Open door: Councilwoman Fowler takes reins in 14th District

Council members Rick Blackwell, Vicki Welch, Cindi Fowler and David Yates

Residents of Metro Louisville's14th District finally have an available and capable representative as Councilwoman Cindi Fowler has officially been sworn into office.

Since the merger of city and county government in 2002, the 14th District office has been occupied by Bob Henderson - a polarizing figure who never seemed to resonate with citizens, despite his long tenure as councilman. Says a neighborhood activist, "There were so many people who would run against him, it constantly split the vote too many ways and he'd get back in. If you ever argued or disagreed with him, he took it personally, and you could never get anything done. Calls weren't returned and there was little or no communication between the office and the people, particularly toward the end of Bob's last term. He was just absent. We are thankful to be able to turn that page of history and look forward to the future with a team that seems ready to improve the southwest area. It's an exciting time."

In the past, I had my share of run-ins with the councilman. He never seemed to forgive me for my criticisms of his performance and always treated my questions as a nuisance to be endured rather than a chance to move forward.

But it is a new day in the 14th and we don't have to talk about that nonsense any longer. With the election of Cindi Fowler, the team is now complete. With all of Southwest Louisville's elected representatives working together for the common good, progress and opportunity should be much easier to obtain.

Councilwoman Fowler has already promised to begin the practice of constituent meetings and says she will treat communication with residents as her highest priority. I personally look forward to hearing from her office as the agenda is set for a new direction in Southwest Louisville.

A press release regarding Councilwoman Fowler's swearing-in ceremony follows:

On Monday, January 7^th, Cindi Fowler joined 25 others as one of two new members of the Louisville Metro Council following the 2013 Organizational Session. Fowler won the seat in the November 6^th election and is ready to begin her four year term as Councilwoman.

           

“I am ready to begin the work of serving the people of District 14,” said Fowler. “I want the people of the district to know I am ready to listen to them as I join others on the Metro Council. Together, we can make this a better city for everyone.”

Fowler says she plans to stay in regular contact with constituents in Valley Station, Pleasure Ridge Park, Kosmosdale and other areas of the district through email newsletters and community meetings.

Michael Bowman has been selected to be Fowler’s Legislative Assistant. He has served the last year as coordinator for the Southwest Regional Office for Councilmembers Rick Blackwell (D-12) and David Yates (D-25).
 

“I plan to follow through on what I heard from people during the campaign. I will be out in the district keeping everyone informed on issues and how I will address them.” 

            

For more information, contact Councilwoman Fowler’s office at 574-1114.

Had enough? Old Melton's now a junk yard/flea market

The Valley Report facebook page has been buzzing with activity over the opening of yet another flea market/yard sale store in the space formerly occupied by Melton's Food Mart on Valley Station Road near the railroad tracks.

Commenters say they are "fed up" with this type of development.

Join our discussion and tell us how you feel about this latest store, and while you are there, check out the photos of this atrocity.

How long do you think it will last? How long can you live with this type of commerce?

Special guest commentary: "Business as usual" not coming back

Note: The following is a special commentary from Louisville resident Amy Causey.

This evening I drove from my home in Fern Creek to Wish's Drug Store in Lyndon. It saves me big money on prescriptions. On the way there and back, I noted how many vacant store fronts I passed, especially on Hurstbourne Lane. I thought of the empty "big boxes" in Shelbyville Road Plaza--one of my favorite shopping centers--the Borders closing at the intersection of Taylorsville Road and Hurstbourne and other favorites too numerous to mention in formerly prosperous areas, and yet building is going on everywhere. I know there is a new mall planned for Bardstown Road outside the Gene Snyder Freeway in Fern Creek. I wonder what it will take for Louisville, along with the rest of the United States to wake up and recognize that "business as usual" is not coming back. When will we begin to realize when we have enough, and that "enough is as good as a feast"?

