Thoughts & Ideas
I would like for folks to comment on their take of the City Council meeting that took place this past Thursday night (8-18-05), and how it stood up to your expectations of what was going to be discussed and/or resolved.
With so many people in attendance, I'm sure some folks were anticipating some sort of action to be taken. Tell us about those anticipations, and what you felt you actually came away with in terms of understanding the processes and what will happen next.
What do you tink SHOULD happen next?
Finally, let's devote some time to step back and take a look at what is good within our City.
What positive attributes do we have now that might entice businesses to locate Downtown?
What kind of businesses would you like to see Downtown?
If you had the power to make one thing happen for the City, what would it be?
RULES: No profanity. No personal attacks. Keep it about the CITY, not the people in it.
Thanks, in anticipation of your responses. I'm looking forward to your ideas.
posted by East Ender at
1:59 AM
124 Comments:
If a had the power to make one or Several things to happen for the City of New Albany it would be:
(1) Total Outside Audit
(2) Some one with no agenda,someone smart enough,that has a real vision,determination to come in and clean The City of New Albany's mess up from A-Z.
(3) Corruption exposed
(4) Powers that be to admit the City is Bankrupt.
(5) People/Departments held accountiable
(6) Full Investigation
(7) Expose how Taxpayers money is being wasted
(8) Code Enforcement Officer
(9) City to turn control of Scribner Place over to the YMCA.
(10) Stop spending monies that we don't have.
(11) Freeze all raises-stop all new projects until this mess is cleaned up.
(12) Pull all Official cars,cell phones, take home police cars cut the perks and waste of taxpayers money.
(13) Stop back room deals being made.
(14) WNAS to continue carrying the City Council Meetings.
(15) New City Newspaper
By
Anonymous, at 7:45 AM, August 20, 2005
(2) Some one with no agenda,someone smart enough,that has a real vision,determination to come in and clean The City of New Albany's mess up from A-Z.
Just a couple of questions:
Come in from outside the city, or from New Albany?
In other words, are you implying that there's no one here capable, or that there is, and he or she must step forward?
Do ordinary people like you have any part in this?
And, doesn't everyone have an agenda? You always use this word as though to suggest that an agenda is always bad.
By
Anonymous, at 9:00 AM, August 20, 2005
Shirley:
Concerning your number of 70%, the number you state as being the number of citizens who could not afford a membership for the YMCA.
Where did you get this number?
Someone told you?
Who was that person's source?
That's right, they didn't say, they made that number up.
Here's a breif synopsis of what the YMCA is all about:
"Together, the nation's more than 2,500 YMCAs are the largest not-for-profit community service organizations in America, working to meet the health and social service needs of 18.9 million men, women and children in 10,000 communities in the United States. Ys are for people of all faiths, races, abilities, ages and incomes. No one is turned away for inability to pay. YMCAs' strength is in the people they bring together."
The most important line of which is "No one is turned away for inability to pay."
The YMCA operates on a sliding scale. If you are a low income family, the rates differ in order to make membership affordable. There are also scholarships available for those that can't afford the sliding scale rates.
So, next time someone states a statistic, ask them where they came up with that number before repeating false information as truth.
Plus, why not give the YMCA a call yourself to find out:
812-283-9622
By
TSOLfan, at 12:09 PM, August 20, 2005
I believe what Concern Taxpayer meant by "Some one with no agenda" was someome who was not trying to be greedy in public office, who was not in office to see how much money could be made using their power to make deals. Someone who would be more altruistic.
By
Anonymous, at 12:13 PM, August 20, 2005
I was at the meeting too and heard the gentleman throwing around false numbers.
I'm just trying show you how one person can state a falsehood, and it gets repeated as truth.
I wish people would state their sources, more or less as a burden of proof, instead of throwing out random numbers.
Kind of like Steve Price and his ability to save the city $1 million dollars. He's been stating the past few meetings how he can save the city all kinds of money, but he isn't telling anyone how.
Why something so great as this a secret? Where's his list of $1 million in savings? Why doesn't he make that list available to the public? Why not publish it in the paper?
I just don't think it exists, but I'm waiting for Steve to prove me wrong. Reminds me of Senator Joseph R. McCarthy's blacklist...
By
TSOLfan, at 12:28 PM, August 20, 2005
What we need first is a town hall meeting. This has been discussed but never implemented.
By
Anonymous, at 12:29 PM, August 20, 2005
You said it concern taxpayer. we need an audit and everbody needs to be held accountable for their actions. We taxpayers sure do!
By
Anonymous, at 12:36 PM, August 20, 2005
concern taxpayer,
I think #6 on your wish (full investigation) list would take care of most of your other wishes.
Do you think any of this will happen in our lifetime?
By
Anonymous, at 1:23 PM, August 20, 2005
New Albany
On daily walks my dog leads me
He likes certain sections of town
He prefers alleys and back streets
And there are terrible things I see
Unkempt sheds in total disrepair
Broken bottles, cans, paper and weeds
In backyards dogs tied to trees
A stump, a post, anything,
A table, a car bumper
In one yard a junked car is a dog’s retreat
A dog in the open wind or rain
Held fast by a short chain
Why do people allow such things?
Why have the dogs if they don’t care?
I would be embarrassed
More than that, ashamed
The sight of trash is near unbearable
There are more suffering dogs
And I wonder why so many?
Of course,
It is New Albany
By
Anonymous, at 5:58 PM, August 20, 2005
How many cases of West Nile have you helped prevent, Tim?
Without exact numbers, it's not worth pursuing, right?
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 7:11 PM, August 20, 2005
Unfortunately, I think we got what we've come to expect: not much except cheap political ploys that do nothing to move us toward real solutions.
1) I'd like to see more residents involved. You and I can argue continuously but most residents sit idly by and wait for others to do something. It happens in government as well. If you don't like an idea, produce a better one. If you can, you win. If you can't, you lose. When action, rather than reaction, is rewarded and valued, we'll see change. Otherwise, we'll continue to fall behind.
