Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
New Voice on the Air?
We received news late tonight that New Albany is going to be served by an online public affairs radio show called New Albany Now. Starting tonight (we don't know the regularity of their schedule), the online radio show begins its schedule of Webcasts.
It's apparently a call-in show instead of just a podcasted blog. If you're on the Web, you can click a button to join the conversation. If you're away from your computer, you can call a number (347) 539-5928. In a world of cell phones and cheap long distance, calling a national number shouldn't impose too much of a hardship. As a caller, you can listen to the show, too, so long as your connection is maintained.
We understand that if you miss the live broadcast, an archive will be available, so all the shows will be available for later reference. Here's a link:
This sounds like it could be a dramatic development in the coverage of public affairs. We got word about this from Randy Smith at Destinations Booksellers. He's going to be hosting the early shows, but he leaves open the possibility that other show hosts may soon join him. Destinations Booksellers is going to be underwriting some of the early costs of producing this show and receiving on-air mentions in exchange. Randy's other business, Flood Crest Press, will probably also be a sponsor. For now, we don't know of any other sponsors, but Randy says it will be a non-profit undertaking that actively seeks individual, organizational, and business sponsorships, all of whom would receive mention on the air.
Randy isn't able to tell us yet if there will be an ability to take the show out of the "studio," but it's hard not to be enthusiastic about the idea of live broadcasts of some local public meetings. Can you imagine if The New Albanian and Bluegill were able to supplement their blog by audio of the city council meetings?
Who will be listening? Who knows? We think it's a great idea, and we encourage our readers to take the time to call in to ask questions or express their opinions.
It's apparently a call-in show instead of just a podcasted blog. If you're on the Web, you can click a button to join the conversation. If you're away from your computer, you can call a number (347) 539-5928. In a world of cell phones and cheap long distance, calling a national number shouldn't impose too much of a hardship. As a caller, you can listen to the show, too, so long as your connection is maintained.
We understand that if you miss the live broadcast, an archive will be available, so all the shows will be available for later reference. Here's a link:
This sounds like it could be a dramatic development in the coverage of public affairs. We got word about this from Randy Smith at Destinations Booksellers. He's going to be hosting the early shows, but he leaves open the possibility that other show hosts may soon join him. Destinations Booksellers is going to be underwriting some of the early costs of producing this show and receiving on-air mentions in exchange. Randy's other business, Flood Crest Press, will probably also be a sponsor. For now, we don't know of any other sponsors, but Randy says it will be a non-profit undertaking that actively seeks individual, organizational, and business sponsorships, all of whom would receive mention on the air.
Randy isn't able to tell us yet if there will be an ability to take the show out of the "studio," but it's hard not to be enthusiastic about the idea of live broadcasts of some local public meetings. Can you imagine if The New Albanian and Bluegill were able to supplement their blog by audio of the city council meetings?
Who will be listening? Who knows? We think it's a great idea, and we encourage our readers to take the time to call in to ask questions or express their opinions.
Friday, June 27, 2008
One Man's Propaganda vs Another's Truth
Sometimes you have to count the votes. If you can find a way to count the votes before the deadline, you can plan accordingly.
It's always interesting to hear dueling propaganda machines in contest. Mugabe and Tsvangirai duke it out in Zimbabwe, but "The Robert" has already counted the votes. The bulls and the bears contend on Wall Street, but a 380-point drop in the market is sure to drive more dollars toward "armchair investors" in foreclosed housing units...and we all know where that leads.
The New York Times reported yesterday that rising fuel costs were making exurbanists into extinctionists, with McMansion prices falling at about twice the rate of housing in urban centers with walkable neighborhoods.
Jeb Bush and George Bush are at odds, and J.E.B.'s successor, Charlie Crist, scuttles Florida's perennial obstinance toward offshore drilling in hopes it will win him the nod as John McCain's running mate in 2008.
Take a proper gander at the propaganda you hear in New Albany during the next 90 days. The side that can count the votes before the deadline has the advantage.
Constitutional issues are in flux, of course. Five men say you have an unalterable right to own and use a gun, which ought to make the remarkable Yalanda Parrish's lawyers happy. But no judge in most people's lifetimes has upheld the constitutionality of unequal legislative districts. That's a 100% vote count, all on one side of the ledger. Plan accordingly.
Speaking of public officials who don't, here's another vote count reported to NA Shadow Council. Pro - 85, Con - 13. Plan accordingly.
It's always interesting to hear dueling propaganda machines in contest. Mugabe and Tsvangirai duke it out in Zimbabwe, but "The Robert" has already counted the votes. The bulls and the bears contend on Wall Street, but a 380-point drop in the market is sure to drive more dollars toward "armchair investors" in foreclosed housing units...and we all know where that leads.
The New York Times reported yesterday that rising fuel costs were making exurbanists into extinctionists, with McMansion prices falling at about twice the rate of housing in urban centers with walkable neighborhoods.
Jeb Bush and George Bush are at odds, and J.E.B.'s successor, Charlie Crist, scuttles Florida's perennial obstinance toward offshore drilling in hopes it will win him the nod as John McCain's running mate in 2008.
Take a proper gander at the propaganda you hear in New Albany during the next 90 days. The side that can count the votes before the deadline has the advantage.
Constitutional issues are in flux, of course. Five men say you have an unalterable right to own and use a gun, which ought to make the remarkable Yalanda Parrish's lawyers happy. But no judge in most people's lifetimes has upheld the constitutionality of unequal legislative districts. That's a 100% vote count, all on one side of the ledger. Plan accordingly.
Speaking of public officials who don't, here's another vote count reported to NA Shadow Council. Pro - 85, Con - 13. Plan accordingly.
What a Week!
Our favorite books blog posted this today and we thought we’d share it with you.
(partial) Quote of the day:
…Ayn Rand, who is to traditionally female attributes like empathy and interpersonal relationships what Grover Norquist is to functioning government…Salon Magazine
(Rand was the author of Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead, Anthem, We the Living, and The Virtues of Selfishness. Her philosophy of “objectivism” preached that self-interest was the only virtue and that altruism was both non-productive and a sham. Alan Greenspan, former head of the Federal Reserve Bank, is probably her most famous acolyte.)
If you've been paying attention, you knew that this week would be, if not pivotal, at least seminal in fulfilling the aspirations of our city's residents (including, by the way, them people).
There is so much happening on both sides of the struggle for New Albany's future that it could be a full-time job chronicling it. In the public, private, artistic, commercial, and philanthropic worlds, the last week of June 2008 may be remembered as "the little bang" from which our future evolved.
Marcia Nedland and Eileen Flanagan, nationally recognized experts in the resuscitation of cities, made a deep impression on more than 100 avid believers in progress. Apparently, New Albany stacks up pretty well when compared to other American cities...in its potential and in the spirit of those who are its stakeholders.
The urban core has seen a flare, and it's not an emergency flare, but a beacon that hope is on the way. The business community downtown experienced its expected two steps forward, one step back brand of progress. But it is progress, and measurable at that.
The Carnegie Center for Art and History heard very good news about the extent of its community support and its endowment campaign. The YMCA announced the launch of its membership drive, pounding the nail into the coffin of those who continue to treat its impending debut as if it were the eruption of Mount St. Helens, sending residents fleeing toward Birdseye and other points where progress is a "furrin" word.
Dramatic developments in the fight for electoral fairness should come to light in the next fortnight. The Redevelopment Commission authorized the sale of $2 million in bonds, partially to support the match for $983K in federal largesse toward the Ohio River Greenway project. And there even may be news on changes in the lineup of the City of New Albany's payroll.
For now, let us leave you with this query regarding headliner B.J. Thomas and the advertisements for the Independence Day Eve celebration, brought to you by Doug England and others...well, mostly by you, who probably didn't know that $35,000 in tax money was being expended to entertain us. When we read the item about Mr. Thomas (performer of Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head), we also read that he was known for having recorded I Can't Stop Believing and Hooked on a Feeling.
Are we addled, or are those last two the same song, or not?
Speaking of the July 3 cityfest, will you be there on site? We've heard rumors that it will be covered live by an emerging media organization. Could Cary Stemle, formerly of LEO, have built an organization already? If anyone has more information about this, please share it with us, won't you?
July 3 is, for those of you who slept through class, actually Independents Day, which makes it somewhat ironic that the Democrats will conduct the exercises. July 4 is Independence Day, which commemorates the Declaration of Independence promulgated 232 years ago next week.
(partial) Quote of the day:
…Ayn Rand, who is to traditionally female attributes like empathy and interpersonal relationships what Grover Norquist is to functioning government…Salon Magazine
(Rand was the author of Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead, Anthem, We the Living, and The Virtues of Selfishness. Her philosophy of “objectivism” preached that self-interest was the only virtue and that altruism was both non-productive and a sham. Alan Greenspan, former head of the Federal Reserve Bank, is probably her most famous acolyte.)
If you've been paying attention, you knew that this week would be, if not pivotal, at least seminal in fulfilling the aspirations of our city's residents (including, by the way, them people).
There is so much happening on both sides of the struggle for New Albany's future that it could be a full-time job chronicling it. In the public, private, artistic, commercial, and philanthropic worlds, the last week of June 2008 may be remembered as "the little bang" from which our future evolved.
Marcia Nedland and Eileen Flanagan, nationally recognized experts in the resuscitation of cities, made a deep impression on more than 100 avid believers in progress. Apparently, New Albany stacks up pretty well when compared to other American cities...in its potential and in the spirit of those who are its stakeholders.
The urban core has seen a flare, and it's not an emergency flare, but a beacon that hope is on the way. The business community downtown experienced its expected two steps forward, one step back brand of progress. But it is progress, and measurable at that.
The Carnegie Center for Art and History heard very good news about the extent of its community support and its endowment campaign. The YMCA announced the launch of its membership drive, pounding the nail into the coffin of those who continue to treat its impending debut as if it were the eruption of Mount St. Helens, sending residents fleeing toward Birdseye and other points where progress is a "furrin" word.
Dramatic developments in the fight for electoral fairness should come to light in the next fortnight. The Redevelopment Commission authorized the sale of $2 million in bonds, partially to support the match for $983K in federal largesse toward the Ohio River Greenway project. And there even may be news on changes in the lineup of the City of New Albany's payroll.
For now, let us leave you with this query regarding headliner B.J. Thomas and the advertisements for the Independence Day Eve celebration, brought to you by Doug England and others...well, mostly by you, who probably didn't know that $35,000 in tax money was being expended to entertain us. When we read the item about Mr. Thomas (performer of Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head), we also read that he was known for having recorded I Can't Stop Believing and Hooked on a Feeling.
Are we addled, or are those last two the same song, or not?
Speaking of the July 3 cityfest, will you be there on site? We've heard rumors that it will be covered live by an emerging media organization. Could Cary Stemle, formerly of LEO, have built an organization already? If anyone has more information about this, please share it with us, won't you?
July 3 is, for those of you who slept through class, actually Independents Day, which makes it somewhat ironic that the Democrats will conduct the exercises. July 4 is Independence Day, which commemorates the Declaration of Independence promulgated 232 years ago next week.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Oh, yes, we got trouble here, we got big, big trouble
As measured by end results, Thursday's last meeting of June went, frankly, swimmingly.
