly attempts to answer this question by placing morals and ethics in a necessarily religious (read: Christian) context, but this needn’t be the case. A secular, reality-based ethical system has just as much viability as one dependent on supernatural sanction, although it has the drawback of providing employment for fewer men and women of the cloth.
Finally, even if we assume that the varying Christian beliefs of the Founding Fathers can be woven collectively into a consistent pattern, would this amalgam be of any relevance to the world as it is today?
As Sam Harris points out in his masterful “The End of Faith”:
"Imagine that we could revive a well-educated Christian of the fourteenth century. The man would prove to be a total ignoramus, except on matters of faith. His beliefs about astronomy, geography and medicine would embarrass even a child, but he would know more or less everything there is to know about God. Though he would be considered a fool to think that the earth is the center of the cosmos, or that trepanning (boring holes in the human skull) constitutes a wise medical intervention, his religious ideas would still be beyond reproach. There are two explanations for this: either we perfected our religious understanding of the world a millennium ago – while our knowledge on all other fronts was still hopelessly inchoate – or religion, being the mere maintenance of dogma, is one area of discourse that does not admit of progress."
The same can be said of the 18th-century resident of the United States.
Isn’t it strange that the vast majority of Americans eternally clamoring for a return to the values of the Founding Fathers conveniently ignore other accepted teachings of the era, some of which we now understand as vile and repugnant … even, heaven forbid, evil in the ethical sense?
Where to begin with the recitation of human practices and conditions not merely tolerated by the churches of the past, but sanctioned and encouraged?
In brief, to name just three: Torture was gleefully perpetuated, as in the case of the witch hunts. There was the systematic persecution and slaughter of Native Americans. Most horrible of all, the institution of slavery was built, expanded and abetted with the cooperation of Christian churches of all denominations.
Were most Americans of the Civil War period Christians? Yes, they were.
Did any more than a tiny number of them, both north and south, really believe that African-Americans were human beings with souls?
No, they didn’t.
The Christian precepts of abolitionism in the sense of human slavery differed little from those that might have been cited concurrently as justification for abolishing cruelty to draft animals.
Exactly what part of this example of the “faith of our fathers” and our “Christian heritage” is relevant to conditions in our day and age – for that matter, to any day and age?
Predictably, Rep. Sodrel neither touches upon these abominations, nor does he consider their implications in the realm of faith, although he does manage to pay brief lip service to the concept of tolerance:
“In this age of tolerance, one would think the minority could show some tolerance for the majority.”
Such is Rep. Sodrel’s viewpoint from the luxury box seats at his exurban mega-church, and he expands on these sentiments with this, the congressman’s one true gem of misplaced rhetoric:
“No one is asking the minority to approve of, promote, or practice the majority faith. We only ask them to put up with us.”
To put up with you?
Speaking only for myself, this is something I’m quite willing to do, at least so long as the “majority faith” is not selectively defined as the evangelistic dogma of a valued and targeted segment of the electorate, and it is not cynically deployed as an excuse to rewrite the rules that apply to all of us in such a manner as to make such a specific religious interpretation into the law of the land – a land that I, a card-carrying member of the non-religious minority, inhabit with a certainty borne of Constitutional fact that Constitutional rights were meant to apply to me and mine as well as to Rep. Sodrel and his partisan voting bloc.
Have “fact and faith … coexisted in America for over 230 years,” as Rep. Sodrel writes?
Uneasily at best, and the proposition itself is debatable, but in their arguments thus far, both the congressman and the newspaper editor have freely sacrificed the facts to bolster the faith.
Why?
Encore presentation ... The NA Confidential Interview: Councilman Steve Price.
Note to readers:
In the interview that follows, first-term 3rd District councilman Steve Price answers our questions, with both questions and answers coming without commentary or analysis (as promised, CM Price has the floor to himself in the opening round; after that, the debate begins).
First, in Part I, the complete and unexpurgated correspondence preceding the interview is provided for the sake of the historical record.
Reader comments and questions about the interview are appreciated and subject to the customary blog policy.
We thank CM Price for his time and his candor.
----
PART I: Pre-interview correspondence.
CM Price,
I see that in an interview with "Erik," a non-existent "college professor" invented for reasons that none of us truly understand, you are quoted as saying:
"I am always accessible. I receive on an average of 15 to 20 calls a day from my constituents. I will be more than happy to meet with any group or individual and listen to any suggestion, ideas or complaints to make New Albany a better place to live."
