FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"NO BAILOUTS, NO HANDOUTS, AND NO COP-OUTS"

2012-01-27T03:04:00.002-05:00

Did you notice something missing from Obama's State of the Union speech on Tuesday?

Obama forgot to mention his biggest "accomplishments": sticking the American people with liberal policies, like Obamacare and the $814 billion dollar Stimulus, that destroyed jobs, pile up debt, burden our small businesses with runaway regulations, and focus on redistributing wealth rather than make our entire economy stronger.

However, after 3 years as President, he has also embarked on a path of bailing out company after company, giving hands outs to his friends like Warren Buffet and George Soros through crony capitalism, and blaming everyone but himself for the horrendous state of our economy.

There are no twisting words here - Obama has not only failed at showing any leadership, but has done so while blatantly deceiving hardworking Americans with empty promises!

So, how's that hope and change working for you?

Are you VOTERS still buying Obama's BS?

GINGRICH VS OBAMA?

2012-01-23T01:58:00.004-05:00

Anyone could beat Obama.

Obama stands reasonably accused of sacrificing American lives with Fast and Furious to shoe-horn a Gun Control issue into the "2012 election cycle!" And Obama will lose.

Gingrich will confront Obama about stonewalling the Fast and Furious subpoenas, Holder lying to Congress and an Asst. US Attorney taking the fifth.

When the moderator breaks in to stop Gingrich from confronting Obama, Newt will cut the poor liberal flack off at the knees (metaphorical) speaking. At that point Obama may very well start crying, and WE want to see that!

Fast and Furious, Europe's welfare economies going up in flames before our very eyes. Solyndra, the Muslim Brotherhood winning the Egyptian parliament, the Keystone pipeline, the NLRB in SC, Obama is a target rich environment for any candidate who can cut through the MSM/Obama campaign template.

Can Newt win?

Heck yes, in a landslide!

FREEDOM OF SPEECH SALUTES 10 OUTSTANDING WOMEN OF 2011...

2012-01-19T02:17:00.010-05:00

These 10 Outstanding Women have embarked on becoming a new class of leaders for the City of New Albany and that means "Commitment to our community."

It means taking a proactive stance, through involvement in our community that makes a difference.

It means standing as an example for the rest of the community.

It means being leaders, mentors, judges, elected official, advocates, educators, businesswomen, citizens activist, city or county employee, children's advocate that calls on citizens to respond, inspiring all citizens of our community to want to make a difference and get involved.

So, let us tell you about these 10 Outstanding Women:

* She is the first female judge in Floyd County history. She served 15 years in the Floyd County prosecutor's office as chief deputy prosecutor.

* Her tireless effort to establish a safe place for teenagers to meet, thus keeping our children safe and off the streets

* They're bipartisan approach to all citizens makes their offices the most taxpayer friendly in the City County Building

* Successful businesswoman who is dedicated to helping local citizens while protecting the rights of New Albany taxpayers, families and children.

* Devotion to improve education

* Gives hope to the disadvantaged

* CASA - child advocate

* Demonstrates outstanding leadership and acts with courage and nerve

* Citizens advocate who has spent countless hours, months and years of her time learning the ins and outs of our City Sewer System. Her knowledge could help solved many of our sewer problems. Her experience and knowledge is priceless.

* She is the second youngest judge elected in Floyd County.

These 10 Outstanding Women of New Albany impact each and everyone of us.

Freedom Of Speech is proud to take this opportunity to thank everyone of you for your hard work and acknowledge the tremendous debt this community owes to everyone of you.

We're well aware how difficult and sometimes unrewarding it can be but you can be assured what you 10 Outstanding Women do is "appreciated and is important."

They are a great example of Leadership in New Albany.

Without question, these 10 women have had a significant impact on this city we call home

Lana Aebersold - County Council, and Business Woman

Lodema Applegate - Former Township Advisory Board Secretary

Amy McCord Clere - A true Educator of foreign languages

Lois Endris - Floyd County Recorder

Dana Fenley - County Councilmember

Maria Granger - Superior Court 3 Judge

Rebecca Gardenour - Floyd County School Board member, Educator, Retired Social Worker, and Court Appointed Special Advocate and CASA Coordinator

Susan Johnson - Citizen Advocate, Sewer expert and private citizens

Anna Schmidt - Private Citizen, former Redevelopment Board member

LeAnne Wiseheart - Former School Board member, spear headed & organized the Surfboard, CASA member and Real Estate Appraiser

Freedom Of Speech would like to say: We applaud these 10 women and many other women in our community who also work hard to make our community a better place to live. It comes down to individuals making a difference for what they believe in. It shows to the rest of us what is possible.

Congratulations!
Freedom Of Speech Staff

footnote: The following names are listed in alphabetical order only.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH SALUTES THE 10 OUTSTANDING MEN OF 2011...

2012-01-17T02:12:00.007-05:00

The heart of a city is it's people. These men stand up for the best interest for New Albany citizens.

They work hard and play by the rules. And most of all they look out for their neighbors, co-workers, and the many needs of the "little people" of New Albany.

It's well known these men have:

* Supported the best interest for New Albany citizens

* Worked with local groups to provide food and supplies for the needy

* Listened to concerns of the public

* Not afraid to stand up for the rights of us citizens

* Supports the best interest of fellow employees

* They put their lives on the line for all New Albany citizens

* Successful businessman who give back to our community

* Goes above and beyond to bring detailed information to the table

* They always lend a helping hand to the citizens of New Albany

* Dedicated to real public service

Freedom Of Speech salutes and appreciates these outstanding 10 men, and their courage to stand up for what is right. These men through generosity and compassion devote themselves to helping others.

They are a great example of leadership in New Albany:

Todd Bailey - Former Police Chief

Ed Clere - State Representative

Brian Gadd - Asst. Fire Chief

Maurice King - Citizens Advocate

Larry Kochert - Former Council member, and private citizen

Chris Morris - Editor, New Albany Tribune

Steve Price - Former 3rd District Councilman

Tonye Rutherford - Coach, IUS student

John Schellenberger - 4th District County Council

Bill Schmidt - Former City Councilman, and private citizen

Congratulations!
Freedom of Speech Staff

footnote: The following names are listed in alphabetical order only.

HOUSE BILL 1001

2012-01-08T03:23:00.001-05:00

Indiana House Bill 1001 makes it a Class A misdemeanor (the maxium fine for a Class A misdemeanor is $5,000), to require an individual as a condition of employment or continuation of employment to:

1. become or remain a member of a labor organization

2. pay dues, fees, or other charges to a labor organization

3. pay to a charity or another third party an amount that represents dues, fees, or other charges required of members of a labor organization. HB 1001 does not apply to federal employees subject to certain federal laws, certain employees over whom the federal government has jurisdiction, state employees, and employees of a political subdivision.

It is our opinion Right To Work would have almost NO impact on job growth because employer conclusions regarding Indiana workforce education and ease of customer access will continue to be much more important than the minor question of whether or not a union contract requires employees to be dues paying members.

The great majority of any new businesses that move to Indiana will choose to not have a union shop in the first place.

Freedom Of Speech supports Right To Work!

AN OPEN LETTER.....

2012-01-05T02:58:00.005-05:00

The election is over. You've been sworn into office.

Perhaps as never before, the challenges for local government are great, and the taxpayers are looking to you and your fellow elected officials for results; it's time to get to work!

Understanding the complex relationships that already exist and getting along in your particular role is important to the city. If you are unable to get along with your elected colleagues, at least to a reasonable degree, your meeting may become combative and nonproductive.

Is that what we elected you for?

Even agreeing to disagree in a polite or sensitive manner is possible, if everyone works at it. If you are able to do so, us taxpayers may have greater respect for you to set aside personal differences and work for the taxpayers good.

As council members, you're a member of the policy-making body of our city. While you may only have one vote, the council as a whole plays a crucial role in the city operations.You as council member adopts the budget, approves contracts and expenditures, develops personnel policies, passes public safety ordinances to help safeguard our community, and undertakes a multitude of other tasks essential to the city operation.

Your constituents elected you to provide that leadership, and we expect you to keep those of us who voted for you informed.

An important point to remember is that while the fire, police and parks programs may be the more prominent to the public eye, there's a lot more to local government.

Turn on a tap. You expect clean water. Or, flush a toilet or empty a sink. We drive on streets built and maintained by our city. As an elected official, you can't let these issues become invisible. It's a big job and, in tough economic times, a very difficult one.

Open government is on the minds of us taxpayers, and violations of the law or any law, can help destroy the public's perception. You must be impartial when it comes to fairness.

It's time to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Remember:

I, ____ do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the constitution of the United States of America and will support the constitution of the State of Indiana, and that I will faithfully, impartially and dutifully discharge the duties of_____ in New Albany, Indiana, according to law and to the best of my ability.

Good luck and much success!

Will be watching every vote you make.

Freedom Of Speech Staff

ARE WE READY FOR 2012?

2011-12-31T23:59:00.008-05:00

As we approach 2012 we here at Freedom of Speech have been pondering about what the new year will bring. Here are some of the questions we need to ask ourselves.

Have we the citizens of New Albany had enough yet?

Will we finally have accountability from the new Mayor?

Will there be an end to the mismanagement?

Will there finally be an audit?

Will there be an end to the conflict of interest?

Does it exist? You bet it does.

Will there be an end to the same people sitting on multi-boards and collecting a salary from each?

Will we have qualified people making the right decisions with our money?

Will we be able to drive down our streets without having to worry about potholes?

Will our sewers finally be repaired?

Will our new City Council President be able to stand up to the Mayor?

These are just a few of the questions and issues for 2012.

As we close 2011 we need to become focused on the future of New Albany. Next year will be very interesting. We need to come together and stand up and be counted, things won't change if all we do is sit and talk about it.

All of us here at Freedom of Speech want to wish each of you a Happy and safe New Year.

ACCOUNTABILITY, CREDIBILITY AND INTEGRITY IN NEW ALBANY GOVERNMENT... WHERE IS IT?

2011-12-31T01:42:00.002-05:00

Political credibility is probably the single most important variable defining the success or failure of any given local government.

Our local government's credibility is a tangible and measurable asset.

Local governments are credible if they are able to deliver services such as keeping the city clean and public utilities working efficiently.

Local government is increasingly responsible for raising own source revenues. As such, if a local government is to be financially viable it must confront its constituency with the cost of providing services.

In the current measure the constituents "do not trust" our local government.

Discretionary power does not refer to the right to make decisions but rather deriving personal gain from choices made.

Accountability is the underlying element with which corruption can be addressed. As long as there is personal gain overshadowing the accountability there will always be an opportunity for corruption in local government.

The formula for failure of local government:

Corruption = Power + Discretion - Accountability

The challenge is where common sense political leaders and administrators are motivated to serve the public without private gain.

And their own personal agendas.

Furthermore, it is necessary to fully capture the manner in which our local government interacts with its constituents.

What we need to do is:

* Making public information public

* Increasing public participation and

* Establishing administrative structures that promotes transparency and reduce discretionary power as well as the "propensity" to be corrupt

* Allowing bad local government to fail

* Accountability, credibility and integrity should always be in local government

Our elected mayor and local council members should have a stake in our community. At its most basic level our local government is required to simply collect revenue and apply local ordinances.

Citizens deserve accountability.

Our current Administration has failed to establish a working relationship with its citizens.

Mayor England had the choice to:

* Increase the publics confidence level in our local governmental operations

* Increase department head accountability for financial reporting and all information disclosed to the public

* Develop a stronger, more independent audit system

* Stringent purchasing policies, tighten spending, and timely reporting is necessary to adhere to budgetary constraints under which local government operates

* Looking out for the best interest of all the citizens of New Albany

And Mayor England has failed miserably!

Accountability is the essence of our democratic form of local government.

It is the liability assumed by all those who exercise authority to account for the manner in which they have filled responsibilities entrusted to them.

They must be accountable to the people.

Freedom Of Speech would like to know who will bring Accountability, Credibility and Integrity back to the City of New Albany?

So we say to you, Douglas B. England, your the worse Mayor the City of New Albany has ever had. Leave the keys with security on the first floor and don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.

Good riddance!

A HAPPY NEW YEAR GREETINGS FROM KATIE

2011-12-29T02:03:00.002-05:00

From : Katie Dept. Manager
To: All 3rd Floor Staff
Subject: Ethics Classes
Date: Dec. 29, 2011

Dear Staff:

As you've probably heard, we've had a teensy glitch in the document leaks department; A certain new Mayor, who shall remain nameless, has been naughty lately, and the blogs are all over him for lying.

Now we'd usually just ignore this sort of thing, but our new Mayor has even been sworn in yet! So we clearly have to send out a "we care about ethics" message, to get the taxpayers off our new mayor's back.

Here's what we're gonna do.

I'll be holding ethics classes the first two weeks in January, and you all have to come. Booooring!!! - yes, I know. But I promise my class will be really short.

As an extra inducement, I'll devote 95% of each session to a talk which I like to call "keeping the council members and taxpayers in the dark."

The following topics will be discussed:

* No more paid 3 hour lunches.

* All offices facing Hauss Square be on the look out for taxpayers and/or Council Members heading to the 3rd floor.

* Comp Time

* Take home cars at the malls

* Cell phone calls to out of state family members after the holidays

* Grocery shopping during working hours

Excuses to use before releasing any documents:

(a) Everyone has to fill out a form
(b) We're to busy
(c) Copy machine is broke
(d) The person that handles this is in a meeting

Do you get my drift...staff?

And needless to say, there won't be a test. Of course there will be a gazillion page questionnaire.

Just kidding! ROFLMAO

After all, a little birdie tells me many of you may be hiring criminal lawyers real soon...and those guys are PRICEY!!! So the time to sock some cash away is NOW - Big Time!

Just kidding! HA...HA...HA!

Please check the attached schedule to see which slot you've got, and stop throwing our new mayor under the bus.

He needs some New Year cheer, before the voters eat him up come Jan. 1, 2012!

Remember it's the taxpayers money we're spending!

Happy New Years
Katie Dept. Manager
New Albany
Document Department

PS...Do not leak this memo!

Source: Anonymous

YOUR INVITED....

2011-12-28T01:57:00.001-05:00

In keeping with tradition, we would like to invite you to attend a brief Swearing In Ceremony:

When: Thursday, December 29th

Where: County Commissioner's Meeting Room on the second floor of the City County Building

Time: 4 pm

Keith Henderson, Floyd County Prosecutor will officiate the ceremony.

We'll have refreshments and you can cheer on the the new candidates for 2012.

Dave Matthews

HOLIDAY GREETINGS FROM FREEDOM OF SPEECH

2011-12-24T02:03:00.002-05:00

As the Freedom of Speech family gathers with family and friends to celebrate the joys of this holiday season.

We are thankful to those who have given us their support throughout the year.

We are so grateful to have so many people touch our lives and to have such rewarding work that challenges and inspires us.

We will always be grateful to each of you for helping to make that possible.

We will continue to fight for each and every taxpayer. This "we promise."

We have and will make a difference in City Government of New Albany in 2012.

Our entire Freedom of Speech family wish you and your loved ones peace, joy, health, and goodwill during the holidays and in the coming year.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!
Freedom of Speech Staff

OUR LETTER TO SANTA ...

2011-12-23T02:01:00.007-05:00

Dear Santa,

We have been very, very good taxpayers this year.

We have gritted our teeth and put up with Mayor England's lies and mismanagement of our money, Carl Malysz dumb ideas, along with him trying to TIF our entire city and Shane Gibson's bad advice and him being paid for what he thinks he's worth.

We held our heads down in shame when our Mayor took over storm water utility, annexed Charlestown Road and switched to in house billing.

We have learned not to ask where the TAXPAYERS money goes, because they won't tell us the truth.

Since WE have been so good Santa, WE want...

A toilet that flushes.

A local newspaper that prints the truth instead of what the mayor wants and we feel Santa our local newspaper should keep their opinions to themselves instead of playing politics.

