Tricky Dickey's latest malicious misdirection won't hunt, because Mark Seabrook was a county commissioner, not the "mayor" of Floyd County.

The Floyd County Democratic Party will go to any length to avoid acknowledging Jeff Gahan's pervasive monetization fetish.

Pay-han's only real achievement during eight years in office has been the meticulous revitalization of the Tammany Hall model of grubby pay-to-play political patronage, while the self-identified "progressives" stare off into space, unable to consistently apply their presumed standards of social and economic justice to obvious matters like the culture of pure corruption flouted by their local mayoral Disney wannabe.

Recently the GOP has had the unmitigated gall to examine Gahan's unchecked accumulation of debt. Tricky Dickey quickly mounted his rickety Kool Aid soapbox in righteous indignation, shrilly squeaking the only reply local Democrats are ever able to muster: "WE REEK TO HIGH HEAVEN, BUT THE REPUBLICANS IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT ARE WORSE." 

Specifically, Squire Adam's refrain: Because he was county commissioner, Mark Seabrook is to blame for county government's budgetary iniquities. 

Well not exactly, but nice try. You may wish to hold on to your day job.

It's fitting and proper that the two political parties hurl mud back and forth, but let's get a few facts straight with regard to roles (thanks to Commissioner Billy Stewart for posting these points at Facebook).

• The County Commissioners are NOT the Fiscal Body of County Government.
• They don't set budgets for the County.
• They didn't pass the jail tax, as the County Council only had the authority to do so.
• The County, like EVERY other unit of local government, has to have a balanced budget. 

"In a nut shell, Adam doesn't seem to understand how Floyd County government operates. County government is NOT city government. Commissioners are NOT mayors!"

Which is it, Deaf Gahan? Is INDOT fining E&B Paving or is the city?

Obviously Deaf Gahan wants you to think he's losing sleep safeguarding your money, and yes, the Green Mouse is told that the contractor on the Market Street beautification project has also been threatened lest it not be completed on time for the requisite campaign photo-ops.

The problem: What Deaf's propaganda minions are saying contradicts what his own city engineer told the Bored of Works.

Gahan predictably credits himself here:

Grant Line Road Contractor Fined $3000 Per Day for Missed Schedule

The contractor completing the Grant Line Road Improvement Project is currently being fined by the city $3000 per day for failing to meet the scheduled completion date. The contractual date for completion of the project was June 18, 2019. Beginning June 19, the city has fined the contractor $3000 per day for failing to complete the project, per contractual agreements. Starting August 18th, if the project is still not completed, fines are increased to $5000/day.

Since these fines have been initiated, the city has seen increased activity from the contractor and crews along Grant Line Road. “We will continue to insist on a timely completion of the work, and ensure that the work is of the highest quality,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan.

But Larry Summers did not even mention Dear Leader's name here:

Grant Line Road contractor being fined, by Chris Morris

NEW ALBANY — It looks like the Grant Line Road project won't be finished until mid-November.

But the contractor is being strongly encouraged to get it done faster.

City engineer Larry Summers told the New Albany Board of Public Works & Safety Tuesday that E&B Paving is being fined $3,000 a day by the Indiana Department of Transportation for not having the project finished by the scheduled completion date.

Someone's fudging, eh?

Gahan's "Stormwater Blues" really had this one pegged.

But he writes randomized typographic filler text with the best of them.

Ma, the mayor's lyin' 'bout his budget again: "Quality of life begins with honest communication, something that just doesn't figure in Gahan's accounting."

David White is running for mayor in the May 7 Democratic primary. I'm voting for him, and you should, too. Visit the David White for Mayor page at Facebook.

As a preface, we have all been here before. In the four months since NAC last commented about this, we've learned that New Albany Housing Authority funds originally earmarked for 1:1 housing replacements are being used to stockpile commercial properties. Indiana's Board of Accounts is taking seriously the documentation of citizen activists living near Mt. Tabor Road (where'd that money go?), and the breathtaking extent of Jeff Gahan's pay-to-play campaign finance donations has become at least partially apparent

But today a fresh and steaming new round of budgetary boasting was splattered on social media by the Genius of the Flood Plain's outreachers, complete with Made by Tricky Dickey hash tags. It's a minor miracle these lies didn't originate with the City's official feed, which typically (and wrongly) functions as an ill-disguised propaganda dispenser for the mayor's whoppers.

