You may or may not be interested in learning about this "Stormy Daniels Space Force" comic book.

As George W. Bush is reputed to have said: "That was some weird shit."

Granted, I'm accustomed to receiving bizarre press releases.

The funny thing to me is that they arrive quite seldom at my actual request. During NABC times, they were about craft beer and various essential gadgets or get-craft-quick schemes. NA Confidential has generated its share, and these days all the bots have learned about my "digital editor" job title at Food & Dining Magazine.

However, this one takes the proverbial cake, having absolutely nothing to do with anything I do.

It must be experienced in its entirety for maximum impact and cranial, er, penetration.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TidalWave Productions has also struck a deal to pen a fictional series starring Stormy Daniels.

This fall, TidalWave will develop a fiction comic book series with Daniels called “Stormy Daniels: Space Force.” Captain Stormy Daniels commands the Helix, a starship serving the United Republic of Earth and its leader, “very stable genius” OrDon. Daniels and her crew – capitalists at heart – are for hire. It is Barbarella-meets-Star Trek-meets-Stripperalla in a racy comedy, action and adventure series starring Daniels.

Created by Stormy Daniels and Darren G. Davis featuring art by Pablo Martinena. The comic book series is written by Michael Frizell and ‘Amazing Race’ alumni/ Lexington, Kentucky resident Andrew Shayde. Special covers by famed comic artist Bill Walko and Agung Prabowo.

“I have joined forces with to create this comic and TidalWave has been so generous with allowing my input”, said Daniels “ I could not be happier with the outcome. Bonus is I get to add badass comic book character to my resume.”

“We are excited to be teaming up for this far out adventure with Stormy”, said TidalWave publisher Darren G. Davis. “We have not just created a fun comic book but a brand that will include action figures and an animated series”.

The Bohemia Group will be developing this into an animated series. “Working with Darren is always an adventure and this one may be one of my favorites. How often do you get to turn a situation like what happened with Stormy Daniels into a superhero! I am very excited to see where this one goes and happy to have Bohemia Group apart of it!” said CEO Susan Ferris from the Bohemia Group.

Released last week was a NEW and updated comic book biography on Stormy. “Female Force: Stormy Daniels” was created in conjunction with Daniels, who wrote the foreword to the book and edited the story herself. The book features new material, bonus images and an ending that is sure to please those who love stories written to empower and inspire.

Print copies of the biography comics are available on Amazon. Digital versions are available from iTunes, Kindle, Nook, ComiXology, Kobo and wherever e-books are sold.

Please feel free to use the images and credit TidalWave Productions. To download some PDF’s and covers click here:
https://bit.ly/3ejbPvV

Interview opportunities are available upon request.

For more information about the company, visit www.tidalwavecomics.com

About TidalWave Comics

TidalWave is a multifaceted multimedia production company with the mission of delivering dynamic storytelling in a variety of forms by developing graphic and literary fiction and nonfiction, audio, film and more. The company’s wide range of diverse titles delight readers through its creative and innovative storytelling available in high-quality print and electronic formats.

TidalWave delivers a multimedia experience unparalleled in the burgeoning graphic fiction and nonfiction marketplace. Dynamic storytelling, coupled with groundbreaking art, delivers an experience like no other. Stories are told through multiple platforms and genres, gracing the pages of graphic novels, novelizations, engaging audio dramas and cutting-edge film projects. Diversity defines TidalWave’s offerings in the burgeoning pop-culture marketplace through its use of fresh voices and innovative storytellers.

As one of the top independent publishers of comic books and graphic novels, TidalWave unites cutting-edge art and engaging stories produced by the publishing industry’s most exciting artists and writers. Its extensive catalog of comic book titles includes the bestsellers “10th Muse” and “The Legend of Isis,” complemented by a line of young adult books and audiobooks.

TidalWave’s publishing partnerships include entertainment icon William Shatner (“TekWar Chronicles”), legendary filmmaker Ray Harryhausen (“Wrath of the Titans,” “Sinbad: Rogue of Mars,” “Jason and the Argonauts” and more), novelists S.E. Hinton (“The Puppy Sister”) and William F. Nolan (“Logan’s Run”), and celebrated actors Vincent Price (“Vincent Price Presents”), Dirk Benedict of the original “Battlestar Galactica” (“Dirk Benedict in the 25th Century”) and Adam West of 1966’s “Batman” fame (“The Mis-Adventures of Adam West”). TidalWave also publishes a highly successful line of biographical comics under the titles “Orbit,” “Fame,” “Beyond,” “Tribute,” “Female Force” and “Political Power.”

Contact Information
Publisher Darren Davis welcomes media inquiries. Interviews may be available upon request.

Darren G. Davis
Publisher, TidalWave Comics
direct line: 503-941-5851
ddavis@Bluewaterprod.com

We Are New Albany press release, Part One: "A CITY WHERE WE ALL CAN LIVE: A report prepared by the We Are New Albany Campaign."

We've just received a two-part press release from We Are New Albany.

