LEM: Louisville's Eccentric Mayor

I'm to the left of Dennis Kucinich!

*hugs*

n

Well, then you can meet us at Nach Bar afterwards.

Geez, I'd rather use something sharper than a pen. That's going to leave a mark. Stabby AND inky.

What do you think that it says that no one else held a different opinion than you? This isn't intended as a personal attack at all. Being that apparently almost everyone else (Robin may have been walking the tightrope a bit) that posted thinks it's not weird, bizarre, and pretty podunk for the mayor to have such a big to-do over parking spaces, I'm perplexed. It's possible to think that the mayor has good intentions for the city but makes some peculiar missteps.

I think what it probably comes down to is that he wants the best for the city but his bar is set way too low in trying to compete with Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Nashville. Frankly, I think Louisville potentially could be one of the more interesting and vibrant cities in this country, but may not live up to that due to homogenization, small mindedness, a desire by too many here for suburban life/culture, and a prevalence of a culturally conservative (not in the terms of politics) mindset.

Because as we all know, "suburban life/culture" is synonymous with "small mindedness," right? Could that have been any more... okay, never mind.... Biting my tongue.

But never mind. Sure. We'all "podunk," y'all. We luvs us some real low-brow guvment an geraghzz hoedowns.

I'm from Chicago. Past few years? I live in southern Indiana and consider Louisville my "metro" city. I live in the *real* boonies, and I love it.

But welcum to Looavuhl! We be needn some classie folks to raise the culchur bar for us hillbillies.

Keep on talking, Michael. Please. A lot of us are nodding in unison and truly appreciate your input.

Jerry A. is a walking contradiction-- bike and pedestrian friendly efforts in deference to the urban center's importance on Monday and sprawling Bridges Project cheerleading on Tuesday as if there's no conflict between the two. It's like having two mayors with little ideological or intellectual connection between them.

In an odd way, he's a very accurate representation of the city that continues to reelect him. Though some may bristle at "outsider" critiques, Louisvillians are notorious for not seeing what they have (or could have) as valuable until it's validated by some other "big" city. We're perpetually almost famous with all the associated identity crises. In that sense, I'd much rather be validated in comparison to cities other than Indy, Cincy, and Nashvegas, all of which have their share of interesting activity but aren't exactly nationally known for creative placemaking.

Well I will take my lumps for this, but I am also on the pro-Jerry bandwagon! This is a pretty unique city as a whole and I couldn't really imagine it without him. For a place that celebrates it's eccentricities he matches well with the ideals we hold dear. For the most part the people here love him. How many times have we heard the term "mayor for life?" That in itself shows the regard the majority of the population has for him. Every public figure has his or her detractors (there actually is a Facebook group called "People against Jerry Abramson" of which several friends of mine are members of, those are not the ones I discuss politcs with if I want to stay friends with them typically as most of them are on the Republican side it appears), but I have seen him in a "normal" public setting and was able to see first hand the adoration people give him. Actually I didn't want to go back to "dirty" Kroger for a while after that one...I lived close by and needed to stop there before work but was in a hurry to catch the bus. As I rounded a corner near the deli I almost ran straight into him! When I looked up at him in astonishment because of who I had just almost knocked over, needless to say I came close to dropping the groceries I had been carrying. He just smiled and asked if I was okay after the near miss, as nice as anyone I've ever encountered, patted me on the shoulder and moved on with his shopping. I have to say that in that moment I could certainly understand the charisma that makes the man so popular! As I finished up my shopping I witnessed everyone in the store brighten up and call out greetings to him. In the economic and social clime currently in place seeing the people so glad to encounter our local leader really did give me a warm feeling.

It's one thing to criticize Abramson. I don't have a problem with that. I do have a problem with the message above that appeared to suggest there was a sheep mentality going on here, "jumping on a bandwagon," blindly following someone's lead,... and for what? I'm not sure why anybody would assume that. There seem to be two factions here, one for, one not. It would be as easy for me to suggest the same about those of you who are on the opposing side to my own. What I actually believe, though, is that we all believe what we believe, regardless of what somebody else believes.