As I'm assuming there are no exceptions to this generalization, might we arrange a public meeting of some sort after Christmas?
Also, would you submit to an interview and agree to answer NA Confidential's questions, which will be coming from a real -- not a fictitious -- person (me)?
I have in mind 10 or so questions, all written, so that you can be satisfied that your answers are complete and as you prefer. I will not debate these or intrude upon the answers you provide during the initial posting on NAC, preserving their context entirely.
Of course, in follow-ups, I may take issue with some of your answers. Of course, you'll be given every opportunity to respond accordingly.
Game? I detect a marvelous opportunity for you to clarify your positions on certain pressing issues of the day.
Let me know. Thanks.
Roger A. Baylor
----
Roger,
I am an equal opportunity person. Please forward to me any questions or concerns you may have, I will respsond and forward them back to you.
Also, I welcome your phone calls as well.
Holiday Blessings to you and yours,
Councilmen Steve Price
----
Steve,
As promised, here are the questions for the NA Confidential article. Please take your time, emote and elaborate.
Thanks.
Roger
----
Roger,
I would first like to thank you for the opportunity you have given me to answer your heartfelt questions about New Albany as it has entered into the 21st century.
Although we don’t see eye to eye on the resolution of the city differences, I appreciate your words enough about my view point to dedicate so much time and energy to get my opinion out to the residents of New Albany.
Those that know us either directly or indirectly know that if I say the sky is blue and the grass is green you my special advocate will see it differently.
Roger, I would like to make a confession, so to speak, to you, When I feel as if I should just give in and stop fighting for fairness for the citizens of New Albany, I read your blogg. Then I feel obligated to give the residents another view point. While you find my philosophy humorous and uneducated, I am appalled by yours. I wonder how you are unable to see the trees in the forest called New Albany. That very question is what keeps me going.
It was previously agreed that you would print my answers in their entirety before adding your rendition of the appropriate answer. I do however expect to have “equal” time in replying to your comments. I assume my argument will be appreciated.
Without further ado, Roger the “hot, hot, hot” answer you have long been waiting for.
Steve Price
PART II: Questions and answers.
1. Mr. Price, you ran for council as a Democrat. How does your performance in council reflect your role as a Democratic Party officeholder? How can we separate your public statements from those of myriad Republicans over the past 40 years? Why are your stated preferences so different from the historic and progressive ideals of the Democratic Party? Does being a Democrat mean anything to you? What would that be, and how do you differentiate yourself from a Republican?
I am a 21st century Democrat who represents all the people. I believe in standing up for what is right and speaking out against injustice. New Albany is seeing first hand the repercussions of frivolous spending. History has been my teacher. I am not against “community-based” progress just force fed growth. It is not about trying to differentiate myself from anybody; it is about fulfilling the needs of the citizens of New Albany, and doing what will ensure a positive future for this city.
2. Will you pledge to never abstain from a vote unless you can provide details, on record, of the conflict of interest that keeps you from voting?
Each vote is a separate matter to be evaluated through education and consideration before the vote is made. I will continue to vote, either by aye, nay or an abstention as it is best for my constituents. It is better to pause until further information is available than merely blindly rubber stamping.
3. Can you please explain the concept of new urbanism and how its guiding principles may help New Albany?
The basic principle of new urbanism is a focus on neighborhood development, with the end resulting in obtaining a balance of living, working and playing spaces in a given area. It is a continuously growing city wide plan, where public input plays a vital role in its success. Creating places for children to play where parents can gather, designing pedestrian friendly shopping districts and affordable safe housing is not as simple as merely drawing a map and placing an “X” where there should be a park.
Anytime a city focuses on positive growth for its economy and residents a city will benefit from careful planning in those areas.
I feel New Albany is currently working on the ground floor of putting into action these principles by enforcing cleanliness ordinances already established, while making “smart” renovations to existing parks and unimproved land areas.
4. Can you please explain how you intend to use your council position to advocate for those principles via legislative action? If you could give examples of successful legislation from other cities that have done a good job of improving housing and living conditions, it would be helpful.
The point of new urbanism is to serve the needs of the residents in the city. What is crucial to remember is the trends are only as useful as how they serve a particular community at a particular time.