The Divine Mr. Mac and his sprawltastic C'Town Road strip mall, last-gasp at legitimacy, pump-and-dump development went down to ignominious defeat. Even sibling D5, D. M-B, could not find the intestinal fortitude to be the sole remaining promoter of this unpopular PUDD request, which has been rejected by city officials on what seems to be 43 consecutive times.
Even the invincible residents of the Lafayette Drive neighborhood could not have expected D5 Diane McCartin-Benedetti to switch her vote to oppose her brother, "The Gary," and his mediocre attempt at restoring his flagging financial fortunes.
Mr. Coffey, esteemed by more than a dozen Westenders and the council member of the longest tenure of all current council members, was rebuffed in his attempt to dictate an ill-advised zoning change in a ten-block area near to his house.
I do not doubt that his constituents fear that persons with more resources and visions might transform their neighborhood (and increase their property values) by making the isolated triangle of historic homes a potential target for constructive redevelopment.
"The 'Jack' is back" is the headline you should (but won't) see in today's issues of The Tribune. Mr. Messer, the presumptive favorite for the mayor's office in 2012, decided that five months of silence was enough. Backed by facts instead of innuendo, and insisting on proper procedure instead of demagoguery, pointed out that the targeted area consisted primarily of rental housing units. Further, he elicited expert testimony that the ill-considered Coffey resolution would, in all likelihood, depress local property values. Instead of protecting and preserving homeownership and value, the Coffey proposal would do injury to the interests of that area's homeowners.
We will admit that we have zero confidence in either the efficacy or the legitimacy of D1 Dan Coffey. His contradictory and incoherent defense of his proposal lent no additional confidence. At once, Mr. Coffey insisted that his resolution would have no effect and that its passage was essential to the protection of his near-neighbors.
Due in no small part to the inartful, inarticulate drafting of his proposal (evidence of the unprincipled, weak mind behind the effort), the council soundly rejected the resolution. Mr. Caesar presented anecdotal but persuasive evidence that muddled, ad-hoc legislation such as Coffey's could have serious, unintended consequences. Thankfully, the measure was rejected and the attentions of the Plan Commission will not be diverted.
P.S. We suppose you had to be there, but the pull-quote of the night goes, once again, to D5 Diane McCartin-Benedetti. Det. Fudd, who spoke in favor of accepting $193K from the feds, was distracted from his purpose by the handsome D5, who wanted to know how the acceptance of an integrated automated fingerprint identification system might tax the resources of the police department, and specifically Det. Fudd, when he was the go-to guy in the region for fingerprint IDs.
Perhaps we would have been better served to self-medicate before Thursday night's meeting, as did at least one compatriot, but we couldn't help but read double entendre into Ms. Benedetti's remarks. Commiseratingly, D5 remarked of the sole resource for this critical NAPD resource, "There's only so much manpower you can give!?
We're unwilling (and woefully uninformed) to evaluate Det. Fudd's man power. But we are willing to agree that there is only so much of it that he can give.
We pray that other online sources will capture more of the tenor of the night. July's first meeting promises to be more compelling and critical.
For now, we'll say good night.
The Divine Mr. Mac and his sprawltastic C'Town Road strip mall, last-gasp at legitimacy, pump-and-dump development went down to ignominious defeat. Even sibling D5, D. M-B, could not find the intestinal fortitude to be the sole remaining promoter of this unpopular PUDD request, which has been rejected by city officials on what seems to be 43 consecutive times.
Even the invincible residents of the Lafayette Drive neighborhood could not have expected D5 Diane McCartin-Benedetti to switch her vote to oppose her brother, "The Gary," and his mediocre attempt at restoring his flagging financial fortunes.
Mr. Coffey, esteemed by more than a dozen Westenders and the council member of the longest tenure of all current council members, was rebuffed in his attempt to dictate an ill-advised zoning change in a ten-block area near to his house.
I do not doubt that his constituents fear that persons with more resources and visions might transform their neighborhood (and increase their property values) by making the isolated triangle of historic homes a potential target for constructive redevelopment.
"The 'Jack' is back" is the headline you should (but won't) see in today's issues of The Tribune. Mr. Messer, the presumptive favorite for the mayor's office in 2012, decided that five months of silence was enough. Backed by facts instead of innuendo, and insisting on proper procedure instead of demagoguery, pointed out that the targeted area consisted primarily of rental housing units. Further, he elicited expert testimony that the ill-considered Coffey resolution would, in all likelihood, depress local property values. Instead of protecting and preserving homeownership and value, the Coffey proposal would do injury to the interests of that area's homeowners.
We will admit that we have zero confidence in either the efficacy or the legitimacy of D1 Dan Coffey. His contradictory and incoherent defense of his proposal lent no additional confidence. At once, Mr. Coffey insisted that his resolution would have no effect and that its passage was essential to the protection of his near-neighbors.
Due in no small part to the inartful, inarticulate drafting of his proposal (evidence of the unprincipled, weak mind behind the effort), the council soundly rejected the resolution. Mr. Caesar presented anecdotal but persuasive evidence that muddled, ad-hoc legislation such as Coffey's could have serious, unintended consequences. Thankfully, the measure was rejected and the attentions of the Plan Commission will not be diverted.
P.S. We suppose you had to be there, but the pull-quote of the night goes, once again, to D5 Diane McCartin-Benedetti. Det. Fudd, who spoke in favor of accepting $193K from the feds, was distracted from his purpose by the handsome D5, who wanted to know how the acceptance of an integrated automated fingerprint identification system might tax the resources of the police department, and specifically Det. Fudd, when he was the go-to guy in the region for fingerprint IDs.
Perhaps we would have been better served to self-medicate before Thursday night's meeting, as did at least one compatriot, but we couldn't help but read double entendre into Ms. Benedetti's remarks. Commiseratingly, D5 remarked of the sole resource for this critical NAPD resource, "There's only so much manpower you can give!?
We're unwilling (and woefully uninformed) to evaluate Det. Fudd's man power. But we are willing to agree that there is only so much of it that he can give.
We pray that other online sources will capture more of the tenor of the night. July's first meeting promises to be more compelling and critical.
For now, we'll say good night.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Step Right Up...Have They Got a Plan for You!
This came in over the transom. We're not sure what to make of it, but we'll share it with you and let you draw your own conclusions.
Noted city revitalization specialist and budget guru Harold Hill has offered the City of New Albany a novel idea for keeping its sewer rates lower than would otherwise be required.
During a closed-door meeting with selected members of the city's legislative body, Hill touted his program for subsidizing sanitary waste removal costs. Sources who attended the meeting, but who declined to be identified for this story on the grounds that they fear retribution, tell NA Shadow Council that an unidentified number of council members were very receptive to what is being called the "Hill Plan."
Hill credits Meredith Wilson, CEO of MM Enterprises, the Iowa-based consulting firm, for devising the plan, but it is Hill who has made his living by shopping the program in cities throughout the Midwest.
The program to save the sewers will require several weeks of intensive educational sessions for the council before it can be put into effect. Without public interest, says Hill, the counterintuitive proposal would easily become law."
Only if the public's attention can be diverted can it succeed," said Hill. "Otherwise, there is trouble right here" in New Albany. "With a capital T," he finished, according to the sources.
He suggested that public entertainment might do the trick. "Maybe music. Maybe fireworks. $35,000 in tax money ought to do it," he said.
Under the plan, the average worker in New Albany would direct that one-third of the income taxes he or she pays to the city be diverted to pay sewer charges. The average worker would voluntarily instruct the city to take $56 each year for the "Hill Plan." It is not known if this would be done as an affirmative payroll check-off or if the employee could opt out of the plan and leave the taxes in the city's EDIT fund. The EDIT is New Albany's most effective tool for economic development and revitalization.
In exchange, the sewer board, operators of the city-owned utility, would receive $875,000 each year to keep the rates artificially low. New Albany's sewer rates are among the lowest in the region already, but have been rising over the past 120 years, leading to fears on the part of some former and current council members that residents just might stop urinating and defecating, leading to a host of public health problems.
The accounting firm of Crowe Chizek provided an analysis last year that showed that such a subsidy would save the average ratepayer about $15 a year.When asked how he could persuade the residents of New Albany to divert $56 a year in precious resources in exchange for the modest sum of $15 a year, Hill said "Trust me!"
"Industries will flock to New Albany and your near-neighbors will love you," continued Hill. "Commercial businesses, profligate water users, and almost any industrial facility will be receiving the rest of that money. Plus, those who live outside the city and pay no EDIT taxes to New Albany will receive a reduction in their bills of $27.50, or 150% of what New Albanians would receive in subsidies."Critics of the plan insist that the people of New Albany will not accept a plan that, on its face, starves the city of much-needed resources intended to, among other things, repair long-neglected city streets and other infrastructure.
To that, Hill replied "Don't tell them."
Noted city revitalization specialist and budget guru Harold Hill has offered the City of New Albany a novel idea for keeping its sewer rates lower than would otherwise be required.
During a closed-door meeting with selected members of the city's legislative body, Hill touted his program for subsidizing sanitary waste removal costs. Sources who attended the meeting, but who declined to be identified for this story on the grounds that they fear retribution, tell NA Shadow Council that an unidentified number of council members were very receptive to what is being called the "Hill Plan."
Hill credits Meredith Wilson, CEO of MM Enterprises, the Iowa-based consulting firm, for devising the plan, but it is Hill who has made his living by shopping the program in cities throughout the Midwest.
The program to save the sewers will require several weeks of intensive educational sessions for the council before it can be put into effect. Without public interest, says Hill, the counterintuitive proposal would easily become law."
Only if the public's attention can be diverted can it succeed," said Hill. "Otherwise, there is trouble right here" in New Albany. "With a capital T," he finished, according to the sources.
He suggested that public entertainment might do the trick. "Maybe music. Maybe fireworks. $35,000 in tax money ought to do it," he said.
Under the plan, the average worker in New Albany would direct that one-third of the income taxes he or she pays to the city be diverted to pay sewer charges. The average worker would voluntarily instruct the city to take $56 each year for the "Hill Plan." It is not known if this would be done as an affirmative payroll check-off or if the employee could opt out of the plan and leave the taxes in the city's EDIT fund. The EDIT is New Albany's most effective tool for economic development and revitalization.
In exchange, the sewer board, operators of the city-owned utility, would receive $875,000 each year to keep the rates artificially low. New Albany's sewer rates are among the lowest in the region already, but have been rising over the past 120 years, leading to fears on the part of some former and current council members that residents just might stop urinating and defecating, leading to a host of public health problems.
The accounting firm of Crowe Chizek provided an analysis last year that showed that such a subsidy would save the average ratepayer about $15 a year.When asked how he could persuade the residents of New Albany to divert $56 a year in precious resources in exchange for the modest sum of $15 a year, Hill said "Trust me!"
"Industries will flock to New Albany and your near-neighbors will love you," continued Hill. "Commercial businesses, profligate water users, and almost any industrial facility will be receiving the rest of that money. Plus, those who live outside the city and pay no EDIT taxes to New Albany will receive a reduction in their bills of $27.50, or 150% of what New Albanians would receive in subsidies."Critics of the plan insist that the people of New Albany will not accept a plan that, on its face, starves the city of much-needed resources intended to, among other things, repair long-neglected city streets and other infrastructure.
