The other day, in a comment appended to a blog posting here at NAC, I wrote this:
First Jeff Gahan was in bed with Dan Coffey (sewers), and now Steve Price (redistricting).
Do they sell full body condoms down at Cleopatra's adult book store?
Upon further reflection, I've reached the conclusion that there's absolutely no reason for me to retract it.
Over and out.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Open air rooles.
“Our intensions are to put the pieces together and see what we come up with.”
Prof. Erika probably means “intentions,” but hey – she’s the transgendered faux professor, although I am flattered to be included in the “Plaintiffs spew their venom” section, which is the highlight of Freedom to Screech’s most recent puff piece precisely because they’re our words – not hers.
It lends her work an aura of class and authenticity, don't you think?
Prof. Erika says that a redistricting ordinance, presumably last winter’s farcical and forgettable Schmidt plan, has been passed, and that no other is required. Unfortunately, she somehow forgets that a Federal judge laughed the same plan out of court, which is the reason why former council president and longtime wannabeen Larry Kochert’s last-second “Hail Mary” pass was unceremoniously deflected by the US Constitution, landing harmlessly in the Port-A-Can posted at the 50-yard line.
Yawn.
Forget the misspellings, bad grammar and plagiarism. For someone so fond of insisting on playing by the "rules", Prof. Erika seems entirely unaware of more than a few elementary guidelines. Then again, playing by the "rules" implies signing your name to what you write, offering consistent attributions, and being accountable for the idiocy that ensues.
And yet, improbably, it gets even funnier.
Because Prof. Erika refuses to allow comments and discussion, local wee ones outraged by another of Roger’s signed commentaries at a blog they claim not to read will log on to Mrs. Baird’s otherwise constructive public affairs blog and – that’s right – spew their venom toward me … anonymously.
With enduring dysfunction like that coming from people who say they know the “rules”, it’s small wonder non-entities like Steve Price and Dan Coffey make it into office.
Prof. Erika probably means “intentions,” but hey – she’s the transgendered faux professor, although I am flattered to be included in the “Plaintiffs spew their venom” section, which is the highlight of Freedom to Screech’s most recent puff piece precisely because they’re our words – not hers.
It lends her work an aura of class and authenticity, don't you think?
Prof. Erika says that a redistricting ordinance, presumably last winter’s farcical and forgettable Schmidt plan, has been passed, and that no other is required. Unfortunately, she somehow forgets that a Federal judge laughed the same plan out of court, which is the reason why former council president and longtime wannabeen Larry Kochert’s last-second “Hail Mary” pass was unceremoniously deflected by the US Constitution, landing harmlessly in the Port-A-Can posted at the 50-yard line.
Yawn.
Forget the misspellings, bad grammar and plagiarism. For someone so fond of insisting on playing by the "rules", Prof. Erika seems entirely unaware of more than a few elementary guidelines. Then again, playing by the "rules" implies signing your name to what you write, offering consistent attributions, and being accountable for the idiocy that ensues.
And yet, improbably, it gets even funnier.
Because Prof. Erika refuses to allow comments and discussion, local wee ones outraged by another of Roger’s signed commentaries at a blog they claim not to read will log on to Mrs. Baird’s otherwise constructive public affairs blog and – that’s right – spew their venom toward me … anonymously.
With enduring dysfunction like that coming from people who say they know the “rules”, it’s small wonder non-entities like Steve Price and Dan Coffey make it into office.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Productivity and progressivism - how's the current council doing?
On December 28, 2007, the NA Shadow Council blog published a consideration of the tasks ahead for New Albany's city council. Seven months and fourteen regularly scheduled meetings have passed since then, along with several other hearings and work sessions.
At the time, Shadow made this observation.
At least a "rump" segment of the incoming council has pledged to seek the following goal: To help make New Albany a more productive and progressive city.
Granted, no one ever imagined that any more than a "rump" of the council might conceivably view the following as priorities. For example, as his neighborhood yearns for principled engagement on the part of its accidental councilman, Steve Price can be counted on to understand almost none of these planks and to vote against most.
The council has somehow found the time to ban novelty lighters and ignite the divisive debate over smoking in public places, even as it has deferred constructive action on redistricting, beyond offering another round of earnest claims that the job they refuse to do is their exclusive province.
Still, perhaps it's early yet. As we look back on the first half year, how is the council's work proceeding if one uses the list below as an indicator of potential action items?
----
Accountability
City Beautification
Enforcement/Laws
Education/City Off
Image/City
Sewers
Communication
Re-organization/Dept
Traffic Flow
Environment
Public Involvement
Parks
Service
Size of Gov
Industrial
Leadership
Business
Revenue
Constituents
Spring St. Hill
Housing
Streets
Drugs/Crime
Manpower
Budget
Empty Space
Railroad
Teamwork
Dept. Heads
Infrastructure
Downtown
City Hall
Rental Prop
At the time, Shadow made this observation.
At least a "rump" segment of the incoming council has pledged to seek the following goal: To help make New Albany a more productive and progressive city.
Granted, no one ever imagined that any more than a "rump" of the council might conceivably view the following as priorities. For example, as his neighborhood yearns for principled engagement on the part of its accidental councilman, Steve Price can be counted on to understand almost none of these planks and to vote against most.
The council has somehow found the time to ban novelty lighters and ignite the divisive debate over smoking in public places, even as it has deferred constructive action on redistricting, beyond offering another round of earnest claims that the job they refuse to do is their exclusive province.
Still, perhaps it's early yet. As we look back on the first half year, how is the council's work proceeding if one uses the list below as an indicator of potential action items?
----
Accountability
City Beautification
Enforcement/Laws
Education/City Off
Image/City
Sewers
Communication
Re-organization/Dept
Traffic Flow
Environment
Public Involvement
Parks
Service
Size of Gov
Industrial
Leadership
Business
Revenue
Constituents
Spring St. Hill
Housing
Streets
Drugs/Crime
Manpower
Budget
Empty Space
Railroad
Teamwork
Dept. Heads
Infrastructure
Downtown
City Hall
Rental Prop
Sunday, July 20, 2008
From New Albany Now: A "vicious, venal, and veracity-challenged circus of horrors, orchestrated awkwardly by Dan Coffey."
Regular readers know that we seldom reprint whole commentaries from other sources, while reserving the right to make periodic exceptions. It’s time for another.
The source is New Albany Now, the blog for New Albany’s firstonline call-in show, and the author is Randy Smith. In the main, I share Randy’s sentiments, and I believe they deserve a wider audience. Here’s the link to the audio referenced below.
----
Commentary: A Diversion and a Digression
I don't intend for this to be either a partisan blog or an "attack" blog. At root, it is a billboard for the radio show. In the past, I have been boisterous and opinionated and have often, by my vitriol, caused even friends to recoil. You can search around to find my mothballed blog to verify that for yourself.
Nowadays, I take keyboard in hand to comment on the blog postings of others with discretion, contributing to other blogs only when I feel it is truly needed.
That does not mean that I have retired from the field, though. On occasion, though, something demonstrably egregious arises, and this blog will not erect any fences prohibiting frank commentary. New Albany Now is and will continue to be a bright light shining on the issues in this city. That is our purpose. That does not mean I will arbitrarily muzzle myself when an injustice is done.
I posted an historic broadcast last evening. For the first time in many, many months, the deliberations and debate of the New Albany City Council were made available to the public. And for the first time ever, that record is continuously and forever available ON-DEMAND. If you need to refer to it, it will always be there.
With that in mind, I'd like to point out that Thursday night's meeting was (as usual) degraded and tarnished by yet another vicious, venal, and veracity-challenged circus of horrors, orchestrated awkwardly by Dan Coffey, the embarrassment of a human being who reigns over the seat intended to represent the interests of constituents in the 1st District of New Albany on the City Council.
I imagine that Coffey once found himself bed-ridden and without batteries and thereby forced to watch a one-hour documentary on Wisconsin senator Joseph McCarthy. Apparently, he saw that as a "good thing," and decided that would be his model.