It would be more useful to focus on serving the people who currently live in New Albany by revamping existing structures. I would use my legislative position to advocate for public dialogue of revitalization of existing city parks, how to improve the current parking situation in the downtown area and economic incentives for new downtown locally owned businesses.
I am a proponent of live entertainment, utilizing our riverfront in conjunction with the Greenaway. Live entertainment never goes out of style.
5. How do you think the city could improve its reputation and attractiveness within the circles of educated, creative, entrepreneurial people whose presence continues to be proven necessary for success in the 21st century economy?
21st century economy is moving towards being debt free; both on a household level as well as a governmental level. Until New Albany’s resolves our current fiscal situation how can we offer an incentive package to those individuals? Statistics tell us that people want to be part of a movement toward growth. Getting in on the ground floor so to speak. When dark clouds of fiscal burdens surround the boundaries of our city – what does that say to our perspective entrepreneurial people? We are a city who is incapable of living within a budget, who is wasteful with monies. The list could go on. How can we ask for monetary investments when we have given the perception of being incapable of handling our own finances?
6. What have you done or what will you do to express a clear preference for the redevelopment of existing city neighborhoods as opposed to continued sprawl?
New Albany in the past several years recognized the neighborhood associations. It has been a pleasure to watch a growing relationship between the associations and the city government. Maintaining an open line of communications between the two is a positive step toward redevelopment of existing neighborhoods. I have assisted the associations within my district as they work with city officials to devise and implement proactive problem resolutions. For instance, there was growing concern among my constituents regarding a car lot being placed in their highly residential neighborhood. I was able to help them voice their concerns to the city and reach a positive resolution.
Small communities within a larger city working to improve their particular area in relation to the city as a whole is yet another example of new urbanism planning in action.
I will continue to work with the existing groups that are dedicated to improving their piece of New Albany, Which in turn will improve New Albany as a whole.
7. Have you or do you intend to approach county officials to develop, in partnership, a countywide plan for smart and coordinated growth?
As I mentioned above, new urbanism or progressive urban planning is a team effort. It would be pointless to try and conceive a plan of progress in New Albany without consulting and coordinating with those who it will have the impact on.
If it will benefit my constituents and city government as a whole, I am certainly not opposed to opening a dialogue with county government regarding a mutually beneficial relationship to further “Smart Growth”, as it can only help.
8. What have you advocated for or will you advocate for that would provide an incentive to or lessen the risk for the early redevelopment "pioneers" who are now making themselves known around the city? Have you played a role in attracting these people and/or how do you hope to empower and encourage them and other similar people?
If the mission of the “early redevelopment ‘pioneers’” is to continue to bring New Albany into the 21st century with a solid fiscal foundation then I will do everything in my power to support them.
9. What is your reaction to this statement: “And yet, to Steve Price and those of his utterly clueless ilk, Frankfort Avenue is somehow the enemy, an inexplicable collection of strange people and alien concepts to be feared and loathed owing to the incomprehensible differences, and a revitalization equation that simply does not compute -- at least when reckoned by the slumlord’s shopworn abacus.”
This is a classic case of selective listening. Frankfort Avenue is a great example of new urbanism in a land locked area. Currently, New Albany is not land locked. I do believe there is such a thing as over crowding. When you have unimproved land throughout the city why over crowd tight spaces?
10. In terms of rate of growth in the state of Indiana, Harrison County ranks 4th, Clark County ranks 18th, and Floyd County ranks 44th. A local developer recently expressed to me that the "ridiculous politics" of New Albany played a major role in our low sore. Do you agree with this assessment? Please explain why or why not.
New Albany’s good ol’ boy perception has had an impact over the years. Hopefully our hindsight is becoming increasingly clearer as we pay the debt from our elected elders.
11. What is a UEZ? Why does it exist? And why do you oppose its continuance?
As I stated at the October 2005 council meeting; I am not necessarily opposed to the continuance of the UEZ. I do however have concerns over the funding source. Prior funding was received by an inventory tax that was paid by all business residing in Floyd County. That tax has since been eliminated.
12. What ideas do you have, if any, to restructure and enhance educational opportunities in New Albany?
As we know from following the news regarding the implementation of the federal “No Child Left Behind” Act we as a municipality are somewhat limited in our ability to legislate public education. However, that does not leave us without options. Other cities are finding ways to increase their school systems services and success. I strongly believe we as a city government owe it to our children to research and investigate plans from other cities to see if they are feasible for New Albany.
