Two reasons why the outside world laughs at us.

I'm told that my third district uncouncilman is asking where his stimulus is. It's a good question, and just as a hint, the frontal lobes can be ruled out. Randy Smith takes it from there ...

The “Price” We All Pay (The NewAlbanist)

Price’s current wish to deplete every fund – EDIT, Rainy Day, Riverboat, etc. – to subsidize sewer rates is yet another example of saying one thing and voting to accomplish another. He claims to be protecting the residents of New Albany from paying more money to keep the sewer utility sound. But instead of having the users of the utility pay for the costs, he supports the current tax subsidy and wants to increase it dramatically. This actually increases the cost to New Albanians because a large percentage of sewer ratepayers don’t pay any of the taxes that build those funds. Instead of helping his constituents, he votes to take money away from their common government to prop up rates for others.

Amazingly, his supporters agree with him. Despite the fact that it hurts them, they continue to support him and his policies.

... and from Matt Nash's newspaper column last Friday, an accurate assessment of the other half of New Albany's politically dysfunctional annals of banal.

NASH: New Albany councilman is not a leader (Tribune)

No one wants to pay higher rates than are necessary. Everyone should be willing to pay their fair share. I believe that Mr. Coffey held his “Town Hall” meeting for the sole reason of political posturing. Having served the longest of anybody on the New Albany City Council he deserves the lion share of the blame for the problems facing our community.

These are not problems that have just emerged in the last few months but ones that have been festering in our city for a generation. His closed minded approach to problem solving is what has gotten us barely by so far. Being a leader means sometimes doing what is right no matter how unpopular.