There was also a general sort of sneering tone toward all sorts of demographics in that message above, and even toward Louisville itself, that actually irritated the heck out of me. Why move to a city if you think it's a podunk, backward place apparently filled with folks you're pretty sure you're not going to like? I was an "outsider" when I moved to this area a few years ago. Compared to Chicago? Well, Louisville's move livable, as far as I'm concerned.

Well, Louisville's move livable, as far as I'm concerned.

For me, the point is that it could be a lot more livable and thus be more successful in attracting and retaining the creative talent necessary for long term success. I think one of the major obstacles keeping that from happening is an often very limited worldview among locals, and I say that as a native. Ideas are condemned not because they won't work or haven't worked well in other parts of the country but rather solely because they're foreign. It's not a matter of considering several options and choosing the best one. For many, it's just that they've never seriously considered any other options. People from out of town often see the potential here more than natives. I won't speak for him, but that's what I took Michael's message to mean and I think it's true.

I'm terribly sorry if any of what I wrote was misconstrued, I most certainly didn't mean any of what I said in the way it was interpreted. From my observations own over the years, I agree with you in that it does appear to be two factions. For the most part people either like him or the don't. I guess the "bandwagon" use of slang was a bit off on how I had meant to come across. It was intended to show that I am solidly with those that like him based off of informed opinion. Because of a lot of different things going on right now quite a few of my friends have not been too happy with the mayor. I have been in EMS for almost 7 years so a lot of my social circle involves that group and there has been some unhappiness regarding the direction that things have taken for us. I have actually been denounced for voicing a favorable opinion of him a couple of times and have had I am sad to say refrain from any mention of local politics if I want a peaceful evening with some of them on occasion. I also happen to lean more towards the liberal side of the spectrum while a few of those who trully cannot stand our mayor in my acquaintance happen to be more Republican but at the same time hold hardfast to their opinions and don't even want to consider other points of view (by no means trying to say that about people who don't favor him or even Republicans as a rule, it just happens to be that way with the people that I usually encounter in my personal enviroment, I could say the same about some of the Liberals and Democrats I know). I have always made a point of listening to and respecting the opinions of others so that actually distresses me greatly. I honestly should have worded that better before as I can see why my phrasing looked bad. Outside of that I do have many other friends that are also on the conservative side with which I have had many enjoyable conversations debating and discussing our positions.

Now the one thing I am confused by is how I gave the impression of Louisville being "podunk." I mention the city's eccentricities, but that is what makes this place such a wonderful and unique place to live. The broad range of cultures that mesh so well together here make it stand out. I have actually had more than a few opportunities to move to a different parts of the country but could not really picture leaving my hometown because of how much I love it. "Keep Louisville Weird" is a proud slogan that many people espouse. In fact, I am at the moment wearing a hoodie that has those words printed across the back of it. If it was the "normal" public setting comment the only thing meant by that was that I was able to see firsthand how people regarded him outside the picture I normally get filtered through the eyes of the media or seeing him in big events. It was just an encounter in which he was doing his normal personal routine and therefore gave me a more down to earth (vs local celebrity) observation of him.

Oops, just read the last posting you had made before that one Colleen, I'm hoping that was what the "podunk" comment was referencing... Actually your response to that one couldn't have been better worded. I take offense to our city being termed "small minded," am proud that as a whole this is a place where people can voice their opinions and not be afraid to. The wide range of ideals represented is amazing. If you look at a larger part of the state and how conservative it tends to be, for us to be so open minded in general is a wonderful thing!

Oops, just read the last posting you had made before that one Colleen, I'm hoping that was what the "podunk" comment was referencing... Actually your response to that one couldn't have been better worded. I take offense to our city being termed "small minded," am proud that as a whole this is a place where people can voice their opinions and not be afraid to. The wide range of ideals represented is amazing. If you look at a larger part of the state and how conservative it tends to be, for us to be so open minded in general is a wonderful thing!

It's okay. I should have been clearer as to whom I was actually addressing, and I knew that as I was typing but was in a rush and hoped it would be understood. So, yeah, no, not a reference to your message at all.

