LEGACY PROGRAM OF JEFF GAHAN....

$6 million - Aquatic Center Bond
$6 million - Baseball Complex Bond
$4 million - Paving Bond

Boy, will the City of New Albany have a lot of RICH attorneys.

FUEL FOR THOUGHT....

If only more people showed as much concern for the national debt as Twinkies, our country may not be as screwed as it is....

GOOD EVENING - IT'S BLACK THURSDAY...

You couldn't pay us a million dollars to do Black Thursday this year. What happen to Black Friday?

Black Thursday is our idea of consumer hell. 

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

In the end, we saved about $75.

The main problems we have:

1) the mindset that comes with the day. You are geared to go out and spend, spend, spend. It's certainly every shopaholics 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 Thursday we will be enjoying a leisure drink or two, and really saving money by not blowing an entire evening spending it!

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

Happy Black Thursday to all!

OUR CONDOLENCE...

A personal message to Matt Denison,

When you loose such a special person in your life, time seems to stop. Please accept our deepest condolence to you and your family in the loss of your uncle, Chief Larry Denison. We will never be able to forget your uncle, as he will always hold a place in our hearts and what he did for the citizens and the City of New Albany.

You have our deepest sympathy,

Freedom Of Speech Staff

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES...

Governor: Mike Pence
Attorney General: Greg Zoeller
U.S. Rep. IN. Congress Dist. 9: Todd Young
State Representative Dist. 72: Ed Clere
County Recorder: Lois Endres
County Treasurer: Linda Berger
County Commissioner Dist. 2: Chuck Freiberger
County Council Member: Brad Striegel
School Board Member At-Large: Jessica Knable
School Board Member District 4: Rebecca Gardenour

Freedom Of Speech has a lot to say:

First of all it is OUR opinion Candidate Steve Burke is "unfit to sit" on the County Council. We hope he attends more County Council meetings than he did Advisory Board meetings which he was elected to do. Just going in to pick up a pay check doesn't pass the smell test.

A message to the Ed Clere haters over on NAC  It is our opinion that Mr. Clere continues to do the job WE taxpayers pay him to do regardless of party. The petty trash talking over on NAC makes you all look SMALL and JEALOUS. Bullying doesn't cut it here in the City and County. Freedom Of Speech was proud to endorse this great candidate.

A message to Commissioner Steve Bush: Our understanding is you plan to run for Sheriff in the next election. Taking donations from Democrats with the promise of jobs cost Carol Evans the election. Don't get us wrong we didn't support her because citizens are tired of the deal cutting.

Welcome to the newest School Board member Jessica Knable. She might be small but she's a true spitfire person when it comes to kids. We know Mrs. Knable will do "a great job" as a School Board member. She will base her decisions on facts and what is best for the students of NAFC Schools.

As they say: you always save the best for last.

A message to newly elected three term School Board member, Rebecca Gardenour: You are truly a real Watchdog for the taxpayers of Floyd County. From Linden Meadows, to being a CASA case worker (and everything else in between) and a advocate for children you rate high on our list. You not only talk the talk but walk the walk and Mrs. Gardenour DOES put her money where her mouth is. She lives in the real world. She knows what kids go through. (Unlike US here at Freedom Of Speech, other blogs seems to make every attack against Mrs. Gardenour and Ed Clere personal). Do we always agree with Mrs. Gardenour? No, but we do agree to disagree unlike some others. Mrs. Gardenour will ALWAYS be a voice for the Floyd County students and the taxpayers regardless of party. Her common sense approach, knowledge of budgets, and the school system makes her the best advocate for children.

Bottom line here folks: Gardenour was the BEST candidate. 

Hmmm, could she be "our choice as a future candidate" for mayor. That has to be a great thought and a great idea...what do you our readers think?

Our final thoughts: as they say in local politics: "the democrats put you in and the democrats take you out." Now, it's truly time to clean up our city politics. This is the "WORSE Mayor and City Council" we have EVER seen.

Mission Accomplished...

BE SURE AND VOTE ON NOV. 6, 2012.....

With the upcoming general election right around the corner.

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 this country and county has ever had.
You might ask, what do we mean by making this statement.

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

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 several candidates and you know who you are!

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 will NOT get our VOTE!

The deal cutting and blatant lies has affected many citizens and has affected their quality of life here in Floyd County and our Country.

It is time, our time, to clean this County and Country up and get rid of the Good Old Boys.

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

So, Drum Roll...Please!