A sump pump for OUR basement to keep the raw sewage from mounting up and having our homes condemned.

A fire hydrant that works ...

A new calculator for our new controller so they can find our m$ney.

We want sewer lift stations with alarms, vinyl sewer pipes to replace the old clay ones.

Santa can you PLEASE find England, Malysz and Gibson a real job at the North Pole? We're really tired of them free loading on us taxpayers

We want to be New Albany Police Officers so WE can have a shiny new car with "free gas" to drive everywhere - but wait Santa, instead of being police officers we think we might want to be "mayor" so we don't "have to work" and still make $75,000 + a year!

And there's more Santa.,,

We want a Council that doesn't cut deals, one who will put the Lords Prayer back in our council meetings, ones who can read a green bar and will give us more than 5 minutes to state our complaint. And, we want them to remember they work for us taxpayers instead of the Democrat Party or the new Mayor.

We want our council to have more people like the "gang of four" - who cared about us taxpayers.

We want a Street Department that cleans up our alley's instead of the Neighborhood Associations areas.

And Santa, thank you for giving us a new mayor in 2012. The other one got drunk and spent all of our m$ney. One who will say what he means and means what he says! One who will be there and not pay $93,000 for a stand in.

And Santa, we sure hope he keeps his campaign promise of CHANGE too!

We hope our new mayor will fix problems instead of creating problems and who can be compassionate for us taxpayers.

We hope our new mayor will keep his campaign promise of a audit and won't continue to commit malfeasance, or ask us to turn off our cable so we can pay our sewer bill.

Santa, we know our list is long after all we pay a lot in taxes and don't get what we pay for, but we deserve all the nice perks that the Mayor, the former (phony) Deputy Mayor and the Police Dept. gets.
Santa can you please explain to some people that you don't need to take a bond out to pave streets, fix our sewers and drainage, or turn one way to two way, or to hire more police and fireman by borrowing money we cannot afford to pay back.

And Santa, we are sorry we could not leave your favorite OREO cookies this year, thanks to soon-to-be X Mayor England the only thing we can afford is an off brand peanut butter sandwiches for you.

"Merry Christmas Santa!"

Sincerely,
The little People

DO YOU KNOW A GRINCH?

2011-12-22T02:44:00.002-05:00

Every family and/or circle of friends has at least one person who hates the holidays.

This person starts to get cranky right after Halloween and doesn't stop moaning until after New Years. It's a too-cool-for-family-celebrations or the too-good-for-a-mainstream-holiday intellectual.

This person hates the lights, the mistletoe, the eggnog and even the presents. But most of all, they hate that sappy holiday cheer.

Bah, humbug, indeed.

But don't let "I hate holidays" types get you down, especially when you're tasked with buying them gifts.

We say: get over yourself Grinch, you give gifts because you want to, not because you have to!

Merry Christmas Grinch

TOP 10 COMMENTS.....

2011-12-21T02:12:00.002-05:00

Top 10 Comments made By The Reindeer During Their Xmas Flight...

10. "Sheesh! What's he been eating this year? ROCKS?"

9. "He shouts all our names all the time, sure, but do you really think he knows which one is which?"

8. "I never knew Donner had a tattoo THERE..."

7. "Sure...His seat is a floation device. What about us?"

6. "Tried those new lite oats? You really should."

5. "Man, I hope we pause on a rooftop soon. I'm beat..."

4. "Hey! Watch the antlers there, buddy!"

3. "Did you hear you-know-who got a nose job?"

2. "You know, after a few hundred miles, these jingling bells really get on my nerves!"

And Finally...

1. "So, you want to go someplace afterwards for some reindeer games?"

Merry Christmas

CHRISTMAS HUMOR -THINGS NOT TO SAY...

2011-12-20T01:41:00.002-05:00

Things Not To Say When Hanging The Lights On The Christmas Tree...

Did you know that hanging lights on a Christmas tree is one of the three most stressful situations in an on-going relationship?

Psychiatrists claim the other two danger zones are teaching your mate to drive and wallpapering. They are rarely wrong on these things.

"You've got two red lights right next to each other, dummy. Your supposed to go yellow, green, red, blue, not yellow, red, red, green, blue..."

"Up a little higher. You can reach it. Go on, try."

"What the hell do you do to these lights when you put them away every year? Tie them in knot?"

"Come away from that aluminum ladder, kids. I'm going to fry that dad of yours."

"If you're not going to do it right, don't do it at all. Don't just throw them on, like you do the icicles. You're worse than your father."

"Give me that!"

"I don't care if you have found another two strings, I'm done!"

"Have you been drinking?"

"Where's the cat?"

Merry Christmas

TEN THINGS TO SAY...

2011-12-19T02:07:00.001-05:00

Ten Things To Say About A Christmas Gift You Don't Like...

10. Hey! There's a gift!

9. Well, well, well...

8. Boy, if I had not recently shot up 4 sizes that would've fit.

7. This is perfect for wearing around the basement.

6. Gosh, I hope this never catches fire. It is fire season though.

5. If the dog buries it, I'll be furious!

4. Did you forget I am a Democrat mother?

3. I love it -- but I fear the jealous it will inspire.

2. Sadly, tomorrow I enter the Federal Witness Protection Program.

And the Number One Thing to say about a Christmas gift you don't like

1. "I really don't deserve this."

Merry Christmas!

SIGNS YOUR KIDS...

2011-12-18T02:15:00.001-05:00

Sign Your Kids Don't Like Their Christmas Presents...

Spelled out in Legos on the front lawn are the words "YOU'RE CHEAP!!!".

Moments after they unwrap gifts, you see them for sale on E-Bay.

You wake up and find the head of Elmo in your bed.

Your son simply refuses to understand why you couldn't get him two hours alone with Cindy Crawford.

They ask, "Where'd you buy this stuff -- Crap 'R' Us?"

Season Greeting!

CHRISTMAS HUMOR...E-MAILS

2011-12-17T01:43:00.001-05:00

3 Wise Women

Do you know what would have happened if it had been Three Wise Women instead of Three Wise Men?

They would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole and brought practical gifts.

Seasons Greetings,
Darlene

*************************

Overheard On The Wise Men's Journey To Bethlehem

Man, I'm starting to get a rush from this frankincense!

You guys ever eat camel meat? I hear it tastes like goat.

You know, I used to go to school with a girl name Beth Lehem.

Hey, do either of you know why "MYRRH" is spelled with a
"Y" instead of a "U"?

Okay, whose camel just spit?

All this staring at the star while riding a camel is making me woozy.

Happy Holidays,
Gerald

*******************

A Little Christmas Poem

The wife is shopping for Christmas gifts,
With purchases little and large;
She doesn't believe in Santa Claus...
But she believes in Master Charge!

Merry Christmas,
Jimmy Price Family

CHRISTMAS HUMOR...FREEDOM OF SPEECH HOLIDAY E-MAILS!

2011-12-16T01:36:00.001-05:00

We have received many humorous Christmas emails and decided to share with our many readers. We like many of you are busy with Christmas wrapping , decorating and working on other postings. So enjoy...

Holiday Office Memo

To: All City Employees
From: City Operation Manager
Subject: Office conduct during Christmas season

Effective immediately, city employees should keep in mind the following guidelines in compliance with FROLIC (the Federal Revelry Office and Leisure Industry Council).

1. Running aluminum foil through the Mayor's paper shredder to make tinsel is discouraged.

2. Playing Jingle Bells on the push-button phone is forbidden (it runs up an incredible long distance bill) and you know how the blogs are tearing us up over taxpayers paying high phone bills. We highly recommend that you use your Department Heads' Cell Phone.

3. Work requests are not to be filed under "Bah humbug." It confuses the Mayor.

4. Police cars are not to be used to go over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house.

5. All fruitcakes is to be eaten BEFORE July 25. (This was part of the contract package.)

6. Egg Nog will NOT be dispensed in the mayor's water cooler this year.

In spite of all this, the staff is encouraged to have a Happy Holiday.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS
FROM CITY ADMINISTRATION

Freedom of Speech would like to thank the employees who submitted this from the City County Building.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday to all of you.

HEY...IT'S OUR BIRTHDAY!

2011-12-13T04:17:00.001-05:00

Time flies when you're having fun, and all of a sudden it's our fifth Birthday!

Just as a child learns much in their fifth year of life, we have too.

We have learned to read between the lines, and many things are not as they appear.

We have learned the most important thing is to get the facts and numbers out to our readers.

We have the satisfaction of knowing that people are informed of the truth behind the lies, because we have taken the time and initiative to bring it forward.

We have made a difference - whether you agree with us or use our words as your daily humor - you have taken the time out of your life to read what we have to say.

Our motto has always been "if only one person reads what we have to say" we have done our job.

We still believe this...even today!

Our philosophy is "common sense" and seeing things as they really are, and doing things as they should be done.

We would like to thank all our readers for their positive emails and their continued support. It's great to know that so many people read our blog and support what we do.

At the same time, others have let us know that they think our views are muddled, mean spirited, or otherwise incorrect and some have called us racist.

And that's OK with us; we want to hear from everyone that has an intelligent comment about our blog,

We will continue to defend the little people, the working people, and the middle class who play by the rules and pay their taxes and sewer bills.

We appreciate hearing from both political parties and R-o-g-e-r, we even enjoy your criticism, it's nice to be thought of and appreciated.

What will you do NOW that you won't have Price to bully?

"What's cooler than a new box of crayons for 2011-2012!"

To our Mayor, we promise to keep track of your lies as you go out the door. We will keep count how many times you claim "this department and that department is underfunded" in your final days in office.

England you really have put a "new meaning" to the words Tax & Spend, Narcissistic and Delusional!

To our dysfunctional City Council, you know the campaign promises you didn't keep and the budget you never really balanced. You ARE the worse Council we have ever had in the history of New Albany.

We applaud Councilman Price for taking their attacks in most (former)Thursday and Friday's Tribune articles with a grain of salt. Maybe one day these two people might learn what public service really is!

And a special thank you to our State Rep. Ed Clere for showing soon to be X-City Attorney Gibson how to run and honest clean campaign and win.

Oh let's not forget what we have learned from other blogs.

We have learned that Roger still lives in a fish bowl far away from the truth about New Albany, that certain people feel threatened by this little blog we call Freedom Of Speech.

Many others have opened blogs to varying degrees of success.

We are sure others have discovered that it's not easy keeping a blog fresh and current.

New Albany is really a small town and while you are enjoying lunch or dinner at the local bars or restaurants, people are listening to your conversation and taking notes.

Be careful, several notes have been emailed to us.

As we know timing is very important in the blog business.

In closing we would like to pass on this "little bit" of information to a special person or two [No, Roger it's not you.]

We do know what you all are up to. And as they say: "every dog" has their day - some sooner than later!

As they say in the blogsphere, take care New Albany we are not going anywhere.

From all of us at Freedom Of Speech, thanks for your support during the past five years and here's hoping for many more postings to come.

Party on little people, have a Bud Light on us.

Freedom Of Speech Staff

WHO STARTED CHRISTMAS?

2011-12-11T03:26:00.002-05:00

A woman was Christmas shopping with her two children.
After many hours of walking down row after row of toys and
After hours of hearing both her children asking for everything
They saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the
Store elevator with her two children in hand.

She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday
Season time of year, getting that perfect gift for every
Single person on our shopping list, overwhelming pressure to
Go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday
Food and treats, making sure we respond to
Everyone who sent us a card.

Finally the elevator doors opened revealing a crowd in the car.
She pushed her way in and dragged her two kids and all her
Bags of stuff in with her.

As the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and blurted
Out, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be
Found, strung up, and shot."

From the back of the car, a quiet calm voice responded,
"Don't worry, we've already crucified Him." The rest of the
Trip down was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Don't forget this year to keep the One who started this whole
Christmas thing in your every thought, deed, purchase, and
Word. If we all would just think how much better this world
Would be.

Jesus is the reason for the season. Wise men still seek Him.

Author Unknown

HERE WE GO AGAIN....

2011-12-05T02:39:00.003-05:00

It's awful funny that the mayor "again tries" to slip something under the radar. Thank God, for employees who believe in exposing the soon to be X- mayor for his sneaky under handed ways!

Let us show you what Mr. Soon to be X- mayor is pulling over on you taxpayers:

Whereas, the City of New Albany has experienced budgetary freezes in the last four (4) years, including salaries.

Whereas, the Common Council and the Mayor acknowledge that the cost of living has increase over the past four (4) years.

Whereas, Bargaining Employees by contract (police and fire) have a 1% yearly longevity increase in their pay and the non-bargaining employees have no such yearly longevity increase.

Whereas, the Common Council and the Mayor deem it important to the functions of the City and the morale of employees, to NOW, THEREFORE, PAY A COST OF LIVING RECOGNITION PAYMENT AS FOLLOWS:

Employees with years of service:
1-8 years......$750.00
8+ years.......$1,000.00

For the purposes of determining those entitled to the payment and the calculating of years, September 30, 2011, shall be used to determine the employee's payment.

First of all this is bogus, another lie out of Dougy's mouth. In 2009 they received the same amount due to bad morale in the city including the third floor employees.

In 2010 all these employees also got raises!

Freedom Of Speech would like to say: 2012 will be the Year of the Great Reckoning -- the year when the bills come due. After England is out of office.

Remember, folks it is NOT ILLEGAL for city officials, politicians, and even council members to lie (in) most cases. So don't worry - nothing shady is going on, just England and Council woman Benedetti doing business as usual!

Isn't that why we voted that "SOB" England out of office and we ask Mayor Elect Gahan to remove his crooked cronies too?

This is an insult to all the senior citizens on fixed income, who have NOT received a cost of living raise in three years. We ask our readers to remember who votes to give these free loaders a "Christmas Bonus' or should we say "Severance Pay" for all the damage they have done to our city and all the kickbacks they are leaving office with.

Who has put Benedetti up to this? And, why?

As they say if the shoe fits wear it, and to Dougy, be sure to not let the door hit you in the ass on the way out on December 31, 2011.

You're all so done in this town, you can stick a fork in all of ya!

WORLD AIDS DAY...

2011-12-01T02:55:00.004-05:00

This year's theme of "Getting to Zero" by 2015 encourage us, as people of faith to reflect and work to promote human dignity and respect and protect the human rights of people living with or affected by HIV or those who are vulnerable to infection.

This theme encourages us to deepen understanding, develop partnerships and challenge discriminatory laws, policies and practices that stand in the way of access for all to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

Get Involved!

---

This day is dedicated to our special "little friend Joshua." See, Joshua contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion when he was only 3 months old. This special little boy died at the age of 9.

In his memory Freedom Of Speech staff members today, December 1, 2011, donate $1,000 to help fight AIDS.

We miss and love you Joshua. You will always hold a special place in each one of our hearts. There is not a day that passes that we don't miss your precious smile and determination.

Freedom Of Speech Staff

THE MONDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING....

2011-11-28T03:21:00.003-05:00

Cyber Monday, the Monday following Thanksgiving, is one of the busiest shopping days of the year for online retailers.

Retailers notice a spike in sales on this day as many consumers chose not to shop during Black Friday or did not find what they were looking for, headed to the web on Monday from work or home to find bargains.

Many retailers use Cyber Monday to kick off the holiday shopping season by offering special promotions.

We highly recommend to all of our readers to join Ebates.com you will get up to 6% or more cash back on certain purchases. We've been a member for over 3 years and you can join free.

