Pat Harrison's Slumlord Uprising of 2008, 2/6 (VIDEO): "Patience is a version."

Eight years later, and it's déjà vu all over again as Pat Harrison prepares to defend our downtrodden slumlords against the Gestapo.

The following was originally published here on March 4, 2008; text and video by Jeff Gillenwater.

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Patience is a version.

There was a council meeting last night but quite frankly, the Building Commission, who met a little earlier, had the more intriguing agenda.

Local Realtor and landlord Pat Harrison addressed the commission regarding code enforcement and rental property inspection. Deputy Mayor Carl Malysz did the same, and Commission Chair Steve LaDuke added some comments.

I won't, letting readers or, in this case, watchers make their own.




Comments at the time:

TedF said...
Thanks for being there to video Bluegill. There were some positives in the total exchange worthy of comment.

But first I would like to say now how distasteful, offensive and unprofessional it is to compare any code enforcement effort to a fascist effort to carryout genocide. Ms. Harrison made that comparison a couple times while speaking when using the term “Gestopa”. It was an extremely poor use of words and poor judgment.

New Alb Annie said...
I'm not a fan of the Harrison group's tactics. If this is a group of about 100 people, they should be directing their efforts toward the 'few bad ones' that she referred to. Why waste time meeting with the building commission if you're not doing anything wrong? Why not target the slumlords and apply some peer pressure to get them to clean up their acts?

Harrison has called my mother on several occasions--my 87-year-old mother--to get her riled up about property taxes and rental property issues. If this group has time to start a phone tree, I'd suggest they call the owners of the bad properties, and apply some pressure.

bluegill said...
"Harrison has called my mother on several occasions--my 87-year-old mother--to get her riled up about property taxes and rental property issues."

I got some of those early calls, too, about property taxes. I suppose it was from attending the tax "forum" at the Grand that was so falsely advertised.

It does help explain, though, why one of Harrison's group, when first arriving, leaned over to her and asked why he was supposed to be there.

Highwayman said...
Unfortunately I was unable to attend this meeting last night as my Jeep decided to turn engine parts into shrapnel on the way there.

As one of the more vocal proponents of this particular issue, I regret that I missed this opportunity.

However, had I been present my response to Ms. Harrison, the group she represents,as well as the city's representatives would have been as follows.

"All that was proposed sounded like the beginnings of a solution to the problem. Now let's see some action!!"

We as taxpaying property owners would much prefer that the rental industry in our city police itself.

Likewise, we'd like to see New Albany's government actually govern in the area of code enforcement as well as many other areas.

Having said that, let me assure all parties that platitudes alone will not suffice as success.

You have some time to bring in some results, but the clock is running!!

***NOTE*** To the editorial staff of NAC...feel free to extend this comment further if you see the need.

Greg said...
I find her remarks to be offensive and self-centered. If she really cared about cleaning up rental properties then she would have stepped up to the podium a long time ago. Also, if she thinks the "Clean Up New Albany" signs very negative, there were plenty of venues (a website, neighborhood meetings, letters to the editor, etc..) to provide feedback.

There has been plenty of opportunities for her to work with neighborhood groups to better our neighborhoods in New Albany, but not until her slums or purse strings are threatened she steps up as this caring perosn! I agree with Highwayman, it is time to see action.

I personally invite Ms. Harrison to our next neighborhood clean up. Also, I will be asking the ESNA president to invite Ms. Harrison and her group to one of our neighborhood meetings to speak with property owners and to layout her plans how she is willing to work with us to Clean Up New Albany. I am sick of the slumlords that Ms. Harrison has sold New Albany to and the ones that she represent.

Greg said...
Highwayman,
This is a issue that is on the top of my list this year and has been for several years! Let me know what I can do and how I can help.

Highwayman said...
Greg,

My suggestion for all of us is that we stay "persistent" and "consistent".

Attend every City Council, Building Commission, BZA, Zoning and Planning meeting you possibly can.

Mention it every time you see an elected or appointed city official or councilmen.

