tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82137922966063108662024-02-03T11:37:56.846-05:00John Gonder's Notes at LargeJohn Gonder writes occasionally on subjects he finds of interestJohn Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.comBlogger320125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-29905308455917506272016-06-10T21:37:00.001-04:002016-06-11T10:45:12.403-04:00We're Gonna Take That HillI can't say for sure if I was channeling Siskel or Ebert when I looked in the movie vault, but I was thinking about hills. It seems hills just drive some people right off the rails.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IPOYJ2jNDB0" width="560"></iframe><br />John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-92215727578454220082015-12-02T23:07:00.000-05:002015-12-02T23:07:26.772-05:00How Does It Feel To Be One Of the Shootiful People? How Often Have You Been There?<strong><em>Otherwise, it's just another day in America, another day with another mass shooting, another day in which people decided to exercise their Second Amendment rights in very inconvenient ways.</em></strong> <br />
Charles P. Pierce<br />
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<a href="http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a40155/san-bernardino-shooting-again/">http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a40155/san-bernardino-shooting-again/</a> (link to Charlie Pierce)<br />
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And further... I say firmly, and to whomever will listen, I'm sick of this madness and want it stopped<a href="http://www.gunviolencearchive.org/"> NOW.</a> ( link to U.S.A. madness statistics)<br />
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Soundtrack to bleakness, madness, and surrender...<br />
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John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-69896623992123164442015-11-23T23:11:00.002-05:002015-11-24T00:37:03.037-05:00In Which I Instruct My Social Secretary To Send My Regrets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Is it overly churlish of me to call attention to the fact that the timing of the inauguration ceremony for municipal officeholders, this coming Saturday, before the terms of the outgoing office holders expire, is just a tad premature, and a bit gauche?<br />
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If one views the planning and discussion leading to the event as a kind of class struggle, NO won.John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-20489415702227663222015-11-03T23:54:00.000-05:002015-11-03T23:54:32.144-05:00Also RanI lost an election tonight, and will soon depart from public life. Serving two terms on the City Council has been an honor granted me by my fellow citizens of New Albany, and one I will hold dear.<br />
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Best of luck to the victors in this race: David Aebersold, Dave Barksdale, and Al Knable.<br />
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Below, is a poem by Wendell Berry, from his collection, Leavings.<br />
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_________________________<br />
<br />
In time a man disappears<br />
from his lifelong fields, from<br />
the streams he has walked beside,<br />
from the woods where he sat and waited.<br />
Thinking of this, he seems to <br />
miss himself in those places<br />
as if always he has been there,<br />
watching for himself to return.<br />
But first he must disappear,<br />
and this he foresees with hope,<br />
with thanks. Let others come.John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-65413948179821050762015-10-24T12:27:00.000-04:002015-10-24T12:27:04.792-04:00Same As It Ever WasA day or so ago my commitment to the policy of changing New Albany's one-way streets to two-way streets was questioned. While such a change in the City's relationship to the automobile has not been the main issue of my bid for re-election, it is a change I fully support. <br />
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Below are some of the posts I have written on this topic.<br />
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I have written my blog for a number of years now. While some may claim, tongue in cheek, to have the "blog that no one reads", I in fact, do write the blog that no one reads. As I have written previously, even though I reach few people with my writing, I enjoy doing it, and view the exercise as my attempt to lay out, for those who are interested, a public record.<br />
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In the case of my support for two-way streets, I believe my position is clear; same as it ever was.<br />
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<a href="http://johngonder.blogspot.com/2013/04/one-way-out.html">http://johngonder.blogspot.com/2013/04/one-way-out.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://johngonder.blogspot.com/2014/03/nip-it-nip-it-in-bud.html">http://johngonder.blogspot.com/2014/03/nip-it-nip-it-in-bud.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://johngonder.blogspot.com/2015_02_01_archive.html">http://johngonder.blogspot.com/2015_02_01_archive.html</a><br />
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John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-27956401360400310112015-10-11T22:53:00.001-04:002015-10-12T08:31:48.354-04:00Keep Those Cards and Letters Comin'I posted a picture here, the other day, of the post cards my wife and I are handing out as we walk the city in my campaign for re-election, November 3. I tried using a photograph, but was concerned that the type blurred into illegibility. Below is a typed version of the card, followed by the original.<br />
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I've been pleased with the cards that roll in, and I'm grateful for the time people take to answer the questions. I was particularly moved to hear a gentleman the other day thank me because, "Nobody ever asks what I think" about local government. Others have thanked me on the returned cards.<br />
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If I should be so fortunate as to win re-election, I am going to take these concerns forward on behalf of our citizens, and try my best to get results on these and other issues to help make New Albany a better city.<br />
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<strong>How important are these issues to you? </strong><br />
<strong>Very Somewhat Not at all</strong><br />
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a. Enforcing noise ordinance <br />
b. Adding sidewalks <br />
c. Drainage/Runoff <br />
e. Cooperation between City & County<br />
d. Historic preservation<br />
f. Animal shelter/Animal Control <br />
g. Traffic conditions <br />
h. Downtown revitalization <br />
i. Code enforcement <br />
j. Police body cameras <br />
k. Public transportation <br />
l. Greater police presence <br />
m. Creating a climate for better jobs <br />
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Should the City Council have more say in what is expected of major projects, such as the aquatic center, a dog park, the redevelopment of the Coyle property on Spring St. into luxury apartments? YES____ NO____<br />
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In general, should local government deliver municipal services, such as sewerage, trash collection, among others, or should private sector providers be used?<br />
YES____ (local govt.) NO ____(private sector)<br />
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What would you like to see New Albany's government do that it is not doing?<br />
_______________________________________________________<br />
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Are there parts of New Albany where you don't feel safe? <br />
NO____ If yes, where?___________________<br />
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Should local tax policy incentivize residents to move to certain parts of town?<br />
YES______ NO_____<br />
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Didn't see your concern here? Or need more space?....email me at <a href="mailto:jdgonder619@gmail.com">jdgonder619@gmail.com</a><br />
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John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-48391253053417370312015-10-07T21:53:00.003-04:002015-10-07T21:53:51.945-04:00Campaign Postcard Asking for Voters' Opinions As I've been walking and campaigning in different parts of the city I'm handing out these postcards. I'm asking people to answer the questions on the card and mail them to me. Quite a few have done so.<br />
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The card below is a photograph, but if you'd like to answer the questions, or some of them, you can e-mail me at the address shown, or answer in a comment.<br />
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John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-71809107091593747032015-09-27T13:11:00.000-04:002015-09-29T11:42:22.896-04:00For the RecordA few weeks ago, all the Democratic candidates for the upcoming election were given the task of preparing a campaign biography. We were asked to follow a general format so all the bios, at least among Council candidates, would in some way look the same.<br />
Here is mine:<br />
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John Gonder is a graduate of New Albany High School and Indiana University, Bloomington, where he majored in Political Science and Journalism. He is seeking reelection to the City Council as a Councilman at Large.<br />
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John works at QRS Recycling as a buyer of recyclable materials, and accounts manager. In addition he and his wife, Ruthanne, own and manage residential and commercial property in New Albany and Louisville.<br />
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John was a founding member of Trash Force, which served as the City's recycling organization prior to the introduction of curbside recycling. He is a graduate of Leadership Southern Indiana. Prior to election to the Council, he served on the New Albany Plan Commission for six years. John's community engagement encompasses membership in the Elks Club, the Floyd County Men's and Women's Democratic Clubs, board membership of the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County, the New Albany Redevelopment Commission, and the Tree Board.<br />
