Hey Girl Have Fun podcast features Kelly and Beth from New Albany Social.

Relive Develop New Albany's abominable Taco Walk imperialism by listening to this. It's Kelly and Beth from New Albany Social, on a great podcast from the Hey Girl Have Fun website and Facebook page. The reminder about DNA's Taco Walk villainy comes early in the podcast, but there's much more than that.

HGHF is a podcast, community, or place for women who want to laugh, empower, educate, and HAVE FUN. Our goal is to create a sense of comical relief for the normal day to day grind. Come hang with us...let's be friends.

Giant logs of offal rule! Consequently, the Stuffed Camel Spleen Walk is to be Develop New Albany's latest ambulatory street food fundraiser.

Anyone have the lyrics of the Frito Bandito theme song in Arabic?

Stuffed Camel Spleen, by Rachel Rummel (Atlas Obscura)

Giant logs of offal become satisfying street sandwiches in the old city of Fes.

Among the chaos of the Fes medina’s winding pedestrian walkways, street vendors slice and sear sausage-like entities that appear kindred to massive haggises.

They’re preparing pieces of spleen, stuffed taut with ground meat, spices, olives, and preserved lemon. These bulging loaves—which easily run more than a foot in length—sit alongside the griddle, set in a huge metal tray out in the open air. The offal casing is a camel’s spleen, called tehal, and the filling can contain a medley of camel, cow, and lamb meat. (Vendors offer the same fillings stuffed in a cow’s spleen, as well.) Traditionally, cooks prebake the filled log into a deep, dark shade using one of Morocco’s many communal bread ovens, then fry it to order ...

In 2018, DNA's artlessly purloined Taco Tone Deaf Cultural Appropriation Walk moves forward to May 19, with the Frito Bandito returning as Grand Marshal.

Here it comes again -- and a couple months early.

My guess is that the Taco Walk's repositioning in May is intended to replace Team Gahan's moribund "Boomtown" franchise, serving as lead-in to the Bicentennial Park Summer Concert Series, presented by YOU KNOW WHO.

None of this is to suggest that Develop New Albany has publicly addressed either (a) the cultural appropriation it encouraged during last year's version, or (b) the way the organization has flat stolen the idea from the volunteer who brought it to DNA in the first place.

Most recently on January 11, I addressed these matters in my weekly ON THE AVENUES column, a portion of which is reprinted below.

And no: for the ?nth consecutive time, my questions were neither answered nor the inquiry even acknowledged, as if DNA has executive sanction to operate beyond the reach of transparency and common decency.

Which, of course, it does.

#FireGahan2019

---

Jeeebus, nightmares are awful. After all, I seldom drink vodka. Meanwhile, wide awake in Giddy Giddy City, I’ve decided to have one last stab at penetrating DNA’s veil of secrecy – or maybe it is better described as an embarrassment of kitsches?

Following is the e-mail that will be going out to the board, just as soon as I have a beer.

---

To: Develop New Albany’s board and staff person

Greetings,

You may recall my most recent e-mail, asking for Develop New Albany’s perspective on recurring issues pertaining to the Taco Walk.

Sadly, as with the three (four?) e-mails preceding it, I have not received any sort of reply. I wrote my articles without DNA’s input; not my preference, but gratifyingly, these two posts collected some of the highest page view numbers my humble blog experienced in 2017. It seems the community is very interested in Develop New Albany.

Here are the links with excerpts.

December 29: DNA's and the newspaper's masks ... or, thoughts occasioned by an excellent essay called "Meet the man who hides behind a mask"

 ... The volunteer concluded she wasn't happy with the way her idea was implemented -- cultural appropriation was among the reasons for her decision -- and so, working under the assumption the Main Street organization possesses a fundamental sense of decency, she told DNA she'd be taking it back for a future reboot.

Um, nope. Seems the anchor already had been dropped.

DNA wasted no time in sending her packing: Taco Walk belongs to DNA now, and the organization will do with it as it pleases -- and don't bother running to Big Daddy Gahan, because the fix is always in.

And this.

December 31: C'mon, DNA: The time has come. A fact's a fact. Taco Walk belongs to her. Why not give it back?

 ... There is a simple way to resolve the situation.

To begin the New Year on a high note, the truly decent thing for Develop New Albany and Mayor Jeff Gahan to do is to say they're sorry, both for the cultural appropriation and the intellectual property violation, and to give the Taco Walk back to whom it belongs, although I'm forever mindful of that old Biblical observation about a camel and the eye of the needle.

First this. Then we have the open, above board discussion about cultural appropriation. There is no reason why this cannot be resolved satisfactorily.

Basic human decency, guys. I know you can do it.

It's not about me or my pen.

It's about doing the right thing.

I’m planning a letter on this topic to the News and Tribune fairly soon (the absentee Fourth Estate is a whole other story), so please be aware that if there comes a time when DNA elects at long last to speak publicly about this matter – the Taco Walk’s inexcusable cultural appropriation, the subsequent expropriation of another person’s idea, or any sub-topic therein – I’ll happily publish DNA’s thoughts at the blog, standing alone, without any comment on my part.