Here's a list of businesses you might want to check out:

* Ace Hardware Coupons
& Cash Back - 4.0%
* Barnes and Noble Coupons
& Cash Back - 8.0 %
* Bath and Body Works Coupons
& Cash Back - 9.0%
* Dick's Sporting Goods Coupons
& Cash Back -3.0%
* ESPN Shop Coupons
& Cash Back - 10.0%
* Famous Footwear Coupons
& Cash Back - 9.0%
* Foot Locker Coupons
& Cash Back - 3.0%
* FTD Coupons
& Cash Back - 20.0%
* Home Depot Coupons
& Cash Back - 5.0%
* Kmart.com Coupons
& Cash Back - 5.0%
* Kohl's Coupons
& Cash Back - 4.0%
* Lands End Coupons
& Cash Back - 6.0%
* Old Navy Coupons
& Cash Back - 7.0%
* Payless Shoe Source Coupons
& Cash Back - 3.0%
* PetSmart Coupons
& Cash Back - 4.0%
* Restaurant.com Coupons
& Cash Back - 15.0%
* Sears Cash Back - 6.0%
* Lowe's Cash Back - 5.0%
* Walmart Cash Back 5.0%
* JC Penny's Cash Back 3.0%

Happy Cyber Shopping!

Freedom Of Speech Staff

GOOD MORNING - IT'S BLACK FRIDAY...

2011-11-25T02:26:00.002-05:00

You couldn't pay us a million dollars to do Black Friday.

Black Friday is our idea of consumer hell. We did it once, regrettably. We shot out of bed at 3 in the morning to stand in a long line to get INTO the store, and an even longer line to pay.

In the end, we saved about $50.

The main problems we have with Black Friday are:

1) the mindset that comes with the day. You are geared to go out and spend, spend, spend. It's certainly every shopaholic's dream to shop until you drop.

2) the deals are generally no better than what you find at random times during the year.

We made our Holiday gift list months in advance.

We completed all of our Christmas shopping back in May. We probably found better deals than anyone out there in that madness this morning.

So, this Black Friday we will be sleeping in, enjoying a leisure breakfast, and really saving money by not blowing an entire day spending it!

The only thing we have yet to do: is wrap all those special presents...

Happy Black Friday to all!

"HAPPY THANKSGIVING!"

2011-11-24T01:32:00.012-05:00

As you gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving, please pause for a minute to express your thanks for the bounty of blessings we all enjoy.

America is a land of abundance, prosperity, and hope and we should not take for granted the things that make our country great: a firm foundation of freedom, justice, and equality; a belief in democracy and the rule of law; and our fundamental rights to gather, speak, and worship freely.

May those of us who sit down to a Thanksgiving meal this year, also take a moment to give thanks for all of the good things and many blessing in our lives!

To our faithful readers,

May your Thanksgiving be blessed!
~ Freedom of Speech Staff

MAIL CALL....

2011-11-20T02:55:00.005-05:00

Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, the rest for me
'Cause I'm Obama.'

Should one percent appear to small
Be thankful I don't take it all
'Cause I'm Obama.'

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
'Cause I'm Obama.'

Don't ask me what I want it for
If you don't want to pay some more
'Cause I'm Obama.'

If you got a corporate jet, your to rich for me
If you got a pet, I'll tax your cat
If you wipe your feet, I'll tax your mat
If your over weight, I'll tax you fat
'Cause I'm Obama.'

And you're working for no one, but me
'Cause I'm President Barack Obama.'

IT'S BAILOUT TIME FOR ENGLAND & NEW ALBANY FIRST....

2011-11-17T02:57:00.011-05:00

What the council is voting for tonight is (1) a $2.3 million bailout for soon to be x-mayor of New Albany. Unless you live under a rock like Councilman Bob Caesar "who will claim he balanced" the budget (cough) it's just another one of his lies.

Our local government is only thinking about the raises they gave, mismanagement and for our own police, fire department and to save face.

You nine council members voted once to make England accountable to us taxpayers. Now that the election is over it is a complete different story.
It's not fair or right for us taxpayers to pay for England's incompetence, and his malfeasance.

Wonder why were broke?

Read below and get your answers:

Balance Estimate for EDIT/Rainy Day/Riverboat Year End 2011-After Appropriation for Rolling Deficit:

EDIT/ Rainy Day/Riverboat
(end 2011)............................$5,472,169

Appropriation - General
Fund...................................($2,300,00)
Appropriation - Parks.........($100,000)

Appropriation - MVH..........($500,000)
________________________________
Balance EDIT/Rainy Day/
Riverboat...........................$2,572,169

---

EDIT 2011:

Ending Balance Oct. 2011..$3,708,792

Est. Income Nov. 2011.......$185,504

Est. Income Dec. 2011.......$185,204

Expense-Remaining of
Budget.............................($1,167,057)
_____________________________

Estimated Balance Ending
2011-No Additional..........$2,912,743

---

River Boat 2011:

Ending Balance Oct. 2011..$1,300,307

Est. Income Nov. &
Dec. 2011..........................$200,000
Estimated Balance Ending 2011
-No Additional.................$847,487
---

Rainy Day 2011:

Balance Oct. 2011...........$1,760,303

Est. Income Rest of 2011..$-0-

Expenses-Remaining of
Budget...........................($48,364)
Total Expected Year End-No
Additional Expenses/
Appropriations..............$1,711,939

---

Total Funds Amounts Available for Rolling Deficits:

Riverboat Fund ... $847,487
Rainy Day............ $1,711.99
EDIT....................$2,912,743
Total....................$5,472,169

(2) $40,000 x 2 for New Albany First:

Freedom Of Speech would like to say:

Why should EDIT dollars be USED for a salary and is this NOT discrimination if they give it to one group and not give it to other groups or non-profits?

Do you really think the citizens of New Albany "will buy local" when they find out it was their EDIT Funds that set this group up?

They can't raise the funds for New Albany First, so they expect YOU to foot their bill!

WAL-MART VS NEW ALBANY FIRST....

2011-11-15T02:49:00.007-05:00

Should taxpayers support every non-profit group?

What does $40,000 pay for:

Salary for part-time employee (20-25 hours/wk) - $25,000

Rent/Phone/ Internet - $2,000

Conference/trainings - $2,000

Marketing/advertising - $5,000

Office/printing supplies - $1,000

Programs of Work - $5,000

Operations and Management/Staffing:

We have attained 32 affiliates in our first six months. Our projection is to double that by the end of our first year and have 100 members by the end of 2012. We intend to hire a part-time director by January 1st 2012.

Question: And, who might that be?

Financial Plan:

New Albany First IBA's initial fee structure is as follows:
Individual/Family Membership - $25/$40 per year
Friends of New Albany First (for non-profits and other interested parties, including business located outside of New Albany/Floyd County)- $50/year
Regular Business Memberships - $120/year
Supporting Business Memberships - $300/year
Sustaining Business Memberships $500/ year

Question: Have you considered having fundraisers and collecting donations?

Freedom Of Speech would like to say:

Our city is sitting on a $2.3 million deficit of miss management and malfeasance. Why should this group or any other group be entitled to our EDIT Funds? Should every Tom, Dick, and Harry that has a non-profit or have applied for non-profit status get funding?

If you do for one then do we have to give to all?

As they say: "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink!"

THANKS DAD...FOR SERVING OUR COUNTRY:

2011-11-11T02:13:00.002-05:00

On this Veteran's Day, we pray that all Americans consider the price of freedom, the feelings of those returning and those at home and still at war.

Be proud you are an American and think about the sacrifices that our men and women have made, and still our making in Iraq, Afghanistan and places which we don't even know about.

Freedom isn't free, and many have proudly paid the ultimate price for us.

We, as a free nation, should be ever grateful for our veterans...past, present, and future and all Military Personnel for having the courage to defend our flag and our country.

Thanks Dad, for teaching us to fight for what "we believe" in.

God Bless America!

CHRISTMAS TREE TAX....

2011-11-10T02:38:00.004-05:00

The new Christmas tree program we've all heard about will impose on U.S. domestic producers and importers an initial fee of 15 cents per tree.

Meaning: it will start at 15 cents, and go up from there.

Implementation 'Delayed.'

Now here rather is a revenue-raising idea that we all can get behind: a tax on stupid. Start with Congress, and by the time you get through the three branches of federal government, the deficit will be wiped out, guaranteed!

Yep, too good to pass up.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES...

2011-11-08T18:23:00.012-05:00

City Of New Albany Mayor:

Jeff Gahan - 4,506

Council At Large:

Shirley Baird - 3,297

John Gonder - 3,556

Kevin W. Zurchmiede - 3,319

City Of New Albany Clerk:

Vicki Glotzbach

District 1:

Dan Coffey - 498

District 2:

Bob Caesar - 734

District 3:

Greg Phipps - 550

District 4:

Pat McLaughlin - 653

District 5:

Diane McCartin-Benedetti - 786

District 6:

Scott Blair - 640

Freedom Of Speech would like to say:

"Mission Accomplished!"

COUNTDOWN TO ELECTION 2011...

2011-11-06T03:01:00.005-05:00

It is such a cliche that many of us roll our eyes when we hear the phrase "every vote counts."

But in New Albany we saw the old saying come true in the primary.

City resident Diane McCartin - Benedetti won her bid to run in the general election for council by a mere 25 votes.

By the same token, Dan Coffey won his chance because of the decisions of just a dozen voters.

But the point remains that it is a squeaker and for all the voters who decided they didn't want to venture out to their local polling place because of the rain or because they were turned off by negative campaigning or, worse of all, because it just doesn't matter if they vote, clearly they need to think again.

This is the most important election the City of New Albany has had in several years.

As we have said before, it is unfortunate so many voters sit local elections out because those who are elected determine so much that affects our daily lives - whether it is our taxes, increase fees, who will haul away our trash, fix our sewers, whether city departments will be cut or major lay offs will happen due to lack of funds.

We recommend you vote for the candidate and not the party. Our opinion is that both party chairman's should be removed!

Matthews and Wilcox both are doing a disservice to their party.

Don't vote "against a candidate" because of the color of their skin or gender.

Be an inform voter.

If you can't find the answer to a particular question call the candidate for your area. You have so much information available on line, council minutes which shows their voting record, and their comments in our local newspaper.

For those who have grown tired of the rhetoric, deal cutting and think their vote doesn't count or have simply come to "hate New Albany politics" - don't give in now!

The general election is just two days away. Do your civic duty go to the polls and VOTE Tuesday November 8th!

SOLYNDRA DOCUMENTS...

2011-11-05T03:13:00.004-04:00

Obama got subpoenaed to hand over all of Solyndra documents.

Is this a prelude to impeachment?

White House calls Solyndra subpoena "Unreasonable burden in the president's ability to meet his Constitutional duties."

This is a big joke, right?

Constitutional duties? The Jackass-In-Chief doesn't even know what that means and he certainly never read the document.

So what exactly does he need to hide, Hmmm?

Inquiring American minds DEMAND to know!

Constitutional duties = Multiple R&R's.

e.g - golfing retreats, mansion vacations, vacations under color of "diplomacy", and numerous re-election fundraisers!

The Obama Presidency is so fragile that he can't "Meet his Constitutional Duties" if he has to tell Congress what he is doing. That's like not being able to walk and chew gum at the same time.

Well, thinking about it, we have to admit that does describe Obama pretty accurately.

TOWN HALL SERIES...

2011-11-02T03:41:00.002-04:00

State Budget - House Enrolled Act 1001

* No tax increases
* Structurally balanced in both years of the biennium
* Maintains a prudent level of reserves to protect taxpayers
* Increases tuition support funding by 0.5% in CY12 and 1% in CY13
* Increases funding to K-12 education by $150 million

Where our tax dollars go:

General Fund Appropriations - As Passed Budget
FY 2012/FY 2013 Biennium (in millions)

* 47% Education K-12
* 13% Medicaid
* 12% Higher Education
* 9% Health & Human Services
* 7% General Government
* 5% Corrections
* Teacher's Pensions
* 2% Capital

Living Within Our Means - Indiana's Fiscal Restraints:

* Received 5.0% less revenue (1.34 B)
* Spent 5.5% less than anticipated ($1.52B)
* Ended with a reserve of $1.18B (9.1 of FY2011 expenditures)

Freedom Of Speech would like to thank State Rep. Ed Clere of House District 72 for taking the time to answer our questions and to meet with the citizens of New Albany.

OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY........

2011-11-01T06:13:00.008-04:00

Dorothy Howell Rodham, mother of Hillary Clinton past away early this morning at George Washington University Hospital.

Our Prayers Go out to Hillary, Chelsea, Bill and the entire Rodham Family. Mrs. Rodham lived a long and abundant life and in its celebration, Hillary will continue to learn her lessons and hold her mother close.

Thank you Mrs. Rodham (Dorothy) for sharing Hillary with the world and all of her 18,000,000 supporters.

MAIL CALL...

2011-10-31T02:32:00.001-04:00

On my honor
I will do my best
to take what you
give me and steal
the rest.

Sincerely,
Douglas B. England

Happy Halloween!

POLITICS 101...

2011-10-26T02:58:00.012-04:00

Voting is a responsibility that ever citizen should take seriously. That's why it's important for citizens to vote in local elections.

Everyone wants their voice to be heard and their opinion to count.

After reading a letter to the Editor:

"Reader says he's backing Messer." You Mr. Smith have done a disservice to Mr. Messer. You should have had the guts to also list that you were on Jack's team, but you didn't.

Have you forgotten we are a small town of over 37,000 people?

When you throw mud at others, not only do you lose a lot of ground, you also get your hands dirty.

Hot heads and a bitter heart never resolves anything!

What you wrote in your letter hurts Jack more than it will ever hurt Jeff Gahan. Do you know how fast it will get around our "little town" that you are a member of the Messer election team?

Yes, you are entitled to your opinion Mr. Smith, but you are NOT entitled to your lies, mudsling and accusations!

You claim to know so much about running a campaign and all. Well Randy, we have a news flash for the "We Back Jack Team."

You have set Candidate Messer up to be fined $50.00 for each of his passed "Elect Jack Messer" green flyer's.

Freedom Of Speech has collected 75 of them and at this point we have no idea how many more are out there.

Here's our point, since it seems like Messer's campaign is being ran by a bunch of yahoo's. (cough) You did not put the disclaimer on his printed material. You know the one that says: Paid for by the committee to elect Jack Messer

To prove to you Mr. Smith that we know what we are talking about. We will gladly share with our readers Jack's back page:

Dear Friends,

For way too many years, a small, self-appointed group has manipulated our elections in order to limit our choices when it comes to city offices. This is especially true when it comes to the office of mayor.

Blah, blah, blah.....

Sincerely,
Jack Messer

For more about me and my campaign, see my Website at webackjack.us or follow me on Twitter and Facebook - Messer for Mayor

"No disclaimer."

You, Mr. Messer, are in deep doo - doo! The State of Indiana's voters division attorneys frowns on candidates who don't play by all the rules.

We sure hope you got some "extra green backs" to pay for these fines!

What happen to your:

Honesty - Integrity - Pride?

FLEABAGGER'S VS AMERICAN TEA PARTY...

2011-10-21T02:44:00.005-04:00

"In some ways, they're not that different from some protests that we saw coming from the Tea Party. Both on the left and the right, I think people feel separated from their government. They feel that their institutions aren't looking out for them."

Barack Obama

The president's undignified dialogue of envy worship and class division is getting embarrassing to the nation but we need to understand that his gambit originates in a community of Maoists and Che Guevara supporters and Obama's goal is to stir their emotions into a frenzy of hatred and covetousness.

The Obamobedient media has tried to pass this shiftless group of unwashed progressive leftists as a liberal counterbalance to our "American Tea Party" movement. The "fleabagger movement" is in no way an original new political movement of the people as the American Tea Party is.

The American Tea Party are a lawful and patriotic group of middle class democrats, republicans and independent protesters whereas these "fleabaggers" are merely out to break the law, get arrested, and attract attention to their unworkable political implausibilities.

This is nothing but another attempt by Obama, SEIU, Acorn, Unions, Colleges and left wing groups to cause strife in an already stressful time.

We recommend you go to Craig's List under the NYC government job section. These people are being paid upwards of $400 a week to protest and organize.

Obama and the Union rent-a-mobs, should be ashamed!

WE DEMAND A RETRACTION....

2011-10-18T03:32:00.004-04:00

Have you seen or read the Sample Ballot: Vote For Your Democratic Candidates on Tuesday, November 8th, 2011?

