Yesterday I did the unthinkable and released the details of my campaign plan.
My two-way street project and how you can help.
During the past few weeks, little by little and as time permits, I’ve been visiting downtown businesses and chatting with owners and managers about the advantages of a two-way street grid in the context of downtown New Albany’s ongoing revitalization.
These advantages include slower traffic, less confusion for visitors, enhanced walkability, greater safety for all street users (both automotive and non-automotive), and overall, a better atmosphere for the new generation of shops, restaurants, bars and other attractions downtown.
That’s right. I have a plan, and I’m eager to share it. Local politicians prone to secrecy are horrified, but that’s okay. I’m not running for anything. I’d never get elected in this town, anyway, and wouldn’t be able to stay sober long enough to serve even if I could.
The point to me is this.
While revealing the plan provides proponents of status quo with a one-way roadmap to obstruct sensibility in the street grid, it remains that without engagement — without educating and explaining why two way streets are a better idea for independent small businesses and nearby neighborhoods — there isn’t much chance of the idea taking root.
Let’s face it.
If City Hall weren’t terrified of the political backlash, it wouldn’t have tried to co-opt the council into sharing responsibility by funding a largely unnecessary, surely overpriced study. This phenomenon is neither good nor bad. It’s just politics as we know it. The mayor hears every complaint from an inconvenienced driver as coming from a potentially hostile voter — regrettably, from a hostile Democratic voter. That’s because old fogies complain … and old fogies vote.
There’s only one way to alter this sad, enduring paradigm. Those who are in favor of a rational street grid that includes completed, calmed and two-way streets must convey their viewpoint, one that is firmly grounded on evidence and experience throughout the nation. This must come with a commensurate promise: We’ll vote for the ones helping with this much needed transformation.
Yes, my campaign may ultimately prove quixotic. It wouldn’t be the first time. In recent years, there have been many opportunities for New Albany’s emerging indie business community and the city’s transitional neighborhoods to achieve progress through unity. We’ve fumbled most of them, and made do with crumbs.
Unity has been elusive. I might blame this on a number of factors, but perhaps the primary reason is that advocates of change haven’t always considered it necessary to build grassroots consensus, which leads to bigger numbers, resulting in critical mass. That’s why in the case of two way streets, amid fully anticipated governmental inertia, it just could be that the best way to go about it is to use each day as the chance to produce one convert. I choose to do it in the indie business community, not the neighborhoods. Someone else must do it there.
I’m asking business owners and key employees not to take my word for it. Rather, I’m asking them to read a bit and examine the evidence. It would be nice to have some help, but I understand we’re all busy. I will continue to do what I can, as time permits. If you agree, please consider spreading the information and links placed in yesterday’s piece. Remember, I’m just trying to make one sale a day. They’ll add up in due time.