Detroit was once a major population center and economic engine in this country. Now we all know it is a pale shadow of its former power and glory. It is now significantly smaller than Louisville. Recently Detroit has begun to face up to the truth: the city can no longer hold out hope of rebuilding to its former size. The administration has begun downsizing: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1972926,00.html

The shrinking of our cities -the shrinking of the American Dream- is the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about. Like cancer, alcoholism and global warming it will only destroy more and more until we stop ignoring it. Let's preserve and conserve what we can while we still have enough. Capitalism cannot continue in it's present form. If we fail to reform it, we stand the chance of being overtaken by a grim alternative by default.

If you would like to submit an opinion on an issue, please feel free to send it in for consideration. 

Clean air, good jobs. We can have both.

- Mayor Fischer has promised a fix for the sorry ass notification system existing today in Rubbertown that is supposed to alert residents to any danger emanating from nearby industry. The problem is, the residents have to call a line that has to be updated by the companies doing the emanating. That's like making people call the Weather Channel for a prerecorded message to find out exactly "where" the tornado is.

I hope they figure out a system that makes sense and is effective. Either that or, as some of us have proposed many times in the past, find the cash to buy out the residents of Rubbertown. If they can do it over airplane noise, they can do it over something like this.

The work there is hazardous and the production of some materials there puts the health of the neighbors at higher risk than normal. But these are good union jobs -the type we are fighting for- and that also has to be taken into account. The emission standards cannot be made so stringent that it forces the companies located there to move out to somewhere like Mexico, where there are no standards whatsoever. Clean air and good jobs...we can have both. Here's the story in case you missed it. [CJ]

- On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, where he had gone to stand with sanitation workers demanding their dream: The right to bargain collectively for a voice at work and a better life. The workers were trying to form a union with AFSCME.

On Monday April 4, unions, people of faith, civil and human rights activists, students and other progressive allies will host a range of community and workplace-focused actions. As part of this nationwide action, there will be a rally held downtown at 6th & Jefferson. The event begins at 5:30pm.

Join us in solidarity with working people in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and dozens of other states where well-funded, right-wing corporate politicians are trying to take away the rights Dr. King gave his life for. It’s a day to show the power of our movement. We are one.

Your Thursday update of 'good stuff' is ready

- Doing well: The city of Shively has extra money lying around and Mayor Conner has a plan to give some of it back. [CJ]

- Moving forward: An agreement has been reached on the Big Four Bridge. The abandoned bridge is finally on its way to becoming a pedestrian/bicycle link between the states. [Leo Weekly]

- Moving on: The 46th annual Farm Machinery Show has begun and the question of "how much longer will it last" is looming, as Louisville's Iranian-style strip club ordinance is implemented. Meanwhile, here's some show info..[Business First]

-Looking back: Ever wonder what happened to all those grand plans for new, big-time construction in Louisville? Insider Louisville takes a look at what was supposed to be downtown. [Insider Louisville]

On again, off again: SW Cracker Barrel deal turns sour.

Parody: Not to be taken seriously.

Chris Thienenman's deal with the folks at Cracker Barrel has taken yet another twist.

After jumping through flaming hoops for the neighbors, the city and the people running the company, Thieneman says the restaurant chain is now demanding city tax credits to build the project in Valley Station. If newly-elected Greg Fischer doesn't come of his wallet, the ol' hacks at Cracker Barrel will balk on the deal.

Good. Let 'em go somewhere else, I say.

One day people will look back on this extortion by the corporate chain and be amazed that such a demand could be made of the citizens. It is, indeed, who pays for "tax credits" to businesses in the first place.

Interested parties are already saying that this is Fischer's "chance" to "do something" for southwest Louisville.

I disagree.

This isn't about creating jobs. Restaurant servers earn $2.13 an hour. That's not an amount that's enough to justify dumping a truckload of city money on the corner to entice them to operate here.

This is about a rich company's attempted hold-up of this community by first agreeing to do business here, then not agreeing to do business here unless its potential customers foot the bill for construction, training, or whatever else they say they need.

Recently, much was made of a proposal in the state legislature to make mandatory drug testing a requirement to receive government assistance. In that spirit, I would demand a hair and urine sample from the businessmen making these tax credit demands over at Cracker Barrel headquarters.

We will be in touch after the results are in, fellas.