The Mayor is taking credit for someone else's hard work...a lack of integrity, because he clearly assumes we will just accept this claim as true!

Not this time....Mr. Mayor! We're going to expose you for the phony you are and the Narcissistic personality you really have.

In his haste to take credit for work done by State Rep. Ed Clere, England is misinforming you the voters.

He wrote and we quote: "Among Doug's many recent accomplishment $6.7 million dollar grant for neighborhood stabilization including the purchase and restoration of dilapidated housing in midtown neighborhood."

Ronald Reagan always use to say, "Shine a lantern on your own problem," as a candidate.

England's not running or fighting like a confident, battle-tested candidate, he's trying to land sloppy hay maker, and he's leaving himself wide open for the jab that's going to knock him to the canvass.

That's coming on November 8th.

What actually happened was this: The England administration applied for funds for New Albany. But they messed up the paperwork. Their application was immediately denied and lay in a pile of rejections. The possibility of getting funding for New Albany was dead!

Meanwhile, State Rep. Ed Clere, who is always keeping an eye out for ways to help our community, found that federal funds were available for a variety of projects. Clere, who knew about the messed up paperwork, immediately thought of the S Ellen Jones neighborhood and contacted the England administration to get the information needed to re-apply.

Despite constant stonewalling by the England administration. Clere helped New Albany's application get filled out correctly, then he pleaded the case on behalf of the people of the S Ellen Jones neighborhood.

Clere stayed after the application, watching to make sure it got the proper attention and that the people reviewing the application knew how important this money would be for New Albany.

When the money came through, Douglas B. England was quick to take all the credit, making sure to speak with reporters and the public about HOW he'd obtained the funding. Newspapers spoke of an England administration coup while Clere stood graciously to the side, simply being glad that our city is being helped. England even took the bows at the official opening announcement at Ritter Park, mentioning Ed only once- to thank him for being a "paper pusher."

Now, Douglas B. England dares to claim in his campaign propaganda that "he obtained" $6.7 million dollars for the Midtown project when, in fact, he stood by with his hands in his pockets when we know that the money was actively obtained from the hard work of our very own State Rep. Ed Clere.

Facts are such pesky little things, aren't they?

Our final thoughts:

Voters should NOT be surprised to read more of England's political BS and his deception. When you haven't done nothing for four years, but mismanage, lie, commit malfeasance you have to say something.

After all, you can't just make it all up - right, Mr. Mayor?

A DECADE OF DIFFERENCE CONCERT...

2011-10-15T03:43:00.010-04:00

Freedom Of Speech Staff will be attending:

"A DEDADE OF DIFFERENCE CONCERT"

Where: Hollywood Bowl
2301 North Highland Ave.

When: Saturday, Oct. 15th, 2011

Time: 7 pm

A concert celebrating 10 years of the William J. Clinton Foundation & President Clinton's 65th Birthday.

Featuring :

Hillary & Chelsea Clinton

Stevie Nicks

The Edge & Bono

Usher

Lady Gaga

Kenny Chesney

Juanes

and many other special guests

Hope you each have a great weekend. We'll be back on line come Monday morning.

Hillary - 2012

THE CLOCKS A - TICKIN....

2011-10-11T01:58:00.004-04:00

We are reminding all Floyd County residents that they must be registered to vote by the end of the day today (4 pm) to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 8 general election.

To be eligible, voters must be 18 years old, U.S. citizen, and legal residents of Floyd County.

People who have been convicted of a felony or adjudicated mentally incapacitated (Roger Baylor) with respect to voting must have their right to vote restored before they are eligible to vote.

Voters are encouraged to verify their polling places before Tuesday, November 8 general election.

Vote
Jeff Gahan for Mayor
Tuesday - November 8, 2011

LIGHT A CANDLE FOR ....STEVE JOBS

2011-10-07T02:58:00.004-04:00

Yesterday the world lost a visionary leader, the technology industry lost an iconic legend. The Legacy of Steve Jobs will be remembered for generations to come. We believe history will remember Steve Jobs as one of the greatest innovators of all times, the Thomas Edition of the 21st Century.

Maybe, Apple's Board members who knew him well, released the following statement said it best:

"Steve's brilliants, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve."

DRUM ROLL...PLEASE!

2011-10-05T02:53:00.010-04:00

With the upcoming general election right around the corner. In fact, 33 days from now we will be voting for a new mayor and 9 council members.

Our readers do not need a sermon on the fact that voting is one of the best privileges that we have in a democracy!

George Jean Nathan once said, "Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote."

This is the most important election the City of New Albany has ever had.

You might ask, what do we mean by making this statement.

Our city is bankrupt, it is being ran by a bunch of over paid, greedy thugs who will do or say anything to get elected.

Right...Doug?

It is our opinion, any candidate whose only reason for running is to get healthcare should NOT be elected and "NO - City or County employee" should be elected to sit on our council!

If the candidate has a bad voting record you as a voter need to consider: "do you really want them" back on the council?

We like many citizens are tired of the rhetoric, deal cutting, conflict of interest and mismanagement of our tax dollars and the blatant lies told by the England administration.

Incumbent or not. Democrat or Republican it does not matter.

We will vote for candidates whose views on issues support our family first and our community second.

Incumbents or candidates who blindly and cowardly simply follow their parties dictated direction or the mayor deserve NO one's vote and will NOT get ours!

The deal cutting and blatant lies has affected many citizens and has affected their quality of life here in New Albany.

No senior citizen should ever be forced to chose between their medicine or food over a sewer rate increase or even a higher electric bill or an increase sanitation bill.

It is time the democrats and republicans put party aside and stand together to fight the corruption and mismanagement of our tax dollars. City politics, city policies, city contracts are not only affecting the quality of life it is also driving our city into Bankruptcy!

It is time, our time, to clean this city up and get rid of the good old boys.

But we cannot do it without each and everyone of you!

You have until October 11, 2011 to register your family, friends and neighbors to vote. We none can sit idle and let this city continue on the path we are on.

So, Drum Roll...Please!

Freedom Of Speech will list our endorsements for the upcoming General Election:

Mayor:

* Jeff Gahan (D)

City of New Albany Council, Members At-Large: (Pick 3)
* Steve Burks (R)

* John Gonder (D)

Council Member District 1:

* -

Council Member District 2:

* Jessica Knable (R)

Council Member District 3:

* -

Council Member District 4:

* Pat McLaughin (D)

Council Member District 5:

* Tonye A. Rutherford (R)

Council Member District 6:

* Matt Oakley (R)

We wish all these candidates all the best and hope that you are prepared to make the hard decisions COME 2012!

MAIL CALL...

2011-10-03T02:44:00.000-04:00

I know a man, Obama is his name,
Since he's been in charge, we've
never been the same.

No jobs, no future, just promises
of hope and change.

Still no hope, no change.

Obama you remind me of Bela Lugosi.

Not only you, but Biden and Pelosi.

No guts, no backbone, your bleeding
our country dry.

Brad

PROFIT & LOSS 101...

2011-09-27T03:23:00.011-04:00

How many attorney's get paid from our Sewer Utility?

Here we thought Greg Fifer was the only Sewer Utility Attorney.

Wait until you read this crap....

A very interesting thing happen the other day. We received a Profit & Loss statement of 2011 concerning our Sewer Utility.

Our local "Mr. We Back Jack" candidate has been telling everyone who will listen, that he plans to raise and we mean RAISE our "sewer rate" when he becomes Mayor. He feels we are spending to much of our General Fund, EDIT, Rainy Day and Boat Money dealing with our sewer problems.

Well, Mr. We Back Jack: maybe you should question who gets all the money. Since you are promising and now seems to be acting as a kind of employment agency for England's staff for your new administration.

We thought our readers had a right to know who is making extra pocket money off us rate payers.

Legal fees from January 1 through August 8, 2011 - Sewer Utility:

1/4/2011 - Gibson........$596.56

1/7/2011 - Gibson........$120.00

1/20/2011 - Gibson.....$285.00

1/26/2011 - Gibson.....$435.00

2/4/2011 - Gibson.......$180.00

2/15/2011 - Gibson.....$825.00

2/16/2011 - Gibson.....$30.00

2/28/2011 - Gibson....$360.00

3/6/2011 - Gibson......$300.00

3/16/2011 - Gibson....$615.00

3/23/2011 - Gibson....$270.00

4/5/2011 - Gibson......$180.00

4/13/2011 - Gibson....$711.04

4/20/2011 - Gibson...$555.00

4/27/2011 - Gibson....$345.00

5/10/2011 - Gibson....$1,050.00

5/23/2011 - Gibson....$390.00

5/27/2011 - Gibson....$285.00

5/31/2011 - Gibson....$90.00

6/8/2011 - Gibson.....$270.00

6/15/2011 - Gibson...$600.00

6/29/2011 - Gibson...$330.00

7/13/2011 - Gibson.....$75.00

7/20/2011 - Gibson....$420.00

7/28/2011 - Gibson....$60.00

Source: Wilkerson - Sewer Board

WoW...is this NOT the same Gibson who is our City Attorney?

Isn't this the same Gibson who refused to sign about 1,000 sewer liens when he ran for State Rep. and got his butt kicked by State Rep. Clere?

Is this NOT the same Gibson who screwed us ratepayers out of $425,000 owed to us from the Georgetown Sewer Utility deal?

See folks, many council meetings ago in 2010, Dictator England along with his incompetent controller cut a deal with five council members to make Mr. Gibson a full time City Attorney, (like a city of about 37,000 citizens needs to be paying a full time City Attorney a $150,000 + salary).

England and Garry explained by doing this it would eliminate all those other Attorney's on each board and save the taxpayers. (cough) We didn't buy it for one second, but as usual Dictator England had the dirt on those five council members, he cut a deal and got his way.

So in 2011 England made a new (Employee) contract with "Slacker Gibson" a $50,000 salary plus billable hours and other sweet perfs.

Looks like to us: "slacker Gibson" got a real sweetheart deal...

Hmmm...Thinking out loud: (Isn't it amazing England never, ever, got one ounce of dirt on Councilman Steve Price!) Our final thoughts: Our "general election" is November 8, you better look at the mayor's race and council races with great concern. If you like us has been hearing about "Mr. We Back Jack's campaign promises" like:
*Larry Sharlow new Deputy Mayor

* Increase our sewer rate
* Lee Miller - Police Chief
* a $12 million dollar parking garage
* a new LOIT Tax
* (Slacker) Gibson City Attorney
And many, many, more promises and deals being cut, too.

---

Do you folks, really want England sitting on our council? Remember when he told us to turn our cable off so we could "pay our sewer bill" and if we didn't like the way he was running our city "we could move out!"

The real tragedy of all this, is that the taxpayers and rate payers of the City of New Albany are suffering from the damage all these people have done and what they all make off of it.

Your hard earned money!

As of August 8, 2011, legal fees spent out of our Sewer Utility Fund is $277,764.45 and we are $1,106,156.82 over our 2011 Budget.

Now, England wants a 6 million dollar bond for Stormwater.

"God Help us All!" span>

HILLARY BUZZ....

2011-09-23T02:54:00.009-04:00
Pressure is mounting on Barack Obama to throw in the cards and announce that he won't seek re-election as president. Obama is in real trouble when he lost the support of The Chicago Tribune Editorial Board and The New York Times.

Obama got a decidedly downbeat message from his hometown newspaper on Monday - please don't run for re-election.

Chapman, said that Democrats have more-than-able replacement candidate in Hillary Clinton. "Not only that, Clinton is a savvy political veteran who already knows how to run for president."

Oh, and a new Bloomberg poll finds her to be merely 'the most popular national political figure in America today.'

Chapman goes on to say "The sputtering economy is about to stall out, employment is high, his job program may not pass, foreclosures are rampant, his approval rating is at its lower level ever, and the poor guy can't even sneak a cigarette."

Obama's problem is that he knows nothing about the negotiation with those who disagree, because he has always been surrounded by yes-men in his Chicago days.

Obama is damaged goods!

Our final thoughts:

Although we do have to wonder all this talk about him stepping down isn't some way to provide an "OUT" for the brewing scandals: Solyndra and Lightquard.

Keep your eye on former Senator Evan Bayh. There was a reason he retired during Zero's (Obama's) first term. And, he took his $13,000,000 war chest with him.

1+1 still = 2

OBAMA'S CLASS WARFARE RHETORIC...

2011-09-21T03:12:00.003-04:00
Liberals have always played the class warfare game. Barack Obama is a classic example of that type of liberal.

With a dismal failure of a record on economy where the majority of the public disapprove of his handling of it, the country suffering the highest rates of unemployment under Obama, higher deficits than have ever been seen, and raising the national debt higher than any other president'

Obama is making the political calculation to distract from those issues and focus his base on the unfairness of some people being more successful in business than others.

Class warfare is the only thing Obama has left!

Obama has made campaign stop after campaign stop, mentioning over 90 times that he wants his supposed job bill to be passed "NOW", fast before anyone truly figures out that despite his promises to the contrary his numbers don't add up!

What is inexcusable is that he isn't changing course, he is doubling down on his failed policies.

When 72.8 percent of the country, ordinary Americans, see the country is going in the wrong direction one would think that a smart man, (cough) and Barack definitely thinks he's smart, would undoubtedly see what everyone else sees...yet he continues his class warfare games, he continues to allow regulation after regulation to attack small businesses.

Class warfare rhetoric is exactly that, rhetoric.

Obama claim that the so-called rich aren't paying enough, hoping that ordinary folks like us won't actually look for themselves to see that the "rich" are already paying more than anyone else!

Obama isn't just putting his party above the well being of the country, he is doing something far worse.

Obama is putting his own reelection aspirations above party and country.

This is unacceptable!

So how's ALL that "Hope and Change" work'n out for Ya?

911 UPDATE...

2011-09-15T23:43:00.001-04:00
On Tuesday, the County Council tabled the 911 Project.

Tonight's final Council vote on the 911 merger was a 4-4 split vote, with Council member Steve Price absent.

Our sources tell us unless the county is willing to use the entire city's 911 fund, this 911 Project will never pass!

As my mother use to tell us: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

Btw...Councilman Coffey, when do you plan to bring to the Council your Resolution for an Audit?

REMEMBERING 9/11/2001....

2011-09-11T03:35:00.008-04:00
We remember 9/11 like it was yesterday.

We remember walking into our office and watching the beginning/end on a small TV screen and watching grown men cry.

We don't remember the conversations between us that day. What could we have said other than: Oh, my God!

We remember that this was the first time we'd ever seen Marines guarding the White House and the looks on their faces.

We remember watching an American President take the mound at Yankee Stadium. We cheered as loudly as the fans as he threw the perfect strike the country needed.

We remember thinking Toby Keith was the greatest living American songwriter for capturing the anger, fear and pride so many of us felt; even if Peter Jennings didn't like it.

We remember our first and only trip to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, we remember how lonely a place it was. We remember how many bits of shiny metal still remaining on the hollowed ground as we cried our eyes out.

May God bless the passengers and crew of Flight 93 for their courage and valour to defend to the end. Their act of bravery saved countless lives and we will never forget them.

Today we remember the men, women and children who lost their lives; those brave people who gave their lives. And the Heroes that responded to the emergency on 11 September, 2001.

We want to urge that in your September 11 reflections, you will remember the love, the strength, the hope that carried us through and also brings us together as a country.

God Bless America
Freedom Of Speech Staff

PLAYING CATCH UP....

2011-09-08T03:35:00.010-04:00
Last night as the Republicans debated, a primary challenge was at the top of the Drudge Report and many other newspapers and other media outlets following smart analysis in Cheney to Hillary: "You're our only hope!"

The former VP did say on his book tour that Hillary might be the "only hope" that Democrats have of keeping the White House in 2012, and he's probably right.

Speaking of Hillary, our source in Washington emailed us that: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, in remembrance of the victims of the September 11 attacks.

