HB 1604 amendment: "Indiana wants to raise excise taxes 100%."

I've been in this business long enough to know that there is no rationality when it comes to the taxation of alcoholic beverages, and there probably never will be. In hard times, we get stuck harder.

That's the way it has been, and will continue to be. It's also the reason that I remain hypersensitive to the moralizing and hypocrisy of groups like Reclaim Our Culture Kentuckiana (ROCK), whose advocacy of the glories of past repression will at some point include breweries within the imperative of burning sinners, at which time luminous entities like New Albany's city council might finally grasp the nature of the slippery slope they're cascading down.

To be honest, it would be far easier for me to accept such an excise tax increase if the wizards populating Indiana's legislative branch would be consistent and treat small breweries the same as small wineries. It would be easier still if political gladhanding didn't result in property tax breaks to rental property owners like Pat Harrison, who insist that their profit-making activity isn't a business, but is more deserving of favors than mine, even as my business (I don't deny what it is) pays a point higher than hers.

See yesterday's "Clere: An objection and a question" for more.

If some of the largesse comes back to the community in the form of economic development assistance, then I might bear the tax increase with a tad more equanimity, although I'd rather write my check to the city than to the state. I'd hate to see some of the percentage leak away during the trip up I-65 and back.

Meanwhile, the following is reprinted from the Hoosier Beer Geek blog.

----

Indiana wants to raise excise taxes 100%

We don't get all that political here at Hoosier Beer Geek, but this one really gets under my skin, and I had to post this tonight in hopes that we might be able to make a difference before Thursday's vote.

This Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee will be considering an amendment to HB 1604 which increases the excise tax on Alcohol by 100% to help fund the Marion County Capital Improvement Board shortfall caused by the Pacers, Colts and Convention Center operating losses. In an effort to gain support for the idea, the anticipated $42 million increase in alcohol taxes would be distributed statewide to cities and towns throughout Indiana on a population basis for economic development initiatives. Only Indianapolis ' portion ($8 million annually) of this increase would go to the Marion County Capital Improvement Board.

Call your State Senator and Representative and tell them:

NO NEW ALCOHOL TAXES!!

House Switchboard: 800-382-9842

Senate Switchboard: 800-382-9467

Call the numbers above and ask for the Senator or the Representative below and let them know raising alcohol taxes is not the way to pay for the losses that the Indianapolis sports teams have accrued. Already, 46% of the cost of beer today is taxes, and in no way would it be fair to increase that amount.

This is the aim of House Bill 1613: DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL

Increases alcoholic beverage excise taxes. Increases the beer and cider excise tax from $0.115 to $0.65 per gallon. Increases the wine excise tax from $0.47 to $2.07 per gallon. Increases the liquor excise tax from $2.68 to $6.95 per gallon. Provides that each of the funds that receives these excise taxes will receive the same percentage of the new rates as the percentage it receives under the existing rates.

You can verify who your Senator or Representative is by going to the following site: www.capwiz.com/la and entering your address. This will give you the information you need to call or email your Senator or Representative

You can also email by going to this address: http://axetaxesnotjobs.com/

That page is sponsored by Diageo, but it does make it very easy to find and contact your Senator, state rep, and the Governor.

What are you thoughts about this legislation?

Clere: An objection and a question.

I happily dissent ... and question whether equal time is merited.

CLERE: You make the call, by Ed Clere (News and Tribune).

STATEHOUSE — In last week’s column, I noted that there were 22 days left for a vote on constitutional property tax caps. Now, a week later, we’re down to 15.

I didn’t hear from anyone opposed to the caps, which are contained in Senate Joint Resolution 1. The resolution was adopted by the House and Senate last year, and the Senate already has adopted it again this year.

Count me among those opposed, at least until someone (anyone?) provides a coherent explanation as to why rental property ownership is not a business activity to be taxed at the same 3% rate as my own.

After reading the column, it also strikes me that the Tribune is providing column space each week for what might become a partisan forum. Some might say that it already is. Once the Democrats have a candidate in place for the next election, does he or she get equal time? Is equal time merited now?

Kindly note that I consider Ed a friend, but I believe the preceding to be valid considerations worthy of answers.