In Spring 2017, New Albany, Indiana Mayor Jeff Gahan announced his intention to demolish more than half of the town's public housing stock. Apart from vague promises of housing vouchers, residents have been told almost nothing about the plan or what will become of them. Sign the petition: No demolition without a plan to replace!

Part One (below): "A CITY WHERE WE ALL CAN LIVE: A report prepared by the We Are New Albany Campaign."

Part Two (click link): We Are New Albany March 17, 2018 Press Release (endorsement of Ed Clere).

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A CITY WHERE WE ALL CAN LIVE

A report prepared by the We Are New Albany Campaign

One year ago, I was confident in the New Albany Housing Authority’s plan. 

At the beginning of 2017, NAHA planned to construct dozens of new units of supportive housing. Its goals were to improve service quality, decrease housing density, meet the needs of residents like me, and foster sustainable communities. The plan was put forward by NAHA’s then-Director Bob Lane.

Before I met Mr. Lane, I felt like a complete failure: I had just managed to get myself and my two granddaughters out of a homeless shelter, I was working a low-wage job, and I didn’t know how ’d gotten to such a low point. But Mr. Lane turned my life around, telling me, “The only thing separating you from me is a paycheck. We’re not failures.” Once, when I was pending disability, he contracted with me to do work at NAHA. And when some NAHA housing was demolished, he personally took displaced residents to look for suitable housing. So it’s not hard to see why we residents trusted Mr. Lane’s plan to support our families and community. Mr. Lane’s plan cleared all the hurdles—legal, financial, and political. The funding was practically in Mr. Lane’s hand: all he needed was Mayor Jeff Gahan’s signature.

But Mayor Gahan had other plans.

In May 2017, Mr. Lane nodded and smiled at me as he entered the NAHA Board meeting. But he didn’t leave smiling: at that fateful meeting, Mr. Lane was publicly fired, prohibited from entering a statement into the record, and instructed to clear out his desk and be gone. My stomach sank. I just sat there with my mouth open, wondering if I was having a nightmare. For weeks after, I was in a state of shock and grief.

That was the day my confidence in NAHA collapsed.

Since then, NAHA has applied for the right to demolish more than half of the public housing stock. Interim Director David Duggins has publicly stated that he would rather not rebuild any of it.

It’s plain to see why: the land, situated near Baptist Hospital and the city’s prime commercial corridor, is attractive to land speculators and for-profit developers. In his previous role as the city’s Director of Redevelopment, Mr. Duggins handedout lucrative contracts to real estate interests: the Breakwater developers received millions of dollars in tax credits, infrastructure, and free land, and a 20-year waiver of property taxes -- plus public bonding of its debt. What goodies could be offered on the land where the NAHA units slated for demolition now sit?

Instead of articulating a plan, the Gahan Administration has simply insisted that none of us NAHA residents will be homeless when all is said and done.

We are skeptical about this promise — this report illustrates why.

Vouchers are no guarantee of stable, decent housing.

• Vouchers expire. In 2015, 28 percent of the vouchers issued through the New Albany Housing Authority expired because voucher holders were unable to find housing.1

• They’re not good everywhere. Landlords don’t have to accept Section 8 vouchers, and many can’t pass the required health and safety inspections.

• They don’t cover everything. Even when a Section 8 voucher is accepted, renters often need to be able to afford deposits and extra utility costs on sub-standard units.

• They don’t last forever. Rents rise, and when they do, renters might find that their vouchers no longer cover our costs. We may find ourselves homeless down the line, even if we have housing initially.

There is an extreme shortage of affordable housing in this area.

• We have nowhere to go. There are only 45 units of affordable housing for every 100 low-income renters in Clark County. The numbers are even worse in Floyd County, where there are only 42 units for every 100.2

• We are not alone. Between Clark and Floyd Counties, 4,000 households are housing insecure. Tearing down public housing will add to that number; building up the public housing stock would provide a safety net thousands need.3

• Most units are unfit to live in. In 2016, 57 percent of Housing Choice Voucher units failed initial inspections. Meanwhile, 51 percent of units previously approved failed their annual inspections.4

• Housing need continues to skyrocket. In recent years, foreclosures have surged. Clark County had 455 foreclosures filed in 2005; they peaked at 750 in 2010, declined, and then surged again to 741 in 2012. Floyd County, with a smaller population and slightly higher median income, peaked at 424 in 2008 and saw another high mark of 423 in 2012.5

There are no plans to build more affordable housing.

• Plenty of talk, no action. The Vision 2025 report says more affordable housing is needed—but lays out no steps for achieving it.

• “Not in my backyard!” runs rampant in our area, and there are no inclusionary zoning requirements. New Albany’s most enthusiastic development projects, like Breakwater apartments, provide affluent renters with luxury units, raising rents all over town and contributing to housing insecurity.

• Drowning in rent. Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $705—61 percent of the monthly income of an individual working full time at minimum wage.6

• Kicking out the poor. Almost all of New Albany’s prized economic development relies on low-wage labor. With housing vouchers that amount to one-way tickets out of the city we call home, the administration undermines its own accomplishments.

