Now open: Corrao Shoes and Repair, located at 918 E. Market St. in New Albany.

Read all about Phil Corrao's shoe store here.

Corrao Shoes and Repair will be located at 918 E. Market St., inside the former Rookie’s Cookies bakery building. Corrao — who is a Southern Indiana native and the former owner of Second Step Shoes in Louisville — will sell shoes and provide shoe repair for men and women.

He's still getting organized, but repairs are under way and stock is being added.

Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.

The space upstairs is being renovated for residency, and in case you were wondering, the old Rookie's bakery oven is still there in the back of the store.

Clogs and baguettes, anyone?

Three perspectives on the confederate flag.

It reads: Heritage Not Hate.

To me, investing flags -- any of them -- with mysterious power is reminiscent of the medieval practice of searching for the relics of saints. I understand symbolism, but it cuts in all directions, and precludes the consecration of sacred cows.

Meanwhile, let a Southerner dissect "Heritage Not Hate."

The South’s Heritage Is So Much More Than a Flag, by Patterson Hood (NYT)

 ... It was around that time that I began paying attention to the flag flying at courthouses and state capitals. I started hearing things like “heritage, not hate” from people who were perhaps well-meaning, but were nevertheless ignoring the fact that their beloved Southern Cross flew at Klan rallies — that it was a symbol for a war fought on the principle of one man owning another. Let’s pause to think about that one for a moment: one man owning another. When our kindly Grandpa says “states’ rights,” that’s the “right” he’s talking about. Unfair tariffs? Many of the soldiers in the Civil War probably couldn’t spell “tariff.” But they certainly knew that the South’s economy and very way of life was built upon the backs of men, women and children of color.

Harold Mitchell keeps his eyes on the larger issues.

South Carolina's Confederate Flag Finally Comes Down, But Its Legacy Will Die Hard, by Brentin Mock (City Lab)

State legislator Harold Mitchell says he’s happy the flag is falling, but that the politics of its statehouse supporters will continue to affect poor minority communities ...

 ... “The whole thing with the flag—it’s a racist symbol, and we got it down,” says Mitchell. “My concern, though, is the flag’s agenda: refusing Medicaid expansion, infrastructure improvement, economic development for low-income people—those kinds of things.”

Finally, The Onion surveys the pros and cons, and it's hilarious as usual (just one from each):

The Pros and Cons of Flying the Confederate Flag

PROS

Eliminates uncomfortable feeling of having to say aloud what you think of African Americans

CONS

U.S. flag already represents history of entrenched prejudice just as well

This Midtown home: On the right side of New Albany street grid history.

For quite some time, members of the East Spring Street Neighborhood Association have advocated for two-way streets, reminding us that in most significant ways, one-way arterials produce conditions decidedly non-conducive to neighborhoods.

Take it to the bank(er): Quality of life considerations are not defined solely by residents of newer areas outside the historic core. They apply to everyone ... but they cannot be equally distributed until we have a discussion about what the term means, and the discussion includes the street grid and related infrastructure.

My two-way street project and how you can help.

Coffey beats rush, starts October surprise in July.

Does it matter that Council Member Dan Coffey recently voted to approve $19 million in recreational spending without even knowing for sure what will be built? Nope.

Does it matter that he defends funding a Bicentennial Commission that publicly told him they had no idea how the money would be spent? Nope.

Does it matter that during the local NSP approval process, when at least some council members were questioning the overall expenditure of federal money, Coffey's primary argument was that the spending should occur in his district rather than some other? Probably.

But the real question, as it always is, is if this will serve as sufficient fissure in ending his cheerleading of the current administration. We've seen this shtick repeatedly: a new administration and council takes office, Coffey presents himself as a senior statesman and ally long enough to gain a position of trust and perhaps collect a few baubles, and then, shazam, it ends as abruptly as it started with Coffey giving up the pom-poms in favor of his preferred grandstand(ing) seat.

This is the second time in the past couple months Coffey has publicly suggested untoward behavior associated with the NSP, having yet to offer a speck of evidence in support of his rhetoric.

Coffey persistent on Midtown audit, by Daniel Suddeath (N and T)

New Albany City Councilman Dan Coffey continued his scrutiny Tuesday of the agency in charge of the $6.7 million Neighborhood Stabilization Program. 

A resolution sponsored by Coffey that was passed last month was reaffirmed by the New Albany Redevelopment Commission. It calls for an audit of the NSP program, which has resulted in the rehabilitation of 32 vacant and dilapidated properties in the Midtown neighborhood.

Transparency? That's a fine idea. Found any yet?

Hmm.

It's Dan Coffey's council, and he and Diane Benedetti have been on opposite sides of many issues given the current council's rubber-stamp configuration. Now Coffey's out in front of the pack with axe in hand as it pertains to the specific issue of Benedetti's niece and the NSP.

(Uh huh. Move along; nothing to see here. No politics in any of it)

What's even more curious is David Duggins' mention of transparency.

Most of us didn't know there was a Main Street corridor public meeting earlier in the week.