To that, Hill replied "Don't tell them."
At Root, This is Our Goal
Your host here at NA Shadow Council will admit to having a deep sense of foreboding about impending public policy decisions in New Albany. By the time you read this, you will undoubtedly have heard about how the "English Restoration" is in full retreat with the barbarians hot on their heels. Nothing less than the future solvency of the city is at stake this month. This city's ability to grab onto the tow-rope of progress now appears to be thwarted by naked appeals to ignorance.
The council members who will tonight sound the death knell for New Albany's near-term future would not prevail if the residents of New Albany could pause long enough to think about the consequences. It is not unreasonable to believe that even this council might, if they would just pause, recognize the insanity of their actions.
The England administration does not escape blame here, either. Faced with resistance and sabotage, the mayor and his minions have elected to hoard their political capital. We are sure they will claim that discretion is the better part of valor or wisdom or some other such self-serving nonsense. Instead of marshaling support and fighting for what is right, the England administration caved. Instead of taking their message to the people, they cowered. Instead of expending their political capital on an issue it was banked for, they huddle and count their coin.
Those who hail the virtues of "comity" and "cooperation" only abdicate when they let a desire for "comity" prevent them from using their best judgment on behalf of their constituents. Leadership is not the result of elections. It is the result of actions. The character of leaders is revealed by their actions, not their positions.
A correspondent sent us a missive alerting us to an October book titled Becoming Good Ancestors. We won't tell you about the book. But the title motivated us to take keyboard in hand with this last-minute plea.
Remember June 19, 2008. Tell your friends, your family, and your neighbors. Witness the carnage yourself at tonight's city council meeting, if you will.
As a matter of fact, by stripping New Albany's income tax revenues to "save" ratepayers from a sewer rate increase, a council majority is handing your tax dollars to businesses and outsiders who don't even pay taxes. Why, we ask, should that be treated as some type of "salvation?"
In a rational world, that would be labeled as corruption of the most heinous degree. For a council member to, without explanation, vote to hand over city tax revenues to pay the operating expenses (not even the investment, but the operating expenses) of the city's largest industrial concerns, to pay the household expenses of Floyd Countians who don't live in or pay taxes to New Albany, provokes only two possible explanations - absolute drooling imbecility, or felony solicitation of bribery.
Absolute drooling imbecility is not a bar to retaining (or attaining, apparently) public office in this city. But conviction of a felony is grounds for removal and incarceration. If Republican prosecutor Keith Henderson won't convene a grand jury to gather evidence (and he won't), would someone please tell me what number to call to motivate a political corruption investigation?
The citizens of the Iroquois Confederacy, among other Native American tribes, aspired to conduct all their public policy with an eye to the seventh generation; that would be their sons' sons' sons' sons' sons' sons and likewise so on down the matrilineal line of daughters.
The tribe of New Albanians (at least their elected representatives) seems to have trouble looking as far forward as the seventh generation of a fruit fly. And the responsibility, ultimately, lies on the tribe, not the representatives. Unless and until the tribe renounces the short-sightedness of the people they elect, then it will be their legacy that is besmirched and their memories cursed by future generations.
At root, then, this is our goal...to become better ancestors.
The council members who will tonight sound the death knell for New Albany's near-term future would not prevail if the residents of New Albany could pause long enough to think about the consequences. It is not unreasonable to believe that even this council might, if they would just pause, recognize the insanity of their actions.
The England administration does not escape blame here, either. Faced with resistance and sabotage, the mayor and his minions have elected to hoard their political capital. We are sure they will claim that discretion is the better part of valor or wisdom or some other such self-serving nonsense. Instead of marshaling support and fighting for what is right, the England administration caved. Instead of taking their message to the people, they cowered. Instead of expending their political capital on an issue it was banked for, they huddle and count their coin.
Those who hail the virtues of "comity" and "cooperation" only abdicate when they let a desire for "comity" prevent them from using their best judgment on behalf of their constituents. Leadership is not the result of elections. It is the result of actions. The character of leaders is revealed by their actions, not their positions.
A correspondent sent us a missive alerting us to an October book titled Becoming Good Ancestors. We won't tell you about the book. But the title motivated us to take keyboard in hand with this last-minute plea.
Remember June 19, 2008. Tell your friends, your family, and your neighbors. Witness the carnage yourself at tonight's city council meeting, if you will.
As a matter of fact, by stripping New Albany's income tax revenues to "save" ratepayers from a sewer rate increase, a council majority is handing your tax dollars to businesses and outsiders who don't even pay taxes. Why, we ask, should that be treated as some type of "salvation?"
In a rational world, that would be labeled as corruption of the most heinous degree. For a council member to, without explanation, vote to hand over city tax revenues to pay the operating expenses (not even the investment, but the operating expenses) of the city's largest industrial concerns, to pay the household expenses of Floyd Countians who don't live in or pay taxes to New Albany, provokes only two possible explanations - absolute drooling imbecility, or felony solicitation of bribery.
Absolute drooling imbecility is not a bar to retaining (or attaining, apparently) public office in this city. But conviction of a felony is grounds for removal and incarceration. If Republican prosecutor Keith Henderson won't convene a grand jury to gather evidence (and he won't), would someone please tell me what number to call to motivate a political corruption investigation?
The citizens of the Iroquois Confederacy, among other Native American tribes, aspired to conduct all their public policy with an eye to the seventh generation; that would be their sons' sons' sons' sons' sons' sons and likewise so on down the matrilineal line of daughters.
The tribe of New Albanians (at least their elected representatives) seems to have trouble looking as far forward as the seventh generation of a fruit fly. And the responsibility, ultimately, lies on the tribe, not the representatives. Unless and until the tribe renounces the short-sightedness of the people they elect, then it will be their legacy that is besmirched and their memories cursed by future generations.
At root, then, this is our goal...to become better ancestors.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Logical Conclusions
New Albany, the municipality, receives about $18 million each year in revenues (maybe more, maybe less) in property tax receipts and income tax receipts.
By all logical interpretation, the current regime (administrative or legislative) desires to use at least a portion of those revenues to prop up the sewer utility.
Why not, then, go all the way?
Let's divert 100% of taxes to keeping sewer rates artificially low. Let's abandon 100% of city services. Building inspection? Zero it out. Police protection? Zero it out? Fire protection? Forget about it.
By the logic of the Coffey-Price-Benedetti coalition, we should expend ALL of our tax monies on sewers. After all, we can't ask people of limited incomes (especially when we are doing everything in our power to keep those incomes limited) to pay a rational rate for sewer services.
Now, if you were to ask ANY resident if he/she/they would like to have free sewer service, he/she/they would undoubtedly say "Yes."
But what if the "cost" of such an election were the diminution of ALL city services?
Our current situation is no different except in degree. ANY attempt to divert tax revenues to prop up the checking accounts of sewer users is only a difference of degree.
The principle is the same. Should we use city tax revenues to subsidize any sewer rates for any ratepayers?
No. And any city council member who believes so should be removed. Immediately. That not being possible, then he or she should be removed no later than 2011.
Can we survive until then?
By all logical interpretation, the current regime (administrative or legislative) desires to use at least a portion of those revenues to prop up the sewer utility.
Why not, then, go all the way?
Let's divert 100% of taxes to keeping sewer rates artificially low. Let's abandon 100% of city services. Building inspection? Zero it out. Police protection? Zero it out? Fire protection? Forget about it.
By the logic of the Coffey-Price-Benedetti coalition, we should expend ALL of our tax monies on sewers. After all, we can't ask people of limited incomes (especially when we are doing everything in our power to keep those incomes limited) to pay a rational rate for sewer services.
Now, if you were to ask ANY resident if he/she/they would like to have free sewer service, he/she/they would undoubtedly say "Yes."
But what if the "cost" of such an election were the diminution of ALL city services?
Our current situation is no different except in degree. ANY attempt to divert tax revenues to prop up the checking accounts of sewer users is only a difference of degree.
The principle is the same. Should we use city tax revenues to subsidize any sewer rates for any ratepayers?
No. And any city council member who believes so should be removed. Immediately. That not being possible, then he or she should be removed no later than 2011.
Can we survive until then?
Dump It in the Sewers!
There is a rational solution to making our sewer utility permanently viable.
But demagoguery is blocking it. By appealing to the least common denominator in the populace, the regrettably naive and ignorant (ignorant=unknowledgeable, which is not to say that they are stupid, just gullible and susceptible to the machinations of politicians who prosper at their expense), the entrenched regressive majority of the council is both pandering and insulting the constituency it purports to represent.
Mrs. Shirley Baird today took keyboard in hand to praise Mr. Coffey and Mrs. Benedetti in their attempt to stifle a homeownership study, evidencing her support in the pages of The Tribune. I, for one, believe that Mrs. Baird would be a much better representative for the former 1st District than the incumbent, but we cannot help but be deterred in supporting her ambitions when we see her lending her own support to these two.
Claiming to be in support of the downtrodden, the proverbial "fixed income" minority, these two are prepared to squander the city's resources on behalf of our municipalitiy's most profligate users of water, and accordingly, sewer services.
If, in fact, they (Coffey, Benedetti, Price, and unnamed other members of council) desire to protect the interests of those of limited income, they should be honest enough to propose direct subsidies to those deserving residents of our fair city.
Instead, they propose to boost the checking accounts of industrial and commercial users of our sewer system by depleting the limited resources of the EDIT tax fund. With admitted, imprecision, the EDIT funds available each year to the city measure about $2 million. Of that sum, the Coffey-Benedetti Cotillion propose to subsidize the Wal-Marts, the SamTecs, the Pillsburys, even the Destinations Booksellerses with EDIT tax funds so as to make their sewer bills lower.
In addition, they propose to deplete the city's EDIT fund resources by artificially lowering the sewer bills of non-residents, those whose EDIT taxes, if they pay them, are paid into another jurisdiction's coffers.
Why not, shadowna5 asks, make the sewer utility self-sustaining? If, as the Coffey-Benedetti Cotillion claims, they want to "keep sewer rates low" so as to "protect" the least among us, they would propose direct subsidies to those "least among us."
Our sewer utility should be self-sustaining and self-supporting. If, as a policy, our representatives wish to "protect" the most vulnerable, they should appropriate funds directly from EDIT funds to subsidize those ratepayers.
Instead, with transparent pandering objectives, they propose to deplete critical municipal resources (EDIT funds) to give handouts to corporate and commercial entities, the ratepayers who are exerting the greatest pressure on our sewer treatment resources, all in the name of "protecting" an indefinable class of amorphous residents.
Why, we ask, should the most profligate users of our water/sewer resources be rewarded at the expense of the city as a whole?
Worth much further examination, and as yet unexamined in public discourse, is the fact that non-residents, who do not pay EDIT taxes to the city, would be rewarded from the resources of the EDIT fund and would see their sewer rates kept artificially low at the expense of New Albany taxpayers.