Recommendations

We believe New Albany can and must be a city where we all can live. From the beginning of our campaign, we’ve been clear in our call to Mayor Gahan and Interim Director Duggins not to demolish a single unit of public housing without a plan to replace it.

Here are some paths forward to heeding our call—preserving New Albany’s identity as a beautiful city that’s welcoming to all, and devoted to the people who make it what it is.

Re-adopt Bob Lane’s plan

Mr. Lane is a highly-respected, longtime expert in public housing administration, and his plan was met with approval by all parties concerned—not least by the residents who know that Mr. Lane was working in good faith, and with respect for the lives of NAHA residents.

Right to Return

The city could guarantee that the NAHA residents whose homes are slated for demolition have a right to return to comparably-sized units in whatever housing is to be constructed on the land in question.

Infill 1:1

For every unit it proposes to demolish, NAHA could develop a unit in a new property either on an empty lot in town, or where landlords have allowed their properties to become dilapidated.

Develop truly affordable housing.

New Albany can adopt inclusionary zoning requirements and develop properties where landlords are required to accept housing vouchers, and are publicly overseen to ensure that they maintain the units sufficiently to pass annual inspections.

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1 Beilman, Elizabeth. “New Albany Housing Authority residents, activists plead with city to change course.” News and Tribune, Nov. 16, 2017

2 Fry, Melissa S. Vision 2025: A Strategic Plan to End Homelessness in Clark and Floyd County. Jeffersonville: 2015, p. 29.

3 ibid, p. 26 

4 Beilman, Elizabeth. “New Albany aims for significant changes of public housing stock over next decade.” News and Tribune, Mar. 6, 2017 

5 ibid, p. 26 6 Fry. Vision 2025, p. 33

Hoosier Action • HoosierAction.org • @HoosierAction

We Are New Albany press release, Part Two: "We Are New Albany endorses Republican candidate Ed Clere of Indiana State House of Representatives, District 72."

NA Confidential photo.

We've just received a two-part press release from We Are New Albany.

In Spring 2017, New Albany, Indiana Mayor Jeff Gahan announced his intention to demolish more than half of the town's public housing stock. Apart from vague promises of housing vouchers, residents have been told almost nothing about the plan or what will become of them. Sign the petition: No demolition without a plan to replace!

Part One (click link): "A CITY WHERE WE ALL CAN LIVE: A report prepared by the We Are New Albany Campaign."

Part Two (below): We Are New Albany March 17, 2018 Press Release (endorsement of Ed Clere).

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We Are New Albany March 17, 2018 Press Release

We Are New Albany endorses Republican candidate Ed Clere of Indiana State House of Representatives, District 72. This endorsement is a reflection of Ed Clere’s consistent support of New Albany Housing Authority’s residents, and opposition to the city’s demolition plan without a plan to replace.

We Are New Albany prides itself on its lack of partisanship and has attempted to avoid endorsements in order to retain this non-partisan image. However, the lack of public support from many candidates running for public office has prompted the decision to move forward with endorsements for candidates that publicly support New Albany Housing Authority residents. 

The criteria for consideration from We Are New Albany for an endorsement is as follows:

• Publicly denouncing the plan to demolish public units without a plan to replace.
• Publicly acknowledge that planned conversion of public housing units into vouchers through the Rental Assistance Demonstration is not a guarantee of stable, decent housing.
• Publicly acknowledge the affordable housing shortage in New Albany and the lack of a plan by the city to construct affordable housing.
• Publicly denounce the lack of transparency around the plan to demolish New Albany’s public housing units.
• Publicly acknowledge the long-term consequences of reducing public housing stock, which will reduce access to future affordable housing.
• Consistently support New Albany Housing Authority residents publicly.

Candidates may receive an endorsement for satisfying one or more of the criteria. With that said, our basis for determining an endorsement will not be based on broad affordable housing advocacy, but rather advocacy specifically for New Albany Housing Authority residents and opposition to plans that would harm residents or leave them homeless.

We Are New Albany will be holding a Spread the Word canvassing event on March 24th to inform New Albany Housing Authority residents about the plan to demolish almost half of the public housing stock without a plan to replace. We are looking for volunteers to come get out the word to protect the residents’ homes. The details for the event are as follows:

Date: Saturday March 24, 2018
Time: 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Where: Empowerment Community Church 1138 Pearl Street, New Albany, IN 47150

We Are New Albany will be hosting a political social on April 7th to inform the community and New Albany Housing Authority residents about local, state and Federal candidates. Candidates from both parties running for local, state, and Federal offices have been invited and will be attending the political social. We will also be working to register voters on site. The details for the event are as follows:

Date: Saturday April 7, 2018
Time: 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Where: Clean Socks Hope 800 E 8th Street, New Albany, IN 47150

"City of New Albany Under Fire Amid Accusations of Ignoring INDOT Policies" as Transparency for Mount Tabor group issues scathing press release.

Previously: Here are the questions you can ask at Tuesday evening's meeting about the Mt. Tabor Deforestation and Auto Enrichment Project.

We've just received this press release from Transparency for Mt. Tabor. Take note of tonight's meeting, and best of luck to the insurgents.