In 2015, Jeff Gillenwater penned two incisive commentaries dismembering Gahan's frequent (and spurious) claims to being the "balanced budget mayor." They're worth repeating as a rejoinder to Gahan's dull repetition of false facts.

It should be added that since Bluegill's thoughts were written in 2015, Gahan has instituted his own signature annual sewer rate increase, hijacked a whole community (public housing putsch), committed even more future budgetary resources to riverside amenities, and pushed through the city hall relocation at a total expense in excess of $10,000,000.

I'm leaving out a few things, but we'll get to them eventually. I've updated a few items, and left the rest of it alone. It's as true today as it was four years ago.

Take it away, Jeff.

---

Jeff Gahan likes to say that he has balanced the budget because it makes it sound as though he's somehow managed to run the city more efficiently. He's not as keen to put real numbers to that claim, though, for good reason.

As provided by the Department of Local Government Finance, the state agency that oversees local budgets, here are those actual numbers-- New Albany's annual budgets from 2011 - 2018. Gahan took office in 2012.

2011 - $14,665,386
2012 - $18,738,682
2013 - $20,084,675
2014 - $22,600,514
2015 - $24,300,565
2016 - $24,832,363
2017 - $25,154,022
2018 - $26,270,834
2019 - circa $27,000

Understandably given the large annual spending increases, the district tax rate has increased under Gahan each year as well.

Even with city government spending approximately $13,000,000 more per year now than it did before Gahan took over, those tax increases did not cover his tens of millions of dollars of additional spending on special and often seasonal projects like the aquatics center. Several of those parks projects alone, over $30 million, were financed with Tax Increment backed bonds, borrowed at interest against projected future tax revenues for the next 20 years. Many New Albanians 45 or older will likely be retired or perhaps even deceased before taxpayers manage to pay off just a single Gahan term as mayor.

And, as Gahan himself says, he's not done yet.

There's little reason to believe a third term would be differently focused, more efficient and practical, or more open and inclusive. As Roger Baylor says, transparency should not be a last resort. We shouldn't be reading about million dollar golf course deals months after the fact but we are. If, like many New Albanians, you're not comfortable with a mayor who tells you he's "balanced" the budget when he's substantially increased it or that he's paid off debt from previous administrations when he's taken on much more for comparatively frivolous projects and corporate subsidies, please vote accordingly.

Quality of life begins with honest communication, something that just doesn't figure in Jeff Gahan's accounting.

---

Jeff Gahan says he's balanced the budget but the truth is he's significantly increased the budget, nearly doubling it. He says he's gotten us out of debt because former Mayor England's sewer rate increases - rate increases Gahan argued against - have paid off some sewer bonds but he doesn't mention his own borrowing, which has left us with increased not decreased debt levels.

Worth noting is that much of that debt is going toward paying off multimillion dollar projects that were awarded sans public bidding processes and, at least in some cases, have led to campaign kickbacks.

Now that we've taken on 20 years of debt to pay for them, Gahan says parks are a priority for quality of life but did not mention them at all when running for office. We're also now finding out about his administration taking options on Uptown area real estate and pursuing eminent domain actions on riverfront property but he's again not mentioning any of it in his campaign-- just like he didn't mention spending a million dollars on the golf course to the redevelopment commission or city council before he did it.

If anyone points these facts out too often, they're banished from campaign and party social media spaces. If people value transparency and honesty at all, they can't support this. If they do support it, they've really no right to complain in future about any political deceit. They will have chosen to tie their own blindfolds.

The really telling part is that, as Gahan and Floyd County Democrats block social media access to more and more people, they never actually deny what those people have said.

They can't.

They just don't want people to know about it. The truth makes them look bad so secrecy and lies begets more secrecy and lies. If incumbent and new Democratic council candidates won't speak up against such misleading tactics now, there's no reason to think they will if elected.

It's damning for the whole party.

---

As an addendum, NA Confidential has been unable to confirm whether New Albany Mayor Jeff M. Gahan or anyone working in the city's administration is under federal investigation or indictment for corruption, bribery or racketeering. It is standard policy of the U.S. Justice Department to refuse to confirm or deny the existence or non-existence of investigations or subjects of investigations. A similar policy exists at the F.B.I.

