It's Dan Coffey's council, and he and Diane Benedetti have been on opposite sides of many issues given the current council's rubber-stamp configuration. Now Coffey's out in front of the pack with axe in hand as it pertains to the specific issue of Benedetti's niece and the NSP.
(Uh huh. Move along; nothing to see here. No politics in any of it)
What's even more curious is David Duggins' mention of transparency.
Most of us didn't know there was a Main Street corridor public meeting earlier in the week.
Most of us didn't know there was an Urban Enterprise Association program to award low-interest loans and equipment grants to small businesses, and yet these were awarded at the UEA's most recent meeting.
Most of us understand that megabuck aquatic center plans were a done deal before they were brought to three sparsely attended public meetings, which in all likelihood were sparsely attended because the plans were a done deal.
I like Dave, and transparency is a wonderful thing, indeed. However, shall we say gently and yet firmly that transparency equally applied is even better? If it's right, then it needs to be right all of the time, wouldn't you say?
New Albany councilwoman subject of conflict-of-interest review; Diane Benedetti’s niece was in process of purchasing NSP home, by Daniel Suddeath (N and T)
NEW ALBANY — A potential conflict of interest regarding the Midtown Neighborhood Stabilization Project and involving New Albany City Councilwoman Diane McCartin-Benedetti will be the topic of a special meeting Tuesday morning.
According to sources, the conflict-of-interest claim relates to Benedetti’s niece attempting to purchase one of the NSP houses. David Duggins, director of economic development and redevelopment for the city, confirmed Thursday the sale has been frozen pending review.
The New Albany Redevelopment Commission — which has been the lead city agency for the $6.7 million federal program — will weigh the matter the Tuesday meeting.
“The NSP project is too important and has done so much good for the neighborhoods that have been positively affected by it, that we just want to ensure that the perception of the project is as transparent as possible,” Duggins said.
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Mr. Duggins also said that he saw no hypocrisy in the city BREAKING the same Tree Board rules that citizens have been fined for. Yep, he did. Right in an open City Council meeting.
Trouble with word definitions? Or could be the "elite" saying, "Do as I say, not as I do." Either way, I don't care for it.
Duggins, Coffey, and crew need to very careful here. The federal government, the funder of NSP projects nationwide, sets income-based eligibility rules for those home purchases. Federal anti-discrimination and housing rules aren't taken lightly here.
If they are trying to deny a purchase to anyone who is actually eligible under federal rules, they could very well face the appropriate federal recriminations. That could have negative consequences in jeopardizing the program much more than someone just applying for the program. Anyone in Duggins's role should know that.
If Benedetti's niece has been going through the qualification program, she is a New Directions client, i.e., they have her financial records, etc., and they probably can't comment under federal privacy laws.
More information may or may not come out but, thus far, no one has mentioned anything that suggests conflict of interest. That would only be true if the niece was somehow given special consideration in the qualification process. Otherwise, the niece is being treated equally under those federal guidelines.
If it turns out they made this situation public based on nothing but familial association, any damage to the program will be on their heads.
And, uh, yeah... as far as transparency goes... hahahahahahaha.
I read the Tribune article three times. I am a reasonably intelligent person. I cannot find anything that (A) says the niece is not qualified or (B) that Diane Benedetti did anything inappropriate. WTF is going on with this?
Recently, wasn't there a conflict between Ms. Benedetti and Mr. Coffey concerning Ms. Benedetti requesting information regarding paving plans and Mr. Coffey refusing her request?
Quoting the News and Tribune of May 1:
"Councilwoman Diane McCartin-Benedetti asked if the council would receive a list of worn streets in need of resurfacing based on district, to which Coffey objected.
“We’re not going to do this by district,” Coffey said to Benedetti.
Coffey favored footing a paving campaign with a $5 million bond, however, borrowing money to finance resurfacing wasn’t a proposal that received much support from the rest of the council.
Since the council will likely spend $2 million of Economic Development Income Tax, or EDIT, funds on paving this year instead of bonding, Coffey said the streets that get resurfaced should be determined by “experts” such as Thompson.
Council members shouldn’t attempt to garner paving projects for their districts in lieu of resurfacing a street in disrepair in another area of the city, Coffey continued.
Benedetti — who represents District 5 — told Coffey another legislator can’t control what information she receives.
“I can ask for the information I want,” she said.
A few minutes later and less than 10 minutes into the work session, Benedetti collected her paperwork and left the meeting.
On her way out, she submitted a written request for a road paving breakdown by district.
In a phone interview Tuesday, she said she wasn’t attempting to steer more paving dollars to her district.
“It’s not being political, it’s so everybody understands and can see what’s going on in each district,” Benedetti said of why she wanted a paving recommendation list based on districts. “The whole point of the conversation was, if I ask for something as a legislator, I should be able to get that information.” "
Perhaps her request required retribution?
The most important thing to remember when considering Coffey's motives is that previous positions mean absolutely nothing. Once upon a time he fluffed The Gary, now he spars with sis. The very fact that he constantly contradicts himself is the only fact worth retaining. It's about self-perpetuation from start to finish, with the added twist that while every other city politician undertakes to "use" Coffey at selected intervals, Coffey's the one who usually comes out ahead.
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