As far as Chris Thieneman is concerned, the local Tea Party's sweetheart sure was singing a different tune when he was running for mayor. The one-time "free market" supporter is now demanding the "boot heel" of metro government be applied in the form of free tax money so he can close his deal and line his own pockets.

As for me, I will continue spending my money at locally owned and operated businesses that don't threaten the city over tax credits. The money spent at these establishments stays in the area.

I hope you will join me in buying local first, and resist this destructive and dangerous trend of corporate welfare without any guarantees.

Let's talk: Would an overhead walkway have saved a life today?

The tragic death Tuesday night of a Louisville teenager has been taking up much space in my thoughts of late.

16 year old Western High School student Adrienne White was crossing Cane Run Road outside of the crosswalk early yesterday morning and was hit by a motorist. [CJ]

That particular section of road is always busy, especially at 7 a.m.

On roads like these, lives could be saved by constructing overhead walkways to allow pedestrians to avoid traffic altogether.

A few hundred feet west at the intersection of Lees Lane, Rockford Lane and Cane Run Road lies Farnsley Middle School, a walking track and the historic Farnsley-Kaufman house, a local landmark. Western High is less than a mile away on Rockford Lane to the east.

I can't help but think the use of an overhead walkway would ensure- or at least increase- the safety of pedestrians, particularly the students that must cross the busy stretch of what is essentially a highway that links the Snyder Freeway to I-264.

I would like to hear your thoughts.

In the meantime, please teach your kids to use the crosswalks and wait for the walk signal before crossing the road.

It's just not worth your life to be on time.

Nice Marmot: Groundhog Day to determine political futures in Kentucky

Note: This post originally appeared on Insider Louisville.

As superstitions go, Groundhog Day is harmless as long as the “ceremony” of the day is kept in perspective. It is just a chance for people who have been punished by severe winter weather to get out of their homes, look around and find the promise of spring.

The promise is out there, waiting. And one doesn’t need to rely on the predictions of some overgrown squirrel in Pennsylvania to find it. Besides, I am reading the National Climatic Data Center claims of Punxsutawney Phil’s accuracy to only be around 39% – better than your local meteorologist to be sure, but not much to brag about.

No matter what that silly marmot sees, there will always be six more weeks of winter.

Mathematics and science prevail on this day.

In Kentucky, a land where we like to shun mathematics and science do things differently, a new policy should be adopted and hence a new tradition formed: I propose we hire a groundhog to determine the outcome of statewide elections, thereby eliminating campaigning, fundraising, political signs, fatuous debates, misleading commercials and actual voting from the equation.

It makes it easier on us all.

The idea is as simple as it is preposterous. Set up a few props and pictures of the candidates, coax the animal out if its hole and wait for him to make a decision.

This practice has worked in the past, and is running much better than the 39% clip on the weather.

You see, I have my own personal, albeit less glamorous groundhog. His name is Maximillion and he has a face like Abe Vigoda. He has breath that would bruise fruit and he has a strong attraction to pork rinds covered with hot sauce. But he has, without fail, picked the winner of the last three statewide elections about which I have asked.

This morning, Max picked candidate Bobbie Holsclaw, Jefferson County Clerk, to win the Republican nomination for Kentucky Governor in May and has picked faux-Democrat Steve Beshear to win the whole shebang in November.

If he is wrong, Kentucky will endure six additional weeks of increased unemployment claims.

So call your legislators immediately, and urge them to install this measure as soon as possible.

Because, in the end, they are as my dad says: “Six of one, half dozen of the other.”

Big trouble - Soon come: Happy New Year 2011 Edition

"So let's drink to Kentucky, way out in the east, where a woman's ass and a whiskey glass made a horse's ass of me.”

Governor Beshear

Tonight is "amateur night" at parties and bar rooms all over Louisville. Places like the venerable Phoenix Hill Tavern will, at the stroke of midnight, have its restrooms coated with vomit by the uninitiated.

It takes years of practice to learn how to celebrate appropriately on New Year's Eve and by the time one is old enough to actually do so, the whole idea of going out has lost its luster.

