In a way, it’s perfectly understandable that the leadership of the Democratic Party in Floyd County remains silent in the face of THE issue of New Albany’s future.
But only just barely!
In a remarkable expression of Democratic vision, the county chairman showed why he is so universally admired and respected when he called CM Coffey’s desperate attempt to scuttle Scribner Place “ridiculous.” But to date, none of his peers have joined with Messrs. Gahan, Messer, and Blevins, and Mrs. Crump, in declaring their enthusiastic support for the Scribner Place redevelopment project.
And even that broad brush isn’t fair. Legislator Ted Heavrin, destined to step down, at least for a while, from his duties beginning in January, and executive John Reisert, who is moving on toward a well-deserved retirement from public service, have recognized the wisdom of making a minimal public investment for an almost immeasurable return.
Incumbent Republicans are also on board, demonstrating a fusion of interests that bodes well for the future of Floyd County and its county seat.
But where are the Democrats?
Why have they not declared where they stand? Sen. Sipes and Rep. Cochran have earned the benefit of the doubt by demonstrating a commitment to that which is best for their constituents.
And NA Confidential harbors no doubts about where these leaders actually stand on the issue of Scribner Place. We’ve little doubt that they see this for what it is – a remarkable opportunity to leverage public investment and create a centerpiece that residents can point to with pride as the renaissance of New Albany as the creative capital of Southern Indiana.
Our question for Sipes and Cochran is this: What makes you think that the people who support you know your views on this local issue? Why is it that you feel comfortable in keeping the public unaware of your opinions?
Isn’t this precisely the type of thing you have worked so tirelessly to make possible? How can you abide the humiliating toll your party is taking at the hands of Dan Coffey and Steve Price? How can you countenance the moral cowardice of Bill Schmidt and Larry Kochert?
Are you, Connie, a member of the Coffey cabal, a closet supporter of the Gang of Four? Are you, Bill Cochran, powerless to influence the boys on the city council to serve the interests of the people?
Things have progressed too far (no pun intended) for either of you to blithely claim that friendship, or even past or future support at election time, entitles these four men to tarnish the party. No individual or group of individuals is entitled to slander the reputation of the party while you remain silent.
Perhaps you can no longer exert influence on these rogue Democrats. But you can distinguish yourselves from their ilk.
Our plea here has nothing to do with supporting you or not supporting you. It has to do with respecting you. Our question is this: Has our admiration for you and your service been misplaced? Have we wrongly seen in you an ability to separate policy from politics? Have we wrongly estimated your ability to draw a line and take a stand?
What Mr. Coffey and his eager followers propose is a course of action that will cement an NA-FC reputation for ignorance and insularity. We don’t think you built your reputations on such. We don’t think you will choose to remain silent in the face of this assault on what is best for New Albany and Floyd County.
Oh yes, we recognize we could be wrong. You may share the vision (?) of the Gang of Four. You may be engaged in vendetta and a desperate appeal to the lowest common denominator. You may be calculating that the hundreds of voters loyal (?) to these four are yours to command, and that counseling them to back down from a wrongful, vengeful, and prehistoric view of New Albany might cost you those voters.
But we don’t think so. We ask you to speak out in support of the Scribner Place development project. A word behind the scenes is not enough. Each of you should measure the consequences of remaining silent.
We believe that you will find wisdom in declaring your support for this project. Frankly, NA Confidential sees no downside. Your respected opinions will put an end to this lunacy without requiring a declaration of open war.
As Mr. Stumler’s recent statements make clear, moves to block this project are not respectable, they are not the views of Democrats, and they are not views with which you would want to be identified.
But sitting this one out is no longer an option. A sizable majority of the people naturally inclined to support you, Connie and Bill, will read your silence in the face of this atrocity as something falling short of leadership and vision.
NA Confidential recognizes that this is not a simple decision. But it is an easy one – right? Or wrong?
Let it be known. Shine your light. On so many issues, the two of you have led, not followed, not acquiesced to some compromising vein of misguided allegiance to the failed policies of the past.
As for those who are joining you on the ticket this November, we seek the same type of leadership. All of Floyd County benefits from the YMCA/Scribner Place development. For little more than $2 million in taxpayer funds, spread over a 16-year term, the community will marvel at the catalytic effects of this development.