---

Tonight's 7:00 supernova of boobery began, as with all things, in the cradle. We're not referencing Obama in the manger. No, we are saying that tonight's boobery was begat in boobery. Obama wanted a grand jewel box to display his wares so he attempted to big foot last night's debate. Like a flaccid 100 year old without the blue pill on his wedding night, the Obama jewels to be displayed tonight will be nothing but cheap little plastic baubles.

Tonight will feature more Obama payroll tax "holidays" more unemployment benefits and Tax & Spend. Tomorrow will feature more "Hillary Save Us" articles.

Just watch and see.

Same Obama shit, just another stimulus deal!

More of don't blame me, blame "George Bush and the Tea Party" crap.

President Obama is running out of time to remedy a threat far more lethal to his political survival than a cratering economy a growing perception he just isn't up to the job!

So those of you who choose to listen to his repackaged Stimulus Package 2, the rest of us will be looking to a coin toss at another arena.

"Are you ready for some
F-O-O-T-B-A-L-L !!!!!!!!"

"Go - Green Bay Packers"

IT'S YOUR DAY....BRING ON THE HAMBURGERS, HOT DOGS & COORS BEER!

2011-09-05T02:12:00.013-04:00
Ah, Labor Day-a time to relax, celebrate and have one last weekend of parties before summer turns into fall once again. We see this weekend as one last time to play, but Labor Day as a holiday has it's roots in the labor movement of the late 19th century.

All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflict and battles of man's powers over man, of strife and discord for greed or power, of glories achieved by one nation over another.

Labor Day, is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers.

We will keep these labor organizers in mind as we raise a glass-of Coors beer.

It constitutes a tribute to the contributions the workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well - being of our country.

Happy Labor Day... to all the hard working "little people" of New Albany!Many of you are off to work to earn double time pay to help pay their sewer bill increase, stormwater bill increase, garbage rate increase and any other increase this administration can get from US hardworking taxpayers!

Thanks Doug...this IS your LAST term in office and you can take THAT to the bank!

Freedom Of Speech Staff

MAIL CALL....

2011-09-03T02:22:00.001-04:00
I know a man, Obama is his name.
Since he's been in charge, we've never been the
same.
No jobs, no future, just promises of hope and
change.
Still no hope, no change.
Obama you remind me of Bela Lugosi,
Not only you, but Biden and Pelosi.
No guts, no backbone, you're bleeding our country dry.

Christina Houston

Keep those emails coming!

UPDATE ON COMMUNICATION DEAL....

2011-09-02T02:35:00.008-04:00
At last nights Council meeting they left the 911 merger where it should be.

Tabled!

Have they figured how to pay for this merger after the first year with our city on the verge of bankruptcy?

What city would spend a one time amount of $300,000 - $500,000 to remodel a location for the 911 office?

It's a known fact when they don't have the votes....they table the project.

Smart move Doug & Bob, you sure don't want to piss the voters off NOW, do you?

Vote November 8, 2011

GUILTY OR INNOCENT?

2011-08-28T02:32:00.002-04:00
Definition of innocent: free from legal or specific wrong; guiltless; innocent of crime.

Source: Dictionary. com

In a ruling that shocked nearly everyone following the case, Councilwoman Benedetti's OWI ruling will not be challenged!

Cries of "checkbook justice" went up around the City of New Albany, today.

We believe "justice is blind, unless you've got money, in which case justice is a cash register!"

"The Attorney Generals office told the Tribune the decision was wrong, but they added "we respect the court and we appreciate the prosecutor's difficult job."

Freedom Of Speech believes if it was any of you or any of us, we would still be in jail!

As they say: "money talks and bull-shit walks!"

It is our opinion "she bought herself out of this OWI...at a tune of $15,000 +."

We ask our readers to send her a loud message on November 8, 2011 and vote her out of office.

Surely, none of you believe she was truly sober the night of her arrest.

UPDATE ON COMMUNICATION DEAL...

2011-08-25T11:05:00.011-04:00
"David Dunn, president of the New Albany chapter of Communications Workers of America, "warned the city council last week the union would seek federal charges against the city and county if it were forced to disband as a result of a merger."

Don't you just love these friggin unions (cough)?

Which means: you have union and non union merging, so what one group gets the other gets which benefits both groups and NOT us taxpayers.

Step 2, you gotta put twenty five employees at the same location which mean more (money we DON'T have) so what do they want to do?

Do a little remodeling (cough)....

We bet they're NOT going to like what you are going to read and see next.

Wanna bet?

It's their list of Anticipated Scope of work and cost:

1. Demolition of existing walls, doors and frames, removal of existing ceilings, lighting and operable partition. Temporary bracing of second floor framing at a cost of $6,704.00.
2. Cut concrete floor slab and install new foundations and tube steel columns at a cost of $9,873.00.
3. Install glulam beams at a cost of $3,024.00.
4. New doors, frames and hardware/relocate existing at a cost of $4,500.00.
5. New wall framing and patching of existing walls to match existing adjacent at a cost of $1,218.00.
6. Paint at a cost of $4,519.00
7. Floor finishes, carpet, and access flooring at a cost of $3,594.00.
8. Suspended acoustical ceiling system at a cost of $7,008.00
9. Minor modification to existing duct at a cost of $1,800.00
10. Supplemental air conditioning in Dispatch Electronics Room at a cost of $12,000.00.
11. New dispatch stations/consoles, electronics and wiring at a cost of $180,000.00.
12. New dispatch consoles to replace the existing and relocation of electronics at a cost of $74,000.00.
13. New chairs at a cost of $6,800.00.
14. New indirect lighting and relocation of existing at a cost of $7,185.00.
15. Installation of new electrical voice/data in Shift Office at a cost of $1,926.00.
16. Modifications to the existing electrical and relocation of enunciator panels at a cost of $14,758.00.
17. Professional Design Fees at a cost of $59,585.00.
18. Printing and Bid Distribution (electronic) at a cost of $2,500.00.
19. Bid Advertising at a cost of $500.00
20. Builder's Risk Insurance at a cost of $3,200.00.
21. State Design Release at a cost $240.00.
_________________________
Total Project Budget: $550,343.00

Freedom of Speech has a lot to say:

1. Why not use an empty building the City or County owns instead of remodeling the current location?
2. Why do you need a Professional Designer when all you have to do is get with the employees and the board and design this communication center themselves?
3. Why not buy chairs during a sale at Office Depot or paint at a Porter Paint sale?
4. Why do we have to pay for Printing, Bid Distribution, Bid Advertising, and Builder's Risk Insurance?
5. What about a breakroom, restrooms and a kitchen too? (cough)

Looks like to us another "sweetheart deal and kickbacks" for some people downtown.

Again, how are we going to pay for this remodeling when the City of New Albany is broke?

We smell another 911 rate increase in 2012!

OBAMA'S VACATIONING AT THE VINEYARD...

2011-08-22T03:13:00.008-04:00
Well of course the President and his wife needed a break from his job. Can you imagine how exhausting it was making all those speeches, telling all those lies at fundraisers and on the bus trip in the Midwest?

The only ones who would deny him his relaxation are the whiners, the millions of Americans who don't have jobs. But if they'll just chill for a while, President Obama will return to his job in Washington in a few weeks and announce the solution to all our problems!

Besides, we all know President Obama is a man of the people-that's why he went to Martha's Vineyard-to rub shoulders with the common people and listen to their many problems finding reliable domestic staff, paying for the kids tuition's to prep schools, dealing with skyrocketing dues at the Yacht Club and the increasing costs of stabling polo ponies.

And remember folks, Obama could have chosen to summer on Nantucket-it's even more aristocratic and expensive than the Vineyard, but he chose to stay among the people.

What a guy?

So how's that "Hope & Change" workin out for ya?

WHAT COMMISSIONER BUSH AND ENGLAND DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW & SEE....

2011-08-17T03:09:00.042-04:00
Here are the facts and numbers, talk about a "sweetheart" deal for City and County Communications Employee's.

Salary Items:

Salaries.........................$841,672.00
Soc. Sec./Medicare.........$64,387.91
PERF.............................$90,479.74
Holiday Pay...................$25,000.00
Overtime.......................$0.00
___________________________
Total.............................$1,021,539.65

Insurance Costs:

Life Insurance.............$8,424.00
Health Ins. County......$283,861.32
___________________________
Total...........................$292,285.32

Misc. Personal Costs:

Clothing Allowance...$8,000.00
Travel Expenses........$1,000.00
Training...................$2,500.00
__________________________
Total........................$11,500.00

Supplies:

Office Supplies...........$2,500.00
Printing.....................$2,500.00
__________________________
Total..........................$5,000.00

Equipment:

Telephone.................$25,000.00
__________________________
Total.........................$25,000.00
__________________________
Total.........................$1,355,324.97

City Communication Salaries:

Wicke.......................$38,789.73

Perryman.................$38,789.73

Boehler....................$38,789.73

Mascio.....................$38,789.73

Crady.......................$38,789.73

Young......................$38,789.73

Scott........................$36,952.17

Bostock....................$36,952.17

Littlefield.................$36,952.17

Chamness................$35,286.99

Mayfield...................$35,286.99

Bowles.....................$35,286.99

Miller.......................$34,813.39

Cash.........................$34,813.39

County Communication Salaries:

Scott........................$37,188.97

Davis.......................$36,833.77

Boddy......................$36,833.77

White......................$35,050.19

Bennett...................$35,050.19

Yates.......................$35,050.19

Hackworth..............$34,813.39

Turner....................$34,813.39

Blevins....................$34,813.39

Sanchez..................$34,576.59

Elliott.....................$34,576.59

Sass........................$34,576.59

Supervisor - (No one
listed).....................$53,280.00
________________________
Total.......................$996,539.65
(City & County)

* Salaries are calculated at 40 hours per week for 52 weeks
* Social Security/Medicare Contributions by Employer (you taxpayer's) is 7.65%
*PERF Contributions by Employer ( you taxpayer's) is 7.75%

City: is Union
County: is Non-Union

Vacation: City

1-4 Years................10 days
5-10 Years..............15 days
11-19 Years.............20 days
20+ Years..............25 days

Vacation: County

1st Year.................No vacation
2-4 Years...............10 days
5-9 Years...............15 days
10-19 Years............20 days
20+ Years..............25 days

Longevity: City
$0.00

Longevity: County

0-1 Year..............$0.00
1 Year.................$200.00
2 Years...............$400.00
5 Years...............$900.00
10 Years.............$1,200.00
15 Years..............$1,400.00
20 Years.............$1,600.00

Freedom Of Speech would like to ask:

Why do the Police, Fire or the County Police 911 dispatchers need $8,000.00 for a clothing allowance when they only answer the phone and sit at computers?

When you combine union and non-union workers, two different departments, some make more money and others make less. One department get better benefits the others get less benefits this is a disaster in the making.

Would you take a cut in pay and give up your sweetheart deal? Bush stated in last weeks News and Tribune once the deal is approved they both can vote the union back in.

BTW, did we mention that Steve Bush will be running for Sheriff in the next county election?

Mayor England and Commissioner Bush state combining the city and county communications will save us $300,000-$400,000.

Do the math folks, based on this information this will cost Floyd County taxpayers even more!

Just another "political scam" to help get themselves elected.

The City of New Albany doesn't have a revenue problem what we have is a SPENDING problem and his name is Douglas B. England!

Do you really want Doug England spending "your tax dollars" for another 4 years?

"Hell NO...We sure don't!"

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN...

2011-08-13T01:21:00.003-04:00
Mayor's Debate:

Where: Scribner Auditorium

When: Sept. 22, 2011

Time: 7 PM

Come and support Freedom Of Speech's Candidate, Jeff Gahan!

WILL SHE RUN?

2011-08-12T03:05:00.007-04:00
Our sources in Washington DC, tells us Hillary Rodham Clinton will run for president in 2012.

We, were told that in recent weeks, Bill Clinton, has been meeting with democratic operatives in Washington and grass roots leaders early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Bill thinks the time is right, Hillary can easily wrestle the nomination from a weakened Barack Obama.

Bill has been heard telling Hillary's big donors and supporters "It's her time!" the world desperately needs Hillary as President.

In fact our sources (close to the Clinton's) told us that James Carville, Paul Begala and, surprisingly, Dick Morris and several others, have all signed up to join the Hillary for President team.

Bill Clinton likes Hillary's chances and even stated, "Hillary is going to crush Obama!" and the country is going to get two for one.

The GOP is terrified she will run because they know she has established firmly her credibility as a power figure and as a no-nonsense achiever of elusive goals that no one else seems to master. Look what she has done with foreign powers!

As you know the last prosperous era for this country was under her husband's leadership 1993-2001. Who can argue with the benefits of "pillow talk" between the two?

Recent Rasmussen poll shows and has Hillary with a favorable rating among Americans has soared to 70% approval rating, and that is very impressive.

2012 is going to be a wild year!

So, do we believe Hillary will run for President in 2012?

"You Betcha!"

God Bless You Hillary and God Bless the United States of America!

GOSH, WE MISSED OBAMA'S BIRTHDAY...

2011-08-05T02:52:00.012-04:00
Sorry, Prez, for the lateness of our birthday wishes to you, so here it goes...

Times 'r' rough!
Times 'r' hard!
So here's your friggin'
Birthday card!

(Apologies to the dead voters of 2008)

Sincerely,
Freedom Of Speech Staff

P.S. We'd sign it but we're sure our "B-day wishes" would earn us an immediate visit from the Secret Service...

DID YOU KNOW...

2011-08-02T03:40:00.003-04:00
The U.S. Secret Service does more than protect Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. - the agency also pays him rent.

We wonder how come NO one calls him a slumlord?

Since April, Mr. Biden has collected more than $13,000 from the agency charged with protecting him and his family for use of a rental cottage adjacent to the waterfront home he owns in a Wilmington, Del., suburb.

Mr. Biden, listed not as vice president in federal purchasing documents but as a "vendor," is eligible for up to $66,000 by the time the government contracts expires in the fall of 2013, the record show.

Isn't this amazing. Biden gets paid by American taxpayers, the Secret Service gets paid by the American taxpayer and who is getting screwed here: The American Taxpayer!

How's that Hope & Change workin for you?

ONE YEAR AGO TODAY....

2011-07-31T03:45:00.007-04:00
One year ago today we were all getting ready/dressed at the Beckman Arms Inn. It will be a day we will never forget.

Happy Anniversary Chelsea and Marc! We wish you continued years of happiness.

What a difference a year makes.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING...

2011-07-29T03:21:00.003-04:00
Now, call Obama's bluff!

WAS COUNCILMAN PRICE RIGHT?

2011-07-28T03:27:00.002-04:00
Congratulations to Ron Craig on his court case "victory" against the Historic Associations.

Our understanding with talking with Mr. Craig, he will be filing an additional lawsuit to recover damages and his attorney fees from the Historic Associations.

Was Councilman Steve Price right?

Absolutely!

NO group, associations or an elected official is above the law. Did the Historical Associations step over the line?

Absolutely!

We applaud Councilman Price for standing up for what he believed in and standing up to the Historic Preservation.

WHY OUR CITY IS ON THE VERGE OF BANKRUPTCY...

2011-07-25T02:22:00.017-04:00
Part 3B-Disbursements of our General Fund:

Dept. Controller ............$122,205.80

Dept. Clerk.....................$77,927.05

Dept. Mayor...................$123,119.16

Dept. City Council..........$121,324.02

Dept. Police...................$6,481,073.57

Dept. Fire......................$7,805,238.81

Dept. Merit Board.........$31,521.36

Board Of
Public Works................$946,854.89

Dept. Planning
Commission..................$228,768.78

Dept. City Attorney........$103,553.18

Dept. Communications..$794,903.01

Dept. Weights &
Measured Inspector......$23,272.50

Building Dept..............$151,817.72

Cemetery Dept.#1........$147,145.89

Cemetery Dept. #2.......$38,494.65

Dept. Animal Control..$395,202.66

Dept. Unappropriated
Funds.........................$1,500,143.70
___________________________
Total: Do the Math Taxpayers

Source:Department Of Local Government

Questions:

1.) When did the Council APPROVE the Department of Unappropriated Funds?