Stay involved in your neighborhood groups and above all stay informed & keep those around you informed.

The more we know about upcoming events or proposed actions, the better chance we have of either supporting or combating them.

New Alb Annie said...
What I find most irritating about the whole issue of code enforcement, especially regarding rental properties, is the incredible waste of time it is for everyone who just expects ordinances to be enforced, or whose job it is to enforce them.

I don't have time to waste, especially when it's the result of people simply not wanting to follow the rules. I don't think there are any of us posting here who have the luxury of time to waste on a slumlord's bad habits and poor business practices.

For example, the Harrison group showing up at this meeting. Why waste everyone's time? If you own property and you have violations, repair them--bring them into compliance. Seems it would be far less stressful and expensive, in terms of the time spent trying to delay the inevitable matter of codes being enforced, to just fix the problems. I can tell you this, if I owned a slum in one of the mentioned 'targeted areas' for concentrated enforcement, I wouldn't be lollygagging around in meetings--I'd be fixing my situation.

If you are an honest business person running a legitimate business, you'd be insistent upon following the rules for your business. I am very suspect of a group who is actively attempting to delay code enforcement and inspections.

The New Albanian said...
Just for the record, I've e-mailed Pat Harrison several times to offer time in this blog to present her case, or to respond to things that I've written here.

Total responses: Nada.

Iamhoosier said...
NA,
Have tried corresponding with her in German?(grin)

MommyKnowsBest said...
When was this meeting?

Who are the people with Pat Harrison that are n/k/a the "Harrison Group"? Has she ever come to your house (if you were a for sale by owner) to try and list your house? If so, can you say what happened with that?

Dust in the Wind Turbines: Welcome Closer to Home, Carl Malysz.

Thanks, M; I needed an excuse to repost what just might be my favorite city council photo ever (2011).

Community Development Director resigns publicly (WKKG)

Columbus Community Development Director Carl Malysz publicly resigned during Wednesday night’s meeting of the Columbus City Council ... Malysz says that he has accepted a job offer with the Louisville Downtown Partnership as Deputy Director of Project Management and Strategic Planning.

BREAKING: "England said Malysz also was instrumental in ... helping turn downtown into a dining haven."

Now we know why Carl went to Columbus: It's a city that doesn't have ENOUGH rental properties, a situation presumably requiring the mindset of a New Albanian to remedy, seeing as we have too much of it.

But heck, he was finished here, wasn't he?

What was there left to accomplish in New Albany after solving the affordable housing problem, orchestrating Midtown's renaissance and helping establish two dozen eateries?

Has that Superman movie yet been released?

There may have to be revisions.

Mercy.

The disinformation being excreted by the ex-mayor to a guileless Associated Press is simply breathtaking in its factual nonchalance, and the best indication yet that in 2015, there'll be another attempted comeback.

Housing woes, rental property shortage addressed in Columbus, Indiana (Associated Press, via C-J)

COLUMBUS, IND. (AP) — The new director of community development in Columbus is meeting the challenge of solving the city's housing shortage head-on as the city eyes public-private partnerships to help address its issues.

Carl Malysz, a former deputy mayor in New Albany, started his job April 22. He told The Republic that he is already working to figure out a strategy to improve conditions.

Columbus Mayor Kristen Brown said a shortage of rental property is driving up rents and making it difficult for families of all income levels to find places to live.

"We have hit a bit of a crisis in the rental market here," Brown said. "Even all the way at the high end, people coming in to work for Cummins or other employers literally can't find places to live."

Malysz, who led similar efforts in New Albany, said he wants to develop a strategy to improve conditions so everyone has access to "good, affordable housing."

That includes improving some distressed neighborhoods and creating more market-rate properties.

"We aspire to make things better. If you do nothing, if you are not progressive, if you do not look forward, you will eventually find yourself at ground zero," he said.