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City of New Albany Under Fire Amid Accusations of Ignoring INDOT Policies

Contact: Transparency for Mount Tabor - Scott Whalen or Kelly Feiock 

New Albany, IN (January 2, 2018) – Another large crowd is expected at the public meeting tonight hosted by the City of New Albany to unveil yet another plan for the Mount Tabor Road Redevelopment Project. The project’s initial goal was to correct erosion problems running along the north side of the road into the creek below. Revisions to the plans will be displayed at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in New Albany at 7 pm.

In addition to correcting the erosion problems, the original plan in 2013 called for scrapping the current 4-way stop with stop signs and inserting a roundabout into an area that a proper roundabout would not fit. More than 300 residents angrily voiced their opposition to this idea, begging the city to fix the erosion and leave the rest of the road alone.

A few months later Mayor Jeff Gahan reversed his stance, visiting three of the homes on Christmas Eve, which are located on the intersection of Mount Tabor and Klerner Lane, personally telling the residents that his official response to the public hearing and the Categorical Exclusion (CE) was that the intersection would remain the same. It was possible to change to a traffic signal in the future, but it would be in a separate project if or when that happened. He followed up with mailing a letter to all affected residents stating “I recently decided to eliminate the roundabout from the project. The plan is now to retain the 4-way stop.” Gahan continued by saying “This decision was based upon the public comments and concerns received from the surrounding neighborhoods.”

Fast forward three years to June 2016. Residents begin receiving letters notifying them the project was moving forward, appraisers would be visiting homes and acquisition offers to buy land would follow soon after. Yet, when the Right of Way (ROW) Agents presented the offers to residents, they showed plans marked “preliminary.” And when residents asked for a copy of the plans that actually said “Final,” they learned the plans were not yet final. Gossip swirled as neighbors began to speculate that the City of New Albany was going to change the plans again.

Unable to obtain answers from Gahan’s employees, residents turned to INDOT for answers, as INDOT must sign off any federally-funded projects. In December 2016 INDOT confirmed the 4-way stop was now to become a signalized light, and the two lanes of traffic would now insert a left turn lane. Once again residents are furious with Team Gahan. Some had already signed contracts selling portions of their land, believing the atmosphere of a 4-way stop and two lanes of traffic would remain the same. Others, who refused to sign fearing the neighborhood was about to change, have been sued and their land obtained via eminent domain. Approximately 50% of the residents are refusing to give in, and are now going to jury trial against the city.

Resident Scott Whalen kept questioning INDOT officials about policies, and asked shouldn’t residents have seen the final plans before properties were appraised, contracts signed or eminent domain granted? How can damages be calculated when the appraiser doesn’t know the end result? Finally, INDOT agreed that the residents were to be notified of the changes. Residents didn’t just want to know about the changes – they want to know how INDOT signed off on a major change of scope, and not be aware that the residents didn’t know.

Lack of communication has been an ongoing issue between city officials, INDOT and residents. INDOT requires the city mail surveys to residents for a noise analysis – but the surveys were never mailed. INDOT requires any reasonable requests be considered during negotiations - but the ROW agent didn’t tell the city about the requests. The city told INDOT that an increase in traffic warranted the change from a 4-way stop to a traffic signal – but it didn’t tell INDOT that the two traffic analysis it ordered were done when parallel streets were closed and traffic was rerouted though Mount Tabor Road. In fact, a traffic study has never been conducted while all roads are open and no traffic rerouted, so there is no base line as to the average daily amount of cars to travel Mount Tabor Road.

The last straw came when residents received a letter from the city stating trees were to be cut down along Mount Tabor Road, beginning tomorrow, January 3. With so many questions and no answers, the issues have escalated to state officials who will be discussing the project today prior to the public meeting. State Representative Ed Clere plans to speak with INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness with hopes that INDOT will finally become accountable for the project that it approved, yet doesn’t know anything about.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help is located at 1752 Scheller Lane, New Albany, IN 47150. The public is encouraged to bring written comments or questions they would like answered and filed on public record with INDOT.

Here's another one we already reported: Grooms will run again in 2018, because the US Chamber of Commerce needs a reliable voice.

Yawn.

The only real question is which Clark County Democrat will be chosen to act as sacrificial lamb. Heaven knows, there are few (if any) credible hopefuls in Floyd County.

GREEN MOUSE SAYS: Tea leaves say Grooms will run again in 2018, dooming NA to a third Gahan mayoral bid in 2019.

It has been suggested that the Green Mouse should receive a pay raise. Allow me to suggest that is isn't possible to "raise" what doesn't exist.

Meanwhile, it's another dreary press release rehash from the disintegrating chain newspaper. As such, here's the whole kit and kaboodle.

Was the original release this bad, or is it just the rewrite?

Grooms to seek re-election to Indiana Senate

Formal announcement to be held at Big Four Station

JEFFERSONVILLE — State Sen. Ron Grooms has announced his intention to run for re-election in Indiana Senate District 46. A formal announcement is expected at 10 a.m. June 23 at Big Four Station in front of the Walking Bridge in Jeffersonville.