Today's brutal cringe vid: "I'm David Duggins and I'm here to help."

As ever devoted to surface sheen rather than internal competence, Team Gahan's newest innovation for the New Albany Housing Authority calls for the "executive" director -- appointed to his position by Mayor Gahan following the latter's hostile takeover of NAHA -- to conduct conflagrationside video chats each Monday.

Are you feeling the love? By the way, here's the bottom line for a functionary who came to his new job without qualifications.

Deaf Gahan takes care of his own, doesn't he? Others aren't always so fortunate.

Balanced budget claims? "Many New Albanians 45 or older will likely be retired or perhaps even deceased before taxpayers manage to pay off just a single Gahan term as mayor."

Yesterday a new round of boasting was launched by City's Hall's social media outreach, which in practice functions as an Elect Jeff Gahan Mayor for Life propaganda dispenser.

In 2015, Jeff Gillenwater penned two incisive commentaries dismembering Gahan's frequent (and spurious) claims to being the "balanced budget mayor." They're worth repeating as a rejoinder to Gahan's dull repetition of false facts.

It should be added that since Bluegill's thoughts were written in 2015, Gahan has instituted his own signature annual sewer rate increase, hijacked a whole community (public housing putsch), committed even more future budgetary resources to riverside amenities, and pushed through the city hall relocation at a total expense in excess of $10,000,000.

I'm leaving out a few things, but we'll get to them. I've updated a few items, and left the rest of it alone. It's as true today as it was four years ago.

Take it away, Jeff.

---

Jeff Gahan likes to say that he has balanced the budget because it makes it sound as though he's somehow managed to run the city more efficiently. He's not as keen to put real numbers to that claim, though, for good reason.

As provided by the Department of Local Government Finance, the state agency that oversees local budgets, here are those actual numbers-- New Albany's annual budgets from 2011 - 2018. Gahan took office in 2012.

2011 - $14,665,386
2012 - $18,738,682
2013 - $20,084,675
2014 - $22,600,514
2015 - $24,300,565
2016 - $24,832,363
2017 - $25,154,022
2018 - $26,270,834
2019 - circa $27,000

Understandably given the large annual spending increases, the district tax rate has increased under Gahan each year as well.

Even with city government spending approximately $13,000,000 more per year now than it did before Gahan took over, those tax increases did not cover his tens of millions of dollars of additional spending on special and often seasonal projects like the aquatics center. Several of those projects, over $30 million, were financed with Tax Increment backed bonds, borrowed at interest against projected future tax revenues for the next 20 years. Many New Albanians 45 or older will likely be retired or perhaps even deceased before taxpayers manage to pay off just a single Gahan term as mayor.

And, as Gahan himself says, he's not done yet.

There's little reason to believe a third term would be differently focused, more efficient and practical, or more open and inclusive. As Roger Baylor says, transparency should not be a last resort. We shouldn't be reading about million dollar golf course deals months after the fact but we are. If, like many New Albanians, you're not comfortable with a mayor who tells you he's "balanced" the budget when he's substantially increased it or that he's paid off debt from previous administrations when he's taken on much more for comparatively frivolous projects and corporate subsidies, please vote accordingly.

Quality of life begins with honest communication, something that just doesn't figure in Jeff Gahan's accounting.

---

Jeff Gahan says he's balanced the budget but the truth is he's significantly increased the budget, nearly doubling it. He says he's gotten us out of debt because former Mayor England's sewer rate increases - rate increases Gahan argued against - have paid off some sewer bonds but he doesn't mention his own borrowing, which has left us with increased not decreased debt levels.

Worth noting is that much of that debt is going toward paying off multimillion dollar projects that were awarded sans public bidding processes and, at least in some cases, have led to campaign kickbacks.

Now that we've taken on 20 years of debt to pay for them, Gahan says parks are a priority for quality of life but did not mention them at all when running for office. We're also now finding out about his administration taking options on Uptown area real estate and pursuing eminent domain actions on riverfront property but he's again not mentioning any of it in his campaign-- just like he didn't mention spending a million dollars on the golf course to the redevelopment commission or city council before he did it.

