I just read Roger Baylor's article in the Tribune, "It Shan't Happen Here", and was a little depressed at first. Then I thought, YES WE CAN!
He said that there is a lot of negativity in New Albany, I can't argue with that but I don't think the majority of people are negative. The loudest voices are always the ones heard so that is why he hears them say "It just can't be done here -- and you are a fool to even try."
He says that we New Albanians hate ourselves. I respectfully disagree. I'm not wanting to start a battle but I don't believe the majority of us are self loathing naysayers. Call me "Pollyanna" if you want but I believe the majority of us DO want to improve our city. Look at the number of neighborhood associations that have been started in the last four or five years. Look at the number of people who attended the meeting at the YMCA Tuesday. Although it was disappointing that only one council member showed up.
But besides that, let's prove Mr. Baylor wrong. Let's start an "I love New Albany Campaign" and work to improve our town, starting with keeping the garbage off of the streets and sidewalks.
Summer is coming, let's have a few festivals. Mr. Yoder said they have one almost every week in Newport. We can at least have one a month, even it is small. Let's clean up, fix up, paint our fences, plant a few flowers, whatever it takes. And show everyone that we are proud to be citizens of New Albany.
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69 comments:
Do I need to point out that the naysayers in question generally post anonymous comments in this precise space?
(Shrug). Thanks for reading. I will be delighted to be proven wrong.
Your comments above is exactly what I and many others have been saying for years, only to have cyber-fingers shaken in our faces and told that would be irresponsible, and that we should know better!
Not to rain on your parade, Shirley are you aware that our City of New Albany IS $2.3 million in the red? Look what could have been done with the $5,000 that was handed over to DNA.
New Albany is not Newport, Louisville, Jeffersonville, or Clarksville. It takes a lot of money to do what you all want. People are losing their jobs, and trying to make ends meet. NA does not have the manpower nor the money to add more employees.
YOU CAN TAKE A SIP OF KOOL-AID OF YPU WANT SHIRLEY. IT'S OK TO SMELL IT, STICK YOUR FINGER IN IT FIRST, BEFORE YOU BUY BAYLOR BS. ALL HE CARES ABOUT IS $$$$$$, NOT NEW ALBANY!
I am told there is no hope for our city. That our mayor is corrupt and in control. That it is not our city anymore. That nothing we can do will change matters.
Wrong,my dear friends, you are very wrong. My name is Brad and I am a member of Citizens for Accountability. Yes, the city is a mess. You are right on that. But you are wrong to believe that this city is done. It is not done yet. A city is composed of people. Good people, not wanna bes. And while you might be ready to give up, others like us at Citizens for Accountability we will fight on.
Becyase we understand that individuals can make a difference. Because we understand that change does not materlise mid air-that people make and bring change.
Imagine the difference it will make if each and everyone of us decides to live up to that responsibility.
You have got to clean up the corruptions first, secondly, find out where all our money has gone. Find new ways to fund things and get the books right.
Our city is not built without sweat and blood, and citizens fighting back. This requires a lot of pain staking hours finding solutions to our financial mess first.
So ask yourselves: did you exhaust all your options of making a difference before you decided to give up? Or did you just decide to give up, pack your bags and move? That's what they want us all to do. Move! But this is our town and we are going to take it back.
Proud member of Citizens for Accountability
Nicely put Brad. I totally agree. The beacon of hope is still lit with the words and passion of those fighting back.
In the end what we remember, is not the voices of our enemies but the silence of our friends.
What a shock, the people posting the negative stuff are all anonymous...
Stay on course, hold on, speak for us too. However,, light at the end of the tunnel is not yet switched on.
Good luck folks.
To the persistant anonymous naysayers:
What does the fiscal state of the city have to do with us, its citizens, painting a fence, planting a flower, having a block party, cleaning an alleyway, painting over some graffitti?
Not everything has to be centered around our local government, or done by our local government.
After all, its not our politician dumping the trash in the alleys, spray painting on the old couples garage, etc....
Christopher D. You are so right.
But, why do we pay for Street Department,Sanitation services, Building inspectors, and our Police Department?
Too funny, that was a good one anonymous.
Shirley,
No offense but you are being to sound like Baylor and Obama. We all love New Albany, but things are tight, and everything is going up. Maybe if the city gave us money like they did New Directions and DNA we could do more. Besides were all struggling working two jobs just to make ends meet.
And you, anonymous #10, sound like a typical Republican Limabaughite. Blame everything on someone else and not actually get down to doing something to help your corner of the world. Pathetic.