2) I'd like economic development money to be used for economic development. Period. We're totally missing the point of its existence as a separate fund. The very reason it was created was to force cities to build for the future rather than spend every last dime on immediate gratification. EDIT isn't a slush fund to shore up every other failing operation. Fixes for those operations shouldn't include raiding the one decent source of capital we have to facilitate the creation of other revenue.
I have more specific ideas about how to spend EDIT funds that may or may not work. If anyone wants to have an actual conversation about them or your ideas for the same, I'd be glad to.
3) Treat new people better. Many of the people some of you love to hate are actively engaged in the exact types of activities that will improve this city. Regardless of whether you agree with their political stances, they're supporting neighborhood associations and their improvement initiatives, they're building independent local businesses, they're creating sources of information and community sharing, they're buying old houses in ailing neighborhoods and rehabilitating them, and they're speaking out about the issues that they feel are important to the city.
If you look at the new businesses downtown and in the exurb, almost all of them have been started by new people. They move here because they see potential where some long time residents see only problems. We should thank them and support them.
As has been pointed out many times in an attempt to discredit anything I might say, I'm new. I grew up all of 10 miles away. My family, though, has about a hundred years of history here (in Coffey's district no less) and when it came time for my wife and I to decide where to invest what resources we have in an attempt to be a part of a community where we might want to raise children, we chose not just New Albany but the much maligned downtown neighborhoods of New Albany.
After acclimating myself a little (before this blog or CFP even existed) and observing some of the public affairs of the city, I chose to support the Mayor's take on one issue. One. Based on what I perceived as a poor performance in his first year, I made it clear to everyone who spoke to me about it (ask Ben Hershberg) that I was supporting what I thought was the best idea and wasn't taking sides in age old political squabbles.
In return, I was yelled at, lied about and accused of all sorts of unsavory affiliations with people that I'd never even met by other people that I'd never met. Not one person even attempted to discuss the matter with me nor offered a rational argument in opposition-- just the lies, rumors and hatred.
If that's how you propose to encourage new blood to participate in the process, good luck.
If you dislike the "good ol' boy network" as much as you say you do, stop being a part of it.
4) You know what my biggest problem with garbage in this city is? It's not the Mayor and it's not the union. It's the morons who keep throwing it in my yard. I have a corner lot and I come home everyday to someone else's refuse on both sides.
If you see someone littering or dumping, strongly encourage them to do otherwise. Yell at them. Call the cops. Sue them. Sick the dog on them. Whatever your thing is, use it against them.
It's got nothing to do with politics, demographics or cultural divides. You watch my yard and I'll watch yours.
The heck with fines. With the trash problems we have, littering and dumping should be punishable with jail time.
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 8:12 PM, August 20, 2005
bayard stroud:
(1) Someone from New Albany.
(2) Your implying not me! This seems to be a two part question correct?
(3) Capable? Yes their are a few whom I feel is very capable. Of stepping in today and turning this City around. Did you catch my word "TODAY". It would take alot of hard work and the right people to help make things happen.
I think this person who could turn this City around. Would not be doing it for the $50,000.00 salary, perks or Suv or etc.
(4)This person would take the job as a challenge. This person has a great deal of knowledge let alone ability, experience,
determinations.. And truly loves New Albany. And the many people who live here. This person would take the job for all the right reasons. And not take the job for gain or greed or ego!
(5) Your comment/question: and he/she must step forward. Please clarify what your asking?
(6) Do ordinary people like you have any part in this? Again please clarify what you are saying or asking?
(a) I am John Q Taxpayer. I truly feel this Adminstration hasn't the ability or is capable of doing the job. And this is my comment that their is someone I do believe from New Albany who can come in and roll up their sleeves.
Pull in the right people in. And prove it can be a better place to live. To raise a family. And bring in New business. And will make better decisions. As well as decisions that affect each and every person in New Albany.
And will called it for what it is. Not what they want us to think. This person could look us in the eye and say this is what it is. And this is what were going to need to do.
That to me is a leader.
(7) Agenda? Can't some people have an agenda for the right reasons. For the betterment for the people of New Albany. Who play by the rules. And only ask for a voice! And want to do the right thing!
(a) The agenda's I write about and comment on is not agenda's that apply to all. Only benfits some!
(b) To me a leader is only as good as the people they have around them. Success or failure does not depend on one person!
By
Anonymous, at 11:47 PM, August 20, 2005
nobody's fool:
I think #6 on your wish (full investigation) list would take care of most of your other wishes.
Do you think any of this will happen in our lifetime?
I have to "BELIEVE"....YES!
And this is why. I do believe it only takes "one person" who has the guts to admit and say: THAT this is "WRONG". And make the decision to not back down at any cost. To me that is true conviction.
If people know it as fact and can prove it. And is aware of the violation, crime, injustice and does nothing about it. They are no better than the one actually doing the wrong... (IN MY OPIOION)
By
Anonymous, at 12:13 AM, August 21, 2005
Many of us totally agree with what you are saying Concern Taxpayer. Our City is totally divided. Won't someone step up to the plate and say we have had enough.
I read the comment on "Your so called wish list." And I can imagine you were as insulted by that comment as I was.
You truly don't need a degree to see the real problems in our town.
We agree The City of New Albany needs a dramatic change.
The little people of New Albany do have a vision, commitment and persistence.
I am a firm believer it does take one person who can make a difference.
Doesn't the people of this City of New Albany deserve better!
By
Anonymous, at 7:28 AM, August 21, 2005
east ender--
You wrote RULES: Keepit about the CITY, not the people in it.
Our problem is this adminstration. And certain elected officials.
By
Anonymous, at 7:43 AM, August 21, 2005
CONCERN TAXPAYER
Your right A-Z... A = Answers and Z = Zero in on the problems and solve them.
By
Anonymous, at 7:59 AM, August 21, 2005
Obviously rooting out corruption and holding indviduals accountable should be an ongoing process.
Re: Vision
New Albany needs a concrete doable strategic plan.
Progressives, Politicians, Little People get together and formulate a 4-5 year plan.
Work the plan, tweak and tune the plan as you go along.
By
Anonymous, at 8:34 AM, August 21, 2005
Leadership:
Send the leaders to more leadership training????
