Regional Cities Initiative 2: "Clark County balks at statewide development initiative."

Iamhoosier gets straight the core of the gist in the matter.

Clark County understands. Votes 7-0 against RDA. Perhaps they remember what happened when a non elected board was put in charge of the bridge$ project. Big guys profit and the rest of us suffer.

This post has a first part.

Clark County balks at statewide development initiative, by Elizabeth DePompei (News and Tribune)

CLARK COUNTY — An attempt to get Clark County on board with a statewide initiative that could spur economic development in Southern Indiana was knocked down this week when officials voted to deny a resolution seeking preliminary support ...

 ... “I was surprised that the council would not agree to come to the table to talk about an application so that at least a portion of that $84 million would go to projects in our area,” (1Si CEO Wnedy Dant) Chesser said ...

 ... “When you give up your control of development and growth and you take it away from the people and put it in the hands of people who may not even live in this area, you’re pandering to some special interests somewhere,” Clark County Councilwoman Kelly Khuri said. “We need to make the decisions — the commissioners and the council and the mayors.”

Five days later, Gahan murmurs softly about RFRA -- but he must be asked his opinion first.

Here it is, as posted on the city's propaganda feed at around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, to the acclaim of everyone who already holds a Democratic Party sinecure -- or wants one.

Mayor Jeff Gahan had these remarks when asked about the RFRA and what it means for the City of New Albany:

"Southern Indiana values are not reflected in the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and it needs to be changed. Elected officials have a duty to create an environment that welcomes everyone and discriminates against no one. The current RFRA law does neither of these."

That's right. He had to be asked. Perhaps no one knew the security code to City Hall's down-low bunker.

No, it's not to be confused with MLK's dream, but actually it's slightly better than Wendy Dant Chesser's classic bureaucratic waffling on behalf of One Southern Indiana (bold emphasis ours):

One Southern Indiana President Responds to Religious Freedom Restoration Act

 ... No business asked 1si to take a position on S.B. 101 before it passed. However, now that it has passed, 1si is listening to the concerns of its members and investors and will watch with great interest what effect the law actually has. Most importantly, though, 1si will let businesses interested in moving to or growing in Southern Indiana know that ours is a welcoming and business-friendly community committed to meeting their workforce needs.

The 1si advocacy guidelines are clear. The role of 1si in promoting a fiscally-stable, business-friendly environment transcends local, regional, state and national issues. In January of 2015, the board of directors of 1si approved the 2015 Advocacy Agenda, which includes positions on career-ready workforce and educational initiatives; infrastructure and transportation, business-friendly tax and fiscal initiatives; regional initiatives; and engagement with policy makers. 

The RFRA issue is not germane to any of these categories, and so the organization did not take a position on the bill.

She's playing the part of that chief custodian I told you about: "It's not my area."

Except it is, for all of us.

ReSexted: One Southern Indiana to advocate for fascist shit whether we agree with the oligarchs or not.

1Si stayed on the sidelines for this one, didn't it? So much for being a "champion of ideas."

If I'm not mistaken, the recently reformatted newspaper web site has rendered null and void every link referenced in this space for the past five or so years. Thanks a lot. I hope your revenues go the way of Doug England's electoral prospects.

In other news, One Southern Indiana has utilized the helpful forum of a church to vow that it will push for whatever the national Chamber of Commerce demands, whether it's good for ordinary people or not, because that's what Trickle Down is all about.

We simply wait for our "bizness of Murica is bizness" betters to explain to us how we might remain passive 99 percenters, and roll over on cue.

In other words, the person who eventually replaced the guy who merrily waved his appendage now merrily waves the organization's credentials as Kerry Stemler's official "Yes Person," and no one has very much say in the matter apart from the small-pond oligarchs who pay the new chieftain's salary and issue marching orders.

Quite frankly, I'd rather see that other guy's appendage, because at least there's a modicum of honesty in just plain flashing for sex.

Note the patronizing manner in which Wendy Dant Chesser asserts ISi's "rights," disparaging the "sidelines" as though the organization has been an oppressed minority.

She's right about one thing: 1Si is a minority, all right. It just isn't oppressed enough, at least for my taste.

