N and T: "ELECTION PREVIEW: Makeup of New Albany City Council on the line."

The News and Tribune's 2015 Voters Guide has all the candidates and their answers to submitted questions. I've already published my own answers here.

Following is the newspaper's overview. Let's focus on just one race, in the 2nd district, where the people living in those neighborhoods have a "choice" between Winkin and Blinkin -- and might as well Nod off.

If you can determine what either of these cossetted old white men are talking about, please let us know.

ELECTION PREVIEW: Makeup of New Albany City Council on the line, by Chris Morris (News and Tribune)

... (Irv Stumler) added he is against switching every one-way street in the downtown area to two-way traffic, as suggested by the Jeff Speck study. He said it is something that should gradually be initiated.

"You have speed limits, just enforce those," Stumler said. "It would cost a lot of money to switch streets to two-way. Maybe if you start out with a few side streets, take it one step at a time."

(Bob) Caesar said he is also against a massive switch.

"As far as flipping every street, absolutely not. I am 100 percent against that," Caesar said. "But I am for making the street grid better and easier to navigate. I am all for that."

The deal-killing Phipps postcard: "Two Way Streets, where feasible."

Greg Phipps (D) is the incumbent 3rd district councilman. His challenger is Dale Bagshaw (R), who was his party's nominee for mayor in 2011.

Dale was reading a few weeks ago when I expressed support for those council candidates openly supporting two-way streets.

For what it’s worth, and speaking only for myself, my votes in the forthcoming election will go to those city council candidates who have publicly advocated for two way streets. First-time Republican at-large candidate Al Knable is one, along with Democratic incumbents John Gonder (at large) and Greg Phipps (my own 3rd district).

Since then, John has circulated a questionnaire omitting any explicit mention of two-way streets (I've since learned that the omission was a printing error and was rectified) and now there's this card of Greg's, as harvested from its resting place on an Elm Street sidewalk.

Let's hope Al remains on board.

Dale knew what I'd written, and in spite of it, he still came to my door two nights ago while walking the neighborhood. We stood on the porch for twenty-five minutes, talking local issues, among them two-way streets. Dale said that while streets must remain accessible to commerce, he has started to see the merits of complete streets.

That's demonstrable forward movement on Dale's part, and as we all learned in childhood, the opposite of forward is backward, bringing us to the underlined passage on Greg's card. Time and again, Greg has stated publicly that he'd stake his political career on two-way streets.

Now, with an election looming, he has affixed a disclaimer: "Where feasible."

One candidate is moving forward, openly and honestly, and the other backward in a Gahan-induced pea soup fog.

In July, I attended a meeting of the East Spring Street Neighborhood Association, during which Greg Roberts indicated there would be an ESNA candidate forum prior to the election. Supposedly the candidates all would have a chance to be heard, but the forum never took place, and when I asked Greg Phipps about it last week via Fb message, he didn't recall such an event ever being mentioned even though he was present at the same meeting I attended.

Dale told me that he asked Greg if the two of them might arrange a 3rd district candidate forum, only to have the idea dismissed out of hand by the incumbent. When I asked Greg about this, the conversation abruptly ended.

Returning to my words in September:

Yes, at times I’ve been disappointed with both Gonder and Phipps. However, I believe they’ve been sullied and bullied by Jeff Gahan’s egotistical toxicity and the formless intellectual vacancy of the reigning Democratic Party leadership, and are deserving of another chance and another dance with a mayor who, at long last, actually “gets it,” which I do.

Dear reader, if you were me, what would you do?

A house divided against itself cannot stand, and intellectual honesty still matters to me. It matters more than just about anything else, but there's also consistency, transparency, and simple decency. Throughout my campaign, I've continued to stress the dignity of conscience, and I've parsed every possible combination of these factors in search of a way that might allow me to be cognizant of Greg's position.

But: Occam's Razor.

Perhaps I'm trying to hard, and the simplest answer is the best.

Perhaps conscience, transparency and intellectual honesty are my issues, not theirs, and what I'm seeing in this town right now -- paranoia, fear and cowardice foremost among them -- is exactly as it appears.

Perhaps Team Gahan has poisoned this civic well so thoroughly that Kool-Aid flows from every tap, into every overflowing storm water receptacle.

By all rights, Greg Phipps and I should be comrades in arms. But it's Dale Bagshaw who came to my house and asked for my vote. It's Dale, not Greg, who has listened, conversed and interacted.

My vote isn't about whether I like Greg and Dale, because I like them both. It's about sleepless nights, of which I've experienced a few since 2011, when I voted for Jeff Gahan. It's a mistake I won't ever repeat, and right now, a vote for Greg Phipps is a vote for Jeff Gahan, irrespective of bullying, moon phases, Kool-Aid, spin the bottle or any other extraneous excuses I might deploy to alter fundamental reality.