I have not been out in years. Mostly because of the constant threat of police roadblocks and mass arrests on the streets. But there was a time at a place in Louisville called The Toy Tiger, and I was there and in proper form.

That is a story for another time.

My current New Year's Eve ritual began a couple of years ago. In a lasting fit of boredom, I checked out the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission's website and read the "prefiled bills" to be considered for the upcoming session of the General Assembly. It has become a tradition among some of my friends to make bets on which bills will get out of committee, and this year's collection contains some real gems.

- Making over the counter medicines like Sudafed require a prescription. [BR12]

- Forcing school districts to implement "wellness programs" and mandating physical activity time. [BR13]

- Creating a behemoth, regional MSD-type agency for Bullit, Hardin, Jefferson, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, and Spencer Counties [BR19]

- The Kentucky Firearms Freedom Act. [BR92]

- Amending the state constitution to extend the terms of State Representatives from two to four years and State Senators from four to six years. [BR249]

There are many more examples of disturbing behavior emanating from Frankfort, but we can save those for the New Year. Chew on these prefiled bills for a while, then place your bets. And avoid the Jägermeister.

In 2011, four blessings upon you:

Older whiskey.
Younger women.
Faster horses.
Smarter government.

Happy New Year.

2 years and counting: Thank you!

Readers,

I would like to take a moment and recognize some important individuals and organizations (you know who you are) in and around Southwest Louisville that have made our success here at The Valley Report possible.

This site, begun on a whim, recently turned two years old. I have met a great many people and I am amazed and humbled at the site's progress. It has opened doors I never thought possible.

Having a full-time job and other duties make it tough to update the site everyday, and I appreciate your patience. News tips are welcome, and can be sent confidentially via the link under "Contact" or publicly via facebook.

Thank you, dear readers and supporters, for making the last two years of this adventure so rewarding and so much fun. I am looking forward to sharing many more years together as we go forward together, building the community we all want.

Warm Regards,
Brian Tucker

DeSales High Candidate Forum - SW Candidates

The Iroquois Neighborhood Association is the oldest such group in Louisville. Maybe that's why they know how to draw a crowd.  Last night the association hosted a candidate forum at DeSales High School that featured many incumbents and several challengers. I have written an account of the most interesting candidates on my new blog that is being featured at Insider Louisville.

In addition to those candidates, here are some thoughts on additional races in Southwest Louisville:

- Mike Nemes, candidate for State Representative 38th District, spoke about bringing opportunities back to the South End. Nemes said although he "squandered" most of his opportunities in life, he still sees the need to have said opportunities for future generations. Nemes also lamented on the "forgotten" feeling South End residents feel when they think of government, but it is my opinion citizens are upset with local officials, not state ones. Nemes talked about Iroquois Park being neglected and the "eyesore" status of Colonial Gardens, even though Iroquois is under local control and has received investments totaling $9 million over the last several years.

Nemes is running against incumbent Tim Firkins. Rep. Firkins was present and gave an uplifting talk about his time in the state legislature. Firkins says the state needs to urgently address tax reform, but in an "enlightened way".  He said education was his first priority. Firkins ended with a quote from Robert Kennedy, saying "Politics is an honorable profession", an pledged to do all he could to promote progress in his district.

- Wade Hurt is the Republican candidate for State Representative in the 37th District. Hurt opened with his credentials as a certified concealed-carry instructor and former vice-president of South Louisville Community Ministries. If elected, he promises to create jobs, eliminate "wasteful spending" in Frankfort and "make state government more efficient and effective". These things all sound great, but there was no discussion on exactly HOW these things would be accomplished. Hurt supports expanded gaming in the state.

Jeff Donohue is the Democratic candidate for State Representative in the 37th District. The seat is being vacated by the retirement of Ron Weston. Donohue is a lifelong resident of the district and a former union representative and negotiator that spent his minutes before the crowd explaining the complicated ritual of contract talks at Ford Motor Company. It wasn't apparent what his message was, but if he develops one and delivers the way he did last night, he could win big. Time is short.