By
Anonymous, at 8:36 AM, August 21, 2005
I like this Speak Out Lout blog, as my little voice isn't heard elsewhere. To paraphrase an earlier poster, how can we talk about the problems of the city exclusively without discussing the people who *are* the problem?
By
Anonymous, at 10:10 AM, August 21, 2005
Beagle,
The problems this city has are much older than this administration. They existed before James Garner or you or I were born. They've existed since government has existed.
Are you going to try to participate in finding solutions or are you just going to maintain the status quo and try to use the problems to your political advantage?
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 10:35 AM, August 21, 2005
Mr. Deatrick:
What time are the budget meetings held on Monday, also at what location (I assume 3rd floor)?
By
TSOLfan, at 11:34 AM, August 21, 2005
Bluegill. For your information, Tim only volunteers to help trap mosquitoes in Clark and Harrison Counties. This is much like others volunteering to Clean Up New Albany. He was trapping in Floyd County, but that $300 trap was stolen from the New Albany Railroad corridor. Thanks little people. The Floyd County Health Department is responsible for organizing the mosquito treatment areas. His articles have made people aware that there is a problem. Awareness leads to prevention. This is not directly comparable to a potential economic entity like Scribner Place.
If the government opens a new lake (example), they know ahead of time the proposed economic benefit of this entity. Marinas, bait shops, retaurants etc. We can project how many individuals will be using the new lake.
Could the same analysis be done for Scribner Place?
By
Anonymous, at 11:57 AM, August 21, 2005
Actually, it is comparable.
Tax dollars are spent at the local, state, and federal level to combat the West Nile virus. Tim's decision to participate in that venture is a good one.
It's not, however, a decision based on hard numbers.
Although disease prevention is the main goal of such efforts, no one can provide numbers as to how many cases of West Nile have been avoided due to the spending of those tax dollars, ie, spend x dollars and prevent x number of cases.
Still, as a community and nation, we've decided, as has Tim, that spending millions (if not billions) of dollars and a great deal of time attempting to prevent the spread of the disease is better than not doing so, based on the evidence that we do have.
Thus far, no one has provided any evidence that Scribner Place will fail.
If you can't provide that evidence, on what exactly is the opposition basing its opinion?
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 12:55 PM, August 21, 2005
Back to the investment feasibility study:
Would the feasibility study, if it had been done, have shown that the Y should have been sited elsewhere?
If I had the power to make one thing happen, I would site the Y near the population center of New Albany. Possible locations: Sam Peden Park, In front of Richo's (I like a cold one after exercise), or IUS behind the Culbetson Baptist Church
By
Anonymous, at 1:11 PM, August 21, 2005
In spite of how badly it began, what with ct's Martin Luther-style listing, this has been an uncommonly good discussion.
By
Anonymous, at 1:28 PM, August 21, 2005
Tim,
Are you using lab space and equipment at IUS? Has the health department used a lab and equipment? HVAC? Utilities? Janitorial services? Hazmat services? Physical Plant services? Telephones? Computers? Office Supplies? Where'd the table you lay the little buggers out on come from?
Are those same types of activities duplicated all over the country in hundreds of tax dollar supported labs? What about all the tax supported federal agencies that particpate in West Nile study and education?
I appreciate the volunteer labor you and other students provide. It's good for the community and good for IUS. I think it's worth it but it's definitely not free. It doesn't take an economist to figure that out.
I was comparing the decision making process that you questioned, not the specific activities.
The Caesars Foundation thinks Scribner Place is worth it to the tune of $20 million. The highly touted Southern Indiana YMCA thinks it's worth it for a few million. The local business community thinks it's worth it as do several community agencies and neighborhood associations. Are you suggesting that none of these people have any understanding of the community investment process?
If we're not going to listen to them, whom should we listen to?
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 1:35 PM, August 21, 2005
I almost forgot:
The Y has promised that no one will be turned away because of an inability to pay, even with their sliding scale. I intend to do everything in my power to hold them to that.
As TSOL fan pointed out, you're about the umpteenth person recently to claim that residents can't afford it. What are you basing that on?
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 1:39 PM, August 21, 2005
It is my understanding that the Y has several options for fees designed to make the facility available to most people. That's not to say however, that some will not be able to be accomodated. I do not know the specifics of what it takes to get a "scholarship" for membership.
It was Dan Coffey that remarked at the Council meeting that 70% of inner-city residents could not afford a membership.
I can't say that I know this number is correct, but I believe he was making a point that most inner-city residents cannot afford a "regular" Y membership, and will have to be subsidized in one way or another.
This is significant, because it can affect the financial stability of the New Albany facility if it has to subsidize a large number of members.
By
East Ender, at 3:42 PM, August 21, 2005
A gentleman who spoke during public comments mentioned the 70% figure and Coffey repeated it as true.
He also repeated as true County Commisioner Reisert's Tribune quote that no one except "hired guns" spoke in favor of Scribner Place at the County Council's hearing.
I was sitting within arms length of at least three citizens with no professional ties to the project who spoke in favor of it at the hearing when Coffey made the comment.
Two mistruths within a few minutes to win political points from the sanitation crowd during a grandstanding speech in which Coffey was lecturing everyone about what a shame it was to politicize the process.
Some of you folks may feel like you need to have your views better represented but Dan Coffey ain't the answer.
I feel bad for the sanitation workers that Coffey is using them as an excuse to go after Scribner Place. Regardless of how anyone feels about Scribner, that's not right.
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 4:01 PM, August 21, 2005
The two issues -- sanitation and Scribner Place -- are as completely unrelated as chamber music and reggae, but it has been enshrined as "truth" by the simple fact of being repeated aloud again and again.
Repetition is no substitute for accuracy.
Funny thing is that if the sanitation workers publicly supported Scribner Place, none of their current supporters would be lost to them, but they would pick up even more support from those who are disgusted with the likes of Kochert's and Coffey's antics in insisting on connecting things that aren't connected.
By
Anonymous, at 5:07 PM, August 21, 2005
So much of the discussions of Scribner Place are about the YMCA portion of the project. Are we forgetting the City's highly debated decision to invest another $20 million in a pool complex?
This is the part that needs to be questioned.
Why couldn't we wait 4 months for a $36,000 feasibility study to be completed before any committments were made to fund it?
