I was very disappointed with the Redevelopment Commission when I read this article in Wednesday's Tribune City Will Study Increasing East End Home Ownership.
I don't understand why this study is directed to the East End only. What is wrong with the rest of the city? Is it because this area of town has strong neighborhood associations? Is it because of the citizens who reside in that area? Is it the demographics of that particular area? Was this a payback for political favors?
I want to thank Dan Coffey for speaking up for the West End residents and insisting that we need a study as well. Even though Mr. Joshua (the president of the commission) said the study could be used throughout the city. If that is the case why not have a study throughout the city? If the commission wants to spend nearly $20,000 on one area of town why can't they add a few more dollars and do the job right?
Mr. Coffey is correct in his statement that he is tired of the city advertising for businesses. Yes, we need more business but not just in the East End. The West End could use a little help too people.
I also want to thank Diane Benedetti for voting against this measure. She is right that we need better code enforcement. And she is right about the renters in the city. New Albany has a disaportionate number of renters compared to homeowners. Many of the landlords are absentees and have no civic pride in their properties. And many of the renters have lower incomes and are forced to live in these homes because they cannot afford better housing.
I disagree with Carl Malysz that code enforcement does not affect the housing market. If a property is neglected and run-down it affects the value of the entire neighborhood. That is why there is such a concern about people abandoning their homes. Empty homes are a target for vandals and drug dealers.
I want to ask Mr. Coffey and Mrs. Benedetti to keep up the fight and not give up. I will do anything I can to support you.
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I seem to recall you saying that you support the Lopp investment in the West End. Presumably this is because it would be conducive to property values and perhaps lift the boats of all West Enders.
Coffey's against that one. But he's to be praised for opposing a study that might help the whole city, West End included?
And, if you agree with Mrs. M-B, then why is it that you've tended to take the side of those who are opposed to funding code enforcement?
Help me understand these contradictions, Shirley.
The study in question was proposed to specifically help with home ownership in the East End. Then it was said that the rest of the city would benefit also.
I don't want leftovers. Either help the entire city or don't help anyone.
I'm not clear on why you think I am opposed to code enforcement, unless you are talking about the "Adopt a Corner" idea. I am against absentee landlords who don't maintain their property and make money off of the less fortunate. To me the Adopt a Corner meant that these people had civic pride and that is why I wanted to help them.
I am one person. The only groups I belong to are the Democrat Women, BPW, and Martha's & Mary's at my church.
If I agree with Dan Coffey, I will say so and if I disagree with him I will say so also. Same goes for Diane Benedetti.
Please do not catagorize me as a non-progressive or as a "Luddite" or as a progressive either. I choose to agree or disagree with anyone based on their ideas not their politics.
Voice Of The People has made a great effort to explain that the West End residents have been neglected for a long time.
For example, visit the S. Ellen Jones Park and look at the nice park
for the children built with thousands of dollars of public money.
Then-- be fair and drive to the West End and see the park on West 7th Street. That park is where
the overflows of sewage litter the
park with toilet paper and sewage.
How safe is it for children to play
in a park with toilet paper and sewage overflows ?
Where are they getting the est $20,000 for this homeowners study in the East End Neighborhood ?
If Code Enforcement would do their job to enforce cleanliness and Police would crack down on crime ,
then people would want to buy houses in New Albany.
What about some of the other agencies
like CHDO being used to do the study ?
Have they applied for Grants to pay for the study?
Mr. Baylor and his so called progressives should be worrying more about the entire city instead of downtown.
Been there done that!
Every decision made show benfit all our citizens of New Albany not a selective few.
Love your blog Shirlley -- keep fighting for what you believe in.
Why bother with code enforcement when Atty. Shane Gibson is way to busy working on Bond projects. If you check the minutes you also would see the City of New Albany is paying $20 an hour to get high grass cut. A lawmower was spotted on a trailor behind police car number 105.
1.The West End needs a firehouse.
2.They need a MCDonalds too.
3.The area needs cleaned up by our Street department
Isn't that what we pay them to do?
Did you know Shirley that Candidate England promised Star Cleaners and many other businesses located throughout the West End. That if elected he would put signage on Main Street directing business to the West End. But where are they?
They have other new signage in other locations through out New Albany what about our West End.
Thanks, Shirley. I'd love continuing the dialogue with you any time, but as you know, one can't have discussions with "anonymous" people hiding behind hedges and tossing rocks.
Y'all know who and where I am. Wanna talk, then have a face and a name. If not, then you're simply irrelevant.
I always sign my name to everything I write also but if people choose not to that's OK with me. I just appreciate that people are reading my articles and want to respond.
Keep those cards & letters coming folks.
Shirley,
The push to get a study done began three years ago and took the work of numerous citizens and agencies who gave up weeks of their time and money to make it happen.
You've been personally invited to participate even though you've posted this here and in the Tribune, disparaging it publicly and making unfounded accusations.
Here's a promise from me:
If you spend two years doing research, making phone calls, sending emails, attending meetings, building relationships, finding funding when the city won't contribute, taking classes, giving tours, and hosting people in your home to make it happen, I won't complain if the Redevelopment Commission decides to make your neighborhood the center of a $20,000 study because I know firsthand what it takes to do it.
If invited to share my thoughts as you've been, I'll say thank you. In fact, if they voted tomorrow to focus a study on your neighborhood, I'd applaud it, even though no one to my knowledge from your area has put in anywhere near the amount of work that others have to make it happen.
