ON THE AVENUES: Straight tickets, unsociable media and whether Democrats should rally around Gahan's gallows pole.

ON THE AVENUES: Straight tickets, unsociable media and whether Democrats should rally around Gahan's gallows pole.

A weekly column by Roger A. Baylor.

The Kool-Aid vats have been emptied, and the only remaining trace of the homegrown Rice Krispies Treats is an oily patina of weedy redolence emanating from the unwashed Tupperware.

It must be time again to review ancient history, so let’s jump into the scrum to the accompaniment of dulcet tones.

All the way back on November 6 -- one whole month ago! -- the Floyd County Democratic Party absorbed its third consecutive electoral contraction. Mayor Jeff Gahan and an increasingly motley crew of four city council men (alas, no women allowed) are the party’s last line of defense in terms of elected officials.

Those sycophants and lickspittles appointed to populate boards and to staff municipal bailiwicks stand forlornly like so many dominoes, ready to be toppled if anyone from either party whose name isn’t “Gahan” becomes mayor in 2020.

It’s not unlike the Alamo, albeit a last-ditch bastion filled with bureaucratic functionaries and dull time-servers, rather than fabled action heroes like Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie.

But David Bowie had a song about heroes, and here’s another of his numbers, as channeled by Nirvana.

Who knows? Not me

We never lost control

You're face to face

With the man who sold the world

Or, in the case of New Albany, the mayor who sold the city – to special interests. More on that in a moment, but first, a new episode of “Why We Fight (on Social Media)”.

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A few days ago I wandered sleepily into a real-life friend’s Facebook rant, wherein it was being asserted that local Democrats now are obliged to rally around Gahan and bolster our dear leader, assisting him in selflessly playing the part of flawless standard bearer.

I was reminded of statements read over the loudspeakers at mandatory public assembles, various loving paeans to Leonid Brezhnev, Benito Mussolini or Alfredo Stroessner: “Loyal drones, we must come together and vote straight Democratic Party tickets in the 2019 general election, because while it’s true that straight party tickets are pure and unmitigated evil, this isn’t the case when Democrats do it.”

In retrospect, a meme posted a few days earlier by this very same friend should have served as ample warning.

Gads! Seems the wayback machine had transported me all the way back to 1861. The Alamo or Fort Sumter; same difference.

With this rant kicking around in my cranium, I paused to brush my teeth and prepare an espresso, then got down to the task of a brief and gentle rebuttal, which I imagined would segue into a discussion.

The first problem is that simultaneously condemning and advocating straight ticket voting simply isn’t rational. It it’s bad, then it’s bad for both parties, not just one of them.

Furthermore, there is no such thing as straight ticket voting in a primary election, which will occur in May. David White is opposing Gahan for the nomination, and consequently, it is premature to jump to November when the next chronological step comes in May.

And, if White beats Gahan, wouldn’t Democrats just as readily rally around him?

Finally, seeing as my friend and I have spoken often about the importance of local elections as indicative of non-partisan grassroots issues, demanding competent individuals irrespective of party affiliations, I was compelled to make a more personal point.

Namely, hadn’t we both competed for local office as independents (one time each), and hadn’t we done so for the same reason, namely, our complete unalloyed disgust at the unctuous duplicity of Adam Dickey as Floyd County Democratic party chairman?

My friend is a lifelong Democrat, albeit probably perched on the conservative Donnelly wing, but there actually had been a time when he caught a fleeting glimpse of Dickey’s malice-littered reign of error, and the curious fact of him achieving more gains on behalf of Republicans than Democrats.

Consequently I replied to my friend’s Facebook rant with what I naively viewed as a conversation starter, only to be “unfriended” within minutes. I waited a few hours, logged into a seldom-used former work account, and confirmed it. He had deleted the original post, and then cancelled me.

It’s sad, although as with any manifestation of increasingly unsocial media, it would be a mistake to draw too many conclusions from this single incident. People lose their minds over politics on a daily basis, and maybe he was having a bad day. Probably once each week for the past 35 years I’ve reacted to an event by muttering to myself, “so much for logic,” and this summarizes it for me.

However, it surely suggests the outline of what we’ll see in next year’s general election, as municipal Democrats are urged to combat unholy Republican non-persons who unthinkingly vote straight ticket by morphing into their own android army and unthinkingly voting … that’s right, straight ticket Democratic.