In New Albany, Malysz orchestrated a $6.6 million grant that helped revitalize a dilapidated, midtown neighborhood, former Mayor Doug England said. The program called for rebuilding homes and selling them to younger, lower-middle-income people to help stabilize the neighborhood.

England said Malysz also was instrumental in attracting Hitachi Data Systems to New Albany and helping turn downtown into a dining haven.

Slumlords have their own view of placemaking.

An appropriate thought for the conclusion of a week that saw Carl Malysz land a new job further up I-65 might well be brief contemplation about the legacy of the top-down England years in New Albany, as compared with the grassroots neighborhood revitalization emphasis described below.

Are we making progress is recovering from the Hizzoner years? Or is the legacy of the Battered City Syndrome just too great?

Why True Neighborhood Building Requires the Dedication of a Few 'Zealous Nuts', by Fred Kent (GOOD HQ)

What we share with our neighbors is place: the magical, intangible quality that is created when people interact around a tangible space, be it a park, a street, or a vacant lot. At the Project for Public Spaces, we advocate for citizens to be included more directly and meaningfully in the process of shaping their neighborhood’s public spaces. We believe that a neighborhood can only reach its fullest potential when everyone who lives, works, and plays there feels welcome to contribute to the life of its public spaces ...

... Detroit is struggling, but this is bringing out the best in the citizens who have chosen to stay. What we are seeing there today is neighbors realizing, en masse, that they can’t wait any longer for someone else to turn things around, and they are taking action to create the kinds of neighborhoods that they want to live in, with or without official permission. They are thinking Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper, and working together to accomplish ‘quick wins’ today that will build the social ties and momentum needed to transform the city tomorrow.

Coffey on Malysz and spinelessness.

If this comment at the newspaper's web site actually is Dan Coffey's, and I assume so, then it's a valuable glimpse into the councilman's mind, because to have attended a council meeting so far this year is to have seen that this council is Coffey's ... amazing, but true. His is an act of adaptive reinvention last viewed with U2's "Achtung Baby" album in 1992 ... or, closer to home, with the now (and how?) dispatched Carl Malysz, each time an administration changed. We're witnessing some high order political theater these days, and where it stops, no one knows.

Long Overdue. Mayor Gahan did what was necessary. Carl has a different view than the Mayor on where we should position our city for the future. Spineless people are the ones that hide behind fake names because they are to much of a coward to stand up and out front for what they believe in. Mayor Gahan, myself and Carl Malysz put their beliefs on the line everyday even though we will be ridiculed by self serving people who have NO idea what the truths and facts are. No one was 'lining their pockets' as you stated. As far as re-elections go, Jeff, and myself have won numerous elections and are proud that the people have faith in us, so your 'Prophesy' is based on a simple, slanderous mind that cannot understand that others do not share your view. Please have the courage and courtesy to use your given name so others may know who you are. It should be the policy of the Tribune to mandate that people give their names as this forum is of an editorial format. - Dan Coffey

New Albany fires Malysz

Breaking up is hard, and even foggier than expected.

Today the 'Bama Pop-Up Coagulator is reporting that no one's talking to it, either, when it comes to Carl Malysz's unexpected sacking last week.

Indeed, seldom in New Albany's two-century history have so many different lips been zipped tight.

I haven't always agreed with Carl, generally owing to the political role required of him, and sometimes eagerly accepted by him, as deputy to various mayors. However, I've never disliked him, and it's always been a pleasure conversing about a wide range of topics.

Carl, if you'd like to skip the usual Deep South pension recipients and talk to the city's blog of record, too bad -- Kitchen Table's still cowering in a root cellar somewhere. But there's always NA Confidential. Good night, and good luck.

Sources: Carl Malysz is out.

Earlier tonight, two impeccable sources have informed the Green Mouse that Carl Malysz has got the sack as director of community housing initiatives, or whatever the job title he's had since Doug England left office. In the photo above, Malysz prepares the crystal diodes for loading.

Elections are for losers: Malysz subs for Gahan at NAACP forum.

NAACP meeting bullet points: Firefighter hiring, housing strategies, who didn't show up, and who did.