Freedom Of Speech will list our Endorsements for the upcoming 2012 General Election:

President:

Mitt Romney (R)

Indiana United States Senator:

Joe Donnelley (D)

Indiana Governor:

Mike Pence (R)

Indiana Attorney General:

Greg Zoeller (R)

State Superintendent:

Tony Bennett (R)

United States Representative 9th Congressional District:

Todd Young (R)

State Representative District 70:

Rhonda Rhoads (R)

State Representative District 72:

Ed Clere (R)

County Recorder:

Lois Endris (R)

County Treasurer:

Linda Berger (R)

County Coroner:

Lesalie E. Knable (D)

County Commissioner District 2:

Chuck Freiburger (D)

County Commissioner District 3:

Dennis Roundenbush (D)

County Council At-Large:

Larry Clemons (D)
Carol Shope (D)
Brad Striegel (D)

School Board:

Becky Gardenour
Jessica Knable (At-Large)

We wish all these candidates all the best and hope that you are prepared to make the hard decisions COME 2013!

Freedom Of Speech Staff

MAIL CALL....

Hey There,

What up? Phew, it's been quite a month. Quite a month, Man...

Oh, sorry about that, just got lost in thought about the terrible things Mitt Romney wants to do to women. Wait--that sounded weird. You know what I mean.

Anyway, you can probably guess why I'm writing. I don't want to lose this election. Not, you know, because of, like, how it would affect me. This isn't about me. I'll be totes alright. I mean, think about it: Even if I lose, I'd be a former president, so, like, people would still definitely want to hang with me and play b-ball (even if I do always win). I mean seriously, how sweet would it be to hang with s former pres? Tell me you wouldn't be excited for that. I would. I definitely would.

And also I'd have a lot more time to, like, do stuff. I'm waaay behind on movies. I mean, Harvey still won't get off my back about seeing The Artist, so that could be cool. Plus, I could get my turntables out of storage and start spinning again. And I've always wanted to take a road trip and see America. I mean, I've seen "America," I guess, but I wanna see, like, the cool parts of America-Portland, Austin, I heard Charleston is cool. Not, you know, Ohio.'

Hey, maybe I'll even get a real job or something. Part-time, or maybe even full-time. Oh, like a full professorship! I never got to do that before. Maybe Senator-elect Warren could hook me up, Hmm...

Oh, uh-but seriously, I really don't want to lose this thing. For reals. We're entering the home stretch here and I could really, really use your support. So, I guess donate $5 or-oh, wait, great idea: If you live in Portland or Austin or somewhere cool and you've got space for me to crash, send me your digits. I'll text you or something. Sweet.

Later,

Barack

DONATE TO THE REDCROSS...

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the citizens affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Support The Sandy Relief Effort
Text REDCROSS at: 90999

THE ART OF THE DEAL....

Now the world will see if Obama REALLY cares about charity. Donald Trump is willing to give 5 million dollars to a charity of Obama's choice (including Inner City Children of Chicago), if Obama will just release his college and passport records. From what we know, Trump is not asking for anything more that what other presidents have shown.

This is a very interesting challenge to see how much Obama wants to keep his college and passport records a secret. And it should cause people who support him to ask "why," if he rejects the challenge. That's a lot of money that could do a lot of good.

Check out the Liberal media.

Not one of them seems to realize that Trump just finagled himself $25 million in anti-Obama press for nothing...

That folks is called "The Art of the Deal."

SHAME ON YOU MR. GAHAN....

Our city is comprised of a poor, middle and upper class and it seems that several on council believe they only represent the mayor along with those with special desires, which leaves the rest of us footing the bill and suffering in our own personal pocketbooks.

By separating the parks it will cost us the taxpayers more.

We, the taxpayers, need a council and a mayor who are willing to make the tough decisions, based on need verses want in this continued economic times.

We need to cut spending, based on the strictest need.

Our mayor, city council, and employees are suppose to save us money, when and where they can. Not put the taxpayers in a bind because the mayor wants a 'water park downtown.'

You are each affecting our quality of life.

We view serving on City Council as a great privilege. It is NOT a position for residual income, but a position that requires time and energy, as well as the interest for all those impacted by each decision made, because we do believe "what we do today impacts tomorrow!"

Gahan seems to think he knows best but again he is wrong.

Shame on you Mr. Gahan, you have just cost yourself another chance to do the right thing.

We applaud the following council members: Kevin, Bob, Diane and Mrs. Baird for have the guts to stand up to Mr. Gahan on behalf of the many taxpayers  of our city.

WHY WE SUPPORT ED CLERE...

In a local race, interviews with the candidates can be helpful. For a incumbent, a look at their voting records on issues that affect you and your family can tell you the candidate positions:

2012 General Assembly Voting Record:

Voted YES on House Bill 1003, which is Taxpayer Friendly because (1) public access to government meetings and records is improved and (2) it is less likely that public agencies will intentionally violate the Public Access Laws.

Voted YES on House Bill 1005, which contains six Taxpayer Friendly local government Conflict of interest provisions and sixteen Taxpayer friendly local government Nepotism provisions.