Late in Thursday's meeting (segment 6 - slide the show slider to the last 20 or so minutes), Mr. Coffey put on an abysmal dramatic performance. Co-star Diane McCartin Benedetti (D?-D5) played foil to Coffey in a feeble attempt to slime at-large council member John Gonder.
Simulating a great concern for "comity" and decorum, Mr. Coffey practically soiled himself while presenting a sham concern for an individual who was "concerned" about a "fax" that had been circulated declaring the "news" that Mr. Gonder had been one of the original people who believed that New Albany shouldn't be unique in the state of Indiana, unique in the roster of municipalities across this great land of ours, and that its legislative (city council) districts should be drawn to offer equal representation as guaranteed under The Constitution of the United States.
It was "brought to" his "attention" by this "fax" that Mr. Gonder was once a plaintiff seeking the deserved assistance of the U.S. Federal District Court to enforce the law.Please show me ONE person who believes that a "fax" caused Mr. Coffey and Ms. McCartin Benedetti to become aware of Mr. Gonder's past status as an advocate for the law and The Constitution.
Over the previous 10, or 110 days, Coffey had plotted his ambush, his blatant attempt to smear Mr. Gonder with fecal matter and to attempt to intimidate him from casting a considered vote on whether the city should continue to be a rogue city or whether this city, New Albany on the Ohio, should conform to the requirements of the 14th Amendment.
During a serious, substantive portion of the council meeting, Coffey and city council attorney Jerry Ulrich conducted their own meeting, and Mr. Ulrich, knowing that Coffey stand fully prepared to lever him back into fully private practice, signed on to the smear attempt.
Ulrich, Coffey, and McCartin Benedetti struggled to appear sincere in their faux concern that, somehow, having stood up for the law, Mr. Gonder was thus unqualified to vote on G-08-05, the ordinance to, at long last, draw lawful districts for the first time since at least 1992. Ulrich went over the line in his attack by saying to Mr. Gonder that if his "conscience" were clear, he couldn't see why Mr. Gonder should recuse himself from voting.
I, for one, looked around to see if Karl Rove had entered the room, for this was a classic Swift-boat attack. That Gonder stood up for the law before he was elected and continues to stand up for the law now that he is in office became, with the full complicity of a majority of the City Council, a declared black mark on Gonder's reputation.
Without any fear of being disputed, I'll tell you that Coffey manufactured, fomented, and stoked a fake popular uprising, including a disingenuous "fax," to smear his colleague.
As would be expected by anyone who knows John Gonder, the enormously popular at-large council member handled the kneecapping with inordinate grace, willingly identifying himself as the member who Mr. Coffey pretended to be so concerned for, for whom Mr. Coffey shed crocodile tears over the fact that he simply had to step forward and pour a bucket of excrement on.
What has New Albany come to that an entire council (well, a majority of the council) would be complicit in trying to eviscerate a man who stands up for following the law?
What is, indubitably, a virtue, was treated as something to be ashamed of by the city council and its attorney. They, individually, and as a body, owe Mr. Gonder an abject apology.
I urge you, if you are reading this, to demand it. Write to your newspapers, call your council members, and tell all your neighbors about the atrocity that was committed at Thursday's meeting.
John Gonder is a ray of sunshine on this council. We couldn't do better to have eight more of him serving this city. Don't let this political crime go unpunished.
Coffey, who like a majority of his colleagues believes he "owns" his district, needs to realize that constituents pick their representatives, and not the other way around. Mr. Gonder, who received more votes in the last election than all but one other candidate, has more credibility in a single eyelash than the combined integrity of Gahan/Coffey/McLaughlin/Price/McCartinBenedetti.
The source is New Albany Now, the blog for New Albany’s first
----
Commentary: A Diversion and a Digression
I don't intend for this to be either a partisan blog or an "attack" blog. At root, it is a billboard for the radio show. In the past, I have been boisterous and opinionated and have often, by my vitriol, caused even friends to recoil. You can search around to find my mothballed blog to verify that for yourself.
Nowadays, I take keyboard in hand to comment on the blog postings of others with discretion, contributing to other blogs only when I feel it is truly needed.
That does not mean that I have retired from the field, though. On occasion, though, something demonstrably egregious arises, and this blog will not erect any fences prohibiting frank commentary. New Albany Now is and will continue to be a bright light shining on the issues in this city. That is our purpose. That does not mean I will arbitrarily muzzle myself when an injustice is done.
I posted an historic broadcast last evening. For the first time in many, many months, the deliberations and debate of the New Albany City Council were made available to the public. And for the first time ever, that record is continuously and forever available ON-DEMAND. If you need to refer to it, it will always be there.
With that in mind, I'd like to point out that Thursday night's meeting was (as usual) degraded and tarnished by yet another vicious, venal, and veracity-challenged circus of horrors, orchestrated awkwardly by Dan Coffey, the embarrassment of a human being who reigns over the seat intended to represent the interests of constituents in the 1st District of New Albany on the City Council.
I imagine that Coffey once found himself bed-ridden and without batteries and thereby forced to watch a one-hour documentary on Wisconsin senator Joseph McCarthy. Apparently, he saw that as a "good thing," and decided that would be his model.
Late in Thursday's meeting (segment 6 - slide the show slider to the last 20 or so minutes), Mr. Coffey put on an abysmal dramatic performance. Co-star Diane McCartin Benedetti (D?-D5) played foil to Coffey in a feeble attempt to slime at-large council member John Gonder.
Simulating a great concern for "comity" and decorum, Mr. Coffey practically soiled himself while presenting a sham concern for an individual who was "concerned" about a "fax" that had been circulated declaring the "news" that Mr. Gonder had been one of the original people who believed that New Albany shouldn't be unique in the state of Indiana, unique in the roster of municipalities across this great land of ours, and that its legislative (city council) districts should be drawn to offer equal representation as guaranteed under The Constitution of the United States.
It was "brought to" his "attention" by this "fax" that Mr. Gonder was once a plaintiff seeking the deserved assistance of the U.S. Federal District Court to enforce the law.Please show me ONE person who believes that a "fax" caused Mr. Coffey and Ms. McCartin Benedetti to become aware of Mr. Gonder's past status as an advocate for the law and The Constitution.
Over the previous 10, or 110 days, Coffey had plotted his ambush, his blatant attempt to smear Mr. Gonder with fecal matter and to attempt to intimidate him from casting a considered vote on whether the city should continue to be a rogue city or whether this city, New Albany on the Ohio, should conform to the requirements of the 14th Amendment.
During a serious, substantive portion of the council meeting, Coffey and city council attorney Jerry Ulrich conducted their own meeting, and Mr. Ulrich, knowing that Coffey stand fully prepared to lever him back into fully private practice, signed on to the smear attempt.
Ulrich, Coffey, and McCartin Benedetti struggled to appear sincere in their faux concern that, somehow, having stood up for the law, Mr. Gonder was thus unqualified to vote on G-08-05, the ordinance to, at long last, draw lawful districts for the first time since at least 1992. Ulrich went over the line in his attack by saying to Mr. Gonder that if his "conscience" were clear, he couldn't see why Mr. Gonder should recuse himself from voting.
I, for one, looked around to see if Karl Rove had entered the room, for this was a classic Swift-boat attack. That Gonder stood up for the law before he was elected and continues to stand up for the law now that he is in office became, with the full complicity of a majority of the City Council, a declared black mark on Gonder's reputation.
Without any fear of being disputed, I'll tell you that Coffey manufactured, fomented, and stoked a fake popular uprising, including a disingenuous "fax," to smear his colleague.
As would be expected by anyone who knows John Gonder, the enormously popular at-large council member handled the kneecapping with inordinate grace, willingly identifying himself as the member who Mr. Coffey pretended to be so concerned for, for whom Mr. Coffey shed crocodile tears over the fact that he simply had to step forward and pour a bucket of excrement on.
What has New Albany come to that an entire council (well, a majority of the council) would be complicit in trying to eviscerate a man who stands up for following the law?