Since Grooms was elected in 2010, the State of Indiana has made huge strides in employment, education support, and combating opioid use, according to a news release issued by the Grooms campaign. In fact, since Grooms' election the unemployment rate has decreased to 3.9 percent as of March 2017 from 10.7 percent in January 2010. More Hoosiers are working than ever before

It is also important that we continue to support increases in support for K-12 education in Indiana, like Sen. Grooms has over the past eight years, the release stated.

The public is welcome to attend Sen. Grooms’ formal re-election announcement, where he will be giving some remarks to supporters, friends and family.

'Bune snoozes and IL gets the scoop: "City of New Albany, residents head to court over road improvement project."

We have all been here before, haven't we?

Shane Gibson is unaccountable yet again as "City of New Albany Withholding Public Records in Mount Tabor Road Land Grab."

The Indiana Public Access Counselor has affirmed that the city of New Albany has unlawfully denied public records to a landowner who is pushing back against the city’s use of eminent domain in a Mount Tabor Road expansion project.

I'm happy to see Insider Louisville step up; meanwhile, over yonder lies Hanson's 'Bama Folly, scooped once again. Apparently the N & T is delighted to receive tips about New Albany stories, just as long as they can't be traced to NA Confidential.

Remind me again: Why have I been sending website traffic to their advertising clickers in good faith these past 12 years?

Verily, you can trust those corporate types ... they'll ALWAYS let you down.

City of New Albany, residents head to court over road improvement project, by Caitlin Bowling (IL)

The city of New Albany is trying to use eminent domain to secure land from more than a dozen property owners for the Mt. Tabor Road Restoration and Pedestrian Safety project, but some property owners have raised concerns about the plan.

Earlier this month, the city filed complaints in Floyd County Circuit Court against 17 property owners asking the court to rule that the city can take ownership of a portion of their properties that run along Mt. Tabor Road. The property will allow the city to reconstruct nearly 1.1 miles of road, install full curbs and gutters, and build sidewalks on both sides of the road.

SNIP

 ... In a letter to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Dennis Feiock, who owns property at the corner of Mt. Tabor Road and Klerner Lane, said residents don’t oppose improvements to the road, but adding two sidewalks is superfluous and would create more impervious surfaces in an area with flooding problems.

“From all the discussion on this subject over the past 4 years, it has become apparent that the only person supporting dual sidewalks at this location is the Mayor of New Albany,” Feiock wrote in the email ...

Shane Gibson is unaccountable yet again as "City of New Albany Withholding Public Records in Mount Tabor Road Land Grab."

(6:00 p.m. update: Typo has been corrected in banner)

(6:30 p.m. update: Receveur has launched a web site where you can read all the documents pertaining to this case: New Albany Land Grab)

Following is a press release, courtesy of local businessman Colin Receveur. Municipal corporate counsel Shane Gibson's cavalier disregard for public information requests is legendary. I'm delighted to him snared in arrogance of his own making. But just remember that taking metaphorical bullets for the mayor is why Gibson gets the big money -- the really, really big money. Jeff Gahan's the one who should be answering for this, isn't he?

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City of New Albany Withholding Public Records in Mount Tabor Road Land Grab

New Albany, IN — The Indiana Public Access Counselor has affirmed that the city of New Albany has unlawfully denied public records to a landowner who is pushing back against the city’s use of eminent domain in a Mount Tabor Road expansion project.

Colin Receveur — a local business owner, entrepreneur, and land developer — had sent three formal requests for the city of New Albany to supply building permits, curb cut, and driveway permit for two of his properties, 815 and 819 Mount Tabor Road. These are two of the many properties being affected by the city’s long and winding $6.5 million federally funded project to repair drainage and erosion issues and provide sidewalk space.

All of Receveur’s requests for public records to the city were denied without cause. Luke H. Britt, Indiana’s public access counselor, has found that those denials have put the city of New Albany in violation of Indiana Public Records Access Act.

“The city has switched gears and project proposals more times than I can count, and the property owners affected by the project are being left in the dark,” Receveur said.

“This recent decision to keep public records out of the hands of property owners makes it plain to see that the city is expecting landowners to cough up their properties in exchange for unjust sums and virtually zero documentation.”

Receveur appealed to the Indiana Public Access Counselor after outright public record refusals from New Albany City Attorney Shane Gibson, members of the New Albany City Council, and members of the New Albany Board of Works and Safety.

Receveur isn’t the only New Albany landowner upset with the city’s handling of the Mount Tabor Road project. Residents have packed city councils meetings to oppose the project, and Receveur has compiled 117 pages of complaints.

“It’s unfortunate that the city is ignoring such a large portion of its constituents,” Receveur said. “This has been a boondoggle from start to finish. It’s a project that is said to help erosion issues on the road, but the city’s tactics have eroded the trust between local landowners and our local government.”

Receveur’s chief concern is the fate of his apartment building at 815 Mount Tabor Road. The city’s proposal will snatch all six of the available parking spaces for the apartment residents. The plan brings a dangerous change to Receveur’s tenants and his business.

