Joelle Pette on Civique Pride(e)

Teh Funny.

Un-Natural Bridge: The Pedway Back to the 20th Century

Normally I like Tom Eblen's columns for the Hairy-Liberal. But I've got a real problem with his latest one.

He starts out alright, suggesting perfectly reasonable questions our City Council might ask the Webb Brothers.

Like: "Does Webb really have financing?"

Sure, yeah, I care about the answer. But Eblen doesn't just get a free pass because I agree with him.

I'm a fair minded person. I think it's important to call people out -- even your own allies -- when they are wrong.

And as he goes on, it becomes clear: Tom Eblen is wrong.

I'm not even gonna get into his Stalinist views on parking downtown. His parking pogrom is all flowers and candy compared to the vitriol he spews next...

[T]he first thing council members should question – and delete from the list – are the two pedways. Most cities stopped building pedways 20 years ago because they sucked life from the streets. These pedways would cost about $1.5 million each. Does anyone but Dudley Webb think that’s a good investment for Lexwebbington?

What?

How about this question: Does anyone but Tom Eblen think pedways are a bad investment for Lexwebbington?

I may be against the CentrePointe project, I might think the Webb's are ripping off the city for the third decade in a row, and I might even think Jim Newebberry's performance as mayor has been as inspired as his haircut...

...but I'm not some luddite who can't see the beauty and utility of progress.

I have been arguing for these pedways since Day 1.

In fact, I am undoubtedly the Webb Brother's biggest champion on this issue.

Lexington needs more pedways.

I have been entirely consistent on this point. I said it on April 3rd just as I said it on August 6th. I have never wavered, I have not flip-flopped, and I think Tom Eblen is woefully, tragically wrong on this issue.

Whatever disagreements I might have with the Webbs and Jim Newebberry, we agree on this central fact:

We must build more pedways.

I believe this is truly a cause we -- proponents, opponents -- can all rally around.

I will hold out an olive branch to bring these two sides together.

Let us convene a weekend gathering in the Gorge -- call it "Camp David" -- where we will hammer out a peace accord on this pedway issue.

Lexwebbington might not need more unoccupied condos. Our city might not need an unfinished hotel.

But we certainly, unquestionably need more ways to get around the city without encountering homeless people.

The final solution to this problem is clear:

More pedways.

I am convinced these peace accords will succeed.

Mr. Eblen, Mr. Webb, Mr. Webb, Mr. Webb and Mr. Newebberry... will you join me?

We can have pedways in our time.

Busters gone

Some more sickening photos good photos from a sickening situation from Logan.




And here's a pic of Lexington's NEXT Mayor, Jim Gray, looking at the full scene of destruction later that night: (from Louis Bickett)



Also, if you haven't read David MF'n Schankula's MUST READ from last night on the money trail between the Webb Companies and Mayor Jim Newberry, you, uh... must read it.

Follow the Money: Newberry + Webb = $Newebberry$

On September 1st, 2004, buried on page B4 of the City/State section, the Herald Leader published a preview of our dark future:

Less than two years into her first term, Teresa Isaac has a challenger in the 2006 run for the mayor's office.

Lexwebbington lawyer Jim Newberry, a Democrat who ran for Congress in 1998, announced yesterday his intention to run for mayor, a full year and a half before the mayoral primary.

Newberry filed the paperwork allowing him to raise and spend money yesterday.

On November 1st, 2004, Jim Newberry collected the first of nearly two dozen checks from The Webb Companies.

Four years later, the Webb's investment in this puppet Mayor is paying off.

--photo by Jonathan Gitlin

The heart of the bluegrass, the very center of downtown Lexwebbington, has been destroyed, reduced to a pile of rubble.

For the two years between inauguration and announcement, the Webb Brothers and Jim Newberry have plotted this destruction.

At the last minute, they informed the people of Lexwebbington and our City Council, the dedicated individuals who govern us.

But it was no surprise. It was simple politics. It was bought and paid for.

On November 1st, 2004, Ronald Tritschler, attorney for the Webb Companies, donated a modest $200.00 to Jim Newberry's Mayoral campaign.

It was but a hint of what was to come.

Over the next 24 months, the Webb family poured at the very least $13,000.00 into the coffers of their mayoral candidate.

At the time, Newberry had risen to the rank of partner in a law firm whose main office was in the Webb's "Big Blue Building."

Newberry was best known as a health care and coal mining lawyer whose 1998 run for Congress had failed miserably.

But in failure, the Webb Brothers saw success.

Misery, it is said, loves company... and businessmen don't make an investment without the expectation of return.

In Jim Newberry, the Webbs found a Mayor who would willingly, dumbly help them recapture their 1980s glory, a mayor would could return them to their rightful status as full-blown architectural failures.

