Ignis Fatuus: Duggins says "I think we did an excellent job" removing snow.

If the city is serious about being walkable, especially downtown, then snow removal cannot be solely concerned with cars on the major streets. Walkability is about connecting people, parking and businesses via places to walk, often to and from side streets. Otherwise, it is meaningless.

Maybe we spent all the maintenance money on the Main Street project.

Yet again, as if we needed another sad reminder, we're shown that the city's economic development director knows nothing about the needs of independent small business. It has been at least five months since Duggins and his aide-de-camp Tonya Fischer promised merchants a "parking is free at night" sign on the parking garage. It still isn't there. For the love of Jeeebus, how long does it take to make a sign?

It's heartening to know that somewhere, cloistered amid his hologram generator, the mayor has confidence in his minions -- blind, but comforting. It'll just make it easier to change regimes.

Frigid economic climate in Southern Indiana? by Daniel Suddeath (N and T)

What role should the government play in supporting businesses when the weather is bad?

David Duggins, director of economic development and redevelopment for New Albany, said the most important thing government can do is to make sure streets are as clear as possible.

“The city of New Albany and the street department worked many hours of overtime to ensure that the roads were clean, but more importantly, safe,” he said. “There’s nothing more important than being able to get to the business. Obviously there’s always room for improvement, but I think we did an excellent job with this once-in-a-year kind of event.”