The Mayor loves this kind of power.
As part of the creation of the bi-state authority that will surely pass in the Metro Council next week, Abramson gets to choose four people to be members of the authority. As members, they’ll have the power to come up with, along with a similar team from Indiana, ideas for financing the $4.1 billion Ohio River Bridges, including the placement and pricing for tolling. That’s a ton of power.
Jerry gets to name four, and his buddy and running mate, Gov. Beshear, gets to name three people. There are apparently no rules, except a strong suggestion that one of Jerry’s picks is a Metro Council member. Once in place, the teams from Kentucky and Indiana will wield enormous clout.
We’re guessing David Tandy’s in line for that one. He sponsored the Council’s ordinance and pretty much goes along with the Mayor’s whims. And the Mayor can do him a big favor, perhaps, in his quest to become the city’s next Mayor. The other sponsor of the ordinance, Republican Kevin Kramer, isn’t likely to be Jerry’s pick.
You can guess that Abramson and Beshear will pack the authority with people who share their views, rather than a mix of people holding different opinions on the Bridges. This is why you can eliminate people like Tina Ward-Pugh of the Metro Council or 8664′s Tyler Allen, who would be most knowledgeable, from consideration.
More likely, expect some of Jerry’s cronies to reappear on the scene. The appointments will be political, so look for names that will further Abramson’s political career. Don’t be surprised if doesn’t choose someone in his administration.
There may be some rule against it, but if not, expect someone from the Ohio River Bridges group, like Ed Glasscock, to be on it, or at least to be asked to nominate a candidate. And there’s no reason to think that it might not include someone from GLI, the other staunch bridge supporter. Joe Reagan’s been out front on the project, but would he do the work on the committee?
We’ve made some calls around, and no one seems to have a clue about who might be appointed to these very important posts. So let’s open it up for speculation and help the Mayor decide.
Who do you think should be on the authority?
12 responses so far ↓
1 Steve Magruder (I, not D or R) // Jul 24, 2009 at 11:10 am
I would advise the mayor and governor to stay away from anyone even obliquely associated with River Fields or ever being on the record as opposed to the East End bridge, unless they want a political firestorm they won’t be able to put out. Fair warning.
As for the resolution itself, I do know that there is an amendment in the works that will provide for some form of public input. I don’t have the specifics yet.
2 Mark H (Not Hebert) // Jul 24, 2009 at 11:41 am
Forget the tolls, ask the questions three:
STOP!
Who would cross the Bridge
Must answer me
These questions three
Ere the other side he see.
What…is your name?
What…is your quest?
What…is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
3 The Mayor of Television // Jul 24, 2009 at 11:59 am
Someone from Cordish should definitely be on the commission, of course.
4 Steve // Jul 24, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I’d like to see appointees whose minds are open to the possibility that only one new bridge (in the East End) would be (1) sufficient to alleviate enough congestion downtown and/or (2) all we can afford, since the total cost of two new bridges plus the reconfiguration of Spaghetti Junction surely would necessitate tolls that nobody wants to pay.
If tolling is a foregone conclusion, then appoint any public pests on whose backs you want big targets.
5 Cat // Jul 24, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Mark H (not Hebert),
Is that an African or European swallow?
6 Mark H (Not Hebert) // Jul 24, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I don’t know…Ahhhhhh!
7 bill // Jul 24, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Isnt mayor Jerr a swallow? oh thats right, he is a swallower!
8 Knights who say Nee // Jul 24, 2009 at 2:59 pm
A shrubbery!
9 Mark S - answer man // Jul 24, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Although a definitive answer would of course require further measurements, published species-wide averages of wing length and body mass, initial Strouhal estimates based on those averages and cross-species comparisons, the Lund wind tunnel study of birds flying at a range of speeds, and revised Strouhal numbers based on that study all lead me to estimate that the average cruising airspeed velocity of an unladen European Swallow is roughly 11 meters per second, or 24 miles an hour
10 Mark H (Not Hebert) // Jul 24, 2009 at 7:47 pm
I would have to agree Mark S. However, I think we made be able to tap into some lucrative Federal grants and increment tax funding if we go instead with the endangered and minority-qualifying African Swallow.
11 Joey B // Jul 27, 2009 at 7:44 am
Someone who understands financing of large projects would be the most beneficial.
This legislation is ONLY for expediting the financing. It does NOT give ANY authority over changing the project or revisiting alternatives.
Hopefully logic would dictate and try to get the east end bridge completed ASAP so that there is an alternate traffic route during construction downtown.
12 Fleur-De-Lis // Jul 27, 2009 at 11:44 am
The Bridges Project will create 56,000 new construction jobs as well as ensure the survival of over 100,000 logistics based jobs.
The Metro Council Resolution that passed the committee simply allows the project to move forward as it was approved by the Federal Government. It does not advocate one idea for financing the project over another.
The public has been involved throughout the process. Is their a particular number where you magically have enough public involvement? The meetings were held and if you were unable to attend I am truly sorry.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has a number of more than 450 meetings relating to the project throughout Louisville Metro and Southern Indiana. These range from small neighborhood gatherings to large public hearings during the Environmental Impact Statement and the ongoing design phase. More than 4,000 written comments were submitted in response to the project’s Environmental Impact Statement and about 5,000 comments were submitted at public meetings and online in the bridge design type selection.
Lets just move forward and avoid getting caught in the ditch of divisive local politics. This project will benefit our entire region as well as the flow of goods in the eastern half of the United States.
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