Thursday, June 18, 2009

Live blogging on the high wire, Part Two: The campaign begins tonight, and Coffey's dazed.

COMMUNICATIONS – MAYOR

Mayor England agrees with part of Paul Haub's coments, but notes that sometimes speeches get made for the purpose of being elected.

England now comes out strongly for taking EDIT funds out of the sewer subsidies, and calls for an end to these subsidies, whether sewer, sanitation or whatnot. $875,000 subsidies that could be used for the police officers. Turns to Paul and says, "I have to pay some streets, too."

"Lotta people showing a lotta love for New Albany."

Begins selling the town, but the biggest thing happening bad is the men don't feel safe, and he supports them. But ... fund it in a reasonable way. Didn't mean to lecture CM Coffey, note the mayor. Keeping sewer bills low is a "shell game."

Coffey explodes: "EDIT tax is to build the jail, not business." Makes excuses for his craven behavior in subsidizing the sewers. Should go back to the people.

England tells Coffey that Coffey "interrupts too much," and spontaneous applause breaks out.

Most impassioned England performance to date.

Supports the police, but fund it right. Now will talk about something positive. Now explains the things that Maury didn't understand.

"This is not bullshit." Explains who the customers are for the food company that will bring jobs here if the council approves. Didn't want the perception to be that there was subterfuge.

I know this is confused, but this is an amazing reversal of form for the mayor.

APPOINTMENTS

Coffey has resigned from the plan commission because his neighborhood wants him to fight development, so he asks for someone to serve. He's also resigned from Redevelopment, but K Zurschmiede already has been appointed but the Mayor notes that that's a council matter, and Dan gets mighty surly. He decides to wait until Stan Robison is back.

Coffey is wrong. The rules say it's a council matter. Where the hell is Bluegill.

APPROVAL OF CF-1 FORMS:

Rolls through them. Back in a few minutes.

2 comments:

Randy said...

I'm sure Mr. Baylor will expand and expound on the dramatic mayoral smackdown, which was, the takeaway of the night. It certainly was planned, it certainly was intended, and it certainly found its mark.

Tonight marked the end of accommodation and the beginning of confrontation. Mr. Coffey will have to spend the next 15 days determining how he wants to respond.

The cold war has become hot, and its about time. While I'm no partisan on this battle, it is about time. And while there may be a third way, it's time to settle where the weight of political power lies - with England or with Coffey.

On the facts of the night, the weight lies with Coffey, who knocked in the three-pointer for the Cops resolution. But England shows he can apply his own mojo.

Let's call this halftime. Coffey 54, England 51.

Matt Nash said...

"EDIT tax is to build the jail, not business"

First, the County built the jail with their share of EDIT.

Second, What exactly is the "ED" in EDIT stand for?

Maybe that is what the money should be used for.