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John's overarching concern is protection of the environment. Preservation of existing buildings and neighborhoods, advancing local businesses, and creating a vibrant, walkable city from New Albany's existing housing stock are issues of particular concern for John. He believes that including a primary concern for sustainability when building new, and <u>getting more out of what we've already built,</u> are things local government can do to promote environmental responsibility while making New Albany a more desirable place to live. John supports <em>meaningful </em>inclusion of the City Council in decision-making for major projects, from planning to implementation. He hopes to continue serving on the Council as a progressive voice for sustainable prosperity.<br />
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_______________<br />
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The following was not included on the campaign bio above, but I believe is relevant when voting for a Council candidate. These are <em>some</em> of the votes I consider significant over the time I've been in office:<br />
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<strong><u>P</u></strong>assed responsible funding of New Albany's sewer utility, leading to stellar improvement of the City's bond rating and near-elimination of the violations cited by the Environmental Protection Agency in a protracted legal battle between the City and that agency. That strong medicine set the stage for the current administration to continue progress through diligent lien filings, and the re-establishment of a City-managed sewer system, which keeps the improvements on track.<br />
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<strong><u>P</u></strong>assed funding for restoration of the historic Town Clock Church. The church is now well on its way to full restoration as a significant historic element of our city, as well as a living monument to the struggles of southern slaves as they were shepherded to freedom in Union territory during the Civil War.<br />
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<strong><u>P</u></strong>assed legislation to establish the New Albany Port Authority. A port authority can help New Albany maintain the Green Way, can someday lead to building of a marina below the Falls of the Ohio, and can be instrumental in establishing a short-line railroad so this environmentally responsible mode of transport can survive in our city.<br />
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<strong><u>V</u></strong>oted to rescind the joint City/County Parks Department. This vote ended an unfair system which was not serving the citizens of New Albany in relation to the funding they were providing.<br />
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<strong><u>H</u></strong>ave been advocating for the building of sidewalks on heavily-traveled, dangerous roads in the city. Traffic levels make it imperative that those who choose to walk, or by circumstance, must walk, be safe when doing so. It is irresponsible and unconscionable to allow those dangerous roads to continue to exist without sidewalks. Failure to accept this responsibility flies in the face of building a "walkable city". <br />
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<strong><u>S</u></strong>upported annexation.<br />
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<strong><u>S</u></strong>upported reestablishment of the Human Rights Commission.<br />
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<strong><u>S</u></strong>upported the no smoking ordinance.<br />
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<strong><u>P</u></strong>assed resolution against bridge tolls.<br />
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<strong><u>P</u></strong>assed ordinance to assign responsibility to contractors who dig up city streets, so they "own the hole" they dig, beyond a simple, inadequate, and immediate patch. This helps to lengthen the life of the City's investment in infrastructure.<br />
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<strong><u>P</u></strong>assed resolutions ensuring inclusion and equal protection for all, regardless of race, sexual orientation/identity, religion, or any other mechanism of discrimination.John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-1829149449033147852015-09-03T22:57:00.000-04:002015-09-03T22:57:04.905-04:00Fish Story--One That Got AwayA widely accepted proposition in pursuit of environmental responsibility is, "the greenest building is one that's already built." This says, use the earth's resources which have already been expended in a good, solid, or even well-worn structure, before chasing after the tweaks and technological advances of new construction in pursuit of greater efficiencies. After all, even a high-efficiency structure displacing a usable older building, carries with it the sunk environmental costs of the resources, time, money, and effort of the original building. Even if those costs are not reflected monetarily, they are still carried as debits on the earth's ledger.<br />
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An economic development corollary to that proposition might be, "the business most worthy of economic assistance is one that's already operating." Assuming the existing business is a positive commercial citizen of the community, one that adds value by delivering necessary and helpful products, services or labor, or one that by its very presence helps to stabilize a neighborhood or lay the groundwork for further improvement in a particular part of town, it may be wiser to focus scarce economic development funds on that business, rather than a different startup asking for assistance. It may be better to water a withering vine than to plant a new one.<br />
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I happened upon such a withering vine yesterday in New Albany's Uptown area. It is the Benjamin Moore paint store at the corner of Vincennes and Market streets. I buy a lot of paint, and yet in the two years the store has been in New Albany, yesterday was the first time I'd been in it. So, I, and others like me, are at least part of the reason the store is closing. The gentleman working at the store and I discussed the sad news reported by the big yellow notes on the front door, and the cash register, posted to inform customers that the store will close on September 11, 2015.<br />
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He said the tide of people depending on the big-box stores as their first place to buy paint has weakened the once-dominant hold paint stores had as THE place to buy paint. And, he said, the traffic needed to bring people to his store never materialized in sufficient volume to make the store profitable, or even viable. The general vibe of that part of town is not inviting to people who may need and want to buy paint and related products.<br />
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It's not likely that local economic development efforts can do anything to redirect American shoppers out of the big boxers. Easy access to massive stores with a wide variety of low-priced merchandise is nearly a birthright of American citizenship. (A recent trip through part of Canada revealed that even the good-natured folk to our north are focused on low prices and great deals. The Costco we visited was full of Canadian bargain hunters. The store was approximately the size of Manitoba, I think) Granted, big, macro forces are aligned against small-scale neighborhood stores. The future of this mode of commerce does not appear bright.<br />
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But, if city government sees these kinds of local entrepreneurial efforts as integral pieces in what is needed to build stronger, safer more livable communities, there are some steps it could take which might improve the situation. <br />
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The City must use a lot of paint, at the parks, at the various buildings it owns and maintains, the curbs the street department paints. Each and every gallon of paint, and all related supplies for these civic uses should come from locally owned and operated paint stores and hardware stores--the big boxers will get more than a good slice of the pie from the average shopper. The requirement to buy from the local vendors should not be limited to government workers only, but should be a requirement of companies under contract to the City.<br />
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The neighborhood around the Benjamin Moore store has problems. Some of those problems can be addressed through stronger code enforcement and greater police presence. The elimination of those problems might not have staved off the fate the store is facing, but the effort might have helped, and it certainly would have had benefits beyond the possible help to the paint store. <br />
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Market Street is one way. Since the gentleman I spoke with mentioned traffic (and I'll grant that traffic need not refer simply to cars) it is quite possible, if not predictable, that two way traffic would have brought more automobile traffic, but more importantly, it might have done what Jeff Speck and John Gilderbloom say it will do, and that is, make the street a more vibrant, livable, inviting, place to be, to shop, and to rebuild a neighborhood around. <br />
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The fellow working the paint store said, as he talked about the disappointment he faces in closing the store, "when you lose the Mom and Pops you lose a lot more than just a store." Maybe the loss of the Uptown's Benjamin Moore store is simply the cost of doing business in Big Box, warp-speed commercial America, nothing more. But, I think the gentleman is correct, when the Mom and Pops close you do lose a lot. And the thing we're losing here is a chance, a chance to do economic development right here, where the rubber meets the road, not dreaming of pie in the sky dished out in some distant corporate war room.John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-87105461406727731822015-07-21T08:10:00.000-04:002015-07-21T08:10:37.673-04:00Cruising With HansA chance encounter at a grocery store a couple weeks ago allowed me to run into John Gilderbloom. Dr. Gilderbloom is a professor at U of L, and is a noted and quoted authority on urban revitalization with a heavy reliance on the effect two-way streets have in bringing about such revival.<br />
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He and I had met several years ago for a discussion of our building in Louisville.<br />