NAACP members question employment standards during forum in New Albany; Gahan criticized for not attending meeting, by Daniel Suddeath ('Bama Radio and the Big Pop-Up)

Though city, county and state officials attended, members of the New Albany chapter of the NAACP used the bulk of their questions to ask about New Albany issues ...

... (Mayor Jeff) Gahan wasn’t present for the forum, and that drew some critical remarks from a few of those in attendance. New Albany resident and NAACP member Marcia Booker said there have been instances of city fire department and street department workers not following employee guidelines, and that the issue “has been brought to the mayor’s attention” without a resolution.

“It’s like he promises he’s going to correct a situation, but nothing ever happens,” said Booker of Gahan, who entered office Jan. 1.

For those who persist in thinking that Doug England no longer serves as mayor, the chutzpah-laced symbolism of the following is instructive:

Community Housing Initiatives Director Carl Malysz attended the meeting on behalf of Gahan, and wrote down a list of questions and comments including those made by Toran and Booker that he said he would present to the mayor ...

Having weathered the transition from England to Gahan, tipped the troglodytes into apoplexy, and resumed attending meetings as official agent of the ruler, surely Carl's up for a new, more descriptive title. We like this one: Keeper of the Compromising Photos.

Indiana-American Water, utility monopolies, street despoiling and why Robespierre was right.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again:

NAC is in complete agreement with any elected official, unelected official, ordinary citizen or random footloose Chia pet who wishes to eliminate any and all loopholes permitting those unsupervised rat bastards at Indiana-American Water to run roughshod over taste, decency and recently paved streets. That's because you really can trust IN-AWC -- trust the water monopoly to screw you every single time.

Previously at NAC: At home or at work, Indiana-American Water Company just doesn't give a damn. Hint: Few monopolies do.

Having repeated this, I'm just curious: Why is the city's point man for housing initiatives speaking at the Board of Works about the water issue?

New Albany OKs street cut for Scribner; Council still considering changes to utility excavation program, by Daniel Suddeath at the Alabama Pensioner Pop-Up Paper.


Carl Malysz, director of community housing initiatives for the city, said administration officials conferred with Indiana American Water last week about the proposed changes. Malysz asked the board to OK the Scribner Drive project — which is expected to impact traffic from Main Street to Spring Street — but hold off on approval for three other street cuts the utility has requested.

Malysz survives, and will continue overseeing.

Somehow I'm reminded of a famous incident from high school, when a class officer said the invocation at an assembly, asking the Lord to overlook us in the coming year.

That said, we learned last week that David Duggins would become New Albany's Director of Economic Development. Now, it is revealed that Carl Malysz will remain on the city's payroll. Sometimes, you pick the wrong horse and still manage to win, but don't ask the deposed Chief Bailey to explain that particular dynamic.

I suppose there's a primary question to be answered: Is overseeing the NSP different from being its program manager?

That sigh of relief you hear is coming from the Elsby Building ...

Malysz gets new job; Part of Duggins’ salary will come from EDIT money, by Daniel Suddeath (OSIN Pop-Up Generator)

NEW ALBANY — Carl Malysz has been hired by New Albany Mayor Jeff Gahan to serve as director of community housing initiatives for the city.

Malysz most recently served as deputy mayor and director of community development for Mayor Doug England from 2008 to 2011 ...

... According to a statement released Tuesday, Malysz will oversee existing community housing projects like the Midtown Neighborhood Stabilization Program and the Linden Meadows redevelopment ...

... Part of Duggins’ $60,000 annual salary will be paid from Economic Development Income Tax money, with the remainder coming through tax abatement funds.

A bold opening strike against nepot ... uh, well, never mind.

Those leaden footsteps, low mumbles and soiled snot rags you're hearing are the detritus of Occupy Jeff Gahan, because what will New Albany's serial troglodytes do if the incoming mayor does not offer the ritual sacrifice of Malysz? Will they turn on Gahan before he has had time to boot up his computer? And what of the future of the Dual NSP/DNA sinecure that went so far toward abjectly poisoning the civic well in 2011?

