Duggins does the NAHA ... but We Are New Albany ... and Gahan's still Deaf.

As yesterday's We Are New Albany campaign conference amid the grandeur of Hauss Square was nearing its conclusion, one of the television reporters in attendance received a message (presumably) from Mayor Jeff Gahan.

She read aloud the words, which upon closer examination proved to be the same boilerplate we've heard oft times before, as City Hall released its own propaganda screed to coincide with the gathering.

Public Housing Update, by New Albany City (Mike) Hall

Up in the mornin'
Out on the job
Work like the devil for my pay
But that lucky old sun got nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day.

Fuss with my woman, toil for my kids
Sweat till I'm wrinkled and gray
While that lucky old sun got nothin' to do
But roll around heaven all day

Dear Lord above, can't you know I'm pining, tears all in my eyes
Send down that cloud with a silver lining, lift me to Paradise

Show me that river, take me across
Wash all my troubles away
Like that lucky old sun, give me nothing to do
But roll around heaven all day

Send down that cloud with a silver lining, lift me to Paradise
Show me that river, take me across
Wash all my troubles away
Like that lucky old sun, give me nothing to do
But roll around heaven all day

Local television coverage here:

WDRB: Residents fighting back over planned demolition of New Albany public housing apartments

The "We are New Albany" campaign is protesting the planned demolition of hundreds of public housing apartments. Residents fear they could be forced out without another place to live and claim the city hasn't been transparent about the process.

And the view from Jeffersonville:

New Albany Housing Authority residents, activists plead with city to change course, by Elizabeth Beilman (What Editorial Board?)

Group wants no demolition without full rebuild

NEW ALBANY — A group of New Albany Housing Authority residents are partnering with a non-partisan activist group to send their message to officials — don't demolish public housing units without a plan to replace every last unit.

We Are New Albany, the opposition group, in partnership with non-profit organization Hoosier Action, launched their campaign in a news conference Thursday in front of the City-County Building in New Albany.

Finally, the view from We Are New Albany.

THIS JUST IN: ‘We Are New Albany,’ a campaign to save the homes of more than 1,700 New Albany residents from planned demolition, will publicly launch on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. at the City-County Building.

I believe the release speaks for itself. See you on Thursday. 

Feel free to copy the text below and redistribute any way you please.

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Press Conference: ‘We Are New Albany’ Campaign to Call on Mayor Gahan: “No Demolition Without A Plan to Replace”

New Albany residents to launch campaign to save public housing from demolition

New Albany, IN ­ – ‘We Are New Albany,’ a campaign to save the homes of more than 1,700 New Albany residents from planned demolition, will publicly launch with a press conference at 4PM on Thursday, November 16 at the pillars/steps on the NE corner of the City-County Building in downtown New Albany.

“I was born and raised in New Albany, bouncing around house to house because of unaffordable rents” says ‘We Are New Albany’ campaign Deputy Chair Brandon Brown, a resident of one of the properties slated for demolition. “I will not let the homes in my neighborhood be demolished, forcing children into the insecurity I struggled with at their age. Mayor Gahan, we call on you not to demolish a single unit without a plan to replace it.”

‘We Are New Albany’ is a campaign of Hoosier Action, a community organization building the power of Southern Indiana’s working families. To learn more about the campaign, visit www.hoosieraction.org/ wearenewalbany. Hoosier Action’s official statement of values, “Building The Indiana We Deserve,” can be read online at www.hoosieraction.org/what-we- do/. For more on Hoosier Action, see our press coverage in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and elsewhere at www.hoosieraction.org/press.

Who: The ‘We Are New Albany’ campaign: public housing residents, faith leaders, New Albany tenants, local business leaders, community allies

Where: By the Pillars/Steps, NE corner of the City-County Building, downtown New Albany. Live stream will be available.

When: Thursday, November 16th, 4PM-4:30PM

Visuals: Residents, faith leaders, and business and community allies in front of City-County Building, “We Are New Albany” banner

(Press Contact: Jesse Myerson, 914-582-3938, outreach@hoosieraction.org)