Today's C-J has a great opinion piece by John David Dyche called Abramson's lordly ways Abramson's lordly ways courier-journal The Courier-Journal. It is great to see someone in mainstream media join the fight. Of course given the C-J's lack of muster to stand against the Mayor I must wonder how much longer Mr. Dyche will be writing for the C-J.
In the meantime I found it telling that he used other examples of Abramson's ignoring the Metro Council and doing what he wants on his own without consulting or soliciting their opinion such as:
In May 2003, Abramson, entirely on his own, signed an agreement giving the city's $750,000 annual rent from Slugger Field to the Downtown Development Corp. Considering he is on the executive board of the DDC is this a conflict of interest? Can we challenge this legally and seek retribution?
Additionally John goes on to mention the DDC, or Downtown Development Corp. From the article is this from John:
The DDC is a private entity that says it is "responsible for planning for the long-term economic health and vitality of downtown, providing a forum for establishing downtown development priorities among private and public entities, and taking strategic catalytic actions to move these priorities forward." It may be the most worthwhile organization this side of the Salvation Army, but, if so, why did Abramson act alone instead of making that case to the council?
Sure enough the DDC is considered a 501(c)3 entity. Great way to get by some situations but I digress. You can check out the Board of Directors on the DDC here: Board About the DDC Downtown Development Corporation
Interesting to note the familiar names as ex-officio such as Jerry Abramson, Joe Reagan, Jim Host, David Tandy, and David Karem.
Joe Reagan of GLI and Abramson are both executive board members.
With Reagan heading GLI, Karem heading the Waterfront Development, Host leading the arena authority, Tandy wanting to be in the clique, and Abramson lording over all using his puppetmaster mentality, seems it is kind of obvious what the problems are doesn't it? Too many rats in the cheese.
The common denominator is the same one as always.
Abramson essentially heads everything, regardless of what we are led to believe, and that is the essence of the problem. This just more proof that a select few control it all.
It is vital with one man pulling all the strings that we get transparency and accountability as soon as possible. We have lived with this thumbprint long enough. Let's change the direction for the future.
John titled his article: Abramson's lordly ways.
A fitting title indeed.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
5 comments:
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And of course, the ONLY reason the Waterfront isn't simply a part of the Parks department is because they wanted David Karem to have the job - and he couldn't be a city employee and a state legislator. So they created this separate entity just for him. How does he work full time for WDC, and is a partner in his law firm, and work as a legislator?
ReplyDeleteWell said. Check out the boards of all the things Abramson sits on and see who sits with him. Very interesting to note the power players in his circle and easily explains how he continually does what he wants.
ReplyDeletethanks for writing.
Its a pattern of ingrained corruption that is going on in this city. When will the state government, IRS, FBI, and others start investigating Louisville, KY just like they did the now disgraced governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich
ReplyDeleteWhat needs to be done is that Louisvillians need to start withholding their money, funds, and support for the people that are destroying them. That includes boycotting certain businesses while supporting small businesses that support the community. Not to mention showing up at your council meetings and letting them know that they work for you. Not to mention passing out flyers and leaflets letting people know about this site and others.
ReplyDeleteAnyone can do this and just with a printer, computer, typing skills, and the will to make a difference. Its time to start clearing the rats from the city and cleaning things up.
I recall a couple of years ago that one of David Karem's family told me all that he was involved in. I was like, hmmm, now how does he have legal practice, work as a legislator, and WDC. Strange but seems like there is a conflict of interest there as well. Since it is obvious that taxpayer funds fund his legislative office and his job there. He gets taxpayer funds for Waterfront Development Corporation and he gets funds privately from his own law firm. Well he has a right to privately secure whatever money he can from legal practice. But not draw two public salaries from the city and state.
No matter how you cut this, this is another piece of the patronage system that haunts this city. Its why we pay 2.2 percent of our wages for city income tax. Its why the commonwealth of Kentucky has a 5.8 percent tax on your income below 75,000 and 6 percent above 75,000.
Why is it that our neighbor to the north has a 1.5 percent tax on income in most counties, and a 3.4 percent tax on income for the state. Not to mention property tax relief and a better business structure. Its no wonder because this state has spent 40 and 50 years espousing socialism by taxation of small businesses, mom and pops, and even corporations. Which is why the jobs here pay less than about anywhere in the Ohio Valley region other than West Va.
