30 responses so far ↓

• 1 BT // Apr 23, 2010 at 11:10 am

  That’s a cute little trophy. Reminds me of the one I got for bowling when I was a kid.

• 2 Steve Magruder // Apr 23, 2010 at 11:28 am

  Great catch, Jake! One of your best.

• 3 Chip // Apr 23, 2010 at 11:30 am

  Now you know the stuff that Fischer loves.
  That justifies the ego that leads.

• 4 The Highlander // Apr 23, 2010 at 11:52 am

  Fischer fits right in to Louisville. A total ’spin machine’ with minor league qualifications, minor league accomplishments and a history of ‘blow-hard’ mayors who can’t hit their rear end with a snowshovel. So if that’s who we get as a result of the Democratic primary for Mayor — it will be much the same around here — as it was with Harvey ‘the magician’ Sloane, David ‘the weak’ Armstrong and Happy Pants AbraHAMson, = a mile wide and an eighth of an inch deep.

• 5 what? // Apr 23, 2010 at 12:07 pm

  Agree with the catch, Steve…great job Jake! Now we’ll see if his opponents can make hay with it.

  I am still flabbergasted that Fischer could screw up so badly..

• 6 James Moore // Apr 23, 2010 at 12:35 pm

  I’ve been messing around with local politics for four years now… Those of you who have played the game know that it can completely immerse you, and that you have to learn to pick your battles carefully. I chose to work for Tyler Allen because he is without doubt the smartest, most energetic, and most scrupulous guy in the mayor’s race, and this race is one of the most important in Louisville’s history. Please join me in electing Tyler.

• 7 The Highlander // Apr 23, 2010 at 1:18 pm

  Sorry James Moore — but your horse is a one-trick pony. He may be correct about 8664, but where’s the ‘rest of the meat?’ Seattle, New York, Cincinnati, Chicago etc. all have an xway that inhibits the water but that hasn’t prevented those cities from having vibrant downtowns. Let’s get off the b.s. about ‘happy living’ and get going with a ‘pro-business environment’ in this place. We’ve been running this city like it was Danville, Ky. for a century. Go Get Some Big Business In Here.

• 8 Steve Magruder // Apr 23, 2010 at 1:33 pm

  8664 is very much a pro-business idea, as it would open up all sorts of opportunities for new business downtown, and it would open up the west end for new development as well.

• 9 tbrauch // Apr 23, 2010 at 1:47 pm

  By the way, the actual title for his award is

  “1990 Manufacturing Award Winner South Central Ohio & Kentucky Region”

  It’s a regional award for a specific industry. Not to make light of the issue, it probably is some sort of accomplishment, but not as big as he seemed to make it out to be.

• 10 James Moore // Apr 23, 2010 at 2:06 pm

  Steve: You’re right, and Highlander is dead wrong. Tyler is far from being a one-trick pony, and if Highlander knew anything about Tyler’s job-creation plans (as well as his extensive business connections) then he’d know better. But alas, some people just don’t know better. Let’s hope that the majority do.

• 11 Gil // Apr 23, 2010 at 2:18 pm

  I have listened to the several (King, Tandy, Allen, Fischer and Heiner) Candidates at several different forums… To be honest, I liked Allen on a personal level, although I disagree with much (not all) of the 86-64 rhetoric, however I had hoped to here more on concrete plans for the city and its neighborhoods (such as equaility of services – NOT TRASH Pick Up before someone gets rolling, but EMS, police, etc). Tandy left me very confused as to what he stands on… King made me feel like I was buying a car (Broke and Confused)… Heiner seemed genuine, however I am not sure is he stands a chance. Fischer surprised me. Of all of the candidates he took questions and notes. He admitted he didn’t know on some issues, which was atleast honest.