What is, indubitably, a virtue, was treated as something to be ashamed of by the city council and its attorney. They, individually, and as a body, owe Mr. Gonder an abject apology.
I urge you, if you are reading this, to demand it. Write to your newspapers, call your council members, and tell all your neighbors about the atrocity that was committed at Thursday's meeting.
John Gonder is a ray of sunshine on this council. We couldn't do better to have eight more of him serving this city. Don't let this political crime go unpunished.
Coffey, who like a majority of his colleagues believes he "owns" his district, needs to realize that constituents pick their representatives, and not the other way around. Mr. Gonder, who received more votes in the last election than all but one other candidate, has more credibility in a single eyelash than the combined integrity of Gahan/Coffey/McLaughlin/Price/McCartinBenedetti.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
New Albany Community Housing now HUD-certified as a Housing Counseling Agency.
Here's a news item from John Miller of CHDO:
Pat Yense-Woosley at our office worked really, really hard to get us approved with HUD as a certified Housing Counseling Agency. It took months and months, the info is on our website, and we're trying to spread the word:
Community Housing Now HUD-Approved!!
Most counseling agencies (both big ones in Louisville) are bogged down with foreclosure right now, but we're still able to focus on homebuyer education and credit/budget counseling.
Pat Yense-Woosley at our office worked really, really hard to get us approved with HUD as a certified Housing Counseling Agency. It took months and months, the info is on our website, and we're trying to spread the word:
Community Housing Now HUD-Approved!!
Most counseling agencies (both big ones in Louisville) are bogged down with foreclosure right now, but we're still able to focus on homebuyer education and credit/budget counseling.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Isn't Groundhog Day in February??
Due to the absence of both Bluegill and the NAC senior editor, the Highwayman will take a stab at highlighting the events at the latest episode of our favorite soap opera, “Eternal Disconbobulation” (otherwise known as the New Albany Common Council meeting).
The meeting started off evenly enough with Police Chief Crabtree invoking the council once again for appropriations to support a drug task force for our fair city. It seems that Federal monies for the joint venture of the city, county & state police have run their course.
He also put in a request for two civilian employees to work with the new AFIS (fingerprint analyzing system) that has been approved for purchase.
Of course neither of these items were on the agenda for tonight so no action was taken, but the nine legislators were made aware of the need one more time.
CM Messer then brought up (again) the ongoing problem of abandoned junk vehicles’ scattered around our fair city and proposed yet another solution. There appears to be suitable five acre plot somewhere near the Mayor’s property that can be leased, enclosed, and secured for a paltry $50 thousand dollars.
CM Coffey of course questioned how soon the city could expect reimbursement from the sale of said vehicles. Again both CM Messer & Chief Crabtree had to remind those present of the multi step procedure for dispensing of them. The state requires that VIN numbers be checked for ownership & lien holders as well as whether they were or weren’t stolen before being cleared for auction or scrap.
Messer’s best guess was possibly a year or more for the bulk of them. Coffey countered that he felt the turn around should be much quicker what with the price of scrap at the moment.
CM Caeser chimed in to support Messer’s idea and the consensus was that he continue the investigation & report back at a later meeting.
Oh, and did I mention that Pat Harrison owns the property?
Deputy Mayor Malysz then rose to the podium to announce Mayor England’s exasperated desire to tend to the city’s rubbish & yard waste problems. The Mayor has edicted that the entire city will be yard waste free by the end of next week! (unless of course there proves to be so much of it that in runs into the following week)
Potholes, street signs, line painting, & street sweeping be damned! The people have spoken!
Furthermore following this purge, the city will be divided into four sectors and every Thursday the street department will choose one sector and pick it clean again in an ongoing effort to keep up with debris.
CM Coffey then introduced A-08-11 which was an ordinance to approve monies already in existence for the hiring of a full time city engineer.
The proposed salary for this position was $55K in round figures with 25% coming from the Storm Water Department, 50% from the Sanitation Department, and 25% from the City’s general fund.
CM Coffey defended the measure on the grounds that this person could perform duties now being contracted out. He reminded the Council once again that the same could be said for hiring a full time city attorney.
CM Zurschmiede inquired about the $75K that had previously been set aside to hire a Sanitation Department Manager. Carl responded that a portion of that money was being used to pay Brian Kessings salary. You will remember that he was recently hired to monitor EMC’s work (or the lack thereof) with the sewer & storm water infrastructure. Although never verified the assumption is that the remainder will make up the Sanitation Dept’s 50% contribution.
Kevin further asked if hiring another person was not a duplication of workforce. The Deputy Mayor’s answer was no. Although the new engineer would now be responsible for the work that Elizabeth Coyle currently does for the sewer & storm water system, he/she would also oversee the construction of our streets and other infrastructure. Ms. Coyle would remain as a member of the Sewer Board but would no longer be an hourly paid engineer for them.
I understand the watchdogs watching the watchdogs part, but who is watching the watchdogs?
In the end the ordinance passed muster with a 9-0 vote.
G-08-06 followed with what was the quote of the evening by CM Price. “I’m a little confused” he quipped about this issue which pertained to Economic Development Bonds for the Summit Springs Project.
DM Malysz referred to them as Industrial Development Bonds which would ultimately be purchased by the developer and would be paid for by TIF dollars generated by the project.
Again there was a bit of confusion voiced about the whole concept but CM Coffey voiced his approval and a favorable vote followed.
G-08-05 was the next victim on the chopping block and CM Price handed it back to CM Messer for introduction. There was a bit of discussion about whether CM Gonder should recues himself from voting on this issue but finally the Counsel’s counselor (Jerry Ulrich) indicated that he could find no problem with John voting if his conscience would let him.
It did and he did but to no avail. The measure failed on 2nd & 3rd reading with CM’s Caeser, Gonder, Messer & Zurschmiede voting for and CM’s Coffey, Price, McLaughlin, Benedetti, & Gahan against.
Who would a thunk it?
After the vote President Gahan announced a workshop would be held prior to the next meeting to discuss where to go from here on the redistricting plan and a committee of counsel members appointed to develop a one that is closer to even numbers than the one that is currently in force. You know the 8600 to 5300 one?
He further said at the same workshop they would discuss code enforcement and smoking bans, and revisit the tow in lot question.
Maybe it’s just me, but that sounds like a whole lot of discussion of a wide range of issues in a short period of time.
Perhaps I misunderstood! Confirmation anyone??
The meeting started off evenly enough with Police Chief Crabtree invoking the council once again for appropriations to support a drug task force for our fair city. It seems that Federal monies for the joint venture of the city, county & state police have run their course.
He also put in a request for two civilian employees to work with the new AFIS (fingerprint analyzing system) that has been approved for purchase.
Of course neither of these items were on the agenda for tonight so no action was taken, but the nine legislators were made aware of the need one more time.
CM Messer then brought up (again) the ongoing problem of abandoned junk vehicles’ scattered around our fair city and proposed yet another solution. There appears to be suitable five acre plot somewhere near the Mayor’s property that can be leased, enclosed, and secured for a paltry $50 thousand dollars.
CM Coffey of course questioned how soon the city could expect reimbursement from the sale of said vehicles. Again both CM Messer & Chief Crabtree had to remind those present of the multi step procedure for dispensing of them. The state requires that VIN numbers be checked for ownership & lien holders as well as whether they were or weren’t stolen before being cleared for auction or scrap.
Messer’s best guess was possibly a year or more for the bulk of them. Coffey countered that he felt the turn around should be much quicker what with the price of scrap at the moment.
CM Caeser chimed in to support Messer’s idea and the consensus was that he continue the investigation & report back at a later meeting.
Oh, and did I mention that Pat Harrison owns the property?
Deputy Mayor Malysz then rose to the podium to announce Mayor England’s exasperated desire to tend to the city’s rubbish & yard waste problems. The Mayor has edicted that the entire city will be yard waste free by the end of next week! (unless of course there proves to be so much of it that in runs into the following week)
Potholes, street signs, line painting, & street sweeping be damned! The people have spoken!
