Published: April 28, 2009 08:35 pm      

TRIBUNE CHEERS & JEERS: April 29, 2009

CHEERS

... to LeAnn M. Andres, a manager of accounting at Mountjoy & Bressler in Louisville, for repaying one act of kindness with another. On Tuesday, The Tribune reported about 43-year-old Paul Briddle, who stopped to help a man who appeared to be trying to change a flat tire along Interstate 65 in Clark County. Instead, Briddle said three men attacked him and stole $75 from his wallet.

When Andres read the story online, she offered to send Briddle a check for $75. “I appreciate what he was trying to do and would hope that if I am ever stranded on the side of the road, someone as kind as Mr. Briddle would stop to help,” she wrote in an e-mail to the newspaper. Briddle said he was not concerned about the money but appreciates the kind gesture. Andres said she mailed the check Thursday.

— Staff Writer Matt Thacker

... to the New Albany Street Department and the Board of Public Works and Safety for organizing with local neighborhood and business associations for several cleanups lately. There are more planned, and even Mayor Doug England has been spotted at a few with a trash bag in hand. The residents — too numerous to name — deserve a pat on the back for their hard work, too. 

— Staff Writer Daniel Suddeath and Publisher Steve Kozarovich

... to potential action on resurfacing more roads in New Albany, but let’s make sure it’s not just downtown. Downtown should be a showplace to attract visitors and revenue, but a great many residents are outside the core district and need a healthy infrastructure as well. While Mayor England’s administration is not perfect, I give them credit for trying to get things done despite some New Albany City Council members that seem intent on thwarting progression.

— Tribune Publisher Steve Kozarovich

... to potential action on changing some of the one-way streets in downtown New Albany. However, the discussion shouldn’t just include Spring Street. One-way streets confuse out-of-town drivers. Let’s also look at Market, and the cross streets such as Pearl and Bank so people can park easily without circling.

— Tribune Publisher Steve Kozarovich

JEERS

... to the criminals involved in the recent shootings in New Albany. Not to lump vandalism and attempted murder in the same sentence, but for all the work some in this city have done to improve the area, there’s always someone who tears it down. Reputation is everything and these acts only serve to give New Albany a bad name. Most of us learned in the fifth grade to talk through our problems, but apparently there are some people in our midst who should still be in elementary school. 

— Staff Writer Daniel Suddeath

... to New Albany’s England administration for its stance on not seeking all parking ticket fines. After The Tribune reported April 19, 2009, that chronic offenders owe the city more than $200,000 in fines, I had to think this one over. I can appreciate the need to encourage downtown living. However, I believe that offering amnesty isn’t the fair thing to do. It’s equivalent to the bailout mentality that’s sweeping Washington, D.C. Let’s ask taxpayers to eat the cost of someone else’s mistakes in hopes of an economic boost. I greatly appreciate those that have put up with a shortage of parking for years, but the law should be enforced. Someone shouldn’t have just kept parking with no regard for consequences. I’ve worked at facilities where I had to pay to park nearby. That took a chunk of my pay. However, I chose to work there and it came with the job. We all make similar choices. The England administration declared in an Aug. 13, 2008, story in The Tribune that it’s “not looking back, we’re looking forward.” Offering amnesty in exchange for the purchase of a new parking pass is a mistake that will cost the city. It will win the administration some political capital with some downtown residents and business owners, but the policy has already created rifts between those that have paid their legal obligations and those that think free parking for their vehicles is a right and included with all property. It’s not just about the money, it’s about enforcement of the law and fairness.

— Tribune Publisher Steve Kozarovich