In terms of making New Albany a better place for people who live here, as opposed to special interests located elsewhere, I find this attitude singularly unhelpful, particularly since my friend lives out in the county.

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Regular readers already know I’m supporting White in the May primary. Those management-level Democrats currently benefiting from Gahan’s greedy patronage machine will insist that their exalted poo-bah alone is capable of staving off electoral disaster, but of course this is hokum.

For them, disaster is the prospect of losing their cozy billets, and small wonder they’re terrified. There aren’t many available flood control jobs for guys with college degrees in marketing.

Granted, White will be competing against two opponents at once: Gahan as well as Dickey’s upper echelon of management-level Democrats, augmented by the special interest/donor class eager to purchase their next contracts.

But the rank and file cannot vote a straight Gahan/Dickey ticket in the primary. Rather, they must make a choice in a contested race and darken a circle, either Gahan or White. As previously noted, if White wins, shouldn’t the party rally around HIM to stave off those dastardly Republicans?

Merely as an academic exercise, permit me to indulge a brief thought about kitchen cabinets (or, a circle of advisors), which occurred to me in the aftermath of this most recent intemperate Facebook unfriending.

For the sake of the argument, let’s pretend for a moment that next November, voters will be choosing between the Democratic incumbent Gahan and Republican nominee Mark Seabrook.

Who are the people we might expect to advise the next mayor?

In Seabrook’s case, they’d be capable, experienced and intellectually curious people like Ed Clere, Al Knable and Scott Stewart. Diversity would improve this assemblage; still, quite frankly, I can live with this idea.

In Gahan’s case, they’d be … well ... before you say Warren, Shane and the power broker from the HVAC company, consider that the mayor’s kitchen cabinet already isn't as you might think. Yes, surely the usual Democratic Party officials are occasionally consulted, along with the Monetizer Bunny’s current appointees-for-life.

However, given Gahan’s perpetual zeal to self-lubricate in the cash cave, with tens of thousands of dollars pouring in year-round from contractors, engineers, vendors and PACs headquartered elsewhere, haven't we already arrived at a juncture where special interests are calling the shots?

After all, HWC Engineering already functions as deputy mayor. Can a street department worker so much as use the toilet without HWC having a say -- or performing another study?

Only recently Gahan handed HWC money to act as de facto voyeurs; they'll be watching to insure the companies already subsidized to build the Reisz Mahal perform their duties.

Who's watching HWC?

There you have it. My friend believes local Democrats should rally around Gahan, but if greed, corruption and malevolence are the objectives, shouldn’t they be declaring for Donald Trump?

---

Recent columns:

November 29: ON THE AVENUES: "That's why I voted no," explains Scott Stewart, pausing to duck rocks feebly lobbed by Team Gahan's propaganda pygmies.

November 22: ON THE AVENUES: A few thanks to give before we return to our regular anti-anchor resistance programming.

November 15: ON THE AVENUES: Notes on Solidarity after a visit to the European Solidarity Centre in Gdansk.

November 1: ON THE AVENUES: Three books by Polish writers.

Transcript of Facebook conversation, Baylor, Phipps, Roberts, et al ... Sunday, January 31.

On Sunday, following the newspaper's reprint of the city's press release last Friday ...

Read Speck now: Are these Spring Street improvements really improvements for people, as opposed to their cars?

... there occurred a much overdue conversation on Facebook, which began when councilman Greg Phipps linked to the newspaper article. After he dropped out of the chat, even more was revealed.

This exchange matters. It addresses previously cloaked information, and it pertains to the plan for "improvements" on Spring from Beharrel to Vincennes, as (finally) released at the Board of Works meeting of Tuesday, February 2.

I've underlined a few relevant passages.

Greg Phipps
Progress on the way (links to News and Tribune article).

KLS
I am glad to see. However, I hope better foresight and planning go into this project than was completed with Main Street's island medians. Too wide and difficult for a pedestrian to cross the street.

Roger A. Baylor 
Main Street was wrong from the start. There's only one question here, and let's hope Greg answers it: Are these changes to Speck, or not?

Greg Phipps
The Speck study was the general template and many recommendations were included.

Roger A. Baylor 
Where feasible?

Greg Phipps 
That is exactly correct. A template is just that.

Roger A. Baylor 
Is this what you meant with these words during the campaign?