Most of us didn't know there was an Urban Enterprise Association program to award low-interest loans and equipment grants to small businesses, and yet these were awarded at the UEA's most recent meeting.

Most of us understand that megabuck aquatic center plans were a done deal before they were brought to three sparsely attended public meetings, which in all likelihood were sparsely attended because the plans were a done deal.

I like Dave, and transparency is a wonderful thing, indeed. However, shall we say gently and yet firmly that transparency equally applied is even better? If it's right, then it needs to be right all of the time, wouldn't you say?

New Albany councilwoman subject of conflict-of-interest review; Diane Benedetti’s niece was in process of purchasing NSP home, by Daniel Suddeath (N and T)

NEW ALBANY — A potential conflict of interest regarding the Midtown Neighborhood Stabilization Project and involving New Albany City Councilwoman Diane McCartin-Benedetti will be the topic of a special meeting Tuesday morning.

According to sources, the conflict-of-interest claim relates to Benedetti’s niece attempting to purchase one of the NSP houses. David Duggins, director of economic development and redevelopment for the city, confirmed Thursday the sale has been frozen pending review.

The New Albany Redevelopment Commission — which has been the lead city agency for the $6.7 million federal program — will weigh the matter the Tuesday meeting.

“The NSP project is too important and has done so much good for the neighborhoods that have been positively affected by it, that we just want to ensure that the perception of the project is as transparent as possible,” Duggins said.

Pair of sneakers beats a full NSP house?

There has been an animated off-line discussion about this piece, which appeared in Granta way back in September, when our attention was diverted from gangs to gaping bridge holes. My guess is that Bob Caesar won't be asking Mr. Bill to write the forward for James A. Crutchfield's bicentennial book.

The Heartland: Ten Years After 9/11, by Frank Bill

 ... We drive down Vincennes Street, the main drag in New Albany, Indiana. From Vincennes, the area appears safe. But cruise the side streets around the high school and S Ellen Jones Elementary School and it’s turf. Houses are tagged with gang graffiti. Every block is marked as territory. He points out a pair of sneakers hanging from their laces on a power line. ‘It marks the area. It means a drug dealer is living at one of these houses. Sells right out here.’

‘These gangs sell meth?’ I ask.

‘They do,’ Merritt tells me. ‘And crack, marijuana, various prescription meds.’

News from Midtown: Community gardening and a Fall Party.

(Submitted ... thanks, Ted!)

---

News from Midtown, New Albany:

1. Click here to participate in an important survey about community gardening. It doesn't matter if you are a gardner or not, your feedback is still needed for this grassroots effort that is gaining momentum here in New Albany! Please help.

2. Save the Date: Fall Party at Ritter Park, Monday, October 24, 6.00pm to 8.00pm. Family friendly activities at the park. Free stuff. Pumpkin carving. It will be a ghoulishly good time. Click here for more information. There'll be more details coming on this event, so stay tuned.

Ted
www.MidtownNA.org

Big Value, corner of 11th and Spring.

I stopped to chat with Pete Good yesterday. His Big Value shop is an institution on the corner of 11th and Spring, stretching all the way back to around the time of the Ford administration, and that sort of longevity is impressive, indeed.

Most noticeably to passers-by, Big Value sells many patriotic items -- flags, bunting, bumper stickers and the like, some of which Pete is discounting in honor of 9-11 commemorations. Of note to me is that he will not sell an American flag that isn't American-made.

Just behind Big Value, the Jon-Paul contracting firm is restoring the old, atmospheric commercial structure on the southeast corner of 11th and Oak, and also building a new (small) apartment building behind it. It is my understanding that the new owners will be looking for a business tenant.

While neighborhoods like Midtown are viewed today as residential, formerly there were small businesses -- shops, cafes and the like. There could be again, and my personal view is that there should and must be some commerce amid the homes.

Interested in community gardening?

From Ted Fulmore and Midtown New Albany comes this:

Area resident Michele Finn working to get a Community Gardening effort underway in New Albany. Interested? http://t.co/a3e2v1O

Nobody said implosion would be pretty.

After spending years fighting nearly everything residents of our older downtown neighborhoods have tried to do to improve their surroundings (read as: slumlord eradication), Pat "Gestapo" Harrison is now majorly peeved that she wasn't selected as as a designated Realtor specialist for the Midtown Neighborhood Stabilization Project.

That's not only poetic, it's just plain funny.

Breaking: New Albany awarded 6.7 million in neighborhood stabilization funds.

Word from Indy is that New Albany's application for funds via the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2) has been approved for $6.7 million.

From the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority's web site:

NSP2 will provide grants to states, certain local communities and nonprofits to purchase and redevelop foreclosed or abandoned homes or other vacant properties, for resale or rental to low, moderate, and middle income households, in order to stabilize neighborhoods and stem the declining values of neighboring homes. The funding is provided under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) for additional activities under Division B, Title III of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA).

More as details become available...

Update: Per Daniel Suddeath of the Tribune, the award actually comes from a shuffling of NSP1 funds rather than NSP2.