Grooms, Murray join Clere in addressing public housing concerns during NAHA candidate forum.

We Are New Albany was well represented at last evening's candidate forum at the New Albany Housing Authority's gym. The advocacy organization's Aaron Fairbanks has given permission for us to reprint his report.

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This is why our political voice matters:

"I oppose any plan that vacates anyone from public housing that they are now living in. We will at the state level make that not happen. You will not be evacuated unless we have another plan that puts you in a position where you want to be."
-- 46th District State Senator Ron Grooms (R)

(This comes after Candi and myself blasted Grooms at a town hall in New Albany).

"I'd like to start tonight by addressing an issue that is critically important, which is affordable housing... I don't want to see any families put on the street making it even harder for them to get back on their feet. So it's important that we make sure we have an adequate supply of affordable housing that meets at least minimal standards."
-- 46th District State Senate candidate Anna Murray (D)

Anna had been in contact to notify me of her preliminary comments before she releases a pending statement on the local housing issue. She's also agreed to follow up by getting some questions answered regarding the city's plan:

• to ensure that demolition doesn't forcibly displace NAHA residents from New Albany or leave them at risk of homelessness.
• to ensure that demolition does not reduce NAHA's ability to meet future housing needs for those on waiting lists and housing assistance applicants.
• to ensure that the City and NAHA work to meet the dire need for rental housing and affordable housing options, while knowingly facing an affordable housing shortage.

"We are at the New Albany Housing Authority, so I'm going to briefly mention housing issues. First of all, I'm grateful to be endorsed by We Are New Albany. I'm honored to have their endorsement ... It's been a privilege ... learning more about the situation here at the [New Albany] Housing Authority, which unfortunately hangs as a dark cloud over many of the folks in this room. And I will continue to oppose any plan for the [New Albany] Housing Authority that could displace current residents without stable, long-term alternatives."
-- 72nd District State Representative candidate Ed Clere (R)

Thank you, Ed Clere, for standing with this group since day one. The use of your platform to stand by NAHA residents and We Are New Albany has absolutely helped to give public housing residents a voice when no one would listen and no one would speak on such an important discussion as affordable housing.

Unfortunately, our work is not done yet. I will not rest until the "dark cloud" is gone, and no one is in fear of being forced from their homes and their community. It's most unfortunate that candidates that I have met and have respected avoided talking about housing at the New Albany Housing Authority (You have got to be kidding me?).

I'm appalled by the silence of people who should be representing you and me.

I can tell you now that many of them are calling our "bluff." They have calculated that the NAHA residents affected by this plan won't vote, and they have decided that even so much as entertaining a conversation with us is unnecessary because of this lack of participation. So many other candidates attended the forum tonight (with requests for public statements I might add), yet they avoided our concerns that we have been making public for several months.

We absolutely need help to leverage these conversations, and there's no better way to do that than to get involved and vote!

Schlock and awl: Duggins' captive NAHA to meet the candidates, prepare voter lists for future persuasion, and play-act some make-believe democracy.

But are they registered to vote?

Over at the New Albany Housing Authority, Commissar David "125K" Duggins is getting into the spirit of democratization, announcing that President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus has endorsed Duggins' bid to become Executive Director for Life.

Not only that ... a party!

But seriously, there really will be a pre-primary candidate panel and loyalty oaths voter registration rally on Thursday, March 29, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Erni Avenue gym.

Structural engineers have affirmed that the gym should be able to withstand the shock waves of hypocrisy emanating from Team Gahan members in attendance.

Below, the text of the letter announcing the event. As a friend observed, "As you can see, an uninformed reader might come to the conclusion that Duggins cares about the residents."

NA Confidential readers know better, of course, as do South Seas islanders and the woman in the moon.

#FireGahan2019

Atomized: My WNAS video in easily digested policy platform chunks.

Randy has taken the full 18-minute WNAS "Meet the Candidate" video (see below) and broken it down into smaller pieces. 

Why Indie: Roger Baylor explains why he's running as an independent for Mayor of New Albany

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Transparency: Roger Baylor, the independent candidate for Mayor of New Albany, explains what he means by transparency.

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Budgetary Sanity: Roger Baylor talks about fiscal responsibility and opportunities lost.

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Economic development: Roger Baylor explains to the incumbent what real economic development consists of.

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Infrastructure: Roger Baylor tells what he will do as mayor to keep our city safe and vital. Better at the fundamentals, to make New Albany fundamentally better.

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Ordinance enforcement: Roger, the independent candidate for Mayor of New Albany, explains that ignoring our housing stock is nothing less than lunacy.

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The full 18-minute WNAS "Meet the Candidate" video.

Just remember ... we can if you vote.

WATCH IT: Here's the WNAS "Baylor for Mayor" video that was banned on Ellen Court.

That's right, it's the WNAS "Meet the Candidate" video -- you know, the one that Warren & the Jeffettes sought to ban, but now you can see it for yourself, make up your own mind, and count the ways to an alternative in the 2015 mayor's race. 

Yes, it's 18 minutes long. I can't help it if there are things to say more important than the usual biographical twaddle. I think you'll agree that there's more content here than has been witnessed emanating from either major political party candidate. 

Watch it and please share on social media. Thanks. 

Meet the Candidate: "Oh, boy -- is this great!"

The Meet the Candidate Show on WNAS-TV is airing at 10:00 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The mayoral candidates lead it off, with Kevin Zurschmiede first, followed by Jeff Gahan and then The Pirate (me). As noted earlier today, my segment runs a wee bit long.

Can I help it if I have a lot to say?

The WNAS station manager may wish to turn off his cell phone before retiring, as the mayor has a nasty habit of intemperate late-night berating. Thus far, you must tune in to watch, but we're doing what we can to snag a copy.

Remember that "WNAS Radio and TV will again have live Election Night coverage on November 3 at 6:30."

Dickey bolts upright in a cold sweat: "THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO IGNORE HIM!"

Dickey bolts upright in a cold sweat: "THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO IGNORE HIM!"

I'm taking great care to record screenshots, given that every past action suggest there'll be an orgy of deletions later this morning.

The topic to which the chairman of the Board of Public Works and Safety speaks (below), as joined subsequently by the usual sycophants' chorus, is my "Meet the Candidates" segment on WNAS-TV.

My recollection is a suggestion that it be kept to 5 - 8 minutes, but there was no hard and fast rule. I did not rehearse, but read my outline aloud, and it came to about 8 minutes. When finished in the studio, it was remarked that my presentation was a bit lengthy, and if there were any problems, I'd be informed.

I haven't even viewed it yet, but evidently the relevant guidelines were met, seeing as the segment is being aired. I'll get a copy as soon as I can, and share it -- because sharing, not suppressing, is my preferred mode of modernity.

Perhaps it isn't the length of the segment that is of most concern to Team Gahan's resident censors, but the content.

Perhaps they might divert a portion of the incumbent's $180,000 nest egg to purchase mirrors, which are said to assist in the process of self-examination.

However, their record of shamelessness "suggests" this suggestion won't be followed. Are they finished yet? We'll see in nine days.

Take it away, Warren.