We choose to believe, for the moment, that our representatives just don't understand the consequences of diverting EDIT funds to sewer subidies. Any other interpretation requires a belief in either abject corruption or in irredeemable stupidity.
And yet, as this is written, it seems a foregone conclusion that the Coffey-Benedetti coalition intend to divert precious city resources to the most intensive users of the sewer utilty. By keeping sewer rates low by using tax resources, they are saying that it is a city priority to strip voters of dollars in order to give them to business interests.
Who's crazy? Us or them?
But demagoguery is blocking it. By appealing to the least common denominator in the populace, the regrettably naive and ignorant (ignorant=unknowledgeable, which is not to say that they are stupid, just gullible and susceptible to the machinations of politicians who prosper at their expense), the entrenched regressive majority of the council is both pandering and insulting the constituency it purports to represent.
Mrs. Shirley Baird today took keyboard in hand to praise Mr. Coffey and Mrs. Benedetti in their attempt to stifle a homeownership study, evidencing her support in the pages of The Tribune. I, for one, believe that Mrs. Baird would be a much better representative for the former 1st District than the incumbent, but we cannot help but be deterred in supporting her ambitions when we see her lending her own support to these two.
Claiming to be in support of the downtrodden, the proverbial "fixed income" minority, these two are prepared to squander the city's resources on behalf of our municipalitiy's most profligate users of water, and accordingly, sewer services.
If, in fact, they (Coffey, Benedetti, Price, and unnamed other members of council) desire to protect the interests of those of limited income, they should be honest enough to propose direct subsidies to those deserving residents of our fair city.
Instead, they propose to boost the checking accounts of industrial and commercial users of our sewer system by depleting the limited resources of the EDIT tax fund. With admitted, imprecision, the EDIT funds available each year to the city measure about $2 million. Of that sum, the Coffey-Benedetti Cotillion propose to subsidize the Wal-Marts, the SamTecs, the Pillsburys, even the Destinations Booksellerses with EDIT tax funds so as to make their sewer bills lower.
In addition, they propose to deplete the city's EDIT fund resources by artificially lowering the sewer bills of non-residents, those whose EDIT taxes, if they pay them, are paid into another jurisdiction's coffers.
Why not, shadowna5 asks, make the sewer utility self-sustaining? If, as the Coffey-Benedetti Cotillion claims, they want to "keep sewer rates low" so as to "protect" the least among us, they would propose direct subsidies to those "least among us."
Our sewer utility should be self-sustaining and self-supporting. If, as a policy, our representatives wish to "protect" the most vulnerable, they should appropriate funds directly from EDIT funds to subsidize those ratepayers.
Instead, with transparent pandering objectives, they propose to deplete critical municipal resources (EDIT funds) to give handouts to corporate and commercial entities, the ratepayers who are exerting the greatest pressure on our sewer treatment resources, all in the name of "protecting" an indefinable class of amorphous residents.
Why, we ask, should the most profligate users of our water/sewer resources be rewarded at the expense of the city as a whole?
Worth much further examination, and as yet unexamined in public discourse, is the fact that non-residents, who do not pay EDIT taxes to the city, would be rewarded from the resources of the EDIT fund and would see their sewer rates kept artificially low at the expense of New Albany taxpayers.
We choose to believe, for the moment, that our representatives just don't understand the consequences of diverting EDIT funds to sewer subidies. Any other interpretation requires a belief in either abject corruption or in irredeemable stupidity.
And yet, as this is written, it seems a foregone conclusion that the Coffey-Benedetti coalition intend to divert precious city resources to the most intensive users of the sewer utilty. By keeping sewer rates low by using tax resources, they are saying that it is a city priority to strip voters of dollars in order to give them to business interests.
Who's crazy? Us or them?
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
A June Week of Consequence
Almost no one will take notice of it, but the June and July convocations (canonical prayer and religious pledge included) of the Common Council for the City of New Albany are destined to be determinative ones.
Tomorrow, we hope to bring you our very best arguments for a progressive future (and one that seems doomed, based on today's report by Daniel Suddeath in The Tribune).
But today, we want to merely set the stage.
Stealing from a book promotion, we found this snippet:
Global warming.
50 million Americans uninsured.
Massive budget deficits.
Failing public schools.
A tarnished national image.
These are not policy failures.
Actually, these crises are the inevitable result of the policies we've chosen. Today's policies were designed to treat our dependence on oil as a given, our basic health as a luxury, an inadequate education as a privilege, and our children's wealth as our own.
A "donut" economy with regard to downtown commerce.
Streets that exact an enormous financial toll on New Albany drivers.
A confusing array of nonsensical traffic patterns that encourage speedway behavior and that discourage commercial traffic.
A diminishing commitment to community and, in particular, community schools.
A dependent and debilitated sewer utility inadequate to meet the community's needs and unable to support itself from its own revenues.
Policies that encourage criminal enterprises to migrate into New Albany.
Policies that discourage home ownership and allow irresponsible absentee house owners to prosper.
A defensive, insular, survival response on the part of residents whereby they "hunker down" and try to survive all of the above.
We know it's a revolutionary proposition, but we would propose that ALL of the above abominable results are the inevitable result of the policies we've chosen.
This IS the challenge we face. This IS our defining moment.
When 2011 rolls around, we must be ready to replace those who endorse the policies that are designed to destroy our common weal. When 2011 rolls around, we must have rallied a majority who reject both the policies and the inevitable results those policies have created.
One thing we do know. D5 is not part of the solution.
Check back tomorrow.
Our illustrious Sewer Board, purportedly not under the direction of our current chief executive, is prepared to continue a policy designed to further degrade New Albany, and by extension, the prosperity of all New Albanians. Quelle horror!
Tomorrow, we hope to bring you our very best arguments for a progressive future (and one that seems doomed, based on today's report by Daniel Suddeath in The Tribune).
But today, we want to merely set the stage.
Stealing from a book promotion, we found this snippet:
Global warming.
50 million Americans uninsured.
Massive budget deficits.
Failing public schools.
A tarnished national image.
These are not policy failures.
Actually, these crises are the inevitable result of the policies we've chosen. Today's policies were designed to treat our dependence on oil as a given, our basic health as a luxury, an inadequate education as a privilege, and our children's wealth as our own.
A "donut" economy with regard to downtown commerce.
Streets that exact an enormous financial toll on New Albany drivers.
A confusing array of nonsensical traffic patterns that encourage speedway behavior and that discourage commercial traffic.
A diminishing commitment to community and, in particular, community schools.
A dependent and debilitated sewer utility inadequate to meet the community's needs and unable to support itself from its own revenues.
Policies that encourage criminal enterprises to migrate into New Albany.
Policies that discourage home ownership and allow irresponsible absentee house owners to prosper.
A defensive, insular, survival response on the part of residents whereby they "hunker down" and try to survive all of the above.
We know it's a revolutionary proposition, but we would propose that ALL of the above abominable results are the inevitable result of the policies we've chosen.
This IS the challenge we face. This IS our defining moment.
When 2011 rolls around, we must be ready to replace those who endorse the policies that are designed to destroy our common weal. When 2011 rolls around, we must have rallied a majority who reject both the policies and the inevitable results those policies have created.
One thing we do know. D5 is not part of the solution.
Check back tomorrow.
Our illustrious Sewer Board, purportedly not under the direction of our current chief executive, is prepared to continue a policy designed to further degrade New Albany, and by extension, the prosperity of all New Albanians. Quelle horror!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
The Fable of Al and Benny
Al and Benny were twins. Al, the firstborn, was, as are all eldest children, driven to achieve. Benny...not so much.
Their parents encouraged the boys to be "successful."
Benny whose goal was to achieve nothing, succeeded, and thus earned the approval of his parents.
Al sought to achieve something, so he had the harder task. But he knew that if he kept on trying, his parents would approve of what Al believed was true success. He believed that someday there would be a new Al/Benny dynamic where the achievement of something would be valued more highly than the achievement of nothing...
...to be continued.
Their parents encouraged the boys to be "successful."
Benny whose goal was to achieve nothing, succeeded, and thus earned the approval of his parents.
Al sought to achieve something, so he had the harder task. But he knew that if he kept on trying, his parents would approve of what Al believed was true success. He believed that someday there would be a new Al/Benny dynamic where the achievement of something would be valued more highly than the achievement of nothing...
...to be continued.
Eye on Tomorrow
If you read nothing else this week, please chow down on this story by John Gilderbloom and Matt Hanka in the May issue of Louisville magazine.
Reinventing Louisville. Please know that this link ONLY takes you to the main page. Click on past issues and seek out page 48-49 and zoom UP to be able to read it. (Could the interface BE any more difficult?) Bet it was free!
Among other inspiring snippets in this illuminating piece is this:
Two-way streets should be at the heart of a city's downtown development strategy. Neighborhoods become more sustainable, livable and prosperous with two-way streets. Conversions to two-way have already happened in more than 100 cities around the United States. Cities such as Chicago, Dallas and Minneapolis are reverting to two-way streets, which have resulted in larger influxes of upwardly mobile residents. So far, Louisville has not made proper use of this planning tool to save and enhance our downtown neighborhoods. As the traffic slows, bike lanes are put in and sidewalks are widened, the surrounding landscape becomes more livable and desirable.
Gilderbloom and Hanka are with U of L's Center for Sustainable Urban Neighborhoods.
Any guesses what shadowna5 might want to share with council on June 19th? Of course, that would be during "non-agenda" items. This is New Albany, after all. How could such a prescient vision be on the "agenda?"
Reinventing Louisville. Please know that this link ONLY takes you to the main page. Click on past issues and seek out page 48-49 and zoom UP to be able to read it. (Could the interface BE any more difficult?) Bet it was free!
Among other inspiring snippets in this illuminating piece is this:
Two-way streets should be at the heart of a city's downtown development strategy. Neighborhoods become more sustainable, livable and prosperous with two-way streets. Conversions to two-way have already happened in more than 100 cities around the United States. Cities such as Chicago, Dallas and Minneapolis are reverting to two-way streets, which have resulted in larger influxes of upwardly mobile residents. So far, Louisville has not made proper use of this planning tool to save and enhance our downtown neighborhoods. As the traffic slows, bike lanes are put in and sidewalks are widened, the surrounding landscape becomes more livable and desirable.
Gilderbloom and Hanka are with U of L's Center for Sustainable Urban Neighborhoods.
Any guesses what shadowna5 might want to share with council on June 19th? Of course, that would be during "non-agenda" items. This is New Albany, after all. How could such a prescient vision be on the "agenda?"
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Congratulations, NA Confidential
Allow us to use this space to offer high praise and commendation to the staff of NA Confidential, New Albany's preeminent blog.
250,000 visitors is a major accomplishment for a blog so locally specific. Former and future residents from around the country read NA Confidential to keep up with the atmosphere. Some even use it to help them decide to come and join us in the struggle for progress.
Roger Baylor and Jeff Gillenwater provide a hybrid that New Albany cannot do without. With humor and intelligence, they steer the conversations around here and put the spotlight on issues of culture, government, and commerce.
In the best of all possible worlds, culture, government, and commerce would be one and the same thing, and outlets like NA Confidential are helping us move toward a day when our community, our businesses, and our neighborhoods become allies in a common objective.