He worries that his business will not be able to operate under the proposed road changes. Even worse, he said his current tenants will not have access to available parking and may have to park their vehicles across Mount Tabor Road or the busy Grant Line Road.

The city has informed Receveur that those parking spaces at 815 Mount Tabor Road are unpermitted but has denied document verification. Receveur said he hopes the Indiana Public Access Counselor decision helps other local residents who have also been denied records or explanations from the city.

“Our goal here is to have the city provide adequate documentation, transparency, and just compensation,” Receveur said. “Right now, the city of New Albany is asking us to forfeit our land but is slamming the door in our faces when we request documentation that we are legally entitled to see.”

For more information, contact Colin Receveur at 502-443-1082 or creceveur@gmail.com

Southern Indiana Equality Quarterly Meeting: Government 101 ... on Monday, February 20 at Culbertson West.

Mark your calendars. 

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SIE Quarterly Meeting: Government 101

Our country's government is a hot topic across news stations and social media. Do you ever find yourself thinking wondering if you truly understand how our government works? Are you having trouble remembering some of the information from your high school civics classes? What exactly is an executive order?

Join Southern Indiana Equality on Monday, 2/20, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Culbertson West in New Albany, to learn more about what the government does, how it impacts you and your family, and what you can do to be an involved citizen.

This Quarterly Meeting of SIE is meant is going to be totally interactive as we explore these questions and start to ask more. Our panel is made up of government experts with a variety of viewpoints.

Al Knable - New Albany City Council
Dan Canon - attorney focusing on civil rights litigation, employment litigation, and appellate advocacy
John Smith - attorney focusing on injury and civil rights litigation
Brandon Smith - attorney focusing on injury and civil rights litigation

Please join us at Culbertson West, 904 E. Main Street in New Albany, to keep the conversation about our government going. This is a family friendly event! There will be adult beverages (for purchase) and light snacks available.

Hannegan Roseberry

Vice-President
Southern Indiana Equality

"I speak not for myself but for those without voice... those who have fought for their rights... their right to live in peace, their right to be treated with dignity, their right to equality of opportunity, their right to be educated."
Malala Yousafzai

"It’s Time for a (Menu) Change: Why Brooklyn and the Butcher Refuses To Play It Safe."

From the release.

If you're a fan of Brooklyn and The Butcher, you'll want to read the entire release for an in-depth explanation of culinary design, and also view the photos.

It’s Time for a Change: Why Brooklyn and the Butcher Refuses To Play It Safe.

New Albany, IN — (January 18, 2017) – The decision to change a menu is not something that any restaurant takes lightly. There’s the hard work, of course – design and branding updates, online menu’s scattered around the web that will need changing, the countless hours each Chef will spend conceptualizing, testing, and executing each new recipe. There’s also fear and anxiety. Will guests like the new dishes? Do the new plates fit with our original vision? Which dishes do we cut? How do we explain those cuts to our guests? ...

... “This new menu is about completing the vision,” said Ian Hall, owner of both Brooklyn and the Butcher and The Exchange pub + kitchen. Hall thinks the addition of pastas and new Small Plates items creates a menu that now offers something for everyone. “It’s about listening to our guests and building those relationships. We knew our guests loved steaks– that’s a no brainer. But we also knew they wanted something more. Something modern and fresh. The addition of pastas and the revamping of our Small Plates menu takes us into the future of where Brooklyn’s is heading.”

Words & Images by Matt Simpson

For more information on Brooklyn and the Butcher’s exciting new menu, please visit

To book a table at Brooklyn and the Butcher.

Stepping on a Lego is one thing, mental anguish something else entirely.

As we speak, his fins are being devoured by exclamation marks. Poor shark.

A new buzz phrase enters City Hall's bunker-speak: "Downtown Grid Modernization Project." We believe it's a synonym for "non-existent."

Shane's getting two vocabulary words this week.

Kremlinology: The art of observing, deducing and guessing what is really happening within a secretive organization. (So called from the Kremlin, headquarters of the top government leaders in the Communist era Soviet Union.)

And so it is that in New Albany, we must resort to Bunkerology, minutely examining the nuance and wording of press releases in an effort to fathom the gist of nods and winks being exchanged between the denizens of the Down Low Bunker.

Unexpectedly and after a long silence, City Hall spoke twice today. Our crack team of gin drinkers immediately spotted a mysterious phrase common to each press release.

The first (underlined) isn't capitalized.

City Receives $1 Million Grant For Road Improvements

 ... The grant, totaling $1 million, will go towards improving street infrastructure within the city of New Albany. Three projects were submitted by the City of New Albany for consideration in the Community Crossings program: the city-wide paving project, the full reconstruction of Bono Road, and the downtown grid modernization project.

“We are thrilled to receive these funds that will help us continue to improve our infrastructure throughout the city,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan.

But the second is.

City Works to Minimize Morning Commute Traffic Congestion During Construction

 ... “These traffic congestion issues are the product of many factors, including the interchange re-construction and traffic accidents. We are doing our best to ensure that we are reviewing all traffic patterns and how we can best accommodate them during these construction periods. Long-term, we hope that these issues will be mitigated by our Downtown Grid Modernization Project,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan.