Through their lawyers, their wives, their employees and their employees' children, the Webb Family -- Donald, Dudley and Woodford -- saw not just a Mayor they could believe in, but a candidate they could outright purchase.

And thus: CentrePointe was born.

Dick DeCamp and other members of Lexwebbington's City Council have wondered aloud why Mayor Newberry failed to tell them the truth about this massive new development.

Their questions are innocent ones. If they want an answer, they needn't look much further than the last week of the the 2006 mayoral election.

In those last seven days, the Webbs funneled at the very least $4,000 into Jim Newberry's pocket.

It was a silver lining that kept Mayor Newberry quiet for two years while he and the Webbs plotted behind closed doors the destruction of our fair city.

There is no surprise here. Jim Newberry's lack of openness was no oversight. Jim Newberry's adminstration was bought and paid for.

The numbers don't lie...

MICHUL, KEN 2241 BONHAVEN ROAD LEXINGTON, KY, 40515 Employer : WEBB COMPANIES Occupation : REAL ESTATE	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $300.00 on 12/20/2005 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE PRIMARY - 05/16/2006
	MICHUL, KEN 2241 BONHAVEN ROAD LEXINGTON, KY, 40515 Employer : WEBB COMPANIES Occupation : REAL ESTATE	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $125.00 on 03/07/2006 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE PRIMARY - 05/16/2006
	MICHUL, KEN 2241 BONHAVEN ROAD LEXINGTON, KY, 40515 Employer : WEBB COMPANIES Occupation : REAL ESTATE	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $1,000.00 on 08/17/2006 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE GENERAL - 11/07/2006
	TRITSCHIER, RONALD 2361 OLD HICKORY LANE LEXINGTON, KY, 40515 Employer : THE WEBB COMPANIES Occupation : ATTORNEY	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $500.00 on 04/13/2006 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE PRIMARY - 05/16/2006
	TRITSCHLER, RON 250 W. MAIN STREET / SUITE 3000 LEXINGTON, KY, 40507 Employer : WEBB COMPANIES Occupation : CEO/GENERAL COUNSEL	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $300.00 on 11/01/2004 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE PRIMARY - 05/16/2006
	TRITSCHLER, RON 250 W. MAIN STREET / SUITE 3000 LEXINGTON, KY, 40507 Employer : WEBB COMPANIES Occupation : CEO/GENERAL COUNSEL	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $200.00 on 06/11/2005 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE PRIMARY - 05/16/2006
	TRITSCHLER, RON 250 W. MAIN STREET / SUITE 3000 LEXINGTON, KY, 40507 Employer : WEBB COMPANIES Occupation : CEO/GENERAL COUNSEL	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $1,000.00 on 08/04/2006 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE GENERAL - 11/07/2006
	WEBB, DONALD SUITE 3000 / LEXINGTON FINANCIAL CENTER LEXINGTON, KY, 40507 Employer : WEBB COMPANIES Occupation : ATTORNEY/OWNER	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $1,000.00 on 10/30/2006 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE GENERAL - 11/07/2006
	WEBB, WOODFORD 250 W. MAIN ST., SUITE 3000 LEXINGTON, KY, 40507 Employer : THE WEBB COMPANIES Occupation : ATTORNEY	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $1,000.00 on 10/30/2006 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE GENERAL - 11/07/2006

	WEBB, J. 250 W MAIN STREET / SUITE 3000 LEXINGTON, KY, 40507 Employer : Occupation : HOMEMAKER	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $1,000.00 on 11/02/2006 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE GENERAL - 11/07/2006
	WEBB, ANN 2160 VERSAILLES ROAD LEXINGTON, KY, 40504 Employer : Occupation : HOMEMAKER	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $1,000.00 on 10/30/2006 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE GENERAL - 11/07/2006
	WEBB, KELLI 467 WOODLAKE WAY LEXINGTON, KY, 40502 Employer : DERMATOLOGISTS OF KY Occupation : PHYSICIAN	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $1,000.00 on 11/01/2005 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE PRIMARY - 05/16/2006
	WEBB, KELLI 467 WOODLAKE WAY LEXINGTON, KY, 40502 Employer : DERMATOLOGISTS OF KY Occupation : PHYSICIAN	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $1,000.00 on 08/04/2006 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE GENERAL - 11/07/2006

	TRITSCHLER, ERIC 2361 OLD HICKORY LANE LEXINGTON, KY, 40515 Employer : TRAXX MANAGEMENT Occupation : STUDENT	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $1,000.00 on 06/12/2006 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE GENERAL - 11/07/2006
	TRITSCHLER, PATRICIA 2361 OLD HICKORY LANE LEXINGTON, KY, 40515 Employer : Occupation : COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $200.00 on 06/11/2005 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE PRIMARY - 05/16/2006
	TRITSCHLER, PATRICIA 2361 OLD HICKORY LANE LEXINGTON, KY, 40515 Employer : Occupation : COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $800.00 on 04/13/2006 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE PRIMARY - 05/16/2006

