The Canal ....Don't Ever Believe This is a Dead Issue...

 

Even though Dem. mayoral candidate Dennis Julius refuses to talk about it and doesn't want it as an issue in the upcoming mayoral campaign  "The Canal"is lurking in the background of Jeffersonville politics There is every indication that if Julius were to be elected "The Canal" would once again come to the forefront and in fact could be close to reality. Never mind that the proposed canal was never popular with citizens and voters, there is a faction of political players (has beens and want to bes) working quietly behind the scenes to make it happen, though none will admit it due to the political volatility of the project.

   Make no mistake about it, there are political and personal grudges fueling this to the point of "be damned what the voters think." It is no secret that Julius and former mayor Galligan who initiated the canal idea are good friends and Julius was a major contributor in previous Galligan campaigns. There is nothing TG would like better than see his friend upset incumbent mayor Mike Moore in this fall's election and have the Canal come back in play. There is no love lost between both factions and in honesty both camps despise each other, making for a colorful and interesting campaign.

 The hatred was never more evident this week when allegedly a son of a former mayor confronted local businessman and Moore campaign manager Wayne Estopinal at his home over a Facebook comment by Estopinal concerning the former mayor's son's work done for the City. Supposedly a police report was filed and a possible restraining order is in the works....Pull up a seat and grab your popcorn it will only get better as the election nears.....

Potential Gondoliers ???

   Apparently standing secretly in the background waiting for the right opportunity are several current Jeffersonville City Councilmen who blindly followed Galligan into the initial plans for the Canal, and whom also seem to have a personal grudge against mayor Moore. While due to elections and a couple of  former councilmen who were key Galligan cronies not seeking re-election the makeup of the new council is unknown. Never the less  the relationship Moore has with the current council including some from his own party is tempestuous at best. It is also rumored that Julius recruited potential council members to run for office that were pro Canal.....The BatBlog believes the City council would approve a Canal project blindly with no regard with fiscal responsibility or constituent favor as they have done  with other projects in the past....

  Standing in balance is the proposed "Gateway" project ....will it be delayed by pro canal proponents ??? if Julius is elected will he dump it for a more canal influence in another project ??? Will the project begin before election day ??? Remember the 1st project was delayed by a frivolous lawsuit by the "village idiot" NHBSM and we wouldn't put it past Not Honest Mike or others to consort to other delaying tactics. This is a fine project and the potential for this area is great for it to be derailed by the pro canal coalition.

  Finally the taxpayers, they take the brunt and pay for all these foolish political games. They payed for the first canal project engineering and plans and they payed for the foolish property acquisition all of which was for naught....The taxpayers and residents are saddled with the outrageous sewer bills that probably funded the first canal plan (though no one will admit it) and were told the raised sewer bills were for the EPA consent decree to eliminate combined sewer overflows and which the first shovel of dirt has yet to be turned to fulfill the decree...

So what will we get with a canal besides probably even higher sewer bills (canals ain't cheap) ??? A big flow of sewer water for one, this is no natural water canal like San Antonio Tx. this is sewer water (yech !!!) How much will it cost ??? Nobody knows the real cost .... Galligan's canal (Galligan's Gully) the real cost was as secret as the safe combination at Fort Knox... they conveniently and intentionally leave off the big ticket item costs like bridges, maintenance and the road work.... the essentials along with the canal.....Nobody has a clue what the real cost would be and if they say so they're lying...

 The bottom line is the people paying for it... the taxpayers  want no part of it. It's supposed to create economic development, but nobody knows if it will....It's supposed to alleviate flooding, but nobody knows if it will...It's supposed to be a tourist attraction, but nobody knows that it will... It's all a guessing game gamble with our money....

 The BatBlog has no political agenda ....we just tell it like it is...and there is no way in hell anyone here at the BatBlog will vote for Dennis Julius this fall knowing the resurrection of  The Canal" is a distinct possibility..... and as a taxpayer neither should you....we can't afford it...

 Remain Vigilant my Friends....and make aware this post to your friends and neighbors ...Hell share it on Facebook if you like ....if your not afraid to let people know you follow the "award winning" BatBlog...