I simply can't do that, and whether it hurts my mayoral campaign or helps it by saying so publicly matters less to me than being honest. I know Greg and I as yet agree on numerous issues, but in the absence of transparency -- without two-way communications -- we cannot build on what I'm otherwise sure exists. I'm not playing this game any longer. I never was very good at it, anyway.

Dale's got my vote.

Mailer Wars '15: Barksdale dares to mention the "d" word.

You have to admire David Barksdale for leading off with a vow to "take downtown revitalization to the next level," not because it provides sufficient substance to inform us which level downtown occupies at present (seemingly fundamental if one seeks to go "next"), but because of the widely reported phenomenon of Don't Talk Downtown.

A. Contrary to old voters' tales, downtown does NOT receive disproportionate financial attention from City Hall. In fact, as I've often noted, revitalization has occurred in SPITE of City Hall, not because of it.

B. When City Hall HAS invested public money downtown, it has tended to be wrong (Doug's Bicentennial Park, Jeff's Main Street beautification), BUT even these boneheaded moves have not represented expenditures equal to the long-term costs of suburbanization.

C. AND New Albany's inner ring suburbs generally are four or less miles from the core, meaning that much of the discussion is moot, anyway.

Barksdale follows with the necessarily italicized "healthy" neighborhoods in all part of the city, and further notes the importance of business friendliness.

One wonders how Barksdale contextualizes business-friendly attitudes with Padgett, Inc., the GOP's chief downtown benefactor, and an entity than both gives and takes away: It's been "friendly" toward some of Barksdale's favored historic preservation causes, while profoundly unfriendly as it  pertains to other helpful measures -- read: street grid reform.

All in all, this mailer is above average for the genre. It's an apt introduction, and the candidate's willingness to lead with downtown revitalization stands out from the pack.

If you're a progressive, who gets the nod: David Barksdale, Shirley Baird ... or none of the above?

It flummoxes me, this party politics Kool-Aid drinking thing.

The Horizon (IU Southeast) reporter does very well with one side of the story.

The problem for longtime observers of the local scene remains the perennial disconnect between what is viewed in the bathroom mirror, and what exists in reality, out beyond the front door of one's home.

I know that both Cliff and Greg are being sincere in their pronouncements. What I'll never understand is how one can accurately diagnose pressing issues, express favor for various cures, and then remain a loyalist of a political party (our Democrats) holding an absolute, unassailable majority of municipal government seats for the past 12 years, but failing to act on either.

It flummoxes me, this party politics Kool-Aid drinking thing.

How can they publicly support a mayor, Jeff Gahan, who has failed to address their issues apart from vacuous private expressions of support hinging on his re-election, and has made prospects for their cures even more remote owing to massive spending for wants, rather than needs?

What am I missing?

Is it cognitive dissonance?

The Stockholm Syndrome?

The insidiousness of group think?

IU Southeast faculty run for New Albany City Council, by Jordan Williams

 ... For Phipps, the interest in city council started in a way similar to Staten’s.

The desire to make a change came about in response to his 2001 move to downtown New Albany.
“I didn’t have a lot of involvement in politics when I lived in the suburbs. I was out of touch with what was going on,” said Phipps.

“I moved downtown and started to see the urban problems that I didn’t see while living in the suburbs.”
Phipps began his crusade for change by going to city council meetings and bringing attention to the variety of concerns being neglected in the surrounding city.

The 3rd council district deserves a Phipps-Bagshaw debate. Who can make that happen?

3rd district council aspirant Dale Bagshaw (R) attended both political forums this week, including the New Albany Housing Authority session on Tuesday, and incumbent Greg Phipps (D) was on hand at Cowboys Stadium last night for the League of Women Voters event.

I don't recall whether Phipps "debated" Jameson Bledsoe in 2011 prior to the general election, although there was a candidate question 'n' answer evening at S. Ellen Jones school preceding the three-way Democratic primary in 2007, which incumbent Steve Price won with 37% of the vote against Maury Goldberg and Charlie Harshfield.

Phipps handily beat Price and Bledsoe in 2011.

Who can make this happen? I firmly believe the 3rd district deserves an hour (or more) with its candidates.

Here are the city council candidate questions for the League of Women Voters "debate" on Thursday, September 24.

Previously, as Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas performed graceful somersaults in their respective vaults, we took a look at the League's questions for mayoral candidates this Thursday.

Here are the mayoral candidate questions for the League of Women Voters "debate" on Thursday, September 24.

City council candidates also are invited to the Taj Mahal of Silver Street, and they have their own purpose-written questions.