1si takes on bigger policy advocate role in Southern Indiana

NEW ALBANY — A week after calling for leaders to consider the effect bridge tolls will have on businesses before setting rates, One Southern Indiana President Wendy Dant Chesser vowed that the organization will be an active policy advocate.

“We will not sit quietly on the sidelines to let others create our futures for us,” said Dant Chesser during 1si’s annual meeting Tuesday at Northside Christian Church.

One of the pillars of the organization is to be a “champion of ideas” for area businesses,

Moral cowardice rises to the top as Jeff CM, Tech educator, River Ridge flunky and One Southern Indiana chief duck and cover on HJR-6.

Nope. No answers, not then, not now.

They've all had years to consider HJR-6, otherwise known as "The Hoosier Stain", but now that the bigotry has come home to roost, none of them have thought about it yet.

Nathan Samuel doesn't have "a feel" for the view of his constituents, primarily because he's already opted out of the discussion with swirling casuistry exceeding that deployed by New Albany's CM Blair.

David L. Clifton, a professor at Ivy Tech Sellersburg, blithely repeats the hoary stereotype to the effect than we business folks think only about profit, and harbor no interest in matter of lowly social conscience -- although he makes no effort to explain why powerhouses like Cummins and Eli Lilly oppose HJR-6. Maybe it's just our retrograde business thinkers down here in One Southern Indiana's constituency.

Notably absent from weighing in on the matter were several of Southern Indiana’s major employers. The News and Tribune requested comments from Clark Memorial Hospital and American Commercial Lines Inc. on their stance on the resolution, but neither of the entities responded as of press time.

One Southern Indiana's Wendy Dant Chesser typically wiggles out from any hint of coherence on the topic by citing her organization's failure to reach "consensus," which naturally didn't stop it from advocating for the Bridges Boondoggle, or joining the far right over affordable health care, but the single best evasion of all comes from Jerry Acy of the River Ridge Commerce Center, which owes its very existence, as well as its current status as the Mecca we're all compelled to worship five times daily, to political maneuverings:

“That is something our board has not even entertained,” said River Ridge Executive Director Jerry Acy. “Typically, we don’t take a position on political matters.”

These are the "leaders' in the community -- but is it a community, or an Adam Sandler flick? Ye Gods, EVEN BOB CAESAR GETS IT. Here it is at The 'Bune, if you can slip through the Hanson Wall: Local officials weigh in — or don’t — about gay marriage amendment; Area business agencies say they haven't formed an opinion.

One Southern Indiana does not speak for me or this local business. Repeat.

It is true that I didn't vote for Todd Young, although it didn't stop me from having a beer with him last year. The important thing about it is that I voted. There was an election, and he won. So be it.

Young: We have the leverage to push tax reform; Congressman says blocking health care funds won’t stop law, by Daniel Suddeath (News and Tribune)

NEW ALBANY — U.S. Rep. Todd Young believes the public has the appetite to deal with the kind of debates that led to deadline fiscal deals in the past if it brings about change in Washington.

Young, R-Ind., met with local business owners at One Southern Indiana on Wednesday about tax reform. He said it’s an issue the House and Republican lawmakers could hold leverage over the White House on with a Sept. 30 federal government funding deadline approaching.

When I read this article, it took me a moment to grasp the part of it that galled me so tremendously. In retrospect, it can be narrowed down to the final three sentences.

As for tax reform, 1si CEO Wendy Dant Chesser said the Chamber’s members were especially interested in simplifying the tax code.

Local businesses also support changes in the tax code as a way to boost economic growth, she continued.

“I sensed an optimism as [Young] gave his presentation and they pitched their questions,” Chesser said.

Yeah, THAT's it, for sure. Let's be blunt.

The non-elected oligarch's benevolent society otherwise known as One Southern Indiana does not speak for local business in the broader sense, and it does not speak for NABC in any sense at all -- whether on the topic of managed health care, or tax reform, or the unconscionable boondoggle of the Ohio River Bridges Project.

I'll take dissonance from Todd Young, because whether I voted for him or not, at least there was an election. But I don't and won't accept it from Wendy Dant Chesser, who was selected by a cadre of elites, not elected by persons or businesses.

