Wealthy blithering idiot David Jones Sr. knows "a pit of mediocrity" when he sees it -- most often in the morning while shaving.

Times like these are when I usually suggest eating the rich, but I’m not sure the vindaloo sauce is strong enough to make the rich remotely palatable. Stewing in Jones' own senility sounds like a better recipe, anyway.

SCALA founder blames ‘self-appointed busybodies’ for killing West End Walmart, by Caitlin Bowling (Insider Louisville)

During a speech to the Rotary Club of Louisville, David Jones Sr. blamed “faceless boards,” “so-called preservationists” and “self-appointed busybodies” for killing a proposed Walmart Supercenter at 18th and Broadway.

He also listed the death of the project as a reason he, PNC Bank Regional President Chuck Denny and Tandem PR CEO Sandra Frazier formed the Steering Committee for Action on Louisville’s Agenda (SCALA), which has faced backlash after Insider Louisville revealed its existence.

They “were disappointed that leadership failed to allow Walmart to build a large and greatly needed store on the corner of 18th and Broadway,” said Jones Sr., founder of Humana.

Walmart had planned to build a 154,722-square-foot store with a garden center, deli, pharmacy and optometrist in West Louisville, but the company backed out of the development after a lawsuit was filed by individuals and groups who opposed the design of the Walmart, arguing it did not fit the urban neighborhood. Walmart wanted to build the store back from the street with a 620-space parking lot between the front door and the street, but those who filed the lawsuit wanted it to abut the sidewalk.

“I just can’t tell you how disappointed I was at our lack of capability to allow Walmart. They would have provided 300 jobs, affordable food and other things, but most importantly, hope,” he said. “That disturbed me so much that I said to my friends ‘Why don’t we put together a group and see if there’s any way to get out of this pit of mediocrity.’ ”

Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith, D-4, asked Jones Sr. during the Rotary event if he saw hope for the area surrounding 18th and Broadway given that the YMCA of Greater Louisville and Passport Health plan to invest millions of dollars in developments there.

“Not nearly as much hope as I had when the Walmart was going there,” Jones Sr. said.

The secrecy, maybe? "Something doesn’t feel right about David Jones’ group of Louisville powerbrokers."

Tell me if you've heard this one before.

Encroaching nausea as Insider Louisville tracks down Louisville's secretive power brokers, an "elite group of influencers."

Oh, look. How charming. The usual suspects, same old pillars and engorged oligarchs together again, in secret, to huff and puff and -- dear, could you fetch my pitchfork? Just in case One Southern Indiana's already played the copycat.

Gerth nails it.

Something doesn’t feel right about David Jones’ group of Louisville powerbrokers, by Joe Gerth (Louisville Courier Journal)

The group that David A. Jones Sr. brought together is impressive.

There are nearly 70 community leaders — from entrepreneurs to ecclesiastics (and a rabbi thrown in for good measure) — who have joined to address the problems that have held Louisville back for decades.

Good idea. Talented cast.

But something doesn't feel right about this.

It's instructive that Insider Louisville broke this story, and the Courier Journal gives credit where due. Let's hope the News and Tribune is reading.

The group operated in complete secrecy until Insider Louisville wrote about it earlier this week and said that Jones wouldn't turn over a list of members. He relented and gave Courier Journal a list of names the following day.

Not to be outdone by his idol Greg Fischer, Deaf Gahan forms his own secret committee of power brokers.

Deep within the bowels of the Down Low Bunker, the mayor even has his own personalized conference room for maximum confidentiality, solitude and clandestineness.

It looks like the first gathering is about to be convened.

It's called SMEG-NA, or Serious Monetization End Game for New Albany. 

And don't forget to check your TASERs at the entrance to a very long access corridor.

Encroaching nausea as Insider Louisville tracks down Louisville's secretive power brokers, an "elite group of influencers."

---

Deaf Gahan is on Twitter.

Encroaching nausea as Insider Louisville tracks down Louisville's secretive power brokers, an "elite group of influencers."

SCALA, not La Scala.

Oh, look. How charming. The usual suspects, same old pillars and engorged oligarchs together again, in secret, to huff and puff and -- dear, could you fetch my pitchfork? Just in case One Southern Indiana's already played the copycat.

By invitation only: Meet Louisville’s power brokers, by Caitlin Bowling, Boris Ladwig and Joe Sonka (Insider Louisville)

Part 1: How an elite group of influencers aims to solve the city’s most vexing issues, including JCPS

At invitation-only meetings during the last seven months, prominent Louisville power brokers from businesses, nonprofits and religious organizations have discussed issues including public safety, air service and — with recent urgency — the state’s potential intervention in or takeover of Jefferson County Public Schools.

The group of about 70 members — modeled after a similar organization in Nashville — has been operating largely under the radar until recently when multiple sources alerted Insider Louisville to its existence. In interviews with dozens of people over several weeks, Insider has learned more about the members, agenda and structure of this influential group.

Its very existence sheds light on how a determined coalition of private citizens can hone in on key issues hoping to expedite outcomes beyond the sphere of government, elected boards or traditional business groups.

In interviews with Insider, founders and members of the group — called the Steering Committee for Action on Louisville’s Agenda (SCALA) — described it as an effective way for “thought leaders” to come together to tackle some of the city’s major problems.

However, SCALA critics who recently learned of the group have blasted it as a covert and “nefarious” attempt by wealthy elites to undermine public education and the democratically elected local school board. Even though public education is a top three priority for SCALA members, the group has not extended an invitation to any current JCPS or public higher education executives.

SCALA is a nonprofit entity that was registered with the state in July by Humana founder David Jones Sr., who is listed on its board of directors along with Chuck Denny, the regional president for PNC Bank in Kentucky and Tennessee, and Sandra Frazier, chief executive of Tandem Public Relations.

Before I go any further, forget the pitchfork: QUICK, GATHER YOUR BUCKETS, PAILS AND BASINS -- LEFTOVER AIR SICKNESS BAGS TOO -- BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT TO GET NASTY.

It seems that one of SCALA's stalwarts is found in Webster's word book under "unctuous son-of-a-bitch."

(Ed Glasscock, chairman emeritus of Frost Brown Todd) told Insider that other SCALA members include Alice Houston, CEO of Houston Johnson; Jim Lancaster, CEO of Lantech; and Koleman Karleski, chairman of Cork Communications and former managing partner of Chrysalis Ventures, which Jones Jr. co-founded. None of the three could be reached.

Glasscock said SCALA represented a carryover from groups of local influencers who had used their expertise to bring about positive change in the community, from the merger of local and county government to construction of the KFC Yum! Center and the Ohio River Bridges Project.

“This is a continuation of some of those coalitions,” he said. “It’s a very progressive group trying to do important things.”

Yep, I definitely remember Glasscock from the bridges project.

Ed Glasscock. Progressive? You know, progressive just like Idi Amin.

Come to think of it, an opera link might soothe the savage turn toward socialism and redistribution.

Opera’s awful role models and the #MeToo moment (Prospero, at The Economist)

A typical work has as much sex and violence as “Game of Thrones”, but a less plausible plot. Should we expose our children to such filth?

 ... “How can I love an artform that is so consistently, insistently cruel to its female characters?” asks Charlotte Higgins in the Guardian, wondering if opera is “the most misogynistic art form”. She has a point. In the age of #MeToo, some directors have decided to adapt old plots to make them more female-friendly.

Hmm. Didn't work. Back to the pitchfork solution, but kudos to IL for the fine article.