In other words, please step forward, make the organization’s case and be a part of the dialogue. I wish it were possible to convey to you how much might be accomplished by doing the decent thing in this instance. You could lead by example, but you’re fleeing for the safety of the circled wagons where the mayor pitches his tent.

Can't you just talk about it openly?

Concurrently, several other requests remain outstanding, so kindly allow me to repeat them. Answers would be appreciated.

First, I’m still curious about the disposition of monthly morning merchant meetings. Are they still being held? If so, I’m no longer receiving e-mail notifications about them. To rule out a problem with my current address, allow me yet again to ask that it be changed to this: mayorbaylor(at)gmail(dot)com

Kindly note that I’m actively working as a beer consultant with more than one current and future business owner in downtown New Albany. If for some reason I’ve been banned or excluded from meetings, that’s fine, if misguided, but at least let me know the definitive situation so these business owners can submit their e-mail addresses and be kept within city hall’s “official” (see what I did there, David?) information loop.

Second, on several occasions I’ve asked that Develop New Albany reveal its annual funding level as tithed from the city of New Albany. During my stint on the DNA board a decade ago, it was in the range of $5,000 per annum. I understand DNA is a de facto arm of government these days, so surely the public has a right to know how much it’s costing them?

Thanks for your time. As always, I look forward to an actual reply.

ON THE AVENUES: Return to sender; decency is such a lonely word ... the sounds of silence reign o'er me.

ON THE AVENUES: Return to sender; decency is such a lonely word ... the sounds of silence reign o'er me.

A weekly column by Roger A. Baylor.

I had the craziest dream last night, yes I did.

The Reisz Furniture building had been completed, and amid the governmental extravaganza of a city hall relocation upgrade, there was a new German-style beer hall located on the ground floor.

City Hall was upstairs, accessible by rope ladders, baskets and pulleys, like the Meteora monasteries in Greece. Helicopters kept landing and departing from the roof.

Was I still in Saigon? The bartender in the Hawaiian shirt asked me what I was having.

“A martini,” I answered, “but only if you have Lillet instead of vermouth.”

“That’s completely absurd,” he replied. “You can have any brand of gin you like, but never Lillet in place of vermouth.”

Let me tell you, I was peeved. Whatever happened to the customer always being right?

However, before we could get into an argument, I heard two men talking just outside the open garage door. The furnace inside was blasting, so I took my vodka & tonic with me (it was served in a half-gallon mason jar) and sat on the couch in the warm open air.

The ensuing conversation was very strange, indeed.

---

“Excuse me, aren’t you a city councilman?”

“That depends on who’s asking. Are you friend or foe?”

“I’m a taxpayer and live in the 3rd district.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll make an exception for you, but let’s not make it a habit. Do you have a question?”

“Yes, I do. As a council representative, what’s your stance on public housing and Mayor Gahan’s hostile takeover?”

“Wait just one minute. You said you were a friend – now all of a sudden you’re changing it. Do I need to call the police? Hopefully they’re not all down at Bono Road with the re-educators.”

“Actually, I’m very serious. I can’t find any record of you stating a point of view for public consumption.”

“Precisely, because city council has no say in such decisions -- it's the mayor's decision. Yay!"

“That’s strange. My 3rd district councilman said exactly those same words when I asked him. Are you a Disneycrat, too?”

“Heaven knows – I mean, heavens, no. I’m a Republican.”

“Which district do you represent?”

“I’m an at-large council member.”

“What does ‘at-large’ mean?”

“It means that instead of representing the people in one district, I’m supposed to be responsible for representing the whole city.”

“Except public housing residents?”

“Yes. I mean, no. I’ve already told you. The mayor represents them, not the council – and Ben Carson. That’s it; the mayor and Ben Carson.”

“Where does it say that?”

“Well, um … nowhere. Say, wouldn’t you like to talk about historic preservation? If only those NAHA buildings were listed structures, then we could make some keen swaps.”

“No. I’d like to talk about who in the legislative branch is representing public housing residents since the council men – there aren’t any women on the council, right? – in the numbered council districts all say it’s none of their business, even when there are public housing units in their districts.”

“It's either Kismet, or they're Democrats. But how about that Romeo Langford; what a great kid. And that Farmers Market – just kicking butt.”

“Maybe, but your council colleague Dan Coffey is fond of telling people that public housing residents aren’t even deserving of representation, so he doesn’t bother with them, and you know this for a fact. You also know that as an at-large council member, you’re supposed to be representing them, and yet you still can’t talk about the public housing takeover? Do they or don’t they deserve representation?”

“I think you’ve pole-vaulted into foe territory, young man. Hey, bartender: can you hail a basket for me? I think there's an office for me up there somewhere.”

“But weren’t you supportive of Haven House and the Homeless Coalition when they came before council asking for funding? If these people are homeless, they’re non-constituents by definition, right? To be consistent with hands-off, you’d have had to abstain, citing a principled objection that they don’t exist as constituents, and if they do, the mayor’s in charge of them?”

“I’m sorry, but Blair does resolutions, and I have a Tree Bored meeting to attend. Maybe after we’ve harvested a few thousand more board feet and restored a few more old buildings, we’ll have time for affordable housing – but I’m a Republican; we can’t get too pie in the sky or it might disrupt the natural order of historic preservation tax credits -- and then what? Bye!”