13. What is your plan for giving more meaningful authority to the historic preservation commission and ordinance enforcement position? Do you support the expansion of the city attorney position to full-time and/or the creation of a city court to better deal with the violations cited by those entities? If not, how do you envision the city being able to deal with them adequately?
The City Council established a position of ordinance enforcement officer to enforce the existing ordinances. While doing so, we outlined the consequences of violations to these ordinances. When properly enforced, I feel the message will get out that the city will not tolerate housing in substandard conditions. The City Council has discussed the possibility of a full time attorney. While I am not opposed to the idea, obtaining an accurate account of monies is a more immediate need at the present time.
14. As an extension of the preceding, do you agree that New Albany should institute rental property inspections with real teeth? Why or why not?
As a reminder, I spearheaded the cleanliness ordinance. I think homeowners’ period should take responsibility for their property. At the present time, I feel we need to focus on enforcing the established ordinances before entertaining new ones.
15. Is there a difference between being a “taxpayer watchdog” and expressing public contempt for the ideals of civic progress? Please explain.
The difference is the “taxpayer watchdog” is open-minded and looking out for the better good of the community and supports “community-based “ progress and takes a stand on force fed growth. A “taxpayer watchdog” knows taking out a 2nd mortgage to go to Disney World isn’t the smartest business move you can make. While the latter would say no without just reason, the “taxpayer watchdog” says lets look at ways to make the progress happen without tax increases. We can progress ourselves into bankruptcy. After all, Grandma’s don’t spend it if you don’t have it philosophy left wealth not debt with her memory. Let history be our teacher.
16. Neil Young or Bob Dylan?
What do you think?
In the interview that follows, first-term 3rd District councilman Steve Price answers our questions, with both questions and answers coming without commentary or analysis (as promised, CM Price has the floor to himself in the opening round; after that, the debate begins).
First, in Part I, the complete and unexpurgated correspondence preceding the interview is provided for the sake of the historical record.
Reader comments and questions about the interview are appreciated and subject to the customary blog policy.
We thank CM Price for his time and his candor.
----
PART I: Pre-interview correspondence.
CM Price,
I see that in an interview with "Erik," a non-existent "college professor" invented for reasons that none of us truly understand, you are quoted as saying:
"I am always accessible. I receive on an average of 15 to 20 calls a day from my constituents. I will be more than happy to meet with any group or individual and listen to any suggestion, ideas or complaints to make New Albany a better place to live."
As I'm assuming there are no exceptions to this generalization, might we arrange a public meeting of some sort after Christmas?
Also, would you submit to an interview and agree to answer NA Confidential's questions, which will be coming from a real -- not a fictitious -- person (me)?
I have in mind 10 or so questions, all written, so that you can be satisfied that your answers are complete and as you prefer. I will not debate these or intrude upon the answers you provide during the initial posting on NAC, preserving their context entirely.
Of course, in follow-ups, I may take issue with some of your answers. Of course, you'll be given every opportunity to respond accordingly.
Game? I detect a marvelous opportunity for you to clarify your positions on certain pressing issues of the day.
Let me know. Thanks.
Roger A. Baylor
----
Roger,
I am an equal opportunity person. Please forward to me any questions or concerns you may have, I will respsond and forward them back to you.
Also, I welcome your phone calls as well.
Holiday Blessings to you and yours,
Councilmen Steve Price
----
Steve,
As promised, here are the questions for the NA Confidential article. Please take your time, emote and elaborate.
Thanks.
Roger
----
Roger,
I would first like to thank you for the opportunity you have given me to answer your heartfelt questions about New Albany as it has entered into the 21st century.
Although we don’t see eye to eye on the resolution of the city differences, I appreciate your words enough about my view point to dedicate so much time and energy to get my opinion out to the residents of New Albany.
Those that know us either directly or indirectly know that if I say the sky is blue and the grass is green you my special advocate will see it differently.
Roger, I would like to make a confession, so to speak, to you, When I feel as if I should just give in and stop fighting for fairness for the citizens of New Albany, I read your blogg. Then I feel obligated to give the residents another view point. While you find my philosophy humorous and uneducated, I am appalled by yours. I wonder how you are unable to see the trees in the forest called New Albany. That very question is what keeps me going.