Furthermore following this purge, the city will be divided into four sectors and every Thursday the street department will choose one sector and pick it clean again in an ongoing effort to keep up with debris.
CM Coffey then introduced A-08-11 which was an ordinance to approve monies already in existence for the hiring of a full time city engineer.
The proposed salary for this position was $55K in round figures with 25% coming from the Storm Water Department, 50% from the Sanitation Department, and 25% from the City’s general fund.
CM Coffey defended the measure on the grounds that this person could perform duties now being contracted out. He reminded the Council once again that the same could be said for hiring a full time city attorney.
CM Zurschmiede inquired about the $75K that had previously been set aside to hire a Sanitation Department Manager. Carl responded that a portion of that money was being used to pay Brian Kessings salary. You will remember that he was recently hired to monitor EMC’s work (or the lack thereof) with the sewer & storm water infrastructure. Although never verified the assumption is that the remainder will make up the Sanitation Dept’s 50% contribution.
Kevin further asked if hiring another person was not a duplication of workforce. The Deputy Mayor’s answer was no. Although the new engineer would now be responsible for the work that Elizabeth Coyle currently does for the sewer & storm water system, he/she would also oversee the construction of our streets and other infrastructure. Ms. Coyle would remain as a member of the Sewer Board but would no longer be an hourly paid engineer for them.
I understand the watchdogs watching the watchdogs part, but who is watching the watchdogs?
In the end the ordinance passed muster with a 9-0 vote.
G-08-06 followed with what was the quote of the evening by CM Price. “I’m a little confused” he quipped about this issue which pertained to Economic Development Bonds for the Summit Springs Project.
DM Malysz referred to them as Industrial Development Bonds which would ultimately be purchased by the developer and would be paid for by TIF dollars generated by the project.
Again there was a bit of confusion voiced about the whole concept but CM Coffey voiced his approval and a favorable vote followed.
G-08-05 was the next victim on the chopping block and CM Price handed it back to CM Messer for introduction. There was a bit of discussion about whether CM Gonder should recues himself from voting on this issue but finally the Counsel’s counselor (Jerry Ulrich) indicated that he could find no problem with John voting if his conscience would let him.
It did and he did but to no avail. The measure failed on 2nd & 3rd reading with CM’s Caeser, Gonder, Messer & Zurschmiede voting for and CM’s Coffey, Price, McLaughlin, Benedetti, & Gahan against.
Who would a thunk it?
After the vote President Gahan announced a workshop would be held prior to the next meeting to discuss where to go from here on the redistricting plan and a committee of counsel members appointed to develop a one that is closer to even numbers than the one that is currently in force. You know the 8600 to 5300 one?
He further said at the same workshop they would discuss code enforcement and smoking bans, and revisit the tow in lot question.
Maybe it’s just me, but that sounds like a whole lot of discussion of a wide range of issues in a short period of time.
Perhaps I misunderstood! Confirmation anyone??
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Tonight's New Albany Now blog radio cancelled.
Here I am, painstakingly working my way through a growler of progressive ale in a shabby Evansville hotel room, cell phone at the ready, blog radio page queued on the laptop ... then comes this announcement ...
Thursday Show Canceled
The segment of New Albany Now scheduled for this evening has been canceled. We regret any disappointment this may have caused. My attempt to expand the scheduled time slot resulted in a technical block that prevents us from broadcasting this evening.
Please check back here or at blogtalkradio.com for upcoming programming.
Geez -- those Bazooka Joe Cold War Radio Jammers really work ... and for only two dozen comic wrappers postpaid!
Thursday Show Canceled
The segment of New Albany Now scheduled for this evening has been canceled. We regret any disappointment this may have caused. My attempt to expand the scheduled time slot resulted in a technical block that prevents us from broadcasting this evening.
Please check back here or at blogtalkradio.com for upcoming programming.
Geez -- those Bazooka Joe Cold War Radio Jammers really work ... and for only two dozen comic wrappers postpaid!
Bring your buckets: City council tonight.
Jeff and I both are out of town and will miss tonight’s city council meeting, and even though the agenda hadn’t been posted online when I began writing today’s entry, we all have a fairly clear notion of what will transpire.
Conjoined councilmen will attack measures designed to help their neighborhoods move forward, and a mail carrier will rise to praise the virtues of the charming civic sloth that inspires those same underachieving councilmen to do absolutely nothing.
For something like the 138th time dating back to 2002, the council will shun its Constitutional imperative to redistrict, and certain of its members will defend this institutional indolence by spouting idiotic homilies about solemn council duties that none are willing to take seriously except in the breach.
The council president will blame the messengers for what he claims not to have known about his duties.
Observers with the scantest awareness of the world existing outside New Albany’s Open Air Museum of Ignorance, Superstition and Backwardness will shake their heads and wonder why such a low standard of representation is the norm in New Albany.
----
In short, it will be just another night of watching in amazement as semi-literate vandals do their level best to prove Ayn Rand correct in spite of lacking the ability to actually read (any of her books), and plumbing the depths of this city’s perpetual hostility to common sense. This is a depressing scenario, albeit recurring, but it is entertaining, and just might be preferable to an evening in Evansville.
I’ve made a couple of spare keys, and our friends Roy Hardy and Lloyd Wimp will be posting their thoughts on the council meeting.
Also, don’t forget blog talk radio at 11:00 p.m. tonight:
Late-night recap of the events of the July 17, 2008 regular meeting of the New Albany City Council. We'll take callers and report the debate, the actions, and the inactions of council, plus contributions from residents who spoke during the "Communications from the Public" portions of the evening.
Pack your flasks ... and don't forget your Groucho masks.
Conjoined councilmen will attack measures designed to help their neighborhoods move forward, and a mail carrier will rise to praise the virtues of the charming civic sloth that inspires those same underachieving councilmen to do absolutely nothing.
For something like the 138th time dating back to 2002, the council will shun its Constitutional imperative to redistrict, and certain of its members will defend this institutional indolence by spouting idiotic homilies about solemn council duties that none are willing to take seriously except in the breach.
The council president will blame the messengers for what he claims not to have known about his duties.
Observers with the scantest awareness of the world existing outside New Albany’s Open Air Museum of Ignorance, Superstition and Backwardness will shake their heads and wonder why such a low standard of representation is the norm in New Albany.
----
In short, it will be just another night of watching in amazement as semi-literate vandals do their level best to prove Ayn Rand correct in spite of lacking the ability to actually read (any of her books), and plumbing the depths of this city’s perpetual hostility to common sense. This is a depressing scenario, albeit recurring, but it is entertaining, and just might be preferable to an evening in Evansville.
I’ve made a couple of spare keys, and our friends Roy Hardy and Lloyd Wimp will be posting their thoughts on the council meeting.
Also, don’t forget blog talk radio at 11:00 p.m. tonight:
Late-night recap of the events of the July 17, 2008 regular meeting of the New Albany City Council. We'll take callers and report the debate, the actions, and the inactions of council, plus contributions from residents who spoke during the "Communications from the Public" portions of the evening.
Pack your flasks ... and don't forget your Groucho masks.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Crayon futures skyrocket as Price handed redistricting dossier.
As we reported earlier today, New Albany redistricting to be revised (Courier-Journal).
An ordinance redrawing the boundaries of the New Albany City Council's six voting districts is expected to be sent to a new committee for revision after getting a 4-4 vote in its first review earlier this month.
An ordinance redrawing the boundaries of the New Albany City Council's six voting districts is expected to be sent to a new committee for revision after getting a 4-4 vote in its first review earlier this month.
US Constitution prepares for more spitwads as council meeting approaches.
A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five.
-- Groucho Marx
Groucho sure nailed that one ... hey, be careful -- that ordinance is loaded, Steve.
With July's second council conclave looming, the Green Mouse sez that city council president Jeff Gahan will take colleague Jack Messer at his word, hand the 2nd and 3rd readings of last meeting's redistricting proposal to Steve Price, and watch contentedly as Price buries the papers like the coded plans in Whittaker Chambers's Cold War pumpkin patch.