“Wait – don’t run away! I want to ask you a few questions about the Redevelopment Commission … and aren’t you on Develop New Albany’s board, too? … ”

---

Jeeebus, nightmares are awful. After all, I seldom drink vodka. Meanwhile, wide awake in Giddy Giddy City, I’ve decided to have one last stab at penetrating DNA’s veil of secrecy – or maybe it is better described as an embarrassment of kitsches?

Following is the e-mail that will be going out to the board, just as soon as I have a beer.

---

To: Develop New Albany’s board and staff person

Greetings,

You may recall my most recent e-mail, asking for Develop New Albany’s perspective on recurring issues pertaining to the Taco Walk.

Sadly, as with the three (four?) e-mails preceding it, I have not received any sort of reply. I wrote my articles without DNA’s input; not my preference, but gratifyingly, these two posts collected some of the highest page view numbers my humble blog experienced in 2017. It seems the community is very interested in Develop New Albany.

Here are the links with excerpts.

December 29: DNA's and the newspaper's masks ... or, thoughts occasioned by an excellent essay called "Meet the man who hides behind a mask"

 ... The volunteer concluded she wasn't happy with the way her idea was implemented -- cultural appropriation was among the reasons for her decision -- and so, working under the assumption the Main Street organization possesses a fundamental sense of decency, she told DNA she'd be taking it back for a future reboot.

Um, nope. Seems the anchor already had been dropped.

DNA wasted no time in sending her packing: Taco Walk belongs to DNA now, and the organization will do with it as it pleases -- and don't bother running to Big Daddy Gahan, because the fix is always in.

And this.

December 31: C'mon, DNA: The time has come. A fact's a fact. Taco Walk belongs to her. Why not give it back?

 ... There is a simple way to resolve the situation.

To begin the New Year on a high note, the truly decent thing for Develop New Albany and Mayor Jeff Gahan to do is to say they're sorry, both for the cultural appropriation and the intellectual property violation, and to give the Taco Walk back to whom it belongs, although I'm forever mindful of that old Biblical observation about a camel and the eye of the needle.

First this. Then we have the open, above board discussion about cultural appropriation. There is no reason why this cannot be resolved satisfactorily.

Basic human decency, guys. I know you can do it.

It's not about me or my pen.

It's about doing the right thing.

I’m planning a letter on this topic to the News and Tribune fairly soon (the absentee Fourth Estate is a whole other story), so please be aware that if there comes a time when DNA elects at long last to speak publicly about this matter – the Taco Walk’s inexcusable cultural appropriation, the subsequent expropriation of another person’s idea, or any sub-topic therein – I’ll happily publish DNA’s thoughts at the blog, standing alone, without any comment on my part.

In other words, please step forward, make the organization’s case and be a part of the dialogue. I wish it were possible to convey to you how much might be accomplished by doing the decent thing in this instance. You could lead by example, but you’re fleeing for the safety of the circled wagons where the mayor pitches his tent.

Can't you just talk about it openly?

Concurrently, several other requests remain outstanding, so kindly allow me to repeat them. Answers would be appreciated.

First, I’m still curious about the disposition of monthly morning merchant meetings. Are they still being held? If so, I’m no longer receiving e-mail notifications about them. To rule out a problem with my current address, allow me yet again to ask that it be changed to this: mayorbaylor(at)gmail(dot)com

Kindly note that I’m actively working as a beer consultant with more than one current and future business owner in downtown New Albany. If for some reason I’ve been banned or excluded from meetings, that’s fine, if misguided, but at least let me know the definitive situation so these business owners can submit their e-mail addresses and be kept within city hall’s “official” (see what I did there, David?) information loop.

Second, on several occasions I’ve asked that Develop New Albany reveal its annual funding level as tithed from the city of New Albany. During my stint on the DNA board a decade ago, it was in the range of $5,000 per annum. I understand DNA is a de facto arm of government these days, so surely the public has a right to know how much it’s costing them?

Thanks for your time. As always, I look forward to an actual reply.

---

I know, I know.

There won’t be a reply.

Councilmen will refuse involvement with the NAHA putsch, and Bob Caesar won’t ever come clean about the Bicentennial books. Any information request I make of City Hall will be routed through the corporate counsel, who’ll treat it like a used condom.

In return for demanding accountability and transparency, we’ll be labeled “creeps” and “stalkers” (pay attention, David; you'll be tested) by the First Family.

The wetting of beaks, the tastefully bulging envelopes and the nepotism -- they'll continue, and through it all, Adam’s handpicked Democrats will beam with pride at their hometown hero. We're outmanned, outgunned and down by twenty at the half. It looks almost as grim as when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor.

I think we have him right where we want him.

Just keep pushing. I swear to you, this worm's about to turn.

---

Recent columns:

January 4: ON THE AVENUES: Opposition? It is defined as resistance or dissent, expressed in action or argument, and in New Gahania, now's the time for it.

December 28: ON THE AVENUES: It's the beginning of the end of insipid Gahanism, so let's look back at the Top Ten columns of 2017.

