Celebrating NATIONAL BIKE MONTH

This week in MY FRIDAY COLUMN I take a break a short break from local politics and tackle a subject nearer to my heart:

CELEBRATING NATIONAL BIKE MONTH


As you drive around the Louisville area looking for the lowest gas prices you may be noticing what some refer to as “the derby bump”.  That’s the time of year in the metropolitan area when price gouging is tolerated so that Thorntons,  BP and Marathon Oil can profit from all the traffic that heads into Louisville for the first Saturday in May.   Of course gas prices had already been hovering around the $4 mark over the last few weeks anyway blamed mostly on supply and demand issues and the never-ending unrest in the Middle East.  Over the last few years I have taken matters into my own hands in the battle against high gas prices.

About this time In 2008, when gas prices were nearing historic levels, I decided to make a few changes in my life.  It was spring and the weather was starting to get nice so I decided that I would try to ride a bicycle to work a few days a week to save a little money.  After searching in local classified and on the internet I was able to find a suitable bike just a few miles from my house from an owner that had taken pretty good care of it but just didn’t have the time to ride anymore.  The $25 I spent on the 25 year old Schwinn  Sprint has been the best investments I have ever made.

Over the last few years I have taken to ride to work nearly everyday.  In the beginning I was at the mercy of the weather but over the last few months I have not let the elements stop me.  Over the last several months I have ridden my bike in temperatures ranging from 15 to 90 degrees and with snow flurries falling and rain coming down.  As long as your dressed for the occasion it really doesn’t seem all that bad.

Since 1956 May has been recognized as National Bike month.  The third week in May is designated as Bike to Work week and the third Friday of May is designated as Bike to work day.  According to The League of American Bicyclist over half of the population lives within five miles of their workplace but relatively few people commute by bicycle.  Lack of knowledge or incentive have deterred many from at least trying to ride their bikes to work.

There are many benefits of bicycling to work.  Studies have shown that people who ride a bicycle on a regular basis are up to 50% less likely to experience heart disease.  Cycling to work not only saves you on the high price of gas it also eliminates wear and tear on your automobile.  It has been estimated that you save $1 for every two miles you ride your bike.  If your commute to work less than ten miles you can probably get to work within the same amount of time it takes you to drive.  You also get to your destination relaxed and refreshed and ready to start your work day.

It is very easy to make excuses as to why it is impossible for you to bicycle to work.  The hard thing to do is to come up with a plan to make it work for you.  If you think it is too far, consider taking the bus for part of the way.  All of the local TARC buses are equipped with bike racks on the front to make biking to work a little easier.  If you have to dress nicely for work you can leave a change of clothes at work and change when you get there.

May is set aside as the month to bring attention to bicycle commuting.  I realize that everyone cannot ride their bike to work everyday.  Maybe it is not something you can do for the entire month, maybe you can try it for just a week or maybe just a day.  I think that if you put in the effort to try it once it can  be something that you might be willing to try on a regular basis

Let's get out the Vote

This week in MY FRIDAY COLUMN I tackle one of the most important  rights that our fore fathers bestowed upon as that statistically very few people take advantage of.

LET'S GET OUT THE VOTE


The signs have been out there ever since January.  While the mail box hasn’t been overflowing like in years past, I still have gotten a few mailers.  The newspaper has been filled with display ads from candidates and the letters to the editor have been hyping the candidates.  It is election time again in Southern Indiana.


Every election year I have high hopes.  I feel that the people will do what is right and elect the people that can lead this community into the future.  The only problem is that the  lack of participation is overwhelming. Not enough people actually go to the polls and vote on election day which means that sometimes the best candidates don’t even make it to the General Election.  So many people are out there complaining about the way things are, but so few people take the time and vote.


Things get even worse this year when it is only the municipal elections on the ballot.  Presidential election years are by far the most popular for people to vote in.  Nationally  about 56% of those of voting age turnout for a national election.  That number drops to under 40% in off year election when we elect Members of the House and Senate.  In Indiana, when only the election for city officials is on the ballot it is even worse than that.  Four years ago in Floyd County less than 4700 came out to vote in the primary when more than 28,000 were eligible.

In last year’s primary election less than 18% of voters turned out locally for the election.  That was when everyone seemed to be up in arms about the direction the country was headed.  In November their was historic turnover in the US House of Representatives, but a relatively few people actually took the time to vote.   


