Mayor

I attended a small dinner party last evening with Tyler Allen and I must say I came away quite impressed with him. I was never a big fan of 8664, but I enjoyed hearing his ideas and views of how we can make our community better as a whole. He has several progressive ideas and brings a fresh face to the table.

http://www.tyler4mayor.com/

Despite the recent taints on his administrations and decisions, Jerry Abramson was the near ideal mayor for the 80's and 90's. I am sure we would have been an uglier, more backward, more broken and divided city had Jerry not been mayor and had we not been urged into a Metro system (don't get me started about this issue. Having lived in a poor, neglected, segregated city [Rochester NY] surrounded by 18 county municipalities incapable of urban or regional thinking, I am totally convinced of the desirability of a metro system).


All that said, I am glad Jerry is going and I believe Tyler is the kind of person we need now. Jerry is still in the 20th century - and that means big, lumbering, corporate and national. Tyler understands what will drive successful 21st century cities: agile, quick, green, small, local, creative. It means urban density and it means bringing in immigrants - from around the world, the country and the state. It means the kinds of things Gill Holland is doing in NuLu, not the kinds of things that happen on 4th Street Live! It means people and pedestrian-centered, not car-centered. It means rapid transit and new ideas for our suburbs, not the usual big chemical lawns and SUV commutes that were last century. And above all - I have talked to Tyler about this - it means greening, opening, growing and connecting the West End. We need development and food and local commercial activity there, like Ray Allen's Growing Power and Heine Bros. Breaking New Grounds.

It means Jane Jacobs, not Robert Moses.

I hope the mayoral race can make people in Louisville listen to these progressive ideas.

Despite the recent taints on his administrations and decisions, Jerry Abramson was the near ideal mayor for the 80's and 90's. I am sure we would have been an uglier, more backward, more broken and divided city had Jerry not been mayor and had we not been urged into a Metro system (don't get me started about this issue. Having lived in a poor, neglected, segregated city [Rochester NY] surrounded by 18 county municipalities incapable of urban or regional thinking, I am totally convinced of the desirability of a metro system).


All that said, I am glad Jerry is going and I believe Tyler is the kind of person we need now. Jerry is still in the 20th century - and that means big, lumbering, corporate and national. Tyler understands what will drive successful 21st century cities: agile, quick, green, small, local, creative. It means urban density and it means bringing in immigrants - from around the world, the country and the state. It means the kinds of things Gill Holland is doing in NuLu, not the kinds of things that happen on 4th Street Live! It means people and pedestrian-centered, not car-centered. It means rapid transit and new ideas for our suburbs, not the usual big chemical lawns and SUV commutes that were last century. And above all - I have talked to Tyler about this - it means greening, opening, growing and connecting the West End. We need development and food and local commercial activity there, like Ray Allen's Growing Power and Heine Bros. Breaking New Grounds.

It means Jane Jacobs, not Robert Moses.

I hope the mayoral race can make people in Louisville listen to these progressive ideas.

I completely agree with this vision, as I think it's the only good way forward for Louisville. Louisville needs to cease its inferiority complex with regards to other similar-sized cities in the region (which are overtly 20th century super-corporate and therefore sterile) and start trying to be a lot more like its natural self.

In my view, Louisville is poised for a kind of economic greatness that most other American cities will have a tough time matching. Louisville has an incredible independent business spirit that we need to really embrace, and build upon. I imagine 21st century Louisville as becoming a haven for diverse, entrepreneurial small-scale industries and a government working more positively with independent business, while putting less emphasis on recruiting large corporate attention. It will be about Louisville feeling good about its natural economic potential rather than trying to be something it's not. Louisville is not a big corporate town, and we don't have to be.

As far as welcoming immigration, I wholeheartedly support this, and I think it is key to the city's continued cultural/social development. However, I must go realpolitik on this and say there are sizable constituencies in this town, even within the Democratic Party, that are openly anti-immigrant. Convincing them of the need to be more of an immigrant's city will be a hard sell. But that's what leadership is for. It's the direction the city needs to move in, no matter who becomes the next mayor, and they shouldn't shy away from fighting for what's right.

Do you guys really think Tyler will make it through the Dem juggernauts in the primary?

I went through his website, and I must say that in my (obviously biased) opinion, my one page press release announcing my candidacy stated more relevant policy information than his entire website. I do like Tyler somewhat, but the best thing he has going for him is some name recognition, lots of money, and a printing company. And experience on a campaign for a single issue (8664).

Having lived in some cities with real public transit (Portland, Oregon and Chicago, Illinois), I've seen good transportation policies enacted into reality. They could happen here. The cities become more livable, and more attractive to young educated folks. That brings in youth and brainpower, which in turn raises the economy for everyone. And brings high tech industry and higher paying jobs.

A key plank in my platform is to pass legislation (in the city council) that will require comparable bids to go to local companies. Also, there will be no more "no-bid" contracts, like the crap that Cordish got. There is no good reason not to have bidding, unless you're just trying to hook up your buddies.

Well, I'll save the juicy stuff for the debates. Some of the other guys (King) are busy shooting themselves in their own feet right now. We'll see how it looks after the primaries, when there is only one dem left standing. No more "business as usual" is my policy! A Dem or Repub cannot bring real change in the current system. Only an Independent can (and will).

Nimbus... I agree that Tyler needs to come out with more specific and detailed plans, but what I see as both your and Tyler's job is educating people about what our city is and can be, about alternative visions to 'bigger is better.' To be honest, and this is just me, just a personal issue, I find discussion of the grit of politics, the graft, backbiting, inside deals, really boring - and a distraction from thinking about the big picture. Both your and Tyler's outsider status gives you the opportunity to talk about 'the vision thing' in a way the insiders can't and don't know how to. An observation I have made since coming back home here four years ago is that Louisville is a cultured city, but not an intellectual one. Folks here need to be taught to think, and think more deeply.

Steve's right about the immigration issue, and, again, it's a matter of education - and it's a tough lesson. Louisville isn't Lou Dobbsian, but we have taints of xenophobia and cliqueism that get in the way sometimes. Perhaps the first move is to appeal to Louisville's inborn openness and friendliness to others. And then Louisville needs to understand that that friendliness can lead to new neighbors who will help the town get better, more interesting, more creative, more alive.

Here's an interesting article drawing a distinction between natural and corporate culture districts. I offered the NuLu vs 4th Street Live! difference, but Bardstown Rd vs 4th fits the article's distinction better. NuLu is sort of a cultured pearl - a natural thing prodded into existence on purpose.

http://www.cooltownstudios.com/2008/11/ ... e-cultural