To Jeff, I think, yes, I do understand the notions about considering Louisville's potential. Really I do. But then on the other hand I think of all the things that make this a more livable place for so many folks than much larger cities, and the balance tips in favor of Louisville as it is, rather than wishing it were something else. No city is perfect. We all have to find a place we feel we fit best, and despite the drawbacks for us in some ways (political sensibilities, issues of spirituality and some forms community, maybe), we prefer Louisville for other reasons. And I think that's a notion that's over-played. People are people wherever you go. And Chicago.... You have no idea how much I love Chicago. Lived there for nearly 30 years, struggled there increasingly because the growth had made it so difficult to get around, and it finally just felt too crowded and overwhelming, and when we ended up in this area, well, it feels finally like home to us. We spent three years between here and Chicago in Arkansas, and although Gary struggled with the culture shock, by the time we left he was pretty sad. He'd grown to love it. He went through the same resistance when we moved here, and now, again, he's really happy here. Sure, the city has problems. Every city has problems. But we were sort of floored by some pretty rampant self-loathing and sense of insecurity we kept running into here. "Why in the world would you want to leave Chicago for Louisville?" people would ask again and again in absolute befuddlement. For them/y'all, Louisville has so little to offer compared to a place like Chicago. I dunno,... for me it has so much to offer. It's so easy to navigate. And even though it might not have as many fabulous restaurants, or as much in terms of entertainment and cultural events and venues as Chicago, after you live in Chicago, or any city for awhile, you realize there are only so many hours in a day, and you end up never doing half the things you think you might.

So sure, potential. Then again, I suspect the gradual economic hardship we've been lapsing into over the years has had as much to do with that as anything. Or contributes to it.

The complaints I hear so often from natives (and from some newcomers) begin to sound like bad marriages to me. Always wishing one's partner were different or that they'd change. I understand that I'm fortunate in my life. But that would have been true in Chicago. It would be true anywhere. Louisville doesn't have everything that Chicago has to offer in so many ways. But when we decided Chicago had less to offer, and after a few years of finding it not tenable in terms of living there anymore, we made an effort to find a place that was more to our liking. We decided to find a place we wanted to live.

I know it comes close to the "America, love it or leave it," mentality, but I guess I do wonder why if people so dislike where they live they don't make more of an effort to find a place they do want to live.

Thanks for the explanation, C. I'm always interested in peoples' perceptions. I happen to love Louisville. That's why I'm here. Though I love it too for different reasons, I'm not looking for Chicago on the Ohio. I lived through late 90s Denver boom, for instance, and didn't care for it.

I spend a lot of time pointing out much of what you said, especially in my little corner of New Albany. We have a tremendous amount to offer in the metro area. I just want us to make better use of the fantastic infrastructure we've inherited rather than squandering all of our efforts (and money) on exurban promises that haven't delivered over the past few decades. A little more density, more sensible transportation, and a bit more appreciation for education and we'll be well positioned for a very livable, sustainable future.

And that's what frustrates me about Abramson. He seems to totally get quality of life issues at times but then quickly retreats back to the relatively safe but ultimately misguided notion that our future is dependent on the $10 an hour jobs that billions of dollars of outward expansion would bring. You can only balance on that fence for so long before people on both sides of it start to feel like they're being placated rather than being led in a particular direction. One has to wonder if his mayor for life status is based on true satisfaction or just general complacency. Louisville's relative comfort level is sometimes rut inducing.

For what it's worth, I happen to really like rural Washington County as well. I'd like to see it stay that way.

The Abramson story arc looks very similar to what happened with Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson. Peterson lost to a complete neophyte with no name recognition as part of a tax revolt. The new mayor didn't even have the support of his own party's leadership in the election.

I'm not sure if general macroeconomic malaise will count or not, but if there were some type of triggering event like an ill considered tax increase, Abramson is probably more vulnerable than people credit.

I only moved here in 2005, so may be unfamiliar, but aren't there term limits for mayor here? Seems like I read somewhere that Jerry can only run one more time, in 2010. Is that correct?

I only moved here in 2005, so may be unfamiliar, but aren't there term limits for mayor here? Seems like I read somewhere that Jerry can only run one more time, in 2010. Is that correct?

That would be correct. He had to vacate the Mayors position in 1998. David Armstrong was mayor for one term before Mare for Life returned. Except for that one term he has been Mayor since 1986.

I think he has been a pretty good mayor.