Will Dan "Copperhead" Coffey attend to debate himself? We can only hope.

If anything, the council questions are more insipid than the mayoral ones.

What are the top priorities for your district, and how do you rank them in order of importance?

Many changes have taken place in the last four years. What changes did you support or what would you have done differently if you were on the council?

In the 2016 municipal budget, what city improvements should be funded?

Working with eight (8) other council persons will be a challenge, especially if they are determined to see their priorities for their districts through. Are you willing to seek compromise with them and that of the administration to show results and move the city forward?

What they're saying: A video by Matt Nash (D), 5th district.

As the 2015 general election nears, I'll occasionally provide candidate statements of substance, as lifted from social media and news reports. My aim is to determine whether our municipal candidates have anything to say at all, and I'll quote all candidates, from any and all parties. 

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Matt Nash has a video.

What they're saying: Al Knable (R), at-large council, on walking and listening.

As the 2015 general election nears, I'll occasionally provide candidate statements of substance, as lifted from social media and news reports. My aim is to determine whether our municipal candidates have anything to say at all, and I'll quote all candidates, from any and all parties.

---

Al Knable has been walking. A lot.

"Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time."
- Steven Wright

Checking in from the campaign trail:

Today's walk put me over 1,000 homes visited so far this month, just over 2,000 since I began canvassing in August.

My energy level is great! I'm really enjoying listening to folks, voters and non-voters alike. I've also had to start eating about 1/2 a pint of ice cream per day to keep my weight up - a great problem to have.

Patterns of concern are emerging which have essentially confirmed my reasons for running for office.

In no particular order, here is some of what is on the people's wish list: a cleaner city, slower traffic, more police patrols, a better City web portal, a more responsive local government, more direct access to public officials, a more responsible city budget, more trees.

I'm not making this up. We have an intelligent electorate and it would behoove our officials to listen up.

Yesterday a very thoughtful man told me he was retiring next year and moving to North Carolina. A lifelong NA businessman with grandkids in town moving because he's tired of his street flooding and he fears he won't be able to afford the "tax tsunami" (his words, not mine) that he predicts hitting soon as a result of the city's recent "binge-TIF-fing" (my words, not his).

He's one of many moving away (or not moving in) for many reasons.

We need to reverse these trends before a tipping point is hit from which we cannot recover.

Please vote this election. Absentee ballots started going out last week. Early voting begins October 6.

I would really appreciate your support.

See you on the streets!

Matt Nash kicks off 5th district campaign: "New Albany Should Expand its Recycling Program."

For those just tuning in, Matt Nash was chosen by Democratic Party precinct heads to replace Dustin Collins on the 5th district council ticket after Collins withdrew owing to illness.

His first platform plank deals with recycling.

New Albany Should Expand its Recycling Program

In a recent News and Tribune article it was announced that Floyd County government would cut some recycling services due to budget concerns.

As a councilman I would support a measure that would expand the current services of the city's recycling program. Currently the city offers weekly curbside pick-up of recyclable materials. I believe that New Albany could work with the Solid Waste Board and work out a deal that included utilizing current county equipment and workforce to allow for drop off sites to be manned in locations within city limits or just along the fringe areas.

Well, well: "Matthew Nash for 5th District City Council."

When Matt swapped photos here yesterday, I suspected the Green Mouse was right.

Can we speak candidly?

It's widely known that Gahan administration operatives targeted incumbent 5th district rep Diane Benedetti for defeat in the primary. I know this because one of them told me so. Of course, it cannot be quantified as to how much the down-low Gahan chicanery contributed to Dustin Collins' eventual victory, but now it's moot, as Collins was forced to withdraw from the race owing to health concerns.

If I haven't said it already in blog space, all the best to Dustin. He's a personable and bright young man, and there is no doubt about his sincere commitment to public service. Get well, quickly.

But there's an election to be held, and the News and Tribune's Daniel Suddeath explains what happens next as Democratic Party chairman Adam Dickey follows arcane procedures lifted straight from the pages of "Foucault's Pendulum" (alas, not a Disney flick) to ensure his chosen and pre-ordained outcome. Remember the famous song Bob Dylan wrote about Dickey, "Tangled Up in Puppet Strings"?

Qualified Democrats residing in District 5 can submit for nomination by caucus members. The caucus will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 7 at the New Albany Roadhouse, which is located at 1706 Graybrook Lane.

That's right: The Democrats will caucus by drawing straws and drinking ice cold Bud Light long necks. Fiction simply cannot improve on reality when it comes to satirizing these people.

