Hello Friends,
I have not written a new post about the budget shortfalls because I did not know where to begin. This is certainly a mess as everyone knows.
The worst thing we can to now is point fingers at each other. We all need to work together, the Mayor and his entire administration, the city council and every citizen of New Albany. It will take sacrifices on all of our parts may it be higher taxes or fees or forgoing a salary increase, maybe even a salary cut for the higher paid employees as they did in Louisville.
I certainly don't know the answers and I don't know who does. All I know is this "I told you so" which is going back and forth is not helping anyone.
The council will have an emergency budget meeting soon, I wish them all of the luck in the world.
As citizens we can give them our support and quit complaining.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
MAD AS HELL AND MARCHING
The Mad As Hell Doctors came to Jeffersonville last night and were very inspiring. They spoke from personal experience of seeing patients put off needed medical care until it was too late because of lack of health care. They vowed to keep up the fight for single payer and we all cheered.
The rain stopped just before they arrived and there was a beautiful rainbow which reflected our mood. Maybe the clouds of confusion will disappear and Congress will recognize that 60% of the physicians and the majority of citizens want real health care reform.
I want to thank David Ross Stevens for his hard work in organizing this event. And I want to thank Mayor Galligan for his rousing speech in favor or single payer. Additionally I want to thank everyone who showed up in spite of the rain to walk across the bridge with candles and flashlights, signs, and even a coffin (a person dies every 12 seconds without health care) to show Kentuckiana that we are serious.
Please check out the Courier Journal on line, they have a great article and photo gallery.
The rain stopped just before they arrived and there was a beautiful rainbow which reflected our mood. Maybe the clouds of confusion will disappear and Congress will recognize that 60% of the physicians and the majority of citizens want real health care reform.
I want to thank David Ross Stevens for his hard work in organizing this event. And I want to thank Mayor Galligan for his rousing speech in favor or single payer. Additionally I want to thank everyone who showed up in spite of the rain to walk across the bridge with candles and flashlights, signs, and even a coffin (a person dies every 12 seconds without health care) to show Kentuckiana that we are serious.
Please check out the Courier Journal on line, they have a great article and photo gallery.
Monday, September 21, 2009
MAD AS HELL DOCS COME TO KENTUCKIANA
The Mad as Hell Doctors Road Tour will be in our area tomorrow. They will arrive in Louisville around 11:30 and meet with various single payer and health care reform advocates on Main St. near the Center for the Arts.
The big event will be at 7:00 tomorrow night when the doctors join the KNHP and HCHP groups,
Kentuckians and Hoosiers for common sense health care reform. There will be a candle light vigil and walk across the Clark Memorial (Second St.) Bridge.
The MAH doctors come from Oregon and they are crossing the country on their way to Washington DC. They have put up their own money to fund this trip but they will gladly accept donations. These physician/advocates, Drs. Samuel Metz (Anesthesiology), Joe Eusterman (Retired Internal Medicine/Occupational Medicine), Eugene Uphoff, (Family Medicine), Paul Hochfeld (Emergency Medicine, producer of "Health, Money and Fear") and Mike Huntington (Retired Radiation Oncology, co-convener Oregon PNHP) are serious about single payer. By the way PNHP stands for Physicians for a National Health care Plan. Information taken from the Progressive Democrats of America web site-
When you consider that per the lastest Harvard study 45,000 people die per year for lack of health insurance and 60% of bankruptcies are because of medical bills it's time to get serious.
Please join us tomorrow night on the Indiana side of the bridge. Please bring a candle and a flashlight, and rain gear. See you tomorrow.
The big event will be at 7:00 tomorrow night when the doctors join the KNHP and HCHP groups,
Kentuckians and Hoosiers for common sense health care reform. There will be a candle light vigil and walk across the Clark Memorial (Second St.) Bridge.
The MAH doctors come from Oregon and they are crossing the country on their way to Washington DC. They have put up their own money to fund this trip but they will gladly accept donations. These physician/advocates, Drs. Samuel Metz (Anesthesiology), Joe Eusterman (Retired Internal Medicine/Occupational Medicine), Eugene Uphoff, (Family Medicine), Paul Hochfeld (Emergency Medicine, producer of "Health, Money and Fear") and Mike Huntington (Retired Radiation Oncology, co-convener Oregon PNHP) are serious about single payer. By the way PNHP stands for Physicians for a National Health care Plan. Information taken from the Progressive Democrats of America web site-
When you consider that per the lastest Harvard study 45,000 people die per year for lack of health insurance and 60% of bankruptcies are because of medical bills it's time to get serious.
Please join us tomorrow night on the Indiana side of the bridge. Please bring a candle and a flashlight, and rain gear. See you tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
I LOVE NEW ALBANY PART II
The City Plan Commission held their regular meeting tonight. It was a full house in the third floor assembly room.
The atmosphere was cheerful and hopeful, personally I can't quit smiling. The subject of my glee is Docket A-02-09. Basically "Scribner Place II: Path to Progress".
Mr. Tipperman, an Architect, used two full color illustrations on large boards to show developers and the public what could happen in this area just west of Scribner Place to East 6th St. There are different proposals for each block and this is an example, and it is very interesting and exciting.