It would seem to me that more people should come out to vote in the election for city officials.  The Mayor and members of the city council have  more control over our day to day lives than the President or members of Congress.   How clean our neighborhoods are, how prepared our police and fire departments are and whether or not our garbage gets picked up are all functions of city government.  So why do so many people stay home on election day?


I have heard that some people don’t vote because they believe their vote doesn’t matter.  After some very close calls in recent elections it is hard to believe that someone could think that.  The results of the 2000 Presidential election would have been different with a change of just less than one vote per precinct in the state of Florida.


The problems with the 2000 Presidential election in Florida may also turn people off.  It may never be known how many people’s votes were not  counted or were counted wrong during the “hanging chad” debacle.  Hopefully, the problems that were uncovered with that method of voting have been fixed across the country so we will never have to go through that kind of a recount ever again.


Some people have complained and say they don’t vote because there are no good candidates running.  Sometimes you will be forced to choose between candidates that you believe may be “dogs”.  In that case you just have to pick the ones with the fewest fleas.  You will never find a candidate a candidate that you agree with on every issue, you just need to find the one the you agree with on important issues and choose that one.  If you are waiting  for the perfect candidate that agrees with you all the time then it is probably time for you to run for public office. 

It always surprises me when you hear that elections can actually be swayed by the weather.  The conventional wisdom says that a rainy day is good for incumbents.  It is disappointing that people would actually not go out to vote because a little rain is falling.  The polls are open for twelve hours here in Indiana and it probably will not rain hard for that whole time (knock on wood).  If it does happen to rain, suck it up, buy an umbrella and some galoshes and get out there and vote.


Everybody that puts his name out there and attempts to run for public office deserves our respect.  It is a very hard thing to do to put yourself out there for examination and I wish that more of our best and brightest would do it.  The least we can do is understand the issues and make an informed decision on election day.  I hope that everyone who is able will do their civic duty next Tuesday and take a few minutes to vote.

An old friend writes in support of Steve

With the election just one week away I do not have time give this space in My Friday Column

Today in the News and Tribune Ms. Shirley Ann Larner writes a letter to the editor in support of her councilman, Steve Price.

LETTERS APRIL 26

  It is very similar to a letter she wrote back in January in defense of Price and Coffey

LETTERS JANUARY 19

 That letter was in response to a column I had written a month earlier concerning Mr. Price's failed attempt to disband the "Historical Society" (previously referred to as the Historic Preservation Commission)

THIRD DISTRICT DESERVES BETTER

Ms. Larner is still carrying on with such themes as The Constitution, Land of the Free and Home of the brave.  She believes that her councilman is the champion of the little people  of New Albany and called his opponent names such as "east end snob" she made vague references to conversations she may or may not had with him.

I am not sure if Ms. Larner has had the opportunity to listen to 3rd district candidate Greg Phipps speak but to me the contrast between the two candidates is overwhelming.  Mr. Phipps, as a professor of Sociology at Indiana University Southeast should not be considered a "pseudo-intellectuals" he is an actual intellectual and will be a fine addition to New Albany's city council.

3rd DISTRICT COUNCIL CANDIDATE GREG PHIPPS WNAS COMMENTS

New Albany City Council Candidates Forum at IUS

On Friday night April 22, The candidates for New Albany city council held a forum hosted by the IUS Horizon here is a link to the video of that event.

2011 CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES FORUM

Picking the Best Council Candidates

This week in My Friday Column I discuss the upcoming Primary election in the City of New Albany

CHOOSING THE BEST COUNCIL CANDIDATES

The city of New Albany has a long history of not reelecting its mayors.  Over the past four decades our citizens have only returned two people after their first term in office.  In this century, no one has been mayor for more than four years in a row.  This year, Doug England, one of only two people to be reelected in my lifetime, has decided not to run for reelection, instead running for a seat on the New Albany City Council.  So as of January 1^st, 2012 we will have someone new running our city.

      In recent years the citizens of New Albany have also continued to send people back to the city council that are incompetent and totally ineffective.   This year some of the least effective members on the council are facing some challenges from worthy opponents that deserve a chance to show us what they can do.  With the combination of two of the councilmen not seeking reelection and the challenges to the current group, the next city council could have a drastically different look in 2012.