Know this: None of my obvious and ever expanding derision for our local Fix Is In Democrats should be implied as outweighing my personal esteem for Matt Nash, whose hat has been tossed into the ring in the 5th. I won't get a vote in this one, and we'll see what happens. Even if we still disagree on certain topics, Benedetti has done a good job. Matt's a great fellow, and politics is a nasty business. Anyone got a tea leaf?

A word of advice to Matt: If you don't win the race, be careful the newspaper doesn't screw you on your weekly column resumption * ... and seriously, you might wish to distance yourself from the recently abominable record of your old man on the Bored of Works.

By the way, anyone got a broom?

Here's Matt's Fb campaign page. I wish him well.

Matthew Nash for 5th District City Council

I would like to announce my intention to seek the position of New Albany City Council in the 5th District. For the past six years I have expressed my opinion on how to make our city a better place in a weekly column in the News and Tribune. Now I am actually doing something about it.

I believe that New Albany is a great city but we could be doing better. Between now and November 3rd I will discuss with all of the citizens of New Albany how we can work together to make our city the best that it can be.

* Matt's already dealt with it here.

Let's ask Dale Bagshaw what he thinks.

Let's ask Dale Bagshaw, Republican candidate for New Albany city council in the 3rd district, what he thinks about some of the issues that blog readers think are important.

Dale Bagshaw for City Council New Albany District 3

Here and at Facebook (or through the usual communications channels), publish your questions. They'll be collated into a list, and provided to the candidate. We'll see what he has to say. I've always found Dale to be open and forthcoming, even if we do not agree on particular issues.

Make 'em good, and when the results are in, the answers will be published here.

Primary 2015: Love and affection for the machine.

It's ain't nuclear physics: DemoDisneyDixiecratic Party critics were hammered, and most of the anointed passed through.

Gahan handily defeats White in New Albany mayoral primary

Benedetti loses seat in New Albany Democratic primary

There are perils to analysis in a primary, given that it is an exercise designed to aggrandize the party faithful at the expense of most other rational considerations. For this reason, and in spite of his commendable bravado and self-confidence, it wasn't ever going to be easy for David White in challenging King Hologram. David himself seemed to realize this as the campaign progressed, commenting to me at one point that while he thought his opponent was the incumbent mayor, it actually was the Machine.

But of course it was, and is. That's the whole point: To maximize power by reducing friction.

The party chairman occupies a seat at Redevelopment, and the party treasurer is the city attorney. Megabuck capital projects pass through these hands, and campaign finance is monetized accordingly, as it has in any municipal machine that ever existed, anywhere.

Machines are not designed to be open and transparent systems. They are not intended to tolerate the existence of David White. Rather, they are built to channel money and power in predictable directions. This is what the Democratic Party machine in New Albany does. It's what it did yesterday.

David tried to poke the machine from within, and he found that when it comes time to gather together for a round of Kumbaya and Bud Light longnecks, only members of the clique need apply. Outsider stay outside. That's why there's a pass code.

In like fashion, with Dan Coffey increasingly assertive in his role as rubber-jowled Luca Brasi to Gahan's stately impersonation of Vito Corleone, and deploying vast portions of city council time in orchestrating various petty takedowns of Diane Benedetti -- the only council Democrat to consistently question the Corleone administration -- we now find Benedetti sleeping with the fishes, in purely political terms.

Barring the unexpected, the way is paved for yet another pliant, rubber-stamp council, suitable for City Hall's use only when a stitch or three of political cover is needed for a pre-ordained expenditure (see "monetizing," above).

Yesterday's primary election results argue persuasively for rage against the machine -- against the clique, the usual suspects, the fix, and business as usual. I suspect that in the months to come, Republican nominee Kevin Zurschmiede will be making this case, although he, too, has a machine of his own to honor, albeit it of less horsepower in the city.

I have no machine at all. but for those seeking a democratic critique of the current Democratic machine, I'll be offering it in the months to come.

What they're saying: It's an election finale, and a look ahead.

As the weeks have passed in route to May's primary election, for which voting already is underway and will conclude on May 5 with what is still quaintly known as Election Day, I've referenced periodic public candidate statements of substance, generally unretouched, as lifted from social media and news reports. 

Again: Public. 

Not what was transmitted on the sly during a brief chat in a smoke-filled back room, but what has been transparent and in the open. Familiar gems such as "yard signs win elections, not people" and "donate to my campaign first, and maybe I'll have something of merit to say much, much later" have been omitted. 

That's because my aim has been to determine whether any at all of our declared candidates have had anything at all to say, and I've quoted all candidates, from any and all parties, whether or not they're involved in a contested race.

Happily, most have had something of value to offer. 

---

The primary campaign didn't end with a bang, and there were no April Surprises. Perhaps this can be attributed to the changed dynamics of a weeks-long voting cycle.