The residential area will have units ranging in size from approx. 600 sf to 5,000 sf. Each unit will have a patio or a deck. The total residential area will be from 160,000 sf to over 200,000 sf. with the commercial property consisting of around 120,000 sf. The first and possibly second levels will be office space and the upper levels will be residential.
Developer Mike Kopp spoke of how New Albany is flourishing, even in these tough times. He noted that 50 businesses have opened in the last 21 months bring in $7,000,000 in purchase money and $3,000,000 in renovations. He went on to say that people want to live here, and invest here.
Gina Coyle expressed concern over enviromental issues and the cost of cleaning the brownfield, and the sewer and sanitaion concerns. Scott Wood said that all of these concerns are being taken care of and keeping the area "green" is a top priority and every effort is being taken to save the enviroment.
This will take a large investment from the city, ie. the taxpayers. Our part will be $12,000,000 for the parking garage and part of the plaza. But private investors have already pledged $70,000,000 to this project. These people are serious.
Mr. Carl Malysz asked me if I was excited and happy. My first reaction was that we need to put Louisville to shame. Let's really make New Albany what is was always meant to be, the REAL sunny side of the river.
The atmosphere was cheerful and hopeful, personally I can't quit smiling. The subject of my glee is Docket A-02-09. Basically "Scribner Place II: Path to Progress".
Mr. Tipperman, an Architect, used two full color illustrations on large boards to show developers and the public what could happen in this area just west of Scribner Place to East 6th St. There are different proposals for each block and this is an example, and it is very interesting and exciting.
- Just west of the "Y" will be a recreation area, possibly a water park.
- East of the "Y" a developer is interested in a two block area for a parking garage, plaza and high rise condos.
- In the area of East Third and Bank another developer is interested in mixed use development including retail space and condos.
- Another developer is interested in installing a light rail system connecting New Albany to Clarksville, Jeffersonville, and even Louisville.
The residential area will have units ranging in size from approx. 600 sf to 5,000 sf. Each unit will have a patio or a deck. The total residential area will be from 160,000 sf to over 200,000 sf. with the commercial property consisting of around 120,000 sf. The first and possibly second levels will be office space and the upper levels will be residential.
Developer Mike Kopp spoke of how New Albany is flourishing, even in these tough times. He noted that 50 businesses have opened in the last 21 months bring in $7,000,000 in purchase money and $3,000,000 in renovations. He went on to say that people want to live here, and invest here.
Gina Coyle expressed concern over enviromental issues and the cost of cleaning the brownfield, and the sewer and sanitaion concerns. Scott Wood said that all of these concerns are being taken care of and keeping the area "green" is a top priority and every effort is being taken to save the enviroment.
This will take a large investment from the city, ie. the taxpayers. Our part will be $12,000,000 for the parking garage and part of the plaza. But private investors have already pledged $70,000,000 to this project. These people are serious.
Mr. Carl Malysz asked me if I was excited and happy. My first reaction was that we need to put Louisville to shame. Let's really make New Albany what is was always meant to be, the REAL sunny side of the river.
I LOVE NEW ALBANY
The Floyd County Democrat Women's Club has a different venue for our meetings every month.
We had our September meeting last night at the new Jackson's Fish restaurant at West 4th & Main. Unfortunately the owner thought we would be meeting on the 15th instead of the 14th. When I arrived the place was packed. As it turned out we had to rearrange a few tables as soon as they were vacated and form a row of three tables to accommodate our crowd. As it would happen we had a large turnout for our meeting.
We still had a wonderful time and great food. I highly recommend this restaurant, it is very reasonable and everything is new and shiny.
Again, I just can't get over how things have improved in good ole' NA in the last couple of years. Everyone agreed last night that Jeffersonville has nothing on us.
We had our September meeting last night at the new Jackson's Fish restaurant at West 4th & Main. Unfortunately the owner thought we would be meeting on the 15th instead of the 14th. When I arrived the place was packed. As it turned out we had to rearrange a few tables as soon as they were vacated and form a row of three tables to accommodate our crowd. As it would happen we had a large turnout for our meeting.
We still had a wonderful time and great food. I highly recommend this restaurant, it is very reasonable and everything is new and shiny.
Again, I just can't get over how things have improved in good ole' NA in the last couple of years. Everyone agreed last night that Jeffersonville has nothing on us.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
A PERFECT DAY
If you missed the home tour this year please make sure you go next year. When I turned in my ticket at the Farmer's Market yesterday there were already three pages of signatures of attendees and it was only a little after noon!
The tour is self-directed so you can go at your own pace and in any order you choose. The homes and buildings were beautiful and the homeowners were very welcoming an gracious. A couple of the homes were for sale, I hope they had offers because if I had the money...
Well it was the perfect day to drive around and see some dreamy homes and wish that I had one of those beauties for myself.
Thank you everyone who opened their home, or business, or church to eager "looksees" like me.
The tour is self-directed so you can go at your own pace and in any order you choose. The homes and buildings were beautiful and the homeowners were very welcoming an gracious. A couple of the homes were for sale, I hope they had offers because if I had the money...