Am I the only one who speculates how it could be that a councilman serves two terms as president of the body, insists he didn't know about the redistricting imperative until a lawsuit was filed, and then gets sore at people like me for reminding him of it when it was the previously serving councilmen (Coffey, Kochert, Schmidt) who never bothered to bring him up to speed?
You don't think they were trying to protect the status quo, do ya?
Meanwhile, the Wizard of Westside has convened a neighborhood association oddly named Dreamboat Dan's Our Man and is said to be studying outtakes of the Khmer Rouge's Year Zero instructional film for clues as to how to deal with pergessives, snobs and anyone caught wearing eyeglasses.
Okay, enough sarcasm for one morning. At 2:00 p.m. today, on-line radio's New Albany Now will feature a discussion of the redistricting proposal. If you've been reading NAC, you probably already get the picture. If not, chances are you're posting anonymous insults elsewhere.
Knock yourselves out. I'll be in Evansville on Thursday night polling mail carriers about what they view as the charming idiosyncracies of that city's failures that make it so warm and endearing for its resident wee ones. I may even pass through Birdseye in route.
Woo-hoo!
-- Groucho Marx
Groucho sure nailed that one ... hey, be careful -- that ordinance is loaded, Steve.
With July's second council conclave looming, the Green Mouse sez that city council president Jeff Gahan will take colleague Jack Messer at his word, hand the 2nd and 3rd readings of last meeting's redistricting proposal to Steve Price, and watch contentedly as Price buries the papers like the coded plans in Whittaker Chambers's Cold War pumpkin patch.
Am I the only one who speculates how it could be that a councilman serves two terms as president of the body, insists he didn't know about the redistricting imperative until a lawsuit was filed, and then gets sore at people like me for reminding him of it when it was the previously serving councilmen (Coffey, Kochert, Schmidt) who never bothered to bring him up to speed?
You don't think they were trying to protect the status quo, do ya?
Meanwhile, the Wizard of Westside has convened a neighborhood association oddly named Dreamboat Dan's Our Man and is said to be studying outtakes of the Khmer Rouge's Year Zero instructional film for clues as to how to deal with pergessives, snobs and anyone caught wearing eyeglasses.
Okay, enough sarcasm for one morning. At 2:00 p.m. today, on-line radio's New Albany Now will feature a discussion of the redistricting proposal. If you've been reading NAC, you probably already get the picture. If not, chances are you're posting anonymous insults elsewhere.
Knock yourselves out. I'll be in Evansville on Thursday night polling mail carriers about what they view as the charming idiosyncracies of that city's failures that make it so warm and endearing for its resident wee ones. I may even pass through Birdseye in route.
Woo-hoo!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Randy Stumler resigns as Democratic party chairman and will teach overseas.
Important morning news in local politics, and here's an extended excerpt from the Tribune. Feel free to discuss.
Stumler steps down as councilman, chairman of Democratic party, by Daniel Suddeath (News and Tribune)
Randy Stumler has stepped down from positions of Floyd County Councilman and chairman of the Floyd County Democratic Party.
Stumler will pursue a teaching opportunity with the U.S. Department of Defense, assisting with military personnel. He will move in August to the Azores Islands, which are located off the coast of Portugal, about a five-hour flight from the U.S. east coast ...
... Vice chairwoman Marcey Wisman will step-in for the time as head of the county’s Democratic party, a position held by Stumler for four years.
He said a caucus will be held to choose a permanent replacement, but he supports Wisman.
“Marcey is just a great person. She’ll run for the chairperson spot and she’ll do a great job,” Stumler said.
Stumler expects a successful year for the party in Floyd County. “This is a great team, and we’ve worked very hard to bring everyone into the party and keep this a big tent,” he said.
Stumler steps down as councilman, chairman of Democratic party, by Daniel Suddeath (News and Tribune)
Randy Stumler has stepped down from positions of Floyd County Councilman and chairman of the Floyd County Democratic Party.
Stumler will pursue a teaching opportunity with the U.S. Department of Defense, assisting with military personnel. He will move in August to the Azores Islands, which are located off the coast of Portugal, about a five-hour flight from the U.S. east coast ...
... Vice chairwoman Marcey Wisman will step-in for the time as head of the county’s Democratic party, a position held by Stumler for four years.
He said a caucus will be held to choose a permanent replacement, but he supports Wisman.
“Marcey is just a great person. She’ll run for the chairperson spot and she’ll do a great job,” Stumler said.
Stumler expects a successful year for the party in Floyd County. “This is a great team, and we’ve worked very hard to bring everyone into the party and keep this a big tent,” he said.
Photo essay: Neglect.
Monday, July 14, 2008
REWIND: "It's never too late for a renewed civic commitment to human rights."
I have chosen a custodial public service duty to the community of periodically reminding it that New Albany actually does possess a Human Right Commission. That is, the city possesses an ordinance establishing the body, and it has a previous history of the commission's existence in the real world.
The Garner administration displayed a keen grasp of the commission’s potential importance and showed brief interest in reviving the moribund commission, but for various reasons failed to follow through; if you’re looking for a nutshell summary of the Garner era, this is as good a place as any to begin.
There were excellent intentions accompanied by a supreme mastery of detail, which in the end were sabotaged by an inexplicable absence of political acumen and simple stick-to-it-ness.
No matter. That was then, this is now. The following was published on March 17, 2007.
---
If I had never heard of New Urbanism … if the identity of the “creative class” had remained unrevealed … if I were to return to a dormant state of apathy with respect to public affairs … it would still make perfect sense to me that New Albany as a city might choose to encourage walking and bicycling as part of an overall program of public transportation alternatives that seeks to leave more cars parked, and fewer miles driven overall.
Imagine, then what it must feel like to take a leading role in promoting civic improvements like walking and cycling – in essence, to publicly espouse reforms in an effort to make the city itself a more livable and civilized place – when even the greatest gains accrued may not be sufficient so as to protect the advocates of change from harassment.
I’m not writing about myself in this context. It is widely known that I walk and bike New Albany’s streets on a daily basis, and do so at all hours, seldom giving the notion a second thought.
Then again, I’m a white male standing well over six feet, and weighing 265 lbs. Naturally physical stature neither precludes violent acts nor negates harassment, but it does have a way of reducing problems.
All bicyclists have an intimate knowledge of the dangers that regularly emanate from passing autos, courtesy of inattentive, unskilled and sometimes crazed drivers. Being jacketed by several thousand pounds of metal is almost like drinking whiskey. It lowers inhibitions, and has a way of imparting behaviors that wouldn’t be attempted face to face, but seem charming and fun when practiced from an open window while speeding away from the scene.
If the occasional passing yokel is amused by baiting a man my size, just imagine what it must sometimes be like for potential targets of a more traditional nature: Our community’s women, gays and ethnic minorities, to name just three.
In the months and years to come, how many of them will be striving earnestly for a New Albany where greater walking and biking opportunities contribute to an enhanced quality of life, even as they recognize that they’ll not be able to take full advantage of these normal human pursuits owing to a stunted social and cultural milieu that extends well beyond the petty crime borne of familiar urban woes like drugs and impoverishment, into areas like public racism and overt homophobia?
It is tempting to note here that among the many disadvantages of the slumlord culture enabled by successive generations of local political officials as an expedient to fill the limitless vacuum left by visionless “leadership” is that it serves as the perfect support mechanism for the dysfunction perpetuated by downward immobility.
Instead, permit me to state simply that sexism, racism and homophobia are human right issues that pertain to numerous contemplated reforms at many levels, ranging from the examples provided above to the very essence of rental property inspections and reform.
The current mayoral administration has suggested at several junctures during the past three years that a revival of New Albany’s moribund Human Rights Commission might be in the offing, but so far, nothing has been done.
Now is the time. Is there the will?
The Garner administration displayed a keen grasp of the commission’s potential importance and showed brief interest in reviving the moribund commission, but for various reasons failed to follow through; if you’re looking for a nutshell summary of the Garner era, this is as good a place as any to begin.