Its obvious that this city is more interested in hosting some festival or playing to the hands of the non smokers lobby or Adewale Troutman. Rather than producing jobs, creating opportunities, and improving the infrastructure for the city.
I often wonder why a city Louisville's size has so many economic refugees, 11000 homeless people, and such a churn in economics, job creation and the like. In fact, around this city with Abramson and his lies, it has been job destruction. Jobs have been lost by the thousands with no resulting economic infrastructure being created to replace those jobs. No professional jobs for our college graduates but plenty of retail and restaurant jobs.
Don't Louisvillians see what is wrong here. Its been 30 and 40 years of city sponsored socialism not unlike what goes on in the corrupt areas of many metros. Which is a system sure to fail and having people sitting on their butts taking government services is hardly a way to economic prosperity. But to listen to Jerry, Jim King, and all of the supporters of Center City, it will be a boon to have more jobs serving lattes, pop jockeys, and servers. Thats the economic gist of it. No leadership, no real development other than burger flipping jobs and seasonal box flipping jobs and a culture of dependence and lack of self sufficiency. A shame this truly is for what was once the center of American industry and manufacturing. That produced the synthetic rubber that defeated the Nazis and Axis powers. The place that once built cars, air filters, ladders, machine tools, dies, etc.
But instead what we have left here are service jobs with service pay levels of 8 to 10 dollars an hour that won't even barely pay for a dumpy apartment for most people. No matter how much they cut their discretionary spending. Shameful Louisville.
What needs to be done is that Louisvillians need to start withholding their money, funds, and support for the people that are destroying them. That includes boycotting certain businesses while supporting small businesses that support the community. Not to mention showing up at your council meetings and letting them know that they work for you. Not to mention passing out flyers and leaflets letting people know about this site and others.
ReplyDeleteAnyone can do this and just with a printer, computer, typing skills, and the will to make a difference. Its time to start clearing the rats from the city and cleaning things up.
I recall a couple of years ago that one of David Karem's family told me all that he was involved in. I was like, hmmm, now how does he have legal practice, work as a legislator, and WDC. Strange but seems like there is a conflict of interest there as well. Since it is obvious that taxpayer funds fund his legislative office and his job there. He gets taxpayer funds for Waterfront Development Corporation and he gets funds privately from his own law firm. Well he has a right to privately secure whatever money he can from legal practice. But not draw two public salaries from the city and state.
No matter how you cut this, this is another piece of the patronage system that haunts this city. Its why we pay 2.2 percent of our wages for city income tax. Its why the commonwealth of Kentucky has a 5.8 percent tax on your income below 75,000 and 6 percent above 75,000.
Why is it that our neighbor to the north has a 1.5 percent tax on income in most counties, and a 3.4 percent tax on income for the state. Not to mention property tax relief and a better business structure. Its no wonder because this state has spent 40 and 50 years espousing socialism by taxation of small businesses, mom and pops, and even corporations. Which is why the jobs here pay less than about anywhere in the Ohio Valley region other than West Va.
Its obvious that this city is more interested in hosting some festival or playing to the hands of the non smokers lobby or Adewale Troutman. Rather than producing jobs, creating opportunities, and improving the infrastructure for the city.
I often wonder why a city Louisville's size has so many economic refugees, 11000 homeless people, and such a churn in economics, job creation and the like. In fact, around this city with Abramson and his lies, it has been job destruction. Jobs have been lost by the thousands with no resulting economic infrastructure being created to replace those jobs. No professional jobs for our college graduates but plenty of retail and restaurant jobs.
Don't Louisvillians see what is wrong here. Its been 30 and 40 years of city sponsored socialism not unlike what goes on in the corrupt areas of many metros. Which is a system sure to fail and having people sitting on their butts taking government services is hardly a way to economic prosperity. But to listen to Jerry, Jim King, and all of the supporters of Center City, it will be a boon to have more jobs serving lattes, pop jockeys, and servers. Thats the economic gist of it. No leadership, no real development other than burger flipping jobs and seasonal box flipping jobs and a culture of dependence and lack of self sufficiency. A shame this truly is for what was once the center of American industry and manufacturing. That produced the synthetic rubber that defeated the Nazis and Axis powers. The place that once built cars, air filters, ladders, machine tools, dies, etc.
But instead what we have left here are service jobs with service pay levels of 8 to 10 dollars an hour that won't even barely pay for a dumpy apartment for most people. No matter how much they cut their discretionary spending. Shameful Louisville.