December 21: ON THE AVENUES: Truth, lies, music, and a trick of the Christmas tale (2017 Remix).

December 14: ON THE AVENUES: My Franz Ferdinand heritage trail, 30 years ago in Sarajevo.

C'mon, DNA: The time has come. A fact's a fact. Taco Walk belongs to her. Why not give it back?

Going into 2018, Develop New Albany has two huge unresolved issues to address pertaining to the Taco Walk last August.

One of these is DNA's encouragement of cultural appropriation during the event, which refers to sombreros, maracas and the Frito Bandito -- or, Mexican, Latina/o, Chicana/o, "Hispanic," Mexican-American, and Latin American stereotyping.

Tacky acts of cultural appropriation simply were not necessary for the success of the Taco Walk, which was intended to be a celebration of the restaurant community and a showcase for downtown. Needless to say, since August, people around the country have lost their jobs for less. I'm not suggesting a purge, but open public dialogue is needed most of all.

The second issue is DNA's blatant expropriation of intellectual property afterward. Simply stated, the idea for the Taco Walk was brought to DNA by Kelly Ott Winslow, a community-minded volunteer outside the organization, and now, in essence, the idea has been stolen from her -- and this is intolerable.

Why do I keep pounding this drum?

If only in part, because DNA is the recipient of taxpayer dollars. They're given to DNA each year by Jeff Gahan, and so he (along with mayors before him) shares responsibility in ensuring the money is spent responsibly. In the case of Taco Walk in 2017, it wasn't.

That's a problem.

Good, bad or indifferent, DNA's non-profit status does not exclude the organization from answering legitimate questions like these. Time and again, we see that stonewalling behind closed doors is New Albany's major problem, not its desired solution.

There is a simple way to resolve the situation.

To begin the New Year on a high note, the truly decent thing for Develop New Albany and Mayor Jeff Gahan to do is to say they're sorry, both for the cultural appropriation and the intellectual property violation, and to give the Taco Walk back to whom it belongs, although I'm forever mindful of that old Biblical observation about a camel and the eye of the needle.

First this. Then we have the open, above board discussion about cultural appropriation. There is no reason why this cannot be resolved satisfactorily.

Basic human decency, guys. I know you can do it.

It's not about me or my pen.

It's about doing the right thing.

---

Recently:

DNA's and the newspaper's masks ... or, thoughts occasioned by an excellent essay called "Meet the man who hides behind a mask."

GREEN MOUSE SAYS: We keep trying to ask DNA about the Taco Walk, and DNA keeps making like Jeff Gahan on the down low.

---

2017 TACO WALK LINKS

Aug 19

Who'd have guessed? William Anthony Nericcio's "aggressive, relentless, and, at times, pathological interrogation of Mexican, Latina/o, Chicana/o, "Hispanic," Mexican-American, and Latin American stereotypes."

Aug 15

Taco Walk teaching tools: Time for DNA to stand up, step forward and begin learning AND teaching about cultural appropriation.

Aug 15

Commentary: Cultural Appropriation Is, In Fact, Indefensible

Aug 13

James "U of L" Ramsey, sombreros, stereotypes and DNA's institutional legacy of tone deafness.

Aug 13

A message from Mayor Gahan.

Aug 12

Whether DNA gets a penny, $5,000 or $100,000 from City Hall, it is obliged to be transparent about its activities and expenditures.

Aug 11

Let's all eat at Israel's Delicias de Mexico Gourmet on Saturday, August 12.

Aug 6

Meat Loaf Is the Answer, Part 1: Local food culture presupposes local culture. Popeyes, anyone?

Aug 6

Meat Loaf Is the Answer, Part 2: Let's come together over meat loaf.

Aug 6

Meat Loaf Is the Answer, Part 3: A brief postscript to yesterday's Taco, Broccoli and Lutefisk Walk reference.

Aug 5

Develop New Albany's Broccoli Walk is August 12. What? Oops, sorry -- it's a Taco Walk.

DNA's and the newspaper's masks ... or, thoughts occasioned by an excellent essay called "Meet the man who hides behind a mask."

Before linking to a very good column written by assistant editor Jason Thomas of the News and Tribune, kindly permit me a necessary digression.

---

Earlier this year I exchanged e-mails with N and T's editor, Susan Duncan, on the topic of Develop New Albany's Taco Walk, during which several of the organization's higher-ups decided it would be hilarious to wear sombreros, shake maracas and sing the Frito Bandito's corn chip theme song.

Needless to say, not everyone found it so funny. For more on why it isn't, revisit this posting about William Anthony Nericcio's "aggressive, relentless, and, at times, pathological interrogation of Mexican, Latina/o, Chicana/o, "Hispanic," Mexican-American, and Latin American stereotypes."

Actually I wrote to the newspaper in part because DNA consistently refused (and continues to refuse) to so much as acknowledge receiving my e-mails inquiring about the circumstances of the Taco Walk.

Here is the text of my letter to Duncan.