Greg Phipps
Yes.

Greg Phipps 
Why can't people we glad progress is being made instead of worry about every detail. The Speck Study was a template and as such it's a model, but not a plan followed 100%

Roger A. Baylor
(Comment directed to) Greg Phipps: That's simply petulance, Greg. As an advocate of human rights, you should know better than most that the devil's in the details. When City Hall has maintained a year-long silence -- something you once would have decried -- the details grow ever more important. Just imagine if you had tried to explain that little detail about "where feasible" when I asked.

Roger A. Baylor 
Delightful that you finally answer. More importantly: When do we get to see what is feasible, as handed to us from the top down? Do you know? If so, can we know? Or are we not sufficiently connected for such information? Will there be ANY transparency to this?

Greg Phipps 
Press releases will announce subsequent phases, but I have no time table.

Greg Phipps 
Partial funding for phases will come before either redevelopment or the city council.

Roger A. Baylor
But you know more details, don't you? How do we know this won't turn out to be another Main Street debacle? Can you see at all why we don't trust Team Gahan?

Roger A. Baylor 
Jeff Gillenwater Randy Smith Mark Cassidy: Finally, guys.

Roger A. Baylor 
Shouldn't you be fighting to make this information public, so your district can be informed? Or are they determined to proceed down the path of masking changes under the rubric of "safe for cars"?

KLS
Don't misunderstood me, Greg. I am excited for these advancements. I just feel planners should consider things like pedestrian safety, ease of parking, maneuverability of larger and emergency vehicles. I felt there were flaws with the Main Street results. However, I am excited to see the city progress and taking positive steps. I congratulate you on your role in that. I really can't delve into the political insides because I now live just outside the limits.

Roger A. Baylor 
Because, in the absence of clarification, there is nothing in this "make Spring safer for cars" that reveals a two-way future. Until there is -- nothing has been accomplished.

Roger A. Baylor 
Katherine L. Sears: None of us can comment on the insider aspect because that's where it stays -- out of view. Greg knows this. Before his election, he was opposed to it. Now ... it isn't clear.

Roger A. Baylor
If I'm saying anything here that isn't true, then please -- correct me. Please.

Roger A. Baylor
I failed to set the hook. Months without a nibble, and I simply wasn't prepared.

KLS 
Roger A. Baylor I really don't want to get into any of that because my point is, I haven't stayed informed enough. My comment was more of a suggestion based in my observation when trying to cross from the north side of Main Street, over the median, to the south side of Main Street.

Roger A. Baylor
Katherine L. Sears I don't believe you and I disagree. The Main Street project was bad from the start; beautification was substituted for success in the factors you mention.

Greg Roberts 
After reviewing the Speck plan again, this project is following his recommendations almost to the letter, except for having both bike plans on one side. the unveiled plan shows one bike lane on each side. I think Greg is fighting for his district with a new rental registration proposed ordinance, two way streets project, getting street lamps fixed, housing, etc... In my opinion, some of Speck's study was over kill on the bike lanes!!

Roger A. Baylor
Greg Roberts Thank you for saying more of substance in one paragraph than either of you have been willing to say publicly for months. Those on the outside have NO IDEA about the administration's view on bike lanes because it REMAINS A SECRET. Can't you see this?

Roger A. Baylor 
Greg Roberts Will Spring Street from Vincennes through downtown be reverted to two ways?

Greg Roberts
Why are you always thinking Greg Phipps is hiding something? I think he found out about this press release on Friday. Also, you of all people should know, I watch everything when it come to our neighborhood!

Roger A. Baylor 
Not Greg Phipps: The leadership caste. Stop taking this personally. Insofar as Greg's job involves these political matters, and given the sheer number of questions NOT answered to date ... maybe that show fits. Will there be two way streets on the remainder of Spring or not?

At this point, a comment was made and apparently later edited (see below). This is the screenshot. 

Greg Roberts 
Roger, the Speck plan called for that and that is what we are pushing for in the plan. Also, the plan calls for Elm and Market to be switched to two ways. I have even asked about the law suit from the trucking companies if that will hold up our area project, but no answer yet.

Roger A. Baylor
Greg Roberts: (Told) by whom?

Roger A. Baylor 
And, if this was known PRIOR to the election ... we all might have been saved a great deal of trouble and aggravation, but it wasn't.

