The local chain newspaper has nothing better to do than poll readers about a restaurant's menu changes?

I've already commented on Town, formerly known as Come Back Inn, but really, does one restaurant's menu change and reboot merit an Online Poll?

By the way, shouldn't the header reference the new name and not the old one?

I can hear the answer: "But it's just down the street from our office in Jeffersonville."

Yep. The News and Tribune grows ever more Jeffersonville-centric, while in New Albany, we're given a burned-out steno who hasn't once peeked behind the Potemkin facades of local mis-government.

But how very important it is to weigh in on a single Jeffersonville eatery's changes, to the exclusion of dozens of other issues that impact hundreds more people on a daily basis. Is Hanson trying to sell them an advertising package?

Viewing the newspaper's inexorable decline is a lot like watching Bill Allen's pathetically neglected buildings on Main Street rot. How much longer will there be any value to them?

Develop New Albany's on-line farmers market "poll" is a reeking, juvenile cesspool of intellectual dishonesty.

NAC suggests you go to the DNA rigged polling page and disrupt its bush league tactics by voting for the parking garage. Sadly, doing so may be the only chance we get to register a viewpoint.

From the same old suspects, playing the same old childish fix-is-in games, comes this absurd "choice" in an on-line poll about the future of the farmers market.

I'll have more to say about this on Thursday morning. Until then, just remember DNA's statement of principle back in 2010, when it was asked to take a stand on bridge tolls, and produced a statement of pure, unadulterated, unalloyed cowardice. It's reprinted below.

While you're reading it, just keep asking yourself: From the inception of DNA's farmers market expansion boondoggle, through its surreptitious placement in the city council budget, right up through this insulting poll -- the poll's insipidity quite possibly is the only transparent act DNA had ventured in a decade -- has any one thing the organization has done to advance the idea of overspending on the farmers market NOT BEEN POLITICAL? 

Rather than forward yet another payback to farmers market management (ye Gods, when will it ever be enough?), couldn't we take the $270,000, pay someone $10K a year to run it at whatever location might be deemed of best interest to the entire city, and buy ourselves 27 years of restful nights?

Why is DNA opposed to having an intelligent community discussion about the farmers market and its place in a revitalizing downtown without resorting to the misconceptions and scaremongering?

If the farmers market is genuinely important, maybe we need to take it back from DNA's clutches and do something important with it.

World classics of bureaucratic evasiveness: DNA's 2010 tolling "position" announcement.

NA 1st's position on bridge tolls is much appreciated in the indie business community, which a full year and a half later still looks to the self-endowed, self-described local revitalization leaders for leadership. And, a year and a half later, pins drop, crickets chirp, and somewhere, a beaten cur moans in pompous resignation.

Develop New Albany releases statement regarding bridge tolls.

We support the success of downtown merchants.

Develop New Albany will continue to observe the progress of the construction of new bridges and the proposal for tolls on existing bridges and release statements as they pertain to the economic development of the historic business corridors. The organization is a tax exempt charitable organization and IRS rules state Section 501(c)(3) organizations are restricted in how much political and legislative (lobbying) activities they may conduct. As a non-political organization we are in favor of anything that supports the success of New Albany business owners and favor policy that advances economic development. We encourage a transparent effort on the part of the Bridge Authority and political leaders.

This Corporation was organized with the mission to promote and encourage the economic revitalization and historic preservation of downtown New Albany. Therefore, actions that contribute to these goals have been, and will be, welcomed by Develop New Albany. Actions that are a detriment to these goals have not been, and will not be, welcomed by Develop New Albany.

Develop New Albany: Develop New Albany, Inc. is a non-profit organization composed of local businesses and community volunteers. Develop New Albany is committed to the economic revitalization and historic preservation of Downtown New Albany. Develop New Albany proactively markets New Albany to organizations and businesses to encourage the continued renaissance of Downtown New Albany.

Develop New Albany Contact:
Mike Kopp, President

New Holland on "best of" votes: "It’s not that we don’t care, it’s that we care too much to bother you with them."

I don't personally encourage anyone to vote in various reader polls, and NABC traditionally refrains from asking its customers and fans to stuff dozens of ballots for the sake of the cause. Some times we are mentioned, some times not … and some times, as an underdog from underrated New Albany that carves out a win, it just feels fine to be vindicated as a business.

But as usual, my friend Fred Bueltmann of the New Holland brewery in Michigan says it much better. Just last week, I remarked to a Bank Street Brewhouse visitor that Fred and New Holland have always been important influences for me. "Stop and Taste" is a remarkably concise way of summarizing a complex larger point about food, beverage and place. If we haven't always gotten it right at NABC, it isn't for lack of trying.

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online-voting-pledge/">Online Voting - Our Pledge

September 6, 2013 - There’s a recent blitz by local media to get online votes in a “best brewery” campaign. This is not a new thing, as we’re all inundated with “best of” lists and other online polls.

At New Holland, we work very hard to remind ourselves why we went into business, and what purpose we serve. We absolutely believe in the social and culinary benefits that good drink and good food bring to the world. We think life can be that much more enjoyable when people have interesting, quality and rewarding choices in what they drink.

In this digital age, communication, branding and self-promotion have seen some serious shifts. We’re online, plugged in and in front of screens way more than ever before. We’ve come to realize that while technology brings us terrific tools for communication, it can also tear away at our lifestyle. If we don’t find balance, the conversations about flavor can actually distract us from enjoying the flavor in its best moments.

We feel seriously enough about this that we crafted a message and principle that we try to live by, called “Stop and Taste.” It is centered around “The Rant”, featured below, which we refer back to frequently to guide our voice and actions, and to help us honor the experience of our customers over all else.

Of course, we still appreciate recognition, like everyone else. Whether it’s a customer reaching out to share what they love, how a beer or spirit changed their evening for the better, or a writer recommending us to others, we humbly accept the praise and share it with our team as reward and encouragement.

However, we find the pervasive effort to get customers to constantly vote on lists, or debate who should be on or off a list, to be a distraction from what we are here for. We’d much rather spend the time encouraging people to get to know various beers, spirits or breweries and distilleries and share what they like about them or the differences between them. This is a far cry from digging into a meritless debate about “Who is better?"

We commit ourselves to branding, promoting and engaging in social media in a way that reflects our mission; to provide quality choices to our customers, improving lives and the world by offering an opportunities to stop and taste. We are here to make our customers happy. When we feel we’re accomplishing this goal, we’re happy.

Before you call “sour grapes”, please know that we’re damn proud of what we do, and feel plenty recognized for it. We just don't feel this activity supports our craft, our customers, or the Stop and Taste Lifestyle. We appreciate any and all praise, including our customers nominating or voting on lists, but we want to explain why you won’t see us touting it, or hitting you up for votes or mentions.

We hereby pledge that we will remain politely absent from campaigns that we feel encourage online badgering for votes, and have the potential to be baseless popularity contests. It’s not that we don’t care, it’s that we care too much to bother you with them.

Instead, we encourage you to take a moment to stop and taste. For yourself, and as you please.

Cheers!
Fred Bueltmann - Beervangelist

New Holland Brewing
Owner, VP Sales & Marketing