The problem? It isn't so much her as the ones doing the selecting.

Parks secession: In which One Southern Indiana blatantly interferes in local matters.

Thanks to S for sending this to me. Obviously, NAC is not on the mailing list.

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Dear 1si Members,

In the spirit of keeping you informed of issues of concern to the business community, we wanted you to be aware that there has been a special City Council meeting called to vote on the breakup of the NAFC Parks Department. Unfortunately, this action would be counter to legislative positions taken by our organization in that it will likely result in less efficient local government.

Our 2013 Legislative Agenda includes the need to streamline current local government so that administrative efficiencies can be achieved by the expansion, standardization and coordination of collaborative purchasing. Vetted by the business members of our advocacy council and approved by our Board of Directors, this Legislative Agenda has been distributed to the 800+ business investors of our organization.

If you would like to attend the meeting or talk with City Council members to discourage the separation, the meeting takes place tonight, October 18, 2012 at 7:15 pm at the City County Building in downtown New Albany .

Sincerely,

Wendy Dant Chesser
President and CEO

1Si makes one small step to reduce CEO sexting, hires non-Wassmer female exec from Benton Harbor as kingpin.

Insiders say that Kerry Stemler's personal glee club has been struggling of late. Perhaps this explains why I just went to One Southern Indiana's website to read about the new CEO hire, and there's no coverage there at all, just the usual oligarch-fluffing propaganda.

Now THAT's a bottom line for you.

Chesser is new CEO of One Southern Indiana, by John R. Karman III (Business First)

Wendy Dant Chesser, who has led an economic development organization in Benton Harbor, Mich., since 2007, is the new president and CEO of One Southern Indiana.

Hmm, Benton Harbor ... where have we heard that name before? There's a fine craft brewery there (The Livery), but you heard about Benton Harbor right here at NAC, back on December 26, 2011. The full text follows, proving that we can expect a 1Si golf course (with Chick-fil-A clubhouse) to be built where the nasty inner cities used to stand. Also, don't forget our paean to all things Kerry earlier this year: Kingpin of the week: There's only one, isn't there?

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"Is there anything wrong with this economy that a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course can't fix?"

The New York Times offers fascinating reading about the trials and travails of Benton Harbor, Michigan, especially for those among us who've ever asked the question, rhetorically or otherwise: "Can golf revitalize New Albany?"

Now That the Factories Are Closed, It’s Tee Time in Benton Harbor, Mich., by Jonathan Mahler

 ... Watching carpenters hammer preweathered wood shingles onto homes that wouldn’t look out of place in East Hampton, Long Island, I felt almost as if I were at a resort in a third-world Caribbean country: beyond the boundaries of Harbor Shores is the poorest city in all of Michigan.

In the state of Michigan's view, Benton Harbor is so failed that democracy must no longer be permitted to exist there -- temporarily, of course. The appointment of an "emergency manager" overrides all election results, and that chortling you're hearing may or may not be Indiana's governor, Mitch Daniels, and his henchmen (see Bennett, Tony).

Benton Harbor: An Addendum by Chris Savage, by Jonathan Mahler

... I understand that Michigan cities like Benton Harbor are struggling and help is needed. The Snyder administration’s recent cuts in revenue sharing to cities and cuts to our public schools have only made matters much worse. My contention is that we must start from the baseline that democracy, even at the local level, must be preserved. Democracy isn’t always pretty and “the people” sometimes elect unqualified representatives. But that’s not an excuse to disenfranchise our citizens and democracy should be sacrosanct, the baseline from which we evaluate any potential solution. I reject the notion that this is the only answer.

Strictly speaking, the parallels between Benton Harbor and New Albany are few in number. The Whirlpool variable alone counsels caution when making comparisons. Still, I agree with Savage: It's a chilling development indeed when nixing democracy is deemed acceptable as the best American alternative to problems with many more sources than just civic corruption. Is robber baron capitalism the solution in Benton Harbor, or was it the problem? Where did the wonderful corporate citizen Whirlpool take all those jobs, anyway?

Would this make more sense to me if I played golf with the oligarchs? I certainly hope not.