  So I am in the quandry of not knowing who I will support…

• 12 The Highlander // Apr 23, 2010 at 2:24 pm

  Steve Magruder: I didn’t say 8664 wasn’t pro-business. It is, in fact, just that. But until this City get’s itself into a position where it LEGITIMATELY can challenge for global recognition by attracting companies with a global ‘touch’ we’re still going to be the ‘capital of a third world country’ called Kentucky. Indy, Nashville,Charlotte, Ok. City, etc. ARE making that effort. We advertise ourselves as a college town. That won’t cut it in the 21st century.

• 13 jake // Apr 23, 2010 at 2:34 pm

  What about Lisa Moxley?

• 14 James Moore // Apr 23, 2010 at 3:23 pm

  Highlander: Paving over our waterfront with 23 lanes of concrete is a guaranteed way to keep us in the third world. Take a look at what a truly progressive, first-world city did four years ago: http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/08/seouls-new-heart/

  Jake: Moxley’s cool – Very cool. I told her after one forum that, IMHO, she’s got a great future in politics – if that’s what she really wants.

  Jim

• 15 Steve Magruder // Apr 23, 2010 at 3:52 pm

  Apparently Fischer is still thinking we’re in the era where businesspeople and politicians can just say anything and not get caught.

  Welcome to radical transparency, Mr. Fischer. Are you ready?

• 16 Larry West // Apr 23, 2010 at 6:26 pm

  As long as were talking mayoral candidates, I met Burrell Farnsley on a TARC bus the other day. (He was alone and didn’t have any “handlers” with him.) He actually talked to anyone who would listen how screwed up the current mayor has made TARC (comparing him to how “great” his father was in regards to transportation) and about his plans for improving it — not a bad strategy since most TARC riders want to see TARC improved, don’t remember if his father was good or bad in regards to public transportation, and are captive listeners anyway. I have never met any of the other candidates except through their commercials. Do any of them “press the flesh”?

  Given the fact that the other times he has run that I saw him on the bus he kept quiet and not campaigning, this makes me believe that he might actually get a couple of hundred votes this time.
  It almost made me want to see him win the Democratic Primary (in order to improve the chances of a Republican winning in November :-).
  As far as Lisa Moxley goes, I think the battle is between her, Burrell, and Connie Marshall for last place, unless she is doing some “pressing the flesh” that I am unaware of. And after listening to Burrell, I think that Connie will get that distinction, preceded by Lisa.

• 17 Jeff Nolin // Apr 23, 2010 at 10:01 pm

  tx Steve for articulating so well

• 18 Gil // Apr 24, 2010 at 1:52 am

  I haven’t had a chance to be at a forum with Mrs. Moxley, however I was impressed with her CJ interview

• 19 jake // Apr 24, 2010 at 10:04 am

  In a perfect world, Lisa Moxley would be 10-15 points ahead.

• 20 Stunoland // Apr 24, 2010 at 8:11 pm

  Unfortunately Jake we live in the real world and a candidate with no name recognition or money coming into the race has no chance of winning a prominent position like mayor. As an avid follower of politics I’m sure that you are aware of this fact. Lisa Moxley, like Shannon White, is in this wide open race to make a name for herself in politics. In my opinion she has succeeded and I hope that the people in the local democratic party are already strategizing on placing her in future primaries. As someone who supports Lisa Moxley’s platform you should take notice of her opposition to the economy crippling BOONDOGLE known as the dowtown part of the Ohio River Bridges Project. As a Hollywood entertainment lawyer Lisa Moxley knows that image matters when it comes to selling a product, actor, movie or city. She is well aware of the consequences if Louisville becomes the only city to ever expand an elevated waterfront expressway and places a massive L.A. style Freeway interchange on its front lawn. Given what’s at stake, I find it puzzling that you don’t support Tyler Allen for mayor regardless of your personal feelings toward him or your dislike of his jazz hands. As a citizen of the real world I invite you to join me in electing Tyler Allen so we can prevent Louisville from making the biggest urban planning mistake of the 21st century.