BS Neighborhood Derby, Round 2: NA vs. Clifton.

At the conclusion of the first round of Broken Sidewalk's Neighborhood Derby, NAC regular B.W. Smith proposed "...a new post to fire people up - why vote New Albany over Clifton/Crescent Hill?"

His suggested answers are below:

- We brew better beer. Nuff said.

- You can go and do anything in your tshirt and jeans, including spend three figures on a fine-dining meal at the Windsor, and no one cares.

-It's a realistic possibility that an average joe could own a huge historic home...and for peanuts compared to the other guys.

-YYYY MMMM CCCC A!

-Loop Island Wetlands

-We're in a blue state

Add your own in the comments section, and go vote.

BS Neighborhood Derby: Countdown To The Final Four

Set Them & They Will Be Filled!!

Here as promised early this morning is the proof that voulnterism and cooperation between the city and neighborhoods can accomplish something good.

The sad part is without strict code enforcement, combined with the vigorous prosecution of offenders, and a renewed sense of pride in ownership at the street level, we can be sure that we will fill these dumpsters and double this number in the fall cleanup should they be available.

Take special notice of the one full of tires. Last evening just before dark this dumpster was less than half full.

This morning when I stopped by to take these pictures I was informed that the majority of those that filled it to over flowing (note those on the groud as well) came from a local repair shop that chose to abuse the city's good will rather than absorb the costs of disposing of them properly as most honest businessmen would have done.

One has to wonder if this individual is a rental property owner as well. For as I noted in my original post, many of the tires picked up in our alleys appeared to have come from a repair shop!

Cameras everyone!

Correction---the Trucks Do Have Brakes!!

On Tuesday last I posted on this blog a handful of pictures of yard waste collections that had lain dormant for some time. The issue was these had all been reported to the Street Department personnel on a repeated basis to no avail.

This morning I’m happy to report that as of dark thirty last evening, a full 75% of those posted are now gone. Additionally in checking back with folks in the neighborhoods I learned that many others were disposed of by the city’s Grapple Truck crew over the weekend as well.

So to Mayor England, Street Superintendant Mickey Thompson, and especially the guys on the trucks we send out a heartfelt THANK YOU!!! We the people really do appreciate your efforts.

We also want to thank all of the aforementioned as well as Board of Works President Matt Denison for coordinating the dumpster drop this weekend for the cleanup efforts of the SEJ Neighborhood Association.

Kudos as well to Padgett Inc. for manufacturing such fine looking dumpsters for these events. The red lettering on the bright white paint looks sharp!

Albeit I’m quite sure not all of the contents came from the SEJ area, we none the less managed to fill all five of them to overflowing. So as of this writing our fair city is minus two extremely large loads of yard waste, two of household trash, and one of old tires. Our sincere thanks once again to all who participated in this affair.

Speaking of tires, one gentleman who concentrated solely on them noted that a large number of them had been cut in the fashion that a repair shop might in order to discourage one from trying to salvage them for reuse. So it begs the question--- do we have some unscrupulous souls in our midst who are dumping their rejects in our neighborhoods to avoid the business costs of disposing of them properly??

If so would it not be a coup if we could catch them in the act on camera?? Sounds much like a Block Watch project to me.

And just to show that we at NAC believe in equal opportunity press, did anyone note the participation of anyone from the new “Landlord’s Association” in this weekends cleanup attempts?

If so another round of THANKS for helping!! If not, WHY?? It was advertised well in advance after all.

Bank Street today: Cards or Cavs or something.

Remember: Bank Street Brewhouse is open on Sunday. The game will be telecast on the flat screen. Although I'd rather watch the NBA, I suppose we can tolerate the NCAA thing if customers really insist on it.

A rainy Saturday.

After a lengthy hiatus, I returned to the front porch yesterday afternoon and enjoyed a fine cigar (from Kaiser’s) accompanied by a cup of steaming black tea and the most recent issue of “The Economist.” It was a pleasant break from the previous weeks of stress and strain at work, and the cigar tasted even better for it having been more than a month since the one before it.