Congratulations, guys. You deserve it. When that counter trips past the quarter-million mark later this month, we want to say we were the first to say "Well Done!"
250,000 visitors is a major accomplishment for a blog so locally specific. Former and future residents from around the country read NA Confidential to keep up with the atmosphere. Some even use it to help them decide to come and join us in the struggle for progress.
Roger Baylor and Jeff Gillenwater provide a hybrid that New Albany cannot do without. With humor and intelligence, they steer the conversations around here and put the spotlight on issues of culture, government, and commerce.
In the best of all possible worlds, culture, government, and commerce would be one and the same thing, and outlets like NA Confidential are helping us move toward a day when our community, our businesses, and our neighborhoods become allies in a common objective.
Congratulations, guys. You deserve it. When that counter trips past the quarter-million mark later this month, we want to say we were the first to say "Well Done!"
Triskadekaphobia: We're For It
One local blogger coined the appelation of "Open Air Museum of Superstition and Ignorance" for our fair city. It couldn't be more appropriate, then, that Friday the 13th approaches, a day when triskadekaphobia (fear of the number 13) reaches its pinnacle.
For once, the progressive movement in New Albany needs to cultivate, foster, and nurture a fear of the number 13. But unlike the forces of regress, we aren't trying to grow an unreasoned fear.
For 13 is how many times more expensive it is to the taxpayers of this city to use edit funds to subsidize sewer rates. It takes more than $13 in EDIT money to knock $1 off the sewer rate. That's right.
The council members plotting to arrest a coming sewer rate increase talk loudly and often about how they are looking out for nickels and dimes, how they are watching the corporate purse, but their plan is exactly the opposite of financial prudence.
Instead of investing our tax money into projects that will save us money (New Albany's atrocious roads cost the average driver $800 a year more than residents of the average American city - $800 in lower mileage from misaligned wheels, damaged tires, and wholesale destruction of the working and resale value of our cars), they want to spend it on recurring individual rate-payer expenses. To some extent, sewer rates can be elastic. Yes, there is a minimum charge. We've often spoken in favor of keeping the minimum charge low (thus giving a boost to those who use the least water) and making up the difference in higher rates.
But no, that would actually accomplish something. That would actually protect the proverbial "fixed-income" resident from unwelcome added expenses.
However, it's worse than that. While robbing the city coffers to try to fool the voters, while robbing New Albany of any hope of having its sewer utility operate on its own without tax subsidies, and while stripping the city of any ability to invest in infrastructure, this crazy plan will take money from New Albany taxpayers and transfer it directly to the biggest users of the system.
That's right. This plan removes incentives to conserve water, especially for businesses (who don't pay EDIT taxes), since the taxpayer will pick up part of the bill.
It's ironic that when anyone proposes actual targeted investments to give incentives to business practices, types of businesses, or specific locations, the hidebound council members howl "corporate welfare." And yet, their plan is an enormous piece of corporate and business pork.
If we had more respect for their ability to ratiocinate, we'd suspect they are in the pocket of big businesses. But we presume that they just don't see it, and since the only people speaking up about it are THEM people, they feel certain they can proceed with this foolish plan.
They've done it before and it looks like they're going to try to do it again.
There's another set of sewer ratepayers who will be sharing in this subsidy, too. The several thousand ratepayers who live outside the city (and who do not pay EDIT taxes into the city) who will receive 150% of the subsidy city residents would "receive."
Now one can argue that they shouldn't be paying 150% of what we do. But if this plan goes through, they'll be getting 150% of the discount, too.
We'd estimate that when it comes to comparing the typical residence in New Albany versus those in the fringe and those in Georgetown, 40% of the subsidy to residences will be going to people who don't pay EDIT taxes.
Drop the subsidy now. Stop diverting our investable tax money (originally designed for economic development purposes) to prop up the checking accounts of businesses and ratepayers outside the city.
Stop trying to fool the people that you are looking out for their best interests. Just stop.
If you truly want to help the poorest among us to deal with rising costs of living, propose a subsidy directly to those taxpayers. Craft a solution and gather the support for direct subsidies to specific ratepayers. At least then the debate will be honest.
For once, the progressive movement in New Albany needs to cultivate, foster, and nurture a fear of the number 13. But unlike the forces of regress, we aren't trying to grow an unreasoned fear.
For 13 is how many times more expensive it is to the taxpayers of this city to use edit funds to subsidize sewer rates. It takes more than $13 in EDIT money to knock $1 off the sewer rate. That's right.
The council members plotting to arrest a coming sewer rate increase talk loudly and often about how they are looking out for nickels and dimes, how they are watching the corporate purse, but their plan is exactly the opposite of financial prudence.
Instead of investing our tax money into projects that will save us money (New Albany's atrocious roads cost the average driver $800 a year more than residents of the average American city - $800 in lower mileage from misaligned wheels, damaged tires, and wholesale destruction of the working and resale value of our cars), they want to spend it on recurring individual rate-payer expenses. To some extent, sewer rates can be elastic. Yes, there is a minimum charge. We've often spoken in favor of keeping the minimum charge low (thus giving a boost to those who use the least water) and making up the difference in higher rates.
But no, that would actually accomplish something. That would actually protect the proverbial "fixed-income" resident from unwelcome added expenses.
However, it's worse than that. While robbing the city coffers to try to fool the voters, while robbing New Albany of any hope of having its sewer utility operate on its own without tax subsidies, and while stripping the city of any ability to invest in infrastructure, this crazy plan will take money from New Albany taxpayers and transfer it directly to the biggest users of the system.
That's right. This plan removes incentives to conserve water, especially for businesses (who don't pay EDIT taxes), since the taxpayer will pick up part of the bill.
It's ironic that when anyone proposes actual targeted investments to give incentives to business practices, types of businesses, or specific locations, the hidebound council members howl "corporate welfare." And yet, their plan is an enormous piece of corporate and business pork.
If we had more respect for their ability to ratiocinate, we'd suspect they are in the pocket of big businesses. But we presume that they just don't see it, and since the only people speaking up about it are THEM people, they feel certain they can proceed with this foolish plan.
They've done it before and it looks like they're going to try to do it again.
There's another set of sewer ratepayers who will be sharing in this subsidy, too. The several thousand ratepayers who live outside the city (and who do not pay EDIT taxes into the city) who will receive 150% of the subsidy city residents would "receive."
Now one can argue that they shouldn't be paying 150% of what we do. But if this plan goes through, they'll be getting 150% of the discount, too.
We'd estimate that when it comes to comparing the typical residence in New Albany versus those in the fringe and those in Georgetown, 40% of the subsidy to residences will be going to people who don't pay EDIT taxes.
Drop the subsidy now. Stop diverting our investable tax money (originally designed for economic development purposes) to prop up the checking accounts of businesses and ratepayers outside the city.
Stop trying to fool the people that you are looking out for their best interests. Just stop.
If you truly want to help the poorest among us to deal with rising costs of living, propose a subsidy directly to those taxpayers. Craft a solution and gather the support for direct subsidies to specific ratepayers. At least then the debate will be honest.
Habits of Thought are Death to Truth
The ideological struggle for the future of New Albany continues unabated. On one side are advocates for a better New Albany who believe change is in order. On the other side are people who believe everything is just fine the way it is and who fear change.
Change can be a good thing. When change involves risk, a certain level of concern is justified. But when failing to change is dead-certain to bring fearful consequences, it makes no sense to hunker down and try to wait out the apocalypse.
One might forgive members of the general public for cowering fearfully in the dark. But the same response from elected officials is unacceptable, if only because they control the light switch while we pay the electric bill.
Our goal here is to push back the darkness. This week, the darkness is tax subsidies for sewers. Next week it will be something else.
Although we can't verify that it is original (and we doubt it is), we were struck by the words Rivka Galchen put into a character's head in his recent novel, Atmospheric Disturbances.
Change can be a good thing. When change involves risk, a certain level of concern is justified. But when failing to change is dead-certain to bring fearful consequences, it makes no sense to hunker down and try to wait out the apocalypse.
One might forgive members of the general public for cowering fearfully in the dark. But the same response from elected officials is unacceptable, if only because they control the light switch while we pay the electric bill.
Our goal here is to push back the darkness. This week, the darkness is tax subsidies for sewers. Next week it will be something else.
Although we can't verify that it is original (and we doubt it is), we were struck by the words Rivka Galchen put into a character's head in his recent novel, Atmospheric Disturbances.
- "His response was neither random nor spontaneous; it was predetermined by his previous ideas about me; habits of thought are death to truth; I was outside of my habits; and he - he was wrong."
New Albany is being endangered. Not by "novelty lighters," as a recent council ordinance averred, but by habits of thought.
One of those habits of thought that should be recognizable is a belief by an influential faction on the city council that is so self-centric as to be bathetic. It involves the projection of one's own motives onto another. If a decision-maker looks at each choice as an opportunity for self-enrichment, then that decision-maker presumes that all others are making choices based on the same motives and motivations. That's very Darwinian, but hardly admirable.
A second habit of thought is that any proposal that is difficult to understand must have been created that way in order to confuse and thus exploit. Thus, when a decision-maker is presented with that difficult to understand idea, she becomes suspicious that she is being fooled. The habit of thought becomes a habit of action - that action being to say "no." It is foolish to think that "no" is always the safe choice, but we have a city council that certainly leans that way.
It's hard to credit the fact that a majority of this council, the second council in a row in which the voters essentially cleaned house and turned out half the members, could be steered by such habits of thought. But it is so.
Based on my reading of the tea leaves, this council is leaning toward a foolish plan to use tax dollars to subsidize sewer rates. If that is, in fact, the plan, I offer a serious alternative that ought to pass with just as little reference to the consensus view of reality.
On a council that pays regular homage to a "fixed magical belief" that they have special insights into public finance, this proposal ought to fly through three readings.
Instead of diverting $875,000 in EDIT funds to subsidize sewers (and sewer rates are based on water usage), let's divert it to pay for gasoline. Granted, many of the people who buy gas in New Albany don't pay EDIT taxes. But then many of the people who use sewers/water in New Albany don't pay EDIT taxes here. Gas prices are climbing rapidly and, let's face it, people are hurting. Under the Steve Price Plan, that's reason enough to spend tax dollars on it.
The proposal from Mr. Coffey that sewer rates be subsidized is a clear statement from him that he does not believe the sewer utility should be run like a business that supports itself. We have a number of industrial and commercial users of water that, as entities, pay no EDIT taxes, but use enormous amounts of water. The Coffey/Price plan would have you, the taxpayer, subsidizing their rates, too, but in the name of "the people."
From this vantage point, the only thing being done to the people by these two is to keep 'em in the dark.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Looking Backward
Hey, that would make a great book title. And it did. Edward Bellamy's utopian vision resides on most "must-read" lists, even though it was written in Victorian times.
Our point, however, is that the posts on this page were written in "reverse impression." The duty part of the reporting comes first on the page (date/time stamp), but came last in the writing.
Here is the legislation that moved Monday night, June 2, 2008:
"The Gary's" PUDD on Charlestown Road went down to defeat on first reading, 5-2, with little sis' and Sir Dan Coffey voting to approve.