If anyone points these facts out too often, they're banished from campaign and party social media spaces. If people value transparency and honesty at all, they can't support this. If they do support it, they've really no right to complain in future about any political deceit. They will have chosen to tie their own blindfolds.

The really telling part is that, as Gahan and Floyd County Democrats block social media access to more and more people, they never actually deny what those people have said.

They can't.

They just don't want people to know about it. The truth makes them look bad so secrecy and lies begets more secrecy and lies. If incumbent and new Democratic council candidates won't speak up against such misleading tactics now, there's no reason to think they will if elected.

It's damning for the whole party.

This letter is so poorly written that maybe Duggins actually dictated it.

This is David Duggins' second summer in charge of the residences (or is it "residents"?) at Riverview Towers (but maybe it's "Tower," singular).

Seems he would have known about "old and antiquated systems" all the way back in 2017.

If he did know, why wait for these systems to collapse before doing something?

If he didn't know, then isn't $125k per year a bit much to pay in salary to someone to be reactive rather than proactive for the sake of political propaganda when the well-being of residents (not residences) is at stake?

Because that's what this letter is, isn't it -- pure political propaganda?

Gahan tells the newspaper he's been mistake-free for six years. Newspaper believes him. No one is saved, and the beat goes on.

To save space, we'll highlight only the opening prevarication.

New Albany Mayor Jeff Gahan excited about New Albany's future, by Chris Morris (Hanson and Gahan Sitting in a Tree Gazette)

NEW ALBANY — New Albany Mayor Jeff Gahan admits he hasn't decided whether or not to seek a third term in 2019.

The impending grandeur of breaking wind (or, All About The Breakwater).

The Break Wind Lofts at Duggins Flats, sometimes referred to by those enamored of literalism as The Breakwater, soon will be leasing.

More on that in a moment.

First, echoing a question asked on social media, there's the question of parking. Are there sufficient spaces on the old Coyle block for the number of cars we'd expect to belong to Americans residing in 190 units?

Almost certainly not, although I can't find the answer to this question (please direct me if you know), although very early on, the city began referring to parking arrangements with AT&T just across the street, and this likely is a tacit admission of parking inadequacy within the confines of The Break Wind itself.

In turn, it's recognition that non-automotive millennials with bicycles, not cars, actually won't be able to afford living in these apartments, but let's ignore that and consider what it means to offer overflow parking across Spring Street when there is no semblance of a crosswalk mentality, now or in any two-way future -- hence, the photo above, and another view here.

Of course, the dynamic renderings already posit a two-way future -- if not a crosswalk. Recall that City Hall denies ever discussing the street grid with the builder, Flaherty Collins, a representative of which confirmed such talks when asked by a citizen.

The view from 4th and Spring:

These renderings also take a highly stylized view of downtown Louisville's proximity to one-way Nawbany.

Talk about plate tectonics -- Louisville has shifted overnight, and residents of The Break Wind will almost be able to reach out and touch the Yum! Center.

I went to The Breakwater web page to see if the parking question is answered there, and it is:

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiuts smod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua."

Just look at these amenities, this time in English:

"Resort-Style Heated pool, Cabanas, Outdoor Kitchen w/ Grilling Stations, Fire Pit, Pet Spa, Dog Run, Smart Package Room, Bike Room w/ Storage and Repair Tools, Courtyard w/ Pool Deck, Outdoor Movie Screen and Fitness Club."

But what about rental prices? For this, we must visit Craigslist (thanks to T) and dodge exclamation marks.

New Albany Indiana, just outside of Louisville Kentucky, now has BRAND NEW LUXURY apartment homes for rent!

The Breakwater is a brand new luxury community that offers studio, one, and two bedroom apartments for rent in downtown New Albany, IN.

As you step into your apartment home, you will enjoy 9 foot ceilings, 42" kitchen cabinets, granite counter-tops, hard wood floors, full size washer and dryer, stainless steel appliances, and blinds.

Our residents will enjoy upscale, resort style amenities, including a heated salt water swimming pool with cabanas, outdoor movie screen, bike storage, pet wash room, fitness studio, dog walk, club room, and an outdoor kitchen with grilling stations and a fire pit. Attached and Unattached garages are available to rent also! The Breakwater is just minutes from shopping, dining, entertainment, and provides easy access to the freeway. Take advantage of the upscale amenities available to you at The Breakwater today!

