REINDEER SPOTTED AT THE BANK STREET BREWHOUSE...

Yesterday evening, at the Bank Street Brewhouse, a reindeer walked in the door, bellied up to the bar and ordered a pint. Without batting an eye, the bartender poured him a TafelBier, set it in front of the reindeer, and accepted the twenty-dollar bill from the reindeer's hoof.

As he handed the reindeer some coins in change, he said, You know, I think you're the first reindeer I've ever seen in here."

The reindeer looked hard at the hoofful of change and said, "Hmmmpf. Let me tell you something, buddy.

At these prices, I'm the last reindeer you'll see in here!"

I'm outta here... I'm going to PASTIME Bar & Grill for a real beer.

"Good choice Rudolph, I'm coming with you!"

Source: Merry Christmas from a
Loyal Reader

ONE QUESTION OR TWO ~ MR. MAYOR...

1. Why were two Sellersburg police officers directing traffic on Grantline and Daisy Lane yesterday?

2. Who will pay the loss sewer revenue once the city annex's the Charlestown Road area?

Let's just make it three questions.

3. If we do not have the employees to cover our city's needs, how can you Mr. Mayor, cover the new annexed area and how do you plan to pay for all of this....?

Hell will freeze over before you get the votes for a LOIT TAX!

AIRPORT SECURITY...

An engineer (ex-NASA project director) has what we think is the near perfect solution for airport security!

Here's a solution to all the controversy over pat downs and full body scanners at the airports.

Have a booth that you must step into that will not X-ray you, but will detonate any explosive device you may have on you.

It would be a win-win for everyone, and there would be none of this crap about racial profiling and this method would eliminate a long and expensive trial.

Justice would be quick and swift.

Case Closed!

WHO ELBOWED OBAMA?

U K News reported, it was a five-on-five contest involving family and friends, including Hillary Clinton, Obama's Secretary of State.

The White House's internal sports trainer, Reggie Handles, told UK News:

Hillary had him over a barrel. She was dribbling; cutting and faking like a bat out of hell.

During the second quarter Hillary broke the penetration zone with a match-up zone defense. Obama came in from the short corner, ball side, and tried to overload the zone.

That's when Hillary "bitch slapped" Barack with her bony elbow. He went down like a sack of potatoes!"

As he laid there on the court with blood flowing everywhere and his Secret Service guys laughing.

Hillary stated: Barack, this one's for the 2008 election!

Freedom Of Speech would like to say:

Hillary, you only have 17,999,999 left and please make the next one for us...

The British have a talent for caustic satire and painful put downs and that's a fact.

ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL...

Although legend has it that this expression alludes to appropriating the estates of St. Peters Church, in Westminster, London, to pay for the repairs of St. Paul's Cathedral in the 1800s, the saying first appeared in a work by John Wycliffe about 1382.

End of our history lesson for today.

Robbing Peter to pay Paul, means to take from one to give to another, shift resources.

Did you read the Nov. 21st Tribune article:

TIF may be answer for New Albany budget deficit. England proposing $2.1 million in TIF be transferred to balance spending.

"According to Mayor Doug England, $600,000 of TIF funds can be moved to offset general fund spending without approval from the New Albany City Council. Another $1.5 million can be shifted to the Economic Development Income Tax fund if the council votes to amend some of the TIF districts, England said."

Someone once told us: If you want to know what's really going on, follow the money.

In a recent article we posted: Basic Theory of TIF, Freedom Of Speech repeats: when the TIF Bond cost are paid off, the TIF area is discontinued (rescinded) so that the tax money can help the General Fund!

When they talk about amending, that means they are planning to extend the TIF area.

Watch and see if we are right!

This is another boondoggle of England's.

What he is planning on doing is "bailing out" the Police and Fire Department with the $1.8 million instead of making the hard decisions.

As we continue to say: TIF's are killing our General Fund. They want more TIF's and less revenue.

Freedom Of Speech feels that $300,000 of EDIT should be used to rebuild Camille Wright Pool!

It's our money and we should have a right to say what it should be used for.

Reality simply doesn't matter. England will say or do anything and lie to your face, even when the facts are sitting bald and naked right in front of everybody.