It was previously agreed that you would print my answers in their entirety before adding your rendition of the appropriate answer. I do however expect to have “equal” time in replying to your comments. I assume my argument will be appreciated.
Without further ado, Roger the “hot, hot, hot” answer you have long been waiting for.
Steve Price
PART II: Questions and answers.
1. Mr. Price, you ran for council as a Democrat. How does your performance in council reflect your role as a Democratic Party officeholder? How can we separate your public statements from those of myriad Republicans over the past 40 years? Why are your stated preferences so different from the historic and progressive ideals of the Democratic Party? Does being a Democrat mean anything to you? What would that be, and how do you differentiate yourself from a Republican?
I am a 21st century Democrat who represents all the people. I believe in standing up for what is right and speaking out against injustice. New Albany is seeing first hand the repercussions of frivolous spending. History has been my teacher. I am not against “community-based” progress just force fed growth. It is not about trying to differentiate myself from anybody; it is about fulfilling the needs of the citizens of New Albany, and doing what will ensure a positive future for this city.
2. Will you pledge to never abstain from a vote unless you can provide details, on record, of the conflict of interest that keeps you from voting?
Each vote is a separate matter to be evaluated through education and consideration before the vote is made. I will continue to vote, either by aye, nay or an abstention as it is best for my constituents. It is better to pause until further information is available than merely blindly rubber stamping.
3. Can you please explain the concept of new urbanism and how its guiding principles may help New Albany?
The basic principle of new urbanism is a focus on neighborhood development, with the end resulting in obtaining a balance of living, working and playing spaces in a given area. It is a continuously growing city wide plan, where public input plays a vital role in its success. Creating places for children to play where parents can gather, designing pedestrian friendly shopping districts and affordable safe housing is not as simple as merely drawing a map and placing an “X” where there should be a park.
Anytime a city focuses on positive growth for its economy and residents a city will benefit from careful planning in those areas.
I feel New Albany is currently working on the ground floor of putting into action these principles by enforcing cleanliness ordinances already established, while making “smart” renovations to existing parks and unimproved land areas.
4. Can you please explain how you intend to use your council position to advocate for those principles via legislative action? If you could give examples of successful legislation from other cities that have done a good job of improving housing and living conditions, it would be helpful.
The point of new urbanism is to serve the needs of the residents in the city. What is crucial to remember is the trends are only as useful as how they serve a particular community at a particular time.
It would be more useful to focus on serving the people who currently live in New Albany by revamping existing structures. I would use my legislative position to advocate for public dialogue of revitalization of existing city parks, how to improve the current parking situation in the downtown area and economic incentives for new downtown locally owned businesses.
I am a proponent of live entertainment, utilizing our riverfront in conjunction with the Greenaway. Live entertainment never goes out of style.
5. How do you think the city could improve its reputation and attractiveness within the circles of educated, creative, entrepreneurial people whose presence continues to be proven necessary for success in the 21st century economy?
21st century economy is moving towards being debt free; both on a household level as well as a governmental level. Until New Albany’s resolves our current fiscal situation how can we offer an incentive package to those individuals? Statistics tell us that people want to be part of a movement toward growth. Getting in on the ground floor so to speak. When dark clouds of fiscal burdens surround the boundaries of our city – what does that say to our perspective entrepreneurial people? We are a city who is incapable of living within a budget, who is wasteful with monies. The list could go on. How can we ask for monetary investments when we have given the perception of being incapable of handling our own finances?
6. What have you done or what will you do to express a clear preference for the redevelopment of existing city neighborhoods as opposed to continued sprawl?
New Albany in the past several years recognized the neighborhood associations. It has been a pleasure to watch a growing relationship between the associations and the city government. Maintaining an open line of communications between the two is a positive step toward redevelopment of existing neighborhoods. I have assisted the associations within my district as they work with city officials to devise and implement proactive problem resolutions. For instance, there was growing concern among my constituents regarding a car lot being placed in their highly residential neighborhood. I was able to help them voice their concerns to the city and reach a positive resolution.
Small communities within a larger city working to improve their particular area in relation to the city as a whole is yet another example of new urbanism planning in action.
I will continue to work with the existing groups that are dedicated to improving their piece of New Albany, Which in turn will improve New Albany as a whole.