Greg Roberts 
What aggravation and trouble? Public meetings were held by the city on the plan well before elections.

Roger A. Baylor 
Meetings without conclusion; meetings with no further comment. Really, Greg? This isn't something that should be hidden, is it?

Roger A. Baylor
Told by whom? The mayor?

Roger A. Baylor 
And, observers may note that these questions no longer are being answered by the elected official, and while I'm genuinely grateful finally to be having a conversation with someone CLOSE to the back corridor, we're back to Mike Hall at council meetings and not the mayor -- and maybe, just maybe, this is my point in all of it.

Greg Roberts 
I don't think any of previous comments said anybody told anything.

See screenshot above.

Roger A. Baylor
Did you edit a comment? I saved the notifications, and a little while ago you said, "Roger, the Speck plan called for that and that is what we have been told."

Roger A. Baylor
I then asked who told you this.

Roger A. Baylor 
To both Gregs, and anyone else reading: Yes, how we do the right thing matters as much as doing the right thing. Lots of people received letters about vague forthcoming street "improvements." They'll now be told that if they want to comment, they must address Warren Nash directly at a BOW confab at 10:00 am on Tuesday morning. It isn't right, and I can remember when you would have agreed with me.

Randy Smith
Roger A. Baylor: Unfortunately, I can only like this comment one time.

Roger A. Baylor
Randy Smith" It's either a David Bowie song lyric or a Biblical passage, can't remember which: "They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see."

Those "phantoms of Facebook" have quite the pedigree -- right, Amy?

Amanda Beam proves to be quite the proficient ghostbuster, but first, let's refer to the style guide.

When a word or phrase is not used functionally but is referred to as the word or term itself, it should be italicized or enclosed in quotation marks. (What is meant by neurobotics? The term "critical mass" is more often used metaphorically than literally.)

Okay, great.

Beam makes reference to "Amy Adams," who first rose to prominence as a contributor to the newspaper's on-line comments section prior to it moving to Facebook in the run-up to the Hanson Paywall.

"Amy Adams" didn't think much of me back then, but as the columnist shows, "Amy Adams" was/is a phantom. It brings to mind the immortal words of Gomer Pyle: "Surprise, surprise, surprise."

Amusingly, the fictitious "Amy Adams" also was vociferously defended in the comments section attached to the immortal 2011 Kitchen Fable Tissues post recalled here.

Ah yes; I remember it well.

I know Amy Adams. The only reason she's ever gotten on the Tribune website (she doesn't get on the blogs) is that she noticed one day that all Baylor and a certain bunch of them ever do is get on every time Ed Clere does anything, and then go after him. She thought, sportingly enough, that something good should be on the comments. She said to me, "That guy's doing nothing but good. Yet, if you read the paper online, you'll think that the stuff he's doing is slimy. That's far from the truth."

Seems the gallant defender dude forgot the quotation marks.

Probably because he was she.

The phantoms of Facebook, by Amanda Beam (N and T)

Phantoms exist in our peaceful little town, yet not where you may think. Roaming old haunting grounds like abandoned mansions and creepy graveyards has become so passé for ghouls. Getting with the times, these hipster ghosts have embraced technology in order to communicate with the living ...

 ... All was fine and dandy with dear, sweet Nan until she decided to reply to a post I had written a few days back about an upcoming school board race. The lovely lady disagreed with my opinion, which wasn’t a big deal. But when I asked her about being a teacher and if she had children, her answers didn’t match up with her profile identity. A quick search online revealed that, for all intents and purposes, Ms. Brown didn’t exist ...

... A couple of these accounts posted in other mediums too. Amy Adams enjoyed commenting on the News and Tribune’s website frequently these past few years on all sorts of political topics. Another young gal even said no good columnists wrote for the paper anymore. (Insert evil laugh here).

DNA scoop: We'd tout Wal-Mart if it paid membership dues.

The only reason for bringing this up another time is that a year ago, Develop New Albany expressed a willingness to be the comprehensive information consolidator and disseminator for all downtown non-profits, organizations and presumably, businesses. I heard it with my own two ears.

