CHEERS
... to Jeffersonville officials’ reported plan to split planning and redevelopment director duties into two positions, so someone can actually focus attention on redevelopment in the city.
Developing new projects and creating new opportunities in the city is important. It’s about time someone is brought on board to look at how to take what the city already has and fix it or make it better instead of always focusing on new construction.
A very depressing drive down the city’s main thoroughfare — 10th Street — is a prime example of what happens when more focus is put on the shiny and new instead of on making what’s old new and good again.
Since July, Jim Urban has been charged with handling both the planning and redevelopment jobs for the city, but last month he announced his resignation from both positions, effective at the end of March.
Rob Stevens, president of the Jeffersonville Redevelopment Commission, told The Evening News last week that solving problems on 10th Street will be a priority for the commission as it moves forward. Let’s hope he keeps his word and that the city’s new redevelopment director shares that philosophy.
— Presentation Editor Amy Huffman-Branham
JEERS
... to Jeffersonville City Councilman Keith Fetz and a bizarre press conference he called for Thursday afternoon. The focus of the press conference, which was eventually canceled by Fetz, was said to be to discuss a committee he wants to form to study local governments’ dependence on property taxes and how to create alternate revenue sources.
But when asked by an Evening News reporter during a telephone interview — after the press conference’s cancellation — to elaborate on some of his ideas for alternate revenue sources, Fetz couldn’t really offer any examples.
It’s a good thing he canceled the press conference, I guess. Because, what would he have talked about if he didn’t plan on talking about what he called the press conference for?
Unless he planned on talking about something else at his press conference ... like perhaps the fact that he’s considering running for mayor of Jeffersonville in 2011 — something he finally admitted Thursday after months of public speculation.
What a disappointment it would be if Fetz had planned on publicly announcing his intent to run for mayor during a press conference he called under the guise of talking about something else — especially since he has recently publicly accused a potential political foe of attending meetings and speaking out on issues just to get his name in the paper and garner attention for himself.
In the news release announcing the press conference, Fetz wrote that “drastic increases in government spending have led to unfair penalization of our citizens.”
But Fetz’s voting record during his two terms on the city council certainly isn’t reflective of someone who is worried about the “unfair penalization of citizens” because of increased government spending. In fact, most residents probably would more readily recognize Fetz as a “save-the-planet” councilman instead of a “save-your-pocketbook” councilman.
Enough with the games, already. Here’s hoping that when Fetz finally does make up his mind to run for mayor, he’ll just send us a press release saying he’s having a press conference to say he’s running for mayor.
— Presentation Editor Amy Huffman-Branham
JEERS
... to students at Greater Clark County Schools unwillingly becoming test subjects for year-round school.
The above is, of course, an exaggeration, but the combination of Jeffersonville High School construction affecting the start of school and Mother Nature messing with the middle months with her snow, cold and wind, the last day — for now — for students will be June 15.
Just three more snow days, kids, and you’ll be going to school on the first day of summer. Whee!
And just so you know, there’s snow in the forecast for Sunday and Monday.
— Managing Editor Shea Van Hoy
CHEERS
... to the folks at 8664.org not losing hope for only an east-end bridge. As co-founder JC Stites told The Evening News this week, his hope now is that the east-end bridge gets built and funding falls through on building the downtown bridge over the Ohio River between Jeffersonville and Louisville. There’s nothing like honesty.
What’s seems to be nearly universal is a need for an east-end bridge first and foremost, and I can definitely agree with that.
If I had my wish, we’d see the quick completion of the east-end bridge, the Big Four pedestrian crossing over the Ohio River, the completion of the Ohio River Greenway and a simple yet logical light-rail system.
Oh, and hovercrafts for everyone. That would be cool, too.
— Managing Editor Shea Van Hoy
READER CHEERS
... to “fireman Steve” from the Louisville Fire Department — who came to Indiana to buy tires — the nice lady in the red sweater and all the fine employees at the Clarksville Steak ‘n Shake for quickly coming to the aid of my 98-year-old aunt, who had a choking spell while we were eating our lunch there Jan. 29.
It’s heart-warming to know there are still many good people out there who are willing to lend a helping hand. Words cannot express my gratitude for all the acts of kindness shown.
May God bless...my aunt is doing great! Thank you.
— Karen DeCamp, Marysville
