How 'bout them storm water appointments ...

... and all it will take for us to reach them is Dan Coffey pontificating about his vast knowledge of drainage and aquatic engineering.

I’ve had merrier times at funerals than yesterday morning, when I dropped in on Dave Clancy at the now defunct Bistro New Albany for a chat about his life and times. BNA is history, and if we’re all lucky, Dave will pack his pots, pan and remaining staff for a short hike to the Speakeasy so that two birds are magically felled with one stone, and in the meantime, at-large city council candidate John Gonder contributed these wise words:

Yes, this is a blow. More than that it is a sad occasion for Dave himself. He certainly deserves praise for his effort and the quality of what he brought to New Albany, not only in dining but in hope.

It is not going to stop the revitalization of the downtown; that train has left the station. It is inevitable that restaurants will flower and falter. I'm certain someone is already looking at the Bistro's space. Whoever sets up there will be part of a more vital downtown scene thanks to Dave's work.

I wish Dave the best and hope he takes the needed time to recharge his battery.

True, all true. That’s why the Gonder sign graces the front yard of the NAC compound.

Life goes on, and there’ll be a city council meeting tonight. Although I plan on attending, there isn’t much of interest on the agenda unless the Gang of Four attempts some of the obstructionist voodoo that it does so well.

Dan "Wizard of Westside" Coffey would appear to have temporarily shelved his “cripple economic development for the foreseeable future” ordinance; presumably, he awaits tribute, palm-greasing or whatever form of ego-stroking is necessary for him to come down from the ledge and make nice. Just out of curiosity, does anyone know whether the mayor can veto it if necessary?

Also, the much anticipated first reading of a redistricting ordinance appears on the evening’s agenda, as assigned to be introduced by 3rd district councilman Steve Price, who recently told us that it was “Larry’s thing” and something Price hasn’t yet really bothered to research, and in reaction to this, I can do nothing whatsoever to suppress a massive yawn.

This naturally implies that a blissfully thought-free Price will maintain lock/goose step with the frothing Coffeyites and vote in favor of the “Schmidt Plan,” something ostensibly written by councilman Bill Schmidt, but actually written by his wife, which means that even though council president Larry Kochert continues to insist that no outsiders be allowed to contribute to council business that he was content for the council to ignore for five years until challenged at the point of an edict, an outsider’s plan will be the one that is approved, and then struck down by a judge when the case goes to trial, which it almost certainly now will, primarily because “good faith” and “Larry Kochert” have as much in common as “race relations” and “Ku Klux Klan.”

But you see, all that doesn’t matter much to me. There’s been a death in the family, and right now, I’m wearing black and drinking tall IPAs out of a short glass.

There'll be more setbacks, but very soon, the clueless vandals will no longer enjoy a council majority, and the quavering indecisiveness of the Gang's resident swing voter will be no more.

John Gonder is right: “That train has left the station,” and although it will be leaving garbage to pick up, that’s what private contractors are for, aren’t they?