Gahan makes hire for New Albany controller slot; Prestigiacomo to take place of Kay Garry, by Daniel Suddeath (OSIN Pop Up and Roll Over Bot)

New Albany Mayor-elect Jeff Gahan announced Friday Mary Ann Prestigiacomo will serve as city controller. It is expected to be the last appointment before he takes office Sunday.

... Most administrative positions have now been filled by Gahan, though there has been no official announcement on the future of current Deputy Mayor Carl Malysz, who also serves as director of community development.

Gahan stated during the campaign he would not employ a deputy mayor. But as of Friday, Gahan hadn’t appointed a leader of the city’s redevelopment or community development departments.

Three hats withering to one?

Amid the five-days-of-Christmas religious advertisements being featured in the newspaper this week, there was space for another wave of incoming mayor Jeff Gahan's appointments.

Gahan names Knight police chief, among appointments ... Juliot will stay fire chief; more announcements coming next week, by Daniel Suddeath

Sherri Knight will be the next New Albany Police Chief, as her promotion was one of three appointments announced by Mayor-elect Jeff Gahan on Thursday.

Gahan confirmed Matt Juliot will retain his position as New Albany Fire Chief. He also announced that Scott Wood will be promoted to New Albany City Plan Commission Director from his current slot as Assistant Director and Zoning Officer.

Knight will replace Todd Bailey — who was appointed by Mayor Doug England in 2010 — as NAPD chief effective Jan. 1.

Speaking for myself, it's too bad to see Todd Bailey depart; as terms go, "modern" and "police" need not be contradictory. Meanwhile, Harold J. Adams of the C-J takes the story a wee bit further.

Among other appointments announced by Gahan, Scott Wood has been promoted to director for the New Albany City Plan Commission where he has served as assistant director over the past four years. That’s a position that had been held by current deputy mayor Carl Malysz under outgoing mayor Doug England. It was not clear Thursday whether Malysz would have a role in the Gahan administration.

In the city clerk's on-line directory these past four years, Malysz has been listed three times: Once as Deputy Mayor, and twice as Director of Community Development, the latter under both Redevelopment and the Plan Commission. City Hall consistently has pointed out that the deputy mayor/body double position was intended as  "ceremonial," without power and sans pay. The reporter Suddeath explained it in this city council preview from November 18, 2010: England: New Albany City Council should not cut salaries; Mayor says Malysz saves city $20k a year

The deputy mayor’s salary is comprised of about $40,000 in plan commission money, about $40,000 from Economic Development Income Tax proceeds and about $5,000 from redevelopment commission funds.

 ... Earlier this week, Coffey said a deputy mayor should not make more than the mayor. The 2008 ordinance that set the deputy mayor’s salary also raised the mayor’s annual pay by $11,000 to $75,000.

It also established a $43,000 a year salary for the director of city operations, a position that has not been held since John Wilcox stepped down shortly after England took office. The position has not been funded by the council the past two years.

Matt Denison is paid $35,000 a year for his role as Assistant Director of Operations ...

At the city council meeting of November 18, 2010, CM Dan Coffey introduced a largely symbolic resolution to gut both Malysz's and city attorney Shane Gibson's pay packets.

R-10-41 A Resolution To Cap Certain Salaries of Appointed City Officials Coffey and Hiring Freeze ... Mr. Coffey moved for the reading R-10-41, Mr. Price second, the vote did not pass with six no votes and 3 aye votes.

Although NAC covered the meeting, which will be remembered primarily as the culmination of Steve Price's fit of pique against historic preservation (Briscoe Declares for Aunt Bee), I cannot recall who cast the third vote in favor of Coffey's resolution.

All of which points to these questions: With Gahan having stated that there'll be no deputy mayor in his administration, will Wood's elevation have the effect of depriving the soon-to-be-former deputy mayor of a revenue stream? Will the director of city operations be funded, and if so, who will serve? What happens to Denison?