We should recind the funding for the pool complex at least until we have a study in hand that will advise us on the possibilities of private development being attracted to downtown by the YMCA and/or pool complex. The feasibility study has already been contracted to Browning Investments of Indianapolis.
For a small city that is financially strapped, we cannot afford to swing for the fences with nothing more than hopeful thinking at hand.
Because this project is such an expensive venture, and because it was rushed through before any decisions were made by the County, I feel strongly that we deserve a full independent review of all documents and contracts pertaining to the development before we proceed any further.
As for the Sanitation Department, if the RFP's were put out in April for privatization, why was no one told about this decision when the budget issues were being addressed?
Once the trucks and cans are paid off (trucks 2006,cans 2007) we will be more able to shoulder the costs for city run sanitation, saving jobs and families.
By
East Ender, at 5:18 PM, August 21, 2005
I'm not sure about the time frame. I don't know when the bids came back in or if the Mayor was seriously considering privatization until the numbers from the sewer audit came back in July. Maybe he was. Maybe he wasn't. Maybe he talked further wih ID just in case.
Seeing as how no one seems to have a better option thus far, I almost think sanitation is a dead issue.
What's more interesting to me is whether or not the privatization of sanitation automatically means the workers have to lose their jobs.
First, I haven't heard numbers from ID about wages, benefits, etc, or how they compare to what the city offered. I also don't know about the workers' pension situation. A lot of times, money in retirement plans can be rolled over to other plans when people change jobs. I'm surprised union officials haven't addressed all that. If they care about the workers and not just the union, they should. It would at least be a good question for one of our local journalists to ask.
This would all be a hoot if the workers actually ended up in better shape.
Beyond that, it would be interesting to explore other options for continued city employment. There's obviously lots of work to be done and it would make sense to give experienced workers familiar with the city first shot at it. The question is how much can we afford.
The first 7-10 guys are already paid for with revenue from the ID contract. If we could justify spending money on something that would move the city forward rather than just propping up a failed operation, it might be doable.
If it would in fact help redevelopment, it might even be possible to justify spending some EDIT funds on it (No, not Scribner money).
We could start with whatever amount the county decides to kick in on Scribner, assuming that Coffey and Kochert can find it within themselves to be polite for the couple of hours necessary to ask for it rather than demand it. Add to that whatever EDIT funds are unspent now and possibly a small bit from the large chunk that becomes available in 2007.
I'm thinking about some sort of extremely aggressive clean up/beautification program but I haven't worked out specifics yet. I need numbers to even know if it's worth pondering further.
It may just be a pipe dream but why not think of ways to help Scribner Place and downtown be successful rather than finding new ways to kill it?
If you're going to swing for the fences, why not aim for the upper deck in dead center?
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 6:24 PM, August 21, 2005
Oh yes Bluegill lets tout the great community citizen that Caesars is, the same group that came into Harrison County and totally ignored environmental concerns like destroying mussel beds before they were forced to remediate the damage they had done.
Could it be they are giving to the Y because they want to divert more traffic their way, same reaon they want a soccer complex on Budd Road, drop the kids off and go gamble.
By
Anonymous, at 6:26 PM, August 21, 2005
For God sakes Tim, post under your own name.
I didn't say Caesars was a great anything. I said they think Scribner Place is worth it as an investment. By your own reasoning, they must be convinced that it will generate enough traffic to be worth the $20 million. That's exactly what Scribner Place is supposed to do.
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 6:34 PM, August 21, 2005
I think my biggest reservation regarding Scribner Place (and for the record, I am for it) is the oversight of the project.
If I had confidence that the project would be managed efficiently, I would have NO reservations about proceeding full speed ahead. But this is a project of such magnitude that the manager(s) need to be people who have a track record and some experience under their belts.
By
Ann, at 6:42 PM, August 21, 2005
I'm no economist, but I understand that the Y membership will be between 5000 and 7000. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say many of those folks don't go downtown now. Will some of those folks shop downtown? I would think so. Would some of those people be more apt to come back downtown for a show at the riverfront? Maybe. Would some of them shop more if there were more options available? I don't see why not.
Maybe some of those folks will get hungry and eat somewhere downtown? Maybe they'll need to buy some gas? Maybe they'll be so smitten with the Y they'll decide to buy a home within walking distance.
Maybe the urban/walkable lifestyle that seems to be gaining momentum across the country will mean that this Y actually becomes the cornerstone for all development to come. This is all pure conjecture of course. But prove to me that it couldn't happen? Prove to me that New Albany can't evolve in this way?
By
Anonymous, at 9:11 PM, August 21, 2005
The phenomenon you're referencing, and the type of people for whom such options are important, constitute a demographic that is instinctively mistrusted by the "little people," who haven't hesitated showing their disdain not just for the mayor, Scribner Place or the notion of the "creative class," but for the very sort of person who'd be a part of any of that.
Look at the way they heap abuse on the bookstore, on the so-called $8 pints, on "progressives," and so on.
The biggest impediment to the sort of vision you've offered is the objection of people who WRONGLY feel threatened by it. Beyond that, there's absolutely no reason why it couldn't work in New Albany.
But not if there's a Mayor Coffey.
By
Anonymous, at 9:39 PM, August 21, 2005
blue gill
You do not have your facts right at all. You do not know what you are talking about Scribner Place......
By
Anonymous, at 9:42 PM, August 21, 2005
That was enlightening, anonymous.
The folks above you probably read this today.
You may want to as well.
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 9:53 PM, August 21, 2005
You are puting all our eggs in one basket! And this Scribner deal is not going to save our City!!!!!!!! wake up....
Nor is the Mayor going to feel sorry for Sanitation workers..
WAKE UP PEOPLE! WE HAVE BEEN SET UP AND THIS PIPE DREAM IS GOING TO LIMIT THIS CITY'S FUTURE.....
By
One voice, at 9:56 PM, August 21, 2005
All which eggs?
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 10:04 PM, August 21, 2005
I thought we didn't have any eggs.
By
Anonymous, at 10:50 PM, August 21, 2005
Let me clarify that I am indeed in favor of the YMCA facility for New Albany. That part of Scribner Place doesn't require a bond issue or use of EDIT funds. It is the pool complex that worries me.