I'd like to thank all the anonymous posters for proving my point.
"But, why do we pay for Street Department,Sanitation services, Building inspectors, and our Police Department?"
If we have anonymous posters who are so daft as to need a civics lessons as to why we pay for these services, I am frankly amazed at their ability to post on a blog!
Do tell, Amazing Anon, what in deed does the police, sanitation, and street departments have to do with us getting off our collective butts and doing something about the blight ourselves?
Do you have to have apolice permit to carry a concealed paint brush to help an elderly person paint there home?
Or is a sanitation department authorization needed to use a shovel to plant some shasta daisies?
You miss the point, and are instantly trying to politicize something that can be a simple solution....
I agree with Christopher and others. I have seen many people on their morning walks take bags and collect the garbage along their route. It's not something they particularly enjoy, but it has immediate results; similar to raking leaves or a fresh-cut lawn. It's something tangible.
The City services we pay for do exactly that. Trash is picked up out of the cans (not the ground, the alley, the curb, the back yard). It is our responsibility to do the simple task of aiming and hitting the trash can and take it out to the alley or to the curb.
Police - We call them & they come. They can't be everywhere at one time and they need our eyes and ears. I have seen some overkill with three officers at a traffic stop, but then I see others, on their own, watching for speeders, drug dealers, etc. I would like to see more bicycle patrols now that the weather is breaking. I'd also like to know who the officers are - like the old beat cops.
Street Dept - They are understaffed and don't have enough $$ to do all of the major work this town needs. We all know of chuckholes, curbing missing, limbs not picked up etc, but we can call and inform them of the worst. When it comes to storm debris, the City has set up a drop off point on 111. During the neighborhood cleanups, that are easily organized if you call the City and talk to Matt, provide areas with a dumpster for limbs, leaves, etc.
The City is doing what they can with what they have, but carping and sitting back and saying, "I told you this wouldn't work." is getting old. Let's roll up our collective sleeves and get out there and get the litter off the sidewalk, paint a fence, volunteer to help an elderly neighbor with grocery shopping, lawn cutting, painting and the like. We all have a little bit of time to do some good, so let's do it.
I want to thank everyone for posting.
No, I have not been drinking anyone's Kool Aid I just ger tired of hearing, "We can't" My dad always said that can't never did anything.
S.Ellen Jones and Friends and Families of the West End are each haing neighborhood clean ups this spring. If your neighborhood has not planned one yet, please do so. This will be a big step in making New Albany look better and it doesn't cost a dime. All you have to do is call Matt Denison. He is a great guy and is always more than willing to help. He will publish a press release in the Tribune and contact Mickey Thompson of the Street Dept. They will bring dumpsters to your site and pick them up. All you have to do is tell your neighbors to bring their trash and yard waste to your site. Nothing could be easier.
Again, thank you for your comments. I appreciate everyone who does comment if they agree with me or not. But thank you Christopher, Brad and Vicky for taking up for me.
To the self proclaimed New Albanian, Mr. Roger Baylor:
I'm on Social Security, therefore a fixed income. If you'll take $10.00 from your hot dog and pizza bar I'll take $10.00, meet you at Grantline Garden Center and we can buy $20.00 worth of flowers to help beautify New Albany. If you don't want to do that, crawl back under your rock and leave New Albany alone.
Jim,
Roger and the brewing company consistently donate to numerous improvement causes in New Albany.
To come close, you'd have to add zeros to your match offer.
That said, I think a match challenge in general might be a good idea to raise funds. I'd be happy to put my $10 with your $10.
If we're going to ask for other donations, though, we should probably be specific about where the money is going.
Do you have a specific area in mind for landscaping improvements? Also, who will take responsibility for caring for the plants once they're in the ground?
Bluegill are good kids to fish for and for catfish bait, but that's about it.
I will bring my $10.00 to the brewery tomorrow. I think Joe Kraft Park is a good place to start planting. And I will donate 1 day a week to help take care of it.
Insults aside, I'll meet you at the brewery. Downtown or Grant Line location? What time? I can be there after 6:00 p.m. or so.
Jim
Bank Street Brewhouse is closed on Monday.
R
YOU ROCK JIM!
BLUEGILL, YOUR FULL OF BULLSHIT. THE ONLY THING ROGER CARES ABOUT IS THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR IN HIS POCKET. CRY US A RIVER AND LET HIM EXCEPT JIM'S OFFER. IT'S ASHAME THERE ARE NOT MORE PEOPLE IN NEW ALBANY LIKE MR. BAIRD. AS THEY SAY, LEAD, FOLLOW OR GET THE HELL OUTTA THE WAY. ALL HE WANTS TO DO IS ATTACK PEOPLE WHO DON'T AGREE WITH HIM.
