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Readers were very interested in the commercial
properties being purchased by these jolly speculators. |
Thanks for reading
NA Confidential, where we enjoy reconnoitering the neglected periphery for uniquely local perspectives on life in New Albany. Someone has to at least
try doing it, or we can grow old and gray waiting for the
Jeffersonville News and Tom May's 'Bune to belatedly rediscover the journalistic imperative to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.
As always, the previous month's most-viewed list begins with ten "honorable mention" posts, before concluding with the Top Ten, escalating to No. 1.
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MARCH HONORABLE MENTION (10)
706
It's hip to be square, so last week I attended Develop New Albany's neighborhood soiree at Breakwater. As parties go, it wasn't too bad. The food and music were great, the acoustics horrendous and the beer selection embarrassing, but what left me baffled like always was the preposterous litany of talking points as presented by a succession of DNA board members in a feat of non-ironic propaganda that would have curled Khrushchev's hair.
Did I mention Nikita was bald? The Breakwater residents in attendance were looking around and saying, dude, who
are these people?
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710
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733
At tonight's council meeting, Knable returned to the topic and queried council attorney Amy Stein, who revealed the results of her research: NAHA
has the legal ability to decree that signs in common areas are either allowed, or not allowed. NAHA cannot allow some and prohibit others. However, as it pertains specifically to political signs, the private space of NAHA residents trumps the commons, and NAHA cannot prevent residents from placing political signs in their windows.
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741 (tie)
Important Friday reading, borrowed from the David White for Mayor
website. There'll be much more to discuss about antidotes to cliquish, fix-is-in Gahanism, but these surely are the most important points for those of us in the Resistance.
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741 (tie)
With a slightly above average fundraising year in 2019 for Big Daddy G, he'll pass the $500,000 mark in donations since running for mayor. Given his success in 2015, reaching this milestone should be as easy as looting a TIF area.
2011: $56,515
2012: $16,575
2013: $30,350
2014: $58,795
2015: $103,532
2016: $51,799
2017: $56,225
2018: $64,250
Total: $438,041
Yearly average: $54,755 and change, and Gahan began 2019 with $128,000 cash on hand. It boggles the mind.
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760
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829
By the standards of a small city with a quarter of its residents existing below the poverty line, Gahan has hoarded a vast stock of power. He wields it autocratically with almost no input from outside the ruling circle, and buttresses his power by means of a ludicrous personality cult reflecting a former veneer salesman's abrupt makeover from regular guy to flawless genius.
It's, well, creepy and more in keeping with Gregor Samsa's metamorphosis, but then again, so very few of them read books.
As such, whenever his family members, their former co-workers and other mindless fans prattle about loathsome stalkers hating on the epitome of mayoral perfection, a reminder is in order.
One simply can't speak truth to power without breaking a few eggs, preferably right between the powermonger's eyes.
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850
As the emperor's acolytes fit him for some brand new clothes, we turn to the Colonial Manor center on Charlestown Road. Redevelopment is having a public meeting, and we can only hope that the advent of Josh Staten as director implies an actual willingness to
listen at such events.
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901
When Big Daddy G began nonsensically babbling about his pivotal role in a made-for-self-enhancement rails-to-trails project from Sazerac (formerly Pillsbury) to Bedford, Louisville-area media representatives fell over themselves to praise Dear Leader, with nary a single one of them asking two important questions ...
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942
Neighbors say homeless and drug users have taken over this home. They wander the alley digging through everyone’s trash throwing out on the ground. One lady saw a buck naked man wondering in the yard! By anyone’s measure this is a serious problem. They say it’s been going on for 18 months. Needles, human waste, etc.
They say the city isn’t helping them, so who can they turn to?
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971
Last week's sadly shambolic City Hall charade on the topic of Colonial Manor's future proved a confusing, painful and infuriating experience for those community residents who hadn't previously witnessed the ridiculous extent to which power and money have gone straight to an erstwhile veneer salesman's head.
MARCH TOP 10
977
A New Albany resident posted the ticket from a few days ago and recounted his experience at the Facebook members-only page called New Albany Indiana. It prompted a spirited discussion about selective enforcement and overall civic priorities, with another group member undertaking to do necessary research.
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988
At some point after breakfast she noticed the smell of natural gas. Worried, at 10:00 a.m. she called NAHA's maintenance department to report the odor. Two hours passed without a return call or visit; she went outside (fortunately it was a temperate weather day) and after conferring with her son, called the fire department.
Finally around 1:00 p.m., three hours later, maintenance arrived and determined there was a gas leak in the vicinity of her water heater.
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1,061
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1,098
So, why is NAHA buying these de facto "gateway" properties at the corner of beautified Main Street and Vincennes, viewed by City Hall as the next corridor to be made inhabitable by the beautiful people? Probably because the city-subsidized (and Gahan donating) Lancaster Lofts project remains on the drawing board only a block away.
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1,107
When the city's plans were revealed amid Terry Middleton's foyer in 2018, HWC's campaign finance donor luminaries had suggested relocating David Thrasher's seminal Fork in the Road to the sidewalk in front of the Jimmy's Music Center building. Now I'm told by a Team Gahan insider that our drain trust hasn't decided where to put it, and would welcome ideas.
Really?
Since when do they welcome ideas? Property owners fronting the Market Street block currently undergoing forced "beautification" never were asked their views on the process before the plans were minted, were they?
Why now?
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1,185
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1,456
By now it should be clear that Gahan has an unvarying, rote default setting as it pertains to governance: HIS way, or nothing. It's a default setting manifested by excessive secrecy, open intimidation and absolute control on behalf of a small ruling elite buttressed by special interest cash from afar.
That's it.
There is nothing else.
Gahanism is authoritarianism -- penny-ante, small pond and prom-planning-committee caliber, but authoritarianism all the same.
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1,533
The past week slipped away from me, and I fumbled the opportunity to wish a happy birthday to Bank Street Brewhouse, my former business "where the day old bread store used to be."
You hear that reference less and less these days. After all, it's been ten whole years since BSB opened; the date was March 12 (or maybe the 13th) of 2009. It's a decade later, and a while since I've been gone from it, but beer still is being brewed and food served (Taco Steve).
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2,570
Tiger Trucking is no fan of Gahan's; on the other, everyone has their price. It appears that Nickelin LLC purchased these two properties in 2004 for $2.4 million. It's hard to imagine Flaherty and Collins, or any other well-heeled developers, buying these on their own dime. Tax Increment Financing? That's another story, even before the sewer tap-in waiver gifting.
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3,103
WHY HAS NAHA EMBARKED ON A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY-BUYING SPREE?