Of course, we quickly surfed to the city's site and searched this hitherto unknown term.

Foiled again by the Eastridge Encryptor. Perhaps if we subpoenaed the minutes of the East Spring Street Neighborhood Association ...

Dangerous intersections: Something for Greg Phipps to consider, though it's unlikely they will.

Amid the craters of recently paved 5th Street, a safe haven.

Let's return to the city's press release yesterday. Ignore the bad grammar in the last sentence.

Additional infrastructure improvements include numerous changes to local roads and streets. McDonald Lane is being expanded and improved to allow for better traffic flow. Spring Street in downtown is receiving major improvements at dangerous intersections to help improve both safety, traffic, and pedestrian accessibility.

A regular blog reader delves more succinctly, and it raises another valid question of the sort asked by malcontents:

How did those intersections come to be dangerous, and if we knew, why has it taken so many years to (feebly) address the fact?

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Two things come to mind when reading this press release:

1) Only "dangerous intersections"? How many are there and how are they determined? By pedestrian death count?

Why not address every intersection in the same manner, so pedestrians and drivers can come to understand the importance of crosswalks within the city?

Spotty, piece-meal "solutions" prove there is no real plan, just lazy, knee jerk reaction.

2) "Accessibility" is a bullshit word used to sound impressive. Every intersection in New Albany is already "accessible" by walkers (although not by those in wheelchairs).

Most of the intersections on Spring Street are simply not safe for pedestrians to cross due to the street's one way width and traffic speed.

The missing word is "safety" - as in "pedestrian safety" - and the reason the city won't use that phrase is they don't want to make any promises of real effort.

I'm surprised that Mr. Phipps isn't more concerned about pedestrians dying while simply trying to cross the street in the Spring Street neighborhood district. New Albany citizens asking for safer cross walks are "malcontents"?

The next victim will be someone's daughter or son, father or mother, grandmother or grandfather, neighbor or friend.

"Malcontents"?

Really?

City Hall crassly exploits the death of a walker in order to brag about its achievements.

Last week, Chloe Allen was killed trying to cross Spring Street.

On Tuesday, an ironic municipal entity officially known as the Board of Works and Public Safety had its weekly meeting, and in a room filled with city functionaries, all of whom are charged with one or the other aspect of public safety, not a single word was mentioned about the woman who was killed trying to cross the street.

Last evening at the second of two monthly city council meetings, Dan Coffey raised the issue of the woman who was killed trying to cross the street, and there was a discussion. Al Knable had mentioned it earlier in the day in a social media post.

Also on social media, Greg Phipps expressed annoyance with those of us who feel that it is a public official's responsibility to speak to matters of the public's interest -- especially when those matters pertain to safety.

Phipps referred to "malcontents" in this context.

When the woman was killed trying to cross the street, it was clear there'd be no comment from the mayor and his closest associates directly addressing the situation, but surprisingly, a press release appeared on Thursday.

Finances and Operations on Track and Under Budget

In it, Chloe Allen was not mentioned. Rather, it reviewed the administration's many glowing achievements.

There are 460 words in the press release, including the title, and the very last two words of these are "pedestrian accessibility."

Spring Street in downtown is receiving major improvements at dangerous intersections to help improve both safety, traffic, and pedestrian accessibility.

Take a closer look at this sentence, specifically the word "both."

We can surmise that as originally written, before a woman was killed trying to cross the street, the sentence probably read like this:

"Spring Street in downtown is receiving major improvements at dangerous intersections to help improve both safety and traffic."

But after a woman died trying to cross the very same street, "pedestrian accessibility" was hastily inserted.

Inserted as an afterthought.

Inserted because, as the Bored of Public Works proved abundantly on Tuesday, walkability is always an afterthought, whether or not it is adorned with the egregious multiple syllables of bureaucratese.

It would appear that crass exploitation cuts both ways in New Albany, and if this makes me a malcontent, I can live with it.

Unfortunately, Chloe Allen had no such choice.

The press release: "New Albany Officially Has an Independent in Mayor's Race."

Here's the formal Baylor for Mayor candidacy announcement, as conveyed to area news outlets. On Monday morning at 8:00 a.m., we'll meet on the sidewalk in front of the Carnegie Center and shatter the purely symbolic bottle of champagne. You are cordially invited to attend.

Also be aware of these two events:

Baylor for Mayor Street Issues Conversation, at Ritter Park, 6:00 p.m., July 15

Roger Baylor's $21 at 55 Birthday Party Fundraiser, at NABC's Pizzeria & Public House, 6:00 p.m., August 3

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For IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Albany Officially Has an Independent in Mayor's Race

NEW ALBANY, Ind. - After meeting Indiana's petition requirements for all independent candidates, businessman Roger Baylor has qualified to be placed on the ballot in this fall's mayoral contest.

