The Highwayman asked first, and I’ll provide the echo: Is It Just Me or Is It Getting Hot 'Round Here?
Indeed, tempers seem to be fraying as the filing period for New Albany’s 2007 city elections draws ever closer.
Here’s my favorite blog comment of the week (unedited), which was directed at none other than your humble senior editor:
Why is it you hide behind your key board. And you do not speak out at council meetings? But it appears easier holding on to your digital camera, or writing with your so called solutions, opinions, and feeding your followers nothing but slanders lies.
It was written by (drum roll please): Anonymous!
Now that’s what I call “hiding behind a keyboard.”
Meanwhile over at Freedom to Screech, everyone’s favorite academic wannabe actually reaches deep to perform something roughly approximating a public service by publishing CM Bill Schmidt’s grail-like derelict housing list, complete with the names of owners – proving that as NAC has long held, even a stopped pre-digital clock is right twice a day, or in Erika’s case, twice a year.
The hottest new blog of the year comes from 3rd district councilman Steve Price. In his most recent posting, excerpted (again, unedited) below, CM Price does his best Michael Crichton:
It is inevitable that 15th Street will cave in.
One can only hope that a train will not be on the tracks when it happens.
What are we going to do when it caves in? Who is going to pay and where is the money going to come from? Where is our emergency fund when we need it?
If this problem was seriously addressed during the numerous time I mentioned it, would we be viewing this from a different prospective?
This is a true case of proactive vs. reactive.
Finally we understand why the councilman has been so regularly non-responsive (dare we say, reactive?) on so many other pressing everyday issues during his council tenure: Like those strange people carrying signs predicting the end of the world, he’s been busy focusing on just one of many potential future problems.
In fairness, 15th Street is mess. Perhaps CM Price agrees with me that the best way to repair it is to nationalize the railroad, which would solve numerous noise and traffic problems in addition to removing the threat of a hazardous waste spill form the vicinity of so many unregulated, substandard rental housing properties.
Against this backdrop of venom and bile, most of it dispensed by people who are plainly (and mistakenly) terrified of emerging non-partisan ideas to promote a less dysfunctional civic future – New Albany is a prime natural habitat for those preferring the devil they already know – the rebirthing work slowly unfolds downtown.
I donned the raingear and walked through the historic business district Saturday, and saw interior remodeling work being done in at least four different places, in addition to the construction area where Scribner Place is rising. Clearly there are people with vision hereabouts, ones who look forward and say “we can do more,” rather than “I’ve done all I can do” or "it's his fault, not mine."
My bet is placed on those who can. They're doing it even as the obstructionists insist that it can't be done.
Doing: That’s why there’s a city standing here in the first place.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Amidst the hustle & bustle of our 21st century lives, one can on occasion, retreat to that quite space in one's mind and relect on what was, what is, and what can indeed be.
When I do that as it relates to New Albany, I'm in awe of the vision of the Scribner brothers and those who came in their stead. Apparently "We can't do that" never entered their minds nor did "We can't afford it!"
There was little if any thing here save mud streets and shacks, but in their minds eye, they could see a community.
They were soon followed by like minded individuals who agreed that rolling the dice and doing something was a better plan than sitting on their hands wondering about it.
Rising above the fog of unknown hurdles came many firsts from these trail blazers.
One that personally fascinates me still is the storefront plate glass factory simply because I still can't wrap my mind around how glass is made anyway.
They had very little in terms of resources, transportation, and communication, yet they built a city. For them, there was no way to go but up.
Fast forward to the 2007. We have unlimited resources, instant communication, and near instant transportation and we, like those who came before us, have nowhere to go but up!
Again, I'm in agreement with highwayman. Instead of "We can't do that", there needs to be an attitude more like.."What can we do next?" , and as far as "We can't afford it!", there are many alternative grant sources available to cities from the Federal, State, and Private sectors, but you have to be willing, and you have to have, what my Dad used to say, "gumption" enough to seek them out.
The sinking of the 15th. Sounds like the name of a book. Seriously though, a couple of years ago, I contacted the Mayor's office, after dragging the bottom of my car over the Oak St. crossing, via Tony Toran, about the track's condition then. I mentioned the ordinances that were being violated concerning the upkeep and condition of the tracks, and I was told something to the effect, and this is not an exact quote, that when the city was being set up, the Railroad laid claim to the strip of land that the tracks are on and they do not have to answer to local city governments or ordinances because of a Federal, Interstate Commerce agreement with the city. The Interstate Commerce Commission requires CSX, and any Railroad company who may own tracks, to regularly maintain safe track conditions, and to keep the track beds themselves safe. The 15th St. stretch of track is not a one block problem...it's the whole stretch through the heart of the city! I even went as far, a couple of years ago, to contact the WAVE-TV Troubleshooter, because they had helped a town in KY with a similar problem with CSX get their track problem fixed. I contacted Dawn Gee, and she said that she would look into it. Nothing happened. Maybe it's time to approach the Interstate Commerce Commission via Baron Hill to re-negotiate that agreement to where CSX, like any other land owner within the city, is responsible for the upkeep/safe conditions and the maintenance of their property. If a train would derail at any point along 15th St, it could tip over, or roll into houses that sit just feet away on both sides of the track. If the track is going to cause the entire street to sink in, it does pose a danger to the people living in these homes, and it would cut off the main routes through town.
I personally find it amazing that "erika" who has recently made a post on her blog slamming all of us about our "whinning" about these properties, she stated basically that we needed to just get over ourselves and realize that the city is broke and can not do anything about it.
But yet in this post she turns right around and says that "freedom of speech" does not feel that the lack of funds is a valid excuse for the properties not being taken care of.
We've been on this bus for quite a while now, Now here she comes, on one of the last stops on the bus route and climbs on board, brings up state statutes that have all ready been mentioned and thinks it is some kind of professorial miraculus discovery, then has the gaul to turn around and say, hey roger, to bad your wrong I'm right.
Give me a freaking break. I think what it is, she realizes that this IS the hot topic, it transcends all district borders, all income levels, both politcal parties, and more important, the little people she is sooooo in touch with have had it for way too long.
I love the way the elite such as her have the ablility to just flip and flop on where they are right, and whos wrong about what anthink no one will notice.
I'm sharing your frustration, C. The blame game grows ever more tedious. There isn't any money, or the council won't ask for the money, or the mayor won't give them the money, and it's more important to establish who did or didn't ask for what or nothing when or not, rather than getting any of it done.
You just stated the truth: The issue transcends all the reasons for being divided, but when we tried to stage a meet 'n' greet, the Erika-ites won't come.
By the way, I'm looking at Tuesday, February 6 as the next get together at Rosita's, pending Israel's approval.
Stay tuned for the Tuesday posting.
To NA Potty Police Member: Living in the area of the 15th St. track doesn't matter. The 15th St. track has to be crossed at some point along that street to get downtown. You say it's not the railroad's problem? The upkeep and maintenance of the tracks and the track beds to support the weight of todays loaded freight trains are the railroad's responsibility. There's even grass and weeds growing out of the track beds in spots along the street. The weight of the railroad cars, that sometimes carry car after car of new cars and trucks that weigh tons on the center of the street is causing the track itself to be pushed down into the track bed creating huge ruts at the crossings and in between. Train cars rock back and forth as they make their way through the area. So yeah...it is dangerous, and although the track isn't in my area, it is in my city, and I do worry about it.
Just to set the record straight and avoid confusion, I know the identities of the posters on this thread -- according to the customary policy at this blog.
Nuttin "tupid" 'bout dat....
A true fan.
Post a Comment