7. Have you or do you intend to approach county officials to develop, in partnership, a countywide plan for smart and coordinated growth?
As I mentioned above, new urbanism or progressive urban planning is a team effort. It would be pointless to try and conceive a plan of progress in New Albany without consulting and coordinating with those who it will have the impact on.
If it will benefit my constituents and city government as a whole, I am certainly not opposed to opening a dialogue with county government regarding a mutually beneficial relationship to further “Smart Growth”, as it can only help.
8. What have you advocated for or will you advocate for that would provide an incentive to or lessen the risk for the early redevelopment "pioneers" who are now making themselves known around the city? Have you played a role in attracting these people and/or how do you hope to empower and encourage them and other similar people?
If the mission of the “early redevelopment ‘pioneers’” is to continue to bring New Albany into the 21st century with a solid fiscal foundation then I will do everything in my power to support them.
9. What is your reaction to this statement: “And yet, to Steve Price and those of his utterly clueless ilk, Frankfort Avenue is somehow the enemy, an inexplicable collection of strange people and alien concepts to be feared and loathed owing to the incomprehensible differences, and a revitalization equation that simply does not compute -- at least when reckoned by the slumlord’s shopworn abacus.”
This is a classic case of selective listening. Frankfort Avenue is a great example of new urbanism in a land locked area. Currently, New Albany is not land locked. I do believe there is such a thing as over crowding. When you have unimproved land throughout the city why over crowd tight spaces?
10. In terms of rate of growth in the state of Indiana, Harrison County ranks 4th, Clark County ranks 18th, and Floyd County ranks 44th. A local developer recently expressed to me that the "ridiculous politics" of New Albany played a major role in our low sore. Do you agree with this assessment? Please explain why or why not.
New Albany’s good ol’ boy perception has had an impact over the years. Hopefully our hindsight is becoming increasingly clearer as we pay the debt from our elected elders.
11. What is a UEZ? Why does it exist? And why do you oppose its continuance?
As I stated at the October 2005 council meeting; I am not necessarily opposed to the continuance of the UEZ. I do however have concerns over the funding source. Prior funding was received by an inventory tax that was paid by all business residing in Floyd County. That tax has since been eliminated.
12. What ideas do you have, if any, to restructure and enhance educational opportunities in New Albany?
As we know from following the news regarding the implementation of the federal “No Child Left Behind” Act we as a municipality are somewhat limited in our ability to legislate public education. However, that does not leave us without options. Other cities are finding ways to increase their school systems services and success. I strongly believe we as a city government owe it to our children to research and investigate plans from other cities to see if they are feasible for New Albany.
13. What is your plan for giving more meaningful authority to the historic preservation commission and ordinance enforcement position? Do you support the expansion of the city attorney position to full-time and/or the creation of a city court to better deal with the violations cited by those entities? If not, how do you envision the city being able to deal with them adequately?
The City Council established a position of ordinance enforcement officer to enforce the existing ordinances. While doing so, we outlined the consequences of violations to these ordinances. When properly enforced, I feel the message will get out that the city will not tolerate housing in substandard conditions. The City Council has discussed the possibility of a full time attorney. While I am not opposed to the idea, obtaining an accurate account of monies is a more immediate need at the present time.
14. As an extension of the preceding, do you agree that New Albany should institute rental property inspections with real teeth? Why or why not?
As a reminder, I spearheaded the cleanliness ordinance. I think homeowners’ period should take responsibility for their property. At the present time, I feel we need to focus on enforcing the established ordinances before entertaining new ones.
15. Is there a difference between being a “taxpayer watchdog” and expressing public contempt for the ideals of civic progress? Please explain.
The difference is the “taxpayer watchdog” is open-minded and looking out for the better good of the community and supports “community-based “ progress and takes a stand on force fed growth. A “taxpayer watchdog” knows taking out a 2nd mortgage to go to Disney World isn’t the smartest business move you can make. While the latter would say no without just reason, the “taxpayer watchdog” says lets look at ways to make the progress happen without tax increases. We can progress ourselves into bankruptcy. After all, Grandma’s don’t spend it if you don’t have it philosophy left wealth not debt with her memory. Let history be our teacher.
16. Neil Young or Bob Dylan?
What do you think?
Sunday, January 22, 2006
'Bune dons conservative garb, adds editorial board.