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Dr. Gilderbloom mentioned that he is off to Europe soon to preach his gospel of things urban. He said it would be a help to him if he could have a shakedown cruise of his material before he crosses the ocean. I asked if he'd like to run through his presentation in New Albany since we are always looking for good ideas on how to improve our city. <br />
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He accepted the invitation, and will speak at the STRASSWEG AUDITORIUM in the basement of the New Albany Library, TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015 at 6:00 PM.<br />
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Dr. Gilderbloom is a bit of a shy, reticent, fellow; a typical academic type. But his grasp of his subject material is wide and strong. An informative and engaging presentation awaits those who attend. So, please come help Dr. Gilderbloom get ready for his European visit. John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-1256171759684675962015-07-19T15:01:00.001-04:002015-07-19T23:40:23.493-04:00New RulesCluck cluck, plop? Plop, cluck cluck? Which came first, the chicken, or the egg? Which comes first, the private, or the public?<br />
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At the July 16th City Council meeting I found myself in a strange situation. I was voting against something at Council which I had previously voted for on the Redevelopment Commission. What brought about this change in thought? <br />
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First of all, my previous votes for the project were somewhat reluctant because it is such a big deal. And I have a persistent feeling that a project of this scale, in such a strategic position in our downtown -- that is, spatially, conceptually, and philosophically--deserves a higher level of study, input from citizens, and more in-depth consideration than a run of the mill ten-house development at the city's fringe.<br />
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We are told that this is a public/private partnership. We are given to believe that such deals are a wave of the future. As government is dismantled by the Tea Party set, it is these public/private partnerships which will get the job done, which will build our cities, toll our roads, define our path forward. As Pink Floyd assured us, "it's alright, we told you what to dream."<br />
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And as we arrived at crunch time, it hit me. This is the riddle we must solve. How do we, how does a government of the people, by the people, and for the people adjust to a pecking order where now it is often government of the corporation, by the corporation and for the corporation? Some will say, government and business should simply hold hands and let business guide us on the path to prosperity, civic rejuvenation, and a functional country, state, or city.<br />
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The presentation at the Council meeting the other night was informative and, frankly, resolved at least one of my concerns about the project relating to bankruptcies of the developer. I am not opposed to spending municipal funds on a definitional project of any scope which promises to make our city stronger, more sustainable, or more attractive as a place to live and work. I believe that is a valid function of government, but, I believe the use of public money entitles the public to a greater say in what those funds will buy. It would have been better, however, if such presentations had been held earlier in the process, and had been structured to include as many citizens' views as possible. <br />
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While the Chicken v. Egg case may never be fully adjudicated, it is the precedent used in explaining to me why we can have no final plans for the project. It goes something like this, "The developers don't want to spend <em>their </em>money to get final plans ready only to have them pushed back across the table for revision, or even dismissal. They don't want to make those expenditures until they're certain the project is a GO."<br />
Unspoken is the fear that getting the public involved might drag the process out inordinately, and cause the developer to spend money needlessly, or have the whole concept thrown out because of the adage that "too many cooks spoil the broth".<br />
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I'll admit either of those outcomes is possible. At the dawn of the Public-Private Partnership Era things might get a bit clunky, tedious, and frustrating if we continue to adhere to the old rules and old models. The Coyle project is not some two-bit subdivision. It is the future of this city. It requires a lot of public investment. New Albany is not a large city with an abundance of land to allow for a few misses, flubs and mistakes. This is one of the few large scale shots at something transformational in the downtown area. (This is not meant to minimize the exceptional work being done by several local entrepreneurs around town.) We need to hold the developer to the highest standard of design. We need a design with a long shelf life. We need to set the bar at the level <em>we</em> want; not let the developer tell us what <em>they</em> are going to do.<br />
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New Albany is committing as much as five million dollars to this project. Maybe it's a good project, maybe it could be better, but what's the final product going to look like? We don't know, because the developer hasn't told us if we will get a chicken or an egg.<br />
We need new rules, special rules, to guide the use of public/private partnerships. <br />
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If we, as a community, or if the mayor and his team feel so strongly about the possibilities of a public/private partnership, let us <em>as a community </em>finance the design we want the private developer to complete. This should allay reluctance on the part of the developer to present finished plans subject to revision at all stages of the project. <br />
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We are waiting now for historic review of the plans; we are waiting for the Plan Commission to weigh in. But decisions which might upend the project are made increasingly difficult to voice as we reach its expected - foregone - conclusion.<br />
There's a nagging voice in my head that keeps saying something about "privatizing gain while socializing loss." A hopeful voice adds a third way, "democratizing vision".<br />
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If public/private partnerships are the new way, we need new rules and new expectations of how the private side of the partnership delivers the public good, and how the public's investment translates into the community's vision. I would much rather arrive at the disappointing conclusion we have spent some money on a proposal that won't happen, than to go "all in", at much greater cost, on a project that won't stand the test of time. Let public money pay for plans, and revisions that meet public goals. Let the developer handle the shovels and share his expertise. That looks like a better partnership to me.John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-86467077998056102272015-06-07T18:41:00.002-04:002015-06-07T18:41:58.613-04:00It's Alright. Right?While some on principles baptized<br /> To strict party platform ties<br /> Social clubs in drag disguise<br /> Outsiders they can freely criticize<br /> Tell nothing except who to idolize<br /> And then say God bless him<br />
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While one who sings with his tongue on fire<br /> Gargles in the rat race choir<br /> Bent out of shape from society’s pliers<br /> Cares not to come up any higher<br /> But rather get you down in the hole<br /> That he’s in<br />
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But I mean no harm nor put fault<br /> On anyone that lives in a vault<br /> But it’s alright, Ma, if I can’t please him<br />
<span><br />--Bob Dylan, It's alright Ma</span><br />
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<span>Although it seems a long time ago it was just last Monday, June 1, that the City Council chamber erupted in a surreal display of short-circuitry. Epithets were pitched, and caught by the electronic glove of WAVE TV's news cameras. Seemingly settled expressions of tolerance were recanted, then tossed onto the chamber's floor to be beaten into unrecognizability, as though an errant snake had slithered under the door. </span><br />
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<span>Since then, a trip to the hardware store yielded this observation, "the City Council in Jeffersonville is pathetic <strong><u>too</u></strong>". (emphasis added)</span><br />
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<span>At a public event for a Historic Society, "if a Republican had uttered the same kind of intolerant, homophobic remarks, (as were heard at the City Council last Monday) the Democrats would have crucified him, and the entire party. Looks kind of like a double standard."</span><br />
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<span>A chance encounter with a fellow Councilman opens with, "how's it going, you lyin' piece of shit?" Je suis L.P.O.S.?</span><br />
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<span>As a result of the purposefully obtuse characterization of my attempt to reach a bit of compromise on the issue of spoken prayer at a Council meeting, I've been called a racist, anti-prayer, in cahoots with un-named forces outside the Council, and beholden to a society-destroying agenda promoting human rights. I've also been reminded that thousands of voters will remember that I was out to strip prayer from the City </span><br />
<span>Council. I realize this controversy is not about me. But, as one maligned in such a ridiculous campaign to hoist the flag so the Christian Soldiers could March to War (by way of vote centers), I'll simply say, I'm sick of it.</span><br />
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<span>I would add that many other bodies meet to conduct public business, without a ceremonial prayer or invocation at the start of the proceedings. (Board of Works, Redevelopment Commission, Sewer Board, County Council, County Commissioners, and other bodies no doubt, which I haven't named)</span><br />