---

Dear Susan,

Last Saturday, Develop New Albany sponsored a Taco Walk. Member(s) of DNA’s board thought it would be cute to bring sombreros, mariachis and other stereotypical symbols of Latino culture of the sort that led to a major scandal at the University of Louisville during James Ramsey’s tenure.

I’ve personally spoken with an employee of a downtown eatery – a first-generation American with Mexican roots – who said she mustered every last bit of discipline to avoid crying when DNA’s own board members came into her establishment brandishing these items, and singing the theme to the old Frito’s commercials (ay, ay, ay ay).

This surely ranks on a par with blackface in the lexicon of appropriation and inappropriateness, and yet not only did the News and Tribune completely fail to notice, but it also published at least one photo documenting the tastelessness that utterly evaded editorial scrutiny (see attachments).

Naturally my efforts to engage DNA have been met with silence.

In vain, I’ve asked the question to them: If it was wrong for James Ramsey, why is it right for you?

As with U of L, DNA is the recipient of taxpayer support. As it pertains to individual participants, if someone wants to indulge in this manner it’s his or her free speech; tone deaf but permissible. But taxpayer-supported organizations simply must aspire to a higher bar. 

To me, DNA’s response is simple: “We’re sorry it happened, here’s why it’s inappropriate, and it won’t happen again.”

It’s a teachable moment, and for once would place DNA in the position of educating about its own National Main Street mandate. Instead, DNA has circled the wagons. It’s a virtual arm of city government, and as the newspaper seems determined to avoid addressing, NA’s current city government is not a transparent entity.

Since the Charlottesville incident, the pages of your newspaper have been filled with earnest denunciations of bigotry and white supremacy. This is fitting and proper. Does a sombrero during a Taco Walk equate with the lessons of Charlottesville? Perhaps not in scale, but certainly it’s a branch of the same tree – and in your eagerness to capture the forest, you’re missing this particular tree.

Thanks,

Roger

---

To Duncan's credit, she quickly replied, although handily avoiding the non-vetting of her newspaper's questionable photograph (above).

Thanks for keeping us updated. We are likely to run an editorial about this, if nothing else as a reminder to be more culturally aware. Event organizers missed an opportunity to promoted Mexican heritage and cuisine, instead tapping into stereotypes. Insensitive, yes, but I doubt it was done maliciously, likely without thought.

Then a month passed. DNA continued to stonewall, and so I asked Duncan what had happened.

I did follow through with broaching this in a meeting of the editorial board. The consensus opinion was that a better result would occur if we challenged DNA before next year’s event to use it as an opportunity to promote cultural awareness. The thinking was that too much time had passed since the taco walk, that running an editorial now would have seemed out of place and resulted in less chance for real change.

As an interesting side note to all this frantic circling of wagons, both here and in Jeffersonville, it helps to know that a member of the community first conceived of the Taco Walk idea and brought it to DNA with the best of intentions, imagining that by doing so, the community would benefit.

While DNA has alluded to the event being a windfall success financially (DNA will not release exact numbers), the volunteer concluded she wasn't happy with the way her idea was implemented -- cultural appropriation was among the reasons for her decision -- and so, working under the assumption the Main Street organization possesses a fundamental sense of decency, she told DNA she'd be taking it back for a future reboot.

Um, nope. Seems the anchor already had been dropped.

DNA wasted no time in sending her packing: Taco Walk belongs to DNA now, and the organization will do with it as it pleases -- and don't bother running to Big Daddy Gahan, because the fix is always in.

It was horrendous treatment of a person who was just trying to be helpful, so let's hope the N and T follows through in 2018 and holds DNA's feet to the fire as it prepares to profit once more from the idea it purloined.

You might even say lots of community pillars in New Albany are wearing masks, if not Frito-encrusted sombreros, which brings me to Thomas's recent essay.

---

As aspiring writers, we're constantly advised to write about what we know, and so it might make perfect sense to write about oneself; surely we know ourselves better than anyone else, right?

Alas, not so much. Autobiographical honesty is fiendishly difficult to achieve, and that's why full credit goes to Thomas for trying. This piece is very good, and I'm glad he wrote it.

Maybe the other members of the editorial board read it, too.

A boy can dream.

Meet the man who hides behind a mask, by Jason Thomas

Who am I?

I am white. I am male. I am a father. I am a fiance.

Other than that, I'm not sure.

Who are you?

I wear a mask. It cloaks me in confidence, in extroversion, in a self-prescribed aura of coolness.

The mask is ugly.

Behind it is a man of broken faith, a man unsure of his footing, a man who says he would die for his son and his son's mother. Would he?

A man — a person — like many of you.

I watched a movie on Christmas night that made me think. Really think.

It was called "Get Out." It has received considerable attention, in part, for its exploration of white people's exploitation of black culture. And for many other underlying themes that made me, a white male of privilege, squirm in my flannel-pajama-wearing cocoon of comfort ...

GREEN MOUSE SAYS: We keep trying to ask DNA about the Taco Walk, and DNA keeps making like Jeff Gahan on the down low.

Indulge me for a moment.

The Green Mouse asks many questions, and regular readers know that not all these questions are answered.

For more than two years, Bob Caesar and the city of New Albany have combined to stonewall every effort we've made to explore Bicentennial Commission finances.