There were excellent intentions accompanied by a supreme mastery of detail, which in the end were sabotaged by an inexplicable absence of political acumen and simple stick-to-it-ness.
No matter. That was then, this is now. The following was published on March 17, 2007.
---
If I had never heard of New Urbanism … if the identity of the “creative class” had remained unrevealed … if I were to return to a dormant state of apathy with respect to public affairs … it would still make perfect sense to me that New Albany as a city might choose to encourage walking and bicycling as part of an overall program of public transportation alternatives that seeks to leave more cars parked, and fewer miles driven overall.
Imagine, then what it must feel like to take a leading role in promoting civic improvements like walking and cycling – in essence, to publicly espouse reforms in an effort to make the city itself a more livable and civilized place – when even the greatest gains accrued may not be sufficient so as to protect the advocates of change from harassment.
I’m not writing about myself in this context. It is widely known that I walk and bike New Albany’s streets on a daily basis, and do so at all hours, seldom giving the notion a second thought.
Then again, I’m a white male standing well over six feet, and weighing 265 lbs. Naturally physical stature neither precludes violent acts nor negates harassment, but it does have a way of reducing problems.
All bicyclists have an intimate knowledge of the dangers that regularly emanate from passing autos, courtesy of inattentive, unskilled and sometimes crazed drivers. Being jacketed by several thousand pounds of metal is almost like drinking whiskey. It lowers inhibitions, and has a way of imparting behaviors that wouldn’t be attempted face to face, but seem charming and fun when practiced from an open window while speeding away from the scene.
If the occasional passing yokel is amused by baiting a man my size, just imagine what it must sometimes be like for potential targets of a more traditional nature: Our community’s women, gays and ethnic minorities, to name just three.
In the months and years to come, how many of them will be striving earnestly for a New Albany where greater walking and biking opportunities contribute to an enhanced quality of life, even as they recognize that they’ll not be able to take full advantage of these normal human pursuits owing to a stunted social and cultural milieu that extends well beyond the petty crime borne of familiar urban woes like drugs and impoverishment, into areas like public racism and overt homophobia?
It is tempting to note here that among the many disadvantages of the slumlord culture enabled by successive generations of local political officials as an expedient to fill the limitless vacuum left by visionless “leadership” is that it serves as the perfect support mechanism for the dysfunction perpetuated by downward immobility.
Instead, permit me to state simply that sexism, racism and homophobia are human right issues that pertain to numerous contemplated reforms at many levels, ranging from the examples provided above to the very essence of rental property inspections and reform.
The current mayoral administration has suggested at several junctures during the past three years that a revival of New Albany’s moribund Human Rights Commission might be in the offing, but so far, nothing has been done.
Now is the time. Is there the will?
Sunday, July 13, 2008
InBev to absorb A-B -- and it doesn't matter a single bit.
News from Reuters: InBev agrees to buy Anheuser for $50 billion.
Go ahead. Read this and other stories about the creation of the world’s largest beer maker, and if you find any bits of text that have the remotest thing to do with beer (as opposed to shares of stock), please let me know.
As the hypocrites clamor about the “American icon” Budweiser falling into the hostile hands of a Belgo-Brazilian consortium, I’ll do my best to suppress a yawn as big as distance between Budweiser and anything truly worth drinking, and remind readers that precious few people gave a damn during A-B’s march to the top, when its carnivorous tactics chewed up and spit out countless small, local competitors.
Swill-loving, America-first advocates please take note: Very soon none of the “big three” – Coors, Miller or A-B – will be independent.
The perfect time to switch to locally-brewed beer, don’t you think?
Go ahead. Read this and other stories about the creation of the world’s largest beer maker, and if you find any bits of text that have the remotest thing to do with beer (as opposed to shares of stock), please let me know.
As the hypocrites clamor about the “American icon” Budweiser falling into the hostile hands of a Belgo-Brazilian consortium, I’ll do my best to suppress a yawn as big as distance between Budweiser and anything truly worth drinking, and remind readers that precious few people gave a damn during A-B’s march to the top, when its carnivorous tactics chewed up and spit out countless small, local competitors.
Swill-loving, America-first advocates please take note: Very soon none of the “big three” – Coors, Miller or A-B – will be independent.
The perfect time to switch to locally-brewed beer, don’t you think?
Great news: White House Center sold to group headed by John Waggoner, and refurbishing under way.
In Saturday's Tribune:
Develop New Albany sells White House Centre
Develop New Albany has sold the White House Centre, located at 222 Pearl St., after owning the building for 13 years.
In a news release, organization officials confirmed the sale of the Centre to New Albany White House LLC, which is co-owned by John Waggoner — president of Hornblower Marine Services.
Waggoner led the restoration of the Reibel House, located at 115 Market St., where Hornblower is now located. He was recognized by Develop New Albany and other organizations for his work with the Reibel House.
Full disclosure: I'm a board member of Develop New Albany, with a bit shy of two years service. Irrespective of your opinion about the organization -- and opinions are numerous -- I believe we can all agree that John Waggoner's purchase of the building is a wonderful occurrence.
Yes, it may have taken too many years to achieve, but here it is, and it's good, because his organization's stewardship of the Reibel House speaks for itself ... and we can't say that about every downtown building owner, can we?
(Photo credit: The New Albany-Floyd County Public Library's Indiana History Roomonline )
Develop New Albany sells White House Centre
Develop New Albany has sold the White House Centre, located at 222 Pearl St., after owning the building for 13 years.
In a news release, organization officials confirmed the sale of the Centre to New Albany White House LLC, which is co-owned by John Waggoner — president of Hornblower Marine Services.
Waggoner led the restoration of the Reibel House, located at 115 Market St., where Hornblower is now located. He was recognized by Develop New Albany and other organizations for his work with the Reibel House.
Full disclosure: I'm a board member of Develop New Albany, with a bit shy of two years service. Irrespective of your opinion about the organization -- and opinions are numerous -- I believe we can all agree that John Waggoner's purchase of the building is a wonderful occurrence.
Yes, it may have taken too many years to achieve, but here it is, and it's good, because his organization's stewardship of the Reibel House speaks for itself ... and we can't say that about every downtown building owner, can we?
(Photo credit: The New Albany-Floyd County Public Library's Indiana History Room
Saturday, July 12, 2008
On second thought, the Scarecrow of Oz was a straw man, wasn't he?
Just the other day I was asked this question:
“Who would you use as a straw man if Dan Coffey weren’t around?”
My answer was Steve Price. Actually, I would cherish the opportunity to refrain from exposing the inadequacies and other local nonentities, but at root, the question itself is invalid.
Wikipedia defines a straw man as follows:
A straw man argument is an informal fallacy based on misrepresentation of an opponent's position. To "set up a straw man" or "set up a straw man argument" is to describe a position that superficially resembles an opponent's actual view but is easier to refute, then attribute that position to the opponent (for example, deliberately overstating the opponent's position). A straw man argument can be a successful rhetorical technique (that is, it may succeed in persuading people) but it carries little or no real evidential weight, because the opponent's actual argument has not been refuted.
Its name is derived from the practice of using straw men in combat training In such training, a scarecrow is made in the image of the enemy with the single intent of attacking it. Such a target is, naturally, immobile and does not fight back, and is not as realistic to test skill against compared to a live and armed opponent.
It isn’t necessary to misrepresent Coffey’s or Price’s arguments in such a manner, because their actual views are easy to refute. If anything, it's far less a case of straw men as it is fish in a barrel.
I'm perfectly content to permit posterity to be the judge. In a few years, read back over the hundreds of postings herein, and tally the scorecard.
But thanks for asking.
“Who would you use as a straw man if Dan Coffey weren’t around?”
My answer was Steve Price. Actually, I would cherish the opportunity to refrain from exposing the inadequacies and other local nonentities, but at root, the question itself is invalid.
