Doug's Vision:
My vision for New Albany, like that of most citizens who love our community is positive. All of us want a growing, bustling, beautiful community with happy, safe citizens. We have laid out an ambitious program for New Albany's future. Will that vision be fully realized in the next four years? Of course not. The problems facing New Albany are significant and we will begin addressing them January 1, 2008
* Economic Development
* Public Safety
* Streets and Infrastructure
* Housing/Code Enforcement
* Downtown Development
* Neighborhood Associations
* Cooperation With Other Public Officials
* Clean Up New Albany
The only one correct statement we read so far was: Will that vision be fully realized in the next four years? "Of course not."
Is this more pie in the sky promises from Candidate England?
Is this England's previous campaign repeating it's self?
"Today we are going to ask the hard questions," We as voters want to know:
First, how do you plan to pay for all your so called "Visions and campaign" promises?
1) What is your primary reason for seeking this position?
England states: "I have seen New Albany from both inside and outside city government. My years as Mayor, extensive background in private industry and active involvement in many community organizations have given me a unique perspective and insight into the problems and opportunities in our city. I feel that I have the experience and the knowledge to cooperate with the City Council, citizens, community groups and the business community so that New Albany can live up to it's potential."
Source: Election Q & A: New Albany Mayor's race
Obviously, there are many, many questions we at Freedom of Speech must ask our candidates during this critical election. We must demand the accountability and question the ethics of Candidate Doug England.
Freedom of Speech believes in asking the tough questions:
Candidate England, we would like to know if you had 8 years of perspective and insight to New Albany's problems, why were our problems not corrected when you were Mayor?
example:
* sewers
* 15th Street Corridor
* streets
* downtown
How do you plan to pay for these projects?
Why should we trust you Candidate England?
What can you say to show us "non believers that you have changed" that would make us choose you over Republican candidate Randy Hubbard?
What is your reason as to why New Albany was fined by EPA during your time as Mayor?
Do you feel after taxpayers have spend over $60 million dollars in sewers, should we trust you that you will do what you are promising?
Freedom of Speech would like to know Candidate England why you are willing to give up your position with the Hughes Group, Inc. as Director of Business Development to be our Mayor?
Aren't you taking "one hell" of a cut in pay Doug?
In the past England you were labeled the developer's friendly mayor. Will you put the developers needs before citizens needs?
Have you ever received kickbacks on any project or items as our previous mayor?
* Kickback definition: A kickback is a payment of money, favors, or some other valuable to another to perform a certain desire action, contract or to make an important decision.
Is it true Candidate England that Quarry Bluff Development project is currently going bankrupt and you need a job?
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Voters don't make the same mistake twice!
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4) How do you believe you could get the railroad companies' attention or take control of the local corridors especially downtown to make them safe and more passable?
England states: "Fifteenth Street is of particular concern because the rail cars sway as they pass homes and business along the corridor. This is a dangerous situation that the railroad must address. "I will coordinate street and railroad repairs and that of all other utilities so that improvements made by one will not interfere with the permanent improvements of the other."
Source: Election Q & A:New Albany Mayor's race
Candidate England: Is it not true we had a train derailment during your time as Mayor along 15th Street? Why? How is the current railroad situation any different now, than when you were Mayor?
Didn't the rail cars "sway" when you were in office as Mayor?
Where do you plan to get the millions of dollars in funds to fix the 15th Street Corridor?
Candidate England have you even seen or read: Geotechnical Investigation Phase 1-15th Street Sewer Corrections & Hydrogeologic Conditions Along 15th Street?
* We suggest you read these reports before you make anymore campaign promises.
Is it true Candidate England you have promised all kinds of political jobs if you are elected? You have told several citizens that this is not true but we hear otherwise down at the City County Building...So who is lying? You or them?
You had 8 years in office to correct our infrastructure. And YOU did not solve our sewer problems why should we give you a second chance?
If 82.7% of our budget is used for Police and Fire. Which is for every $10.00 - $8.00 goes to those departments. How can you meet the needs of our citizens without raising rates or borrowing more money?
Why does it seem like your platform Candidate England is based on certain areas of voters? Downtown, Neighborhood Associations, Police and Economic Development.
It looks like to us the voters you are playing to certain groups for their votes?
Are you telling them what they want to hear or misleading all of us?
In recent days Candidate England we have read about you pulling over and flashing your badge. Would you like to explain why you did this, and why you were not charged for impersonating an officer?
Candidate England is it true that you assured US EPA that all homes on Main Street were put on sewers during your term as Mayor?
If that is true. Why was Freedom of Speech contacted this week by taxpayers, at two separate locations, that found out, after 20 plus years, that they had been paying sewer bills and were not on sewer lines. They even spent three days running from office to office to get the necessary permits and were told they could only get permits on certain days from 9am to 11 am.
