If local Democrats can't honestly address Jeff Gahan's public housing putsch, how can they "resist" Trump?

Once again, I asked.

"C'mon down, Floyd County Democrats. If you're a FCDP type of guy or gal AND support Mayor Gahan's plans for (and handling of) the New Albany Housing Authority, let us know why. Gahan describes himself as a public housing 'advocate.' How so? I keep asking, and crickets keep chirping, but surely there's a Democrat out there willing to make the case. Thanks in advance."

Once again, only the dulcet tones of pins dropping came back to my yearning ears. A Facebook conversation developed, albeit with no one actually answering the question I posed.

Then Susan, one of the few prescient and consistent progressive Democratic commentators in New Albany, especially since Deaf Gahan's Public Housing Putsch 2017 got under way, made this comment.

"I have been asking the same question. We keep waiting for Republicans to recognize what is going on with Trump. Strikes me that this is a similar situation."

It strikes me, too.

The oddest thing about Gahan's public housing housing land grab is the deafening silence emanating from his own Democratic Party camp. If it's the best policy, shouldn't Gahan's allies be out in force, lifting anchors and praising Dear Leader's unerring judgment?

And yet they're not. In fact, they're not uttering a single muffled peep.

Voices in opposition have come from a broad array of society: a holdover board member, former NAHA employees, social workers, activists, honest Democratic Party progressives like Susan, and even a couple of non-office-holding Republicans.

What you permit, you promote -- and silence is complicity.

It makes sense to me why most Republicans would clam up; after all, a Democrat's doing something they agree with, and politically, there's no point in agreeing publicly.

But shouldn't the hosannas be sounding for Gahan from the Democratic rank and file?

Or are they just too damned embarrassed?

And, whether they're supportive of the putsch and somehow to shy to show it, or opposed to the shambles and weirdly unwilling to utter it, how can the party even pretend to be marching to Adam Dickey's hyperbolic "resistance" campaign against The Donald?

There's something nasty and Trumpian worthy of resistance right here in New Albany, but because Gahan's one of them, lots of spines aren't showing up on the x-rays.

Has the Floyd County Democratic Party ever been this hypocritical and useless?

Silence is complicity, and we have a right to know what our elected officials think about Jeff Gahan's Public Housing Putsch 2017.

Mayor Jeff Gahan once cynically asserted, "Nobody reads the paper."

Yes, really. He did.

As such, it's unclear why he spends so much of the city's money advertising in the newspaper, but this can be explained by the frequent appearance of Gahan's face, and what's the problem with taxpayers footing the bill for quasi-campaign ads even if ... well, nobody reads the paper?

Apart from self-interest (does he have any other sort?), Gahan's advertising is insurance against the newspaper paying too close attention. In the newspaper's story last week about HWC Engineering, only one sentence was devoted to City Hall's ownership of its own street grid project, and this was to inform readers that City Hall wouldn't comment about its ownership of the street grid project.

That's so very helpful, isn't it?

Gahan's sycophant-engineered appointment of David Duggins to head the New Albany Housing Authority is yet another nadir in a career of underachievement.

The mayor's Public Housing Putsch 2017 is a naked power grab at the expense of the city' most vulnerable residents, and as such, we're brought to a necessary juncture. It's time for our local elected officials to show accountability.

Yesterday I got the ball rolling with this:

Street grids, public housing and Councilman Phipps' morally indefensible selective engagement.

In fairness to Phipps, he isn't the only elected official refraining from taking a public position on the Putsch -- whether for, against, or seeking an as-yet-undefined third way.

Sophistry isn't an answer, is it?

We must conclude that in the absence of a publicly stated position, silence is complicity. I suggest we proceed toward 2019 accordingly.

Correct me if I'm mistaken, but to date, only Dan Coffey has issued a resounding public endorsement of Gahan's takeover. I believe he's mistaken, and still battling the intemperate demons inhabiting his own head, but we must credit him for venturing a position on a topic that impacts people living in Coffey's district.

It's Coffey's job, after all, in spite of what the mayoral captive Phipps seems to think.

Readers, they need to know we're watching. It's time for elected officeholders to come out from hiding and take a stand, one way or another, because what they're doing at present is loathsome. My hunch is that most, maybe all of them agree with Gahan and are perfectly happy to remain in the shadows lest Gahan fail.

He's doing the dirty work to which they concur, and as such, shouldn't voters know this?

By extension, if any of them disagree, what is it telling us about their moral character to remain passive in the face of provocation?

Either way, don't we need to know?

I encourage readers to ask his or her council representative for a position on Gahan's public housing putsch. Let us know their answers (if any), and we'll compile the results.

If you like what you're hearing from your council person, by all means vote accordingly next election.

If you don't like it, reject him. New Albany's political culture always has been about keeping things hidden. This is repugnant, and it needs to change.

I asked my council representative, and he ran away. Pay heed, 3rd district voters. If you appreciate CM Phipps' forever selective engagement, he remains your man. If not, cast your next ballot accordingly.

Aren't all of New Albany's council constituents entitled to know? I think so. What about you?

Invariably, when faced with a question they can't or won't answer, there is silence like snow falling on the earth.

But here's the bright side, because when Warren cloaks himself in the junta's gag order, there's time for a number.