It is our opinion, the only difference between Bernie Madoff and Douglas B. England is Bernie got caught and England continues to Rob Peter to Pay Paul.

It's just a matter of time...Mr. England. You just don't get it!

H.E.L.P. BILL...

State Representative Jeff Thompson will author a H.E.L.P. bill during the upcoming General Assembly session.

H.E.L.P. is an approach that first, second and third grade teachers use to measure how well a community provides "Mature Homework Partners" to help students effectively complete meaningful homework every school day. A Mature Homework Partner can be a parent, guardian, relative, neighbor, or anyone at least 14 years of age.

The H.E.L.P. Rate is the percent of students that submit homework satisfactorily completed under the supervision of a Mature Homework Partner everyday the students attended school during the week.

Elementary school principals would be the only school officials allowed to reveal the names of Grade 1, 2, and 3 students to prospective Mature Homework Partners.

School-level efforts to provide information on effective homework supervision and coordinate the provision of Mature Homework Partners would be paid for by an annual state grant of four dollars for every Grade 1, 2, and 3 students.

Additional information about Homework Enhances Learning Potential can be found at http.//finplaneducation.net

HOME FORECLOSURE & JOBS....

Obama was warned in his first week in office that the housing and job issues had to be addressed prior to anything else. He and Congress chose to go after the democrats pet project of 20 years, health care.

Over a year working on nothing but that bill producing a piece of trash legislation that has already gone past the trillion dollar cap by 4 trillion and climbing as the bits and pieces emerge from the bill.

You elected a person [not us] who has no leadership abilities and let the Congress dictate priorities.

Millions out of work and Pelosi grants millions to a mouse, turtle walks and shuts down farms in California for a fish, killing even more jobs.

The Obama White House made lots of claims about stimulus, including up to 3.6 million private sector jobs. So far they are 3.5 million jobs short.

Of some one out there soon can't figure out how to manufacture, sell and buy US goods this country is screwed no matter what happens.

Nothing this administration has done for the public has any teeth in it or a real direction out of the recession.

Home modification loans are a farse, the banks will not lend they will make it because they lose money if they for close and write it off they get more back from our tax dollars.

So, how's that "hope and change" workin for ya?

HOUSING MARKET....

In case you've been living in a cave, there's a painful credit crunch underway. The culprit is the subprime mortgage a species of risky home loans to buyers with dubious credit and income.

Instead of letting lenders and subprime mortgage holders suffer the consequences of their actions, politicians and grievance mongers are riding to the supposed rescue. In a supreme irony, the very same champions of the needy who complain constantly about the lack of "affordable housing" are now fighting tooth and nail to keep housing prices high...

Let's boil this down to fundamentals: Why should the rest of us have to shoulder the burden because some buyers made poor choices, overextended themselves and bought more house than they could afford? And why are falling home prices such a catastrophe to be "fixed" in the first place?

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has proposed that government-sponsored mortgage enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac be allowed to raise their loan limits and have their debt explicitly guaranteed by the public dole.

Who'll bail us out from this perversion of the American Dream?

VALLA ANN 6 - ENGLAND 2.....

It took six years for Valla Ann Bolovschak to make history with the Main Street Quiet Zone and it only took two years of waiting for Mayor Douglas B. England to TRY and STEAL her credit!

What do we mean?

Read this and you will be outraged:

"Train Quiet Zone Enforced In New Albany"

After a two-year process, New Albany residents have a new quiet zone for train horns along the historic East Main Street corridor following an agreement city leaders were able to reach with Norfolk Southern Railroad.

The quiet zone officially began at 12:01 a.m. Friday.

The areas affected include the crossings at East 6th, East 10th and West 14th streets.

Mayor Doug England said the city first filed notice to apply for a quiet zone April 15, 2008.

Norfolk Southern Railroad administrators said the crossings needed upgrades to let engineers know if the crossing gates and lights are properly working.

After months of negotiations, city and railroad leaders reached an agreement to install those upgrades on Nov. 17, 2009.

The work was finished last May.

The city then re-filed notice of the quiet zone last month, which was approved by the railroad and began Friday, "England said."

By Andy Alcock/ WLKY

One of the great things about blogging is the ability to present all the facts when others don't and won't.

