The narcissism of car-centrism, part 3: "How Lazy Coverage of Pedestrian Deaths Obscures Why Streets Are So Dangerous."

Paging Bill Hanson and Susan Duncan.

Apart from lazy coverage, I'm trying to remember the last time Louisville metro police and prosecutors took longer than ten grudging minutes to absolve drivers from blame when non-vehicular human beings have been killed by drivers.

It is exceedingly rare, isn't it?

Ever wonder why it's always the car that kills and not the person piloting it?

How Lazy Coverage of Pedestrian Deaths Obscures Why Streets Are So Dangerous, by Angie Schmitt (Streetsblog)

When a driver kills someone on foot, is it an act of God, beyond anyone’s power to prevent? Or is it the result of a broken system in desperate need of reform?

To read the coverage of the May 31 killing of 80-year-old Arnulfo Salazar in Charlotte, North Carolina, you’d think it was a random, unpreventable tragedy. Or that Salazar could have saved himself if only he’d been more careful. The stories don’t convey any sense that Salazar was failed by a hostile and unforgiving system.

Let's skip to the conclusion.

One thing that’s certain, however, is that journalists should be more skeptical of police accounts of pedestrian deaths.

Far too often, police rely exclusively on the testimony of the driver — the victim can no longer tell his or her story. And when the only version of events that gets reported is a story that absolves the driver while blaming the victim, the public discussion of street design and driver behavior won’t even mention possibilities for reform. And that means more people will lose their lives.

Week in review: Jeff Gahan created the Duggins debacle at NAHA, so stop normalizing his efforts to remain aloof.

This week's coverage:

BREAKING: Keith Henderson will not file criminal charges against David Duggins for threatening a resident of public housing.

ON THE AVENUES: Did you hear the one about Duggins' deep TASER regrets? I laughed until I cried -- and so did the folks in Keokuk.

David Duggins' TASER fetish: Hoosier Action has the lowdown, as Mayor Jeff Gahan remains hunkered in the down low bunker.

Team Gahan circles the wagons as David "Knucksie" Duggins' TASER fetish becomes the big story today at the News and Tribune.

Duggins releases new New Albany Housing Authority logo, picks up a sixer of Bud Light Lime, heads out to the TASER range to shoot a few ... rounds.

BREAKING: Keith Henderson will not file criminal charges against David Duggins for threatening a resident of public housing.

NA Confidential has learned that the Floyd County Prosecutor's office has chosen not to file criminal charges against David Duggins, as related to Brandon Brown by an Indiana State Police investigator.

Duggins, the "interim" director of the New Albany Housing Authority, had threatened Brown with TASERing following a recent NAHA board meeting. Duggins later issued an indirect apology, and to date, no disciplinary actions have been taken.

ON THE AVENUES: Did you hear the one about Duggins' deep TASER regrets? I laughed until I cried -- and so did the folks in Keokuk.

Brown also has filed a complaint with the New Albany Police Department, HUD in Indianapolis, and (perhaps) the NAHA. The status of these complaints is not known at this time.

In other news pertaining to the takeover and occupation of the housing authority by Mayor Jeff Gahan, a question has arisen.

If Duggins still is designated as being in an "interim" position, how many interviews has the NAHA board held with applicants for the permanent NAHA Director job?

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As an addendum, NA Confidential has been unable to confirm whether New Albany Mayor Jeff M. Gahan or anyone working in the city's administration is under federal investigation or indictment for corruption, bribery or racketeering. It is standard policy of the U.S. Justice Department to refuse to confirm or deny the existence or non-existence of investigations or subjects of investigations. A similar policy exists at the F.B.I.

Something contagious?

While unwilling to argue the specific merits of the relationship in question, I'm struck by lawyer Mosley's characterization.

Rift widens between New Albany police chief, Floyd County prosecutor; In letter, New Albany police Chief Sherri Knight changes search warrant process, by Gary Popp (N and T)

... While (David) Mosley, the Jeffersonville attorney, has more than a quarter of a century arguing litigation, he said (NAPD Chief Sherri) Knight’s current stance toward the prosecutor’s office is something he has never witnessed.

“I have never heard of that, a police department telling the prosecutor they are not going to be involved in the investigation until the conclusion,” Mosley said. “I can think of no good reason for that.”

Seems locally, there's a lot of "never heard of that" going around. Does anyone know exactly why?