And: Can't Gahan just grab some some more unguarded federal money from neighborhood stabilization and give all of us a few hundred bucks for a Christmas shopping spree at Big Lots?

Carl Malysz's lost comment at "Are you TIF enough?"

Last night, Carl Malysz left a comment on the post, "Are you TIF enough?" This morning it was gone; I've been asked why, and I don't know.

As blog administrator, I am notified by e-mail when comments are posted, and the notification came through fine. Later, the space was blank. The good news is that for the fist time in two weeks, the "compose" screen here works properly. At any rate, here is the lost comment from Carl Malysz:

According to my sources on the City Council, the Resolution for River View will not be acted upon this coming Thursday, April 21st. That said, I will not post Q&A on the City's website until a later time. However, I will attempt to clarify what is in process with River View right now.

Mainland Properties is asking the City to issue Economic Development Bonds (EDBs) through an ordinance adopted by the Common Council. The process includes a public hearing that will be conducted by the Economic Development Commission (EDC), after which the EDC will adopted a Resolution regarding the project and bond issue. But the EDB process has not yet begun.

The New Albany Redvelopment Commission is being asked to fund future pro rata bond payments for the public improvements of the project-- the parking garage and the plaza-- by pledging the future tax increment generated by the development.

The TIF process is just getting started. The NARC passed a Resoluiton to include the parking garage and plaza into the TIF district; the NACPC ratified the NARC Resolution; but the process has been stalled at the Common Council as indicated above.

After the parking garage and plaza become part of the TIF district plan, the NARC will have to pass resolutions/other actions to pledge the TIF to the project. That would be done sometime before the Common Council would pass an ordinance authorizing issuance of the EDBs.

The EDBs contemplated will not be a risk to the City of New Albany. All that is being pledged or promised, if you will, is the tax increment from the River View Development. No one is proposing a property tax back-up or an EDIT back-up or any other back-up at this time. If the Common Council was asked for a back-up, it would have to authorize it. (Such a back-up is not automatic with EDBs and again, I will repeat, no one is asking for a back-up. And these are NOT TIF bonds...)

The public improvements will be built by Mainland Properties. There will be a lease with the City to ensure public use and access while the bonds are being paid off. After the bonds are paid off, there will be a transfer of ownership of the parking garage and plaza or another long-term agreement to ensure public access and use.

All of this will be controlled by ordinances, agreements, bond documents, et cetera. It is way to early to produce all of this stuff right now. We are only at the beginning of an incremental process that will likely take several months to complete. But I am open to questions and suggestions.

It's a nice pun, but "cool" is not the word that comes to mind.

At a time when locally owned, independent businesses are struggling to maintain solvency, anyone care to explain what's particularly "innovative" about New Albany forking over $150,000 to an out-of-town company at the behest of 1Si?

A cool idea: City may split air conditioning costs to ensure TG Missouri expansion, by Daniel Suddeath (Tribune).

The New Albany Redevelopment Commission is proposing to help keep a local industry’s employees cool in order to create more jobs in the area.

This week, the board submitted a plan to dedicate up to $150,000 toward the installation of an air conditioning unit at TG Missouri Corp. — which is located at 5331 Foundation Blvd.

The company is headquartered in Perryville, Mo. and also has a location in Kentucky.

Speaking on behalf of TG Missouri, Kathleen Crowley of the area Chamber of Commerce group One Southern Indiana said the industry is looking to expand and the New Albany outfit is competing against the Kentucky and Missouri locations.

Malysz refutes reader’s assertions.

Carl Malysz, director of community development, has written a letter to the editor of ghe Tribune.

LETTERS: July 15, 2009 ... Malysz refutes reader’s assertions

I would like to clear the air regarding the England administration’s efforts to acquire the Hoosier Panel property, which was the subject of a letter to the editor written by Tim Deatrick.