We're talking about the Mayor and local Tribune.

However, there are somethings totally left out of the press conference and in the interview with Mayor England by WLKY.

While attending a victory celebration party for Ed Clere, there just happen to be two TVs on and what should appear, an interview and press conference with Mayor England over the new Quiet Zone.

("Talk about tooting your own horn!")

While watching this interview everyone was taken back that England was taking credit (or trying too) for all of Valla Ann's hard work. If you haven't seen the interview/press conference we suggest that you Google WLKY.com and type in the words: New Albany Quiet Zone.

What all this boils down to is this: The-All-About-Me-Mayor England, is a LIAR.

Yes, this time we are not going to let England slide and think he can get away with this lie.

Since Mayor England claims he done all the work on the quiet zone and he feels he deserves all the credit, we have a few questions for him to answer:

* How many pages was the Notice of Establishment you negotiated?

* What date did you received full funding approval and what was the amount?

* How was the funding obtained and from whom?

* How many gates and lights were installed?

* Why would you call a press conference and not include Valla Ann Bolovschak?

Mayor Doug England stated on tape: the city first filed notice to apply for a quiet zone April 15, 2008.

Would you like to retract your statement before we expose you for the "liar" that you are?

At least Mayor England if you are going to try and take credit for the quiet zone you ought to have done your homework before you tooted your own horn!

Now, here are the facts and they are documented:

Valla Ann received full funding approval from INDOT and Norfolk Southern, in the amount of $160,000 and $323,000 from Norfolk Southern.

In the history of Norfolk Southern they had never invested this amount of money ever in a quiet zone, but with Valla Ann's ability to negotiate she achieved the funding (no grants) and the City of New Albany received the check for $483,000.

Freedom Of Speech obtained documents dating August of 2004 reflecting acknowledgement of the financial commitments and agreement with INDOT and Norfolk Southern.

We guess England forgot he didn't take office as Mayor until 2008.

Was that "another gotcha Doug moment?"

Absolutely!

Valla Ann presented to the England administration a 30 page Notice of Establishment. Which was already drawn up, Norfolk Southern required it to be put on City of New Albany letterhead and signed and that was it.

Matt Dennison unwilling to take educated guidance procrastinated and another glitch popped up to delay the Main Street Quiet Zone.

The only reason city had to get involved is because rules changed and power outage indicators had to be installed.

The cost was estimated about $5,000 and the final bill ended up being $15,000. Our understanding the city paid way over what power outage indicators normally cost.

After six years Valla Ann and the Citizens of New Albany finally have a quiet zone!

Freedom Of Speech believes in giving credit where credit is due.

You can expect a jealous neighbor to not say a simple "thank you", but for Doug England not to give Valla Ann the credit she deserves tells you the character and class of our mayor.

This is about principals, folks!

The sad part about all of this, on Friday evening at 12:33 am it was Valla Ann alone standing there to thank the engineers and NO one else bothered to showed up.

To Mayor England, you are always the first to want the credit, and nevcr do the work.

Have you NO shame?

Freedom Of Speech believes in giving credit where the credit is due, you never gave up, you never gave in, and your the one Valla Ann that made it happen!

Thank You,

Freedom Of Speech Staff

CONGRATULATIONS TO REP. ED CLERE...

They tried to trash his image and attack his character, it did not work!

The democrat and republican voters saw right through all the mudslinging and nasty mailers.

They respect Ed Clere and what he stands for.

Freedom Of Speech is proud to have supported the best candidate. Ed Clere will again represent us all in Indianapolis.

Freedom Of Speech Staff

VOTE YES - 2010 PROPERTY TAX CAPS

This update focuses on how the 2010 property tax caps will impact Indiana's city and town municipal government.

The key points include the following:

* The 2010 property tax caps will have NO significant impact on essential service delivery by the great majority of Indiana's 566 cities and towns.

* Anyone who uses property tax caps in Indiana to justify the imposition of a LOIT Tax is making or intentionally misleading you.

* The constitutional property tax caps in Senate Joint Resolution 1 must be passed to make unconstitutional any Distressed Unit Appeals Board decision that would bypass a local taxing unit's property tax caps.