Moving Forward

In response to reader suggestions, The Valley Report has undergone another redesign. Many requests were made for a lighter background that was easier on the eyes, and some readers had experienced problems while commenting on articles with the old design. Hopefully this will clear up any issues related to the last change.  Also, due to decreasing demand, RSS feeds have been disabled.  If there are readers that still want to subscribe to this site's RSS feed, please let me know and I will reactivate this feature.

As always, thanks for making The Valley Report part of your day.

Coffee Party USA - Wake Up and Stand Up

A new movement is brewing.

In response to the utter silliness of the "Tea Parties" or "Tea Baggers" or whatever that was last summer, people are coming together over something new  and something civil called the Coffee Party. It is spreading like a rash all over these United States, and there is a call out for folks to gather in support. It is being called "Coffee Party Day" and it is on March 13. Here's the mission statement from the site www.coffeepartyusa.com:

MISSION: The Coffee Party Movement gives voice to Americans who want to see cooperation in government. We recognize that the federal government is not the enemy of the people, but the expression of our collective will, and that we must participate in the democratic process in order to address the challenges that we face as Americans. As voters and grassroots volunteers, we will support leaders who work toward positive solutions, and hold accountable those who obstruct them.

As fast as this thing is growing, one could say it looks to be the new independent political movement of the 21st Century. Or it could flame out spectacularly (once the "establishment" gets its greedy little mitts on it) and end up like the Reform Party. Who knows?

If you are interested, there is a meeting planned here in Louisville on March 13. Click HERE to see the when and where. There is a facebook group as well.  More to come....

Bankrupt Six Flags Flees Town, Closes Park

I'm sure that by now you have read the news about the closure of the Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom amusement park. In this Courier-Journal article, Six Flags CEO Mark Shapiro whines about the cost of the lease at the fairgrounds. Shapiro also griped about not receiving a percentage of the parking fees. It should be noted that Six Flags is in bankruptcy due to the company's failed leadership, not because of an unfavorable lease agreement at the Louisville location.

Kentucky Kingdom is perhaps best known throughout the country as the place where a 13 year old girl had her feet cut off in 2007 by a ride that was improperly maintained and was being operated by a teenage employee.

Mayor Jerry Abramson said he was "shocked" by the announcement, and the convention bureau claims 10,000 nights of hotel room stays would be lost along with about 1000 seasonal, part-time, minimum-wage jobs. Contrary to what you may read, the park was not a huge part of the local economy and was not some sort of "mecca" for roller coaster enthusiasts. It will only be missed by parents who used it as a daycare program for their children.

That's the bad. Now the good:

1. Our community won't have to endure another annoying Six Flags commercial that featured that weirdo pimping the park's attractions.

2. Now that the property will be vacated, there's room for a new basketball arena for the Louisville Cardinals that provides ample parking. Oh, wait....

3. It is my opinion Kentucky Kingdom was not a good corporate citizen, if there is such a thing.

I'm sure that your family can find other entertaining, less expensive and more appealing activities to participate in this summer. Spend some quality time with your children and take them to one of the many museums or performing arts centers in Louisville.  They may even learn something.

Below is a copy of a press release from the Fair Board regarding the situation:

Statement from Harold Workman, President & CEO of the Kentucky State Fair
Board, Regarding Information Released by Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom

“Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom announced this evening that „as it nears the scheduled end of
its restructuring process, it has decided to reject its lease with the Kentucky State Fair Board
relating to the Kentucky Kingdom Park. In recent weeks, Six Flags had proposed a new lease
arrangement to the fair board that would have enhanced the viability and future of the
park. Unfortunately, those proposals were not accepted and the park will cease operations and
the company will move expeditiously to re-locate employees and several of the more than 40
rides and attractions to one of its 13 other markets.‟

The statement misrepresents what has taken place.

Approximately thirty days ago, the Kentucky State Fair Board (KSFB) reached out to Six
Flags Kentucky Kingdom (SFKK) to offer to extend the park‟s bankruptcy court-imposed
deadline of January 9, 2010 to either accept or reject its lease with the KSFB. The KSFB
initiated dialogue with SFKK in an attempt to allow the park to maintain its operations.
However, SFKK did not schedule a meeting with me until January 4, 2010, only days before
the bankruptcy court-imposed deadline. At that point the KSFB did not have any financial
information regarding the profitability of the park and only obtained that information a few
days ago.