As the actual (and perhaps increasingly outmoded?) "election day" has approached, discussion seems to have turned markedly toward the school corporation's referendum and the Democratic mayor's race.

In taking a final look at city council contestants on social media, we'll begin with Al Knable, Republican for city council at-large, who has campaigned vigorously despite being assured of the nod to compete in November. In a Facebook post, Knable offered this positive thought:

I'm especially pleased with the bipartisan nature of the communication taking place.

We are one community. If you share my goal of a cleaner, happier more competitive New Albany, we must move forward together!

I look forward to meeting with as many New Albanians between now and the November election as possible. I will continue to work each day toward that end.

On the Democratic side in the at-large race, two-term incumbent John Gonder recently linked to a blog entry in which he discussed sustainability.

Infrastructure of Sustainability

This article from earlier in the month appeared in the Courier-Journal. The article on the drought in California is relevant to us, here in New Albany, for a number of reasons: 1. evidence of climate change 2. noteworthy during the week of earth Day 3. validates the logic and exigencies of localism, independent businesses and sustainable communities.

Gonder's fellow Democratic at-large council aspirant, Hannegan Roseberry, was featured in a WDRB piece with Nick Vaughn ... her student, who seeks the Republican nomination in the 6th district: New Albany teen runs for city council. Also in the 6th district, Noah McCourt had a few things to say about spending.

In closing, the News and Tribune Voters Guide can be viewed here. Early Tuesday evening, much of the November ballot will be finalized. The GOP might insert a candidate into its vacant 1st district council slot. Incumbent 6th district councilman Scott Blair will file his petition to seek re-election as an independent, and, of course, I'll be completing my own petition and running for mayor, also as an independent.

Since October of 2004, this NA Confidential blog has changed and evolved, but always proceeded forward in a somewhat predictable pattern. Throughout this period, I've never once run for mayor. Consequently, it is unclear to me whether the blog will be affected by my campaign. We'll just have to wait and see.

As always, thanks for reading.

Funds transfer: It's somehow comforting to know that Dan Coffey's back off the rails.

He's come a long way, hasn't he?

Once upon a time, Councilman Cappuccino opposed every last municipal expenditure, ranging from the (now) miniscule YMCA tithe all the way down to a buck ninety-eight post-it notes for city office staff.

These days, the caterwauling and finger-pointing are deployed to support the incessant hum of Jeff Gahan's wondrous Eternal TIF ATM, and there can be only one reason for that: Finally we elected a mayor who understands the way that transaction fees are supposed to work.

Coffey is unopposed. If you live in the 1st council district and would consider running for council as an independent, please let us know.

What others are saying: Collins, Benedetti, Indiana Equality Action and the 5th district council race.

As the days pass in route to May's primary election, I'm providing periodic candidate statements of substance, mostly unretouched, as lifted from social media and news reports. Familiar gems such as "yard signs win elections, not people" and "donate to my campaign first, and maybe I'll have something of merit to say much, much later" will be omitted. That's because it is my aim to determine whether our declared candidates have anything to say at all, and I'll quote all candidates, from any and all parties, whether or not they're in a contested race. Just promising change and new ideas without divulging them won't cut the mustard, aspirants.

---

When is the last time a statewide Indiana PAC has gotten involved with a New Albany city council race? It seems to be happening right now, if this direct e-mail received earlier this evening is any indication. It offers rhetorical support to Democratic candidate Dustin Collins, who is challenging incumbent Diane Benedetti in the 5th district primary.

It can't be said we didn't see it coming: What they're saying ... about each other.

Nate Nahler is the president of Indiana Equality Action, an "Indiana non-profit corporation consisting of individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing equal rights for and fighting discrimination against all Hoosier citizens regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity."

The text of Nahler's e-mail follows.

---

Dear Roger,

Over the past few weeks, we have seen the reputation of the State of Indiana dragged through the mud by politicians ignoring the will of the voters and pandering to their base. With RFRA being passed by a super majority in the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Pence, we realize now more than ever the importance of supporting elected officials who reflect our values.

In New Albany, a sitting City Councilwoman--who abstained when a resolution to oppose HJR3 was brought before the New Albany City Council--has attempted to slander her primary challenger's reputation to solidify her political position. Those closest to the Councilwoman have begun knocking on doors and asking supporters of Dustin Collins, her primary challenger, whether they know he’s gay. Is this what we have come to expect out of our elected representatives?

Today I write in support of Dustin and the vision he has for New Albany and the State of Indiana. Dustin (a former member of the military, former staff member for the Freedom Indiana campaign, and a former staff member for the Indiana Democratic Party) has already made many gains in the City of New Albany. Even before the upcoming elections, citizens are already approaching him with their concerns and he is already beginning to solve them....imagine what he could do once elected!

