TRANSPARENCY...

Is  operating in such a way that it is easy for others to see what actions are performed, according to Wikipedia.  It guides an organization's decisions and policies on the disclosure of information to its employees and the public.  

Examples of lack of Transparency with our current mayor and his administration follow:

1.  What sort of mayor does not show up for a debate when there is an election on the horizon?  

2.  When the city council is supposed to approve a budget, why do they not get that paperwork until the meeting for the vote?

3.  When the new swimming complex was to be built, and DLGF director says not to use TIF bonds to pay for such a thing, why then did that happen anyway?   Bonds being backed by property taxes.  One should care when this is not the only bond.   130 million dollars in bond debt.
   
And to add insult to injury, there isn't enough parking by any stretch.  Zoning isn't even aware of the under the table tax payer money being spent on "alternative" parking in peoples yards to the tune of $500 a month.  If you live over there and people are parking in your yard, be sure to go downtown and demand your $500.

4.  Why are we paying a whopping salary to the city attorney and THEN billable hours, which are hard to account for, such that nobody really has a clue where what a lump of taxpayer dollars that even is? 
  
5.  In the past, finding reports of police officers committing crimes has been impossible, breaking and entering, assault......threats, not to mention their ghost employment, working elsewhere and collecting undue comp time.   Quite ridiculous.  

6.  Is transparency when the mayor denies a formal chief of police to testify against the department?  Is transparency when the a video of a chief is denied to be used as evidence? 

What is all this hiding all about?  Things that lurk and hide, vampires, viruses, cancer.  None of it is good.  

SHAME.  SHAME.  SHAME on you Jeff Gahan.  

Taxpayers, govern yourselves accordingly at the next election.   This is NOT the change we voted for in 2012.

MAIL CALL: OUTRAGED PATRON

Everyday we recieve e mails on candidates, elected, officials, city employees and businesses, so we wanted to share with our readers a complaint recieved.

Dear Freedom of Speech,
Over the past ten years we have had first our wedding and all our anniversaries at bed and breakfasts, so we are pretty used to what to expect.   We stayed recently at the Admiral Bickknell Inn late this summer and feel completely mislead by the information on the internet.  The photos in no way reflect the decor or condition of the b and b.  It was a mess.  Children everywhere, not romantic or peaceful. We learned new owners had taken over this year which explains why the reiews were  so misleading. If you want to trip over Barbie dolls and shoes with wet towels hanging about, you might as well stay home.  

Freedom of Speech would like to say:  You are correct.  It is under new ownership and we don't think the 3.9 million dollar street improvement is going to help this business.   Just wondering, too, did the Hysterical Society approve the crazy blue shutters?   You can't fix color blind.  

WHO SAID IT?

We are concerned about a comment made by a candidate for City Council.

At a recent Democrat gathering he was overheard telling  potential voters and we Quote: Candidate Matt Nash stated, that the people should serve local government rather than local government serve the taxpayer.

 And,  he went on to say: Anyone, who (does) not like Mr. Mayor's bonds backed up by TIF's should consider moving or not come to New Albany to live. He doesn't need them or want people to question how he does business....

We at Freedom Of Speech, feel we have paid more than our fair share of taxes and other fees. 

We greatly resent  candidate Matt Nash's statement. 

We are also amazed how the Democrat Party could rig the caucus to replace Matt Nash over Councilwoman Diane Benedetti, that's one for the history books of local political hog wash 

Is it true, all of this, and a bi-polar, domestic abuse individual be supported by the democrat party?  Who are all these clowns?  Seems like a circus of nut balls and not an election of integrity.  

If you ask the questions who and why?  We are going to call Dr. Suess and see if he knows.  

Do we really want a person like Matt Nash representing us taxpayers on Council?

QUESTION OF THE WEEK....

Candidate Baylor what is you stands on TIF'S in New Albany?

Freedom Of Speech would like to say: Mr. Baylor you don't look to bad now that you look and  dress as a candidate. One suggestion: If you own a suit you should have wore one in the Debate....