One reason is the same as Ann has mentioned...who's in charge. The other reason is that it's a LOT of money for our little struggling city to put into ONE project. Successfull revitalization for downtown will only happen with PEOPLE LIVING DOWNTOWN!
We should be focusing on creating Urban Housing downtown that would tie in very well with the Y, and induce many small business ventures necessary for supporting that population.
The article in todays paper that bluegill referenced is excellent reading, and proves my point about what we should be spending our money on if we're looking for real changes, not just pocket lining.
Renovate beautiful old buildings as living spaces and subsidize new business start ups!!!
You don't plop a $40 million complex in the middle of a "bombed out ghetto" and think things are going to change. We need to address both issues and find a way to bring them together.
Furthermore, a bustling downtown will entice Caesars bound visitors to stop and shop. Thus creating an environment for "specialty" shops. re: Brown County.
For those who keep asking for other ideas, what's wrong with this one?
By
East Ender, at 12:29 AM, August 22, 2005
First it is said that the YMCA is such a marvelous organization that the project should be handed to them, then people doubt the YMCA's own research as to the potential number of members.
You can't have it both ways.
What you refuse to acknowledge here is that if there were one thing and one thing only that mattered about Scribner Placer (there are more, of course) that would be it bringing traffic composed of a certain demographic to downtown.
People who might live downtown, people who might shop downtown - they are a certain type of person with certain interests, who would live in a certain type of places and shop at certain shops. Scribner Place is part of a lifestyle recognition, along with the future Greenway.
They bring the traffic to help make the other parts follow.
If you wish for that demographic to come here and be a part of it, then you can't deride it and be suspicious of it and, for some of you, outright detest it. Be for something, or have the good grace to stand aside and not be against it.
By
Anonymous, at 7:41 AM, August 22, 2005
Welcome back
"The Progressive Four."
By
Anonymous, at 9:39 AM, August 22, 2005
Yes, ceece, you are right - about the membership open to the entire county, and about the fear and ignorance.
What's needed is a cultural shift, and that's the part that scares people the most because it's the devil they don't know.
By
Anonymous, at 10:41 AM, August 22, 2005
Question: Do the pool and the Y have to be interconnected? Frankly, as a single mother-parent, I worry about security downtown. Why can't we centrally locate the pool in a safer area?
Frightened in New Albany
By
Anonymous, at 11:03 AM, August 22, 2005
I would like to see a Senior Citizen day care Center open.
By
Anonymous, at 11:05 AM, August 22, 2005
I would like the City Council to resend the funds for Scribner.
By
Anonymous, at 11:06 AM, August 22, 2005
http://www.indianasheriffs.org/default.asp
Good point anon! I did a cursory search and found several sex offenders living in the general vicinity of the new Y. If you let people in for free, what's to keep one of these dudes from approaching your child??????
By
Anonymous, at 11:32 AM, August 22, 2005
How about next to the jail on Grant Line Road? That sounds safe.
By
Anonymous, at 11:40 AM, August 22, 2005
Where are you going to resend it?
In the mail, or by dog sled?
Or do you mean rescind?
Ah, now it's clear.
Yep, there might be sex offender down the street. You might get hit by a piano walking down the street. A comet might puncture the atmosphere and doom us all.
Take fear to far, and you'll never get out of bed.
By
Anonymous, at 12:30 PM, August 22, 2005
Sex offenders in the vicinity of the YMCA should not be a problem.
Remember-- the Progressives have hopes of opening a beer brewing-pub across the street from the YMCA.
Oh heck- let's just invite the
DVD porno book store to move on up
Main Street near the YMCA.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT
THIS ALL MEANS,,,,IT IS CALLED:
" ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT "
By
Anonymous, at 12:44 PM, August 22, 2005
So, Shirley, I guess you haven't seen information about wages and benefits from ID either.
All I suggested was that maybe we should actually learn about the situation before we jump to conclusions. Can you tell me what ID offers its employees? No. Neither can I, that's why I thought it might be worth finding out.
Unless someone comes up with a better plan that does more for the city and saves jobs then yes, sanitation is a dead issue as far as public debate is concerned.
I expressed an idea about how to approach the situtation differently and try to find a potential solution for both the city and the workers. I'm not sure if it's feasible, so I put it out there for suggestions and comment.
If you'd rather focus on your anger and remain unproductive, that's your business.
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 12:59 PM, August 22, 2005
east ender,
I and a lot of others agree that downtown housing is definitely a part of the solution.
I'm not sure I follow your argument, though. You seem to be saying that people won't come to Scribner Place because it's in a bad part of town but people will want to live in the same bad part of town with no extra incentive.
If you look at the situation in Louisville, a lot of ammenities came before the housing boom started-- Slugger Field, Glassworks, Louisville Slugger, construction on the Ali Center, Frasier Arms Museum, 4th street Live, and a greatly enhanced river front.
All those large projects have attracted many smaller businesses to fill in around them to take advantage of the traffic they generate. There were a few housing developments happening earlier but the big push didn't occur until the ammentities to attract residents were in place. As was the case in Louisville, why would you want to live downtown if you don't ever have a reason to go there?
I still think your idea about incentives or subsidies for businesses in the historic downtown district has some merit. I asked questions before not as a threat but because they're questions that need to be asked if the plan is going to move forward.
How do you think it would work?
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 1:16 PM, August 22, 2005
Look you Little People when are you going to realize that progressive cities privatize their sanitation because its more efficient, stop thinking with your heart and use your head for a change. Maybe you do need to drink our progresive beer instead of the nascar delicacy Bud light and Miller genuine draft.
Its done wonders for us.
By
Anonymous, at 4:58 PM, August 22, 2005
Are you anon or al anon? You're right my heart is with the sanitation workers. But outsourcing is becoming a fact of life.
By
Anonymous, at 5:16 PM, August 22, 2005
Shirley,
I do listen with an open mind. I'm perfectly willing to consider any idea. You'll have to excuse me, though, if I'm frustrated because people repeatedly make arguments using bad information. It's just too convenient for some folks to pick up on something like what you said and repeat it over and over again as true without actually checking. Certain members of the city council do it a lot so I'm very sensitve to it.