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<span>While the entire sordid evening was rife with the kind of bilious empty-headed rhetoric that has kept Jon Stewart on the air for many years now, I am simply addressing here the anti-prayer elements of the sideshow. What follows <em>in italics</em> is authored by me. I report. You decide.</span><br />
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<span><em>WHEREAS</em>: <em>It is recognized that New Albany's Common Council meetings have opened with a Christian prayer,</em></span><br />
<span><em>WHEREAS: It is also recognized that some members do not believe sanctioned prayer is an appropriate form of expression in civic or government meetings,</em></span><br />
<span><em>NOW THEREFORE: The following outline of a compromise between these two diametrically opposed views is offered as a way of honoring both views through the individual preference of each Council member:</em></span><br />
<span><em>1. The Council will allow each member to open a meeting on a rotational basis.</em></span><br />
<span><em>2. The rotation shall be established by District number, just as the Council desks are arranged, until each member has been given the opportunity for opening remarks, whereupon the rotation will begin again.</em></span><br />
<span><em>3. The Council member who is responsible for the opening remarks following the rotation described, will be allotted one minute. The member can use none, any, or all of the time allotted.</em></span><br />
<span><em>4.The opening remarks shall be respectful and limited by the normal decorum expected in a public meeting, subject to the gavel of the chair.</em></span><br />
<span><em>5. The Council member's opening remarks may be a <u>prayer, a reading, an historical note, or any other expression as limited by number 4 above.</u></em></span><br />
<span><em>6.The opening remarks are to be limited to expressions of an inspirational, centering, or focusing nature. The remarks shall not be used for campaigning or promotion of members' proposal or activities.</em></span><br />
<span><em>7. The Common Council shall address deviations from the prescribed format outlined here, and it shall revise with additional stipulations as need.</em></span><br />
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<span>That was the basic idea which was then distilled into an amendment, as follows:</span><br />
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<span><em>A Council member at every Common Council meeting, in rotation, may open the meeting with his or her choice of a <u>prayer</u>, <u>a reading of an inspirational, commemorative or historical nature, or a moment of silent reflection</u>.</em></span><br />
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<span>What follows here is part of a note to Council members relating to the amendment above:</span><br />
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<span><em>It is clear the U.S. Supreme Court rulings allow prayer at public meetings. It is equally clear that some citizens are so fully opposed to prayer in a governmental setting that they would resort to theatrical tactics to prove their point.</em></span><br />
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<span><em>I believe a good way we can protect the dignity of the City Council </em>(yes, I actually wrote those words) <em>while respecting religious expression, and non-religious expression, as the Constitution and Court demands, is to take personal responsibility for the opening remarks at the Council meetings into our own hands. The proposal I've drawn up does that, I think. It <u>allows</u> prayers in the Council chamber, but makes any such prayers the responsibility of the members who choose to offer them. It likewise allows members who don't believe in the mixing of government and religion to express a sentiment in keeping with their beliefs. I believe it respects both sides of the issue while keeping the responsibility for the Council within the Council where, I believe, it belongs.</em></span><br />
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<span>Objectively, can anyone playing with a full, non-demagogic, deck read that as an anti-prayer proposal?</span><br />
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<span>I don't know if there's anything else to be done about this aberrant behavior. That's up to others to decide. I'm just one Councilman who probably has been/is being targeted for defeat because of these antics. But it is worth remembering that the State of Indiana has now coughed up two million dollars to help Gov. Mike Pence get his foot out of his mouth over the tainting of Indiana's image caused by the intolerance of the RFRA law he supported, which is the genesis of this local conflict. Beyond that cost, about a million and a half dollars were wasted in a vain attempt by the state's Attorney General to hold back the tide of history regarding same-sex marriage. So, to date, the fight which sparked the local tempest has cost the state about three and a half million dollars, and little evidence exists to show success burnishing the state's image.</span><br />
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<span>The flow of history moves endlessly. It will leave some of us behind, but it won't be stopped. </span><br />
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<span></span>John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-18044863352826269952015-04-27T01:20:00.000-04:002015-04-27T01:20:06.174-04:00Infrastructure of Sustainability<a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courier_journal/doc/1669973387.html?FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&fmac=85e7ed9610d5c476f9b15ad1e11473a1&date=Apr+5%2C+2015&author=Weise%2C+Elizabeth%3B+Rice%2C+Doyle&desc=Pain%2C+profit+flow+from+drought">This article</a> from earlier in the month appeared in the Courier-Journal. The article on the drought in California is relevant to us, here in New Albany, for a number of reasons: 1. evidence of climate change 2. noteworthy during the week of earth Day 3. validates the logic and exigencies of localism, independent businesses and sustainable communities.<br />
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Governor Jerry Brown has imposed sanctions to curtail the use of water in California. The arid state has long been on a knife's edge balanced between verdancy and drought. The great movie, Chinatown, showed through believable fiction, how desperately business interests coveted abundant water. In our part of the country, we worry through bothersome dry spells, but the rains usually come in sufficient volume to bail out farmers and we seldom need to resort to heavy conservation measures to help us through those spells.<br />
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For me this particular passage from the article is the money shot:<br />
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<em>Retail price spikes are unlikely because of the drought, however. Only a small portion of what shoppers pay is based on what farmers get for their crops</em> <strong><u>-- shipping, handling, packaging and marketing expenses are collectively bigger.</u></strong><em> Plus, food prices are often set on a global scale of supply and demand, so in a vast world marketplace, California's drought may not be a big factor, Sumner says.</em> <br />
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People in California are scrambling to adjust to what seems like the new reality. They are taking steps to dial back water usage through more use of native plants rather than trying to have emerald green lawns. Farm workers are being bounced out by the reduced crop yields. People are beginning to envision a future where a less hospitable climate will erase discrete ecosystems, and place stress on wildlife in general.<br />
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Around here, locally, in our own backyards, in our daily routines in our small Midwest city, we can begin, and many have begun, to envision a future where, <em>' Only a small portion of what shoppers pay is based on what farmers get for their crops' </em>may become<em> </em>a relic of a wasteful, unsustainable past. A friend of mine owns and operates a market that sells a wide range of locally grown produce. His store is open year round, but is naturally more well-stocked during spring, summer and early fall. All the items he sells comes from within a radius of 150 miles. The very nature of his business helps local growers become stronger. Those growers help stand against the collapse of local economies undermined by lost manufacturing jobs, and the devastation that trend has wrought on our economy. The concentration of food production in meteorologically vulnerable parts of the nation makes no sense when we see the ravages of drought in California. Where next will the comfortable past be 180ed into a new reality?<br />
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My friend's store doesn't appear to be a ticket to Easy Street. On the contrary, it is a tough, uphill battle trying to push people out of a rut of buying long-distance, insecticide-laden, produce from mega-farms. His produce isn't cheap, but as the article points out, under what passes for conventional agriculture today, only a small portion of the cost of produce goes to the farmer who produced it. Under the model my friend's producers follow, they earn more for their work, and so can more likely be a sustainable player in building a sustainable system, less vulnerable to capricious weather patterns, which obviously, is better for all of us. In a real sense, these producers are fighting for our futures as much as their own. They are helping to build a new infrastructure of sustainability.<br />
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Locally grown, or locally produced agricultural products are perhaps more easily perceived as part of a strong, healthy locality. But, in countless other commercial transactions we have the chance to, step by step, build a more vibrant, sustainable locality. These strong, varied, vibrant, prosperous localities are the infrastructure of sustainability. We can take steps here and now to make our own region more responsible, sustainable, and prosperous, by looking at how our daily commercial activities relate to, and affect our planet, which is truly our locality; New Albany's just a Zip Code.<br />
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John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-63847591574958826762015-04-15T21:42:00.000-04:002015-04-15T21:42:02.003-04:00Jeopardy--New Albany StyleContestant number 1 (Lysistrata): I'll take <strong>"Big Yellow Taxi"</strong> for $800, Alex.<br />
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Alex Trebek: It's two photo clues... Johnny?<br />