Volunteer Hoosier considers the first editorial to emanate from the Tribune’s new editorial board in Tribune Stepping Out:
Let me first say I disagree with the conclusion and opinion expressed in the piece titled "Closing Silvercrest is right decision" under the heading "Our Opinion." That said, the editorial board tries to explain its conclusion, lays out their methodology for making a choice, and provides supporting facts and professional analysis.
Agree or disagree, today’s editorial is a radical departure from the timid and often irrational offerings of the past.
Other changes at the local newspaper are difficult to figure, but it’s still early.
Perhaps the ‘Bune’s newly minted board has been conducting its research with help from Mike Sodrel’s office and the Christian Academy journalism department, because during the past week, and with the stated rationale that, after all, most editorial cartoonists are “liberal,” the comic strip “Mallard Fillmore” started appearing on the editorial page.
It joins the now-weekly appearance in the Sunday Spectrum section of Dr. James Dobson’s “Christian advice in pediatric psychologist’s clothing” column for youngsters.
Here is supplementary reading for those interested in Dobson and the Focus on Family flam-flammery:
James Dobson: The religious right's new kingmaker, by Michael Crowley (Slate).
He's already leveraging his new power. When a thank-you call came from the White House, Dobson issued the staffer a blunt warning that Bush "needs to be more aggressive" about pressing the religious right's pro-life, anti-gay rights agenda, or it would "pay a price in four years."
James Dobson: Focusing on Himself, by Brian Elroy McKinley, a recovering fundamentalist whose web site is fascinating.
I could go on quoting James Dobson and other media who watch him and Focus on the Family. But the point is painfully clear. Dobson uses his position as a radio psychologist to present his untrained biblical interpretations as our spiritual, moral, and political guidelines. With the fervor of a prophet, Dobson calls us to action as if he had a mandate from God to do so. And by doing so, Dobson has set himself up as nothing less than a twentieth-century Pharisee, misleading millions of believers in the name of Righteousness and Morality.
What's next, Dave Ramsey and his "Household Finance for Steve Price" column?
Tips from Wal-Mart on how to cook Tyson chicken nuggets?
Grover Norquist on anarchy and the end of government?
Let me first say I disagree with the conclusion and opinion expressed in the piece titled "Closing Silvercrest is right decision" under the heading "Our Opinion." That said, the editorial board tries to explain its conclusion, lays out their methodology for making a choice, and provides supporting facts and professional analysis.
Agree or disagree, today’s editorial is a radical departure from the timid and often irrational offerings of the past.
Other changes at the local newspaper are difficult to figure, but it’s still early.
Perhaps the ‘Bune’s newly minted board has been conducting its research with help from Mike Sodrel’s office and the Christian Academy journalism department, because during the past week, and with the stated rationale that, after all, most editorial cartoonists are “liberal,” the comic strip “Mallard Fillmore” started appearing on the editorial page.
It joins the now-weekly appearance in the Sunday Spectrum section of Dr. James Dobson’s “Christian advice in pediatric psychologist’s clothing” column for youngsters.
Here is supplementary reading for those interested in Dobson and the Focus on Family flam-flammery:
James Dobson: The religious right's new kingmaker, by Michael Crowley (Slate).
He's already leveraging his new power. When a thank-you call came from the White House, Dobson issued the staffer a blunt warning that Bush "needs to be more aggressive" about pressing the religious right's pro-life, anti-gay rights agenda, or it would "pay a price in four years."
James Dobson: Focusing on Himself, by Brian Elroy McKinley, a recovering fundamentalist whose web site is fascinating.
I could go on quoting James Dobson and other media who watch him and Focus on the Family. But the point is painfully clear. Dobson uses his position as a radio psychologist to present his untrained biblical interpretations as our spiritual, moral, and political guidelines. With the fervor of a prophet, Dobson calls us to action as if he had a mandate from God to do so. And by doing so, Dobson has set himself up as nothing less than a twentieth-century Pharisee, misleading millions of believers in the name of Righteousness and Morality.
What's next, Dave Ramsey and his "Household Finance for Steve Price" column?
Tips from Wal-Mart on how to cook Tyson chicken nuggets?
Grover Norquist on anarchy and the end of government?
A walk would do you good, Steve.
Mrs. Confidential and I were walking down Spring Street last evening when we suddenly heard voices – above us.
