To quote from their article:
".......we believe the challengers are playing to the worst fears and suspicions of voters -- for example, arguing that local government merger has left these three constituencies worse off than they were before, even though merger has helped produce millions of dollars for area drainage projects, playgrounds, waterfront development, sidewalks and beautification."
Um Courier Journal no one is playing up to the worst fears. The worst fears are part of the daily life.
Government agency harassment by Code Enforcement that these idiots all love, and get help with from MaDonna Flood's lovely Chief of IPL husband convicted felon John Flood Louisville News and Politics: Code Enforcement: First in a series, is but one example of the Gestapo tactics Abramson cronies like Henderson, Blackwell, and Flood have been up to.
As far as the millions of dollars beautification etc? Check out the Greenwood boat docks where a lot of money was spent on signs proclaiming what was going to happen and the project was abandoned and is now a weed infested nightmare. Check out the ethics violations by Henderson that his friend Blackwell cleared him of without even consulting federal testimony in the suit brought by Sarah Lynn Cunningham, a suit she won by the way, because of Henderson's illegal act.
Perhaps you want to research the deal with Providence Group on the low income housing projects Henderson got them awarded and they then abandoned leaving sub contractors high and dry with monies owed to them.
Maybe we need to ask businesses in Blackwell's District that have been harassed by John Flood, through his pet IPL harassment office for doing nothing more than showing support for Blackwell's opponents in races. Heck ask Blackwell's fellow teachers what they think of him never being there doing his job. Rumor from anonymous sources at the school say they do not like it and think he abuses the time off privilege. It would seem based on this he has a habit of not doing his job on both sides. Of course get someone on record who is not scared of backlash. That is the biggest thing the Abramson political machine has done. Created an environment of fear of repercussions to stifle dissent. Ask Jim King how effective that is.
Maybe you would want to go to Preston Highway in MaDonna Flood's District and ask how they were treated after she won her seat and the abuse started against her opponents' supporters.
The facts are that Blackwell, Henderson, and Flood are partisan hacks who could care less about their Districts but certainly profit from their job. They have accomplished nothing other than giving Abramson free reign to do whatever he wants so THEY could benefit or their friends could. They have not honored their commitment as Councilpersons to their Districts by putting their egos ahead of the job they were elected to do.
To further quote:
"Our recommendation is that they re-elect Rick Blackwell in District 12, Bob Henderson in District 14 and Madonna Flood in District 24. In the six years since merger was adopted, they not only have gained knowledge that's useful in addressing the quality-of-life issues so many of their constituents are concerned about but also have built useful partnerships at City Hall and throughout local government."
This is the best you could do?
Most out here would sure like to see the "knowledge" that has been so useful to them. The only partnerships they have built at City Hall and local government have been useful to them staying in office and Abramson alone. Certainly not to the majority of the people they supposedly represent.
The people out here are not folks who cater to the worst fears and suspicions. They want fair and equal treatment. They want the truth, not the lies and deception perpetrated by the Abramson rubberstamp machine of Henderson, Blackwell, and Flood, and backed by the Courier Journal. They want people who will truly represent them fairly and justly regardless of political party.
Quite frankly these folks represent the worst of partisanship. They do not work well with others on any side and blindly follow the Abramson machine when the people of their Districts want leadership.
Vote them out. Witten in District 12. Heuglin in District 14, and Weddle in District 24.
This Council needs a change for the better not a continuation of the Abramson machine.
The Courier's endorsements carry little to no weight any more. In fact, in the Southend, they work against you, so let them endorse who they want. Nobody cares.
ReplyDeleteWe need folks on Metro Council who are going to work on behalf of the people in their district, and not as flunkies for "King" Jerry. If we wanted wanted folks without a backbone on Metro Council, we'd elect jellyfish instead. I say throw the bums out.
I find that the Courier-Journal rather than working for the public interest is instead working for the interests of the moneyed few. Especially considering that they constantly pick the hand picked candidates of the Abramson machine. That would be another reason to start to reject their news service.
ReplyDeleteI find that blogs, internet information has just as much if not more credibility than the Courier staff. Its been obvious over the years that the Courier has become a mouthpiece for the Abramson regime. Instead of serving the public, they have instead served the local Abramson machine.
Abramson in the finest traditions of Boss Whalen the notorious machine politician of the late 1800s has been doing all he can to consolidate his control over the masses.
Therefore, its Jerry Vision for this community which used to be a middle class community of middle class values and fine folks. The people haven't changed for the most part but the system has changed and its time for us as citizens to speak up and change the system.
Abramson has been a failure as a mayor, lets admit it. He did some good things with downtown revitalization but still people leave downtown Louisville in droves once the sun sets. The main commercial areas of the city are along Dixie Highway, Preston Hwy, Shelbyville Road, Hurstbourne Pkwy, Westport Road, etc. Its not happening downtown despite having 4th street live, bars, bookstores and restaurants.
The inner city scene here is so much less than other sister cities for one of many reasons. One is public safety. Another is that why go downtown when your local neighborhood has all the shopping you could generally want. If that doesnt work then an excursion to the East End is in the cards.
People like Madonna Flood, Bob Henderson, Rick Blackwell, Dan Johnson, etc have been outspoken advocates of the Jerry Abramson clan. They've marched along lockstep to the orders that the politicos downtown expect from them. After all, Jerry liked to refer to his council members and former alderman as his little rubber stamps. Being a narcissist as Mr. Abramson is not a good thing in public office. He has a track record of overemphasizing his alleged acheivements. Many of which were bad for Louisvillians.
Meanwhile, the city has been having a severe decline in its economic fortunes, job market, and industrial areas. This lack of industry and paying business has left Louisville vulnerable to a downturn in the service economy.
An interesting online publication called Land Machine written by a Louisville resident tells a lot about the current and past states of affairs.
A system of political patronage in order to get building projects done, development completed, and any substantial project completed. You have to know the right people downtown.
This system of patronage included having to know the right Metro Council member to get anything completed and having to go through a system of political intrigue. A city where it is more important of who you know rather than what you know. Thats not a city in progress like the Mayor of the so called Possibility City would like to point out. Reading their propaganda about Louisville being the most livable and Possibility City. For whom? The majority of hard working, family oriented Louisvillians? Or for the moneyed class of the Eastern reaches of this community?
A community looks out for all of its people not a few and not just those most fortunate or highest in the food chain. But all of its people. The Abramson regime and his council lackeys have forgotten that as thousands of jobs have left and not replaced by anything more than careers in services. Not a program of economic development and improvement but instead of patronage, favortism, and nepotism.
This writer as many others in Louisville now know better than trust the empty promises and political patronage of the mayor and his chosen few. Louisville and all its citizens deserve better. Its time for major changes not only in Metro Council but also in boards, civics, and the mayors office. A more progressive approach is needed economically to attain better results.