Before that, my pal Jerry and I enjoyed one of our periodic forays to Ear-X in Louisville, had a bite to eat, and then stopped at Rocky’s Sub Pub in Jeffersonville to examine the new 30+ draft system. The selection is good, and I’ll be writing about it for my column in this Wednesday’s LEO. We ended up and Bank Street Brewhouse, where several friends were ensconced, including three regional wine merchants who drink beer in their spare time. We all talked shop, and it was invigorating.

Jared had uncovered a four-month old firkin of Beak’s Best that had been dry-hopped with Amarillo hops, and it was pouring from the hand pull. Good stuff indeed, even if the temperature wasn’t right for lifting the garage doors. I felt a bit sad for the group coming in for pizza, but accidents are unavoidable. The point is for Connor’s Place and/or the River City Winery to make pizza. We’ll happily direct people in those directions. Then, no one leaves downtown without satisfaction.

Speaking of which … excuse me for dipping into the mailbag.

To Edna: Sorry, but the food is priced and sized in portion wit the ingredients and preparation. There will be no burgers or pizza. The burgers at Studio’s are pretty good, though.

To K: We had the sound turned off on purpose. We think that being able to see the game is enough, and that the announcers typically are superfluous.

To the unknown homebrewer: We’ve never done chicken wings at the original location, and they weren’t contemplated at the new one. I understand that Connor’s Place will be offering them soon, if not already.

To N, T, J, L and a couple dozen others: Thanks for the patronage, and moreover, for understanding what we’re trying to achieve. It will continue to evolve. Please share your feelings with the like-minded. Revitalization can’t occur without standing a few paradigms on their heads.

That’s why we’re here. It’s what we do.

Yawn.

Thursday’s posting at Freedom to Screech seemed too well written to be emanating from the trognonymous dungeon, and sure enough, it’s another bit of unattributed petty thievery.

MARK - TO – MARKET

In fact, the words were swiped from the forums section at the Wall Street Journal and were written by Benjamin M. Cole, PhD, who works in the Management Systems Department of Fordham University's Graduate School of Business Administration.

In other words, an educated writer who uses his own name, being plagiarized by an uneducated one who hides behind a contrived pseudonym and shrieks about the "rules."

How very, very old-school New Albanian. I hope muy use of the word "school" doesn't offend the pretend-prof.

Develop New Albany's "First Things First" on Wednesday, April 1 at the YMCA.

Gastronomy in New Albany? You might as well get used to it.

Yesterday at my PC blog, I chewed over a few ruminations gleaned from the ongoing kitchen rollout at the Bank Street Brewhouse.

Bank Street Brewhouse: It's exactly because "different" isn't the "same."

Last evening I sampled the Flat Iron Steak with an Asparagus Salad, accompanied by an Oaktimus (Hoptimus aged with oak chips) dating from early 2008. Speaking with approximate objectivity, it may have been the best all-around meal I've had in an American brewpub, bar none -- and I've been to quite a few.

Yes, the intention was to have a continental, Belgian-cafe-style kitchen. Two weeks into the Brewhouse's existence, we've transcended that simple ideal by an Old Country mile. This has occurred because we had the chance to work with Chef Josh Lehman, whose vision and dedication should be obvious. Admittedly, it's the polar opposite of the menu at the Public House and Pizzeria, and for some, that fact has been an impediment. Happily, the scene at Grant Line is the same as it ever was.

Meanwhile, at Bank Street, we're all working as hard as we can to disseminate information about when we're open, what food is available and when, and a hundred other things that every start-up has to resolve. The brewery's coming within a month, and then another chapter begins. Exterior finishing work is set to resume.

The point to me is this: It hasn't progressed in the way I imagined, but it's far, far better than what I ever envisioned, which makes a very strong case for the collaborative theory of management as illustrated by our team. Our traditional location is utterly unique, and so is the new one. Our collective mandate has been to challenge, not pander, and my personal goal is to make the world aware of the possibilities of pairing first-rate cuisine with equally top-notch brewing. We're already heading toward fruition in these areas, and it's only just begun.

In fact, the only dissonance heard so far is the familiar variation on the crippling, self-loathing lament native to the vicinity: You can't do that in New Albany, and you shouldn't even try.

Bullshit. Why not?

