From SW Michigan to S Indiana: "How the Chamber of Commerce Hurts Our Community."

Perhaps Southwest Michigan First's antics do not provide an exact match with the persistent chicanery of One Southern Indiana, but it's close enough for rock and roll.

How the Chamber of Commerce Hurts our Community ... Who is Southwest Michigan First putting first? (hint- not the environment and not poor people), by Matthew Lechel

... The problem with the Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Michigan First and the status quo ‘economic development’ community is twofold. Firstly, these groups hold our communities hostage in the name of jobs. The damage this causes impacts our community primarily environmentally, but also culturally and socially. The second major problem with the current economic development paradigm is that the primary product they’re selling (government subsidy of private business) is something we aren’t even sure works. That’s why it’s called trickle down economic THEORY. There’s loads of evidence increasingly showing that taxpayer handouts to profitable companies under the auspice of job creation doesn’t work. Of course there are other folks (particularly those who benefit handsomely) who say trickle down economics does work, and only more time will fully prove that. One thing is for certain, based on past actions the economic developers are not in any way interested in showcasing to the public their gamble with taxpayer resources works. Especially when they can get the local paper to simply assume it is a positive investment and report accordingly.

"Under Stemler’s watch, GLI’s demise accelerated, apparently without the board exercising any sort of oversight."

Here's a disclaimer: I probably care more for the health and well being of AB InBev's board of directors than the institutional disposition of Greater Louisville Inc, which to me is little more than another collection of clueless suits who should be wearing striped garb and breaking rocks somewhere for the public's fun and profit, rather than pillaging for their own.

Having divulged this shocking truth, Terry Boyd's assessment of GLI's leadership void makes for unintentionally hilarious reading.

Terry Boyd: Who will lead Greater Louisville Inc.?, by Terry Boyd (Insider Louisville)

Nature abhors a vacuum, and for the moment, Louisville has a stunning leadership vacuum.

Greater Louisville Inc. president and CEO Craig Richard has been on indefinite leave for more than two weeks.

Before there was a public confirmation of his absence, our sources tell us Richard had kept a peculiarly low profile for the leader of the city’s economic development effort. In the last three years, GLI’s finances and standing have declined precipitously to the point sources tell us his successor inherits a crisis situation ...

Boyd subsequently surveys the list of possible kingpins, and provides this rollicking, all-purpose punch line:

... Kerry Stemler, the current GLI chairman. We nominate him under the Colin Powell rule of “you broke it, you own it.” Under Stemler’s watch, GLI’s demise accelerated, apparently without the board exercising any sort of oversight.

Ah, yes. The bridge giver. Is Alcatraz still accepting new clients?