Wikipedia defines a straw man as follows:
A straw man argument is an informal fallacy based on misrepresentation of an opponent's position. To "set up a straw man" or "set up a straw man argument" is to describe a position that superficially resembles an opponent's actual view but is easier to refute, then attribute that position to the opponent (for example, deliberately overstating the opponent's position). A straw man argument can be a successful rhetorical technique (that is, it may succeed in persuading people) but it carries little or no real evidential weight, because the opponent's actual argument has not been refuted.
Its name is derived from the practice of using straw men in combat training In such training, a scarecrow is made in the image of the enemy with the single intent of attacking it. Such a target is, naturally, immobile and does not fight back, and is not as realistic to test skill against compared to a live and armed opponent.
It isn’t necessary to misrepresent Coffey’s or Price’s arguments in such a manner, because their actual views are easy to refute. If anything, it's far less a case of straw men as it is fish in a barrel.
I'm perfectly content to permit posterity to be the judge. In a few years, read back over the hundreds of postings herein, and tally the scorecard.
But thanks for asking.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Who is the imposter wearing Cappuccino's empty suit? Quick, someone ring the irony police.
When 1st district councilman Dan “Wizard of Westside” Coffey first minted his Magna Farta, otherwise known as one of two resolutions designed to thwart the aims of developers capable of doing for his neighborhood the very sorts of things that Coffey has been congenitally unable to achieve throughout endless years of public "service", word on the street was that the England administration simply didn’t care one way or the other.The second of Coffey’s resolutions passed muster earlier this week, and it was obvious to all present save a handful of his constituents that the junkyard dog had indeed been tossed his bone, albeit a rubberized version. In the end, Coffey’s transparently contrived appeal to change zoning designations could do almost nothing to impede progress, but it might fool a few gullible voters and keep the ball in Coffey’s court long enough that he might survive to nonsensically grandstand another day.
Even radical atheist outsiders like me (raised up the hill in far-off Georgetown) know that politics embraces the art of compromise, so I suppose the Tribune’s revelation yesterday comes as little of a surprise.
Pair eyes new home for New Albany's city hall; Gonder, Coffey believe Baptist Tabernacle would be perfect fit, by Daniel Suddeath (News and Tribune).
A new spot for city hall is what some New Albany officials are suggesting for the Baptist Tabernacle, a recent purchase by the city, located at 318 E. Fourth St.
Citing the need for more space and a growing rental fee the city is paying the county for offices on the third floor of the City/County Building, City Councilman Dan Coffey believes it’s time for a change …
… When renovated, the Baptist Tabernacle would offer two floors for use, with Councilman John Gonder believing the second story would be the best for meeting rooms.
Speaking of stopped pre-digital clocks, what do you think about a councilman who vows to say aloud those things he’d never dare put in a blog?
I think it means that Steve Price doesn’t know how to operate a computer.
You may disagree, but that’s okay. After all, we’re all entitled to our opinion, right?
(Photo credit: I stole it off the Internet)
Thursday, July 10, 2008
User fees for foreigners: If incomprehension is the enemy, are we on Candid Camera yet?
(To myself) ... it simply has to be a set-up, like when comedian Don Novello wrote goofy letters to politicians and corporations in the guise of Laszlo Toth ... but I guess I’m falling for it …
Following is the text of a July 9 letter to the Tribune, unarchived as of yet, but worth examining for insight into life within the confines of the Open Air Museum.
He wants out-of-state visitors to pay
I went to Sam Peden Community Park recently to go fishing.
There was a crowd but considering it was July 4, I should not have been surprised. But after checking out the license plates of the cars in the parking lot, I noticed that 90 percent of these people are from Kentucky.
Why in the world would people drive across the bridge to visit our parks when Louisville has at least five or six parks of their own?
Back in the day, when Community Park was new, there was a fee to get in there. Yes, there was a swimming pool at the time.
But since we have to pay to go into Deam Lake or Buffalo Trace, if you are not a county resident, why not be charged to get into Community Park, if you are not an Indiana resident?
We do not have that many parks as it is and we all know or city and/or county could sure use the money.
-Jim Baird, New Albany
Well, one way to look at it is to separate the apples from the oranges. Accordingly, we see that Deam Lake State Recreation Area is administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and as a state facility, it’s a whole different discussion.
At Buffalo Trace, which is a Harrison County parks property, resident and non-resident alike pay to enter. However, a discount is given for county residents. Interestingly, entrance is free for bicycles and pedestrians – and as a seeming carrot for the physically fit, that’s exactly as it should be. Harrison County’s fees are explained here.
A glance at the NAFC Parks & Recreation web site shows that Floyd County also charges a full range of fees and rentals.
I don’t know why we’ve never decided to gouge Kentuckians for the privilege of using our parks, but it might have something to do with plain ol' karma. That's because there’s another way to look at it. Those Kentucky residents bypassing the dozens of parks owned and operated by Louisville Metro to frolic at Community Park are traveling to it via I-265. Accordingly, they must pass numerous stores, restaurants and other businesses on Grant Line Road while in route.
It’s inevitable that money is being pumped into the local economy by these visitors. I’d venture to say that we come out ahead in the end.
Maybe my take is skewed, but when I see cars with Kentucky plates parked at my own business, I feel pride, not dismay. Sixteen years ago, the prevailing conventional wisdom was that no self-respecting Louisvillian would cross the bridge to drink beer and eat pizza in New Albany.
But they do.
Why on earth would they? To me, it's this: Just because we're New Albanians doesn't meant we must labor under the leaden weight of an inferiority complex. It doesn't mean we can't be good at something, and do it right.
Countless others in New Albany spend their days trying to make visitors feel welcome, secure and unthreatened. It certainly doesn’t help the cause to feel suspicion toward fellow inhabitants of the metro area, and to wonder why on earth they’d want to come here.
Ask ‘em that same question aloud -- why come here? -- and chances are they will reconsider wanting to do so. That’s a self-fulfilling prophecy if I’ve ever heard one, and yet we hear it emanate from the conjoined obstructionist councilmen at almost every council meeting.
Sad. Very sad.
Following is the text of a July 9 letter to the Tribune, unarchived as of yet, but worth examining for insight into life within the confines of the Open Air Museum.
He wants out-of-state visitors to pay
I went to Sam Peden Community Park recently to go fishing.
There was a crowd but considering it was July 4, I should not have been surprised. But after checking out the license plates of the cars in the parking lot, I noticed that 90 percent of these people are from Kentucky.
Why in the world would people drive across the bridge to visit our parks when Louisville has at least five or six parks of their own?
Back in the day, when Community Park was new, there was a fee to get in there. Yes, there was a swimming pool at the time.
But since we have to pay to go into Deam Lake or Buffalo Trace, if you are not a county resident, why not be charged to get into Community Park, if you are not an Indiana resident?
We do not have that many parks as it is and we all know or city and/or county could sure use the money.
-Jim Baird, New Albany
Well, one way to look at it is to separate the apples from the oranges. Accordingly, we see that Deam Lake State Recreation Area is administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and as a state facility, it’s a whole different discussion.
At Buffalo Trace, which is a Harrison County parks property, resident and non-resident alike pay to enter. However, a discount is given for county residents. Interestingly, entrance is free for bicycles and pedestrians – and as a seeming carrot for the physically fit, that’s exactly as it should be. Harrison County’s fees are explained here.
A glance at the NAFC Parks & Recreation web site shows that Floyd County also charges a full range of fees and rentals.
I don’t know why we’ve never decided to gouge Kentuckians for the privilege of using our parks, but it might have something to do with plain ol' karma. That's because there’s another way to look at it. Those Kentucky residents bypassing the dozens of parks owned and operated by Louisville Metro to frolic at Community Park are traveling to it via I-265. Accordingly, they must pass numerous stores, restaurants and other businesses on Grant Line Road while in route.
It’s inevitable that money is being pumped into the local economy by these visitors. I’d venture to say that we come out ahead in the end.