They were also told that it is not the city's responsibility to have them on sewers. Residents are completely responsible and if not done the city would condemn their house and put liens on the property, if they don't pay the sewer bills.
Thanks to Valla Ann Bolovschak citizens advocate who contacted Barbara R. VanTil of US EPA Region 5, Water Enforcement and Compliance and US EPA attorney, Erik Olson. [Ms. VanTil has replaced retired US EPA attorney, Deborah Carlson.]
Valla Ann has ask US EPA Region 5 for a Federal Investigation of noncompliance.
Freedom of Speech would like to know:
How many other locations throughout the City of New Albany are not on sewers and where is that sewage going?
Maybe Barbara VanTil and Erik Olson can make the city tell them were it is going.
City sewer bills were sent out to residents for a service that was not received. We ask you Candidate England, is that not mail fraud? Didn't US EPA order New Albany to check all the sewers in the Main Street area when you were Mayor?
We suggest all the citizens of New Albany had better find out, if they are connected to the sewers.
If you have ever gone through this nightmare with the city, we ask that you email Freedom of Speech at: VoiceOfNA@aol.com
One final question Candidate England:
If elected mayor how would you help these taxpayer's get back over $14,000 + for out of pocket expenses to be connected to New Albany sewers after paying sewer bills for over 20 years?
Silence your critic's once and for all Candidate England and answer the voters hard questions.
Freedom of Speech feels the biggest issues in the 2007 New Albany Mayor's race that nobody's talking about is: fixing sewer's, EPA, city audits, cutting spending, budgets and paying back the $5 million dollars owed to sewers.
What our readers are telling us:
Citizens of New Albany should be able to trust Public Servants to decide controversial issues in a manner that protects all the citizens...not a selective few...but this is too often not the reality.
Taxpayers of New Albany were denied a public referendum vote on Scribner Place. We dare any elected official to deny this. Referendum votes must be used more often so that the citizens can give direction to their Public Servant "employees" when they are deciding controversial issues.
New Albany needs "Smart Growth."
Taxpayers should not have to pay for negative growth. The citizens should vote to approve or disapprove major proposed projects.
Growth should not be decided by the entities that profit from growth!
Freedom of Speech believes it is reprehensible to intentionally distort the facts for the last 16 years about the real financial state of New Albany.
The street situation in New Albany is an insult to its citizens.
City Government must prioritize its financial resources. And understand what the meaning of NEED vs. WANT is.
Developers are important in the local economy, But...they should not be permitted to undermine the decision making process. "No more free rides!"
Too many tax dollars is spent in too many wrong places. It is time to redistribute those much-needed dollars to the citizens all over town...It's called property tax relief!
All public Officials should be expected to abstain from voting on any issue that benefits his or her major campaign contributor...and/or especially their connections to "PRIVATE COMPANIES AND CRONIES." This includes our current elected officials, future candidates and future Mayors as well.
It's time for our candidates to PUT UP---not KISS UP!
So you have a decision to make voters. Do you want the England politics-as-usual, good ole' boys club, bought and paid for by the powers that be?
Or do you want change?
You the VOTERS will decide on November 6, 2007
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Freedom of Speech would like to say:
Is it history repeating itself, again, or is there an air of change in New Albany?
Voters want change.
We hear it daily that citizens of our city want a government that will listen to them and act on constituent wishes instead of the usual good ole' boy politics.
We have said a thousand times what is important and necessary is simply doing the right thing --vs. doing the wrong thing.
Let us throw "political correctness" out the window. Let us throw partisan politics out, and let us simply implore some basic common sense and do the damn'd right thing!
We believe the voters will indicate their intolerance regarding the direction our present Mayor and his Administration have led us.
Voters are angry about sewers, property taxes, outraged about service fees, the appearance of greed and corruption in our local government.
The list could go on an on.
Will one election change everything?
No, obviously not.
With the choices of candidates running now. We think it will take 4 more years for them to finally "get it."
To our many readers:
We will continue to stand against political and social pressure and government oppression. We will continue to uncover truth and then stand by it. We stand against media bias. We stand for our right to...Freedom of Speech
Thank You...to the many citizens of New Albany for all your thousands of emails and for all your GREAT support!
"Team ~Freedom of Speech"
Blessed is the group who can take bricks thrown at them and build a strong foundation for success. ~ HI
footnote: There were 15 firefighters treated for heat related illness at a house fire this week. On this fire, firefighters were using 4 or 5 air bottles before taking a break and the results were heat exhaustion. These additional 5 firefighters: Greg Wenning, Ron Brown, Dexter Parker, Ben Fee, Justin Howard, were treated at Floyd Memorial Hospital.
Why was this not reported in our local newspaper? Freedom of Speech "supports the men and women" of the NAFD.
Thanks firefighters ~ Your the best!