WHEN 84% OF OUR GENERAL FUND GOES TO POLICE AND FIRE EVERY DAMN ONE OF YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED.
IF YOU HAVE MORE, THAN YOU SHOULD DAMN WELL PAY MORE. HELL WILL FREEZE OVER BEFORE MANY OF US WILL PUT OUR JOBS, BENFITS AND LONGIVITY ON THE LINE SO GET USE TO IT, WE ARE ANONYMOUS AND WILL NOT BE TREATED LIKE THIRD CLASS CITIZENS IN A SECOND CLASS CITY. YOU WANNA BE'S - DON'T OWN THIS TOWN, WE DO!!!!!!!!
Why don't Baylor say who he is in bed with downtown, and were not talking about his wife either.
Great letter to the Editor Shirley.
Why don't Baylor say who he is in bed with downtown, and were not talking about his wife either.
As always, big words from an anonymous coward.
Don't be a tease. If you wish to substantiate your allegation, step out in the light and enlighten us. But take off the mask first. We'd like to see the whites of your eyes.
THE ONLY THING ROGER CARES ABOUT IS THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR IN HIS POCKET. CRY US A RIVER AND LET HIM EXCEPT JIM'S OFFER.
If Jim's serious, then I gladly accept his offer.
As for the rest of the anonymous screaming coward's accusation, consider this.
You say downtown's dead and not worth investment. Then you point at me and say all I care about is money. But my money's going into downtown. Does this, in turn, mean that downtown is worth the investment? After all, if all I care about is money, wouldn't I place it where the greatest return can be expected?
Yawn.
Just a couple of things....
One, I'd be happy to donate $10 as well.
Two...
"HELL WILL FREEZE OVER BEFORE MANY OF US WILL PUT OUR JOBS, BENFITS AND LONGIVITY ON THE LINE SO GET USE TO IT, WE ARE ANONYMOUS AND WILL NOT BE TREATED LIKE THIRD CLASS CITIZENS IN A SECOND CLASS CITY. YOU WANNA BE'S - DON'T OWN THIS TOWN, WE DO!!!!!!!!"
Thank you for voicing exactly what's wrong with New Albany...
Bluegill,
I will meet you at the Grantline Rd. Brewery at 6:00 today. Even though I don't drink, I'll buy you a beer.
If we can get 100 people to donate $10.00 a month that would be $12,000 a year. With that we could buy the flowers and pay some senior citizen to keep the place up.
I have a "Food & Dining" staff meeting this evening, or else I would host the meeting.
Please be aware that the Urban Enterprise Zone has a landscaping and beuatification program underway. I will defer to Mike Ladd to explain/elaborate.
See you at 6:00, Jim.
If we could get each household in New Albany to give $10 a month, we'd have an annual budget of about $2 million.
Where did you get the $750,000? Downtown will never work, no matter how many streets you reverse, or condo's put downtown. England is nothing but smoke and mirrors and we are going to prove it. Hang onto your keyboards folks New Albany is going to get really interesting soon!!!!!!!
"Hang onto your keyboards folks New Albany is going to get really interesting soon!!!!!!!"
If those of us who give a damn about what happens to New Albany have anything to say about it, you'll be exactly right. Otherwise, just keep quiet, you're just part of the problem.
I'm a little lost. What $750,000 are you talking about?
The shape ALL governments are in and according to the paper today, INDIANA IS SECOND IN THE NATION, perhaps we will have TO DO AWAY with a lot of government.
My voice is to start at the top, not the middle nor the bottom. All in favor?
Where did you get the $750,000? Downtown will never work, no matter how many streets you reverse, or condo's put downtown.
Thanks for proving my original point, anonymous naysayer. With enemies like you, who needs friends?
Shirley: The $750,00 figure is roughly the amount that NABC is investing in the new eatery and brewhouse.
The anonymous naysayer says, again, that it can't be done. If he or she would like to remove the mask, come down and meet me, I'd be happy to explain why I believe it can be done.
I choose not to hold my breath on that offer.
It has not happen in 30 years, what's your plan Mr. Baylor? Since you seem to have ALL the answers (which you don't). What are you going to offer New Albany? More resturants and bars? Why is it so important to (you all), to have Spring Street two ways? What does downtown offer the rest of us? I read in the paper almost daily that lockers and cars have been broken into at the YMCA. I wonder why they never reported that a man pulled a guy on a member and robbed them. Why is DNA accepting taxpayers dollars, why not let your members or yourself raise your own funds? Do you really know what a financial mess our city is in? Do you know the real state of our City, or just what you've been spoon fed. Is it a fact Carl Maylsz went to the council about the city helping your business get a loan and they said NO? How many minors do you serve at Richo's?