We have the following floor plans available:

* Studio - 517 sq to 622 sq - $705 to $830
* One bedroom - 769 sq - 912 sq - $910 to $1190
* One bedroom with a Den - 1148 sq - $1195 to $1215
* Two bedroom/Two Bath - 1180 sq to 1204 sq - $1495 to $1670

Call now to pre-lease your new apartment home today, we are filling up fast!

I suppose this means the Bocce Ball court didn't make the cut.

Sad!

Just imagine what these units would cost had the city not waived sewer tap-in fees ...

"To issue a City "press release" that simply quotes a monopoly service provider about "increased download speeds," without understanding the claim, allows that monopoly continued control over a vital city service."

The Green Mouse has many friends. One of them submitted this commentary after viewing yesterday's mayoral press release:

Internet Speed Increases Coming to New Albany TWC Customers

Nearly a week ago, Time Warner Cable announced that it was offering a six-fold boost in broadband speed to customers in Louisville and Jeffersonville at no cost to its customers. The City of New Albany is very pleased to announce that those same increases will be brought to customers in New Albany at no cost.

“Since as early as 2013, I have pushed for increased internet speeds, and recognize the economic impact that this infrastructure can bring to a community,” stated Mayor Gahan. “We are very happy that Time Warner Cable will be extending this speed increase to New Albany.”

Not that Gahan even once publicly acknowledged as much during the entirety of his 2015 re-election campaign.

As Frank Zappa once said, "Take it away, Bob."

---

Mayor Gahan hasn't done anything to increase internet speeds in New Albany. Time Warner Cable is "increasing internet speeds at no charge" because so many are cutting their cable TV service, opting instead to stream TWC data and video to their computers, watching downloaded movies instead of cable channels.

But the majority of New Albany residents won't see any difference in the "faster speeds". Why? Most folks in New Albany use old modems that aren't capable of using the new data stream rates.

And that's where Time Warner will clean up. In city after city, where Time Warner has rolled out the "TWC Maxx" service that Mayor Gahan mentions, they are charging up to an additional $ 100 - $ 125 per year for the newly necessary modem. That's not faster internet "at no charge."

Even though Time Warner says "there is no change in the price of Time Warner Cable Internet plans, although speeds have increased," New Albany citizens won't see an increase in their cable download speeds without the new TWC modems. Surprise!

And that's where Mayor Gahan is simply missing the overall point about the importance of internet service to the future of New Albany.

As Mayor, he could demand far greater services from the city's monopoly cable provider (Time Warner Cable) when the franchise comes up for renewal. Progressive cities have made TWC provide a host of services for free in order to keep their franchise in those cities.

Philadelphia recently negotiated with Comcast, that city's cable provider. In a series of hearings before the city council, Comcast commited to providing more funding to Philadelphia schools and taking steps to close the digital divide. This makes Philadelphia’s cable franchise a model for other communities across the nation.

The city has an "Internet Essentials" program that includes low-income seniors. Comcast has also committed to providing resources for technology education in Philadelphia schools and to ensuring basic living-wage protections for all its local employees.

Seattle negotiated its existing cable contract to include

• Discounted Internet for low-income seniors
• Increased grant money from $50,000 for one year, to $500,000 over five years, for digital equity programs to bring Internet service to more people
• Laptops for youth at risk of losing their homes

The existing negotiated contract in Seattle already included benefits that Comcast gives the city:

• 600 free Internet connections to nonprofits
• $8 million to support public, education and government channels
• Free cable to government and schools
• Discounted cable TV for low-income households
• Discounted Internet service for families with children who qualify for free or reduced lunch

Seattle's discounted Internet service is $9.95 per month for very basic speeds.

To issue a City "press release" that simply quotes a monopoly service provider about "increased download speeds" without understanding the claim allows that monopoly continued control over a vital city service. The City Council, working with Mayor Gahan could use their power to hold Time Warner's feet to the fire and make them provide more than the bare minimum, but they aren't.

The City "press release" quotes Time Warner: "We will boost Internet speeds for customers up to six times faster, dramatically improve the TV product…"

They aren't talking about helping businesses in New Albany with data streaming. They're talking about consumers of TV and movies. When Mayor Gahan says that he "recognize(s) the economic impact that this infrastructure (?) can bring to a community," he may well be worried.