Maybe my take is skewed, but when I see cars with Kentucky plates parked at my own business, I feel pride, not dismay. Sixteen years ago, the prevailing conventional wisdom was that no self-respecting Louisvillian would cross the bridge to drink beer and eat pizza in New Albany.
But they do.
Why on earth would they? To me, it's this: Just because we're New Albanians doesn't meant we must labor under the leaden weight of an inferiority complex. It doesn't mean we can't be good at something, and do it right.
Countless others in New Albany spend their days trying to make visitors feel welcome, secure and unthreatened. It certainly doesn’t help the cause to feel suspicion toward fellow inhabitants of the metro area, and to wonder why on earth they’d want to come here.
Ask ‘em that same question aloud -- why come here? -- and chances are they will reconsider wanting to do so. That’s a self-fulfilling prophecy if I’ve ever heard one, and yet we hear it emanate from the conjoined obstructionist councilmen at almost every council meeting.
Sad. Very sad.
"Pub Snacks, Revisited" -- another NABC beer and food pairing, coming Monday, July 28.
Time for a business tout -- NAC's "sponsor", so to speak ...
---
Can it have been eight months since Josh Lehman and Andrew McCabe wowed us with the Creative Costume beer dinner?
"Creative Costume" beer dinner review: Multiple thumbs up.
They're back, and another innovative food and beer pairing will take place in Prost on Monday, July 28. It's called Pub Snacks, Revisited, and is intended to definitively answer the question of what beer best accompanies smores, anyway?
As an added bonus, the 28th also kicks off Dogfish Head Off-Kilter Sixers week.
Here are the facts:
---
Pub Snacks, Revisited
A New Albanian Brewing Company (NABC) beer & food pairing, featuring Sous Chef Joshua Lehman and Pastry Chef Andrew McCabe, both of Le Relais Restaurant.
Rich O’s Public House
3312 Plaza Drive
New Albany, Indiana 47150
At Prost, the special events wing
Monday, July 28th ~ 6:45 p.m.
$50 per person ~ all inclusive, Reservations taken in advance at Rich O’s Public House or by phone:
(502) 939-6734– ask for Andrew
(812) 989-2321 – ask for Josh
Menu
Soup & Sandwich
Heirloom tomato bisque, cucumber, brioche grilled cheese
~NABC Saison
Mussels
Ginger, tamarind, coconut milk
~NABC Phoenix Kentucky Komon
Peach Pizza
Whole wheat crust, italian sausage, tellagio cheese
~NABC Elector (Imperial Red Ale)
Soft Pretzel
Gruyere, Jalepeno
~NABC Elsa Von Horizon Imperial Pilsner
Corn Dog
Duck sausage, Sweet Corn Mustard
~NABC Old Lightning Rod (Colonial Strong Ale)
Smore
Smoked Marshmallows, Graham Cracker, Spicy Chocolate
~NABC Jasmine the Mastiff (Sweet Stout)
---
Can it have been eight months since Josh Lehman and Andrew McCabe wowed us with the Creative Costume beer dinner?
"Creative Costume" beer dinner review: Multiple thumbs up.
They're back, and another innovative food and beer pairing will take place in Prost on Monday, July 28. It's called Pub Snacks, Revisited, and is intended to definitively answer the question of what beer best accompanies smores, anyway?
As an added bonus, the 28th also kicks off Dogfish Head Off-Kilter Sixers week.
Here are the facts:
---
Pub Snacks, Revisited
A New Albanian Brewing Company (NABC) beer & food pairing, featuring Sous Chef Joshua Lehman and Pastry Chef Andrew McCabe, both of Le Relais Restaurant.
Rich O’s Public House
3312 Plaza Drive
New Albany, Indiana 47150
At Prost, the special events wing
Monday, July 28th ~ 6:45 p.m.
$50 per person ~ all inclusive, Reservations taken in advance at Rich O’s Public House or by phone:
(502) 939-6734– ask for Andrew
(812) 989-2321 – ask for Josh
Menu
Soup & Sandwich
Heirloom tomato bisque, cucumber, brioche grilled cheese
~NABC Saison
Mussels
Ginger, tamarind, coconut milk
~NABC Phoenix Kentucky Komon
Peach Pizza
Whole wheat crust, italian sausage, tellagio cheese
~NABC Elector (Imperial Red Ale)
Soft Pretzel
Gruyere, Jalepeno
~NABC Elsa Von Horizon Imperial Pilsner
Corn Dog
Duck sausage, Sweet Corn Mustard
~NABC Old Lightning Rod (Colonial Strong Ale)
Smore
Smoked Marshmallows, Graham Cracker, Spicy Chocolate
~NABC Jasmine the Mastiff (Sweet Stout)
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Mere facts without lame excuses and sentimental claptrap ... in New Albany? Are facts even legal?
Time and again I've listened or read comments to the effect that the plaintiffs in the redistricting lawsuit "done the council wrong" by not appearing, kneeling with hats in hand, to ask for redistricting before filing the lawsuit in Federal court.
Really?
Steve Price, who now savagely proclaims the council's legal prerogative to redistrict, sat through two years of his first term and did absolutely nothing other than to remark that redistricting was something that floated former colleague Larry Kochert's boat, and little more.
(Cue the Deliverance soundtrack twang)
Jeff Gahan, who was the previous council' s president for two years, now stridently agrees with Price that redistricting is a council mandate, just as it was before, and yet, as we've seen, and as a Federal judge quite forcefully agreed, neither Price nor Gahan ... nor any other sitting council person at the time... was so sufficiently enamored of their Constitutional obligation to undertake redistricting. As best it can be determined, none even mentioned the possibility.
So, tell me: Why must a citizen ask his or her elected representative to kindly perform the bare minimum of duties required of the position?
In the pantheon of excuses, how does "you didn't remind me to do my job" stack up with "my dog ate the homework"?
Anyone?
(Crickets chirping, pins dropping)
I thought as much.
----
NAC's co-editor Bluegill had this to say yesterday. I think it's worth elevating to the marquee.
If someone works to ensure that an election is illegal and is then "voted" into "government" as a result of that illegal election, are they actually empowered to wield authority?
It's something a court probably needs to review but I'd think the average citizen would say no.
Interesting, then, that that's the exact position Price, Coffey, and Gahan are in.
One really interesting tidbit from (Monday) night was Gahan's suggestion that the council could just wait until after the next census to redistrict. Doing so would ensure that our next city elections would again be based on voting districts that a federal court has already pointed out as illegal.
I guess if you're going to get busted anyway, you may as well go for broke.
Really?
Steve Price, who now savagely proclaims the council's legal prerogative to redistrict, sat through two years of his first term and did absolutely nothing other than to remark that redistricting was something that floated former colleague Larry Kochert's boat, and little more.
(Cue the Deliverance soundtrack twang)
Jeff Gahan, who was the previous council' s president for two years, now stridently agrees with Price that redistricting is a council mandate, just as it was before, and yet, as we've seen, and as a Federal judge quite forcefully agreed, neither Price nor Gahan ... nor any other sitting council person at the time... was so sufficiently enamored of their Constitutional obligation to undertake redistricting. As best it can be determined, none even mentioned the possibility.
So, tell me: Why must a citizen ask his or her elected representative to kindly perform the bare minimum of duties required of the position?
In the pantheon of excuses, how does "you didn't remind me to do my job" stack up with "my dog ate the homework"?
Anyone?
(Crickets chirping, pins dropping)
I thought as much.
----
NAC's co-editor Bluegill had this to say yesterday. I think it's worth elevating to the marquee.
If someone works to ensure that an election is illegal and is then "voted" into "government" as a result of that illegal election, are they actually empowered to wield authority?
It's something a court probably needs to review but I'd think the average citizen would say no.
Interesting, then, that that's the exact position Price, Coffey, and Gahan are in.
One really interesting tidbit from (Monday) night was Gahan's suggestion that the council could just wait until after the next census to redistrict. Doing so would ensure that our next city elections would again be based on voting districts that a federal court has already pointed out as illegal.
I guess if you're going to get busted anyway, you may as well go for broke.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