      Since I started writing this column, my disappointment with a couple of the current councilmen has been well documented.  First and third district councilmen, Dan Coffey and Steve Price have stood in the way of progress for this city and have been on the city council for far too long.  Some of the highlights of their tradition of obstruction of progress in our city include voting for things like disbanding the Historic Preservation Society and against things like paving our streets.  Not to mention the most egregious of all of their transgressions, their ultimately unsuccessful attempts to torpedo Scribner Place and the YMCA project.

      The YMCA is one of the best things that has happened to New Albany in a very long time.  It has been a catalyst for growth in the Downtown and a shining example of what can be done through cooperation and determination.  Besides being hugely successful it has also caused investors to take a look at our downtown.  Before the development very few people were interested in living, dining or shopping in our downtown.  The YMCA has done everything that it was suppose to and more, but if some council members had gotten their way while it was being discussed, it never would have happened.

      Coffey and Price were integral part of a team of obstructionist who fought vigorously against the project and delayed it for a couple of years, the other members were retired four years ago, now it is time to finish the job.  Coffey is facing an opponent he narrowly defeated four years ago and Price is going head to head against just one opponent for the first time.

          In the past when I have written my opinions about these councilmen a reader invariably writes a letter to the editor saying that if I think that I could do better, I should run against them.  The only problem with this plan is that you have to live within the boundaries of each of their respective districts in order to run against them.  I currently reside within the 5^th district in New Albany and I will be voting to replace my council person also.

      There have been several public forums in which to interact with the council candidates.  You can also watch them give personal speeches on WNAS on Insight Cable.  The IUS Horizon and IUS College Democrats will hold a candidate forum tonight April 22, from 7 to 8:30 at IUS in University Center North room 127.  All of the candidates are invited and the public is welcome to come and interact and ask questions in an open discussion.

      The city council that we elect this year will lead us through our Bicentennial in 2013.  We must choose the leaders that we think will lead us through our 200^th year and beyond.  We cannot continue to elect people who are not willing to make the best decisions for our city.  We are on the verge of making great things happen in our community.   It is up to us to elect the best people that are willing to help to make this small city great. 

It's that time of year again...

This week in MY FRIDAY COLUMN I discuss tax day:

HAVE YOU FILED YOUR TAXES YET?

“…if you drive a car--I’ll tax the street.  If you try to sit I’ll tax your seat.  If you get too cold-I’ll tax the heat.  If you take a walk-I’ll tax your feet.”--The Taxman by The Beatles 


I think it is safe to assume that no one enjoys paying taxes.  For as long as records have been kept tax collectors have been some of the most hated people around. In biblical times the tax collectors were looked on with great disdain, equivalent to a prostitute or other sinner.   We think we have it bad but according to Bible-history.com in Ancient Rome every man was to pay 1% of his income in taxes.  There was also an import and export tax, a crop tax, a sales tax, a property tax and an emergency tax.


Last year there was a huge debate on whether there should be an extension of the George W. Bush tax cuts.  President Obama wanted to end the cuts that have benefited the richest Americans for the past several years.  Republicans believed by returning more money to the wealthy, that tax revenues would increase.  Even after several economist insisted that the tax cuts would never have the desired affect, they were still enacted and continue to contribute to the rising debt. The fact is they have contributed much more to the national debt than NPR, PBS, or Planned Parenthood ever will.


Last year’s election was swayed by people that were angry about rising taxes.  The “Tea Party”, taking their name from the patriots who threw tea from the sides of ships protesting England’s tax on the Colonies in the New World.  With leaders like Sarah Palin and Rand Paul leading the charge, the “Tea Party” seemed like a force to be reckoned with.  They campaigned on things like lowering taxes and limiting the governments’ involvement in our lives.  Only time will tell if they actually have any effect on how business is conducted in government.


It always surprises me when someone gets excited about how large their tax refund is.  They don’t seem to understand that they gave the IRS too much money over the past year.  All they did was give the government an interest free loan for the year.    It would make more sense to give the government just enough to get a small refund back or owing just a little.


I have always wondered what would happen if instead of withholding taxes from our paychecks each week, everyone was forced to write a check for their taxes each year.  Would there be a much bigger uproar if there was more pain involved in paying our taxes?  