2011 General Assembly Voting Record:

Voted YES on House Bill 1001, which includes 16 Taxpayer Friendly state budget provisions NO tax increases and an operating surplus in both the 2012 and 2013 fiscal years with a excellent reserve balance on June 30, 2013.

Voted YES on House Bill 1002, which is Taxpayer Friendly because (1) charter schools have the potential to help increase the academic growth of lower social economic students, (2) the number of Indiana nonprofit private colleges and universities authorized to create charter schools is limited, (3) the Indianapolis mayor is the only Indiana mayor who may authorize charter schools, (4) conversion from a public school to a charter school is sufficiently stringent, and (5) property taxes are NOT  improperly used to support charter schools.

Voted YES on House Bill 1022, which is Taxpayer Friendly local government related to officeholders.

Voted YES on House Bill 1074, which provides that school board members selected by election must be elected at November general elections and is Taxpayer Friendly because the greater voter turnout in general elections will make it more difficult for local vested interests to unduly influence school board elections.

Voted YES on House Bill 1583, which passed as part of House Bill 1004 and is Taxpayer Friendly because the 1% homeowner property tax cap and ten homeowner property tax deductions are allowed in the year of a property transfer if the property is determined to be exempt in the year following the transfer year.

2010 General Assembly Voting Record:

Voted YES on House Bill 1001, which contains 21 Taxpayer Friendly government ethics reform provisions.

Voted YES on House Joint Resolution 1, which gives voters statewide the opportunity to amend the Indiana Constitution to (1) make the 1% - 2% - 3% property tax caps permanent and (2) protect homestead property tax deductions from legal challenge and this is Taxpayer Friendly Joint Resolution.

Voted YES on House Bill 1086, which contains 7 Taxpayer Friendly provisions including the HJR 1 Constitutional Amendment ballot language.

Voted YES on House Bill 1367, which contains 5 Taxpayer Friendly K-12 education provisions that preserve and protect instructional programs.

Voted YES on Senate Bill 396, which mandates an adjusted six-year average that eliminates the highest value to calculate the base rate for the assessment of agricultural land.

Voted YES on Senate Bill 23, which delays the scheduled increase in unemployment insurance premiums for one year until 2011.

2009 General Assembly Voting Record:

Voted YES  on House Bill 1001 SS, the 2009-2011 special session budget bill that (1) provides enough resources for good government AND (2) satisfactorily protects Hoosier working families from state and local tax increases this is Taxpayer Friendly.

Freedom Of Speech would like to say:

Representative Clere signed a Hoosier Property Tax Reform Alliance pledge to vote in 2009 for the exact same version of Senate Joint Resolution 1 that was passed in 2008 regarding Property Tax Caps.

Mr. Clere kept his word and Voted YES. It is RARE that an elective officials "keeps his word" but State Rep. Ed Clere did.  As you can tell in the above voting record, Candidate Clere deserves another four years representing US the taxpayers of the City of New Albany.

We ask all of our readers and supporters of Freedom Of Speech to VOTE for Rep. Ed Clere on November 6, 2012.

OBAMA VS MITT ....

Maher rips Obama's debate performance: "Looked like he took my million and spent it on Weed!"

A QUICK RECOVERY....

We wish State Rep. Ed Clere a speedy recovery from a terrible auto accident, in Indianapolis yesterday. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Vote for Ed Clere
November 6, 2012

THE TRUTH ABOUT LINDEN MEADOWS...

If you remember, the city went to residents of Valley View and allowed them to "vote" if they wanted the houses there. They voted NO.  The neighbors on Captain Frank Road. They had no notification at all until they read it in the Tribune paper.

As for eminent domain, the state did take the land. You would think that the state wanted a free and clear title to the land, but they paid Ms. Peters $1200 and let her do another revisionary deed. Why did the state let her do that? The court did not look at the revisionary clause at all they just looked at that she got "paid".

The ball park had just had a $100,000 upgrade by the school system from being a long time softball field for the girls to a baseball field for the NAHS 9th grade boys.

The homeowners on Captain Frank Road tried to work with CHDO and the city. It was their way or the highway. The City of New Albany and CHDO lied when residents asked why they were digging basements when they all agreed to put them on concrete slabs until the lawsuit was settled. John Rosenbarger told Mrs. Gardenour to her face that they "weren't basements"  It was just a way to "ease the houses on the lots!"

Our understanding that over the last few months  a man or several men was given access to some of the remaining houses to strip what is in it. One resident confronted one man who said one of the houses "use to be his"  and he was taking some of the stuff. However, it was all new kitchen cabinets he was stripping!

The police were called and the residents had found out the NAPD were the ones who let the guy in! Some man also took the oak doors off of one of the remaining houses. 

Some other neighbor called David Brewer to see if he could have one of the doors and he was told NO.

We still wonder who owns or drives that white truck!