A PUDD for the Silvercrest property was approved on first reading.
JTR Properties got approval for its planned unit development, first reading.
SDR Development and ICON Properties likewise gained approval from council on first reading.
Mr. Harshey's vacation of a utility easement was approved on final reading.
An emergency interfund transfer was authorized to meet payroll in the event tax receipts aren't, well, "receipted."
A half-million dollars was approved for paving.
"Novelty" lighters were (ineffectively) "regulated." Final reading and passage.
Most (7) tax abatement renewals were granted. One was delayed by council, one was delayed at petitioner's request.
At long last, and with no explanation for the perilous delay, the city's request to participate in federal CDBG revenue sharing was authorized.
Loop Island was declared, without objection, to be an insane area for economic development assistance.
Park East, Old Monon, State Street Garage, and Charlestown Road TIF districts were expanded. D3 Steve Price voted no on all of them. D1 Dan Coffey voted no on the one that might boost his own district's prospects.
A flawed "resolution" to rezone the West End was tabled without due process under the law, but will be back. Bet they won't vote on that, either.
We are promised yet another 6 p.m. work session before a future meeting. Can't argue with that. This council seems to need them, whether for education or grandstanding and general passive-aggressiveness.
Hey, did we scoop The Tribune?
Our point, however, is that the posts on this page were written in "reverse impression." The duty part of the reporting comes first on the page (date/time stamp), but came last in the writing.
Here is the legislation that moved Monday night, June 2, 2008:
"The Gary's" PUDD on Charlestown Road went down to defeat on first reading, 5-2, with little sis' and Sir Dan Coffey voting to approve.
A PUDD for the Silvercrest property was approved on first reading.
JTR Properties got approval for its planned unit development, first reading.
SDR Development and ICON Properties likewise gained approval from council on first reading.
Mr. Harshey's vacation of a utility easement was approved on final reading.
An emergency interfund transfer was authorized to meet payroll in the event tax receipts aren't, well, "receipted."
A half-million dollars was approved for paving.
"Novelty" lighters were (ineffectively) "regulated." Final reading and passage.
Most (7) tax abatement renewals were granted. One was delayed by council, one was delayed at petitioner's request.
At long last, and with no explanation for the perilous delay, the city's request to participate in federal CDBG revenue sharing was authorized.
Loop Island was declared, without objection, to be an insane area for economic development assistance.
Park East, Old Monon, State Street Garage, and Charlestown Road TIF districts were expanded. D3 Steve Price voted no on all of them. D1 Dan Coffey voted no on the one that might boost his own district's prospects.
A flawed "resolution" to rezone the West End was tabled without due process under the law, but will be back. Bet they won't vote on that, either.
We are promised yet another 6 p.m. work session before a future meeting. Can't argue with that. This council seems to need them, whether for education or grandstanding and general passive-aggressiveness.
Hey, did we scoop The Tribune?
Finally, Legislation of Substance!
Because of excused absences, D5 Diane McCartin-Benedetti's ordinance "providing for restrictions on novelty lighters" reached the ultimate level of passage and, pending the signature of the Honorable Douglas B. England, becomes law within the next ten days.
What, you may ask, is a novelty lighter, and why is it the signal accomplishment of the incumbent city council? An otherwise nondescript lighter with an Indianapolis Colts horseshoe logo (or even the word "Colts") would surely qualify. I've never seen one, but a lighter shaped like a banana, or logoed with Warner Bros.' Yosemite Sam, or Marvel's Iron Man, or (the horror) a Budweiser logo, would be subject to this regulatory ordinance. I'll bet you could make the case that a neon-pink Bic lighter qualifies as a fem-specific "novelty" lighter. I can't even imagine what kind of lighters might be available at New Albany DVD. Oh, that's right, they're exempted from this ordinance! And how about our friends at the fireplace store? Don't you imagine they have a log-lighter shaped like a stick of wood? And if they don't, do you want to invest in our company making them?
Though the ordinance is arbitrarily vague and thus unconstitutional, what is a novelty lighter can be identified. What is not a novelty lighter, not so much.
To put the best face on it, Mrs. McCartin-Benedetti's ordinance is a public-spirited response to intelligence obtained from our fire safety officials. Such officers nationwide have spearheaded an effort to regulate what is described in the ordinance as "a grave threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the City of New Albany" (citizens? I didn't get my New Albany passport. Did you?). Residents? Nah? Visitors? Unh-unh.
Furthermore, the council "finds that an emergency exists necessitating the immediate adoption" of the ordinance.
You know, the most recent local fire tragedy involved a young boy splashing cologne on himself, cologne that subsequently ignited when it came near to a heating coil. Do we now regulate cologne? May be.
In any event, we don't fault the motives and intent of D5. We do insist that D5 failed to cover herself in glory with this bastardized and doomed ordinance.
You can read the ordinance by chasing links elsewhere on this blog, but permit us to tell you how it reads in practice.
A retailer who sells, offers for sale, or gives or distributes any novelty lighter in New Albany must display them 48 inches off the floor. The retailer may not display them with "children's toys." In effect, that's it. Violation of the ordinance may result, on conviction (unlikely), in a fine of $250 for each violation and for each day of violation. One half of that fine would go toward fire prevention. The other half would go to the city's general fund. (By the way, that's a violation of state statute, too.)
Oh, yeah. The purchaser of the novelty lighter must have a photographic identification (what's that?). The retailer is not required to see it or ask for it. As the ordinance is written, the purchaser (5-year-old Billy Sue) would be subject to citation and fine.
I kid you not.
Great job, D5. How many hours of drafting and advocacy did you put into this one?
Not to be too specific, but all seven of the members in attendance voted "aye" on final reading. D'oh! Mmmmmm, donuuuts!
What, you may ask, is a novelty lighter, and why is it the signal accomplishment of the incumbent city council? An otherwise nondescript lighter with an Indianapolis Colts horseshoe logo (or even the word "Colts") would surely qualify. I've never seen one, but a lighter shaped like a banana, or logoed with Warner Bros.' Yosemite Sam, or Marvel's Iron Man, or (the horror) a Budweiser logo, would be subject to this regulatory ordinance. I'll bet you could make the case that a neon-pink Bic lighter qualifies as a fem-specific "novelty" lighter. I can't even imagine what kind of lighters might be available at New Albany DVD. Oh, that's right, they're exempted from this ordinance! And how about our friends at the fireplace store? Don't you imagine they have a log-lighter shaped like a stick of wood? And if they don't, do you want to invest in our company making them?
Though the ordinance is arbitrarily vague and thus unconstitutional, what is a novelty lighter can be identified. What is not a novelty lighter, not so much.
To put the best face on it, Mrs. McCartin-Benedetti's ordinance is a public-spirited response to intelligence obtained from our fire safety officials. Such officers nationwide have spearheaded an effort to regulate what is described in the ordinance as "a grave threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the City of New Albany" (citizens? I didn't get my New Albany passport. Did you?). Residents? Nah? Visitors? Unh-unh.
Furthermore, the council "finds that an emergency exists necessitating the immediate adoption" of the ordinance.
You know, the most recent local fire tragedy involved a young boy splashing cologne on himself, cologne that subsequently ignited when it came near to a heating coil. Do we now regulate cologne? May be.
In any event, we don't fault the motives and intent of D5. We do insist that D5 failed to cover herself in glory with this bastardized and doomed ordinance.
You can read the ordinance by chasing links elsewhere on this blog, but permit us to tell you how it reads in practice.
A retailer who sells, offers for sale, or gives or distributes any novelty lighter in New Albany must display them 48 inches off the floor. The retailer may not display them with "children's toys." In effect, that's it. Violation of the ordinance may result, on conviction (unlikely), in a fine of $250 for each violation and for each day of violation. One half of that fine would go toward fire prevention. The other half would go to the city's general fund. (By the way, that's a violation of state statute, too.)
Oh, yeah. The purchaser of the novelty lighter must have a photographic identification (what's that?). The retailer is not required to see it or ask for it. As the ordinance is written, the purchaser (5-year-old Billy Sue) would be subject to citation and fine.
I kid you not.
Great job, D5. How many hours of drafting and advocacy did you put into this one?
Not to be too specific, but all seven of the members in attendance voted "aye" on final reading. D'oh! Mmmmmm, donuuuts!
I Dream of Effluent With the Light Brown...
We can dream, can't we?
The work sessions of the New Albany City Council are predictably scripted affairs, and although the public is grudgingly allowed to attend, this council has no interest in the participation of the public, despite the fact that at any given time, more members of the audience are up to speed on the issue at hand than are sitting among the knights of the squared tables. Want to advance this city? Get elected. Otherwise, sit down and shut up.
We're often baffled at how this council majority can delude itself into the belief that being elected, often without opposition and by a phenomenally small majority of its constituents, imbues them with a divine right and supreme judgment on all matters governmental.
But, they did manage to get on the public payroll in the accepted manner, and whether they earn their keep or not, they do get to make the final decisions.
But that doesn't mean we have to shut up.
If Monday's 6 p.m. work session presentation is to be believed, the England administration, the Sewer Board, and their financial advisers, Crowe Chizek and Company, LLC, have the golden ticket on a silver plate.
Perhaps for the first time in living memory, New Albany has an opportunity to make its sanitary sewer utility a self-sustaining entity. All municipal enterprises (and "enterprise" is, in this instance, a term of art) are intended to be self-sufficient. That is, they are required to support themselves from their own revenues and, from time to time, return surpluses to their owners, the cities who authorized, founded, and funded them.
New Albany's wise men seem to have skipped class during the semester they offered Public Finance and Fund Accounting 101. But maybe the dark ages of deteriorating sewers is coming to an end.
If the presentation is to be believed, a five-year program of physical plant improvements (none are optional and most are mandated by court order) can be funded by a manageable bond issue combined with a modest increase in rates. The rate increase is what you'll be hearing the most about, even though New Albany's rates will be, by far, the lowest for comparable cities in this region, even after an adjustment.
The most promising aspect of the plan is that a previously committed $875,000 of EDIT (economic development income tax) funds will be returned for more appropriate use by the city. Within five years, we are promised, the city will have a functioning sewage system and the financial stability to not only support itself, but to finance ongoing capital projects without any additional borrowing.
The minimum ratepayer, the proverbial granny on a fixed income (we have one in our family, too) would be looking at a bill increase of $2.20 per month ($26.40/year) on sewer charges. The average user would be facing a bill increase of $7.70 per month ($92.40/year). Compared to a gas fuel charge increase of $60 a month, that's not bad, especially when you recall that in New Albany we would still be paying at rates well below market price.
Yes, the administration could be lying. Crowe Chizek could be lying. But the risk seems nominal, particularly if we never again have to dwell on excreta and its treatment as the primary focus of our government.
We are hopeful that bluegill will again demonstrate why EDIT taxes are a pandering fool's method for pretending to serve the people.
By the way...heard any complaints about garbage service lately?
The work sessions of the New Albany City Council are predictably scripted affairs, and although the public is grudgingly allowed to attend, this council has no interest in the participation of the public, despite the fact that at any given time, more members of the audience are up to speed on the issue at hand than are sitting among the knights of the squared tables. Want to advance this city? Get elected. Otherwise, sit down and shut up.