The history of our public records requests from City Hall is one of futility; the legal department merely giggles amid blatant subterfuge, partial answers and related diversions.

Adam Dickey's disney-fried Democratic Party has blocked us from social media communications channels. All the while the Southern Indiana-based chain newspaper looks the other way, and the one in Louisville seldom looks this direction at all.

Tomorrow morning, I'll be visiting the weekly Board of Public Works and Safety meeting in an effort to learn more about this: UPDATE: BOW suggests it wasn't informed about councilman Dan Coffey's Harvest Homecoming parking profits at 32 Bank Street.

Will anything come of it? Probably not, but the topic will be forever recorded in meeting minutes. That's reason enough for making the effort. There may be nothing we can do about the Gahan regime's default non-transparency short of the ballot box in 2019, and yet I'm leaving plenty of post-it notes along the way.

Now to the point at hand.

In the weeks following Develop New Albany's first-ever Taco Walk in August (see links below), I made several efforts to contact DNA. This one was sent in late August.

Below I’ve pasted the text from two separate e-mails to Develop New Albany’s web site contact address (info@developna.org), from August 15 and August 18, one direct and the other a CC. Since I’ve heard nothing back, and I’m sure DNA’s staff person wouldn’t ignore them, I’m assuming they were swallowed by a spam filter, hence my decision to direct this note to all board members (as listed on the web site).

To date, I haven't received a reply to any of these three separate queries. However, I think the message was received, because at some point in late September or early October, the e-mail addresses of DNA board members were scrubbed from the web site.

How very Gahanesque, hence this public notice of intent.

The Green Mouse has learned that within the last two weeks, there was a board meeting at which DNA's higher-ups confirmed the organization's "ownership" of the Taco Walk -- something I'm actually pleased to learn, because by doing so DNA concedes to responsibility for the good as well as the bad.

Irrespective of how the idea for Taco Walk first came to the organization (hint: from a outsider who didn't know what she was getting into), and with no further references to those outrageous instances of sombrero-laden cultural appropriation reported afterward in this space, the event now "belongs" to DNA.

Consequently, I intend to write about Taco Walk, and I've decided to extend yet another opportunity for DNA to be part of the conversation. The following was e-mailed this morning.

Good morning,

I trust you recall previous e-mails on the topic of the Taco Walk. I’m preparing a column on the topic of the legacy of this event; specifically, I’m interested in the source of the idea for the Taco Walk, which I believe is Kelly Winslow, and the outcome of the recent Develop New Albany board meeting at which she was informed that her idea no longer belonged to her, but in fact had been appropriated by DNA.

I’d also like to request a discussion about the as-yet unaddressed cultural appropriation outcome from Taco Walk, i.e., the sombreros, maracas, Frito Bandito songs and other aspects of stereotyping that plainly should not have been allowed in a multi-cultural setting.

Note that I have not spoken with Kelly about any of this. At the time of the Taco Walk’s aftermath, she told me there was nothing to say pending a debriefing with DNA; now that there apparently has been such a follow-up, she’s not interested in pursuing it any further.

However, there is no shortage of other people who are prepared to speak with me, and from their testimony I can adequately reconstruct the narrative.

A reminder that just after the event (links below), I sent at least two questions to the DNA contact address. These were neither acknowledged nor answered. Please be aware that for so long as DNA receives a single dollar of monetary support from the city (by the way, how much is the annual level these days?), the organization is obliged to treat with taxpayers, of whom I’m one. I’m also a former DNA board member (circa 2007-2010).

I’ll publish with or without DNA’s participation. I’d appreciate being able to hear the organization’s side. Please let me know when we can chat.

The note was sent to the DNA contact address; the organization's president Teresa Baxter; and city council liaison David Barksdale.

It's ridiculous that I'm compelled to courtesy-copy the universe after being ignored on three previous occasions. Unfortunately, this is the recurring pattern of the current cadre of movers and shakers, who prefer the camouflage of the down low to cleansing rays of sunshine.

Granted, there may not be anything I can do about it, but this shouldn't be taken to imply that I'll stop trying any time soon.   

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TACO WALK LINKS

Aug 19

Who'd have guessed? William Anthony Nericcio's "aggressive, relentless, and, at times, pathological interrogation of Mexican, Latina/o, Chicana/o, "Hispanic," Mexican-American, and Latin American stereotypes."

Aug 15

Taco Walk teaching tools: Time for DNA to stand up, step forward and begin learning AND teaching about cultural appropriation.

Aug 15

Commentary: Cultural Appropriation Is, In Fact, Indefensible

Aug 13

James "U of L" Ramsey, sombreros, stereotypes and DNA's institutional legacy of tone deafness.

Aug 13

A message from Mayor Gahan.

Aug 12

Whether DNA gets a penny, $5,000 or $100,000 from City Hall, it is obliged to be transparent about its activities and expenditures.

Aug 11

Let's all eat at Israel's Delicias de Mexico Gourmet on Saturday, August 12.

Aug 6

Meat Loaf Is the Answer, Part 1: Local food culture presupposes local culture. Popeyes, anyone?