The New Albany Redevelopment Commission, which at the time included membership by Mr. Dan Coffey, decided to purchase the property from the current owner for redevelopment purposes, so as to rid the Fairmont neighborhood of what has become a serious blighting influence to the area ...

Open thread: Mayor says sell Baptist Tabernacle and Shrader Stable.

New Albany Mayor Doug England wants to sell church, stable sites, by Daniel Suddeath (The Tribune).

Mayor Doug England is asking the New Albany Redevelopment Commission to make the Baptist Tabernacle building available to private ownership interests today...

England is also requesting the historic Shrader Stable property — finished in 1875 — along Main Street be sold. The administration would like to develop stringent guidelines as to who can purchase the Tabernacle and Stable sites.

What's the best outcome? Tightly controlled development that seeks to protect the historic integrity and prime locations of the sites or undefined rehab and fixing the Tabernacle roof as Dan Coffey suggests? Or should the City sell them now at all?

Another use for a Bazooka Joe environmental legal studies degree.

This story deserves to be read in its entirety, via the link provided. The excerpt I've chosen is meant to illustrate the latest in an escalating list of transgressions committed as council president by the West End's foremost seeker of the mayor's palatial office.

Does the attorney Dan Coffey claimed to consult work for the firm of Dewey, Cheatham and Howe? And, why did Cappuccino even bother, given his own expertise (chortle) in the matter?

Carl Malysz: Environmental study shouldn’t have been released to New Albany City Council, by Daniel Suddeath (News and Tribune).

According to Stephen Key, general counsel for the Hoosier State Press Association, Coffey breached executive session privileges by handing out the assessment.

He said there are provisions in the Indiana code that allow for discussion of certain litigation, but he said this case doesn’t qualify.

“The problem is the litigation has to either already be filed, threatened in writing, or has to be a situation where it’s a case the council is considering filing,” he said.

Closed meetings are allowed for strategy planning for property acquisition, but Indiana code states those sessions are only for the
governing body that will potentially make the purchase.

In this case, it is the commission — not the council — that would make the buy.

Coffey defended his action by saying he felt obligated to let the public know about the contaminants. In addition to Robison, he said he consulted with an attorney — who he did not name — with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management before making the decision.

Benedetti backs down: Gee, let's talk about stabilization after all (R-09-05).

Imagine if you could watch this on television instead of letting me type it. That would be progressive. That's why is doesn't happen, because then you could observe the futility of the council obstructionists from home ... and with good beer, no less.

---

The deputy mayor comes forward, and CM Benedetti says "oops": I had no idea it was time sensitive.

Meanwhile, every ROCK activist has left the room, satisfied that the only conceivable threat to women and children could come from John Mattingly's live dancers.

That's pathetic. Ten people remain in the room to talk about neighborhood stabilization. Ten, counting city officials and Chief Crabtree. You'd think that ... never mind.

ROCK doesn't care about what is real, only what is ideology. I'll write about this in a future column.

Carl explains the program. NSP. $50 million sitting there to be divided; state issued a notice to make proposals. On Feb. 13, the city indicated willingness to get some of it. Funds have to be requested through a proposal. There must be a framework. The city went through the HUD stats to determine eligibility -- greatest propensity for foreclosure and low income occupancy. The census tract with the best rationale is Census Tract 704 (near east end, downtown to Vincennes between Market and Beeler. Redevelopment discussed Tract 707 (west of State by Cherry and West).

Carl provides far more information than this exhausted group deserves. Forty minutes to chart cabarets, and they're toast. Ten minutes to explain the neighborhoods ... at least the smutty-nosed ones are no longer here. Carl justifies the investment wished for SEJones neighborhood. I suppose he has to talk Dan Coffey down off the ledge. I expect Steve Price will speak against the idea of improving his own constituency.

No ... don't mention the neighborhood associations ... no ... Price will go berserk.

Ten minutes in, Benedetti demands that Carl cut to the chase. $5 million for what he's tried to explain already, and also more ("couple million") for lower income homeowners. Vision is to help people be homeowners.