As suggested by the KSFB, we entered into an agreement with SFKK to extend their deadline
and that agreement was approved by the bankruptcy court. The time frame for the park to
accept or reject its lease was extended by 90 days, expiring April 9, 2010. The intention was
for the parties to renegotiate the lease terms during that period.

The parties also entered into a confidentiality agreement shortly thereafter so that the KSFB
could evaluate the park's financial status in order to validate its request for a lease
modification. Representatives of SFKK had told the KSFB that the bankruptcy proceeding
would NOT affect operations and, in fact, the park was doing well.

The KSFB asked SFKK for a written proposal outlining revised lease terms on at least four
separate occasions. However, counsel for SFKK never provided a written proposal and to date
the KSFB has been reviewing financials and awaiting a proposal from SFKK that would
include the proposed terms of the modification.

Tonight‟s announcement by SFKK caught the KSFB completely by surprise. The KSFB
remains ready and willing to discuss any reasonable proposal that SFKK may put forward in
order to continue the park‟s operation.”

Gray Sky Blues

What a rotten way to start this new year. I had such high hopes. The sun hasn't been out in what seems like weeks, and the dark, sullen populace in Louisville looks to be showing signs of cracking under the pressure with murders and robberies skyrocketing in the last 24 hours.  What the hell is going on?  Can we get some sunlight around here before we all turn to rabid zombies?  No. There's going to be cold air and snow blowing in by Friday.  But so what?  This is January.  The weather is supposed to be terrible and we are supposed to be hiding from the elements by hunkering down underneath many blankets with good gin and interesting people.

Please try and keep your wits.  Spring is coming.  Soon.
Now the news:

- Ed Springston is officially in the race for Kentucky's 28th District House of Representatives seat.  Ed is running as a Republican.[Louisville News & Politics][WLKY32]

- Louisville Metro Government is jacking up fees for liquor licenses, and while they are at it, are making up laws as they go along. Yes, I know....what else is new? [C-J]

- A formal announcement is expected Tuesday on the future of Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant and the Ford Explorer. If it is good news, will the mayor try to take the credit?  Will the Governor? Or will someone remind these fools that the employees made all the sacrifices? [WAVE3]

My Only Friend...The End

So, it looks as though most of us made it to the end of another year. And not soon enough. Thank goodness we can finally say Goodbye and Good Riddance to this rotten year of our Lord, 2009. One of the worst in modern history for the United States, 2009 will only be missed by heathens, Southern Republicans, devil dogs and die-hard followers of the Marquis de Sade. The only thing that turned out to be Good in this terrible 12 months was the dramatic reversal of fortune for my University of Kentucky basketball Wildcats, which I have recently fallen back in love with.

I have been extremely busy of late and have neglected you, my faithful readers, while in pursuit of gainful employment and other futile undertakings. I offer my apologies and ask for your patience as I get my affairs in order for my triumphant return to blogging. We have much to cover and there are big elections coming in 2010. Keep your eyes open and send in those tips, rumors and gossip for stories to be published here in the coming months. You will not want to miss it.

And what of health care reform? It is a topic that should be discussed heavily on this level. But a warning: If you receive health care that is paid for by the government, you are not allowed to participate in the discussion by saying the government doesn't belong in health care.

We were sold a load of HOPE in 2009, and most of us bought it. But HOPE don't pay the bills. Let's get something done around here. Merry Christmas, and best wishes for a happy new year.

Hits & Misses

- Senator Jim Bunning, 77, turned to wax yesterday and, as expected, dropped out of his re-election race and effectively ended his term as U.S. Senator from Kentucky. Bunning was seen as an embarrassment to the Commonwealth the last several years because of his goofy actions and stupid comments. Bunning blamed his fellow Republicans for his inability to raise funds and for his ridiculous, doddering, old-man antics. The Courier-Journal has more HERE. Kentucky Republican Secretary of State Trey Greyson has announced he will definitely run for the seat.