Businesses large enough to fill the soon empty Pillsbury plant need reliable, high-speed upload data streams. Clark County has fiber optic internet data streaming now. Large corporations will continue to locate where they can better compete and communicate - Clark County.

This press release doesn't claim there will be a significant boost in upload speeds. TWC claims a 400% increase, but 4 MB per second boosted to 12-16 MB per second doesn't put you in the same league as Clarksville and Jeffersonville. To illustrate the point - downloading movies - a New Albany resident needs 10.5 minutes to download a movie with Time Warner but a Clarksville resident needs only 8 seconds to download the same movie using fiber optic internet.

Cable franchise renewal has been used by many cities in America to make a real difference in their residents' quality of life. New Albany's Mayor and the City Council should do the same.

Just imagine if we had a newspaper in New Albany (3): Debate fact checking in Jeffersonville -- not New Albany.

Of course, the first advantage enjoyed by voters in Jeffersonville is that neither of their mayoral candidates decided to game the debate process by opting out, as Jeff Gahan did in New Albany -- or participating in a debate organized by one of their own appointees, in one of their own showpiece buildings, with questions provided in advance.

As Edgar Winter once urged, "Come on and take a free ride."

The second plus is linked here. For New Albanians reading the newspaper, it's epochal, breathtaking and offensive, all at once: A reporter uses a phrase like "here are the facts," and it applies to something important, like an election,

Come to think of it, we did experience pre-election investigative reporting in October, 2014.

News and Tribune bombshell: "Fake Facebook accounts linked to State Rep's wife."

Since then ...

Fact or fiction? Weighing the truth in Jeffersonville's mayoral debates ... Weighing the truth in Jeffersonville's mayoral debates, by Elizabeth Beilman (News and Tribune)

JEFFERSONVILLE — Throughout all three debates this election season, Jeffersonville mayoral candidates Mike Moore and Dennis Julius challenged the accuracy of some of each others' statements, asking audience members to look it up for themselves.

Here are the facts.

Just imagine if we had a newspaper in New Albany (4): Mayoral propaganda questioned in Jeffersonville -- not New Albany.

There's a story just like this one waiting to be written, right here in New Albany. City Hall's conventional media touts, social media feeds, billboards ... the vast majority of these featuring the face of the incumbent mayor in an election year.

I've written about Jeff Gahan's bizarre cult of personality.But perhaps more importantly, who's paying -- candidate Gahan or the taxpayers?

And who's peeling back the layers?

Journalism, anyone?

New Albany deserves some every now and then.

Is Jeffersonville newsletter informative or simply a timely political publication? ... Moore: 'Progress' updates on city projects; Commissioner: It's an ad, by Elizabeth Beilman (News and Tribune)

JEFFERSONVILLE — Jeffersonville Redevelopment Commissioner Marty Chalfant says the newsletter the department released last week uses taxpayer dollars to double as campaign material for Mayor Mike Moore.

The newsletter, called Progress, is an eight-page glossy publication with articles and accompanying photographs detailing recent projects that the redevelopment commission has championed — and some that it's had minimal involvement in. One article contains two factual inaccuracies.

"I am not running for public office, nor trying to keep a job," Chalfant wrote in an email to the News and Tribune. "I am a lifelong Republican who is upset that my name is attached to a false political ad without my knowledge or consent, and that redevelopment commission dollars are being used to fund political ads."

Stockholm Syndrome: CM Phipps mouths the Gahan street grid gospel as the mayor remains shamefully mute.

Jeff I Am

Deploying rather curious timing, incumbent 3rd district councilman Greg Phipps chose Tuesday to serve as eager medium for Mayor Jeff Gahan.

me·di·um
ˈmēdēəm
noun

2. the intervening substance through which impressions are conveyed to the senses or a force acts on objects at a distance ... "radio communication needs no physical medium between the two stations"

Knuckles surely were rapped.

Re-elect Greg Phipps for City Council

Mayor Gahan is committed to making our downtown streets more friendly to drivers and walkers. Three concepts are being developed to address this issue. What makes it great is that the federal government is going to cover 80% of the cost. Soon we will have options to improve the way we move, which will include more 2-way streets, better signage, and safer crossings. I’m sure downtown residents and businesses will be pleased with the results. Two additional items must be considered before moving forward: 1) the cost of the project. 2) There must be a plan to allow truck in and out of downtown.