We're often baffled at how this council majority can delude itself into the belief that being elected, often without opposition and by a phenomenally small majority of its constituents, imbues them with a divine right and supreme judgment on all matters governmental.
But, they did manage to get on the public payroll in the accepted manner, and whether they earn their keep or not, they do get to make the final decisions.
But that doesn't mean we have to shut up.
If Monday's 6 p.m. work session presentation is to be believed, the England administration, the Sewer Board, and their financial advisers, Crowe Chizek and Company, LLC, have the golden ticket on a silver plate.
Perhaps for the first time in living memory, New Albany has an opportunity to make its sanitary sewer utility a self-sustaining entity. All municipal enterprises (and "enterprise" is, in this instance, a term of art) are intended to be self-sufficient. That is, they are required to support themselves from their own revenues and, from time to time, return surpluses to their owners, the cities who authorized, founded, and funded them.
New Albany's wise men seem to have skipped class during the semester they offered Public Finance and Fund Accounting 101. But maybe the dark ages of deteriorating sewers is coming to an end.
If the presentation is to be believed, a five-year program of physical plant improvements (none are optional and most are mandated by court order) can be funded by a manageable bond issue combined with a modest increase in rates. The rate increase is what you'll be hearing the most about, even though New Albany's rates will be, by far, the lowest for comparable cities in this region, even after an adjustment.
The most promising aspect of the plan is that a previously committed $875,000 of EDIT (economic development income tax) funds will be returned for more appropriate use by the city. Within five years, we are promised, the city will have a functioning sewage system and the financial stability to not only support itself, but to finance ongoing capital projects without any additional borrowing.
The minimum ratepayer, the proverbial granny on a fixed income (we have one in our family, too) would be looking at a bill increase of $2.20 per month ($26.40/year) on sewer charges. The average user would be facing a bill increase of $7.70 per month ($92.40/year). Compared to a gas fuel charge increase of $60 a month, that's not bad, especially when you recall that in New Albany we would still be paying at rates well below market price.
Yes, the administration could be lying. Crowe Chizek could be lying. But the risk seems nominal, particularly if we never again have to dwell on excreta and its treatment as the primary focus of our government.
We are hopeful that bluegill will again demonstrate why EDIT taxes are a pandering fool's method for pretending to serve the people.
By the way...heard any complaints about garbage service lately?
Shall We Dance?
In New Albany's current longest-running melodrama, Gary "The Gary" McCartin returned once again to plead with the city council to overturn the recommendation of the Plan Commission and permit him to leverage a dime or two out of a piece of land on Charlestown Road across from the Kroger grocery and the Old Mill shopping complex.
By his own testimony, "The Gary" has taken ten bites of the apple on this development, which he hopes will be the start of his comeback after one or more of his ventures resorted to the protections of 11 U.S.C. It remains unanswered whether "The Gary" actually owns the parcel(s) under zoning review or if he merely holds an option that he intends to exercise when and if he is able to corral 5 votes from the New Albany City Council.
In a defensive, yet challenging 40-minute presentation, "The Gary" pleaded his case. The totally non-conflicted D5, Diane McCartin-Benedetti, engaged her sibling in a precious back and forth Q&A that warmed the cockles of everyone in the room who had cockles, whatever those are.
But the long, lingering kiss that was D5's interrogation was upstaged by the erotic dance staged by At-Large Council Member Jack Messer and the man who when called "arrogant" responded with the query, "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?"
Messer, whose clear intent was to find a win-win outcome, chose to speak publicly to "The Gary" in a way that was probably more appropriate for a private venue. Sensing an opportunity to score points, "The Gary" chose to whip-cast for trout, but the elusive Messer, pure in heart, simply continued to offer well-meant advice that would, presumably, allow "The Gary" to achieve his objective without creating another intransigent coterie of folks all too willing to tell you what they think of the Sprawlmeister.
So you think you can dance? I hear Brazil is lovely this time of year, and the Samba Endredo is pretty easy to learn.
By his own testimony, "The Gary" has taken ten bites of the apple on this development, which he hopes will be the start of his comeback after one or more of his ventures resorted to the protections of 11 U.S.C. It remains unanswered whether "The Gary" actually owns the parcel(s) under zoning review or if he merely holds an option that he intends to exercise when and if he is able to corral 5 votes from the New Albany City Council.
In a defensive, yet challenging 40-minute presentation, "The Gary" pleaded his case. The totally non-conflicted D5, Diane McCartin-Benedetti, engaged her sibling in a precious back and forth Q&A that warmed the cockles of everyone in the room who had cockles, whatever those are.
But the long, lingering kiss that was D5's interrogation was upstaged by the erotic dance staged by At-Large Council Member Jack Messer and the man who when called "arrogant" responded with the query, "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?"
Messer, whose clear intent was to find a win-win outcome, chose to speak publicly to "The Gary" in a way that was probably more appropriate for a private venue. Sensing an opportunity to score points, "The Gary" chose to whip-cast for trout, but the elusive Messer, pure in heart, simply continued to offer well-meant advice that would, presumably, allow "The Gary" to achieve his objective without creating another intransigent coterie of folks all too willing to tell you what they think of the Sprawlmeister.
So you think you can dance? I hear Brazil is lovely this time of year, and the Samba Endredo is pretty easy to learn.
Welcome to the 2008 Dummy Awards
The Grammy Awards honor the most outstanding music. The Emmy Awards spotlight the best in television. And Oscar stands proudly holding his sword when it comes time to recognize the best in movies.
The Razzies take another tack. They poke fun at the "worst" movies and performers, even if they are easy targets. The Darwin Awards honor those imbeciles who, through their actions, benefit humanity by removing themselves from the gene pool by killing themselves - in the most stupid of manners.
Welcome, then, to the nominating period for the New Albany Dummy Awards, or, The Dummies.
We acknowledge that one would have to a) be there, and b) have a pretty quick pen (or tape recorder) to participate in the nominations. But that doesn't prevent you from voting on the nominees.
The nominees from the June 2, 2008 showing of the New Albany Follies, otherwise known as the New Albany City Council:
A. In a screed urging the sewer board to put off the purchase of land for an expansion of the sewer treatment capacity of the city utility ($256K for 60 acres, btw): Why, in 20 years they'll probably have another way to dispose of waste. - Dan Coffey, D1
B. Demonstrating a remarkable lack of vision in supporting the illegal tabling of a declaratory resolution that would designate the New Albany Heritage Site called Loop Island as a targeted economic development area: Nobody in their right mind could vote to make Loop Island a[n economic development area] TIF district. - Dan Coffey, D1, making him a double nominee right out of the box. He seems to have lost the ability to throw his voice into D3.
C. Defending her ardent sponsorship and successful shepherding of a completely unenforceable "novelty lighter" ordinance: You should know that it was written by the city attorney, so if you have a problem with it, you should talk to him. - Diane McCartin-Benedetti, D5, failing to get the point that her ordinance alone earned her a Dummies nomination.
D. Losing control of his meeting to such an extent that the words "Dan's Butt Boy" were echoing around the room: "_______." - Jeff Gahan, D6, though failing to speak up when he should have has been appealed as outside the boundaries of the Dummy Awards guidelines*. The appeals committee will follow with a ruling, undoubtedly relying on written and lawfully passed rules.
*Dummy Awards are intended to grant appropriate recognition to the verbal utterances of actors and supporting actors appearing at least once in the awards year at a lawful gathering of the New Albany City Council or its committees. The awards committtee may, from time to time, authorize supplemental awards, including awards to qualified actors and supporting actors whose public utterances are otherwise captured for posterity. Nominations are accepted from the public when accompanied by appropriate verification. Dummy Awards have no cash value and may not be used in campaign literature without the express and written permission of NA Shadow Council.
The Razzies take another tack. They poke fun at the "worst" movies and performers, even if they are easy targets. The Darwin Awards honor those imbeciles who, through their actions, benefit humanity by removing themselves from the gene pool by killing themselves - in the most stupid of manners.
Welcome, then, to the nominating period for the New Albany Dummy Awards, or, The Dummies.
We acknowledge that one would have to a) be there, and b) have a pretty quick pen (or tape recorder) to participate in the nominations. But that doesn't prevent you from voting on the nominees.
The nominees from the June 2, 2008 showing of the New Albany Follies, otherwise known as the New Albany City Council:
A. In a screed urging the sewer board to put off the purchase of land for an expansion of the sewer treatment capacity of the city utility ($256K for 60 acres, btw): Why, in 20 years they'll probably have another way to dispose of waste. - Dan Coffey, D1
B. Demonstrating a remarkable lack of vision in supporting the illegal tabling of a declaratory resolution that would designate the New Albany Heritage Site called Loop Island as a targeted economic development area: Nobody in their right mind could vote to make Loop Island a[n economic development area] TIF district. - Dan Coffey, D1, making him a double nominee right out of the box. He seems to have lost the ability to throw his voice into D3.
C. Defending her ardent sponsorship and successful shepherding of a completely unenforceable "novelty lighter" ordinance: You should know that it was written by the city attorney, so if you have a problem with it, you should talk to him. - Diane McCartin-Benedetti, D5, failing to get the point that her ordinance alone earned her a Dummies nomination.
D. Losing control of his meeting to such an extent that the words "Dan's Butt Boy" were echoing around the room: "_______." - Jeff Gahan, D6, though failing to speak up when he should have has been appealed as outside the boundaries of the Dummy Awards guidelines*. The appeals committee will follow with a ruling, undoubtedly relying on written and lawfully passed rules.
*Dummy Awards are intended to grant appropriate recognition to the verbal utterances of actors and supporting actors appearing at least once in the awards year at a lawful gathering of the New Albany City Council or its committees. The awards committtee may, from time to time, authorize supplemental awards, including awards to qualified actors and supporting actors whose public utterances are otherwise captured for posterity. Nominations are accepted from the public when accompanied by appropriate verification. Dummy Awards have no cash value and may not be used in campaign literature without the express and written permission of NA Shadow Council.
Monday, June 2, 2008
What is the Plural of Doofus?
Monday Night at the Circus. This tears it.
What is the plural of doofus? Doofi? Doofae? Doofuses?
And who qualifies for that label? The buffoons parading their ignorance in the guise of democratic (and Democratic) government? Or the otherwise intelligent people who subject themselves to this farcical display?
Though we have ongoing differences with the Deputy Mayor, we have to say that he is earning every dime of his top-of-the-heap salary. Yes, a few uniformed officers take home more money, but Carl Malysz deserves the whole $85,000 budgeted for his position. But to know that, you kind of have to have been there on any of the several past meetings of the New Albany City Council.
Casting shade over the council, particularly over D5 Diane McCartin-Benedetti, is our stated goal. And while some have dismissed us as exaggerators of the dismal state of representative government in New Albany, we have, in fact, been holding back substantially.
Frankly, it is foolish to continue to pretend that this council majority is not at war with all that is decent, holy, and right for New Albany. What little proof we have that some of these council members were elected with the help of, shall we say, the infirm, if not the deceased, is irrelevant. The task at election time is to save the city and it has become quite clear that the elections of last November did not do the trick.