Dustin can't win this election on his own, he needs your help! All of us must stand up and support these candidates and take our home back! This is where you can help. Please consider volunteering or making a financial donation so we can work to fight back against this whisper campaign. Anything you can do to help the campaign succeed is very much appreciated!

Indiana Equality Action
PO Box 20621
Indianapolis, IN 46220
888.567.0750

What they're saying: Hannegan Roseberry on creativity, streets, SB-101 and demographics.

Damned spell check.

As the weeks go past in route to May's primary election, I'll try to provide periodic unedited candidate statements of approximate substance, as lifted from social media and news reports, and as opposed to familiar gems (although they certainly have their place) like "yard signs win elections, not people" or "donate to my campaign first, and maybe I'll have something of merit to say much, much later."

That's because it is my aim to determine whether our declared candidates have anything to say at all, and I'll quote all candidates, whether or not they're in a contested race. Just promising change and new ideas without divulging them won't cut the mustard, aspirants.

At-large city council candidate Hannegan Beardsley Roseberry (D) is taking the time to write, so let's take a look. These comments are collected from her Fb campaign page.

On what we want to be as a city:

I enjoyed seeing some New Albany natives tonight - the incredible Houndmouth. It is terrific to see a group from New Albany find such huge success; they are a reminder of everything we should strive to be as a city: eclectic, intelligent, innovative, creative and spunky. New Albany, we need to follow suit and claim our place in the region. Who do we want to be and how are we going to get there? As a city council member, these are the questions I will be pursuing.

On Speck's downtown street network proposals:

Matt Nash made some terrific points in his op-Ed piece in yesterday's Trib about the ongoing fiasco surrounding the street grid. If we are wanting to continue to attract people to live in our city, we have to appeal to their needs for a walkable, engaging environment.

Matt observes: "How often do “wide load” trucks need to actually use these roads? Is there enough traffic like this that we should force the entire city to kowtow to its needs? How do trucks manage to get from place to place in other towns who don’t have wide one-way streets?

You need not look any further than the city of Jeffersonville to see a city that’s downtown has thrived even with narrower two-way streets. They also have a couple of large manufacturers downtown that are able to ship goods without the need for a 40-foot-wide, one-way street. How has material arrived for the downtown bridge project without wide one-way streets?"

On the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act:

I have written a lot about this debacle on my personal page today, and will now share this here on my campaign page, as well. One of my goals is to help New Albany to claim its place in the region as a leader in culture, commerce, and community. New Albany needs to be a place where people are going to want to live, work, spend their money, and raise their families. Indiana's legislature just made our job this much harder - I stand for a New Albany that is welcoming to all people, and I disagree wholeheartedly with the notion that this is the way our founding fathers intended our governing bodies to be used. New Albany - we've got our work cut out for us if we are to counteract this sort of damning national publicity. We've got to be forward-thinking and welcoming to all - yes ALL - residents. We don't pick and choose our neighbors, but we do pick our elected officials. Make your voice heard and let our legislators know that this is not the Indiana that we want. In New Albany, we can do better than this.

On theater and why millennials matter:

New Albany Civic Theatre - now doesn't that have a nice ring to it? Millennials (ages 18-36) are currently 77 million strong, or 24% of the population, which is roughly the same size as the baby boomer generation. What does this mean? For cities like New Albany, we have to figure out what we're going to do to hang on to and attract these vibrant, creative young people. Studies show that millennials are flocking to more urban, mixed-use communities that are socially conscious and creative. Right now, New Albany is being outpaced by the surrounding communities as far as cultural offerings. As a city, we need to understand that a thriving cultural center results in economic benefit. New Albany is long overdue for a New Albany Civic Theatre, with additional space for art studios/classes/displays. This sort of creative venture is exactly the type of thing New Albany needs.
"COMMUNITY ARTS ANCHORS SERVE AS PURVEYORS OF CULTURE AND CONTRIBUTORS TO QUALITY OF LIFE.”–TIMOTHY MCCLIMON,AMERICAN EXPRESS FOUNDATION

I'm trying to be dispassionate in these surveys, but Hannegan's doing a great job so far in articulating substance.

What they're saying: Al Knable on possible wetlands expansion; also, Diane Benedetti and David White.

As the weeks go past in route to May's primary election, I'll try to provide periodic unedited candidate statements of approximate substance, as lifted from social media and news reports, and as opposed to familiar gems (although they certainly have their place) like "yard signs win elections, not people" or "donate to my campaign first, and maybe I'll have something of merit to say much, much later."