Anyone with a bucket? This paragraph comes perilously close to making me physically ill.

Note the carefully chosen, quasi-Orwellian code words. These constitute the shameful fine print in the sausage factory's standard disclaimer: We may have implied "all meat," but it all depends on what the definition of political cowardice is.

"Drivers" naturally come first, before "walkers." What was a pristine street network plan submitted by the nation's preeminent expert now is being subdivided into three nebulous and undisclosed "concepts." These unidentified "options" are coming "soon," although we're not told when that might be -- but it's already known that 18 months is the duration of "soon" as minted by our forever pliant Bored of Works. We're informed that we'll be pleased with "results," which of course are not defined. And, of course, we must "allow" trucks to operate, a caveat which is entirely and ridiculously redundant owing to the fact that no previous plan, including Jeff Speck's, ever once suggested barring them.

Worst of all, the words in Greg Phipps' posting don't even sound like his. He typically does not write this badly. Rather, they read like the prepared script from videos in which the hostages insist they're being treated well. Either way, they're the sound of capitulation.

Let's be clear.

Yet again, someone other than the mayor is lecturing us about the mayor's "real" intentions. But not until the voice we hear is Jeff Gahan's ... not until Gahan takes ownership of these wonderful street grid commitments ... not until he explains these and other matters himself, aloud, unequivocally and for attribution when public questions are answered by the man himself, should we relax our fully justified skepticism. It's warm and fuzzy that his fan club seeks to speak for him, but it isn't enough. He must speak for himself -- for once in his life.

It is disappointing that once again, Phipps has opted for being a willing cog in the very same political machine he once decried. Following is a Facebook comment from a Phipps constituent.

F#*k the trucks, what about the actual people that live in this city, the people that pay taxes so these trucks can ruin our landscapes, can run over our beloved pets, that rattle our windows, that break our car windows with crap falling out their truck beds, that commit crimes that the city overlooks because it fills their pockets. I'm tired of paying fines for not moving my car so the weekly street sweeper can pick up the ashes of these trucks but yet will not get a speeding ticket on Spring Street. We need answers, Mr. Gahan.

Those answers won't be coming from the mayor, will they?

One Southern Indiana celebrates Small Business Saturday ... with chain outlets and malls.

One Southern Indiana's self-serving, contradictory hokum never ceases to amaze me.

Unfortunately, the outfit's relentless shuck and jive boasts a bamboozling quality which somehow convinces small independent businesses against all prevailing logic that 1Si actually can do something positive for them, even as the organization supports one after another US Chamber of Commerce imperatives guaranteed to pull the rug out from under grassroots operators here and everywhere.

Thanks to S, who occasionally forwards 1Si's propaganda to NAC, for the following PR waste paper.

As usual, contrast the rote repetition of small business, "buy local" parameters -- you know, the ones 1Si generally works against 364 days a year, with the names of some of the "small" and "local" businesses on the list ... all of whom are (drum roll please) members of 1Si!

It's sickening. C'mon, brethren: Boycott the oligarchy-support org, and save your money for real progress here on the ground.

---

See attached in case you have not seen this elsewhere.  I know when I think of small businesses, Edinburgh Premium Outlets and the Green Tree Mall are on the top of my list.


In 2010, American Express founded Small Business Saturday to help businesses with their most pressing need - getting more customers. The day encourages people to shop at small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The single day has grown into a powerful movement, and more people are taking part than ever before.

Here's just a few reasons why we want you to shop small:

• Locally owned businesses put money back into the community. They support the Little League and Boy Scouts and the local theater.
• Locally owned business owners are your neighbors. You go to church with them. You attend the Lions, Rotary or Kiwanis with them. They are your friends.
• Locally owned businesses hire local people. They provide jobs.
• Help keep our community vibrant. Help grow our community into the kind of place we all want to live in. You can do that by shopping small.

Below is a list of locally owned 1si members to consider when shopping this Saturday.

