Let the Games Begin....

As most folks are, I am as well, immersed in changes for the new year. Some are wrapped around resolutions made for 2006, others are just life as it progresses, and more come from changes in my environment. Still, the common thread is, the 2006 year will be one of changes. I think that's a good thing. I certainly feel good about it.
We are way past time for changes to occur in New Albany and, I think, no matter where you stand in this melting pot of ISSUES that are consuming our community, then you gotta be feeling good about changes too.
Of course, there are many, many, different ideas about just what the particular changes in New Albany need to be, ought to be, should be, or could be. Nothing very different than the same questions we ask of ourselves, and our individual lives, every time we have a legitimate offer for a "re-do", or a "start over", which is exactly what every new year brings to us.
That's probably why everybody traditionally gets drunk. It can be difficult to deal with changes. Making decisions and using our 'choices in life' to commit ourselves for the coming 12 months, -the next year, the next 5 years, the next 20 years-, to taking the steps necessary to keep up with the all the changes. It takes a commitment, or a resolve, to take our best shot at our chances of a 're-do'. So, we spend the first few days of this opportunity every year, and live in a haze, a thoughtful mood, a reflective contemplation, a re-assessment, of where we are, vs. where we need to be (or a hangover, depending on your inclinations).
Now, notice I didn't say "want to be". I said "need to be". Let me be very clear on that point. Lot's of us "want" a lot of stuff. Materialistic, or conceptually, we all "want" everything. Yet, how much do we really "need"?
I think the bottom line of what any individual "needs", is to be able to face themselves in the mirror every day, and be able to like the person who's looking back at them. The one question we ask ourselves, all the time... "Am I doing the right thing?" Making decisions and choices every day, with every opportunity, we need to believe in our hearts that we did the right thing, we did it the best way we could, and we are satisfied with the person in the mirror.
We need to look at our community in the same ways. Do we like what we see reflected back at us? I don't think so. I don't care who you are, or who you 'believe', about the ISSUES at hand, you can't legitimately look at New Albany in its current state of shambles, and say that you like what you see. We have a MESS!!!
Thank you Mayor Garner. (by the way, loved the pie in the face)
I can't imagine what you think about the guy in the mirror. Look around you! How do you stand up and say you're PROUD of what you've done, and think you've done a good job? (see "The Forum" by Jeff Rodenbush, Vol.III, Issue 2.)
Perhaps if the State of the City "Speech" had reflected him taking a little bit of the responsibility for the problems we are experiencing, some folks might have thought that at least he does have some 'character'. Not only is he not a reflection of any sort of 'character' in his quest for the "wants" in his life, having it come at us in print from Randy Smith in the Tribune, and on the "regressive" blogs that it's Garner's "Character that impresses [them]", was all just way too much for us to take.
Folks, it's a new year, and the changes are coming. Changes that are necessary and desired in order to facilitate changes that need to occur in the larger Community. So, as you go about your New Year, with all your Resolutions still firmly implanted in your mind, resolve to do one more thing. Resolve to demand changes that are "needed" for New Albany. We cannot continue down this same path and think we are going to come out of it in tact. We have a new year ahead of us and a new start at turning this town around to the right direction for revitalization and re-growth. For our own quality of life issues as well as the quality of the whole community, and every socio-economic class of that makes up this City, may we all have a better place to call home.
You will soon watch this blog make a few changes to make the experience here more reflective of even larger ideas about what makes a good community. We would like to start off in that direction by providing a link to a very good article regarding Community Networks. As soon as we receive permission from the original author to provide a link, we will post it for you.
In the future, these links and search tools will be available from the front page.
Meanwhile, back at the daily grind of things, we need to turn our immediate attention to the upcoming Monday evening Council Meeting (1/9/06 - 7:30PM), which is the first of our "re-do" opportunities. There is very little business listed on the agenda, as it stands now, so this will be a good time for citizens to address the ISSUES that they feel are most pertinent for future positive changes to occur in New Albany.
Just jot down a few things between now and Monday evening, that you think need to change in order for New Albany to present a better reflection of a good community.
Just remember, change doesn't always mean something has to OCCUR, sometimes it means something must CEASE. Call your Council Member, and let them know what you expect from them as a reflection of your district.
I would like to take this opportunity to say that I think CM Steve Price is doing a great job in being responsive to his constituents, and for NOT being a member of the "goon" squad. He has taken a lot of beatings from the R&R boys, but we think he has tried hard and learned a lot. I suggest Mayor Garner sit down with CM Price and take a good long look at the financials. CM Price knows where the "fluff" is. We think Garner ought to know that information for future reference.