	TURNER, DARBY 3020 BROOKMONTE LANE LEXINGTON, KY, 40515 Employer : GREENEBAUM, DOLL & MCDONALD, PLLC Occupation : ATTORNEY	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $500.00 on 12/20/2005 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE PRIMARY - 05/16/2006
	TURNER, DARBY 3020 BROOKMONTE LANE LEXINGTON, KY, 40515 Employer : GREENEBAUM, DOLL & MCDONALD, PLLC Occupation : ATTORNEY	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $800.00 on 06/30/2006 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE GENERAL - 11/07/2006
	TURNER, DARBY 3020 BROOKMONTE LANE LEXINGTON, KY, 40515 Employer : GREENEBAUM, DOLL & MCDONALD, PLLC Occupation : ATTORNEY	INDIVIDUAL Contribution $200.00 on 10/02/2006 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE GENERAL - 11/07/2006

Oh, and another $500 from Mr. Pink....

TATE, HAROLD 349 MADISON PLACE LEXINGTON, KY, 40508 Employer : DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Occupation : PRESIDENT

INDIVIDUAL Contribution $500.00 on 03/27/2006 NEWBERRY, JIM for MAYOR - LEXINGTON-URBAN COUNTY-FAYETTE PRIMARY - 05/16/2006

Newebberry's Vision of Hell

From the comments of a previous post:

Anonymous said...

When the financing falls through and nothing gets built there, I propose a go-cart track. Lexington needs one.

August 21, 2008 11:31 PM

--photo by Jonathan Gitlin

David M. F. Schankula said...

Anon: a great idea, but problem is, newebberry will certainly raze enough money to excavate and thus: when the financing does fall through, there will already be a giant hole in the ground.

So: it will be more like they've brought the Gorge home to lexington. No need to drive an hour to get to that natural beauty, you can just go downtown and follow a bulldozer track into the second circle of hell.

and hopefully -- hopefully -- before they run out of money they can build a pedway across the chasm and we can call it "Unnatural Bridge" and hippies from across the land will come to see it.

that's progress. that's change we can believe in.

August 21, 2008 11:41 PM

More Lexwebbington rubble

Ever wonder why its taken the Webbs 2 months to finally demolish the whole block?

Well, apparently today is Jim Gray's birthday, if my source is correct.

Yes, Dudley Webb is satan.

Here are some depressing photos from Logan of the Rosenberg being bulldozed last night:

Jim Newberry's Lexwebbington

Here are some pictures to ruin your day. (thanks to Matthew Clarke for the photos)






R.I.P. Lexington. Long-live Lexwebbington.
.

Gray to Webbs: "No government soup for you!"

Lexington Vice-Mayor Jim Gray is laying down the law with the Webbs: either you show us the financing behind the CentrePointe project, or you don't get any of our tax dollars.

”Show me the money“ was the refrain of Lexington Vice Mayor Jim Gray during and after a meeting Friday concerning the planned 35-story CentrePointe hotel and condominium project.

And again, an attorney for CentrePointe developers The Webb Companies said ”No.“

Gray was again seeking proof that developers Dudley and Woodford Webb and their business have the more than $200 million needed to build the project. The developers, through attorney Darby Turner, have declined to provide any proof of funding or to publicly identify financial backers.

Gray, getting ever more vocal in his concerns about the planned hotel and condominium complex, also again challenged the business merits of the project.

He questioned whether the complex's condominiums could bring in $450 a square foot, as the Webbs plan to sell them for, and whether the hotel rooms could bring in $250 to $300 a night, as planned.

Lexington is now having trouble selling existing condominiums for $200 a square foot and the average hotel room charge is $100 a night, or less, Gray said.

***********

Gray said that if the hotel and condominium complex plan is unsound, then talking about public improvements using TIF money is raising false expectations.

”You can't talk about the ornaments if you don't have the Christmas tree,“ he said.

How long do we have to wait until Gray becomes mayor???

Newberry doesn't deserve to be mayor

cross-posted @ BGR:

Difference of opinion is one of the things we all have to come to terms with. Politicians, to a much greater degree than the average civilian blogger, are required to deal with these differences of opinion with grace and neutrality, even when they have already chosen a side. Jim Newberry is, however, making an ass of himself. Not only did he decide to send out these haughty, asinine and childish emails - he decided to call out a respected citizen, Alan Hawse.

In Newberry's third email this week, titled "Values to Guide Future Debates", the mayor called an editorial by Hawse, published in the Herald-Leader, "patently untrue"