Aug 6

Meat Loaf Is the Answer, Part 2: Let's come together over meat loaf.

Aug 6

Meat Loaf Is the Answer, Part 3: A brief postscript to yesterday's Taco, Broccoli and Lutefisk Walk reference.

Aug 5

Develop New Albany's Broccoli Walk is August 12. What? Oops, sorry -- it's a Taco Walk.

Taco Walk teaching tools: Time for DNA to stand up, step forward and begin learning AND teaching about cultural appropriation.

Ramsey sombrero photo sparks outcry, apology (C-J; 10-29-15)

Thanks to Jeff Gillenwater for inserting this link (below) into the discussion about Develop New Albany, its recent Taco Walk and the inappropriateness of sombreros, maracas and Frito Bandito theme songs amid what should be a foodie event, absent the condescending overtones.

It's up to Develop New Albany to own Saturday's errors in judgment and to make them right. These miscues are a teaching tool, but DNA must understand the ramifications and sincerely wish to use the opportunity.

If DNA actually is what it says (and thinks) it is, then it will have an earnest internal discussion and emerge with the right words and the appropriate actions. But if the wagons are circled and DNA's board refuses to discuss this publicly, then its Taco Walk becomes the Main Street organization's Thanksgiving promotion moment on WKRP in Cincinnati.

Paraphrasing Arthur Carlson: "As God is my witness, I think sombreros look cute on smoking hot Latino gardeners."

Sorry, DNA, but that's not enough. You're chartered to know better. Getting public money? Then you have absolutely no choice except to improve, and to fix this. You can do it. Step one is admitting there's a problem.

The Taco Walk doesn't need cheap stereotypes to succeed -- and no, I'm not the only one who feels this way. Open your eyes, DNA.

Commentary: Cultural Appropriation Is, In Fact, Indefensible, by K. Tempest Bradford (NPR)

 ... Cultural appropriation can feel hard to get a handle on, because boiling it down to a two-sentence dictionary definition does no one any favors. Writer Maisha Z. Johnson offers an excellent starting point by describing it not only as the act of an individual, but an individual working within a "power dynamic in which members of a dominant culture take elements from a culture of people who have been systematically oppressed by that dominant group."

That's why appropriation and exchange are two different things, Johnson says — there's no power imbalance involved in an exchange. And when artists appropriate, they can profit from what they take, while the oppressed group gets nothing.

A message from Mayor Gahan.

James "U of L" Ramsey, sombreros, stereotypes and DNA's institutional legacy of tone deafness.

James "U of L" Ramsey, sombreros, stereotypes and DNA's institutional legacy of tone deafness.

Now with an update.

Speaking of "portraying inappropriate and untrue stereotypes," you might remember this story from late October, 2015.

Then again, if you're on the board of Develop New Albany ... probably not.

Ramsey sombrero photo sparks outcry, apology

 ... Olivia Krauth, the editor of the student newspaper The Louisville Cardinal, wrote Thursday that "if a fraternity threw a party with a Mexican theme and pictures of them in these outfits got out, they would be in huge trouble just like countless other Greek organizations across the country in the past few years. ... As the president of a university, I would expect more."

In 2012, for example, a Penn State sorority apologized for "portraying inappropriate and untrue stereotypes" following a Mexican-themed party that included similar garb.

Karman said he wasn't certain what university policy would be in such instances, adding that it would likely be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

As social media criticism grew, university officials released an apology Thursday evening, addressing it to "Hispanic/Latino Faculty, Staff and Students."

Evidently as we develop New Albany, we needn't worry about such matters. Looking forward to DNA's explanation? It might not be a good idea to hold your breath.

By the way, last evening's walk to Israel's Delicias de Mexico Gourmet and the meal that followed both were superb ... and we were able to wear normal clothing, too, sans headgear.

(thanks Clint)

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Update: Evening follow-up post ... A message from Mayor Gahan.

Whether DNA gets a penny, $5,000 or $100,000 from City Hall, it is obliged to be transparent about its activities and expenditures.

As the usual suspects circle the customary wagons, let's be perfectly clear.

NAC isn't lobbing Molotov cocktails at Develop New Albany just for the sport of it. Rather, I believe there are topics worthy of airing, consideration and discussion, and the fact that so few others seem interested in them only makes me more determined to ask.

Just imagine a world where all the facts were readily available, without having to fight the gatekeepers for every scrap of information. At any rate, let's go all the way back to the beginning.

It doesn't matter whether DNA gets a penny, $5,000 or $100,000 from City Hall. The fact that DNA receives funding from City Hall obliges it to be transparent about its activities and expenditures, and to answer questions about these matters from taxpayers -- even when they don't belong to the organization.

Furthermore, whether DNA gets a penny, $5,000 or $100,000 from City Hall, the organization will forever be walking a thin line as it pertains to politics, and far from constituting an exemption from scrutiny, this places an even greater burden on DNA in terms of openness.

As defined by political scientist Harold Laswell, "Politics is who gets what, when, how." The plain fact is that Jeff Gahan (or any mayor) routinely makes political decisions, and although DNA just as routinely claims to refrain from politics by virtue of its non-profit status, these claims are hypocritical and spurious far more often than not.