Curious George
typo: gun on a member at the YMCA?
Say the word and consider my $10 in the pot as well!
How about it Anons?
ready to put your money where your unknown mouths are?
Since this is "your town", then this stands to benefit you the most.
Or are you afraid that the 85% of the budget for the police and fire departments will somehow make your $10 investment in some flowers wilt?
it a fact Carl Maylsz went to the council about the city helping your business get a loan and they said NO?
No, it isn't a fact.
Now I have one for you. Did you know that Curious George is a monkey.. who lives in the dastardly city?
Curious George is the protagonist of a series of popular children's books by the same name, written by Hans Augusto Rey and Margret Rey. The books feature a curious monkey named George, who is brought from his home in Africa by "The Man with The Yellow Hat" to live with him in a big city.
-- Wikipedia
You might consider doing a bit more homework when it comes to donning disguises.
the new albanian,
Your a liar, I was standing right there when Carl Malysz asked three council members if they thought it would be pasted. The answer was NO!
Would you like to retract your response?
Excuse the miss spelling Shirley, I meant pass.
Love your blog, keep up the great work.
Would you like for me to post my company's financials so you can see where the money came from?
We've not asked anyone on the city council for money. No one other than anonymous blog posters have ever suggested it is true. If all two of you have something solid, send it to the newspaper and I'm sure it will be published. But there really isn't anything to say.
Unsupported assertions like that might lead to libel/slander actions. Gee, maybe that's why you wear a mask.
“Anonymous” slams the city for “waste” but has no problem asking the city to spend nearly half a million dollars for railroad crossing gates behind her house. How many hungry people could have been fed with the gate money?
Mask or not, each and every posting on here has the capability of being traced back to the originals posters IP address. Persons are not as anonymous as they would tend to think they are on here.
Besides, the hoards of anonymous posters, in my opinion is mainly just one, and I have my clues as to who it actually is........
This is getting interesting. You think?
1.The New Albanian: How many people have you attacked and slandered over the past few years?
2. satirist: "Anonymous" slams the city for "waste" but has no problem asking the city to spend nearly half a million dollars for railroad crossing gates behind her house. How many hunget people could have been fed with the gate money?
a. Too funny
b. alot, if you had your facts correct, but you don't. Isn't that surprising?
c. I suggest you call 502-558-9843 ask for Mr. Dennison and get the correct dollar amount, since yours are wrong.
Sweetie, you have no clue the waste in New Albany and on another note, would you like to meet and have a beer, I didn't quite catch your name, surely your first name is not satirist?
So who is anonymous now?
3. Christopher D.:
a. pure speculation on your part.
b. You know what they say when you assume? right?
c. You sure must drink a lot of kool-aid, you're a very angry person and very opinionate as well.
My name always accompanies my writings. Lawyers know where to find me.
And you? Anonymous.
Case closed.
Has anyone else noticed he refuses to answer the questions asked?
Great blog you have here.
Has anyone else noticed he refuses to answer the questions asked?
I happily answer questions that come from the non-anonymous.
If you wish to have a dialogue, by all means compile your questions, take off your mask, and listen to the answers.
Otherwise, I have too much to do to spar with the gutless.
Anonymous criticized me for being Anonymous. I did not criticize her Anonymity. Hypocritical?
Most of the people screaming, anonymous or in public, for fiscal responsibility are pursuing their own self interest.
Price says the government should cut spending. However, that does not apply when Price the landlord wants city government to pay for a transfer station for the landlords.
Valla Ann says the government should cut spending. However, that doesn’t apply when she wants taxpayer dollars to help her business. (Federal dollars, state dollars, city dollars? Where they paid for with all private donations?)
Coffey says the government should cut spending. However, he did not mind increasing the size of a recent city bond issue if the increased proceeds went to his neighborhood and nowhere else.
Seems like a lot of people in town have self interests and do not mind hypocrisy if it serves their self interest.
Anonymous claims the city is $2 million in the red. Does cutting funds for groups like New Directions put $2 million in the bank? What the city spends on these programs is peanuts. It is not the big picture. Self interested politicians and those who aspirer to be politicians are twisting the numbers, shading the trust, and Anonymously spreading hate just because it serves their self interests, political and financial. How do we know Anonymous does not have another agenda against New Directions?