Indiana Legislative Services Agency has estimated the impact of the 2010 property tax caps on all local government units that impose a property tax. The LSA estimates compare the caps impact only to those budgeted funds that receive revenue wholly or partly from property tax levies. The full effect of the 1%-2%-3% property tax caps will first be felt in 2010- they will be phased in at a 1.5%-2.5%-3.5% level in 2009.

Indiana has 566 city and town municipal government. The great majority of cities and towns- 450 or 79.5% - will have their budged funds that include property tax levies impacted 5.0% or less by the 2010 property tax caps.

The remaining cities and towns will have their 2010 property tax funds impacted 5.1% or more: 84 cities and towns will have 5.1% to 10.0% less for their budgets, 25 cities and towns will have 10.1% to 15.0% less, and 7 cities and towns rely so much on high property taxes that their budgets will impact 15.1% or more.

Anyone familiar with their local government spending knows that a 5% reduction will have NO impact on essential service delivery. That is exactly where New Albany's at with a 5% reduction.

Tell Mr. Mayor and Shane Gibson they are both full of crap, if they tell you anything different!

VALLA ANN MAKES HISTORY....

It seems like to us a lot of people are trying to take credit and thank the wrong people for the Quiet Zone. Just in case you didn't get the October 20, 2010 Tribune, here it is:

* "Dealing with the railroad, we feel like it's a huge achievement," said Matt Denison, president of the Board of Public Works and Safety.

* "It's taken a long time and a lot of negotiating, and the city getting involved strongly, Mayor England said."

Then we received the following email dated October 20, 2010 and wanted to share this with you our readers:

Peter et al,

This is indeed good news, barring any unforeseen hurdles presented by Norfolk Southern, as was the case with the last Notice of Intent filed.

I certainly hope that the MSPA intends to send a formal letter of thanks to our mayor and the City of New Albany for seeing this process through despite several setbacks. While many of us advocated strongly for the quiet zone, it would not have become a reality had not the administration approved our request, allocated funding and assigned staff (namely Matt Denison), to handle the myriad, tedious details involving in the establishment of the quiet zone. Matt has been extremely professional throughout this process, and we all owe a big thank you to him. and the city, for bringing this to fruition.

Ann Streckfus

Freedom of Speech would like to ask: What in the hell is wrong with you people?

This administration has done nothing other than send the Notice of Establishment out, which Valla Ann wrote in Valparaiso with Tammy Wagner of the Federal RR administration.

All the city had to do was transfer it to their letterhead and sign it.

Our question to Ann Streckfus, why didn't you give the credit to the one person who spent her own money, time from her business and we will even bet, today Valla Ann is still talking with Norfolk Southern and INDOT checking on the Quiet Zone.

Why can't you thank the one person who raised $468,000.00 to make this project happen?

Are you that jealous of her, obsessed with her many accomplishments or even her ability to make things happen?

Are you people that selfish and stupid that you would deny her that honor or a simple "thank you?"

You people make us sick!

How about Freedom Of Speech giving credit to the "one person" who made all this possible and who made our quiet zone happen.

Let us tell the real story and forget about all the above bullshit, and crap floating around and being written in our local Tribune!

So here's the real story...

A private citizen decided about 6 years ago to make a "quiet zone" happen. Most people just turn away and hope that someone else steps up to the plate and gets it done.

Especially with a project of this caliber.

A private citizen and business owner Valla Ann Bolovschak has been working diligently for about 6 years on completing the requirements in order for the crossings between Fifth Street to 14th streets to qualify for the "Quiet Zone" designation.

Now we are not talking about making a few phone calls, calling INDOT or calling Norfolk railroad or even sending several faxes.

We are talking about trips to Virginia, Chicago and hosting several meetings with Norfolk representatives at her Admiral Bicknell Inn.

That's not even counting many meetings and several trips she made to Indianapolis to meet with INDOT at her own expense.

Does any one of our readers remember that famous January 5, 2005 council meeting?

Yes, we are talking about Valla Ann confronting Mayor Garner about not attending Norfolk Southern meetings and her famous line was "Jimmy G. you work for me."

(That was truly a night to remember, one of the best council meetings we ever attended.)

