The Tell-Tale Fart: This peachy "apartments at Steinert's" project may seem to be free-market capitalism, but the deal's a lot more tangled than it first appeared.

I'd gently argue Steinert's was the building suited to be described as iconic in a way mere "used to be there" vacant lots cannot ever be, but this would be picking nits. It is noteworthy that in a distinctly post-election way, as soon as the campaign was over and the mayor safely re-enthroned, suddenly he has "elected" to refrain from interjecting his dull mug into every announcement.

The reality speaks differently.

Our Shopping Cart Napoleon already had this Steinert's fix quite firmly into place. Before linking to the local chain newspaper's story, let's have a look at the interconnected participants.

Here's Vitor Bueno.

TSI Construction was the contractor for the sewer overflow project by St. Mary's Cemetery at Charlestown Road and Silver Street, during which equipment and materials were being stored in ... a big vacant lot where Steinert's once stood.

TSI was purchased in 2016 by an "investment firm" -- 3 Crown Capital, the leadership of which all formerly worked for Neace Ventures.

The former Steinert's site is owned by a Neace offshoot (son).

And NB Develop, which will build apartments on the Steinert's site, stands for Neace Bueno.

Oh, and the Neace/Bueno has a connection with a newly elected at-large councilman.

Extol Magazine now operating under Neace Ventures.

(November, 2016)

John Neace was the first person to support our dream of starting Extol by becoming our initial investor. He and Vitor Bueno both jumped on ship as minority owners in this venture that was started by Sales Director/Managing Partner Jason Applegate and his wife Angie Fenton, Extol's editor in chief. We are so grateful for this opportunity to grow and further our mission.

Yes, and by the way ...

John Neace is Jeff Gahan's 5th-largest career campaign finance donor.

There was quite a lot left unsaid in the newspaper account, wasn't there?

Development coming to former Steinert's site in New Albany, by John Boyle (Bill Hanson's Jeffersonville First)

NEW ALBANY — An iconic New Albany property could soon see new life.

Steinert's Grill and Pub, located near the intersection of Silver Street and Charlestown Road, was a local landmark and watering hole for decades, with the building having been there since 1877. All of that history was lost over a decade ago, when the structure was destroyed in a 2008 fire.

In the years since, the property at 2239 Charlestown Road has sat vacant, with nothing but the Steinert's sign standing as a remnant among the empty asphalt. Now, developers have plans to fill the void with a $3.5 million, three-story apartment building.

Vitor Bueno said NB Develop set its eyes on the property in part due to its well-known former occupant.

"Steinert's has been a place that a lot of people have come through and have a lot of family memories at," he said. "I think that's a nice part of the site. With it being on top of a hill in a three-story building, people can have a nice view of New Albany."

Plans call for 24 units, half of which will have two bedrooms and two bathrooms and the other half having one bedroom and one bathroom. Units will range in size from 754 square feet to 1,131 square feet ...

Gahan eats a Danish, installs campaign finance-themed pedestrian crossing signals.

The Green Mouse received a link from a friend: Danish city installs Viking-themed pedestrian crossing signals (text below). What happened next was very predictable.

It's 2:00 a.m., and a phone rings near Main Street, muffled by the ornamental grasses in a nearby median.

"See here, Rosenbarger. This Viking crosswalk light thingy has potential. Didn't the Vikings raid and pillage everywhere they went? That's some really good shit, but $150 to convert the lights? Say what? How do those Danish mayors get their families to Disney World twice a year on $150? Look, some of our Special Friends can do these for at least $500 each, although you need to make sure we're getting the volume warehouse discount for $100 actual cost, then we can convert every light in the city and put those cute anchors on them -- wait, that's no fun, how about my FACE on each one?

"HAH! That Chowchewsku guy never managed THAT, did he?"

Now for the straight dope.

Danish city installs Viking-themed pedestrian crossing signals

Aug. 26 (UPI) -- A city in Denmark is celebrating its Viking heritage by replacing the crosswalk signal lights with the images of the historic Scandinavian warriors.

The city of Aarhus, which was founded by Vikings in the 8th century, unveiled the first of the Viking-themed crossing signals Monday. The city is planning to install the lights at 17 crossings in the city.

Buenyamin Simsek, a councilor in the Aarhus city planning department, pitched the scheme early in the year and the Moesgaard Museum, located just outside of the city, teamed up with officials to bring the idea to fruition.

Officials said each walking signal costs about $150 to convert.

Is there anything He can't do? Deaf Gahan patents new concrete mix for municipal use.

You may recall "Rearden Metal" from Ayn Rand's well-nigh unreadable novel Atlas Shrugged.

In Philadelphia, Hank Rearden, a self-made steel magnate, has developed an alloy called Rearden Metal, which is simultaneously lighter and stronger than conventional steel.

