GOLDEN OLDIE GREEN MOUSE SAYS: Let's talk about Jeff Gahan and his personal fire department's handy tire changing service, and nepotism, and ...

Here's something to take with you into your polling place. Originally published on December 16, 2017.

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The Mouse pieced this one together from bits and pieces offered by multiple sources with ties to the New Albany Fire Department.

At 11:00 p.m. on a recent evening, four firefighters (Engine 3) were awakened and sent to the vicinity of the YMCA, where Mayor Jeff Gahan already was on the scene, taking control of the situation.

Gahan promptly asked the firefighters to change a flat tire on a vehicle owned by friends of his.

Their sleep interrupted, and unavailable for any genuine emergency, the four firefighters tried to do as they were asked -- no, please, let's be completely honest: as they were told by the city's resident megalomaniac -- but it wasn't possible because there was something wrong with the spare.

Only then was a wrecker called. Meanwhile, police chief Todd Bailey had arrived; when the car was towed, Bailey transported the mayor's friends to their homes in Jeffersonville.

Now this is service; one's own 24-hour firefighter troubleshooting agency with a police escort -- and what can any of these firefighters even say about it for fear of retaliation?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Who were these VIP friends of Gahan's, anyway?

Maybe HWC Engineering employees -- or Flaherty and Collins flunkies?

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There's more. The Green Mouse also was told about another instance of Gahan's legendary nepotistic proclivities.

nep·o·tism (noun)

The practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.

It seems that a relative of Dear Leader's recently was hired by the fire department following pressure from the mayor, but has proven to be unequal to the physical requirements of the job; after being written up numerous times, he's been removed from basic duties as a firefighter and placed on probation, awaiting a desk job.

Maybe that's how Gahan keeps peace in the family, at the expense of discord in the department.

Has he no shame?

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Sadly, there's more gossip standing by the fire hydrant. The Mouse will get to these budgetary matters in due time.

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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. 

GREEN MOUSE SAYS: Let's talk about Jeff Gahan and his personal fire department's handy tire changing service, and nepotism, and ...

The Mouse pieced this one together from bits and pieces offered by multiple sources with ties to the New Albany Fire Department.

At 11:00 p.m. on a recent evening, four firefighters (Engine 3) were awakened and sent to the vicinity of the YMCA, where Mayor Jeff Gahan already was on the scene, taking control of the situation.

Gahan promptly asked the firefighters to change a flat tire on a vehicle owned by friends of his.

Their sleep interrupted, and unavailable for any genuine emergency, the four firefighters tried to do as they were asked -- no, please, let's be completely honest: as they were told by the city's resident megalomaniac -- but it wasn't possible because there was something wrong with the spare.

Only then was a wrecker called. Meanwhile, police chief Todd Bailey had arrived; when the car was towed, Bailey transported the mayor's friends to their homes in Jeffersonville.

Now this is service; one's own 24-hour firefighter troubleshooting agency with a police escort -- and what can any of these firefighters even say about it for fear of retaliation?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Who were these VIP friends of Gahan's, anyway?

Maybe HWC Engineering employees -- or Flaherty and Collins flunkies?

---

There's more. The Green Mouse also was told about another instance of Gahan's legendary nepotistic proclivities.

nep·o·tism (noun)

The practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.

It seems that a relative of Dear Leader's recently was hired by the fire department following pressure from the mayor, but has proven to be unequal to the physical requirements of the job; after being written up numerous times, he's been removed from basic duties as a firefighter and placed on probation, awaiting a desk job.

Maybe that's how Gahan keeps peace in the family, at the expense of discord in the department.

Has he no shame?

---

Sadly, there's more gossip standing by the fire hydrant. The Mouse will get to these budgetary matters in due time.

Chief Bailey on two-way streets: "I'm a big fan. I wish we had done this 20 years ago."

Correspondingly (from The Bookseller):

You know, it's hard to imagine what New Albany could have been if, as Chief Bailey said, this had happened 20 years ago. The nature of downtown would have been entirely different and the economy would have been unimaginably stronger.

It's the end of the beginning, nothing more.

In order to maximize the new two-way grid for pedestrians and bicyclists, we'll now be compelled to fight it out, intersection by intersection, with a City Hall still terrified to be seen as inconveniencing drivers.

So it goes, but at least it's genuinely good news that police and fire approve.

First responders give New Albany's street conversion good reviews, by Chris Morris (Hanson Paywall Empire)

NEW ALBANY — While New Albany's street modernization plan is still in its infancy, it is getting rave reviews from first responders.

Spring, Market, Elm, Bank and Pearl streets were recently converted from one-way to two-way traffic. Elm was the last street to be flipped and so far there have been few complaints from the public.

Both New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey and Fire Chiel Matt Juliot said at the Board of Works meeting Tuesday that response times have improved since the switch, and Bailey added that the conversion has slowed traffic, which is what it was intended to do ...

... "It's been very positive," Bailey said of the conversion. "I'm a big fan. I wish we had done this 20 years ago."

Daddy, why are those firemen up there on the City-County Building roof?

Well, son, they're just cutting holes in the roof to help ventilate hot gases and smoke.

Let's hope they're done in time for the oaf of office ceremony today. Thanks to MC for the gag.

Grab all your saws, 'cuz the NAFD is training on the roof.

Grab all your saws, 'cuz the NAFD is training on the roof.

The New Albany Fire Department was conducting some rooftop exercises and training this morning at the former Coyle Dodge (And Frisch's Big Boy) building on Spring Street. Soon it will to demolished to make way for The Breakwind Lofts at Duggins-Down.

Scroll down to see ...

... what it looked like when they were finished:

I think Flaherty and Collins owes these firefighters overtime. Come to think of it, the city's subsidizing the bocce, anyway ... so it's a mag-TIF-icent wash.

A classy sendoff for Greg Balmer.

The Bookseller has posted a video of the funeral procession, as viewed from a bit further up the street. It was a first-rate sendoff for former coroner Greg Balmer.