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Lysistrata: The old Street Department Headquarters, demolished in 1999.<br />
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Alex Trebek: In the form of a question, please.<br />
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Lysistrata: What is the old Street Department headquarters demolished in 1999?<br />
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Alex Trebek: Sorry...(contestant number 2) Sylvan?<br />
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Sylvan: What is the northern-most historical structure in downtown New Albany facing demolition by neglect?<br />
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Alex Trebek: Sorry...(contestant number 3)Damian?<br />
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Damian: What is an abject failure in the pursuit of preservation of historic structures in New Albany?<br />
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Alex Trebek: No, sorry players, the correct answer is,<strong><u> 'What is the next most likely historic structure in New Albany to fall victim to the Culbertson Avenue jinx?</u></strong>'<br />
Just a note for future reference, we would have accepted either jinx, or curse, in that question. <br />
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Stay tuned. We'll be right back with Double Jeopardy. All I can say is, watch out.<br />
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________________________________________________________<br />
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If another game, instead of Jeopardy, say, What If, were played, the possible scenarios are limited only by imagination and vision. <br />
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I'll throw out a few what ifs:<br />
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What if it were converted to a public art space under the auspices of the Parks Department, sort of like the Studio 2000 program tried here, successfully, I might add, in 2005 and 2006?<br />
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What if it were used as a transitional shelter for disrupted families; those needing temporary shelter, refuge from abusive relationships, day services such as credit counseling, drug rehabilitation, or any of the myriad programs which help the disaffected get back on their feet?<br />
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What if, as community artist David Thrasher suggested, Fairview Cemetery were to be complemented by a sculpture garden; and this building were the locus of an accompanying exhibit, or repository of information about the magnificent reliquary art in the graveyard?<br />
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What if this property were swapped with the current headquarters of the Harvest Homecoming? The current HH HQ, being closer to the heart of downtown, could possibly be better incorporated into the commerce of the downtown district, thus helping to boost the revival of the downtown.<br />
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What if...? <br />
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The list is much longer than I've written, and as I said, limited only by imagination and vision.<br />
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John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-30633768221621610522015-04-14T22:32:00.002-04:002015-04-14T22:32:59.299-04:00Food for ThoughtThe city of New Albany has a poor public transit system. Most less-than-major cities in the United States have poor transit systems. All scientists, save disreputable shills, believe we must do something about the degradation of the atmosphere in order to pull back from the brink. <br />
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A viable public transit system allows people to move about their communities for work, commerce, involvement in those communities.<br />
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<a href="http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2015/03/24/high-court-constitution-require-school-bus-service/70379874/">The Indiana Supreme Court has shown, perhaps inadvertently, how smallish cities can have viable public transit systems.</a><br />
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The New Albany Floyd County School System spends over $5 million annually to bus students to school. Urban schools are closed, while distantly located schools make walking to school a near impossibility. Such an arrangement undermines dense, sustainable neighborhoods; neighborhoods which would benefit from a viable public transit system, and which are the hallmark of a walkable, livable city.<br />
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Why not have an arrangement between the school system and TARC which uses TARC buses rather than school buses to transport students to and from school? The children would be transported to their schools, and back home; the cost of unitary-use buses, drivers and equipment, could be deducted from the school budget; the costs could be shifted to subsidized transit fare tickets. In place of the unitary-use, yellow buses, the community would have a viable, well-patronized system the whole community could use to become less auto-centric. The students riding the buses would gain a familiarity with the bus system, giving them greater mobility within the community, as the community builds a more sustainable future. John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-27930812885552117782015-02-24T22:52:00.003-05:002015-02-24T22:52:49.916-05:00The Sooner the BetterLast Saturday, February 21, I attended a presentation on the Jeff Speck study the City commissioned early last year. This study will ultimately lead to, among other things, two-way streets where now we have one-ways. The long process tries the patience of those anxious to get on with the conversion.<br />
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While I believe we should proceed with the conversion, I don't believe two-way streets are a panacea for New Albany. Indeed, some of the more significant recommendations from the Speck analysis directly address other aspects of walkability. But the primary identifier of the Speck study is as the two-way street study.<br />
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To address that aspect of the study then, I want to come down four square on the side of converting our one-way streets to two-way traffic.<br />
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I can't pinpoint a specific year or event to mark the beginning of New Albany's decline. (That slide, by the way, is a fate we share with countless cities across America.) Perhaps it was Henry Ford's birthday, or the housing shortage after WW II heralding the first push toward the suburbs. It could have been the day the misbegotten decision was made to abandon street cars as a component of our transportation system, the rise of the interstate highway system, or malls.<br />
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In short, cities have taken a lot of hits from any number of larger causes than the direction of traffic flow. So the reversion to two-way traffic may not bring back much of New Albany's thriving past.<br />
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The Speck study, however, represents a rare opportunity to make a calculated, comprehensive move toward reversing the decline we've faced for years. Speck notes cities that have converted one-ways to two-ways. The positive changes in those cities may elude us here in New Albany, but in light of the significant changes we face from increased traffic funneled through New Albany as a result of the Bridges Project, it seems a sensible prescription. And, again two-way traffic is not the only remedy he suggests. In his study, Speck quotes economist Chris Leinberger, "all the fancy economic development strategies, such as developing a biomedical cluster, an aerospace cluster, or whatever the economic development 'flavor of the month' might be, <strong>do not hold a candle to the power of a great walkable urban place</strong>." New Albany has neither of the economic engines the economist cites, but we do have within our reach the power to control one element, the most potent element, of a successful city--walkability. <br />
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One speaker at Saturday's presentation challenged New Albany's manners and neighborliness as he said that, in paraphrase, it's not nice to raise barriers to pass-through traffic resulting from the Sherman Minton's toll-free status. Aside from disagreeing with the gentleman's contention, I would ask, did the Bridge's Project show good manners to New Albany when it placed the "free-flow zone" sign on our doorstep?<br />
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The feckless action of the Bridge's Project has placed concern with our street grid, pedestrian safety, and likely disadvantageous economic ripples on the front burner.<br />
But, New Albany's backdrop of malaise, decline, and deterioration, with renewal always just over the horizon, is a long-standing impetus to answer Speck's challenge with action. The sooner the better.<br />
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John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-77572872361913053132014-11-30T00:06:00.001-05:002014-12-02T07:43:09.556-05:00Glad You AskedEarlier today I read the NA Confidential blog by Roger Baylor, in which he questions my comments in a News and Tribune article by Daniel Suddeath on the current state of downtown New Albany. Roger felt I had betrayed an unspoken allegiance to a walkable New Albany by not seizing on the opportunity Suddeath offered to bring out the incantation of street conversion in my remarks. <br />
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First off, my belief in the efficacy of two-way streets is not unspoken.This blog is not often read, which is completely understandable, since it is not often written. When I do write something here, I do so because, however much below the radar it may be, it is a public airing of my thoughts, and as such is part of a public record to any who may care to read it. I mention this only to point out that on several occasions here, I have spoken about my belief that two-way streets are better than one- way streets. I believe they create a better commercial environment for our, or any other, downtown area. I believe a walkable city is a better place for people to live, and is ultimately a better place for businesses to thrive.<br />