This is why DNA's institutional culture must be driven by its unique program of work, as defined by National Main Street's Four Points. Only in this manner can DNA produce results that justify its existence, and help to insulate it from political interference.

Of course, DNA's principals must desire operational autonomy, as opposed to courting political interference. Consequently, it isn't without reason that today's Taco Walk bears a hard look, particularly given DNA's recent fondness for touting its own "signature events." This is because National Main Street has issues with this event-centered approach.

National Main Street hopes to correct certain errant conditions.

Many Main Street programs tend to focus too much time and effort on the components of the Main Street Approach where they may feel most comfortable, and where they can have the most visible impact in a short period of time – most often, Design and Promotion. As a result, many programs report that they struggle to be recognized as serious revitalization organizations and reach key revitalization benchmarks.

In short, event-planning has become the focus of many such organizations, and this can cause them to lose focus on the bigger picture. National Main Street is on it.

As has been the case in the past, Main Streets will be encouraged to engage a wide range of local stakeholders in developing a vision of success for their downtown or neighborhood commercial districts. Main Streets will then be urged to develop cross-cutting Community Transformation Strategies that are connected to meaningful, longterm change. Progress will be measured in a variety of ways, including through economic metrics and qualitative assessment.

I cannot emphasize the importance of downtown independent business owners taking a few minutes to read these two National Main Street documents, and to consider how useful they'd be if applied to New Albany.

1 The Main Street Approach

2 The Four Point Refresh: A Primer

It should be clear that DNA's choice of signature events is itself political -- who gets what, when, and how. Who plays, and who doesn't.

Let's all eat at Israel's Delicias de Mexico Gourmet on Saturday, August 12.

Moreover, such prioritization must be viewed in the context of opportunity costs. Devoting resources to one activity probably means depriving them from another. How is this or that decision made? If City Hall provides funding to DNA, then the organization needs to do a far better job communicating the decision-making process as to who gets what, when, and how.

A few years ago, when DNA actively and publicly lobbied for farmers market expenditures to expand and make permanent the market's current home, while simultaneously denying that doing so was in any way "political," the organization wasn't just being disingenuous to the point of hypocrisy.

It also was seeking to make impossible an in-depth community dialogue about whether the current location is appropriate for anchoring (pun intended) a sporadically used farmers market when the future infill redevelopment potential of the corner of Bank and Market is so considerable.

By working to forestall a credible discussion of other options, DNA was being as political as the term can possibly be, and an opportunity has been lost. Because of this and so many other examples, the very last comment we should be hearing from anyone affiliated with DNA is that it can't or won't answer questions like these two:

What's the current level of annual City Hall support for DNA?

Of the monies collected for the Taco Walk (for example: 400 buyers at $30 per ticket is a gross of $12,000), what's the percentage to be kept by DNA?

These are perfectly legitimate questions, aren't they?

My last survey of these issues came was last August. I'm guessing these links are still topical.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016
ON THE AVENUES: There has never been a better time for an Independent Business Alliance in New Albany.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016
ON THE AVENUES: DNA, National Main Street, the Four Points, and how it might yet be possible to get this thing right for once.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016
From 2011 and 2015: Regaining consciousness in a city “coming” to? Or, the infamous Come to City marketing fiasco of 2011.

Let's all eat at Israel's Delicias de Mexico Gourmet on Saturday, August 12.

Photo credit: Louisville Magazine.

If you're one of the 400 or so ticket-holders for Saturday's inaugural Taco Walk, a "signature event" for Develop New Albany, by all means enjoy yourself. Seriously. Go out there and have a good time, and whenever you see a DNA board member, ask him or her where all the money's going.

If you're not planning on Taco Walking and still need to eat at some point on Saturday, allow me to suggest that while it isn't located in the epicenter of downtown New Albany, Israel's Delicias de Mexico Gourmet (1515 E. Market Street) would be a great place to have a meal.

Anytime, but especially on Saturday.

As it was explained to me, the Taco Walk organizers deemed Chef Israel Landin's eatery to be too far away from the historic core to merit inclusion on the walk. When I asked one of them why Israel wasn't participating, I was told something to the effect of "well, because it's a walk."

Okay, fine. I've walked (and biked) miles for a great beer, but given the event's geographical rationale, that's probably irrefutable.

At the same time, it seems a shame, and perhaps even an embarrassment, to stage a Taco Walk and not include the gifted chef who, in point of actual fact, taught damn near all of us in New Albany just how wonderful Mexican food could really be.

Hence my unsolicited sales pitch on behalf of Chef Israel. If you're on the Taco Walk, wonderful. If not, consider showing Israel some love tomorrow. If DNA can't "send" you there, then NAC will.  

The Confidentials will be putting their money where my mouth is, circa 6:00 p.m.

Please consider doing the same.

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Meat Loaf Is the Answer, Part 1: Local food culture presupposes local culture. Popeyes, anyone?

Meat Loaf Is the Answer, Part 2: Let's come together over meat loaf.

Meat Loaf Is the Answer, Part 3: A brief postscript to yesterday's Taco, Broccoli and Lutefisk Walk reference.