Over the last few years there have been several fees/taxes that have been increased.  One example is last year when New Albany had to raise the amount that it charged each household for trash pick up.  While there was some people that were upset that there was an increase, it was necessary in order to bring it in line with the amount that the city was being charged by the vendor.  It made no sense to charge the citizens less than the household charge that the city was paying.  Other departments were forced to make up the shortfall.  People get mad for having to pay more for someone to pick up their garbage but I am sure they would be madder if their garbage began to pile up.


Everyone wants to live in a city that is clean with nice streets that are free of potholes.  When there is an emergency and someone has to dial 911 it is important to know that the Police and Fire will respond as quickly as possible.  When you flush the toilet you hope that what goes down will get to where it is going as efficiently as possible.  The problem is that all of these things cost money, and each year the cost keeps going up.


Taxes are necessary to keep the government running smoothly.  Just last week we narrowly avoided a shutdown of all non essential government employees.  It wouldn’t take long for the average household to notice if services just stopped.  We can always complain about our taxes, but I have a feeling they are not going away anytime soon.

Matthew Nash doesn't think it is a coincidence that the Titanic crashed on April 15th.

Let Me introduce Myself

This week in MY FRIDAY COLUMN I use my space to introduce me to the Clark County readers of the NEWS AND TRIBUNE who may not have had the opportunity to read my columns in the past.

LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF

Last week my column appeared for the first time in the combined News and Tribune.  That meant that people that live in Clark County that read the print version only, got their first taste of my column.  I am sure that some people were wondering who I was and how I came to end up in their newspapers.  This week I am going to take some time to introduce myself to those who have not had the opportunity to read my column.


I grew up in New Albany and have lived here nearly my entire life (so far).  My father was the mayor when I was a young child and more recently was chairman of the Democratic Party here in Floyd County.  Both of my parents instilled in me the need to stay informed and pay attention to what was going on in the world around me.  I started reading the newspaper at a very young age, starting with the comics and working my way from sports to features to hard news.

I come from a family of people that have been in the newspaper business for many years.  My grandfather started working for the Courier Journal in the mid 1920’s and stayed there until he retired.  His three sons followed in his footsteps each of them putting in some time in some capacity.  My brothers and I all had paper routes when we were younger for both of the local papers, I guess the newspaper business is in my blood.

My column has appeared in the Friday edition of the paper formerly known as The Tribune, since July of 2009.  My column has focused mainly on politics in New Albany, and the things that may affect our lives.  I have hit on such topics as our dysfunctional city council, unchecked development and its effect on our environment and over the last few months I have tried to better understand the Ohio River Bridges Project. Now that my coverage area has been increased to include Clark County, I look forward to delving into the world of canals, adult bookstores and baseball park tree clearing.

You might wonder why someone from Floyd County would have any opinions about what goes on in Clark County.  My oldest son graduated from Charlestown High School in 2008 and was a member of the Pirate’s undefeated regular season  The first job that I had was in Clarksville.  For the last seven years I have worked in Jeffersonville and Clarksville.  My local income taxes are collected by Clark County, so I do have an opinion about what goes on there too.

Clark and Floyd Counties have more in common than you might think.  We both have had issues with an adult entertainment business in recent years.  We both have had some major funding issues with local governments and our school systems, and with the budget cutting at the state level I am sure we will have more in the future.  We also have had local politicians and public officials who have had trouble with the law, with a few in court for corruption, some having incidents involving alcohol with several DWIs between the communities not to mention, the garbage can incident.

We also have several things that are great about each of our communities.  After years of decline downtown life in Jeffersonville and New Albany have both experienced somewhat of a renaissance lately.  Jeffersonville’s RiverStage and New Albany’s Riverfront Amphitheater both bring people to downtown for great music once the weather turns nicer.  Soon, New Albany, Clarksville and Jeffersonville will all be connected via the Ohio River Greenway which will only bring us all closer together.

I also value the opinions of my readers.  My email address appears each week under my picture and I try to answer everyone who writes to me.   I also have a “Blog” that to all of my columns are linked to and I try to add some bonus material including pictures or links to more information on each of my topics.

It may not always seem like it but my main goal as an opinions columnist is to make my community a better place to live.  Now my community has enlarged to include Clark County also.  I really hope that you enjoy reading my column as much as I enjoy writing it each week.  I know that you will not always agree with everything that I say but at least I hope my column helps you to understand another point of view.