2.) What about the Code Enforcement Department? Why is this NOT listed?

3.) Is the Department of Unappropriated Funds, England's new "slush fund?"

In the News and Tribune dates February 18, 2011 it states: The 2010 budget was also "about $15.8 million", yet the city incurred about a $1.8 shortfall.

Do the math taxpayers: = $14.8 million

Total from the above Departments:

2010 Budget - $15,778,651.80
Personal Service - $377,081.48
Other Services & Charges - $1,436,843.47
Capital Outlay - $0.00
Other Disbursements - $0.00
Transfer of Funds - $0.00
Purchase of Investments - $0.00
______________________________

2010 Budget - $15,778,651.80
Total spent - $19,092,576.

Department omitted from this report:

* Code Enforcement Department

Our final thoughts: Mayor England stated in a recent News and Tribune article, it's time to move on and put this all behind us!

Yell, RIGHT, Mr. Mayor, you wish!

Again we state: Our city is in a big financial mess thanks to Kay Garry, and Mayor England.

Let's not forget the new contract between Mayor England and City Attorney Shane Gibson. $50,000 salary, plus billable hours for all legal work and Council meetings. City credit card for meals, drinks and expenses. Plus commission on all bonds and etc.

What a sweetheart deal you got...Mr. Gibson!

Is this the CHANGE Doug England promised when he ran for Mayor?

Do you taxpayers really want Doug England sitting on our council in 2012?

A VOTE for Doug England, is a VOTE for Carl Malysz, Shane Gibson, Kay Garry, John Rosenbarger, Scott Woods and Mickey Thompson, as always to continue "raping the taxpayers" of the City of New Albany!

WILL NEW ALBANY TURNING INTO ANOTHER "PRICHARD, ALABAMA?"

2011-07-19T02:59:00.018-04:00
Have you ever heard of Prichard, Alabama?

The City of Prichard had NO money to award overtime or make more hires and did it anyway. Their mayor spent tax dollars like a drunken sailor, their controller kept poor records and the city council passed pretty much what ever the mayor wanted. The Mayor also encouraged public safety employees to bank compensatory time, sick time and vacation time.

"Mayor Ron Davis and members of the City Council say they were saddled with a plan that was doomed long before they took office. (Does this sound familiar?) They even imply that some public safety workers "juiced the system" while still working in order to ensure a better retirement for themselves as reported by Robert McClendon, Press-Register."

To make a long story short, in 2003, an auditor caution Pritchard, Alabama that the town would run out of money by 2009. Did the mayor and the council members sell city assets and cut corners?

Nope! Six years later, exactly as predicted, Pritchard ran out of money. For the last two years city public service employees have not received NOT one pension check.

Why are we sharing this with you?

Have you read the 2010 State Board of Account Audit or the News and Tribune dated July 8, 2011?

City Controller Kay Garry said "spending in the fire, police and emergency communications department accounted for 78 percent of the annual general fund budget by her last calculation."

Which is it Mrs. Garry?

How about telling the newspaper and the taxpayers the truth.

No wonder the State Board of Accounts could not Audit 9 of the City's Accounts out of 20!

It is our opinion that if you are controller you should be handing out these figures to each and every last one of our 9 council members.

How many times have you sat through a council meeting and Mrs. Garry stated: "let me get back to you on that dollar amount or that information!"

This woman has been city controller through several administrations. She should know this information like she knows her own social security number.

Well, Mrs. Garry, Freedom Of Speech caught you in another BIG-FAT lie.
Yes, we are calling you a liar, Mrs. Garry!

You do the math, taxpayers, like we did...

For the Fiscal Year Ending 2010
(CTAR-2) Annual Financial Report:

Fire Department.....$7,805,238.81

Police Department..$6,481,073.57

Communications
Department............$794,903.01
_________________________
Total.......................$14,081,215.39

How did you "ever" come up with the 78% of our General Fund, Bull-Shit, Mrs. Garry?

Yes, we are very much aware both city and county will be paying equal part for the Communications Department in the future.

Freedom Of Speech would like to share with you the taxpayer what the Police and Fire Department salary's, health care, longevity, perfs and their pensions cost you in 2010:

Police Dept. Salaries......$6,481,073.57

Police Pensions.............$1,804,791.06

Fire Dept. Salaries.........$7,805,238.81

Fire Pensions................$2,158,130.70
___________________________
Total.............................$17,249,234.14

Source: (CTAR-2) Annual Financial Report, furnished to us by DLGF, Department of Local Government

In the News and Tribune dated February 18, 2011 it states: The 2010 budget was also "about $15.8 million", yet the city incurred about a $1.8 shortfall.

Facts:

* In 2010 our Council approved $500,000 for the NAPD and the money disappeared

(Where's the money, Doug?)

* TEMPORARY TRANSFER OF FUNDS:

During 2010, a temporary transfer of $500,000 was made from the TIF Grantline Fund to the General Fund for cash flow purposes without an ordinance or resolution being approved by the common council.

Source: see page 31 of the 2010 Audit

Our final thoughts: Mayor England stated in a recent News and Tribune article, it's time to move on and put this behind us!

Our city is in a big financial mess, thanks to Mayor England for all of his mismanaging of our tax dollars. He's not only mismanaged our tax dollars he has committed "malfeasance", he's lied to our city council, he's lied to you the taxpayers, and he's TIF and expanded TIF's to the point we are headed towards bankruptcy just like Prichard, Alabama and other cities.

If you don't believe us read the 2010 Audit, then do the math. There are 16 departments paid from our General Fund. If those 3 departments are costing $14,081,215.39, with a approved budget of about $15.8 million and the England administration and the controller knows you can not use TIF Funds for salaries, or borrow money from one fund to another fund without council approval, our city is doomed!

The last 3 years, 6 months and 19 days has been nothing more than a shell game England has played so he can keep spending money we don't have.

Do you taxpayers really want Doug England sitting on our council in 2012?

We need a "forensic audit" done...NOW!

FLASHBACK TO MARCH 2006....

2011-07-15T02:46:00.001-04:00
"The fact that we are here today to debate rising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US Government can not pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies. Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that 'the buck stops here.' Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today on the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership, Americans deserve better."

Barack Hussein Obama, March 2006

DEBT LIMIT...

2011-07-12T03:19:00.011-04:00
Instead of figuring out how high or whether or not to raise the debt limit, they all need to be in a room figuring out what they can cut in spending to prevent the necessity of raising the debt threshold!

This is the time and place to be frugal.

To continue reckless spending on credit as we have done for years is NOT working. If that means that we shut down the Department of Energy, Hud, Education, Agriculture, lay off federal employees, then do it. Cut government to the bone and then, and only then talk about adding to the debt.

There is simply to much waste and fraud to claim we must increase the debt limit.

Our final thoughts:

Obama's solution is: "eat your PEAS American! " We say: stand strong and call his bluff. Just remember Republicans and Democrats all Obama gives a damn about is getting reelected!

What Americans need is jobs, jobs and more jobs.

So, how's that Hope & Change working for you?

"Don't blame us, we voted for Hillary Clinton!"

TO: NAC AND JEFF GILLENWATER...

2011-07-08T02:30:00.009-04:00
The law does not state "Planned Parenthood (1) is barred from receiving federal funds." Federal law prohibits the use of Federal dollars for abortion funding. Planned Parenthood (2) accepts federal dollars. Planned Parenthood provides (3) abortions with these federal dollars.

Planned Parenthood claims, along with NAC and Mr. Gillenwater this bill is dangerous and would have a "devastating impact on women's health" that is a bare face lie! Planned Parenthood always (4) uses this ridiculous statement when their funding is in danger. They know their biggest money maker is abortion. Abortion is their CASH cow.

Of course defunding Planned Parenthood actually improves the health care services for female preventive care like breast and cervical cancer screening and other test.

Listen up, NAC and Jeff Gillenwater: Indiana owes Planned Parenthood nothing. You are not the spokespeople for all citizens of the state.

Planned Parenthood is NOT the only avenue to birth control, PAP smears, cancer screening or other preventative treatment. These procedures can be done at the local county health clinic. There is no reason that taxpayers should be forced to support Planned Parenthood.

It's a sick and sad day when an abortion industry which gets upwards of a million dollars a day from federal government.

Indiana is making its own funding decisions by following the law.

Thank God for State Rep. Clere. We need more courageous men like him to stand up for what is right and moral. The non-abortion services offered by Planned Parenthood are available through many other healthcare providers in the State of Indiana, so there is no reduction in service available to women in Indiana due to this reduction in funding for Planned Parenthood.

We truly believe that it is very important to honor a woman's right to choose...but only as it pertains to getting pregnant or not (the man has a choice too, snip-snip).

Once a new life has been created in the mother's womb, her only real moral choice for the man and woman is whether they will raise the child or make an adoption plan.

According to the 10th Amendment, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

And last we heard, the Indiana lawmakers and State Rep. Ed Clere knew a bit more about running a state than NAC, and the abortion clinic down the road, Mr. Gillenwater.

You're entitled to your opinion, NAC and Mr. Gillenwater, but not your so called 'scare tactics' and your own made up lies about State Rep. Ed Clere!

Thank you State Rep. Clere for hitting the nail right on the head, when it comes to taxpayers money and the real facts.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA....

2011-07-04T02:10:00.023-04:00
Independence Day honors the birthday of the United States of America and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

It's a day of picnics and patriotic parades, enjoying friends, neighbors, family, a night of fireworks, and a reason to fly the American flag.

This 4th of July means to us a time to reflect on the courage of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, for without them, we would not have the opportunity and privilege of living in this great country.

As the years pass and we get older and watch our children age, our feelings about this day means so much more. We have gained a new profound love of our country each day.

And our right of Freedom Of Speech.

We appreciate the freedom's that we as Americans some times take for granted.

And, we especially owe the biggest gratitude and thanks to our veterans and troops who have kept our country free since 1776.

Let's remember our fallen and our wounded and let's remember to help make this country a better place regardless of our differences.

May God always bless you, and this great country!

footnote: Thomas Jefferson said it best, "We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

And...

"Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government."

We the People...Works!

Happy Birthday America
Freedom Of Speech Staff

WHAT THE TRIBUNE REFUSES TO PRINT...

2011-06-26T03:26:00.038-04:00
After reading the News & Tribune this week. We've decided that the local newspaper refuses to print the facts and only allows Mayor England to spin it his own way!

Is the Tribune bias when it comes to Doug England?

We always thought the newspaper should keep readers informed of their actions of our local government, our tax dollars, and accurate account of the performances of elected and appointed officials.

We have yet read not one line of criticism against England, Garry, Gibson or Malysz over the recent audit, or the mismanagement of tax dollars over the last 3 1/2 years.

Is this causing the "Tribune readership" to drop?

Since our local newspaper hasn't print all the facts (that affect each of us and our wallets) how about the facts they refused to put in print of the 2010 City Audit.

We think every taxpayer should know the ugly truth about the England Administration.

Grab yourself a big mug of coffee you might want to throw in some Jack Daniels just to numb the anger!

* 2010 - Overdrawn Cash Balances:

General Fund...............$2,296,002
Motor Vehicle
Highway Fund.............$232,954
Park & Recreation
Fund...........................$159,654
Sanitation...................$5,636,473
EDIT Bond Interest......$2,913

Routinely overdrawn funds could be an indicator of serious financial problems which should be investigated by the governmental unit.

* 2010 - Excess Amount Of Budgeted Appropriations:

General Fund...............$1,766,129
Motor Vehicle
Highway Fund..............$189,129
Walking Patrol Fund....$29,315
Riverfront Heritage
Fund...........................$13,544
_________________________

TOTAL........................$1,998,707

Indiana Code 6-1.1-18-4 states in part "the proper officers of a political subdivision shall appropriate funds in such a manner that the expenditures for a year do not exceed the budget for that year as finally determined under this article."

* "The City has an employee who holds the position of Public Works Project Supervisor. This position serves as the project coordinator/manager for the public works of the City including those within the City's various TIF Districts. During the audit period there were multiple public works projects being managed by this employee. The majority of these projects occurred within the different TIF Districts. Separate funds are maintained to account for the activity for each TIF District. The salary of this employee should be allocated to each of the applicable funds based on the time spent on each project. A record of hours spent on each project was not presented for audit and the entire salary of this employee was charged to the TIF Grantline Road Fund."

Freedom Of Speech would like to know who this employee is, how much he is being paid and what FUND he is now being paid out of?

It is illegal to use TIF money for salaries.

* "The city has an ordinance (G-10-13) setting the rates to be charged for sewer disposal. We noted that City owned facilities ARE NOT being billed for sewer disposal charges. The rate ordinances does not provide provisions to exempt City owned facilities. Prior to January 2009, sewer billing were being handled by an outside contractor and the City was being billed for sewer charges for facilities it owned. In January 2009, the city brought the sewer billing in house and it was at this time that billings to city owned facilities stopped."

Freedom Of Speech would like to ask who authorized this, and when will they be paying there last two years of sewers bills and late fees?

More of England's "selective billing" in our fair city!
* "The state was unable to confirm that all of the city's financial transactions were properly accounted for last year."

When you read the complete 53 pages of the 2010 City of New Albany Audit. (1) You either want to quit paying your own sewer bills. (2) move (3) pray England does not end up on our council. (4) you see all the greedy corruption in a small town (with less than 37,000 people) and wonder why NO one ever demands accountability or why NO one is ever prosecuted.

Same England, same excuses, same problems, every time he's in office!

Our final thoughts, it's a damn shame we have spineless council members, a worthless prosecutor, and a group of arrogant, greedy Son-of-a-Bitches running this town!

footnote: Garry said June 23, 2011 "the sanitation fund actually had a positive cash flow of $84,740 last year." But her own end of the year report shows we only had $80,464.89 ending cash sanitation fund balance. We wonder where the other $4,276.89 went?

We demand that you Mrs. Garry & Douglas B. England resign. It is our opinion you two are NOT fit to handle taxpayers money!

Do you really want Doug England sitting on our council?

UNDER GOD...

2011-06-22T02:07:00.001-04:00
If you visit the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., you will find it inscribed with the text of the Gettysburg Address, including the phrase, "that this nation, under God, shall have a new the birth of Freedom."

All media elitists need to go to Afghanistan to fight for that wasteful misuse of your freedom of speech. You (NBC) have squandered your credibility with the American Public on this single despicable act.

In GOD we Trust...not you anyway!

IT'S YOUR DAY DAD...

2011-06-19T01:47:00.004-04:00
Our dad's are amazing men. They are humble, loving when you do not feel you deserve it, willing to take on any challenge that our family's bring, loved by many and taught us each unconditional love. They're all amazing dad's in our book!

"Any man can father a child, but it takes a real man to be a dad!"

Happy Father's Day,
Freedom Of Speech Staff

THE SCAM OF ALL SCAMS....

2011-06-16T03:35:00.009-04:00
* 111 condo units priced at $182,000 up to $1.26 million
* 550 parking spaces and a 65,000 square foot public plaza
* Commercial space to include restaurants, a grocery market and movie theater
* Development would overlook the Ohio River

They say this project will NOT cost the taxpayers NOT one red cent.

Wrong! Another Malysz lie!

When TIF funds are NOT there to make the "bond payments" they will have to use EDIT Funds.

Let us refresh your memory:

Redevelopment minutes of November 14, 2001, the State Street Parking Garage Bond were to be paid off with TIF collections from the Downtown TIF area. The Downtown TIF area were NOT sufficient for those bond payments. State Street Parking Garage Bond payments were paid for through EDIT.

At this time the State Street Parking Garage and Mr. Malysz owes our EDIT Fund:

$3,613,698.46

Why would we ever want to invest in another parking garage?

We are sick and tired of being "lied" to by Doug England and Carl Malysz!

This is truly the Scam of all Scams...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY....

2011-06-14T02:33:00.002-04:00
It's Flag Day and it's time to celebrate.

Today's celebration of Flag Day marks 234 years since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the nation's symbol on June 14, 1777.