Well it was the perfect day to drive around and see some dreamy homes and wish that I had one of those beauties for myself.
Thank you everyone who opened their home, or business, or church to eager "looksees" like me.
Friday, September 11, 2009
BIG DAY TOMORROW
Don't forget, tomorrow is the New Albany Historic Home Tour. If you don't yet have your ticket, stop by the Farmer's Market and see David Barksdale, he will be happy to set you up. If you have purchased your ticket in advance, again go to the Farmer's Market for a map and further information.
There are 10 stops on the tour this year, and of course the tour is different than last year:
There are 10 stops on the tour this year, and of course the tour is different than last year:
- Reel House #4 - 1006 State St.
- Jacob Bader Building, Apt 2 - 207 E. Main St.
- Jacob Bader Building, Apt 3
- Warren-Morrill House - 1309 E. Main St.
- Second Presbyterian Church - 1307 E. Elm St.
- Cardinal Ritter Birthplace - 1218 E. Oak St.
- Charles E. Richards House - 844 Cedar Bough Place
- The Glen Falls - 1946 Ekin Ave.
- Kiel-Heazlitt House - 2007 East Elm St.
- Louis I. Shrader House - 1825 E. Spring St.
The weather looks like it will be beautiful (thank you God). Hope to have a big crowd.
If you have any questions call Develop New Albany 941-0018 or go to www.DevelopNA.org.
Friday, September 4, 2009
CITY COUNCIL MEETING 9/3/09 TABLE THIS, TABLE THAT
The September 3 city council meeting was pretty tame. The Moratorium Ordinance was tabled as was the Ordinance concerning raising the user/service fees for trash pick up. However, Mr. Messer's amendment passed. This lowered the proposed monthly increase from $5.00 to $2.00.
On a happier note, the cost of living recognition passed 8-1 on the first reading. This is the Ordinance giving the non-bargaining employees a one time wage adjustment to make up for the lack of a salary increase in 2 years.
Mr. Coffey formed a fact finding committee to look into the idea of a moratorium on building. It seems there was a question as to the legality of such an ordinance. The committee will be composed of three council members, John Gonder (chair), Bob Ceasar, Kevin Zurschmeide, two attorneys, Stan Robison and Shane Gibson, three developers and one of the engineers from the Storm Water Board. Mr. Gonder wanted one of the victims of the recent flooding added but Mr. Coffey said this was only fact finding and the public input was already on record. The results of the meetings will be presented at a public meeting, where the citizens can give their opinions.
At the end of the meeting a business owner spoke during the non-agenda public communications. Her first name if Vickie (sorry I did not hear her last name). She has a hair salon on 15th and Spring and the empty lot next to her has large sink holes which caused her basement wall to cave in. Very scary indeed. Thankfully Mr. Price and some of the other council members will contact the storm water board to see what can be done to help her. This is in spite of the fact that the problems are on private property. Thank you Mr. Price for helping this citizen. In my opinion that is what our city council is supposed to do.
Finally, Ordinance G-09-19 failed 6-3. This was the one which gave Georgetown 5 years to pay on their agreement.
On a personal note, I want to thank the council and everyone for conducting the meeting in a businesslike fashion, hardly a voice was raised.
On a happier note, the cost of living recognition passed 8-1 on the first reading. This is the Ordinance giving the non-bargaining employees a one time wage adjustment to make up for the lack of a salary increase in 2 years.
Mr. Coffey formed a fact finding committee to look into the idea of a moratorium on building. It seems there was a question as to the legality of such an ordinance. The committee will be composed of three council members, John Gonder (chair), Bob Ceasar, Kevin Zurschmeide, two attorneys, Stan Robison and Shane Gibson, three developers and one of the engineers from the Storm Water Board. Mr. Gonder wanted one of the victims of the recent flooding added but Mr. Coffey said this was only fact finding and the public input was already on record. The results of the meetings will be presented at a public meeting, where the citizens can give their opinions.
At the end of the meeting a business owner spoke during the non-agenda public communications. Her first name if Vickie (sorry I did not hear her last name). She has a hair salon on 15th and Spring and the empty lot next to her has large sink holes which caused her basement wall to cave in. Very scary indeed. Thankfully Mr. Price and some of the other council members will contact the storm water board to see what can be done to help her. This is in spite of the fact that the problems are on private property. Thank you Mr. Price for helping this citizen. In my opinion that is what our city council is supposed to do.
Finally, Ordinance G-09-19 failed 6-3. This was the one which gave Georgetown 5 years to pay on their agreement.
On a personal note, I want to thank the council and everyone for conducting the meeting in a businesslike fashion, hardly a voice was raised.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
TOWN HALL MEETING WITH BARON HILL
Hi everyone,
Due to a prior commitment I was unable to attend last night's town hall meeting at IUS. Would the attendees please weigh in with your comments?
It would be greatly appreciated, inquiring minds (like mine) want to know.
Thanks,
Shirley
Due to a prior commitment I was unable to attend last night's town hall meeting at IUS. Would the attendees please weigh in with your comments?
It would be greatly appreciated, inquiring minds (like mine) want to know.
Thanks,
Shirley
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