Coffey: "We went throught this once before ... S Ellen ones is worst than it was before."

Carl: "I don't know what you're talking about."

Coffey: "How much was spent when the city purchased all this property?"

Carl: "For the park?"

Coffey: "What's happened is the dilapidated housing is gone ... it's moved across the street." "Hoping that ... other organizations to come in there."

Coucil cabal revealed: Benedetti wants to see monies for other areas. So does Gahan, Messer and McLaughlin. Coffey obviously fears the influence of the evil east enders, and Price does too ... except that he's an east ender himself, albeit a Dewey Heights east ender. That might matter.

Benedetti: Couldn't we come back and redistribute it after we're awarded?

Carl fishes for carp. Yep, we'd have to come back for specific applications. Will that appease them enough to get a vote?

Benedetti: "At least we're going to apply ... and you're going to update us?"

Of course, says Carl.

Price: "Is it possible ... you have enough to do 75 houses ... can you (apply) to bad property (names various streets where he owns rental property).

Carl: Can only compete for the money for a concentrated area. Cannot scatter it around. State advised city to shrink the area considered.

Coffey complains that it's just something else coming up at the last minute, even though he previously spoke of hearing it in redevelopment. If he did, then why didn;t he let the other council members know? Unless, of course, the real point as always is to preserve the best possible grandstanding opportunities.

Messer: Why is Linden Meadows incomplete? "My concern ... if we don;t put something in play to get those houses to market," (Price interrupts - they want $100,000 for them) (Messer: no they aren't)

Old time council follies ...

Coffey: Objects to the area being chosen. Now all devolves into chaos, as members each speak about the specific topic that concerns them ... even Coffey wants to vote. Gahan has to intervene to explain the vote. They vote to bring it back up. Now they reintroduce it and maybe even will vote before midnight.

For it: All of them. None against it. Afer all that. Over.

Leftovers and Cappuccino: More on Monday's council meeting.

The Tribune's Daniel Suddeath has filed his account of last evening's largely uneventful council conclave.

... (Dan) Coffey, who represents District 1, received a unanimous nod from the council Monday to be its president except for Councilman Jack Messer, who abstained from voting.

Coffey was the lone member nominated for the position and was suggested by Councilman Pat McLaughlin. He replaced Councilman Jeff Gahan who said previously he didn’t want to be president in 2009.

Coffey had noted aloud that he and city clerk Marcey Wisman "went through" the list of positions and determined who was "most qualified" to serve, but like Lucy pulling back the football as Charlie Brown takes his steps to kick ...

Coffey appointed himself to the Plan Commission and will remain on the Redevelopment Commission with Councilwoman Diane McCartin Benedetti, who was also selected to be the council’s vice president by the body.

So much for qualifications, seeing as though lengthy experience hath abundantly shown that Coffey officiously attached to anything vaguely resembling "planning" and "redevelopment" ranks just below the senselessness of the senior editor being selected to the College of Cardinals and taking up residence in the Vatican ... but so goes life (and ironic detachment) in the open air museum.

Suddeath ends his account with an overview of comments made by the deputy mayor, who addressed the topic of ordinance enforcement.

Deputy Mayor and Director of Community Development Carl Malysz promised the council more action in the next 30 days centralized to code enforcement.

Mayor Doug England plans to give the State of the City address at the Jan. 15 council meeting which will include parameters on code enforcement.

In the meantime, Malysz said the mayor is ready to fill the code enforcement officer position that will be funded by Community Development Block Grant money.

Follow the link above to read the remainder of the story, which includes Malysz's thoughts on the future of rental property registration.

Patience is a version.

There was a council meeting last night but quite frankly, the Building Commission, who met a little earlier, had the more intriguing agenda.

Local Realtor and landlord Pat Harrison addressed the commission regarding code enforcement and rental property inspection. Deputy Mayor Carl Malysz did the same, and Commission Chair Steve LaDuke added some comments.

I won't, letting readers or, in this case, watchers make their own.