TRIBUNE CHEERS & JEERS: June 10, 2009

June 10, 2009 12:42 pm

— CHEERS
... to the New Albany City Council members that sat through three hours of testimony by the New Albany Police Department during the public safety meeting and asked several questions. No matter how they vote when it comes to hiring more officers, it was refreshing to see nearly the entire body there, paying close attention and getting facts before making their decision.
— Tribune Staff Writer Daniel Suddeath

... to the Ohio Greenway Commission for opening the Scribner Place portion of the trail. It’s a great addition to the community, if we can maintain it. Also cheers to the local, state and federal governments and organizations that funded the cause. More money is needed to finish the path that will hopefully connect Clarksville, New Albany and Jeffersonville some day.
— Tribune Staff Writer Daniel Suddeath

... to all of the volunteers honored Friday at the annual Gold Leaf awards presented by the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana and Vectren. I think it’s especially important given the current economic climate to recognize those that give their time, energy and passion for the greater good.
Honorees were: Blue River Services Inc., David Allen; Carnegie Center for Art and History, Marcia Gupton; Chamber of Commerce of Harrison County, Bill Taylor; Christian Academy of Indiana, Rebecca Paris; Clark County Youth Coalition, Donald L. Ross Jr.; Clark County Youth Shelter and Family Services, Dianne Merillat; Clark Memorial Hospital Foundation, Susie Stewart; Community Foundation of Southern Indiana, Barbara K. Williams; Develop New Albany, Susan Pittman; Falls of the Ohio Foundation Inc., Diane Swank; Floyd County A.T.O.D. Task Force, Lt. Frank Loop; Floyd County Head Start, Jean Brock; Floyd County Historical Society, Victor Megenity; Floyd County Youth Services Bureau, Vince Klein; Friends of Division Street School, James Hickerson; Friends of Fairview Cemetery, Chuck Lewis; Friends of the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library, Matthew “Joey” Flispart; Gilda’s Club Louisville, Deb Reynolds-Deiss; Guerin Inc., Jerry and Brenda Baylor; Hispanic Ministry of the Catholic Church, Deborah Caruso; Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana Inc., David Barksdale; Hoosier Hills PACT, Alvin “Moe” Burman; Hosparus, Royce Hunt; Howard Steamboat Museum, Joann Galligan; Interfaith Community Council Inc., Vince Klein; Ivy Tech Community College, Paul Perkins; Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana, Chris Stoner; LifeSpan Resources Inc., Beth Preher; LifeSpring Inc., William C. Keeney; Manger Baby Shop, Brenda Tichenor; Metro United Way of Southern Indiana, Clark County, Kevin Cecil; Metro United Way of Southern Indiana, Floyd County, Carol Atnip; Metro United Way of Southern Indiana, Harrison County, Joy Taylor; New Albany High School Alumni Memorial Fund, Charles “Boots” Bensing; New Albany Business and Professional Women, Sarah Ring; Ohio River Greenway Development Commission, Elmer Hoehn; Our Lady of Providence Junior-Senior High School, Brenda Lilly; Plankeshaw Chapter of the D.A.R., Vicky Zuverink; Pilot Club of New Albany, Jane E. Gleitz; Providence Self Sufficiency Ministries Inc., David and Barbara Hellman; Regional Youth Services Inc., Sue Phillips; Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Phyllis Alfano; St. Catherine Regional Hospital Auxiliary, Lois Hall; St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities, Mindy Millner; St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, New Albany, Claudia Ettel; Southern Indiana Genealogical Society, Norma Windell Lincoln; Sunnyside Master Gardeners, Mary Lou Densford; S.U.R.F. Board, Mary Davidson; Trash Force Inc., Bettye Dunham; YMCA of Southern Indiana, Don Slone; and Youth Count, Dr. Claudia Crump.
Thank you for your service to our communities and making them a better place.
— Tribune Publisher Steve Kozarovich
JEERS
... to New Albany City Council President Dan Coffey and his apparent reading of “Leadership for Dummies.” No disrespect intended. I am not implying Coffey is a dummy, but the quotes coming from his mouth since January when he took over as council president are worthy of chapter one in the ongoing book series for leadership-challenged individuals.
Here is a recent sampling from a council meeting where law enforcement plainly stated a dire need for more police protection in the city. The Coffey Leadership Method: Step 1. Sound like a concerned leader. “It’s time for the public to get this information.” Sorry to tell you this, but the information has been disseminated via The Tribune (and official police sources) for several years. I believe even you brought up some alarming stats a few years ago at a public council meeting.
Step 2. Show empathy and make a call to action. “Everybody [on council] knows something needs to be done.” Last I checked, you were the council president and have sat on the council for years. So why hasn’t something been done? Maybe that’s chapter two.
— Tribune Publisher Steve Kozarovich
... to all the residents, bloggers and city officials that frequent New Albany City Council meetings but didn’t show up for the public safety meeting last Wednesday. The New Albany Police Department laid out some pretty startling statistics as to how out of control crime is in the city. Aside from myself, there was one other person from the public there.
Bring up paving or indoor smoking, and you’ll have people claiming the sky is falling if something isn’t done. Talk about crime — something that truly impacts each and every one of us — and nobody shows up.
That kind of message tells criminals that we don’t care if our town becomes overrun with drugs, robberies and home break-ins. We can talk about economic development and blighted housing all day, but it really doesn’t amount to a hill of beans if our city isn’t safe.
— Tribune Staff Writer Daniel Suddeath
Do you have someone or something to cheer or jeer? Submissions should be sent to Publisher Steve Kozarovich at steve.kozarovich@newsandtribune.com or by mail at 303 Scribner Drive, New Albany, IN 47150.