As one wise man has pointed out, you couldn’t imagine even the possibility of spending $2 million and coming out the other end with an indoor water sports complex and pool. Private investment is sure to follow, creating a central core of services and vitality that, in any other universe, would be implausible.
Connie, Bill – your constituents are calling. Are you there?
Darrell, Jeannie, Linda, Teresa – are you there? How about you, Jimmy, Lodema, and Patty? Barbara? Warren? Bill?
What is really sad is to see how much growth and new business Clark County is getting and how we continually fall further behind.
ReplyDeleteAlthough you disagree with many republican views, there are many who have championed the Scribner place cause and continue to do so.
We want new business, economic growth and do understand that it will cost money.
But in the long run, it benefits everyone.
Many of our current democratic leaders have little vision and frankly even less ability to make a definitive stand on issues unless it maintains the status quo of the "good-ol-boy" network.
It is time for a change.
HB, I noted today at my "other" blog that our political views tend to diverge as we move from strictly local issues to larger debates in the national realm.
ReplyDeleteYou probably remember the strident manner in which I've dismissed most of the national platform of the GOP.
But ... we may have passed the tipping point locally.
If you are familiar with a local Republican who is willing to accept the challenge of articulating what it means to be a Republican in the city of New Albany, then we're very interested in what he or she has to say.
Most of us have taken for granted that politics at the local level is about clans and habits, and perhaps at very best, a modicum of administrative efficiency, and not about platforms and issues and ideas.
Perhaps this assumption has been misplaced. We've spent the last two years at NAC dealing with platforms, issues and ideas. Is it too much to ask that elected officials be able to speak the same language?
HB, you no doubt understand that for me, in the absence of a wider selection of choices than our idiotic two-party system, differences between the parties with regard to social issues are the gist of my being able to grit my teeth, grimace, and vote for Democratic candidates in state and national races as the best of a poor choice.
But what does it mean to be a Democrat and a Republican here, in New Albany, at the grassroots?
The Democratic Party currently is doing a bumbling job of answering this question. If you can find a Republican who'll try ... well, we'd appreciate it.
In closing, my 3rd District councilman comes up for re-election next spring. Thus far, the only platform Steve Price has been able to endorse is one of cautious superstition, abject capitulation and cowardly pandering.
I'd come perilously close to voting for the inventor of light beer before I'd so much as consider supporting his bid to gleefully kneecap the city for four more long years.
If the Democrats can't explain CM Price's abhorrent stances in the context of the party's value system, then I'm willing to entertain the views of a Republican who is "for" something so long as it makes sense, is reality-based, and will help us move into the future -- not remain rooted to a discredited past.
It is amazing to me that anyone would continue to question the broad public support that exists for the YMCA / Scribner Place development project. I have worked downtown for more than 19 years now, and have never witnessed such enthusiasm and excitement about our future. People are finally beginning to recognize the possibilities that exist for downtown revitalization.
ReplyDeleteIt is a no-brainer, I believe, that this project will be a catalyst in generating additional growth and prosperity downtown. I think that it would behoove any wise, public-minded public official (or candidate) to publicly declare support for the project, and to declare it now.
If you ever have the opportunity to talk one on one with Steve Bush, I would recommend you do so.
ReplyDeleteAlthough new and still getting his feet wet trying to deal with the politics, I think his views would correlate well with most republican views.
I did have an extended opportunity to talk with Mr. Bush and to sound him out about various issues. I believe it was a fruitful discussion for both of us.
ReplyDeleteDespite a good bit of bantering between us about the relative strengths of our respective parties, Mr. Bush exhibited few idealogical tendencies and was, for the most part, dismissive of labels.
Bush's eagerness to hear my views, and his curiosity about such phenomena as CFP, left me somewhat more at ease about his current position.
Now that Mr. Stumler has planted his flag, there's still room on that mountaintop. As a Democrat, I'd prefer to see a cadre of Democrats join him there, where the air is clear and the horizon stretches on forever.
But in the meantime, the path up the mountain is available to real leaders, whatever their party affiliation. Politically, there is still ground to be seized.
Who will seize it?