- There has been much talk in private circles about contenders for Louisville's next Mayor. I have many names. Let me know who you like and why. This will be interesting.

- Movie Alert: If you haven't seen "The Hangover", you should at least try to check it out. It is the funniest movie I have seen in many years.

- Louisville Police Chief Robert White says he may skip town after Jerry Abramson leaves office. WHAS11 has the report HERE.

End Of Line For Valley Post Office?

The Ville Voice is reporting on rumors surrounding the closure of the Valley Station Post Office. Here's an excerpt:

Bob Henderson, the District 14 Metro Councilman, confirmed that there had been rumors coming from within the branch that a move to the Pleasure Ridge Park branch might be in the works.

In addition, we had multiple sources advise us that workers at the Valley Station branch had been ordered to keep news of any impending changes from the media and that they weren’t to discuss the matter publicly. Citizens say the branch is always busy.

The location is always busy, especially after the stamp vending machines were removed from the lobby last year. An individual that wants to buy stamps must wait in line with people mailing packages. Area residents had placed a new post office near the top of their "wants list" for the neighborhood, and are sure to be disappointed in this development.

The permanent closure of a post office is more than a business decision. To some it represents progress. Others see it as the death of the community; a post office puts you "on the map" they say. The local post office is part of the community's identity. There was one hell of a fight to get a post office in Valley Station. There should be one hell of a fight to keep it.

Memorializing Manufacturing

It is Memorial Day weekend, and in the spirit of remembering those people who gave their lives for our country, we should also remember the things that made America great. With that, I offer to you the following obituary I wrote while waiting to pick up my son from school today. Enjoy:

INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING IN THE UNITED STATES, 130, died early in the first quarter of 2009 after a wonderfully productive life. Between 1870 and 1900 and lasting for decades afterward, the United States became the world's foremost industrial nation, emerging as the leader in meatpacking, timber and steel production as well as in mining and automobile production. The nation experienced a stunning growth in the scale and pace of industrial production, which transformed business, the environment, the workplace, the home, and everyday life. The workers responsible for the creation of massive wealth did well themselves, and led to the formation of a group of millions of citizens known popularly as the "Middle Class"; A class with modest means, nice homes, health insurance, retirement benefits and the ability to properly educate their children. Manufacturing created the awesome, mind-boggling power of the United States Armed Forces, enabling the country to not only defend itself , but to liberate hundreds of countries from enemies all over the world. Later in life, American Manufacturing was shunned and fell from favor among the wealthy and the "upper class", seeking to keep more for itself, began the practice of manufacturing important goods in foreign countries at substandard wages and working conditions. Thus began the famed "race to the bottom", and after such a proud history of enriching citizens from every social class, American Manufacturing ended up a bare-bones operation and a shadow of its former glory. The people who once depended on American Manufacturing are now unknowingly supporting the notion of low-wage slave workers in foreign factories by shopping endlessly at places like Wal*Mart. American Manufacturing passed away unceremoniously with relatively few people noticing after battling a years-long illness and conspicuous neglect.

Industrial Manufacturing in America leaves behind millions of workers who depended on it for jobs, an honest living and the dignity that comes with working a 40+ hour week. It will one day be sorely missed and fondly remembered by the wealthy nation that turned its back on hard work and instead focused on greed. Just like the Romans.

Condolences, expressions of sympathy and memorial gifts may be sent to your local unemployment office.

It's Derby Week...Have You the Swine?

The weather is shaping up to make this one rotten Derby Week in Louisville. Rain, thunderstorms and wind. Besides the weather, everyone is paralyzed with fear because of the swine flu, which will probably show up in more than a few excuses for missing work this week. But so what? We have beat swine flu before and we shall do so again. But not until Sunday at the earliest.

In a nation of 300+ million, there are 20 cases of the disease. That's not many people. But it will be interesting to watch the stock prices of Roche and GlaxoSmithKline rise on Wall Street along with furious orders of their respective drugs for treatment. Some folks are going to be very rich by the end of this week, and it will not be because they had the Derby winner.

So that makes two things I do not have this week: The Derby winner, and the swine flu. But the week, as they say, is not over yet.