Reader thanks city council for proposed adult ordinance



Having attended the past two New Albany City Council meetings, I wish to publicly thank the council members for their bold and unified stance in regards to the proposed adult entertainment ordinance.

In the face of growing criticism and threats of lawsuits, this council, in two preliminary readings of this ordinance, has voted unanimously in its favor — for those who are not familiar, that is nine votes in favor, zero against.

This response sends a clear message that the city council has a high regard for the safety of children, and the well-being of families in our community.

Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican and regardless if you live inside or outside the city of New Albany, this council deserves enthusiastic support for the stance it is about to take in protecting our community against the harms that naturally follow sex-industry businesses.

The third and final reading of this measure will take place in the council chambers of the City-County Building on Monday night. So often, people are led to show up for such meetings when they are vehemently against some measure or issue being considered. What a refreshing change of pace it would be if the council chambers were filled Monday night with those of us who enthusiastically appreciate what the city council is doing for New Albany with this vote!

What are you doing Monday night? Is it really more important than taking time to applaud the city council for doing the right thing for our community?

— Vince Garmon, New Albany



Reader has something to say to landlords



This letter is in response to articles from this past week in The Tribune concerning New Albany’s rentals.

Both Ms. Harrison and Mr. Haeseley have repeatedly stated their concerns of not having a voice in the conversations via various neighborhood associations, block watch groups, etc. Likewise, they both have said repeatedly that they were going to form an alliance with other landlords and work to solve the problems associated with rental property on their own, so as to prevent city government having to take action.

To the latter I say, as has often been said by many, “We’re waiting!” As to the former, I would invite either or both to attend the monthly meetings of the various neighborhood groups and start a dialogue. We would be glad to supply them with dates, times and locations. However, don’t walk in the door with fairytales about how being a landlord is not being a business person. Nor how clutter left after a tenant abandons the property is somehow not their responsibility. Every building code I have read thus far plainly states that the property owner/agent is responsible for both the interior and exterior condition of said property. There is no indication that I can find that relieves the owner/agent from that responsibility because the tenant left in the middle of the night without informing said owner/agent. Furthermore, I’ve yet to find an indication that somehow that responsibility transfers to the city in such an event. Likewise, every rental/lease agreement I’ve ever read included the forfeiture of deposits to cover that very circumstance.

So if Ms. Harrison, Mr. Haeseley and their compatriots are not guilty of such, then we of the neighborhoods have no quarrel with you. Quite to the contrary! If you know who the offenders are and can help us weed them out by your own means (as in trying to convince them of their ornery ways and therefore change them), we welcome you with open arms. Short of that we will continue on course of lobbying to get enforceable enforcement enacted and delivered.

The long and short of it is, if you are not an active part of the solution, you are most certainly a part of the problem!

— Lloyd Wimp, New Albany