Piles & Piles & Piles--------
What follows is a letter I sent to the Tribune in response to the article they ran in Sunday's edition concerning trash in our neighborhoods;
Your front page story in this past Sunday’s issue was a good start on shedding light on an out of control problem in New Albany.
As luck would have it, prior to seeing this article, I was out cruising alleys with another concerned citizen Sunday morning to see if it was as bad as I’ve been hearing for months.
I can now confirm that it is worse than one can imagine. Send your camera and reporter down the alley that runs parallel to and between Ekin Avenue & Culbertson Avenue from Silver Street to Vincennes Street. While they are at it , have 'em also check the alleys between Culbertson & Oak and Oak & Elm as well!
Then please run your article again and tell me that I did not see weeds growing out of abandoned cars, weeds grown to camouflage burned out buildings, limbs stacked almost to the roof line between adjacent wooden garages, and enough furniture to fill a warehouse!
In my humble opinion, when the landfill is kept cleaner and more in order than the alley ways of our city, there exists a problem that there is no excuse for. The common council blames the administration for squandering funds! The administration blames the council for not approving funds for needed equipment and personnel! All the while, the trash pile is getting deeper and the slumlords are getting richer.
As a taxpayer, I say it is time for both branches of our city government to put down their purses, put a way their egos, and get on with the business of governing New Albany! In other words, lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way!!
I am appalled by what I've seen in the past 24 hours in just three alleys of one neighborhood of our quaint little city. At the moment, I'm filled with a moral indignation such as I've not felt since I found that my now ex brother -in- law was abusing my neices and nephews. I'm struggling with myself to keep the emotion of it at bay, but I implore any who read this to get involved in your respective neighborhoods!
Get out from under whatever rock you are hiding, see what's going on around you, and take it to your councilperson, your mayor, and any one else of an elected or otherwise official position you can think of. Write letters, make phone calls, send emails, and then do it all over again, and again, and again!
We live here, we work here, we pay taxes here, and we want our government to perform the duties they were elected and are being paid to do on all fronts!! End of story!!
posted by Highwayman @ 6:55 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
That's laying down the gantlet, Highwayman. Game on, to coin a phrase.
Who in God's creation could rationally step up to offer even a semblance of opposition to the clarion call issued by you in this post, by The Tribune in its ongoing coverage, and by the neighborhood associations over the past two years?
I can't exactly say which government officials might lend a hand, but I can certainly take a highly-informed guess at which elected officials will find SOME way to twist your call for decency into some kind of class warfare debate.
But let's turn a new page. As of the moment, no recidivist council members have staked out a position. No cave-dwellers have derided your call as "political" and "corrupt."
So everybody can piggyback on your call and everybody can claim credit. Let's get it done. If public equipment can be marshaled, so be it. If public employees can lend a hand by accommodating to the schedules of the other working men and women of this city, let's just do it! No petitions, no speeches, no Coffeyesque grandstanding and pitcher shows. Let's just do it.
The most important steps will occur after an initial sweep to clean up. Measures to ensure that this same situation doesn't simply repeat itself are crucial to the long-term well-being of downtown, historic neighborhoods.
Numerous cities have enacted ordinances requiring the registration and inspection of rental property. If a property isn't clean, maintained, and regularly inspected, the owner can't rent it out. Period.
Finding the best of those efforts and implementing them in New Albany is a no-brainer. It could be done in a few months' time with the correct political will. As the Highwayman points out, there's absolutely no excuse for not doing so in the face of such compelling circumstances.
You have my support, Highwayman, as always. Your letter was 'right on the money,' and the evidence is indeed clear.
I am, however, sensing that your blood pressure may be getting dangerously high. I truly hope that you partake of "calming measures," such as ale intake.
You know, a low ale level can be dangerous to one's health!
So, proceed, but proceed with a pint or two!
Roz Tate
Lloyd,
I couldn't get an answer as to why my yard clippings haven't been picked up this year!!! i've put them in nice garbage bags and stacked them neatly to be collected...
how about this:
each person from all the neighborhood assoc. step up and run for city council seats. let's start cleaning new albany from the top!!!
T2x4,
There is considerable conversation going on right now about organizing another Clean Up New Albany event in the very near future.
I personally have met with both the mayor & Tony T. to discuss the city's participation in this event.
Hopefully, through the process, both the executive and legislative branches of city government will recognize the problem and step up with real time solutions, or others who are capable & willing to work for change will step forward and be heard.
Either way, change is needed or I don't think it will be denied! Once again I encourage all to write letters, emails, and make phone calls to ALL of your elected and appointed city officials. Better yet, take the time to go downtown in person. You may not be agreed with, but you will be heard!
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