Rand's bizarre take on eroticism finds Rearden's lover Dagny Taggart getting an orgasmic charge from a bracelet made with Rearden Metal.

Meanwhile back here in Nawbany, Gahan Concrete is a mixture of aggregates and paste. The aggregates are sand, gravel and crushed stone; the paste is Kool Aid and portland cement -- with a pinch of loaded Rice Krispies Treats.

By the way, there is a real-life Reardon company (with a "o", not an "e").

I wonder if they make bracelets?

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Democratic mayoral candidate David White understands that change begins with a whole lotta scrubbing, and NA Confidential advocates just such a deep civic cleansing. 

After eight years on the job, Mayor Jeff Gahan's list of stunning "achievements" is long, indeed: tax increases, budgetary hide 'n' seek, self-deification, daily hypocrisy, public housing takeover, non-transparency, pay-to-play for no-bid contracts, bullying city residents and bullying city employees. Eight years is enough. It's time to drain Gahan's swamp, flush his ruling clique and take this city back from Gahan's Indy-based special interest donors. 

NA Confidential supports David White for Mayor in the Democratic Party primary, with voting now through May 7. 

Moooving Forward, Part Two: Flood protection, Gahan's ignorance of nepotism and why "great experiences" always cost SOMETHING.

Previously: Moooving Forward, Part One: But if flood protection requires "improvement" now, was it inadequate before, and why did "improvement" take eight whole years?

Look, ma -- great paying jobs, with absolutely no experience necessary. That Gahan, boy, he's a miracle worker!

DUGGINS, DAVID C NAHA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR New Albany $121,577.96

GARDNER, CHRISTOPHER FLOOD CONTROL DIRECTOR NEW ALBANY $63,775.21

Nepotism? That's just a word that isn't in Deaf Gahan's vocabulary. Here's a reprint from August 30, 2015.

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What does it cost the city to stage Friday evening concerts at a venue that wasn't built to host them?

Surely somewhere these raw numbers exist: Production Simple does the booking and staging, city workers block the street, prepare the grounds and clean up, police officers act as security, and of course, there are sponsorships, and these defray at least some of the costs, right?

Shouldn't this information be part of the public record?

I asked.

The quick response came not from Shane Gibson, but Chris Gardner: "A great experience is priceless."

Think about that.

Chris Gardner is the city of New Albany's director of flood control. He has a degree in business management (IU Southeast; 2010), used to work at a veneer plant, and is married to the mayor's daughter. These facts are matters of public record, and if subject to review by the most disinterested of space aliens armed with theories of impartiality and a recent dictionary, there'd almost inevitably arise at least some reference to the concept of nepotism.

Perhaps Jeff Gahan's exaggerated fluke of a vote total in 2011 blinded him to the implications of the word "nepotism", or maybe he didn't know what it meant in the first place. I doubt he cares, but even if the director of flood control weren't an otherwise unqualified son-in-law, and even if he were just another unqualified city political patronage employee, can this or any other mayor countenance a taxpayer inquiry being greeted with this?

"A great experience is priceless."

Perhaps Gardner's sequestration down by the river, where few people actually live, has caused Gardner to overlook the plain fact that lots of folks living hereabouts are not enjoying a great experience, because the reality of income inequality is that they cannot afford a frat boy's nonchalance, either in terms of attitude or disposable income. 

What's more, not many of them are in a position to enjoy the bread, circuses and musical events being staged for their benefit. They're working multiple jobs, juggling parental duties and just scraping through. They're struggling with finding and keeping affordable housing. Whether we care to admit it or not, most of us are far closer to poverty than we'll ever be to the lofty ease of the 1%, and we'd be advised to remember how quickly any of us could fall through the patchwork safety net, which Republicans keep trying to dismantle. 

Shouldn't Democrats be more concerned with maintaining a functional, level playing field than pretending to be Walt Disney?

Seriously, how many of us shrug and spend money without looking at the price?

Let's say I come home with a brand new car, run inside the house, get Diana and say, "Look at the nice shiny thing I bought for you."

Is anyone outside of the 1% NOT going to ask me how much it cost, to demand an explanation, to point out that we already owe far more than we make, and can we really afford it?

New Albanians should do the same. Experiences may indeed be priceless, but creditors are notoriously inconvenient when it comes to seeing the transaction in a different light. When Jeff Gahan's minions brag to you about their nice shiny objects, don't forget to ask them how much they cost ... and how do we pay for them ... and how many years will we be paying?

You'd ask these same questions when making your household purchases, wouldn't you?

Some day those objects won't be quite as shiny -- and your grandchildren will still be paying for them. That's neither great nor priceless, is it?

Moooving Forward, Part One: But if flood protection requires "improvement" now, was it inadequate before, and why did "improvement" take eight whole years?

Having surveyed Gahan's pre-election flood protection boasts, a regular reader submitted this comment.