• 21 jake // Apr 24, 2010 at 8:14 pm

  How do you know I don’t support Tyler Allen, who also has no chance?

  The only candidate I don’t support is Greg Fischer. I’d be okay with any other victor – including Hal Heiner.

• 22 Stunoland // Apr 24, 2010 at 8:43 pm

  You would be ok with Jim King, Hal Heiner, or David Tandy winning and destroying Louisville’s image and economy with their misguided support for the entire Ohio River Bridges Plan? Tyler is 24 points behind today with a lot of people still undecided. Hopefully Greg Fischer’s dishonesty will turn off some of his supporters who will then break for Tyler. Unlikely yes, but stranger things have certainly happened in politics before.

• 23 Steve Magruder // Apr 24, 2010 at 9:05 pm

  I would be ultimately be all right with anyone running, except Fischer and Tandy (Mayor Jer’s Ugly Stepchildren), as well as Farnsley and Marshall.

• 24 jake // Apr 24, 2010 at 9:29 pm

  Stuno: I’m not a single-issue voter. So I’m not basing my entire life on 8664. If people in Louisville are stupid enough to want to ruin the city, let them. I’ll adapt or move away.

  I think Tyler’s right on just about everything. But there is, indeed, more to life than the Waterfront.

  That said… Tyler’s not going to win. It’s not going to happen. He’s had all this time to make a move or talk about something else as much as he has about the bridges (I know they’re important)… and there’s been no movement. Not happening.

  Greg Fischer is the current front-running with Jim King and David Tandy right behind him. Tandy has no money but has unions to attack Fischer for him. King has plenty of cash and will do his own attacking. Fischer will hit back here and there but his problems are greater than the other candidates. It’ll be a super-close race. And it’ll take King & Tandy working together to defeat Fischer.

  If Fischer wins in the primary, Heiner wins in the general.

• 25 Stunoland // Apr 24, 2010 at 10:05 pm

  I am not usually a single issue voter but in this election my single issue is the long term economic health of our city. In my opinion the downtown part of the Ohio River Bridges Project is the biggest urban planning mistake of the 21st century and will doom Louisville to a future of economic mediocrity. I care deeply about this city and do not want to move away but feel that as an entrepreneur I will be left with no choice: Louisville will not be able to compete for educated and creative workers if the ORBP, as currently planned, is allowed to be built. Do I require that every aspect of Tyler Allen’s 8664 plan be institued for me to stay in Louisville? The answer is No. Personally I think a semi-limited access 6 lane, 45 MPH at-grade parkway with a block wide pedestrian overpass plaza next to Sluggerfield is a more pragmatic plan. Regardless of the solution, the crux of my argument is that most people are single issue voters. Their #1 issue is the long-term economic health of the city. Nothing will do more to harm the long-term economic health of the city than Louisville becoming the only city to ever expand an elevated waterfront expressway and placing a massive quadruple stacked L.A. style interchange on its image defining waterfront. The economic arguments against tolling are just the icing on the cake that elevates the ORBP to the status of the biggest urban planning mistake of the 21st century. I think you perfectly illustrated my argument when you stated “If people in Louisville are stupid enough to want to ruin the city, let them. I’ll adapt or move away.” I would guess that you think that you are a pretty talented guy and Louisville is lucky to have you. If there is an infrastructure project so bad that it leads you to believe you might leave a city, then that is a major problem.

• 26 jake // Apr 24, 2010 at 10:25 pm

  Nope. I think I’m lucky to have Louisville, not the other way around.

  I’m just a realist. Tyler isn’t going to win. One of the other guys is. Probably best to force one of the other guys to do the right thing or try to influence them. Tandy and King aren’t River Fields guys.

  (Futher – Shannon White seems dumb as a rock when it comes to issues lie 64. Lisa Moxley’s response – if you watch her C-J ed board interview – is more balanced.)