My question, then, is what word do we coin to describe what we're doing? The one that seems closest in the "gastropub" in Brit-speak, as defined by Wikipedia.

A gastropub (or gastro pub) is a British term for a public house which specializes in high-quality food a step above the more basic "pub grub." The name is a combination of pub and gastronomy and was coined in 1991 when David Eyre and Mike Belben opened a pub called The Eagle in Clerkenwell, London.[1][2] The concept "helped create a truly British culinary scene" and "arose from a conscious effort to promote great food in well-loved places."[2] Gastropubs have been described as the Anglo-equivalent of the French brasserie or the Japanese izakaya [3]

The problem with "gastropub" is that Americans only hear the prefix when it is associated with stomach viruses, "gastronomy" being a little used word in Big Buford Land.

Any thoughts? Thanks to all readers so far who get it. Your patronage is appreciated very, very much.

Dinner menu at Bank Street Brewhouse tonight ... and a special Elector on the handpull.

On Thursday evening (March 26) the NABC Bank Street Brewhouse dinner menu will debut. Please note the dinner hours of 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Lunch remains 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., with a "down time" snack menu coming soon. Sunday hours are Noon - 8:00 p.m., and kitchen offerings will be unique to the day once we have time to organize them.

To honor the occasion tonight, NABC’s brew crew will be releasing a cask-conditioned pin (5 gallons) of Elector, which has been aged for nine months in a wooden cask formerly used to dispense Lagavulin-aged JW Lees Vintage Harvest Ale. This special batch of Elector will be tapped at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Stay tuned. There are rumors of a Thunderfoot appearance during the week of March 30.

Executive Chef - Joshua Lehman
Sous Chef - Andy Gunn
Brewers – Jesse Williams & Jared Williamson

DINNER MENU

Soup du Jour
Chef's Whim
$4.50

Asparagus Salad
Fennel, Radishes, Citrus Vinaigrette
$6.00

Scallops
Diver Scallops, Carrot Mousse, English Peas, Bacon, Lemon Brown Butter
$16.95

Pork Confit
Slow Roasted Pork, Fingerling Potatoes, Pickled Carrots
$13.95

Flat Iron Steak
Caramelized Onions, Sunchokes, Asparagus, Veal reduction
$15.95

English Pea & Mushroom Risotto
Arborio Rice, Shiitake Mushrooms, Roasted Fennel, Parmigiano-Reggiano
$11.95

Today's Tribune column: "Usable and reusable expertise."

The devil didn't make me do it. The facts are another matter ...

BAYLOR: Usable and reusable expertise

... Scrolling back through my blog, I found the references, and so we return now to January 2006, when former Tribune Staff Writer Amany Ali found a glowering counterpoint to percolating downtown optimism by obtaining the testimony of Gary McCartin, auteur of the Wendy’s that isn’t.

Tribune suggests a written code of ethics for the city council. Pins subsequently drop, and crickets chirp.

One of this week’s Tribune “Jeers” is worth reprinting in its entirety.

TRIBUNE CHEERS & JEERS: March 25, 2009

JEERS

... again to New Albany Councilwoman Diane McCartin-Benedetti for not recusing herself at Thursday’s council meeting from voting on a development brought before the council by her brother. The councilwoman told audience members that she is not making a capital gain. (Note to self, check up on campaign contribution files in future elections.) That’s not the issue. As I’ve stated before in this space, a breach of ethics can be perceived and damage credibility even through association.

Ignore Dan Coffey’s claims that our claims of ethical conflicts are personal. He’s out of touch as usual.

Why is this important? Because New Albany government — specifically the council — has a reputation for being a mockery, anti-good ideas and generally lacking when coming to the idea of good government. Whether or not the reputation is deserved is another matter, but it does exist.

The council must do everything it can to show it’s a logical, rational and morally responsible group in order to have any chance at overcoming this reputation. I would say that a perceived ethical dilemma is a good place to start by taking the high road.

It still surprises me that very few people in elected positions seem to be publicly questioning this.

Again, I will state that I believe the council — or the county party leaders — should use this opportunity to put an ethics code in writing. It may not be binding, but we can ask all new candidates to sign it before running for office. City government ethics codes are not uncommon across the United States. But no one ever claimed that the New Albany City Council was common.