That's because it is my aim to determine whether our declared candidates have anything to say at all, and I'll quote all candidates, whether or not they're in a contested race. Just promising change and new ideas without divulging them won't cut the mustard, aspirants.

With most Democratic candidates preoccupied with party directives to plant yard signs and sing kumbaya, there nonetheless were bits of wheat amid the chaff.

In the mayoral race, David White (Fb site reference) got cogent with his challenger's centerpiece, a $9 million aquatics center.

(Quoting an N and T story) "Though an exact operating budget per year hasn't been established, city officials have received projected cost estimates to maintain and staff the pool" ...  you've got to be kidding me! How can one agree to such a high dollar project without knowing it's overhead and financial impact on the city? 

5th district incumbent Diane Benedetti now has a campaign site at Facebook, and will be joining builders:

Look for Team Benedetti in the upcoming New Albany-Floyd County Habitat for Humanity Women Build Team, part of National Women Build Week.

You may notice Al Knable's name popping up here frequently, and that's because of all the candidates currently declared for council (he's seeking an at-large seat as a Republican), he's the one who has most often dared expound at length on a variety of topics. It would be an understatement to note how very refreshing this is.

Like this one, at his Fb campaign page. Finally, someone who sees the opportunities afforded by seeming reversals.

I reconnected with my inner-biologist today, toured some of the swamps near NOLA via airboat with my family.

I caught the kids by surprise when I told them during a quiet lull that we have areas similar to this near New Albany (sans alligators of course) and that I believe we can expand upon them to boot! I reminded them of the great resource we have in Loop Island and of the generosity that made that wetland's preservation possible.

The possible expansion? Gallagher Station.

I think the writing is on the wall. With the EPA's last round of regulations, Duke's options are very limited and I believe G.S. will be moth-balled in the near future.

This will create short term hardship as NA will face lost employment and revenue. Long term- great opportunity!

We need to start conversing NOW with state and federal agencies to assure the transition of this facility to protected wetland habitat.

This would allow for Green Belt continuity between Loop Island and G.S. wetlands. What a treasure for naturalists and fishing and hunting enthusiasts!

Clearly this goes beyond the scope of our City Council, but we need to be part of the discussion if we want to guide our future. I've actually already started this discussion with our current and former Governors and hope to continue the conversation as one of NA's elected representatives.

This is a decade's long project! We'll need leaders with foresight and discipline to pull it off. Please help me spread the word!

2nd district council race pits Tweedledum, Tweedledee in a consensus to the death.

Senility fetishists rejoice: You have until November to enjoy NA's 2nd district council race. The rest of us will be rereading Dante Alighieri's Inferno in a effort to verify which circle of suffering this scenario best inspires.

Ladies and gentleman, your candidates.

Caesar: I hate two-way streets the most.
Stumler: No, I hate two way streets worse than you.

Stumler: I’d have spent $4 million more repairing Spring Street Hill again and again.
Caesar: Hah! I’d have spent $5 million more repairing Spring Street Hill again and again.

Caesar: Miller Lite tastes great!
Stumler: Less filling!

Stumler: If you don't look at trucking porn, you can't have an erection.
Caesar: How can you have an erection if you don't look at trucking porn?

Evidently these two sad remnants are the best New Albany can do. On the topic of street grid reform, the falsehoods, whoppers and outright lies uttered by Bob Caesar and Irv Stumler alone, if laid end to end, would reach to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the city council recently approved a bold Complete Streets Ordinance, one we can be sure neither Caesar nor Stumler would ever be bothered to read.

Tweedledum and Tweedledee

Agreed to have a battle;

For Tweedledum said Tweedledee

Had spoiled his nice new rattle.

Just then flew down a monstrous crow,

As black as a tar-barrel;

Which frightened both the heroes so,

They quite forgot their quarrel.

Jeff Speck as monstrous crow?

C'mon, someone reading this piece lives in the 2nd district and feels like projectile vomiting at the prospect of either of these two political poseurs representing you in the modern world as it exists in the here and now.

Run as an independent, and at least make them answer to something factual. Let me know, and I'll do what I can to help.

What they're saying: Barksdale, Keeler and Vaughn on rental property registration.

As the weeks go past in route to May's primary election, I'll try to provide periodic unedited candidate statements of approximate substance, as lifted from social media and news reports, and as opposed to familiar gems (although they certainly have their place) like "I enjoyed talking with the bunco club last night" or "donate to my campaign first, and maybe I'll have something of merit to say later."

That's because it is my aim to determine whether our declared candidates have anything to say at all, and I'll quote all candidates, whether or not they're in a contested race. Just promising change and new ideas without divulging them won't cut the mustard, aspirants.