Since then, it apparently was decided to construct what amounts to a reverse paywall by requiring membership in DNA to generate social media touts. There's nothing intrinsically wrong with that, apart from it contradicting DNA's previous stated aim to be inclusive. As revealed in the Fb exchange below (note the abrupt shift in tone from the real estate agent Fb poster in the first reply to someone real in the second and third), it also means that Wal-Mart now ranks as highly as the Frenchman in DNA's strange reckoning -- and that's highly disturbing. If DNA purports to be about downtown, then the Frenchman beats Wally World, every single time.

One gets the impression that DNA's tiny core of decision-makers don't always think these things out. And that's why I bring it up. If DNA's community "services" are to become pay/membership based, one can argue that the organization then disqualifies itself from being official or even semi-official in any capacity, insofar as city funding is concerned, or city sanction. It's just another non-profit, and should not pretend to be otherwise.

Now, can DNA explain to us how those Pillar aware winners are determined? The Green Mouse says there isn't an election, just selection over coffee. True or false?

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Roger A. Baylor 
Give 'em a hand, folks. At least this one's in New Albany.

Develop New Albany 
Yes, we share Schuler Bauer because they are a member of ours.

Roger A. Baylor
Thanks for replying. Could you take this opportunity to update readers on the posting policy for DNA at Fb? Who can participate? Who cannot? What are the criteria? Are you still deleting some comments and discussions? If WalMart joined DNA, would you share its messages, too? Thanks again for replying.

Jameson Bledsoe
I personally don't know who's administering DNA's FB page, but helping promote available New Albany properties is a great idea, and an idea that should go beyond just Schuler Bauer, especially since DNA receives tax support. There needs to be a link on DNA's website linking to HistoricNewAlbany.com.

Develop New Albany wrote: 
Hi Roger what we did with our Facebook page was make it an outlet for our members to post specials and things about their business. Our office administer friends their page then she copies them to our page anyone should be able to comment on them because that is what we are doing now. We fixed the problem with comments and discussions being deleting I hope. Yes if WalMart joined we would post their items if they wanted us to because this is a perk of being a Develop New Albany member, I do not see them becoming a member but at least their membership money would help our other fellow members which to me is not bad if they are willing. We have our website area under the polling section for anyone and everyone to comment and are always looking for questions to post, please let us know what you would like us to poll and we will post it (within reason please)! Thank you for inquiring.

Develop New Albany
Hi Jameson not sure what tax support we receive? Our funds come from membership and some grants that we have been approved for, I will have to check if there are other sources - thank you.

In which we finally hear Silent Ron's side of the HJR story -- except he says absolutely nothing at all.

In the run-up to the Indiana Senate's vote on HJR-3, Ron Grooms refrained from all social media inquiries prior to infamously adding his name to the list of "yea" votes for the Hoosier Stain. Rest assured; it wasn't just social media on my part. I wrote him privately, and my e-mail also was ignored. Still has been, to this very moment.

Following is a Facebook thread ensuing after a blog post share, beginning on February 18, and concluding (so far) yesterday. In it, Ron Grooms finally offers a tepid reply.

Of course, it's no reply at all.

Now he instructs me to phone him, presumably to listen as the same tripe is recycled, and the same evasions repeated aloud. He might phone me, as my number as there on my FB page for the entire world to see, but no matter, for you see, I'm a written word kind of guy. Am I judgmental this way? Of course I am. Words matter, and the written word matters. Listing various public meetings attended isn't exactly exculpatory, is it? Universals are what matter in this instance. Explain them in writing, or not at all. Oratory disappears. Words on the page remain.

C'mon, Ron. Take pen in hand, and explain your collusion with cowardly discrimination. Describe how it jibes with liberty, justice, economic development and those other hoary bromides you and your brethren toss out without ever thinking. Gimme some meat here, Ron ... and not over the phone, thanks.

Write. It. Down.

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It would be revealing to hear Silent Senator Ron Grooms's side of the pro-HJR-3 story. What high personal principle is involved in aligning with the anti-human rights bash mob? Electoral considerations only? Is economic development pursued by depriving talented citizens of inalienable rights? Ron, are you going to say anything at all, anytime soon?