By the way, my name is Brad and I’m with Citizens for A Better New Albany, an organization with 50,000 members and a war chest of millions. Both President Obama and President Bush are on our board.
Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.
Thanks for the chuckle, neo-B.
3. Christopher D.:
a. pure speculation on your part.
b. You know what they say when you assume? right?
c. You sure must drink a lot of kool-aid, you're a very angry person and very opinionate as well.
Angry? Damn right I am agry, there are people who spend a lot of time trying to bring about a rebirth of this city, for those ideas to be shat upon by the likes of you.
Kool-aid? Sorry I dont do the ghetto punch thing. I drink my drink, walk my own walk, think my own thoughts, speak my own speeches.
Assuming, I assume nothing, I know why we have 85% of our budget go to police and fire, I know why we are in the shape we are in politically, because WE, all of us are guilty of accepting status quo, and not putting new innovative blood in the hallowed halls of city government.
But please, again, I beg of you, explain to me why we as citizens should NOT pick up where our government is struggling and spend a little of our time, and our money to clean up this city?
I truly am not a argumentative fellow, I just prefer to be explained to me why I am told I am wrong about my ideologies, and perhaps the middle ground between the two extremes is where the elusive answer lies....
10:42,those nickels and dimes soon add up when the city gives DNA $5,000 of my tax dollars.
GOOD POINT.
What our city council needs to do, is call for an audit. Maybe then, we might then know where all our money has gone.
Your tax dollars, Anonymous?
How do we know you pay taxes in New Albany? We don’t know, do we? Are you a marginally sane homeless man using a computer at the library? Are you some kid at New Albany High playing a prank? Are you some nut job who lives in Clarksville and doesn’t pay taxes in New Albany?
We don’t know.
Or maybe you have another motive? Maybe you used to work for New Directions, got laid off, and now have an axe to grind?
We don’t know.
If we could see that you were someone not motivated just by profits, not motivated just by politics, not motivated just by hate, then maybe we could start to take seriously the posts on this blog. Unless we know who you are, where you stand, and what motivates you, any complaints you have ring awfully hollow.
GOOD POINT BRAD!
Yes, Excellent Point Brad.
-President Bush.
WORD ON THE STREET, THAT MALYSZ IS ON VACATION IN POLAND?
Yes, it has been announced at several venues that he is taking his holiday in Poland. And, screaming is impolite.
JOKE--JOKE--JOKE- HA-HA-
You all say that you want to clean up New Albany. Then--- why don't you tell the Code Enforcement Officer to open her eyes and see the
trashy, dangerous, filthy houses in
New Albany ? Is she still just riding by and listing them as "NO PROBLEM" ? She has been given house numbers for a long time and sees "NO PROBLEM".
Where is the well-paid Building Commissioner on these house lists?
The Code Enforcement Officer is so
dedicated to "CUTTING GRASS" THAT SHE DOES NOT HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT
THE TRASHY HOUSES.
11:35 AM
Your comments are right on target, but, you overlooked one thing.
The Code Enforcement Officer, and
Building Commission Staff evidently can not read the NA CODE Book that gives them the directions and the
power to solve the trashy house problems.
If they could read, our city could be cleaned up right now.
Why was the City County Building shut down today, it's not a holiday.
The Health Department shut it down, due to fumes from the roofing I heard.
I just figured they didn't pay the rent. Didn't Garry tell the Council, they didn't have the money for overtime and the rent?
5:14, looks like you scooped the Tribune. Job well done!
You all say that you want to clean up New Albany. Then--- why don't you tell the Code Enforcement Officer to open her eyes and see the trashy, dangerous, filthy houses in New Albany ? Is she still just riding by and listing them as "NO PROBLEM" ? She has been given house numbers for a long time and sees "NO PROBLEM".
There are two problems in New Albany with Code Enforcement.
First, Pam is only one person. She does a wonderful job but she is only one person. New Albany has far fewer code enforcement officers per capita than most cities. Newport KY, with 10,000 fewer people than New Albany, has seven Code Enforcement officers, which due to budget cuts is down from its norm of about a dozen. New Albany still has only one but is hiring a second officer despite some opposition from our sage council.
Second, Pam can issue citations all day but property owners here know that there is little enforcement. Again, most cities New Albany's size have three or four times the legal staff. Also, they place liens on the property for code violation. New Albany does not. We need additional two or three more assistant city attorneys and as many additional paralegals.
Pam works hard but anyone in her shoes would need lots of extra helps.
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