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When Daniel interviewed me, he referred back to some conversations he'd had earlier in the day, or week, with Dave Duggins, and some others. Because I do feel that a walkable New Albany would be a better environment for small and independent businesses, I thought of mentioning the conversion of one-way to two-way streets, since, as I said, I believe such a conversion brings us closer to that goal. Somehow or another, Daniel and I got on to another aspect of his question about what government can do to help stem the loss of businesses downtown, or to create a more fertile field in which to grow new businesses downtown.<br />
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I had been tuned to CNBC for much of the day, as the hosts of the shows on that network waxed orgasmic about the infusion of energy into the juggernaut of the marketplace brought on by Black Friday. Against the backdrop of that drumbeat of corporate/retail giantism, Daniel's questions about what can be done to breathe life into small town America, specifically our town, went to a less hopeful part of my brain than I usually inhabit.<br />
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I'm not one who cares about getting a deal on things; I continuously pay higher prices to buy from local vendors. Sometimes when I do, I can make myself believe that if we all do that, we can build a vibrant local economy in which independent businesses are able to swim against the rip tide of Amazon.com, WalMart, and the other mega gleaners in our economy. <br />
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And then, I think about how the middle class in New Albany, or, in Anytown U.S.A., has been hollowed out, sold out to foreign, near-slave labor producers, and how many of those former middle classers are now forced to live a low-wage existence where the only places they can buy things for their families is at WalMart, or other such stores. As they step down the rungs, the once-strong, independent businesses are deprived of customers and a means to stay in business.<br />
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Since Roger mentioned two-way streets as a life saver for small town businesses, I thought of a local book store, Destinations Booksellers. I think Destinations is a store of which any town, small or large, can be proud. Its proprietors, Ann and Randy Smith have done everything that can be done to make the store a bustling, successful addition to New Albany's commercial scene. I don't know their personal finances, but I think it's safe to say they would be happy with more customers. Destinations is located on one-way Spring Street.<br />
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When Daniel asked me if there's more government can do to promote local businesses, I answered "yes". I didn't say, "make the streets two-way." While I firmly believe one-way streets are obsolete auto-enablers, which make central cities less attractive places to live, I don't think they are the most significant thing standing in the way of a small-town urban renaissance. I don't think Randy Smith's customers will suddenly have to take a number so they can be waited on in a timely fashion after Spring Street becomes two-way. On the heels of Black Friday, which belongs now to the big box stores, comes Cyber Monday, which allows consumers, those who live for deals and convenience, the chance to shop in their bathrobes, or their birthday suits, all while getting a six or seven percent subsidy from the ether gods who charge no sales tax and offer free delivery.<br />
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As Cassius said, "the fault is not in our stars, but in ourselves." That's what I was trying to say when Daniel asked me his questions. <br />
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I long for a day when local prosperity stands a chance against the market giants we've elevated to Midashood. I'm all for changing New Albany's streets to two-ways if it helps our businesses, or even if it just makes the city a little better place to live. But, I'm afraid we have much, much, harder work to do. That hard work involves re-creating an economy, and a society, which existed once, but has been displaced now by what corporations see as a standard business model, advertisers see as fish in a barrel, and what most Americans see as a way of life, almost a birthright. John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-37267190885526231882014-11-27T00:43:00.000-05:002014-11-27T00:43:17.408-05:00I'm Thankful I Wasn't in Ferguson, MissouriThe year was 2002. It was the last day of the year. I had a stray day of vacation left to burn, to either use or lose. My plan was to sleep in a bit late, get ready and head over to our building in Louisville to putter about unhurriedly before treating myself to a leisurely lunch. No particular project was in need of completion. We had plans for the evening, so what time I spent at the building promised to be relatively brief. The last thing my wife said as I left was to make certain I made the deposit at the bank, so it would be caught in the final accounting for the year. <br />
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I arrived at the building around 10:00 AM, checked a few things and headed down to the basement. Today, the basement is mostly populated by artists and tradesmen. At that time, it was occupied by some guys making concrete countertops. They were dirty, undependable, careless, and prone to accidents. The perfect tenant, you might say. But, I was sure, their chronic irritation would be less so on this day since they had recently given notice of moving in a couple months, and since I had the leisurely day planned out already. I wasn't going to let it bother me anyhow. While chatting with the concrete company's owner, one of yutziest of his yutzes dislodged a sprinkler head. Glad that I was there for that near catastrophe, I calmly walked over to the main shutoff valve for the sprinkler system to avoid the inevitable watery chaos.<br />
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Apparently, as I moved the huge valve to shut off the water, I must have also disengaged a key component of my logic or cognitive system. Had I not just discussed with the maintenance man where I worked how to drain the system and reset it? A piece of cake, and a minor delay, nothing else. I was still intent on having a couple brews with my long-anticipated lunchtime leisure, but I also didn't want to pay an exorbitant bill to the sprinkler company if I didn't have to. So I set about on a series of Rube Goldberg innovations designed to avoid calling the sprinkler company. Each segment of the plan was daft, and doomed in its own way. Each failure placed my leisurely lunch a bit farther out of reach. As the water continued to flow out the drain I accepted that I was having to reschedule, now for a late-leisurely lunch. (I think I might even have had a special cigar in reserve to enhance the relaxing mood I knew was just around the corner)<br />
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Inevitably, I called the sprinkler company to shut the water off and reset the system. Hours ticked away. A check was written. A leisurely lunch eluded me. A woman's voice gently chided me to do just one thing before I headed home--MAKE THAT BANK DEPOSIT BEFORE THE YEAR MELTS AWAY. That gentle reminder seeped into my brain at about twelve minutes before the bank was to close, and the bank was about ten minutes away. <br />
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I ran out the door, jumped in the car and was making great time until some annoying red and blue flashing lights invaded my rear view mirror. I stopped the car, threw the door open and stormed back to the guy in the offensively illuminated car. He scolded me, and told me to go get back in my car and await his return, as he checked my license plate to verify the car's rightful owner. (I always travel with a blood pressure gauge and as I awaited his return to my car door I amused myself by seeing how high I could get the numbers to climb.) <br />
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When the cop returned to my car door, he said, "let's start this over." It turned out he didn't like the sight of a man in a black coat, with anger in his eyes, charging toward his car. He said he felt threatened and wondered if he was going to see his little three year old girl that night. I know I'm a gentle soul. I don't own a gun. I meant the cop no harm. But I was truly and fully pissed off, and he was not helping matters by going on about running stop signs and not wearing seat belts. I allowed as how I might have been a bit overwrought, and the tension somewhat abated. He chuckled and said, "You know, you almost got a taste of my Mag Light." I contemplated how the loss of my front teeth in such an incident might further jaundice my perception of the police.<br />
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<a href="http://www.policeone.com/news/57317-detective-shot-man-handcuffed-behind-back">As this article highlights</a>, the Louisville police force around that very time was not doing its utmost to promote good community relations.<br />
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And now these dozen years later, incident piles on incident of police shooting, beating, singling out black men. The ones who make the news, maybe didn't get a chance, or at least not the same chance I got, to chill, and "start this over." I still have my teeth, but many of the black men who run up against the law taste the Mag Light, or feel the sting of a billy club. Some police forces are like mini-armies. Local police forces have armed up with surplus gear shed by our foreign military adventures. <br />
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I don't have any answers on how to reduce police over-reaction. Being a cop is a job I know I couldn't and wouldn't do. But, I have a pretty good idea that the day I had planned on having a leisurely year-end lunch might have worked out much differently if I were black.<br />
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John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-75936617025252492032014-10-14T22:10:00.001-04:002014-10-15T08:39:03.642-04:00A Moveable FeastIn tonight's News and Tribune (October 14, 2014) the topic of changing the location of Harvest Homecoming's booths was reported. The Harvest Homecoming festival's president, Jeff Cummins, said, "the Harvest Homecoming Committee is open to suggestions about improving the festival..."<br />