I don't hate Coffey, Price, Schmidt, or Kochert. I've gone out of my way in the past to point out that I'm not questioning their character. It's their inability to produce any kind of meaningful results that's my worry.
It's only very recently that I've begun to think I should question their character. Their recent theatrics and grandstanding have shown me that they're far more interested in scoring points for themselves and facilitating school yard rivalries than they are in trying to actually solve problems. Using the sanitation workers to go after Scribner Place is classless.
One of them has told me privately that he doesn't agree with "some of the things that go on" amongst that group. So far, though, he's made no mention of it publicly as I encouraged him to do. I guess he's off CT's list as a possible leader, even though he's supposedly been one for more than a decade.
It's well beyond disagreeing with a viewpoint with those guys. It's about no longer enabling their total lack of a viewpoint or vision. They've made a career out of criticizing others while never doing any better themselves.
The triumverate of Coffey, Schmidt, and Kochert has had fifteen years not just individually but as a group to produce positive results for the city.
Think about that. Through four administrations, these guys have started with three votes on their side. They've had all that time to muster just two of the remaining six votes to pass any sort of positive initiative they could come up with. And they haven't.
Anything off the progressive wish list? No.
Anything off CT's wish list? No.
With more time to work on it than anyone else currently in a position of authority, they've overseen a tremendous downward slide in New Albany and have produced nothing to effectively combat it.
I hate that.
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 5:21 PM, August 22, 2005
Tim asks: "Taxes are effectively an investment in government, from which taxpayers reasonably may expect a useful return."
Are you saying that if our taxes don't buy us cost-effective garbage pick-up, then we should privatize it to enhance the value of the taxpayer's investment?
By
Anonymous, at 10:20 PM, August 22, 2005
It's a good thing some questions remain - another is the one you didn't answer.
If taxes are an investment, as you say, then if manual labor can be outsourced and the "investors" get a better "return," isn't that a good thing?
By
Anonymous, at 10:39 PM, August 22, 2005
I truly think it is a sad state of affairs of this City to allow Jack Messer to threaten Donnie Blevins with his job. If he votes on the resolution to resent Scribner money.
By
Anonymous, at 1:40 AM, August 23, 2005
Garner will not step down as Mayor. Even though he has been ask to resign. So it is time to roll up our sleeves and take him out!
By
Anonymous, at 1:45 AM, August 23, 2005
Tim! How many private waste haulers do you know? And why?
You always have the questions but never any answers. Never any ideas to offer.
You volunteer to trap insects, but what other job do you have? What other means of paying taxes to the city, state do you offer? Seems to me that you and I both know the answers! So what gives you the right to sit in judgment on any of this? If your not part of the answer you must be part of the problem.
This is not meant to be an attack on you, it’s simply, give us some answers, give us just a part of your seemingly endless rhetoric on how you single handedly could save our beloved city.
In short put up or shut up!
By
Anonymous, at 7:34 AM, August 23, 2005
My sources tell me that Tim Deatrick has done an outstanding job working this year as: a stringer for the "Bune on various sports stories and in particular, one on John Moody's turkey hunts. The latter is up for a national award. He also is an intern with the federal government working on the emerald ash borer project. As you might remember, this exotic insect is in Ohio and threatens ALL the ash trees in Indiana. He also is working with the Jennings County Health Department on remediating some of the streams that flow into the Muskatatuk River. He volunteers frequently to trap mosquitoes for IUS in both Clark and Floyd Counties and has been instrumental in finding new sites for an exotic mosquito, the SUPER MOSQUITO, that carries a host of mosquito borne diseases. He put in countless hours of service work over the year developing stories for Lewis and Clark and helping students with environmentally-related projects. He also works as a substitute teacher. And he is interested in local government attending and participating in meetings. He has volunteered his time working on economic plans for the city and county. I have seen the plan. It is sound and has been passed along to the appropriate individuals who might use this sort of thing. Tim can also be a pain in the buttocks, but instead of criticizing Tim, we should give him some sort of service award for his work.
By
Anonymous, at 8:29 AM, August 23, 2005
He's never shown us the plan.
Actually, although I seldom agree with him, I'm with Tim on this one, as he's being criticized by an anonymous attacker.
That shouldn't be allowed.
By
Anonymous, at 9:09 AM, August 23, 2005
question: What do you think should happen next?
(1) Garner should resign.
(2) Council should make all the hard decisions. And start making cuts from the top and work their way through each line of this budget.
(3) Pass the resolution to resend monies for Scribner Place.
(4) Jack Messer should step down from Council. (For threatening Donnie Blevins job based on voting)
(5) We need a new Mayor and new Adminstration. (send them packing)
(6) County should put 1/2 of the $400,000.00 for Scribner Place. Or turn the Project back to the YMCA.
By
Anonymous, at 9:10 AM, August 23, 2005
Many of you do not want to fix the real problems of New Albany!
All I hear is this has been going on for along time. So were suppose to sit here and let it continue?
Let's solve the real problems. Nothing can move forward with the position this City is in. Every idea is well and good. But let's face the Important issues. And fix the real problems first!
Citizens of New Albany
By
Anonymous, at 9:17 AM, August 23, 2005
JAMES GARNER
SHOULD STEP DOWN
NOW!
By
Anonymous, at 9:39 AM, August 23, 2005
C/T You got it so.. so.. so.. RIGHT!
My information is more than one of the City/County employees have been threaten.
Even threats of bodily harm.
I totally agree we need several investigations.
By
Anonymous, at 10:28 AM, August 23, 2005
news: From the City County Building
TOP NEWS ALERT:
Tony Toran being groomed for Code Enforcement Job.
Internet Service removed from offices. "No more Blogging" on taxpayers time and money.
Garner still on Holiday.
Office Holders wondering how certain information is being leaked to the public.
Not uncommon for employees jobs being threaten. I hear it is very common practice.
By
Anonymous, at 11:20 AM, August 23, 2005
"Take him out" was another anonymous threat, probably a threat of physical violence, from the blog that condones anti-social behavior, and will delete this statement of truth as soon as it is read.