The flag is the sympol of our great country. It's not a piece of cloth. It's you, it's us. It's our professors, our farmers. It's our electricians. Our teachers. It's all of our institutions and our schools. Our flag is us and that's how we look at it.

So, fly YOUR flag today and show your pride in America!

WHAT ENGLAND "DOES NOT" WANT YOU TO KNOW OR SEE...PART 2

2011-06-09T03:39:00.007-04:00
New Albany Fire Department Budget for 2011:

Salaries:
Chief.........................$66,681.89
Deputy Chief.............$58,290.78
(6) Battalion Chiefs/
(5) Intermediates......$622,938.77
(19) Captains.............$1,075,446.24
(18) Sergents............$957,286.57
(27) Firefighters.......$1,261,694.57
(1) Secretary............$24,261.07
Off Duty Court
Appearance.............$500.00
Holiday Pay.............$471,606.01
Overtime Pay...........$30,000.00
Vacation sell back....$70,000.00
Mot. Sell back Pay....$25,000.00
Other Payroll...........$80,000.00
Social Security.........$66,000.00
Perf Civil..................$1,100.00
Clothing Allowance..$125,000.00
Perf Firefighters......$1,000,000.00
Ins. Administration.$80,000.00
Ins. Claims..............$1,000,000.00
Wellness (Free memberships
at the YMCA............$12,000.00
Dental Insurance....$80,000.00
__________________________
Total: $7,266,307.00

Supplies:
Office Supplies..........$2,000.00
Printing Reports.......$500.00
Fuel - Diesel..............$42,000.00
Oil - Lube..................$1,500.00
Tires.........................$5,000.00
Inst. Supplies............$5,000.00
Cleaning Supplies.....$5,000.00
Other Garage............$7,000.00
Other OP Sup............$1,000.00
B1/RP Sup................$4,000.00
Eng. Rep. Sup...........$7,500.00
Other Supplies.........$7,500.00
Chemicals................$1,500.00
Hazmat....................$3,500.00
_____________________
Total: 91,000.00

Contract Services...$3,500.00
Postage..................$300.00
Travel Expenses.....$1,000.00
Telephone..............$19,300.00
Other Printing.......$1,000.00
Gen. Insurance......$120,000.00
Workman's Comp..$122,000.00
Electric..................$28,000.00
Natural Gas...........$40,000.00
Water....................$14,412.00
Stormwater...........$3,000.00
Building Rep.........$7,000.00
Equip. Repairs......$33,500.00
Radio Maintance...$3,000.00
Fire Hose Main.....$4,500.00
Dues.....................$800.00
Other Services......$3,000.00
______________________
Total: $403,012.00

Training Tower.......$100,000.00
______________________

Total cost to Taxpayers for 68 NAFD Firefighters & Equipment:

$7,860,321.00

Source: Kay Garry, Controller

Now, you know why the City of New Albany is Broke and on the verge of Bankruptcy!

When you add:
NAPD Salaries & Cars:.. $6,787,400.00
NAFD Salaries & Equip..$7,860,321.00
____________________________
Total: $14,647,721.00

footnote:Would you like to know how much our Budget was approved for?

Guess who negotiated these two contracts? Doug England and City Attorney Shane Gibson. BTW, that's not counting the other 16 Department paid out of our General Fund.

Do you really want Doug England sitting on the next Council or Shane Gibson as City Attorney ever again?

"Hell NO!"

WHAT ENGLAND "DOES NOT" WANT YOU TO KNOW OR SEE...PART 1

2011-06-07T03:05:00.012-04:00
* New Albany Police Department Budget for 2011:

Salaries.......................$3,600,000.00
Off Duty Court.............$8,000.00
Holiday Pay.................$360,000.00
Overtime.....................$75,000.00
____________________________
Total: $4,043,000.00

* NAPD Employee Benefits:

S/S & Med. FICA...........$57,000.00
P.E.R.F. (Civilian).........$5,200.00
Unemployment Comp...$1,000.00
Dental & Other Ins........$70,000.00
__________________________
Total: $133,200.00

* NAPD Other Personal Services:

Clothing Allowance......$65,000.00
P.E.R.F. (Police)...........$775,000.00
Ins. Admin. Fee............$41,000.00
Ins. Medical Claims......$951,000.00
__________________________
Total: $1,632,000.00
__________________________
Total Personal Service for NAPD:
$6,008,200.00

Office:

Office Supplies..........$14,000.00
Printing....................$5,000.00
Official Reports........$500.00
_______________________

Total: $19,500.00

Operating Supplies:

Gasoline..................$150,000.00
Oil & Lubricants......$4,000.00
Tires & Tubes..........$15,000.00
Medical..................$1,000.00
K-9 Supplies..........$4,000.00
______________________
Total: $164,000.00

* Repair & Maintenance Supplies:

Other Garage Supplies....$36,700.00
Equipment Repair Supplies....$3,000.00 _____________________________
Total: $39,700.00

* Other Supplies:
Criminal Inv. Division............$7,000.00 ____________________________
Total Supplies: $250,200.00

* Professional Services:
Contract Legal Fees............$0.00
Contract Legal Services......$2,500.00 __________________________
Total: $2,500.00

* Communication & Transportation:
Postage............................$500.00
Travel Expenses...............$3,000.00
Telephone........................$40,000.00
___________________________

Total: $43,500.00

*Repairs & Maintenance:

Equipment Repairs.........$35,000.00
Radio Maintenance........$20,000.00
Records Mag. System.....$15,000.00
__________________________
Total: $70,000.00

* Debt Services:

Pagers..............................$4,000.00

Lease Copiers...................$4,000.00 ___________________________
Total: $8,000.00

* Insurance:

Police Liability Ins........$80,000.00
Workers Comp.............$50,000.00

__________________________
TOTAL: $130,000.00
__________________________

Total Other Services & Charges: $269,000.00

Total Capital Outlays.....$200,000.00 ___________________________

Total cost to Taxpayers for 68 NAPD Officers & Police Cars:

$6,787,400.000

Source: Kay Garry, Controller

Now, you know why the City Of New Albany is Broke and on the verge of bankruptcy!

footnote: In addition to the above figures, over the last 12 months the council has appropriated $500,000 for police cars and five new hires which (disappeared). Last nights council meeting they appropriated $175,000 for 7 new police cars. Three will be SUV's and four cars. And, the NAPD is still $1.8 million in the red!

Something here, doesn't pass the smell test.

A CLEAN VOTE - 318-97...

2011-06-03T02:43:00.002-04:00
The operative word regarding the now critically out of control Federal debt is "unsustainable!"

No longer can our esteemed C0ngress continue to simply kick the fiscal responsibility "can" down the road.

Without massive changes to government spending, there won't be a USA for our children and grand children to live in.

When will we understand that Obama will not "hear or listen". Obama has an agenda. He will continue to say anything and everything. He will continue to lie, distract, and divert from reality to complete his socialist agenda for this country.

Cut spending and then raise the National Debt limit is a Ponzi scheme.

Cut the budget by $1.5 Trillion dollars by cutting welfare, food stamps, state aid, Illegal's getting free schooling. Take all of the Illegal's out of our prisons and send them back from the Country of orgin and get rid of some 150 government agencies that we don't need.

Get rid of the I.R.S. and start a national tax of 7% and cannot be raised except by a super majority of public vote not our corrupt government.

Fix medicare so it will be around for people in the future and pass an ammendment to force Congress and the Morons in the White House to Balance the Budget or leave office permnantly!

As they say here in New Albany: "Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way!"

Were sick of government raping us taxpayers!

THIS MEMORIAL DAY...

2011-05-30T02:28:00.001-04:00
Memorial Day is one of those national holidays that offer a three day weekend and the time to kick back doing whatever you, your family, your friends chooses to do.

But the reason for the last Monday in May being a holiday is often lost in the rush to make those plans.

It is hardly a day of rest or relaxation for those in uniform deployed in places where they will dodge RPG's, avoid IED'd and shoulder their own weapons while trying to win the hearts and minds of whatever place they've been sent.

They do, however, know what Memorial Day is all about.

The men and women of America's Armed Forces understand what sacrifice means. They have seen it. They know exactly why Memorial Day exists.

Memorial Day offers us the opportunity to remember those who fought and died in America's wars - past and present.

So as you pop the top on your favorite brand of beer, and grill those T-bone steaks or Ballpark hot dogs, consider taking time on your day off to reflect on those who served and didn't have the opportunity to join the rest of us this Memorial Day - 2011.

God Bless America
Freedom Of Speech Staff

OBAMACARE WILL KILL BUSINESS AND JOBS...

2011-05-26T02:28:00.001-04:00
American business, the motor of global economy, was dealt a deathblow that the Democrat Party delivered on the form of the healthcare bill.

Why wasn't this made public before the vote?

The numbers are staggering!

It was revealed that AT&T, the largest telephone company in the country, will take a one-billion-dollar hit in the current quarter as a result of this economic attack on America. The farm -equipment company Deere is looking at $150 million in new healthcare-related charges this quarter, and Caterpillar is facing $100 million.

Who do you think will pay for this?

We will pay!

Verizon Communications, the second biggest U.S. phone company, told employees that tax burdens under the new law would filter down to employees.

Business is not something in the abstract, business is work, business is people, it is jobs, it is production. When business pays, we pay.

Jobs pay and Consumers pay!

Have you seen the commercial yet for people who have maxed out their credit cards, and have loans over ten thousand that they can't pay back, urging them to apply for stimulus dollars?

Are you one of those who played by the rules, worked hard, did the right thing?

If so, you're screwed!

This man (Obama) has you and your wallet and your kids wallet by the throat.

Welcome to the era of the degenerate: they will suck your blood and your children's blood and your children's children's blood for decades to come, or however long America lasts.

This is so off the charts. There is no decency on the left. They are hypocrites who are destroying American businesses and stealing from us hard-working, struggling Americans.

Stand tall, America. November is coming!

IT'S CONFIRMED....

2011-05-22T02:19:00.002-04:00
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels says he will not seek the Republican presidential nomination. In a middle-of-the-night message. Daniel said he was taking the advice of his family and would skip a White House bid.

DUDE, WHERE'S OUR WAIVER?

2011-05-21T02:48:00.001-04:00
To date, the US Department of Health and Human Services has granted health care law exemptions to more than three million worker covered by more than 1,300 unions.

Evidently Nancy Pelosi has been reading "Animal Farm." She thinks all people should have equal access to health care, but some people are more equal than others.

The Democrats have already compromised Medicare when they secretly passed at the stroke of midnight Christmas Eve Obamacare. Directly cutting 500 Billion (giving it to people that have paid in nothing or very little), creating boards to decide what gets covered and what doesn't and reducing the amount of reimbursement to providers of Medicare. Guaranteeing NO medical provider will accept medicare patients.

It is past time for Congress to get off their sorry butts and give us all a waiver from Obamacare. And it is high time for the impeachment proceedings to start.

We wonder if we can get resignations from Pelosi, Reid at the same time we impeach the Campaigner in Chief for high crimes and misdemeanors.

Obama's attitude reveals the same spirit of lawlessness and contempt for boundaries, his attitudes are precisely why our forefathers wrote the Constitution in the first place!

$4.00 A GALLON!

2011-05-19T14:41:00.006-04:00
Steadily rising gas prices are causing some financial strain for the City of New Albany's budget.

With AAA reporting that the average gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Indiana has hit over $4.00 gallon. Fuel expenses are some of the fastest-growing costs in addition to health insurance.

Proponents of the take-home-car program believe it cuts down on crime and increases the safety of citizens because of higher police visibility.

We don't agree!

First, If you work for the city you should live in the city. Let all municipal employees pay for their own gas.

Second, Our local NAPD does not have a written take-home car policy!

The free ride has to end we just can't afford it anymore.

Why should us as taxpayers pay for their gas and buy them new police cars, when they are running our cars all over Washington, Clark and other counties?

We have to pay for our own gas to get ourselves back and forth to work they should do the same. Use our tax dollars on an issue that needs the attention.

Park them cars boys & girls!

In 2010 the council appropriated $500,000 for new cars, hiring more police officers. Where did that money go?

Tonight's council meeting is all about building a $12,000,000 parking garage, using TIF Funds and $175,000 for 7 new police cars but what statements did we read in today's Tribune?

And we quote:

"If FEMA does not grant emergency assistance, New Albany would be responsible for more than $500,000, compared to more than $2 million if no assistance is granted."

"England states, I don't have $2.1 million laying around."

Our final thoughts:

Why did they wait until AFTER the election to ask for more police cars instead of before? Several council member made it through the primary but they still have to face us VOTERS come November. Why do they continue to ram this new parking garage down out throats when citizens are against the financing of this project?

Have you voters forgotten how Chief Todd Bailey stood before the camera and stated "Stumler won't take our benefits away." Or, did a uniform police officer knock on your door an ask "how could you support that candidate, when they want to take our benefits and make us park our cars."

How about the council grow a spine and put taxpayers needs before the mayors wants.

ILLEGALS & IMMIGRATION...

2011-05-17T02:34:00.002-04:00
We loved the contrary FACTS exposing the "border fence is basically complete" comments. We need more of the specific information to be shown to the general public to expose the politically motivated lies that Obama is spouting.

What was even worse about the El Paso speech was Obama's habit of making promises he has no intension of keeping, and that he knows will not happen.

The invasion of America from south of the border is not immigration. It is a massive, intra-continental population shift of nation destroying magnitude. If it is not stopped cold and reversed, thew America that we know today will cease to exist and we will be left with a divided, semi-third world mish-mash of a country.

An unstable nation divided by language, culture, class, and economics.

There are now 350 miles of pedestrian fencing along the Mexican border. The border is 1,954 miles long. That's 18 percent. And only one-tenth of that 18 percent is the double and triple fencing that has proven so remarkably effective.

And exactly how many billions of dollars is that 1,954 miles of fencing going to cost to build and maintain? Who pockets all that money?

"Obama, Obama - the flimflam man - if he can't do it - nobody can!"

He truly believes Mexican Americans are stupid enough to believe him - that he wants to help them. Borrowing a page from the civil rights struggles in the 60's - Obama tells them - "We Shall Overcome" them nasty Republicans!

Yell, right...

CO2...

2011-05-16T19:56:00.003-04:00
Mr. President,

The only damage we see from CO2 is from whenever you open your mouth to speak. Please speak less, get off the never-ending campaign trail, and start leading America in a direction that will benefit Americans!

"Someone needs to Regulate the EPA."

Drill Baby Drill!

US CONSERVATIVES VS YOU LIBERALS...

2011-05-15T03:17:00.008-04:00
Dear New Albany & American Liberals, Leftists, Social Progressives, Socialists, and Marxists:

Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right so let's just end it on friendly terms.

Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a portion. That will be the difficult part, but we are sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement.

After that, it should be relatively easy!

Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes.

We conservatives don't like redistributive taxes so you liberals can keep them. You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU!

Since you liberals hate guns and war, we conservatives will take our firearms, the NRA and the military.

You liberals can keep Obama, Oprah, Michael Moore and Rosie O'Donnell.

We'll keep capitalism, pharmaceutical companies and Wal-mart. You liberals can have your beloved greedy corporations, Wall Street, Homeboys and Illegal Aliens.

We'll keep Evan Bayh, Hillary Clinton, Ed Clere, Steve Price, King Larry, Fox News, the Alaskan hockey moms, and the bible, and give you Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Doug England, Roger Baylor, Shane Gibson, MSNBC, NBC, the New Albany Tribune and Hollywood.

You liberals can make nice with Iran and Palestine and bow an apologize to other countries and we conservatives will retain the right to pray, honor the 10 Commandments, invade and hammer places that threaten us.

We'll keep our Christian values. You are welcome to Islam, Humanism and Shirley McCain. You liberals can also have the U.N. but we conservatives will NO longer be paying the bill.

We'll keep the SUV's, Honda's, pickup trucks and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Subaru wagon, and bicycle you can find.

