He's melting: If the newspapers won't ask David Duggins hard questions, maybe a bucket of water is the answer.

In these two articles by the News and Tribune's Danielle Grady, there are so many questions to be asked, and so few questions actually asked.

Are they ever asked? I really want to know. If I can think of these questions (and others) while reading, then ...

Industrial development growing in New Albany

FireKing Security Group to be first tenant in Industrial Park West

... David Duggins, New Albany’s director of economic development and redevelopment, said that three years isn’t that long of a time to search for a tenant — a good one, at least.

Is there any evidence for this assertion, or perhaps a corresponding example?

Did the city show property to five potential tenants in three years out of taste and discernment, or because its development hand is so exceedingly weak?

The Carlisle Family was attracted to the Industrial Park partly because of the tax abatements the city offered them. They city approved one abatement for the $6.5 million the Carlisle Family is investing into its new building, while also approving a tax abatement for the $2.2 million worth of manufacturing and IT equipment FireKing is investing into the new location.

Lots and lots of boilerplate tax abatements. The city is adept at giving away money to bigger companies. What sort of programs exist to "assist" smaller start-ups?

“We think that once FireKing gets built up, it’ll really help spur more development because if you don’t know it’s there, you really don’t know it’s there,” he said.

Was that Duggins speaking, or the late Yogi Berra?

Finally, how does the headline "industrial development growing" jibe with the article's conclusion: "Grant Line Industrial Park West might be one of the last frontiers for industry in the city. New Albany is almost out of industrial space, said Duggins."

Let's move on to a second collection of unchallenged smoke-blowing, this time on site at The Break Wind Lofts at Duggins Flats ... and waiter, may I have another plaque?

With cream on top?

The Breakwater apartment complex in New Albany starts accepting tenants

First building opens in mid-December

... The city of New Albany has been happy with how The Breakwater has been coming along — especially regarding the types of tenants it is attracting.

“We want people to live in downtown that are excited to be in downtown,” said David Duggins, New Albany’s director of economic development and redevelopment.

And the apartment complex just looks nice, Duggins said.

“When you go out there, it’s cool, and I think that’s hard to accomplish sometimes,” he said.

So many questions.

How cool are the sewer tap-in waivers and other public subsidies enabling a private for-profit enterprise to be given its special leg-up?

Given these subsidies, isn't the city also subsidizing future retail occupants of the old Coyle building, these being subsidies unavailable to other small business owners?

Duggins has denied two-way streets ever came up during these subsidy negotiations, but at least one Flaherty Collins employee has indicated otherwise.

Which is it? Because if this did in fact arise, and if assurances were made by the city to this effect, then every subsequent protest of "two-way streets aren't a done deal" was a lie (yeah, Irv -- you can use that).

But wait -- it's cool, dude.

After all, Duggins isn't so much a director of economic development as a style arbiter. He's Gianni Versace, reincarnated, and Jeff Gahan believes it.

If that doesn't terrify you, nothing will.

What city is this, anyway?

Hagiography, Gahan-style: "We blacktopped a lot of the alleys this year."

The News and Tribune sent its very best hagiographer to interv ... what's that, Shane?

Really? Okay, okay. Here it is. A hagiographer is a practitioner of hagiography.

hag·i·og·ra·phy
/,haɡēˈäɡrəfē,ˌhāɡē-/
noun
the writing of the lives of saints.
derogatory
adulatory writing about another person.
biography that idealizes its subject.
plural noun: hagiographies

As I was saying, Chris Morris interviewed the mayor, and it was painful reading.

While it is true that Morris selected newly elected councilman Dr. Al Knable to offer a handful of quotes in "rebuttal," Hizzoner generally was allowed to spin the usual Disney tales without the pesky annoyance of follow-up questions.

To even the most casual of readers, follow-ups proliferate faster than rabbits.

• If splitting the park system was a priority, why didn't you mention it during the 2011 campaign?
• What do you mean by "some" one-way streets?
• Was the ill-fated Phipps rental housing ordinance in December your own trial balloon?
• Can you point to the clamor from your citizen "bosses" for a dog park?
• Are new sidewalks alone enough to encourage "walkability," another word you haven't mentioned at all?
• Can you explain why the "business of residency" requires TIF bonding?

And on, and on, and on.

Feel free to append your own follow-up questions, as destined to be neither asked nor answered by media or mayor, to the comments here and at Fb.

New Albany's Gahan looks to next four years; Housing, code enforcement, one-way streets top list for mayor, by Papa (Clark County First)

 ... Knable said a decision needs to be made on the one-way street debate sooner rather than later.

"I think another priority on the 2016 agenda is where do we go with two-way streets downtown. I think we owe it to the independent business owners, the people who live downtown and the citizens of New Albany," Knable said. "They deserve an answer."

Knable also said the council's other top priority in 2016 is to find a new tenant for the Pillsbury factory, "so that area doesn't deteriorate further."