It was disorienting at first, but soon it became apparent that there were people on the second floor balcony of the recently constructed condo building adjacent to Destinations Booksellers. It turns out that at least one of the units has been occupied since last fall.
Continuing toward the heart of town, we crossed the street and strolled south on Pearl, and once again, sounds from the general direction of the sky caught our attention. In this case, it was a hammer, one being wielded by someone working on a window on the second floor of Federal Hill Café, which was almost completely filled with diners.
It was disorienting at first, but soon it became apparent that there were people on the second floor balcony of the recently constructed condo building adjacent to Destinations Booksellers. It turns out that at least one of the units has been occupied since last fall.
Continuing toward the heart of town, we crossed the street and strolled south on Pearl, and once again, sounds from the general direction of the sky caught our attention. In this case, it was a hammer, one being wielded by someone working on a window on the second floor of Federal Hill Café, which was almost completely filled with diners.
I recalled Dave telling me that he was pressing ahead with renovations to expand the establishment.
Continuing past the White House Center, we stopped to look at the buildings that Stephen Beardsley owns and is renovating, and the facades that he soon will be restoring, and there was light coming from a second story window. The blinds were parted enough to see a ceiling fan and some pictures on what appeared to be a freshly painted wall.
It must be occupied.
On the other side of the block, there was a festive event in progress at the Grand, and at the corner of Market and Bank -- and finally at ground level -- we saw the “Bistro New Albany” window stencils that went up earlier in the day. Opening is only eight days away for Greg and Dave.
It might be less than that for the new Tacos La Rosita location in the 1500 block of East Market (the former California’s), or so I was told Friday night by one of my customers, who said that it could be open as early as Monday, January 23.
Previously, hiking home after Thursday night’s Coffey Klatch (a.k.a., city council meeting), I peeked into the future Joy’s Coffee Nook (part of State Street Flooring) and saw a Rancilio espresso machine, a nice looking glass pastry case, and a cozy room that’s looking ready for business very soon.
Perhaps if New Albany’s nattering nabobs of naysaying took an occasional walk, they might see the progress that’s being made downtown, although I wouldn’t want to detract from the certainty that stems from the ostrich’s default insularity.
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Over at Diggin’ in the Dirt, Ann has two postings worth your attention, both surveying the realm of positive New Albanian developments, many that are in plain sight for those caring to take the time to look:
Blogging Slacker
New Albany is moving along, and many of its citizens are the momentum behind the movement. Stay tuned.
There’s an important overview of Greenway Commission representative Valla Ann Bolovschak’s noteworthy progress with the Norfolk Southern railroad over the issue of opening a lane on the K & I Bridge to bicyclists and pedestrians. It’s something that needs to happen, needs to happen now rather than later, and has the full support of the hierarchy in Louisville.
New Albany: What's the Public Perception?
What do those of us who own blogs or post on blogs want readers to perceive about New Albany? Do we want to encourage people to move to this community? To establish businesses here? Do we merely want to vent about problems in town? What positive contributions can our blogs make? What are the responsibilities we carry when we post information and opinions on a public blog? I believe these are questions that all bloggers need to consider before they make public postings.
Ann writes of corresponding with a New Albany native who has lived for a number of years in Massachusetts, and who recently made a return visit. She’s now buying a house, planning her return and looking into business opportunities. I met the same woman at Rich O’s last week, and she’s excited about the possibilities in New Albany.
So are we.
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In The NA Confidential Interview: Councilman Steve Price, the following question was asked:
8. What have you advocated for or will you advocate for that would provide an incentive to or lessen the risk for the early redevelopment "pioneers" who are now making themselves known around the city? Have you played a role in attracting these people and/or how do you hope to empower and encourage them and other similar people?
CM Price answered:
If the mission of the “early redevelopment ‘pioneers’” is to continue to bring New Albany into the 21st century with a solid fiscal foundation then I will do everything in my power to support them.
I will continue to work with the existing groups that are dedicated to improving their piece of New Albany, Which in turn will improve New Albany as a whole.
Today we’ve considered more than a few “early development pioneers,” most of whom are undertaking their pioneering efforts in Steve Price’s own council district.
Given that CM Price made absolutely no effort to answer the question as it was written, it’s fair for me to speculate as to his overall level of comprehension.
Has he “empowered” any of them yet?
Encouraged any of them?
Does he even know they exist?