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So, here goes.<br />
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The current layout for the festival's <em>booths</em> includes these streets and blocks: Market from State to Third Street (3 blocks)<br />
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Pearl Street from Spring to Main (2 blocks) <br />
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Bank Street from Spring to Main (2 blocks)<br />
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One of the reasons cited by those who object to the Harvest Homecoming's occupation of the downtown streets is that it discombobulates the year round store owners and restaurateurs for the benefit of the festival during its five day run. Further, those not enamored of Harvest Homecoming say that the stakeholders in downtown businesses don't really benefit from the erection of the booths, while it is they who try to make a living downtown the other 51 weeks of the year.<br />
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I recall when the festival began in the late Sixties or early Seventies. Downtown New Albany was a much different place then. Quite a few stores were still hanging on to the hope of a business revival against the onslaught of the malling of America, and its local outbreaks found in Clarksville and Louisville. The festival itself was quite different then, too. The footprints of its modest beginnings were confined to fewer blocks. The beer garden actually coexisted with the other booths along Bank Street.<br />
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Rather than a business revival, the store owners downtown saw the dismal Seventies, and the wrenching Eighties dash those hopes in a collapse encountered across the land by countless small towns that lost stores, dining, and service businesses to the sprawlers and the big boxers. Because those lean years stretched on into the Nineties, no one seemed to question the logic of handing over the downtown to a once-a-year fling, and the festival grew without constraints. During those lean times, the festival was a welcome change from the boring tune of decline and vacancy which played endlessly on the downtown juke. It seemed to be the song we would always sing until it would become our requiem. <br />
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But then a wind of change began to stir here, in New Albany, and in other small towns around the nation. Buy local became an organizing principle for reborn small towns. People began to see that wealth of local origin is a heartier variety of wealth; it is one that can build sustainable prosperity because it is built of the community, and in the community. Some of those who have put skin in the game of downtown revival have begun to question if the model of Harvest Homecoming born in the lean times now jibes with the better days downtown.<br />
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While I have no direct stake in the downtown, I, and we all, have a stake in building a sustainable prosperity for our city. So, when one person, or one group sounds a cautionary note about the Harvest Homecoming, and when that note is given front page ink in the News and Tribune, it becomes a topic of general concern. <br />
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I first began to hear rumblings against the disruption caused by Harvest Homecoming about ten years ago. It seemed parochial at the time and, I thought, rooted in people being forced out of their usual parking places downtown. It sounded baseless and a little short sighted. More recently, Roger Baylor of the New Albanian Brewing Company, and a stakeholder in downtown New Albany's revival, has been beating the drum for a retooling of the Harvest Homecoming. Baylor has been surprisingly willing to air his opinion on the topic. This may not be widely known, but Baylor rubs some people the wrong way. And, some people will disregard what he says simply because it is he who says it. But, as the adage says, don't shoot the messenger.<br />
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Since Mr. Cummins welcomed ideas, and since the Tribune has elevated the festival topic to wider discussion, it seems the future of the festival and the continued health of the downtown revival could be best served by making the Harvest Homecoming a moveable feast, migrating from one part of downtown to another, as conditions change and dictate. New Albany's downtown was benefitted by the stimulus of the Harvest Homecoming in the festival's early years. I believe the festival is still a net plus for the city, but it could be a greater contributor to the city which, at no small cost to the taxpayers, mobilizes for, and welcomes its pitching of the tents each year.<br />
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If, instead of the layout shown above, the festival's booths moved to different streets, the festival could again serve a revivifying function for downtown. The layout listed above totals seven blocks. The following layout also comprises seven blocks, although these blocks are adjacent to the heart of the downtown. While the festival's 250,000 to 300,000 attendees would still come downtown for the event, they would be somewhat away from what is currently ground zero. This should bring welcome potential customers downtown while not so seriously disrupting the normal flow of commerce. <br />
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A possible layout is:<br />
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Third Street from Spring to Main (2 blocks)<br />
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Market from Bank to Third (1 block)<br />
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Bank Street from Market to the railroad tracks (2 blocks)<br />
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Main Street, which is no longer a state highway, from Bank to Third Street (2 blocks)<br />
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This aims the festival slightly to the East and South of its current venue while leaving the streets in front of the majority of downtown stores and restaurants open for business. I would expect the merchants in the newly vacated streets to open their doors to the festival-goers, although now their doors would not be blocked by booths. Hopefully, the biggest problem facing the merchants would be dealing with an overflow of customers brought downtown by Indiana's biggest street festival. John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-7075705328630361712014-09-03T21:15:00.000-04:002014-09-03T21:15:13.585-04:00Broken Record<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gfuVAoJJ8CM" width="560"></iframe>John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-24423693630029206662014-06-22T08:59:00.001-04:002014-06-22T09:01:43.289-04:00Boxing DayAs Daniel Suddeath reported in the June 20*, <a href="http://www.newsandtribune.com/floydcounty/x1396894938/Old-New-Albany-tavern-to-be-torn-down">News and Tribune</a>, the building at 922 Culbertson is in the sights of the demolition crew. This is a shame, and it didn't, and still doesn't, have to happen.<br />
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The worn-out phrase from some distant management guru applies in this case, it is the requirement to think outside the box. <br />
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Inside the box, we see inadequate code-enforcement leading to the deterioration of the structure, which set it on its present perilous course. Many building in New Albany are in sorry shape. Are all these blighters the result of blind eyes in the past? If so, good, we can place blame with people who came before us, and what good does that do anyone?<br />
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Are the members of preservation groups strident in defense of the city's historic buildings and neighborhoods; do these groups, or individuals within these groups, rub bureaucrats and policy makers the wrong way? Probably, and so what? Is the Horseshoe Foundation derelict in its mission, not abiding by its bylaws which call on the Foundation to support historic preservation? A lot of people think so.<br />
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I've heard that in place of the old tavern will be several newly-designed versions of Habitat for Humanity houses. This laudable group does good and meaningful work, and is worthy of support, however, the houses they have designed for New Albany leave much to be desired. The placement and design of the houses does nothing to help the city escape the branding of certain parts of town as underprivileged, less desirable neighborhoods, and, therefore does not break the cycle of exclusion and poverty for the residents of those neighborhoods. Inside the Culbertson Avenue box, if the Habitat solution is chosen, we seem intent on making sure that this depressed neighborhood stays depressed and looks the part.<br />
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Does New Albany have money to fund the preservation and reuse of the building at 922 Culbertson? Not if you listen to the noise within the box.<br />
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Outside the box, there's<a href="http://www.newsandtribune.com/floydcounty/x1396895037/New-Albany-City-Council-acts-to-restructure-sewer-bonds"> plenty of money</a> to salvage this building and help this neighborhood, as Suddeath reported June 19*. The sewer bond restructuring will pipe over a million dollars into City coffers. The rehabilitation of the building at 922 Culbertson has been estimated at between $150,000-300,000. Since the available funds to save this building would come from this rewrite of the bonds, perhaps it is fitting that the Sewerage Department share in the benefits of its salvation. Since the City's exhaustive search for willing parties to take on the rejuvenation process of the building has produced no results, why not use some of the savings from the sewer bonds, to invest in a first class renovation of the property and move the Sewer Billing offices there?<br />
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The structure is large enough to allow for the operations of that office to be housed on the main floor, with additional space on the upper floor for private offices for sewer employees or a field office for code enforcement, a police substation, or many other public uses. Even with the sewer offices there, the large main room of the tavern would be an ideal setting for a neighborhood Assembly Room, where from time to time governmental meetings could be held, including some City Council meetings. This would be an opportunity to deliver government services to the place where people live.<br />