Laura thinks this is "speaking out." What it really is, is the same thing as hooded terrorists cutting hostage throats.
The little people are mad as hell - what's to stop them from vandalism and violence?
By
Anonymous, at 11:31 AM, August 23, 2005
Just a question:
How could Messer threaten Blevins' job? Last time I checked, police officers didn't have any hiring/firing authority over santiation workers.
Officer Badger has been appointed OEO by Chief Harl, BTW.
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 12:37 PM, August 23, 2005
ceece, not your quote of the original, but the original quote, clearly implied physical violence.
I agree with the previous writer.
This isn't unexpected given this blog's lack of respect for free speech.
By
Anonymous, at 12:58 PM, August 23, 2005
Shirley,
Does your bloodless coup include other elected officals or just the mayor? If not, how do you justify that?
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 1:43 PM, August 23, 2005
So you get rid of the Mayor...so what. The real power in the city, the city council, the ones who control the MONEY and who are stuck in the 1960s, will all still be there to keep positive change from happening. They seem like mostly ok people, but they have no clue how to run a city in the 21st century.
By
Anonymous, at 1:46 PM, August 23, 2005
As a faithful Republican, I would like to offer my sympathy to the
local Democrat Party. We all can see what the Mayor is doing to
tarnish the Democrat Party in New Albany.
I also question that the Democrat
Central Committee is not being very wise in their leadership.
It is rumored that the Democrats had
a picnic in Georgetown and only invited SELECTED DEMOCRATS.
By
Anonymous, at 2:29 PM, August 23, 2005
I AM CURIOUS AFTER READING AN EARLIER COMMENT. WHO ARE THE NEW ALBANY DEMOCRAT PARTY LEADERS OR COMMITTEE?
By
Anonymous, at 2:33 PM, August 23, 2005
If you don't mind a Republican answering your question, they are:
DEMOCRAT CHAIRMAN----- RANDY STUMLER
DEMOCRAT VICE CHAIRMAN--MARCY WISMAN
DEMOCRAT SECRETARY-- ANTHONY B.TORAN
DEMOCRAT TREASURER-- ADAM DICKEY
By
Anonymous, at 2:38 PM, August 23, 2005
Here is a plan I think everyone can get behind. Let's cut the budget and slash services (Fire and Police are the biggest parts of the city's budget) and remove community type projects that help the larger population so that 20 people can keep their jobs that they apparently don't do very efficiently.
By
Anonymous, at 3:09 PM, August 23, 2005
TO: CEESEE
No,it is not what you are calling PARTY AGAINST PARTY. It is the Republican Party being sympathetic as to what the local Democrats are doing to each other.
This is AMERICA, and we should have
2 strong political parties. The Mayor and his group are pulling the Democrats down. We are not doing a thing, but, offering our sympathy.
By
Anonymous, at 4:17 PM, August 23, 2005
Actually, we should have numerous, less dominant political parties that more accurately represent the views of their constituents and work towards compromise for the sake of progress.
That would help us avoid all the BI-partisan crap we refer to as government in this country. The Constitution says absolutely nothing about how many political parties are supposed to exist in AMERICA, regardless of what the Republicans and Democrats would have you believe.
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 4:59 PM, August 23, 2005
Tim, why you always got to be an a$$!
By
Anonymous, at 5:18 PM, August 23, 2005
You're welcome to send me a list if you want, Tim, but I've probably visited a lot them already. I do hope to get better acquainted with Scandinavia at some point, though. I've only ever made it as far as Denmark.
I don't claim any party. Nor do I claim U.S. superiority or sovereignty over any other nation. My worldview's not that limited.
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 5:28 PM, August 23, 2005
Wow, that was funny - like Bob Hope.
By
Anonymous, at 11:17 PM, August 23, 2005
Yeah Tim, we'd love to get rid of people like Bluegill who are highly-educated, who is renovating an historic home, supporting the local economy, paying lots of taxes, and actually care about the city enough to get involved. That would be a great way to help the city. We need more people like Bluegill, especially in and around downtown.
By
Anonymous, at 11:20 PM, August 23, 2005
BLUEGILL
Really hope you decide to run for office one day. You are so knowledgeable about New Albany politics.
You like many other knowledgeable people of New Albany. Really do need to get involved. You also being a so called outsider. (FROM JEFF.)
And the best thing I have heard is your supporting our local economy, and paying lots of taxes. And actually care about the City enough to get involved....
You seem to fit in very well with the little people instead of the Right wing liberal progressive people.
By
Anonymous, at 11:55 PM, August 23, 2005
FLASH - ORDINANCE ENFORCEMENT BEGINS?
Council opposition overturned.
Position filled.
But she's not a sworn officer?
Thanks, Seabrook.
By
Anonymous, at 7:42 AM, August 24, 2005
If you would spend all the time and energy that you spend fighting on the blog getting out in the real world and taking the goal of making New Albany a better place into your own hands, entead of blaming the problems on others, we just might get this city cleaned up. What is your responce to that ??
By
Anonymous, at 8:13 AM, August 24, 2005
You all truly don't need to concern yourself when it comes to the little people.
We are strong and United..
And Laura you do have many allies out here.
Keep preaching to the people!
By
Anonymous, at 11:14 AM, August 24, 2005
Yah...he's a wanna BEeeeee..
The little people got him on the run!
He totally under estimate us!
By
Anonymous, at 11:54 AM, August 24, 2005
Thanks for some of the compliments. I'm not really interested in running for office, though. Besides, east ender would just make fun of me for being a politician. ;-} With Tim keeping score, I could get all the votes and lose anyway.
In all seriousness, with an OEO in place, I think we need to focus on how citiations will be handled once they're written.
It's going to take a lot of work for someone to push what will certainly be a lot of violations through city enforcement mechanisms. It may even be something that needs to be budgeted for. It would probably pay for itself, at least in the short term while there are so many blatant violations.
We just need to make sure that there aren't piles of citations sitting downtown waiting for action. We also need to make sure that the fine schedule and enforcement mechanism are enough to be a real deterrent and not just a paper tiger to get citizens off the government's back.