RW
I have never heard him say anything of substance before.
February 18 at 8:14am · Like

JG
As unfortunate as it is that Grooms has turned out to be the sort of senator so many of us expected, this another race that has inspired me not to vote unless a better alternative materializes.
February 18 at 10:28am · Like

MC
I'm pretty in the same boat as JG. Mr. Freiberger will have to step it up to get my vote. His recent statement was a step in the right direction. I definitely don't want to hear anymore about his ball playing days.
February 18 at 1:31pm · Like · 1

Roger A. Baylor How can Silent Ron be punished? Give a guy an idea here.
February 18 at 1:44pm · Like

KB
Without a strong candidate running against him, I'm not sure he sees his actions as remotely harming his future and continued political aspirations.
February 18 at 1:47pm · Like

Roger A. Baylor
Chuck didn't lose by much last time. But: I understand all your points.
February 18 at 2:03pm · Like

KB
Grooms is more entrenched now....
February 18 at 2:05pm · Like

Roger A. Baylor
I'll end with this. We all hate sporting analogies, but I've always been hesitant to underestimate Chuck. He hustled and got the most out of average basketball skills. Now, granted, I'd like to see that diligence applied toward a left-liberal agenda like mine. At the end of the day, we're going to have a State Senator no matter what. Silent Ron's a disaster, and voting against the worst candidate is a refuge of sorts. Dunno, but for now, I stick to my viewpoint.
February 18 at 8:29pm · Like

AB
Freiberger is more conservative than Ron in many ways. Even if Ron wasn't a family friend, I wouldn't vote for Chuck. The Clark County races are shaping up to be much more interesting to me, especially the prosecutors race. Both guys are very much qualified. You got to like that.
February 18 at 8:34pm · Like

Roger A. Baylor
AB, yeah, well, Ron loses me forever on the HJR fiasco, especially compared with his continual advocacy of same old economic development fluffing; apparently it's okay to subsidize the unctuous Kerry Stemlers of the world while at the same time dissing the sort of diversity that builds a genuine contemporary workforce. I call that old and out of touch ... politically, of course; he seems a nice enough guy personally. Then there's the silence.
February 18 at 8:42pm · Like

KB
I, too, take issue with the silence. Whether it's bridges/tolls, school vouchers, or HJR-3, he has yet to tell constituents which way his political winds are blowing until he actually votes. And even when an entire school cafeteria or gym is telling him they don't like the plan as outlined by the GOP, he lines right up for the party line. It makes him look like a political pawn playing typical political games, whether he intends to be one or not. I disagree with Clere on many things, but have been heartened by his principled stances on Medicaid and HJR-3 even when they've ruffled party feathers ... On the other hand, I wasn't impressed with Freiberger last time I saw his campaign materials. His pitch seemed to boil down to him being a democrat in name only, and that he has a conservative haircut. I'm also not terribly impressed by anyone currently serving on the county council, given that body's track record of managing the county and its funds. I'll reserve judgment until I see more of what he has to say this time around, but I'm not terribly hopeful he'll present a strong candidacy or viable option against an incumbent.
February 18 at 9:11pm · Like

RS
Ron Grooms made a choice. He must be fired. If voting for Chuck Freiberger accomplishes that, so be it. At the very least, Freiberger will pretend to listen to constituents
February 18 at 9:15pm · Like · 1

Ron Grooms
Roger,If you would like to contact the State House office phone, 317-234-9425,and leave your name and number ,I will be happy to return your call as soon as possible.You can email me at S46@iga.in.gov.In November,2013, we conducted four town hall meetings on each Saturday morning in November.On Friday,February28,2014 we will complete our fourth straight Town Hall meeting on Fridays when we meet in Highlander Point.We appear weeky in the district to gather input and provide my position on issues. HJR 3( House Joint Resolution) came to the Senate after being amended in the House after its origin.The Senate had 5 session days to debate the bill after the House sent it to the Senate.My opinion was seldom asked by the media and when asked was never printed.Many citizens spoke their opinions during our weekly February meetings or during private meetings of small groups as requested.There were several meetings of four or less with me, on both sides of the HJR 3 issues.I am currently answering letters from January about this issue. Also.let me know if you have concerns about the various winery or microbrewery bills that passed in recent sessions. Ron
February 23 at 12:48am · Like