Today, the second of two parts, with a reminder: The readier your channels of electronic communication for me to ask these questions or to harvest your positions, the greater chance you will be asked (and quoted). I'm talking primarily to you, James Garner. Last week's replies:

What they're saying: Bell, Collins, Knable, Phipps, Roseberry and Staten on rental property registration.

And the question again: "Rental property registration? Go."

First up: Two at-large council aspirants.

David Barksdale (R; Facebook)

Thank you Roger for including me in the discussion. I would be in favor of Rental property registration, of course, enforcement could be an issue as often seen in New Albany.

Adam Keeler (D; Facebook and Web)

After reading other opinions I have several unanswered questions. 1. Why is this additional tax needed? 2. What will the cost be to the property owner? 3. How will it be enforced and why over other ordinances that are not enforced that produce revenue? 4. Is it not assumed that this cost will be passed on to the tenant of said properties and not the property owner? I think if I had these answers I could make a well informed decision. Until then I am for registration, not for additional fees.

Finally, Nick Vaughn, 6th district (R) candidate:

I believe that the city should require renters and landlords to register so that there can be more accountability for the enforcement of ordinances. However, in the long term we should look at renters transitioning into becoming long-term residents of our city. By putting down roots people have a stake in our shared success.

What they're saying: Bell, Collins, Knable, Phipps, Roseberry and Staten on rental property registration.

As the weeks go past in route to May's primary election, I'll try to provide periodic unedited candidate statements of approximate substance, as lifted from social media and news reports, and as opposed to familiar gems (although they certainly have their place) like "I enjoyed talking with the bunco club last night" or "donate to my campaign first, and maybe I'll have something of merit to say later."

That's because it is my aim to determine whether our declared candidates have anything to say at all, and I'll quote all candidates, whether or not they're in a contested race. Just promising change and new ideas without divulging them won't cut the mustard, aspirants.

Earlier in the week, I went to the Fb campaign pages of several candidates and asked a short, quick question. Note that if I omitted you from the survey, please feel free to provide a reply, and it will be published; the readier your channels of communication for me to ask, the greater chance you will be asked. Now for the question.

"Rental property registration? Go."

Opening with numbered districts, incumbent 3rd district councilman Greg Phipps had this to say.

That's not part of the new property ordinance. Some of us suggested it , but its the census that we need to adopt the property ordinance first .

Dustin Collins, 5th district (D) candidate:

I'd really like an accurate cost/benefit analysis on it. An ordinance is only as good as the enforcement that can be provided.

Cliff Staten, 6th district (D) candidate:

Having an effective rental property registration program is important to any city but especially New Albany as it continues to develop. Every city is different, but holding landlords accountable for the standard of living they provide to renters is universal (and good business). If we want people to move to New Albany, if we want young people to rent in New Albany, we must ensure that they have places to live where they are safe, secure, and healthy. Of course as with any program, without proper enforcement by the city it cannot succeed.

1st district councilman Dan Coffey was asked, but did not answer, and so we turn to at-large council aspirants.

First is Brad Bell (D).

I can see both sides of the argument. My concern would be enforcement. We already have tons of ordinances that go unchecked and this would probably fall into that same category I'm sure. I would like to think that a legitimate land lord would be fine with filing and registering but I have a feeling there are more bad ones than good. Then you have the added problem of finding what is and what is not rental property.

I replied to Brad, "We can't find what is and is not rental property because we have no registration procedure. That's actually much of the point." He added:

Like I said, the bad ones outnumber the good and the chances of them coming forward and voluntarily spending "their own money" on a registration process is slim.

Hannegan Roseberry (D):

Building community and attracting more families to our neighborhoods is a major part of my platform. While I have a number of clarifying questions for the folks at city hall, it is clear that what we are doing right now isn't working. I can look out my windows and see rental properties that aren't being properly maintained or appear to have been abandoned. Landlords, as business owners, need to be held accountable for their properties and the impact their neglect has on our neighborhoods and property values. For me, this issue is a symptom of the bigger issue for the current administration - transparency and mission. As a city council member, I want to see the city first put forward a clear mission/vision for development of community, commerce, and culture. Once this vision exists, it will make decisions concerning issues (rental property registration) easier because the city's mission is clear, and citizens will understand that creating these policies is consistent with that mission and not a random act of government.

Finally, Al  Knable's coda (R):

Unless someone can convince me otherwise, I am favor of registration. Sooner rather than later. More rather than less comprehensive. Why? What we have now is failing. Failing the tenants and the City at large. I used to own a few rental properties, never balked at registration. Got out of that business beachside REITs are a more efficient use of my time.

Thanks, everyone.

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ON THE AVENUES: Die Hard the Hunter, or the political impossibility of rental property registration on New Albany.