So if the Ohio River floods the chances of it going over flood wall are what? Meanwhile, with all the unrestricted development and piss poor maintenance of the creeks and waterways in the city, in 2012 my house was declared to be in a flood zone. Backyards at the bottom of the Daisy and Linda road area practically disappear.

Ah, but we can hear Deaf Gahan's reply coming from Mike Hall somewhere deep within the Down Low Bunker:

"That's a completely different type of water which is resistant to hyperbole, and besides, who are you in collusion with?"

Of course the heralding of anything "new and improved" should be followed by a rather obvious question: Does this mean your product was inadequate prior to the upgrades?

Then there's the frequent co-mingling of public money and private campaign donations, a fact never quite as obvious as when Jeff Gahan awakens in a boastful mood and blasts essentially the same blurb twice on social media from "different" accounts.

Wait, "mood" isn't the right word. It should be "moo."

Next: Moooving Forward, Part Two: Flood protection, Gahan's ignorance of nepotism and why "great experiences" always cost SOMETHING.

Have you ever wondered why Jeff Gahan refuses to debate David White? There's a word for it.

Another primary election season soon will pass with the incumbent mayor refusing to emerge from seclusion to debate his opponent.

David White yet again extended an invitation, and true to form, Jeff Gahan emitted mere shadows of former gurgling sounds in response. Shouldn't we be expecting more from a man who thinks he should be mayor for life?

New Albany needs grassroots empowerment, not top-down cliques. David White gets it. Maybe that's why Jeff Gahan won't debate him.

I'd love to see David have the chance to debate Goliath Gahan. I actually believe at some level Gahan himself might want to do so, given his outrage at the temerity of anyone daring to challenge his reign.

Regrettably, the odds are that Gahan's handlers won't allow it. They know he can't do improv, and they fear the emergence of the nocturnal Mr. Hyde. But a boy can dream.

It should be remembered that in 2015, Gahan artfully evaded full debate with both his challengers. The debate he did agree to attend came with numerous caveats.

• The League of Women Voters held the debate on Gahan's home court, Silver Street Park (no heels on the artificial turf, ladies)
• The GOP's nominee Kevin Zurschmiede had a family wedding to attend, the League of Women Voters wouldn't change the date, so it was just Dear Leader and me
• The League of Women Voters agreed to Gahan's demand that the questions be given participants in advance, in spite of my request that we go without 

When I played basketball, we called these stipulations and the referees who issued them "homers." When it came time for the Leadership Southern Indiana debate, Gahan was the ignominious no-show.

Following are a few thoughts I had in 2016, when I was a member of the Leadership Southern Indiana Discover class of 2016-2017.

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ON THE AVENUES: Kind-a full-a you know what, but now we're going to find out whether Jeff Gahan has any cattle under his hat.

A little more than a year ago, Leadership Southern Indiana held a New Albany mayoral debate, and one candidate conspicuously declined to attend. More than a year later, on the day after the 2016 election, Mayor Jeff Gahan finally climbed aboard the Leadership Southern Indiana bus.

Literally.

The bus stopped in front of The Grand, and prior to my Discovery 2017 class disembarking, Gahan got on. Blocking the only potential escape route except his own, he stood at the front of the bus and offered a few words about New Gahania in an emerging Time of Trump.

As Gahan’s many handlers long have noted, and tended to plan the mayor's schedule accordingly, his agoraphobia manifests itself in the usual way.

Agoraphobia (ag-uh-ruh-FOE-be-uh) is a type of anxiety disorder in which you fear and often avoid places or situations that might cause you to panic and make you feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed.

It isn’t that Gahan fears human contact. He fears unscripted situations in public settings, and when compelled to interact with people in such places, he generally over-compensates, displaying a forced, cheerleader-level of excitement, which at best is chatty, though usually comes off as just plain strange.

However, give this man a proper script, show him the markings, block it out, and he invariably succeeds in appearing “mayoral,” whatever that really means. Team Gahan knows this, and extemporaneous environments are studiously avoided, because it’s anyone's guess what might come out of the mayor’s mouth amid the escalating inner panic.

On Wednesday, standing there on a bus chartered by an organization he shunned, nothing was written on paper, and the results were predictably weird.

However – amazingly – Gahan got something right when he conceded that downtown New Albany’s revitalization owes primarily to risks taken and investments made by independent business persons and entrepreneurs, not City Hall.

This was a startling admission, given that Gahan’s re-election campaign was predicated on taking personal credit for the city’s improved prospects. In addition, it doesn’t jibe with Team Gahan’s day-to-day municipal governance, which relies on Goebbelsian marketing and rule-of-plaques, both real and metaphorical, as erected by Gahan’s various funding mechanisms and the toadies manning them.

Still, it was a factual utterance, and worthy of note; they come once yearly from Gahan, so stopped clocks and all.