RS
Hey, Roger. See? Ron has been "responsive." He's perfectly willing to tell you that he is responsive. You should be ashamed of yourself for letting yourself read anything into his actual vote on HJR-3 or any prior votes that he is anything other than responsive. After all, this is only the defining issue of the 21st century so far. What makes you think Sen. Ron Grooms is a bigot who is completely disconnected with a demographic as little as 5 years younger than he? What makes you think he is an ideologue so wrapped up in partisan lockstep that he is willing to create a legal, nay Constitutional ban on the marriages of homosexuals? It is clear to me, from Mr. Grooms's Facebook response that he merely voted along party lines and simply didn't know that a vast majority of his constituents find his vote to be repulsive and disqualifying. Perhaps only now does he realize how deeply he has diminished his reputation and legacy. Gosh, Roger Baylor, you seem to have been so unfair. Surely now Sen. Grooms will commit to kill this bill in the next legislative session. Aren't you now embarrassed that you called him out? Sen. Grooms is sensitive to this issue and no merely voted aye to let us know how responsive he is to constituent sentiment. Clearly, you have hurt his feelings. If only he had known how repulsive his vote would be, he would have stood up for the future, not a regressive past.
February 23 at 2:33am · Like

Roger A. Baylor
Apparently he can be reached if predisposed to agree, but if not, then the damage must be completed first, before belated alibis are proffered. Lame.
20 hours ago

Amid a chat about streets and classism, the Floyd County Democratic Party displays some classicism.

Classicism ... in verbiage, vacuity and veering (from the topic).

But this is to be expected from a one-party municipal patronage system that can't compel its membership to vote for its own presidential candidate.

On December 20, the Floyd County Democratic Party posted on Facebook. Kindly note the time stamps.

---

Floyd County Democratic Party (December 20)
It's Soap Box Friday at FCDP. What issues are on your mind? Go ahead, put it out there and let's discuss.

Roger A. Baylor (December 20)
Why is it that what's right for Main Street isn't right for Elm?

Floyd County Democratic Party (December 20)
Great discussion point Roger! We don't think anyone stated such a position. What is true is that the Main Street project has been developing for several years, reflecting multiple studies by both private and public entities. Additionally, the project was made possible by a relinquishment of right of way to the city, which also brought state dollars critical to financing the project. While we would defer to city leaders to better address plans for other streets, including the idea of one way to two way conversion, public support and planning must also develop. We hope you will continue your advocacy for your ideas in a positive fashion that adds to this dialogue and benefits all concerned.

Roger A. Baylor (December 20)
But won't displaced traffic from Main skew study results on other streets? Is there a master plan?

Floyd County Democratic Party (December 20)
Again, we'd defer to city leaders to discuss specific plans or aspects thereof, but it's important to remember that progress never occurs in a vacuum. As such, the constantly changing nature of Southern Indiana (New Albany specifically) and the development of projects (public and private) all can have an impact on studies and plans developed today. That said, it doesn't mean that we can't make informed decisions based on our knowledge of existing projects like Main Street. In fact, because we know about them, we can including information on those projects as part of any study or the development of individual plans or designs. Although most people often overlook them, it should also be said that the city publishes a number of planning documents, ranging from the Comprehensive Plan covering all of New Albany, to more localized plans involving road improvements or specific areas. These plans play a critical role in the development of our city and are used by officials to help guide actions. That's why it is important to have a sustained dialogue on the development of our community to ensure new views and ideas are incorporated as planning documents are updated while outdated or ineffective concepts are discarded. These plans are on file at the city and county for public review.

Roger A. Baylor (December 22)
All right. I've been thinking about this, so why don't we broaden the conversation? When I spoke to the mayor a few weeks back, he said that in his view, the community has no opinion about the possibility of two way street conversions -- this in spite of the 30+ businesses agreeing on its merits, or the 300 signatures once gathered by the Bookseller, or the DNA poll showing 72% in favor with 300 votes cast.

Rather, he said no one has an opinion. To me, and as I noted to him, this means he's free to do as he pleases, and do the right thing -- after all there's no opposition according to his own reckoning.

And yet, both he and others in City Hall are being tremendously, inordinately cautious. Now, let's see; if the public doesn't care either way, where's the sort of opposition that would make one hesitate? Is it the Republican Party -- which barely registers a pulse in the city?

Who could it be, if not the mayor's own Democratic Party elders? After all, in a city government controlled by the Democratic Party, if the public doesn't care and the party does, it's a done, sealed, and gone deal, isn't it? And yet, nothing happens.

You know that I'm a reliable fellow traveler given the Democratic Party's national platform. I'm not sure at the moment whether any of it ever seeps into this community. How big was Mitt Romney's majority in the city, where Democrats ostensibly outnumber Republicans by a wide percentage?