When we researched the process of a "Quiet Zone" procedure we were amazed how she was able to complete this task so quickly and other various projects that she was totally committed to.

Why Valla Ann took on this project:

* Establishing a "Quiet Zone" would have a positive impact on property values and tax assessments, thereby increasing revenue for the city

* Enacting a "Quiet Zone" will greatly enhance our "Quality of Life," for area residents which is one of Valla Ann's priorities for her neighbor's and the City of New Albany

A WIN-WIN situation for everyone involved!

Valla Ann started this back in 2004. She established the good relationships with Norfolk Southern, the Federal RR administration and INDOT to raise the money

Valla Ann actually negotiated with Norfolk and INDOT and raised $483,000 worth of improvements to make this project happen!
This does not mean that they will never again sound their horns. It WILL mean that they don't have to unless they perceive a need to do so.

This, our readers of Freedom Of Speech, is a fine example of determination, hard work, long hours, to see a project through.

It also shows that problems we have in New Albany that there are solutions.

You just got to roll up your sleeves, do your homework, over come obstacles, find solutions, and have the conviction and passion to make a project of this caliber happen like Valla Ann Bolovschak did.

Anyone interested in the other details or facts can contact Valla Ann.

She will show you her file drawers of paperwork from 2004 forward that authenticate her journey.

Nobody on Main Street or in this administration has a clue, she did this Quiet Zone pretty much solo because nobody had the patience and determination that she did to complete.

Congratulation Valla Ann our entire community benefits when it's a WIN-WIN situation like this for all of us. It has been a long journey for you in getting this Quiet Zone but we always knew you would make this happen.

Patience is a virtue and six years has been a long time, but look at the end results you achieved!

We the citizens, of New Albany would like to publicly "Thank You, Valla Ann" for our new "Quiet Zone." New Albany will be the 5th Quiet Zone in the entire State of Indiana.

Let's celebrate on November 4th and 12th when the parties involved will be here!

Freedom Of Speech Staff

VOTE "YES"....NOVEMBER 2, 2010

Public Question #1

Constitutional Amendment

Shall Property Taxes be limited for all classes of Property by amending the Constitution of the State of Indiana to do the following:

(1) Limit a taxpayer's annual property tax bill to the following percentages of gross assessed value.

(A) 1% for an owner-occupied primary residence (homestead)

(B) 2% for residential property, other than an owner-occupied primary residence, including apartments

(C) 2% for agricultural land

(D) 3% for other real property

(E) 3% for personal property

The above percentages exclude any property taxes imposed after being approved by the voters in a referendum

(2) Specify that the General Assembly may grant a property tax exemption in the form of a deduction or credit and exempt a mobile home used as a primary residence to the same extent as real property.

Freedom Of Speech would like to say:

Why should we homeowners have to find room in our budgets for income or other tax increases? Why should we do with less so that our local government can get larger and more bureaucratic and unfair?

We want local government to find room in their budgets to cut excessive spending and stop mismanagement of our tax dollars.

If our bond rating goes down because our incomes goes down, is that necessarily a bad thing? We don't want local government borrowing more money because HELLO...we can't pay it back!

Our local debt to income ratio is out of control.

Raising property taxes is not the answer, when our local government doesn't give a damn about us property owners!

Local taxpayers are also wiser now to local government of "bait and switch" with our money. We know you use our homes as collateral, we know you are only doing something now because there was public outrage, and we know you are all afraid for your jobs...as you should be!

Most of you won't see another term in office.

"VOTE ~YES on November 2, 2010."

DIRTY ~ NEW ALBANY POLITICS ~ CHICAGO STYLE...

This is Freedom Of Speech, and we approve this message:

It's coming time for us to vote on our elected representatives but today there are so many negative ads about Ed Clere.

The negative ads that we've seen come out by Shane Gibson "dodge the real issues we face, what he really believes, and what he stands for! "

Any candidate who has to stoop to insult their opponent instead of speaking of their own ideas and voting record immediately looses our vote.

"Personally, we are sick of it."

Stand on your record as City Attorney and see how far you get.

Talk about the $450,000 you cost us in the Georgetown Sewer deal.

Is it true Mr. Gibson you collect 4 % of any bonds issued by the city in addition to your $150,000 salary?