Baylor will meet with supporters on Monday (July 13) at 8 a.m. in front of The Carnegie Center for Art & History (201 E. Spring St) to officially kick off his campaign. Interested media are invited to cover the event and the candidate will be available for questions during and after the event.

"I have always been uncomfortable saying 'I' because this campaign is all about 'we,'" said Baylor, "but I want to offer my sincere personal thanks to all of those who signed our petition to gain ballot access and to all the volunteers who helped gather those signatures."

Baylor, who is on leave from the New Albanian Brewing Company during the campaign, is the only independent candidate in the mayor's race. He'll face incumbent Democrat Jeff Gahan and Republican Kevin Zurschmiede, who currently serves on the New Albany city council.

Former New Albany City Clerk Marcey Wisman-Bennett serves as treasurer of Shift to Baylor, the official campaign committee.

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CONTACT Roger Baylor by email at mayorbaylor@gmail.com or by phone at 502.468.9710 or 812.944.3617

Facebook: facebook.com/baylorformayor
Website: baylorformayor.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/newalbaniannewalbanian
Instagram: https://instagram.com/baylorformayor/

The bleeding continues as StemWood announces closing.

Not to quibble, but this reads like a press release. You'd think that news of this magnitude, i.e., the shuttering of a 110-year-old local business, would merit a newspaper staffer's attention?

StemWood in New Albany to close this year (Local CNHI Branch)

NEW ALBANY — StemWood, a 110-year-old New Albany-based veneer and lumber mill in operation since 1905, announced today it is winding down its operations here over the next six-to-eight months.

“The exodus of American furniture manufacturing to Asia and the prolonged recession in new housing have been punishing blows to our business model,” said David Wunderlin, president and part owner of StemWood, in a news release.

David Brumett, vice president of manufacturing and partner in ownership, said 25 current employees will be let go over the next six to eight months.

Please "like" the New Albany Restaurant & Bar Association's page at Facebook.

It's only been a month since the press release below was published here, but because the New Albany Restaurant & Bar Association (NARBA) now has a public page at Facebook, perhaps a repeat is in order.

New Albany Restaurant & Bar Association ... https://www.facebook.com/DineNewAlbany

The Facebook page is public, and for anyone and everyone to see what we're doing. Please "like" it, and share with friends.

To any on-premise restaurant and bar owners, operators and managers reading, note that there'll be another organizational meeting soon. A core group has been working toward getting this idea up and running, and we've made enough progress on legalities to begin convening the wider food service and drinks community to discuss the way forward. The working definition for membership is as follows (from the by laws):

Article III
MEMBERSHIP
§1 NARBA membership shall be limited to businesses operating within the city limits of New Albany, Indiana, as defined by these bylaws.

§2 A business is eligible for NARBA membership if all of the following conditions are met: (a) The business is licensed and in possession of all permits required by local, state and Federal government; (b) The business meets the standard of definition of “independent” as defined by the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA): (I) Private, worker, community or cooperative ownership. (II) At least 50% locally-owned. (III) Decision-making authority is vested in the local owners and not subject to conditions dictated remotely. (IV) The business has a limited number of outlets, which are limited to a 150 mile radius.

§3 The Board of Directors may authorize formation of ancillary groups of individuals or businesses that support NARBA’s ideals. Participants in such programs may enjoy benefits as the Board deems appropriate, but shall not vote.

§4 A qualified business may seek membership at any time.

The official press release below (edited slightly for timeliness) has more information. Please spread the word to fellow owners and operators, and contact Ian (below) or me for further information.

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Ian Hall
Tel.: 502.338.2960
Email: ian@exchangeforfood.com

New Albany, IN (March 13, 2015) New Albany Restaurant & Bar Association is formed.

The idea for the New Albany Restaurant & Bar Association (NARBA) has been discussed for a few years by locally owned restaurateurs in downtown New Albany. The food and beverage business has been a vital part of the growth of downtown New Albany’s revitalization, and the need for this organization and for a common voice among its members has become more important.

In 2014, local businesses participating in beverage catering for the Boomtown Ball concert agreed to devote a portion of the proceeds to fund the non-profit’s startup, thus The New Albany Restaurant & Bar Association was formed as a corporation with the State of Indiana in early 2015. We now are pursuing federal government approval as a 501(c)6, business/professional league.

The New Albany Restaurant & Bar Association (NARBA) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit trade organization serving the independent restaurant, bar and on-premise food and drink industry in New Albany, Indiana. NARBA serves as the unified voice of its members on government and public relations issues. It also provides programs that offer educational and operational benefits for members. NARBA represents New Albany’s best known and most vibrant local independent business segment, and is dedicated to the advancement and preservation of New Albany as an urban community.

NARBA will also organize and hosts annual fundraising events in order to give back to the community that has so generously supported its members.

Ultimately, the goal of the association is to educate, brand and organize its members to best inform residents and visitors about the local food and dining scene in New Albany.

There was an informational meeting on March 19, and another meeting will be scheduled soon. Interested businesses are invited to contact NARBA to learn more about the association and how the membership is awarded.

For more information on the NARBA please contact Ian Hall via email Ian@exchangeforfood.com.