We conservatives will "drill baby drill" and you liberals can keep your Cap and Trade, your Electric Cars, and your Green Jobs.

You liberals can give everyone healthcare if you can find any practicing doctors. We conservatives believe healthcare is a luxury and NOT a right.
We conservatives will keep the Battle Hymn of the Republic and our National Anthem. We are sure you liberals will be happy to substitute them with:

* I'd like to Teach the World to Sing
* Kum Ba Ya
* We Are the World

We conservatives will practice trickle down economics and you liberals can give trickle up poverty your best shot.

Since it so often offends you liberals, we conservatives will keep our history, our name and our flag!

We will bet you which one of us will need whose help in 15 years...

Sincerely,
Freedom Of Speech Staff

EVERYTHING IS GOING UP....

2011-05-13T01:36:00.001-04:00
Anyone who has been to the grocery store in the last month knows that prices are up.

Nearly every food staple has seen a double-digit percentage increase over the past year, including a 38% hike for a dozen eggs to $1.59, and a jump, to $1.78, for a loaf of white bread.

There is a noticeable, astounding increase in the use of food stamps, WIC coupons. Virtually every item that is WIC eligible is plainly marked on the grocery shelves. It's hard to believe how much damage to the economy has been done during this administration.

How are we going to climb out of this economic and culture hole. And don't get us started on the morality of how we treat those senior citizens who have less.

How about the next time England speaks someone ask "our beloved mayor" (cough) what the price of a gallon of milk, a loaf of bread, a pound of ground beef and a gallon of gas cost.

We'd be fascinated to watch him answer that one.

Doug England has no concept of reality!

Does anyone know what the current inflation rate is, if you DO...include food and gasoline.

ANOTHER PARKING GARAGE ~ ANOTHER $12 MILLION CRAP SHOOT!

2011-05-11T02:42:00.002-04:00
Another "pie in the sky" scam to save downtown or build it and they will park , shop and live there.

Several months ago there was an article in the paper with the suggestion of building a new parking garage with a cost of $12 million.

It seems interesting that the Mayor now has his property up for sale. Could Mayor England be getting a "free" condo out of the deal?

We'd bet money on that one, any takers?

How do you think that we taxpayers can afford another bond payment?

Yes, we read the article and it is extremely important to heed the "Red Flags" that pop up in your mind.

Red flag No. 1: "The city putting up $12 million in tax-increment financing bonds to pay for the bulk of a multi-tiered parking garage."

Key word in this sentence is bulk!

Red flag No. 2: "Based on a 20-year bond issue, Bobo projected the city would leverage its investment into about $20 million in tax revenue."

Key words in that statement is 20-year "bond issue" and the word "about."

We smell a big tax abatement coming along with this project, what do you think?

When ever anyone uses the word "about" that means they don't know.

Red flag No. 3: "The developers are not proposing to pay any of the cost of cutting the levy."

We all know how Carl Malysz plays these "Oh, it's not going to cost taxpayers nothing" games with us.

Been there, done that!

Red flag No. 4: "The parking structure would be under control of Mainland Properties."

So, what Mainland Properties is really saying : they want "us taxpayers to pay for it" and they get all the profits...

Freedom Of Speech would like to say:

Taxpayers, we got screwed on the last "parking garage project" do we really want to get screwed on this one too?

Mr. Bobo, if you want a new parking garage: borrow and pay for it yourself!

Mayor England, we hope this is not another one of your "quality of life" projects, cause we got more important projects we need before you waste the money on a new $12 million parking garage!

LOOKING BACK ON THIS MOTHER'S DAY...

2011-05-08T01:59:00.005-04:00
Today is the day that we celebrate our Mother's.

My mom use to tell us that parenting is a funny thing. Sometimes it is "ha-ha" funny right before it turns into "oh hell what do I do now" funny. (I've never figured that one out yet.)

Back when my Mom was raising us kids, her duty was to make sure we got enough to eat, went to church and knew who Jesus was, made good grades and otherwise fit into the middle of the road pattern of doing to others as they do unto you, all the while turning the other cheek.

June Cleaver didn't work "outside the home" but my Mom sure did.

She came home from the factory and worked some more making sure that our underwear was clean (Surely, you all remember the growing up famous underwear life lesson.) cooking supper, in between helping with homework and breaking up fights prior to teacher conferences and PTA meetings.

"I was the lucky one, I got the very best of both parents."

My favorite childhood memories of my mom are a mixed bag of what she was and still is.

Reflecting back through the many life lessons my mother taught me as a child, you might just see we've all been brought up pretty much the same:

* My mother taught me LOGIC,
"Because I said so, that's why."

* My mother taught me FORESIGHT,
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, you never know when you might be in an accident and have to be taken to the hospital."

* My mother taught me the QUICKEST WAY to DOUBLE MY MONEY,
"Is to fold it up and put it back in my pocket."

* My mother taught me IRONY,
"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

* My mother taught me about INDIVIDUALISM,
"I bet if all your friends jumped off a bridge, you would too!"

* My mother taught me THE CIRCLE OF LIFE,
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

* My mother taught me if you always tell the TRUTH,
"You won't have to remember what you said and to whom."

And my mother, bless her, taught me to listen "to my heart and to my mind and to find the narrow space of truth that lies between the two."

The older I get the more I appreciate my parents and the sacrifices they made.

My mother is a disciplined, hardworking, and an optimistic woman who always tried her hardest to instill in her children the importance of faith, family, and community.

She taught me the value of a dollar, the importance of education, and the character of an honest day's work.

She pushed me to succeed, but not fear failure.

My Mother was the most compassionate, thoughtful, and caring person I have ever known.

Mother also instilled in me how to find the good in people and to trust my instincts, stand my ground and believe in myself.

Her philosophy is a simple one, what matters most is not class or status or wealth, but a person's qualities of heart, mind and soul.

And so I have lead a life of spectacular expectations, and in truth I wouldn't have wanted it any other way now.

Thanks mom, for all those little life lessons!

Happy Mother's Day...

IT'S DERBY DAY....

2011-05-07T06:14:00.006-04:00
The 2011 Kentucky Derby is the 137th renewal of The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports.

Kentucky Derby hopeful Rosie Napravnik, vies to become first female jockey to take the crown.

Napravnik will ride 3-year-old Louisiana Derby champion Pants on Fire in the 137th Kentucky Derby. When the starting gate opens at Churchill Downs, Napravnik will be just the sixth female jockey to ride in the Derby.

Our money is on Pants on Fire, and we wish Rosie all the best today.

Off to the Derby!

HE DID IT...

2011-05-04T03:12:00.001-04:00
"We want to extend our Congratulations to Jeff Gahan on a well-deserved victory!"

You will make an excellent mayor for our city.

WHY WE REFUSE TO SUPPORT IRV STUMLER....

2011-05-02T22:43:00.009-04:00
What's your plan to make your vote count tomorrow? Congratulations if you took advantage of early voting to cast your ballot in the important 2011 primary.

If you haven't yet voted, it's time to take a hard look at Irv Stumler for Mayor.

Where reporter talks of Irv Stumler flirting to run as a Republican:

http://newsandtribune.com/floydcounty/x150250904

Newsmeat's selected contributions of Irv Stumler, you must select SEARCH after you open the link but this clearly shows his contributions to the National Republican Congressional Committee:

http://www.newsmeat.comkentuckyrncdonations/

Update from other sources:

RNC 2010 Donation - $5,000
RNC 2011 Donation - $5,000

2008 Louisville Donations:

Committee to Elect Ann Northup (R) - $300.00
Committee to Elect Mitch McConnell (R) - $1,000.00
Committee to Elect Dr. Steve Henry (D) - $300.00

As Oprah says: If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, Irv Stumler IS a Republican duck!

----

Stumler claims to be such a successful businessman, let's see what we found:

This is the first of his business in BAD STANDING with the State of Kentucky. We contacted the Secretary of State and they explained a BAD STANDING is they are in violation of KY Law in some form:

https://app.sos.ky.gov

Second company in BAD STANDING with the Commonwealth:

https://app.sos.ky.gov

Third company in BAD STANDING with the Commonwealth:

https://app.sos.ky.gov

Fourth company in BAD STANDING with the Commonwealth:

https://app.sos.ky.gov

Fifth company in BAD STANDING:

https://app.sos.ky.gov

----

Has Stumler ever had a business venture go bankrupt? Yes!

We ask that you check the Commerce Commission of Kentucky for the answer.
----

This is a 2010 unsettled class action lawsuit brought last year against 11 polyurethane companies for price fixing. Sean Stumler. as executive at IRC was the President of the Board of Directors of the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance for many years:

http://www.vocecon.com

----

Here is an interesting case involving his brother Melvin in an injury case at the company that is the Parent of the Mt. Tabor Road IRC business. Maybe this is part of the reason Irv left his brother, is there a reason? This case is pending:

http://www.vocecon.com
----

Our final thoughts before election day tomorrow:

For the changes we need in New Albany, from the Mayor's Office on down, please get out and vote tomorrow. If you've already voted, please help to make sure your family, friends and neighbors get out and vote tomorrow too.

Well you may not hear the truth in many other places, but you have heard it from us. If you doubt this, just check Irv Stumler out.

Vote Jeff Gahan for Mayor

AFTER 10 YEARS & $500 BILLION DOLLARS BIN LADEN IS FINALLY DEAD...

2011-05-02T13:06:00.001-04:00
The death of bin Laden, who achieved near-mythic status for his ability to elude capture under three U.S. presidents, closes a bitter chapter in the fight against al Qaeda, but it does not eliminate the threat of further attacks.

The credit goes to our intelligence agencies and the Navy Seals Special Forces 6.

God Bless America

HAPPY EASTER...

2011-04-24T01:39:00.002-04:00
A special message to all our family and friends this Easter Sunday:

John 6:40 "For this is the will of my father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."

We wish you and your family a very Happy Easter.

Freedom Of Speech Staff

DEBIT LIMIT...

2011-04-19T02:42:00.004-04:00
With our government elected officials constantly lying to the people, and with there above-the-law attitude, where will our country be if our government continues to spend money out of control? Doesn't matter what program you love, if the government cannot send you a check, because there is no funds, forget the program.

We must first keep America intacted, or our hope of a free country goes down the drain, and the revolution begins. The pride of America will not keep history from repeating itself.

We must make sure the economy follows simple principals of making and spending money. Just like any household that over spends its income, the agony of loss will start an emotional change in everyones life, and some do not survive?

We MUST get our fiscal house in order. We must start living within our means and get this country back to being the greatest nation on earth. We have to say that we are admantly opposed to raising the debt ceiling, because this will just signal to the inside the beltway politicians that they can do whatever the hell they want.

The so-called spending cut for the latest budget go-round was not only a SHAM, but we view it as one hugh slap across the face to America.

AN OPEN MESSAGE TO: CARL MALYSZ

2011-04-14T02:03:00.004-04:00
I did some research for you and it does appear that subcommittees are subject to the open door law and positing requirements. IC 5-14-1.5-3 states that "all meeting of the governing bodies of public agencies must be open at all times for the purpose of permitting members of the public to observe and record them." IC 5-14-1.5-2 Section 2 Definition: "Public agency" (a) (1) Any board, of the executive, administrative, or legislative power (6) "Governing body" means two (2) or more individuals (council members) 7 (c)"meeting" (1) receive information; Shane L. Gibson. Mr. Malysz you are in violation of the Indiana Open Door Law! Of Speech would like to say: BTW, please see the City Employees Manual, you are also in violation of blogging on taxpayers time. Upon the next violation you will be terminated by your employer; the citizens of the City of New Albany.

TIF, EDIT, AND A $12 MILLION PARKING GARAGE...

2011-04-10T01:57:00.007-04:00
Recently, there was an article in the paper with the suggestion of building a new Parking Garage near Scribner Place with an estimated cost of $12 million dollars. A statement was made that a new parking garage could be paid for with the PROFITS from the State Street Parking Garage. We think it is necessary that the council be informed about the financing and bonds for the State Street Parking Garage. The Garage Bonds were to be paid off with TIF Collections from the downtown area. If Downtown TIF Collections were not sufficient for those Bond payments. Then, bond payments were to be paid from EDIT Funds. In the agreement, the EDIT Funds used were to be paid back to EDIT Fund by downtown TIF money. At this time, the State Street Parking Garage owes the EDIT Fund $3,613,698.46 for Bond Payments made out of EDIT because downtown TIF did not produce sufficient money to make the Garage Bond payments. So why does Mr.Bobo think the citizens of New Albany will want to pay for a $12 million dollar Parking Garage when we couldn't afford the last Parking Garage. Why does he think we should do the bond, make the payments, and then hand this new parking garage over to him to make a profit. Something smells about this whole deal!

FRIDAY'S DEADLINE.....

2011-04-07T02:13:00.004-04:00
John Boehner must stand firm here. Obama and Reid are not used to having some one stand up for the people. That is why Obama, Reid and Pelosi hid behind closed doors to destroy the American dream of freedom for future generations. We're giving Congress a chance to make changes, and we are watching closely. You needs to keep the American People top priority. The people are now engaged. We are aware of the nation's debt and spending crisis which will lead to national bankruptcy. The Tea Party movement is unlike any other in recent American history and confirms the anxiety of the vast majority of the people as to the future. A shutdown will not result in Social Security checks or other vital services being curtailed only the temporary stoppage of non-essential services. There will be no fear of seniors starving to death, soldiers not being paid or airplanes falling from the sky. Unless, Doug England is an air traffic controller. Speaker Boehner we strongly suggest you gather your forces as the Democrats have done and marshal them behind one clear and succinct message. Get out in front of the cameras and reporters and tell the American people what is at stake. Call Democrats out for the liars and spenders they are. Don't be concerned about the left-wing press. Forget about the Democrat's claims of "hurting the poor, the children, the seniors and education." Ignore their false claims that cutting the budget is extreme and will kill jobs. So Speaker Boehner: wipe the tears, cowboy up, and shut this sucker down... There are millions of Democrats, Republicans and Independents who are true Americans depending on you! We The People are behind you. Shut'er down!!!!!

LOOK AT THEIR VOTING RECORD....

2011-04-04T02:32:00.006-04:00
With the upcoming primary election right around the corner. We decided to look at each incumbents voting record over the next several weeks, issues that affect each of us. Next, we will look at Dan Coffey's Voting Record: 1.) Voted for: Full time City Attorney, Shane Gibson, and his $150,000 salary 2.) Voted for: Full time City Council Attorney, Matt Lorch, and his $40,000 salary. 3.) Voted for: Carl Malysz salary: $85,000 4.) Voted for: Healthcare for part-time Council Members 5.) Voted for: Increase Stormwater fees 6.) Supports a new LOIT Tax 7.) Voted for: raises for non union employees 8.) Voted for: Smoking Ban 9.) Voted for: to give Police $500,000 for new police cars and to hire more police officers 10.) Voted for: extending Sanitation contract that was not up until 2012 11.) Voted for $30,000 for ISI 12.) Voted for using EDIT for $2.7 Budget. If you want additional voting information go on line and check it out. Freedom Of Speech would like to say: We like many citizens are tired of the rhetoric, deal cutting, grandstanding, Conflict of Interest and mismanagement of our tax dollars. Incumbent or not, Democrat or Republican, does not matter. We will vote for candidates whose views on issues support our family first and our community second. Incumbents or candidates who blindly and cowardly simply follow their parties dictated direction deserve no one's vote and will not get ours. Our final thoughts: Councilman Dan Coffey supported using TIF as a means to clearing other funds for the budget. "See Mr. Coffey it's your way of thinking that has gotten our city in the mess we are in." You continue to use the same excuses: "You just don't understand!" If we had less TIF areas, less tax abatements, less uncollected sewer liens, uncollected parking tickets and less raises we might have revenue in our general fund. What's really sad is Councilman Coffey has been in England's pocket from the get-go! You Sir, are part of the problem and NOT the solution to New Albany's financial problems. Councilman Dan Coffey Voting Record ~ Grade: F-