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If the City's use of the property has the effect I believe it would, adding stability and vitality to that neighborhood, it need not be a permanent part of the neighborhood. The City's tenancy could be ended any time and the structure could be sold to private users. But, those private users would be buying into a part of town that has been greatly improved, and more inviting of private investment.<br />
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Inside the box rests a wrecking ball. Outside the box lies an open-ended list of possibilities.<br />
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One choice requires no imagination, and returns very little to the citizens of that neighborhood, or the city at large.<br />
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The other choice requires a hopeful vision for the city and all of its neighborhoods, a commitment to work toward an environmentally sustainable future, a city of walkable, safe, prosperous and interesting neighborhoods. What's the point of walkable neighborhoods, if you have no place to walk to? <br />
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Such neighborhoods can help New Albany rebuild, and bring vitality back to the city, as young people starting new families are given what many of their contemporaries are currently seeking in the older neighborhoods of Louisville, such as Germantown and the Highlands. It is not an overnight fix. It is, rather, a long slow process, and one which is immensely helped with a focal point such as the 922 building. If we don't seize some opportunity with this building, it will be a mistake. Will it be a mistake fatal to New Albany's future? Of course not. But it will be a mistake which we didn't need to make if we just looked outside the box.The lid's open. All we need to do is step out.<br />
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*June 20, 2014--News and Tribune, Old New Albany tavern to be torn down<br />
*June 19, 2014--News and Tribune, New Albany City Council acts to restructure sewer bonds <br />
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John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-18018273895416197322014-06-09T23:27:00.002-04:002014-06-10T00:29:17.008-04:00Just a Couple of Crazy Kids With a Dream<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Of course the <a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/vegas-shooter-bundy-ranch-facebook">trajectory of crazy</a> the Las Vegas Teabaggers were on, <a href="http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/24247-fox-news-has-finally-yelled-fire-in-a-crowded-theater">which ended in yet a few more tragic gun deaths</a>, was probably pre-ordained to end in the deaths of the zealots themselves, at their own hands. <br />
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Perhaps the now-bastardized slogan, purloined by the radical Tea Party, needs a tweak. In addition to the standard, the Miller's flag might read, "Don't Tread On Me... I'll Tread On Me."John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-63380712029019926952014-06-04T08:14:00.000-04:002014-06-04T08:29:49.062-04:00Attention ShoppersIn honor of the Twenty Fifth anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, consumers across America can take an additional 25% off the price of any item bearing the Made in China label. At participating stores...today only<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/P_LlnHPsnV4?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><br />John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-32729205850110422972014-06-02T01:46:00.000-04:002014-06-03T07:53:16.259-04:00No BrainersSaturday night my wife and I went to a wonderful movie, The Railway Man, and on the way home we decided to walk across the Big Four Bridge, since it was recently opened on both sides. Out of habit, we headed toward River Road in Louisville to our normal point of departure for such walks. At the Vernon Lanes I suggested that we should go instead to Jeff and ascend there, and we did.<br />
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While on the circuitous ramp up to the bridge itself, we were both amazed at how many people were taking advantage of the beautiful evening to explore this new addition to the Falls Cities. Once on the deck of the bridge I thought, turning this relic of the heydays of railroads into an amenity for our communities has been a real smash hit. Now that it is obviously successful, some may call the bridge's repurposing a no brainer.<br />
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This successful, concrete, example of a community-wide reach beyond our pre-constrained vision of the place we live, made me think of what other no-brainers, perhaps obscured by the darkness of our self-imposed limits, simply wait for a light bulb to click on to bring them into view. <br />
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Then, upon reflection, I thought, we are awash in a different kind of no-brainers as well, and it is those people that block out the light, whether for budgetary, or cognitive-comfort reasons. Or is it simply because they are, themselves, dim bulbs?<br />
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The no-brainers, however, that most interest me here are the ones which, if brought to life, would be widely recognized as positive additions to our local scene. Of course, the list here is by no means exhaustive. <br />
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Heading up the list is, of course, the missing link to a pedestrian/bicycle loop between the Falls Cities--the K & I Bridge. If the intransigence of the Norfolk Southern bureaucracy maintains, and the railroad's no-public-use policy stays in place, then we, as a community, need to find a way to circumvent that stubbornness. Perhaps the railroad would permit use of the bridge's existing piers so a relatively lightweight structure of cantilevered design could be added to the bridge, independent of its functional aspects. Keep in mind that about $20 million of the total cost to transform the Big Four was eaten up in the approach ramps to that bridge. The K & I approaches are at ground level already, so we're ahead of that project by a huge amount.<br />
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Another no-brainer is a comprehensive reclamation of Falling Run Creek as a meandering park throughout much of our city. The current state of the creek in many places is shameful. And yet, it is a diamond in the rough which could be a walking/biking/jogging path through the city. Since Falling Run feeds into the Ohio, a reasonable case could be made that it should be part of the Ohio River Greenway.<br />
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New Albany is perilously close to losing its freight rail capability. Freight that is not shipped by rail will, by default, be shipped by truck, and those trucks will travel on city streets. A goal of economic development staff should be to provide incentives to make rail freight more feasible for local manufacturers. Globe Mechanical, QRS Recycling and the City's own waste water treatment plant could possibly become customers on the rail line running practically through their properties. Any additional freight shipments by rail help to strengthen that vital element of our infrastructure while keeping heavy trucks off city streets.<br />
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A local look at light rail, unfortunately, brings up one of the other kinds of no-brainers. Several years ago, Louisville appeared poised to head toward a light rail system. With little explanation, Mayor Jerry Abramson nixed the tentative move toward that sensible mode of transportation. It was a loss for Louisville for sure, but it was also a setback for the region, its environment, and its air quality. Had a viable light rail system been in place, would we still be building toll roads today? <br />
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Today's edition of the <a href="http://billmoyers.com/episode/joseph-e-stiglitz-let%E2%80%99s-stop-subsidizing-tax-dodgers/">Moyers and Company show featured Joseph Stiglitz</a>. The economist discussed the inequality of today's tax system which unfairly burdens the middle class, while rewarding large corporations with the lowest taxes in modern US history. Those large corporations often make money outside the US, and to avoid taxes if returning the money to the US, they simply leave it in foreign banks and foreign countries. It does nothing to improve the quality of life for our own citizens. These expatriate corporations drive down the wage structure of this nation and rob the country of the necessary tax money to invest in infrastructure, education, health care, technological innovation and many of the other things we've ransomed to right wing, anti-tax, ideologues. How's this tie into no-brainer's? <br />
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Just this, if we stand <strong><u>any</u> </strong>chance of holding onto democracy in this country it will be because we have bought into and nurtured the trend of buying local. Just as Tip O'Neill said, "all politics is local", in light of extra-national corporations driving down wages, the quality of life, and substituting jobbettes for good jobs, union jobs, in this country, we need to recognize that <em>all prosperity is local</em>. Every policy of our local government needs to favor locally owned businesses, whether in purchasing on the basis of local ownership over price, or in clearing hurdles for new local businesses starting up. If a policy or rule is found to favor national companies over local companies, that rule must go. <br />
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If we focus on building a strong local economy, and do things that make our city innovative, sustainable, safe, and inviting, we'll find we have a better community to call home. Some might call that a no brainer.<br />
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<br />John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8213792296606310866.post-8152736853826196432014-05-01T23:00:00.002-04:002014-05-02T07:58:13.215-04:00A Golden Oldie Rings True TodayThe Lion of the Senate speaking then, to today's Teapubligarchs?<br />
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<br />John Gonderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399594040622656397noreply@blogger.com1