— Tribune Publisher Steve Kozarovich

The key sentence is this one: “I would say that a perceived ethical dilemma is a good place to start by taking the high road.”

I spoke near the end of last week’s meeting, observing that to Google “conflict of interest” is to find as many examples of support for CM Benedetti’s position as there are instances of refutation, in the sense that not every ethical code applicable to her position cites the capital gain of a sibling as a possible source of conflict.

But it cannot be doubted that her stance represents the very lowest of common denominators, as Kozarovich recognizes. Apart from congenital dullards like the council’s Boner and Jethro, almost everyone in New Albany with a pulse recognizes the need for elevated standards, and yet Benedetti upholds the utility of the most minimal.

Congratulations to the Tribune for staying engaged with this story, and shame on those council members who remain rooted to the bottom rung on the ladder of achievement. Councilpersons surely can be taught new tricks ... if they're willing to learn.

♪ ♪ How Many Times Must the Trucks Drive By??

I arose earlier than I normally do this morning so that I might shave, shower, etc, before heading downtown to the Board of Works meeting.

As I pulled out of my garage I noted again that my ever growing collection of yard waste was still present.

So just for giggles I took a quick tour of the neighborhoods to see how many others were still present and unacccounted for.

The images that follow are but a few that I took in the process. I did so in order that I might show them to our Street Department Superintendent at the aforementioned meeting.

I was also going to inquire of him the route schedule for the pickup of such in the four quadrants of the city as proposed/promised some months ago.

But alas he was not present as he was shepherding his crew through the process of repainting school crossings around the city. From what was said I came away with the impression that all hands were on such duty as per Mayor England.

I can't however, verify that to be the case as I'm running low on gas so I passed on the temptation to do so.

What I can say with certainty though is that many of the examples cited below have been brought to the street departments attention weeks hence and the remainder are in very plain sight! Assuming anyone has their eyes open that is!



The above is from our very own Spring cleaning /storm damage cleanup efforts. I alerted the proper entities of its existence at least two weeks ago.



This one in the 1900 Block of spring Street (Division Street) has survived at least three garbage day/recycling truck/various other city vehicle drive by's!




The two directly above are from the 700 Block of Market Street and are the remains of trees located on city rights of way which if I'm not mistaken makes them the cities responsiblity.

Oh, and note that obstructing the sidewalk appears not to be a safety concern after all.

Then this one on the 600 Block of Main Street was according to the owner phoned in and put on the to do list on March 6 of this year and the pile keeps growing!

Now to give the devil his due we all understand that the city is shorthanded, there have been a series of storms of late, we have budget woes, and on and on and on.

However, unless my ears deceived me Thursday last, the Mayor did say at the Common Council meeting that ours streets were clean.

Somehow I fear he has been misinformed as the items referenced above for the most part are not new though they may be growing.

So tell us Mr. Mayor, what else do we as citizens need to do?

We volunteer for weekend cleanups several times a year to rid our city of that which has accumulated only to watch it accumulate again. Thanks by the way Mickey for furnishing the dumpsters for such events!

We encourage our neighborhoods to police their own as much as possible.

We have offered on many occassions to haul our own to the dumpsters at the 4th Street location only to be turned away as we're informed that one can't put bagged yard waste in said dumpsters. And this after we've been told by the selfsame officials to bag it, leave it at curbside & it will be picked up!

We have followed the street department's grapple truck down many a road to watch it drive by pile after pile some of which it had to swing out & go around to keep from hitting them enroute to who knows where!

We have raked loose leaves to the curside as instructed only to see them either blow back into our yards or get washed down the storm water drains all the while being told WE the Public are responsible for said drains in close proximity to our property.

So PLEASE help us help you!!

Raise wages, raise taxes, raise rates, or fire 'em all and start over!

Park a dumpster on every street corner!

Petition the Council for more stringent legilation!

Request the Governor send in the National Guard complete with dump trucks to assist the Street Department!

Or like us buy a pair of gloves & blue jeans & jump in.

But quit with the same ole, same ole!

Storms past, economic disasters pending, and lack of property tax revenue aside I'm unaware of a city employee that has gone without a paycheck as of yet. Albeit some may not have been as big as they would have liked!