• 27 Stunoland // Apr 24, 2010 at 10:38 pm

  Shannon White was on the build the bridges coalition before she resigned/was removed. what’s the story on that? Now she is against the downtown part of the ORBP. Sour grapes or a legitimate 180 degree policy position change?

• 28 Steve Magruder // Apr 24, 2010 at 11:06 pm

  Tandy may not directly be a River Fields guy, but it is clear that he’s an Abramson acolyte and for whatever reason is adamant about ramming the two-bridges boondoggle down our throats.

  On the other hand, while King has made some ridiculous statements about the bridges project in this campaign (like it’s “patriotic” to build the second I-65 bridge), he’s also someone who has demonstrated the ability to see all sides of issues and work chameleon-like to achieve ultimately what’s in the best interests of the city. I’m not a supporter of his, but I’m just saying I know his game.

• 29 Stunoland // Apr 24, 2010 at 11:07 pm

  Jake, I think Louisville is lucky to have you because of your ability to dig for stories that our complacent traditional media misses. It would be a shame “If people in Louisville are stupid enough to want to ruin the city…” and there is the possibility that you will “…move away.”

• 30 Bill // Apr 26, 2010 at 7:43 am

  As someone who has lived in this region 30 of my 35 years, people aren’t going to move to Louisville just to see a park on the waterfront. They aren’t going to move here because they have parks all over the city. What’s going to bring people here is quality employment opportunities of a professional grade job market. Not a retail job market or a service industry low wage job market.

  As someone who wants to see the best for this region including higher wage jobs and more skilled employment opportunities so I don’t have to move away to find work, I would rather see world class schools and schools that aren’t garbage like what has been put at the Belknap campus.

  As far as the bridges go, they better figure out something to get two bridges built before we have a calamity where one of the existing bridges becomes unusable. I’ve been all over town the past couple of weeks and the traffic is horrid coming from the Indiana side to Louisville because of the poorly engineered mess called Spaghetti Junction. Having a 20 lane system isn’t going to fix things either unless you rebuild the interstate in a different location. None of which is going to make any community preservationist happy.

  The original I 65 plan was to have the interstate pass through the city in a more western approach and that would have taken it closer to the falls. So keeping it where it is isn’t going to change. Why we need to pave over the biggest part of Waterfront Park is beyond me but it seems to me that isn’t the problem at all. The problem is getting traffic out of downtown and into downtown.

  You’re not going to do it successfully with a urban parkway with stoplights every once in a while. Its going to back up just like the Kennedy Bridge does now and people trying to go east onto 64 and 71.

  The entire system as it stands now was a product of 1960s thinking especially the mess that is called on and off ramps. Would a cloverleaf had been better? Hard to tell because its all going to bottleneck. For some reason, people in this region have a problem with driving and its not that Louisville is a massive city say like Chicago or St. Louis Metro or Atlanta.

  I have to question why Mayor Jerry goes on these Possibility City outings trying to recruit people to move back here when he should damn well know that there is a paucity of paying employment in this town. If someone wants to come here and develop a business, go for it but for many people it makes absolutely no sense to move back here when in many cases they are doing well in places like Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, San Fran, LA etc. They’re going to come back to what? A lower wage base, a broken school system, a city that can’t even take care of its surface streets. I hate to be negative but the negatives of moving back here certainly outweigh the positives.

  Frankly, this site is a great place for people to discuss and share information. Its much needed here as the news media in this city gives softball questions to the politicos and others. There is no real investigative journalism other than a few good sites that were created by the locals here. Especially when it comes to mass readership and at least being able to get the news out there.

  The CJ has been defunct for years in that but thats another issue. Anyway, just my two cents. But if people in Louisville don’t care enough to get things done and get the city repaired and improved, then nothing will change and it will still be the same city ran by the old stogy crowd that has kept things the same for generations. Let’s hope people open their eyes and actually realize that we need paying jobs and good wages and quality of life issues. Parks by themselves don’t cut it. There’s plenty of open parks in the USA and you have to make a living and that’s ultimately what counts

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