Having said all that, I sincerely hope you'll decide to participate in something positive for the city that some of the rest of us have worked very hard to make possible.
Despite (not because of) all the negative rhetoric from Coffey, those involved with the study are seeking input from the West End. You have an opportunity to help represent your neighborhood. Whether you do or not is up to you. I think the study will be better if you do.
Way to go mom!I am so very proud of the long hours and your continous efforts.I also believe that the west end is worth fighting for.You remind me that ALL of the strong voices of the people do still matter.We only need to speak up as I know you do.
Bluegill,
Don't toot your horn so loud. Don't think for one minute you are the only person or group fighting for New Albany.
This city had NO right to put our property taxes as back up for Bond money.
This is our city too.
Don't think for one minute us taxpayers will take any of these shanigans by England sitting down "NO" more!
I do not want my tax dollars spent on downtown nor paying for paved streets in the Industrial Park.
Bottom line is most people have had enough!
Stick to your guns Shirley, don't let them boys bully you.
Jeff,
The first time I heard about this study was when I read the Tribune article last week. If I had known earlier I would have been happy to participate and appreciate your offer to include me.
Sometimes information is not circulated as effectively as we would like, even with blogs and newspapers. I try to attend as many meetings as possible, and speak to as many people as I can. So don't think I have been sitting at home whining about the lack of resources in my neighorhood.
Thanks for giving me the background.
Shirley
Tamala,
Thank you for your kind words and support. I love you.
Mom
Shirley,
I know you do a lot. I especially hope your efforts to organize in the West End are successful. That's why I was both surprised to see this and hope you'll participate.
The study wasn't officially approved until just before the story ran. We can talk more about everything that's happened up to this point if you like.
And, for the record, this effort took a lot more than just me as will every other effort to improve the city.
11:19 PM Courier Journal reported: England pulls his request for Ordinance for $1 million in Riverboat money. Sewer Board delays their decision to recommend "Sewer rate increase to Council."
Let's see who wins this battle Shirley. It's the citizens Vs Redevelopment. I'm putting my money on the citizens of New Albany.
"We the people works."
NO sewer increase
Diane
Your current article shows a good example of how this New Albany Administration is running our city.
" WE HAVE TO RAISE SEWER RATES."
" WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HELP TO PICK
THE TRASH."
" OUR STREETS ARE FULL OF POTHOLES."
" WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE SWIMMING POOL"
" WE HAVE TO CLOSE SOME SCHOOLS."
THIS LIST GOES ON AND ON.
BUT, WE PLAN TO SPEND $20,000.
ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STUDY TO SEE WHY
PEOPLE ARE NOT BUYING HOMES IN
NEW ALBANY. IS THIS INTELLIGENT??
Where can we get a report on the claims and expenditures being made by the City Administration ? Boy--that would be a hot seller.
Who are they cutting checks to ?
Aren't there Open Door laws on these
expenditures?
Anonymous I believe you raised a very good point AGAINST subsidizing sewer rates with EDIT funds.
" WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HELP TO PICK
THE TRASH."
" OUR STREETS ARE FULL OF POTHOLES."
" WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE SWIMMING POOL"
" WE HAVE TO CLOSE SOME SCHOOLS."
THIS LIST GOES ON AND ON.
Ceese: You have also brought up a good point when talking about needed
EDIT Funds for city repairs.
THEN, WHY WON'T THE CITY ADMINISTRATION MAKE THE STATE STREET
PARKING GARAGE PAY BACK THE EST.
$3.5 MILLION DOLLARS OF EDIT MONEY THAT THE DOWNTOWN TIF USED TO PAY OFF THE PARKING GARAGE BONDS?
ASK DEPUTY MAYOR CARL MALAYSZ WHO WAS DIRECTOR WHEN THE PARKING GARAGE BORROWED THAT MONEY TO PAY OFF THE PARKING GARAGE BONDS.
IF WE ARE GOING TO CLEAN UP THE CITY MESS AND GET SOME ACCOUNTABILITY, THEN LET US FOLLOW THE RULES. WHEN YOU BORROW MONEY FROM ONE FUND TO ANOTHER,
YOU NEED TO REPAY THE LOAN.
Hey, even the Trib ran a story about the parking garage -- who was the momma and who was the poppa? And, we're still paying for it...never did make $$$.
And, we still owe the Edit money back for it. Still paying for the lights, elevator, outsourced collecting on same, etc.
Remember, it was going to eliminate all of the parking woes of downtown -- still hear the whining about lack of parking downtown. Wonder why?
Some people can really get under your skin by acting and pretending they know the history on these projects. No credit is given to any people who have spent years on these nightmares much less their hard earned dollars.
Melanie
anon; You are right on the ball,
Why doesn't the Mayor do what is right and make the DownTownTif pay
back the $3.5 million EDIT money that was used to pay off the Parking Garage Bonds?
The city money should not be paying the upkeep on the parking garage.
Let Develop New Albany Board pay those bills.
Is Councilman Caesar still on the DNA Board. He should tell DNA to get busy and pay back that loan money to EDIT that could pay for city projects.
RE: The 3.5million owed to the EDIT fund:
That is an excellent point. The council passed an ordinance to appropriate $500,000 to repair the streets. Just think what we could do with 7 TIMES that amount.
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