Tell the people how you refused to sign sewer liens and you are for the LOIT Tax, against Property Tax Caps and you wanting us taxpayers to foot the bill for city employee health care.

And, what about the times you've mislead our council with half truths?

Here's our philosophy, Shane: If you go into a job interview for upper management (or any job, period), you demonstrate your own abilities, and you NEVER belittle your competition. Why should politics be any different? As the people doing the hiring, we shouldn't put up with this bull-shit of your... mudslinging!

How dare you blame Mr. Clere for the closing of four schools!!!

That is a damn LIE and you know it!

Ed Clere stands WITH the citizens of New Albany, but what about you Mr. Gibson?

So what if Ed Clere done something in college 17 years ago. Has anyone bothered to call him and ask him what it was he did?

We did, and it is typical College Fraternity Hazing...

Our turn is coming and it's coming November 2 and we're going to vote!

The time has come to step up and to perform our duty as citizens of New Albany and to quit sitting on the sidelines - bitching our way through our city's issues.

It's time you talk about what you bring to the table and what your record is Mr. Gibson, Ed Clere has proven to us citizens what he can do and has done for our city.

Be an informed voter, ask yourselves one question: what has Shane Gibson ever done for the Citizens of New Albany?

BENEFIT CONCERT

Benefit Concert for Trent Waggoner
Sunday, October 17 at 12:00pm
Location: Steinert's Grill & Pub

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

As Hillary departs for the Balkans and Bill is campaigning in Louisville, Kentucky today.

Freedom Of Speech staff would like to wish them a "Happy 35th Anniversary" to a beautiful couple, and Godspeed Madam Secretary on your mission!

WOW....WE TOLD YOU SOOOO....

Would Mayor England pay US for all the information we got on him?

We wonder where all of England's skeletons are buried?

Would our readers like to hear what Charlie Pride (State Board Of Accounts) told us about the City of New Albany?

Enjoy Harvest Homecoming this weekend.

We've got a lot to share with our readers and even our enemies. So check back next week!

We're taking the weekend off so we can enjoy Harvest Homecoming too.

Happy Harvest Homecoming,
Freedom Of Speech Staff

WHO GOT THROWN UNDER THE ANNEXATION BUS?

Answer: New Albany Police Chief Crabtree.

Rumor (fact) is over the next few days there will be a new Police Chief.

Guess who that will be?

Answer: Todd Bailey

Anyone want to put "money" on this upcoming....Dog and Pony show?

We sure hope for Mr. Bailey's sake he didn't visit Doug's tailor in Louisville...

footnote: Will England ever learn in a town of about 37,000 citizens, some people just can't keep a secret or keep their big mouth shut!

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN....

Happy Harvest Homecoming, to all of our readers and fans!

Enjoy the parade today.

Freedom Of Speech Staff

footnote: Over the next few months we will present to you our readers: The case against Douglas B. England.

IT IS WHAT IT IS....

Let's be realistic. The 6 main causes of New Albany's budget mess are:

1. To many TIF'S

2. Giving to many Tax Abatements

3. Mismanagement of Tax Dollars

4. Misappropriation of Tax Dollars

5. Police & Fire get eighty five cents out of every dollar of our General Fund

6. Malfeasance

Freedom Of Speech would like to say:

Our city is facing the financial abyss, and the Mayor and the council, we the voters elected to represent our best interest, either can't or won't take the steps necessary to correct the problems we face.

What has to happen before the council and the mayor get their act together?

Bankruptcy?

Let's hope not, but don't hold your breath.

If England can get $70,000 for One Southern Indiana, he can appropriate another $70,000 for an audit of the General Fund, Sewers, and Stormwater!

For England to stand before citizens, Council and Councilman Price and call him a "smart-ass" who in the hell does he think he is?

For Haub to tell Councilman Price I have a message from the police officer to the citizens and him: "Fuck You!" we'll take you to arbitration and not take the health care.

Our reply, Mr. Haub: "Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out of the NAPD. You chose that job, stop whining, Charlestown, Clarksville and Jeff ARE hiring!

Why can't the police and fire be satisfied using 85% of our city budget?

Don't we citizens deserve better than this?