Can you dig it ????

Gay Marriage Right or Wrong ???

 

 The BatBlog has somewhat mixed feelings about the recent Supreme Court ruling on gay marriages. On one hand we are happy for all the gay couples who now can have a sense of legitimacy in a legal sense for their love for their gay partners and benefit from the status of being in a legal union. On the other hand we are not not sure this case should have even been brought before or decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. In our opinion the gay marriage issue should have stayed at the state level and decided by state courts.

  Never the less and even though this is a case of more intrusion into our daily lives by government, it is the right thing to do. Every human being should  be able to share equally  the matrimonial benefit of their love of another, no matter their sexual orientation. We're pretty sure God doesn't differentiate between a gay or heterosexual no matter what the right wing bible thumpers might think and preach.

 Even with the SC decision you will still hear the paranoid ramblings from the right wing worried about infringements on religious rights and other nonsensical thoughts like this is a sign of the end of the world. But that's just the way they operate when progress interferes with their narrow minded view of things. Preach hate in the disguise of that's the way God wants it....

 In the end though all that matters is a Congratulations to all the gay couples nationwide who if they choose can hopefully enjoy and prosper in a marriage with their loved ones,,,,their time was way overdue...

I'm Baccckkk !!!!!

After a much deserved tropical cruise the BatBlog has returned tanned , reinvigorated and ready to dive into the topics and issues of today....Lots to cover, the Supreme court ruling on gay marriage, the upcoming fall election and much,much more...Stay tuned to the award winning BatBlog for all the stories of the day national and Jeffersonville and Clark  Co......

What's Wrong With Jeffersonville High School ???

 Lots of discussion lately about Greater Clark Co. Schools, the referendum and the future of the GCCS system. On a personal note, I just wonder what is wrong with Jeffersonville High School ??? My children (both of whom graduated from JHS) are adamant about their children (my grandchildren) NEVER attending JHS. Their reasoning is the disruptive atmosphere not conducive to learning  and maturing that they witnessed while attending JHS.

 Certainly every student has their own personal experiences and memories to drawn from but I am curious about the overall picture and conditions that would cause my children to feel this way. They have both grown into fine adults who both furthered their education at the college and professional levels and now both own their own small businesses. So just what is it that brings the strong negative feelings they have toward their alma mater and high school experience.

 I didn't attend JHS I went to a private Catholic school so I have nothing to add on a personal level, And I thought at the time JHS was a good option for a diversified experience after being well satisfied with the elementary education they received. Only after becoming adults did both my children say that both Parkview and JHS was not an option for their children's (my grandchildren) education....

 Any thoughts or experiences that agree or disagree with their views ??? I'm curious ???

Jeffersonville Traffic Problems...When Do They Get Attention ???

 

With major expansion occurring in and around the Veterans Pkwy., the Riverport, and the east end near Amazon, city officials have pretty much dropped the ball on keeping the traffic patterns and road infrastructure up with the expansion. While the new east end bridge may help alleviate some of the huge influx of traffic to Amazon and other businesses in River Ridge that come down Hwy. 62 from the Kennedy Bridge. Major changes and planning need to applied immediately to the Veterans Pkwy and the Clark Maritime riverport areas.

 With only minor changes over the years Jeffersonville has basically the same traffic infrastructure that was used in the 60's. Allison Lane, Middle Road and especially Holman Ln. was never meant to handle the huge amount of traffic that has increased the last 50 years and has created a logjam of traffic everyday at rush hour and beyond.

 Utica Pike, Allison Lane, Holman Ln.and Middle Road all need to be four lanes and a new route to the Jeffersonville side of Veterans Pkwy. and Clarksville needs to be built and soon. It's almost impossible to make a turn off or on Holman during rush hour Holman Ln. was basically a country road when built and is thirty years out of date.

 Every mayoral administration including the present one has ignored traffic patterns and problems for years. The new businesses, jobs and progress is nice but traveling around this area is a nightmare a solution and acrions are needed...