So, we stop pretending. To treat with even minimum respect a council majority that despises everything we stand for is hypocrisy. Duty to posterity trumps any desire to be polite. So, from now on we call a fig a fig, and not a fruit-bearing and picturesque deciduous tree.
And boy, are these guys and gals dumb.
Not all of them, of course. Not all of the guys. But since all of them bear responsibility for council's errors and omissions, it's up to the not-dumb ones to eliminate or neutralize the influence of the dummies.
I will leave a little wiggle room. If they don't appreciate being called dumb, they can always adopt the other alternative --- evil...though one correspondent offers that possibility that they are both.
Whatever the label, there's no excuse for this degree of simpleness. And as time goes on, there will be no excuse for anyone to accept it as normative. Even in New Albany.
What is the plural of doofus? Doofi? Doofae? Doofuses?
And who qualifies for that label? The buffoons parading their ignorance in the guise of democratic (and Democratic) government? Or the otherwise intelligent people who subject themselves to this farcical display?
Though we have ongoing differences with the Deputy Mayor, we have to say that he is earning every dime of his top-of-the-heap salary. Yes, a few uniformed officers take home more money, but Carl Malysz deserves the whole $85,000 budgeted for his position. But to know that, you kind of have to have been there on any of the several past meetings of the New Albany City Council.
Casting shade over the council, particularly over D5 Diane McCartin-Benedetti, is our stated goal. And while some have dismissed us as exaggerators of the dismal state of representative government in New Albany, we have, in fact, been holding back substantially.
Frankly, it is foolish to continue to pretend that this council majority is not at war with all that is decent, holy, and right for New Albany. What little proof we have that some of these council members were elected with the help of, shall we say, the infirm, if not the deceased, is irrelevant. The task at election time is to save the city and it has become quite clear that the elections of last November did not do the trick.
So, we stop pretending. To treat with even minimum respect a council majority that despises everything we stand for is hypocrisy. Duty to posterity trumps any desire to be polite. So, from now on we call a fig a fig, and not a fruit-bearing and picturesque deciduous tree.
And boy, are these guys and gals dumb.
Not all of them, of course. Not all of the guys. But since all of them bear responsibility for council's errors and omissions, it's up to the not-dumb ones to eliminate or neutralize the influence of the dummies.
I will leave a little wiggle room. If they don't appreciate being called dumb, they can always adopt the other alternative --- evil...though one correspondent offers that possibility that they are both.
Whatever the label, there's no excuse for this degree of simpleness. And as time goes on, there will be no excuse for anyone to accept it as normative. Even in New Albany.
Sticking It Out
The remarkably literate James Fallows turns a nice phrase in the June Atlantic. Context, of course, is everything, but for those few who visit us, here are a few words of encouragement.
...we continually face a basic choice. Either we decide we can't stand the conditions, in which case we should leave...Or we decide that the openness, possibility, and importance of [this place] justify these and other discomforts, in which we should stop complaining, try to ignore what we don't like, and be grateful for the historic opportunity we have. We keep deciding to stay...
...we continually face a basic choice. Either we decide we can't stand the conditions, in which case we should leave...Or we decide that the openness, possibility, and importance of [this place] justify these and other discomforts, in which we should stop complaining, try to ignore what we don't like, and be grateful for the historic opportunity we have. We keep deciding to stay...
Inanities Abound Tonight
It ought to be a rollicking affair tonight with grandstanding galore.
We won't address the substance of two pieces of legislation before the council tonight, but we invite you to explore how inartfully they are drawn.
First up is Mr. Coffey's "resolution" to declare the blocks around his house as a permanent reserve for homeowners. Self-styled West Enders have held out gallantly ever since the Interstate highway condemnations separated them from downtown. The triangle of about 13 small blocks would, under this "resolution," be declared a no-man's land for business development. Take a look at the area on a satellite map below or at this link.
View Larger Map
But what is being presented as R-08-33 is a muddled petition, not a resolution, signed by 13 residents of the area to be preserved or hindered by a rezoning. It's doubtful anyone would object to a rezoning - except for those precise property owners now negotiating with a developer to sell their land for a mixed-use project that could well increase the value of the entire West End, enriching its residents and its property owners in more ways than one. But it would create, at least, a temporary impediment to one variety of "progress." I suppose a property owner could easily petition to have the zoning modified again by PUDD application, but this seems to be an awkward way to approach things. For your edification, here is the text of the agenda item:
After many years of rumor and confusion, the people living in said areas ask that a zoning change take place to protect our neighborhood. Boundaries are hereby described: West 4th Street west to west 10th Street and Falling Run Creek south to Main Street. This will not include the properties of: Main Street, or the properties between West 4th Street and West 5th Street. The new zoning will not affect existing businesses and allows their current zoning to be maintained. Proposed zoning will be RN1, Neighborhood Residential. This zoning is designated for higher-density single-family development and and two- family dwellings where approved through conditional use.
The signatures of 8 people are attached, including Mrs. Councilman Coffey, and five others have their names and addresses affixed.
Again, though there is no expectation that anyone will object tonight, it sure would be interesting to know what kinds of rumors and confusion prompted this eleventh-hour measure.
I'll let you read the "Novelty Lighter" ordinance for yourself. Mrs. McCartin-Benedetti has drafted/presented an more formal document, but it utterly fails as a piece of enforceable legislation. Once a citation is made under it, a first-year law student will be able to declaw the ordinance as it is currently written.
We won't address the substance of two pieces of legislation before the council tonight, but we invite you to explore how inartfully they are drawn.
First up is Mr. Coffey's "resolution" to declare the blocks around his house as a permanent reserve for homeowners. Self-styled West Enders have held out gallantly ever since the Interstate highway condemnations separated them from downtown. The triangle of about 13 small blocks would, under this "resolution," be declared a no-man's land for business development. Take a look at the area on a satellite map below or at this link.
View Larger Map
But what is being presented as R-08-33 is a muddled petition, not a resolution, signed by 13 residents of the area to be preserved or hindered by a rezoning. It's doubtful anyone would object to a rezoning - except for those precise property owners now negotiating with a developer to sell their land for a mixed-use project that could well increase the value of the entire West End, enriching its residents and its property owners in more ways than one. But it would create, at least, a temporary impediment to one variety of "progress." I suppose a property owner could easily petition to have the zoning modified again by PUDD application, but this seems to be an awkward way to approach things. For your edification, here is the text of the agenda item:
After many years of rumor and confusion, the people living in said areas ask that a zoning change take place to protect our neighborhood. Boundaries are hereby described: West 4th Street west to west 10th Street and Falling Run Creek south to Main Street. This will not include the properties of: Main Street, or the properties between West 4th Street and West 5th Street. The new zoning will not affect existing businesses and allows their current zoning to be maintained. Proposed zoning will be RN1, Neighborhood Residential. This zoning is designated for higher-density single-family development and and two- family dwellings where approved through conditional use.
The signatures of 8 people are attached, including Mrs. Councilman Coffey, and five others have their names and addresses affixed.
Again, though there is no expectation that anyone will object tonight, it sure would be interesting to know what kinds of rumors and confusion prompted this eleventh-hour measure.
I'll let you read the "Novelty Lighter" ordinance for yourself. Mrs. McCartin-Benedetti has drafted/presented an more formal document, but it utterly fails as a piece of enforceable legislation. Once a citation is made under it, a first-year law student will be able to declaw the ordinance as it is currently written.
Just 5 Months...and the Wheels are Coming Off
This blog was scolded for sharing thoughts earlier in the year. We were taken to task for purportedly jumping to conclusions and for not seeing the forest for the trees.The occasion was a January posting labeled "A Parade of Ignorance," in which we projected that any progressive agenda would be dead on arrival because of a bloc of ignorance.
We trusted our instincts then in reading the tea leaves. We were called "premature." But this council has now served 10% of its term. Our analysis has been borne out by subsequent events and even though this iteration of the Common Council for the City of New Albany has held office for only 152 days, we're prepared to restate that projection based on the evidence at hand.
Perhaps the most telling case was the council's last meeting in May. The most egregious misfeasance came early in that meeting when D1 Dan Coffey "tabled" a motion to authorize the city's pro forma application for federal Community Development Block Grants. D5 Diane McCartin-Benedetti was not in attendance that evening, but from her public comments and subsequent actions as a member of the Redevelopment Commission, it is certainly safe to say that she is marching in lockstep with the senior council member when it comes to lack of common sense.
It's understandable that a neophyte politician might seek out the counsel of a more experienced colleague. It is not that effort that deserves criticism. However, D5 shows execrable judgment in linking arms with Mr. Coffey. Her performance as a council member has been undistinguished so far and shows signs of becoming positively inimical to the best interests of the city and of her constituents in District 5.
The vehicle that is our city council, with D6 Jeff Gahan ostensibly in the driver's seat, is weaving all over the place. The wheels are coming off and the wreck is imminent. McCartin-Benedetti may or may not believe that she is just along for the ride. But she is not doing anything to help steer a solid course to the betterment of New Albany.
At that last meeting, Mr. Gahan placed the CDBG authorization resolution into Mr. Coffey's hands. Instead of introducing the resolution, which under any normal circumstances would be a purely ministerial function, Coffey declined to bring it to a vote.
Setting aside for a moment the parliamentary impropriety of squelching debate on an item properly submitted and approved for the meeting agenda, the substantial impact of that move was to put in danger New Albany's eligibility for the single largest and most effective revenue sharing program available to us. Until that moment it would have been hard to see how any public servant could avoid being pilloried for rejecting federal largesse - money taken from us generally, but then directed toward commonly agreed-upon projects for the core of the city.
Yet, no member of council challenged Mr. Coffey. Not the president. Not the members.
What compelling reason did Mr. Coffey offer to justify this reckless move? Well, according to the minutes of the meeting, it was "because of the laws that were passed by the legislation there were a lot of changes." The council will, apparently, soon have original jurisdiction (instead of just final authority) over certain redevelopment proposals. Despite the fact that two members of the council sit on the Redevelopment Commission, despite the fact that numerous public hearings were held to build the list of possible projects that CDBG money might be used for, Mr. Coffey wanted to consult with his "experts" before putting New Albany's application in.
Thus, New Albany missed a critical deadline. In effect, Mr. Coffey and his colleagues sent a message to the feds, saying "We don't believe in abiding by your stinking rules."
Astute observers will note that Mr. Coffey failed to address, much less permit debate on, which of the myriad projects on the list failed to float his boat. As an inveterate wrecker who fears anything he doesn't understand, Mr. Coffey hid behind process to achieve his substantial goal of loosening the lug nuts on the wheels of the city.
And the council went along with it.
Ironically, the process used was in clear violation of the controlling procedural ordinances and the rules that govern council meetings. It reminds me of the quaint New Albanian custom of treating STOP signs as advisory only.
For tonight's agenda, follow this link (current agenda only). For details of legislation under consideration tonight, follow this link. Hey, Marcey. What's up with that? How can the public get to ordinances up for second reading, or past legislation and tabled ordinances?
News photo credit: NA Confidential
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