Be sure to ask your CM what they intend to do about it. If they don't know, ask them why not. They've had a year to think about it.
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 12:05 PM, August 24, 2005
Um, Shirley. Roger's not here and I haven't attacked anyone.
By
Jeff Gillenwater, at 3:18 PM, August 24, 2005
Silly! isn't it!
By
Anonymous, at 3:39 PM, August 24, 2005
RULES: No profanity. No personal attacks. Keep it about the CITY, not the people in it.
By
Anonymous, at 10:26 PM, August 24, 2005
VALLA ANN FOR MAYOR!
She's what this City needs!
By
Anonymous, at 10:54 PM, August 24, 2005
Tell them Valla Ann how you defend the little people!
That Democrat's love you too....
People love and adore you. And your what New Albany needs. Throw them all out. Valla Ann can fix this mess!
She has the respect of all of us.
She stands for what's good in people. She is a true leader! An inspiration to all!
She's the peoples choice. She is a brillant business person, who has such compassion for people.
VOTE VALLA ANN
FOR MAYOR
NEW ALBANY
A TRUE LEADER OF
THE PEOPLE.
By
Anonymous, at 11:09 PM, August 24, 2005
Valla Ann a Real "Leader for The People."
We love you !!!!
Vote for Valla Ann
The Peoples Mayor
By
Anonymous, at 11:14 PM, August 24, 2005
THE POWER OF
THE
LITTLE PEOPLE
WE SUPPORT VALLA ANN!
By
Anonymous, at 11:30 PM, August 24, 2005
I totally back Valla Ann. She is what this City needs and wants.
Valla Ann Help Save Our City!
By
Anonymous, at 11:51 PM, August 24, 2005
She is loved by many. And respected by all. She has a heart of gold. And a sincere passion for people. She's a hard working,organized business women. Her love of family and friends are the most important to her. She's honest,sincere,brillant women.
Her commitment to New Albany is sincere and real.
Please help us get our City back!
By
Anonymous, at 12:08 AM, August 25, 2005
We need you Valla Ann. Help save our City. You give us hope and direction.
By
Anonymous, at 12:14 AM, August 25, 2005
You got my vote!
By
Anonymous, at 12:16 AM, August 25, 2005
isnt it supposed to be about the city and not people in it, so valla for mayor should be taken out
By
Anonymous, at 7:03 AM, August 25, 2005
We the many people support you Valla Ann. You will make a difference.
By
Anonymous, at 10:21 AM, August 25, 2005
YEAH THAT'S THE TICKET...
VALLA ANN FOR MAYOR
By
Anonymous, at 10:29 AM, August 25, 2005
Valla Ann VS James
That would be a real no brainer uh...You got my vote Lady Mayor.
By
Anonymous, at 5:21 PM, August 25, 2005
Our family supports Valla Ann, She cares about this City. And she could make a difference. You have our Vote.
By
Anonymous, at 6:58 PM, August 25, 2005
You truly Rock Valla Ann.
Your totally what this City needs. At least you got more brains than Garner has change.
By
Anonymous, at 9:19 PM, August 25, 2005
so is this blogspot endorsing Valla Ann for mayor, ? just curious Laura and if she files for mayor under what name will she file?
By
Anonymous, at 10:11 PM, August 25, 2005
The secret of getting things done in New Albany is to put Valla Ann in as Mayor. She is a real leader. And she can make things happen.
She would be a hands on Mayor instead of an "I don't know Mayor."
You got my vote.
By
Anonymous, at 10:43 PM, August 25, 2005
VALLA ANN THE PEOPLES MAYOR!
By
One voice, at 12:14 AM, August 26, 2005
anonymous- blogspot always supports what is best for or city. At least she has a name. And Valla Ann has the ability and knowledge and much more experience than most.
She deals with the hard issues.
She has many supporters in this town regardless what she does. and she has my support.
By
Anonymous, at 9:33 AM, August 26, 2005
It's time for a change. I encourage Valla Ann to run for Mayor.
By
Anonymous, at 6:32 AM, August 27, 2005
IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE
By
Anonymous, at 8:23 AM, August 27, 2005
Voters for Valla Ann
By
Anonymous, at 8:24 AM, August 27, 2005
valla wont make it out of the republican primary
By
Anonymous, at 9:57 AM, August 27, 2005
Anonymous
Do you want to put your money where your mouth is?
I'd put my money on Valla Ann Bolovschak any day of the week. It is her decision to run. Not mine nor yours,or anyone else.. But I will say if she does decide to run. Their will be people lined up Main Street to support her and work to get her elected. I'm willing to sit back and see what she does. Regardless of what her decision is I will support any decision she makes-right-wrong-or indifferent. She is truly what this City needs. And i believe she is about the only one who could truly come in and clean this mess up!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE WILL SUCCEED IN ANYTHING SHE DECIDES TO DO.
By
Anonymous, at 10:03 PM, August 27, 2005
1) As far as being able to afford a Y membership: Scholarships are easily obtained. While I was a working college student, I had a Y "scholarship" membership.
2) As far as suggestions for other locations for the Y other than downtown: Are you crazy? The downtown needs revitalization and a draw. The key to growth in this city is it's downtown. We don't need any more sprawl on Charlestown Road or Grantline Road.
By
Anonymous, at 12:38 AM, August 28, 2005
Anyone who can run a Bed & Breakfast. And make such a success of it. Can also cleanup this City.
You have my support.
By
Anonymous, at 7:46 AM, August 29, 2005
My family will work in order to help you get elected Mayor.
You have our respect. And this families votes.
By
Anonymous, at 11:17 PM, August 29, 2005
You are really what this City needs. Valla Ann Bolovschak The Working Mayor 2007
By
Anonymous, at 12:07 AM, August 30, 2005
problem with a valla for mayor campaign is what name will she file under? Doesnt she have multiple names?
By
Anonymous, at 10:59 PM, August 30, 2005
Our entire family Supports Mrs. Bolovschak. She is more than qualified for the job.
By
Anonymous, at 12:08 AM, August 31, 2005
VOTE FOR VALLA ANN
YOU GOT
MY
VOTE!
By
Anonymous, at 2:49 AM, September 01, 2005
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
r << Home