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Then, in closing, Gahan actually said something interesting, though not before somehow confusing a busload of local residents for visitors from Omaha, by expressing the misplaced hope that they would enjoy their “stay” here.

I’ll paraphrase:

The most important thing for you to remember about New Albany, and what we always remind everyone, is that we’re a kind city.

That’s kind, as in affectionate, loving, helpful, benevolent, and displaying the qualities of kindness.

Whether this assertion is true isn’t the point.

Rather, in spite of Gahan’s odd suggestion that his statement functions as some sort of widely embraced local mantra, it’s the very first time I’ve heard him express this sentiment by using the precise word “kind.”

And, since it isn’t in the mayor’s nature to be improvisational, the word – the concept, this mantra – must have been planted by someone, at some point in advance. He’s simply not good enough with words to pull “kind” from the ether.

It’s just my opinion, but I think it’s no coincidence that Gahan introduced this fresh new concept of a “kind” city on the afternoon following a smoldering train wreck of an election on the part of his Floyd County Democratic Party, a topic covered elsewhere:

ON THE AVENUES: Don't be a Dickey, local Democrats. The verdict is in, and it's time for a change.

---

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Democratic mayoral candidate David White understands that change begins with a whole lotta scrubbing, and NA Confidential advocates just such a deep civic cleansing. 

After eight years on the job, Mayor Jeff Gahan's list of stunning "achievements" is long, indeed: tax increases, budgetary hide 'n' seek, self-deification, daily hypocrisy, public housing takeover, non-transparency, pay-to-play for no-bid contracts, bullying city residents and bullying city employees. Eight years is enough. It's time to drain Gahan's swamp, flush his ruling clique and take this city back from Gahan's Indy-based special interest donors. 

NA Confidential supports David White for Mayor in the Democratic Party primary, with voting now through May 7. 

New Albany needs grassroots empowerment, not top-down cliques. David White gets it. Maybe that's why Jeff Gahan won't debate him.

Small wonder Team Gahan is silent, given the mayor's fear of situations he cannot control. That's why he typically avoids unscripted settings. It's probably an undiagnosed anxiety disorder broadly similar to agoraphobia, but only his psychiatrist knows for sure.

In 2015 Gahan agreed to debate prior to the fall election only if the session was held on his own palatial home turf (Silver Street Park) with questions submitted in advance -- and accepting that the hosting League of Women Voters organizing committee was controlled by one of his subalterns.

Not exactly fair, and I suggested the debate take place at Vic's, but fine by me and I was absolutely delighted to accept the tilted terms. Unfortunately Kevin Zurschmiede was out of town for a wedding, and the League refused to change the date to accommodate the Republican candidate.

There was a second chance in 2015 in the form of Leadership SI's debate at New Albany High School -- and Gahan concocted a predictably flimsy excuse to miss it. Thus the city was deprived of the chance to have all three candidates in one place, at one time.

You cannot convince me that on Gahan's part, this omission was purely intentional.

I'd love to see David have the chance to debate Goliath Gahan. I actually believe at some level Gahan himself might want to do so, given his outrage at the temerity of anyone daring to challenge his reign.

Regrettably, the odds are that Gahan's handlers won't allow it. They know he can't do improv, and they fear the emergence of the nocturnal Mr. Hyde. But a boy can dream.

Amid Gahan's penchant for opulent municipal luxury, do we even have a word for this vista at 1730 E. Oak Street?

A friend who'd been speaking with neighbors sent these two photos of the back yard at 1730 E. Oak. It's in the 3rd council district (Precinct 10) in case you're curious.

Neighbors say homeless and drug users have taken over this home. They wander the alley digging through everyone’s trash throwing out on the ground. One lady saw a buck naked man wondering in the yard! By anyone’s measure this is a serious problem. They say it’s been going on for 18 months. Needles, human waste, etc.

They say the city isn’t helping them, so who can they turn to?

I went to Elevate and looked up the owner; supposedly he's owned the house since 2007. Next came the state of Indiana's Odyssey courts search. Here are the first and last records of the same case, with names omitted.

Obviously this one is on the city's radar. Older satellite photos show the back yard looking like a war zone, and this case goes back two years. It took eight months for the complaint about cleanliness to work its way through the labyrinth. Whether the owner performed the required tidying isn't clear, but as of less than a year ago, he was supposed to have done it.

Judging from the other court records arranged before and after this one, it would seem that the house's owner quite possibly is a familiar face among local law enforcement officials. Looking at it from afar, it's easy to deduce that someone's life went off the rails. The nasty condition of the house appears to be collateral damage in a much larger story.

All of this fits the neighbors' sad narrative, and not one bit of it helps them. Sorry about that, but after doing the research I don't have any better of an answer, at least yet.

Anyone have anything?