So, tell me: If the Party's for it and the public has no opinion, where could the caution-inducing pressure possibly be coming from?

The Libertarians?

Jeff Gillenwater (December 22) 
The Main Street Project is another great example of classism in New Albany, introduced, signed off on, and implemented by a Democratic majority.

Roger A. Baylor (December 23)
Somewhere, a dog barks.

Roger A. Baylor (December 25)
See what I mean?

Taxation thread at Facebook, and a newspaper columnist vacancy.

It probably will not surprise you to learn that my attitude toward Facebook has been one of highly personalized agitprop. Yesterday, I linked to my Thursday column, and wrote this:

‎Jeff Gillenwater wants to bid secessionists farewell. I believe secessionists should follow their own advice (to me) and move elsewhere. In Europe, secessionists want out of their countries, but not the EU. Clearly, we're all secessionists now.

Every now and then, a good discussion breaks out, and such was the case yesterday. As sometimes occurs, the topic shifted, in this instance to taxation, tax rates and tax reform. The thread still is going as Friday breaks: http://www.facebook.com/roger.a.baylor/posts/293759810724531?comment_id=1344041&notif_t=share_comment

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Speaking of columns, Debbie Harbeson has written her last essay for the News and Tribune.

Ending my current relationship with this paper does not mean I will stop writing though, particularly since writing helps me learn and grow. I will probably be writing for more specific audiences — people who already understand and share similar underlying philosophies.

Well, it's the perfect timing for a Beer Money (2009-2011) newspaper column comeback. Never have the troglodytes been more annoyed as during my tenure crafting weekly impenetrable satire. Coach K, too.

I'm tanned, rested, ready and completely rehabbed: No PEDs, EPOs and HGHs are to be found in my urine sample ... though IPA, well, that's another matter.

"City for people," or not?

I posted this at Facebook.

The more dense the urban setting, the greater numbers of walkers and bikers. The greater number of walkers and bikers, the less sense it makes to maintain arterial streets for the benefit of those passing through, to the exclusion of the greater good of the neighborhood hosting the streets. Of course, there must be a balance. But I’m weary of the argument that an extra five minutes transit time for suburbanites is sufficient reason to maintain unsafe conditions for walkers and bikers in urban neighborhoods.

A discussion broke out, and you can read it here.

Biblical truth may be YOUR truth, but it isn't mine. Discuss.

Boy, did they discuss. I posted the following at Facebook, and we were off to the races.

Biblical truth may be YOUR truth, but it isn't mine. That's what the Constitution's all about, and why fundamentalists correctly sense that the gay marriage debate is about far more than just that one, specific issue. What it's really about is a nation drawing ever closer to dispensing with the fiction that the law for all is somehow "dependent" on one religion's holy book.

The saga of the Parson's Facebook site continues.

A week ago, I noticed the Clere Channel actually allowing most of the FB posts opposed to Rep. Clere's pro- "right-to-work" position to stand, sans deletion. Indeed, this is a mature and healthy trend, and we must commend it.

Too bad it didn't apply to equally legitimate questions about bridge tolls back in 2010, but what the hey; we can't have it all in NA.

State Representative Ed Clere 

To everyone posting comments here. This is Amy Clere, administrator of this page. Ed and I have no objection to people expressing a variety of opinions on this page and welcome all viewpoints thoughtfully and civilly presented. We do not, however, allow any name calling, overt rudeness, bullying or vulgar language on this wall, even when it is expressed in text message shorthand. "gth," for example, is inappropriate on this page and will be deleted. Ed is unable to get on Facebook while at the statehouse (and he is there all week), but he does read the comments with me on weekends and likes to hear from all of you. Please keep your comments on topic and civil. Thank you for your kind adherence to our page guidelines on this matter. Amy Clere

At NAC Facebook today: Discussion about Saturday's "city-wide" arts events.

Last week, I launched a Facebook site for NA Confidential. Many, perhaps even most, of readers use FB, and it strikes me as a more user-friendly portal for non-anonymous discussion. Content will be posted at Blogger and linked at FB. Please "like" the FB site when you're there. Here is today's discussion:

With all that time to plan, why couldn't last Saturday's arts-related festivities in NA have been marketed with one clean overall theme? Outsiders told me that it was very confusing to them what was happening and why. What do we learn from this, if anything? Discuss.