One has to wonder the lot that Mickey Thompson built his house on was owned by the city. We wonder if he paid for the lot or did the city give it to him. Evidently, he also has city owned equipment such as a bulldozer on his property.

Interesting!

There is little cause to celebrate demolition of 16 homes in Linden Meadows. For eight years, residents surrounding Linden Meadows have endured the degradation of their neighborhood.

Some of those residents spent $30,000 to stop this development which has been described as "one of the biggest messes New Albany has ever had!"

Not counting the hundreds of thousands of our tax dollars wasted and you have to ask why.

City attorney charged $250,000 to divert residents lawsuit away from the central issue. Whether the park was illegally seized. CHDO went bankrupt and defaulted on a $1 million loan. Taxpayers paid to demolish Linden Meadows.

The demolition leaves open the question: What happens now? Restore the Park? Return the land to its rightful owner? There are NO winners here!  No one wins when our leaders in local government abuses their power. Those residents have severed eight years in a degraded neighborhood for a crime they DID NOT commit.

Is this their punishment for the crime of being citizens of the City of New Albany?

Freedom Of Speech would like to thank the following citizens:

Don and Edyth Jensen (granddaughter); Keith and Sharon Jensen (great grandson) Rebecca and Leonard Gardenour, Mary and Rick Hauber, Pete and Betty Cottenil, and Bill and Mary Reed.

It is citizens like you folks who stood up for what is right, this is why we expose the corruption and wasteful spending of our tax dollars in our town.

If Mrs. Fawcett was alive today she would be proud of each and everyone of you.

God Bless you all!
Freedom Of Speech Staff

REMEMBERING 9/11....

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

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

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!

Freedom Of Speech Staff

WERE OFF TO TAMPA, FLORIDA....

Tea Party Rally

Where: 3738 River Int'l Drive

When: August 26, 2012 - 7 PM

When the eyes of the world focus on Tampa during the Republican National Convention, let the first thing they see be the Tea Party steadfastly refusing to let ourselves be defined by anything but the agenda that the American people overwhelmingly supported in 2009 and continue to value today.

We will show the world we stand together as citizens and states, united behind fiscal responsibility, smaller government, and of constitutionally limited government, personal responsibility and the defeat of Barack Obama.

We are proud of the fact that the funding for our efforts comes from everyday Americans who understand that our system of government has been taken over by special interest groups spending millions of dollars to purchase the votes of corrupt politicians willing to do their bidding.

The Tea Party movement arose from the critical need for "We the People" to make our voices heard and take back control of a broken system. No longer are we willing to remain silent while these political puppets destroy the opportunity and liberty called "the American Dream".

We do not want another four years where government will decide who wins and who loses. We don't want Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and the DNC to pick our President. Every VOTE and state should decide who's best, not a certain few.

Our country's future is on the line this November.

We the People works...

"God Bless the United States of America"

TODD AKIN....

He has until 5:00 this evening to drop out so they can get another candidate. We hope and pray he makes the right decision. It was stupid and he's a moron. We can't afford those kinds of comments at this juncture in our country.

He should fall on his sword for the good of our country.

If he doesn't he is NO patriot, just another politician like Obama!

EIGHTY + DAYS AND COUNTING...

It seems the S.S. Obama is taking on water faster than his political machine can bail!

It is disturbing and disheartening to listen to Mr. Hope & Change these days. He hasn't governed in over a year, he is on the TV every single day, and Rome is BURNING.

If we hear "I'm Barack Obama, and I approve this message" one more time, We will shoot that flat screen right off the wall! What are you approving, Mr. Hope & Change? Ads filled with lies and innuendo? How come you are not approving a message that says you will fix what you and your Chicago buddies screwed up?

Last night, we heard him speaking to a group saying how he LOWERED taxes for the middle class.

We wonder why anyone should even pay taxes when the departments you are responsible for are sending guns to Mexico, hiring hookers in Columbia, and blowing $800K on Vegas parties? You think taxing millionaires will fix this corruption or make companies like Solyndra solvent?

The problem is, he doesn't care!

He just wants four more years on the country's dole. He wants four more years to finish what he started, which is to say, fundamentally change this country into Greece.

Bottom line; Mr. Hope and Change is running scared. Why else would he order a dream act for illegal aliens? Or take away work requirements for welfare, or advertise food stamps in Mexico?

He needs every vote he can get and the American people aren't as stupid as he thinks.

It's our hope we've finally reached a tipping point in this country. And that the majority of our citizens have come to the conclusion that individual actions and responsibility play more of a role in ones economic situation than ones race or creed.

DID YOU KNOW....

That the Department Homeland Security ordered 209,000 rounds of #00 buckshot -pellet bullets for 12 gauge guns and more than 2 million shot for a .357 Sig Caliber.

We have NO idea what they need all this ammo for.

Oh that's right the DNC Convention is in September. We sure are glad were going to Florida instead.