We just need to see some effort at getting our money's worth! And more often than once or twice a year via an insert in the councilmen's packet that never sees the light of day I might add!

So again how do we accomplish this feat? Outside the box ideas anyone?

By the way, isn't our thirty days about up??

Bracket Busting: March Neighborhood Derby Madness.

Mirroring the NCAA tournament our Senior Editor is doing his best to ignore, Broken Sidewalk is holding a neighborhood competition, pitting up-and-comers against some of the more established areas in the metro.

The first round is nearly complete with the New Albany rubber against Beechmont/South Louisville currently in the queue.

The Highlands has posted the most points so far, tallying 163 votes in its defeat of the Anchorage/J-town/Norton Commons area. We've been averaging a little over three hundred readers a day here at NAC the past week. You do the math-- right after you go vote at the link provided.

BS Neighborhood Derby: Final Round 1 Match-Ups Begin

I'll keep you updated. Two clicks per round is all that I ask.

*graphic from Broken Sidewalk

Benefit to the entire community, not the developer? Is that legal in New Albany?

In one of at-large councilman John Gonder's best blogs yet, he makes so much sense that one wonders how he managed to get elected in the first place. Just imagine the potential utility of Gonder's thoughts if the remainder of the local Democratic weren't terminally platform-resistant. Coincidentally, my Thursday column in this week's Tribune is devoted to a similar topic.

Back to the Drawingboard. Please.

In an attempt to extract something meaningful from the proceedings, I would like to offer an idea that could have possibly yielded a different outcome. At least it could have changed my vote. Unfortunately I'm not holding my breath waiting for the missing ingredient, because that missing ingredient is found in such short supply among developers hereabouts. The ingredient? It goes by several names: innovative thought, creative approaches, getting ahead of the curve, anticipatory development in recognition of the changes suggested by new environmental realities.

"Obama's No Socialist. I Should Know."

From the Washington Post. Thanks, G:

Obama's No Socialist. I Should Know, by Billy Wharton.

Traffic to our Web site multiplied, e-mail inquiries increased and meetings with potential recruits to the Socialist Party yielded more new members than ever before. Socialism -- an idea with a long history -- suddenly seemed to have a bright future in 21st-century America.

"What's upstairs in New Albany?"

Good stuff by Leslea M. Harmon in the Sunday edition of the Tribune.

What's upstairs in New Albany?

The Bergmans aren’t the only ones loving life above the shopfronts. Renewed interest in downtown is catching, and the area is already home to local eateries and specialty shops with more on the way.

I'll be referencing this story near the end of my Thursday column, and as a result, I'll keep it short today. Damned capitalism thing is exhausting ... or maybe it's the scientific sampling.

Too early for the beer biz.

John Campbell and I were up bright and early today to promote local beer and LIBA's Louisville Brewfest at the Clifton Center on Friday, March 27. My appearance was on WHAS-11's morning news, and lasted approximately a minute.

If you're in the New Albany neighborhood, don't forget that the Bank Street Brewhouse is open today until 8:00 p.m. Food service is limited today because we gave the kitchen crew time off; yesterday's mention in the C-J was good for business yesterday, and they need time to prepare the first stages of the evening menu that should hit tables on Thursday night, March 26.

Bank Street Brewhouse in today's C-J.

Good press for the business in the morning C-J: Long-awaited Bank Street Brewhouse opens in New Albany (by Steve Coomes).

When Steve, a veteran free-lancer, visited the Brewhouse last Sunday, we were chatting about beer and he revealed a forthcoming trip to Italy to write about a pizza competition. I told him that Italian microbreweries are red hot, and then in the days since he did more research and found one near his destination. Now I'm envious that he'll get there before I have the chance. Italian beercycling, anyone?

Here's the link to a Bank Street discussion at the restaurant forum: First Visit: NABC Bank Street Brewhouse.

From all of us at NABC Bank Street Brewhouse: Thanks for coming in the past week. Next week you should be seeing the evening food menu phased into place, as well as a special involving cask-conditioned Thunderfoot on the hand pull and elegantly styles duck on the plate in front of it. Cheers!