Actors Theatre of Louisville
Adrienne's Company Bakery & Cafe
Aebersold Florist
Azure Skin & Wellness Centre
Bales Motor Company
Ben Franklin Crafts
Bimbo Bakeries USA
Bowles Mattress Co., Inc.
Charcoal & More
Chester Pool Systems, Inc.
Coyle Chevrolet & Nissan
Craig & Landreth Pre-Owned
Derby Dinner Playhouse
Diverse Woodworking, LLC
Edinburgh Premium Outlets
Endris Jewelers
F5 Enterprises, LLC Creative Marketing and Photography
Glowing Face Therapeutics Day Spa
Green Tree Mall
GTECH Indiana, LLC
Haas Jewelers
Hill Auto Sales, Inc.
Huber's Orchard, Winery & Vineyards
John Jones Auto Group
Koerber's Fine Jewelry
Lloyd's Florist, Inc.
Mathes Pharmacy & Homecare
My Scratch & Dent Appliances and Warehousing
Pacers & Racers , Inc.
Paul's Pharmacy Inc.
Phantom Fireworks
Precision Compounding Pharmacy
Premier Carpets & More, Inc.
Sam Swope Clarksville
Schimpff's Confectionery
Schmitt Furniture Co.
Simply Grand & Vintage Piano Works
Slone Automotive Enterprises, Inc.
Stage One Family Theatre
Strandz Salon & Threadz Boutique
Stuart Bauer Pools & Spa's
Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt
Sweets by Morgan
The Flower Shoppe
Uptown Art

Drinking Progressively: Let's make it Tuesday evenings, 6 to 8 p.m. at BSB

ON THE AVENUES REWOUND, PART THREE: Anatomy of a red herring.

ON THE AVENUES REWOUND, PART ONE: Yellow lines, and what comes due.
ON THE AVENUES REWOUND, PART TWO: You actually can get something for nothing.
ON THE AVENUES REWOUND, PART THREE: Anatomy of a red herring.

Okay, I'm jabbing and feinting.

There really isn't a third "ONE THE AVENUES REWOUND." Rather, the first two are intended solely to provide background and perspective for this link to a newspaper column this week by Dale Moss.

In which New Albany Mayor Jeff Gahan still cannot bring himself to mention two-way streets without prefacing his statement with the word "possibility."

In which the fiction is perpetuated that local government and a solitary realtor have heroically turned the tide.

In which each person quoted, save one, actually has not invested a dime of his own money in downtown revitalization.

Jeeebus, agitprop like this is disheartening. Anyone got a bucket?

---

MOSS: Mike Kopp has his hand in progress in area downtowns; A little forward thinking goes a long way, by Dale Moss ('Bune)

... “It seemed like someone was waiting on someone to do something,” (Mike) Kopp said. “I figured it was me.”

Yo, DNA: Here are some examples of OUR propaganda. You can have the hearts. We'll take the minds.

It only seems right to recast the on-line poll questions in a more reasonable fashion, eh? I just hope the votes aren't going straight to Hizzoner's kickstarter.

Meanwhile, go to the polling page and disrupt DNA's bush league tactics by voting for the parking garage.

As Jeff noted at Facebook: "I vote to remove DNA from the farmers market operation altogether so that we might, as a community, have an honest conversation about its future." Speaking for myself, I'd like to see where DNA was "given" the farmers market in the first place.

Meanwhile, go to the polling page and disrupt DNA's bush league tactics by voting for the parking garage.

JAY-sus ... how many dysfunctional entities must we occupy to get it right?

Meanwhile, go to the polling page and disrupt DNA's bush league tactics by voting for the parking garage.

Dr. Tom plays his Goebbels card. Can Neidermeyer be far behind?

Congratulations to my Facebook friend Rob Y, who accurately "called" the screen shot above last week. It began on Wednesday, July 24, when I noted the following on FB:

At roughly 2:00 p.m. today, a truck marked "Floyd County Health Department" stopped on Bank Street in front of Bank Street Brewhouse. The passenger got out and took a picture of the truck, with BSB in the background, then got back inside, and the truck drove off. What does it mean?

Rob replied:

I believe you'll see that photo again, as 'evidence' of having been onsite for some reason or another.

Bearing in mind that Dr. Tom "Dean Wormer" Harris's photo op was conceived before Otter and me made him aware of Fort Wayne v Kotsopoulos, it would seem that he's fully capable of juvenile (as opposed to Juvenalia) behavior, too.

Welcome to Delta House, Tom.