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by Michael Monks
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NEIGHBORS CONFUSED OVER PARK'S REMOVAL
Following The River City News report that Father Hanses Park had been entirely removed late last week, Lewisburg residents spoke out on RCN's Facebook page to discuss the situation. The park was removed, according to parks & recreation director Natalie Gardner, over neighborhood concerns for safety. The playground equipment had also been reportedly damaged by fire. "Being an active member of the neighborhood association, I never heard any concerns from residents and living six houses down from the park for the past ten years I don't recall any major fires there," said Dan Krebs. "I do consistently recall parks & recreation complaining about maintaining it. Something doesn't smell right. Over ninety percent of the park was steel. I helped paint it in the past. The only thing that could have burned was the slide portion, but the whole park is gone. We requested and have been waiting years for one new picnic table. I'm sure a new park will get here sooner. I think there's more to the story."
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"If the problem is troublesome kids trashing the park, removing the playground equipment hasn't fixed anything," said Marissa Tucker. "At least with the park the kids congregated in one place. Now they have no central location and will be causing trouble throughout a much bigger, harder-to-patrol area. The root of the problem still remains and as someone who frequently works with the neighborhood kids, finding any kind of solution to this ongoing problem just got much harder."
"If the problem is troublesome kids trashing the park, removing the playground equipment hasn't fixed anything," said Marissa Tucker. "At least with the park the kids congregated in one place. Now they have no central location and will be causing trouble throughout a much bigger, harder-to-patrol area. The root of the problem still remains and as someone who frequently works with the neighborhood kids, finding any kind of solution to this ongoing problem just got much harder."
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A letter from City Hall to the neighborhood association on August 14 read, "The Recreation Department will be addressing the neighborhood’s concerns regarding the safety and condition of Fr. Hanses Park. We are aware of the fire damage and general destruction to the playground equipment as well as the ongoing battle to keep the park clean. We will be removing the damaged playground equipment in the near future. There have been significant improvements made in the materials used for playground equipment and we are searching for a more fire-resistant alternative to replace what is currently there. We ask for your patience as we strive to enhance Fr. Hanses Park providing a safe and enjoyable recreation experience for the Lewisburg community."
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ANOTHER JAM-PACKED CITY COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULED
The Covington City Commission will convene Tuesday evening at City Hall for a legislative meeting. Highlights of the agenda include:
- A presentation from Police Chief Spike Jones on how the department is implementing the changes recommended by an outside consulting firm as part of a budget-cutting effort
- The commission will vote on cutting the number of available police captain positions from five to four (with the eventual goal of eliminating the position all together)
- The commission will vote on accepting a deed of conveyance on the City Center parking garage from the Commonwealth of Kentucky
- A contract worth $153,000 will be on the table for repainting the RiverCenter garage
- Guidelines for the upper floor residential rehab program will likely be adopted (this is part of the list of incentives available to attract more businesses and residents to Downtown Covington, with word being that there has been much interest in this particular part of the effort)
- A contract will be on the table worth $126,000 to replace the culvert and restore the pavement on Wayman Branch in South Covington
- Bryce Rhoades will be named assistant city solicitor, replacing Alex Mattingly who departed to become city administrator in
ErlangerElsmere.
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SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION CAUSING CONFUSION
While both races to replace Geoff Davis in Congress will happen on the same day, the ballot deadlines are different:
The general election ballot must be certified on Sept. 10 but candidates have until Oct. 9 to file to run in the the special election.
Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes has filed suit in the Franklin County Circuit Court, asking a judge to move up the special election filing deadline to Sept. 10.
Full story: Cincinnati Enquirer/Scott Wartman
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TEA PARTY, ANTI-TEA PARTY RALLIES IN FRANKFORT
Here is one description of what is shaping up for Tuesday in Frankfort:
On August 21, 2012, Senator Mitch McConnell and Senator Rand Paul will be speaking at a Tea Party rally on the front steps of the Capitol, in Frankfort, Kentucky.
The rally, free to the public, is to begin at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 21 on the front steps of the Capitol and last about 90 minutes. The Lexington and Northern Kentucky Tea Party groups will co-sponsor the event with Louisville's. And, as the Hillbilly Report says, "It's Time For The Progressive Community To Shi*t Or Get Off The Pot."
Event details: Facebook
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DON'T MISS MONDAY EVENING'S NEWS!
Kenton County added to list of disaster areas in Kentucky; City Commissioner: energy efficient equipment has saved Covington more than $500,000; Plus, why the guy who owns the new Mainstrasse Popeye's thinks his business will work at a corner location where so many others have failed.Full story: The RC News: Monday Evening Round-Up
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GAY KY BOY SCOUT LEADER SAYS HE WAS FORCED OUT
After telling executives of the organization of his sexual orientation, a long time scout leader had to go:
Greg Bourke, who has been a registered Scout volunteer for five years, told The Courier-Journal that he relinquished the role last week after the pastor at the church where his troop meets said the facility might lose its Scouting charter if he stayed. A Boy Scouts policy enacted in 1991 and reaffirmed last month doesn't allow gays to join. Bourke said after the affirmation, he wrote to Boy Scout executives asking whether he was still welcome.Full story: AP
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QUICKIES
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New rules expose bigger funding gaps for public pensions Washington Post
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Newport seeks bids for market-rate housing project Building Cincinnati
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ABC's Nightline covers story of sexually assaulted Louisville teen who faced jail time after tweeting out the identities of her juvenile attackers ABC
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Northside branding efforts ramp up Building Cincinnati
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UK, UofL athletes banned from using long list of words on Twitter Courier-Journal
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UK Football Coach Joker Phillips selects Maxwell Smith to start as quarterback Herald-Leader
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HOW DOES COVINGTON SCORE ON THE PHILANTHROPY CHART?
Not bad... The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently compiled data on the charitable giving made by Americans and then breaks it down into searchable state, city, and even neighborhood information.
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In total contributions, Kentucky ranked 31 out of the 50 states, giving $135.8 billion. Greater Cincinnati ranked 26 out of 366 metro areas by giving a total of $975.6 million. Kenton County ranked 331 out 3,115 counties across the country giving $74.9 million (Boone Co ranked 443 and Campbell Co ranked 613). Covington ranked 1,253 out 11,522 cities giving $19.1 million. You can also break the search down by specific zip code at the link below.
Chronicle of Philanthropy
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WHY THE RICH DON'T GIVE...
Interesting, related piece:
Rich people are certainly giving a lot. Those with annual incomes of $200,000 or more represent 11 percent of the tax returns but account for 41 percent of the money donated, according to the report. But as a share of their income, the richest people in the U.S. are giving at a significantly lower rate than the less affluent.Full story: The Atlantic Cities
The study looked at tax returns for people with reported earnings of $50,000 or more from the year 2008 – the most recent year for which data was available. The report found that for people earning between $50,000 and $75,000, an average of 7.6 percent of discretionary income was donated to charity. For those earning $200,000 or more, just 4.2 percent of discretionary income was donated.
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HOT AGAIN THIS WEEK... SHOULD GROWN MEN WEAR SHORTS?
From The New York Times:
It’s a sentiment echoed by many style arbiters: men of a certain age and distinction, the thinking goes, cannot wear shorts and be taken seriously. This applies not only to the workplace, but also in social settings. Much of the fashion establishment seems to agree. “I avoid them,” said Glenn O’Brien, the fashion editor and writer of GQ magazine’s “Style Guy.” “If it’s like 100 degrees, or if I’m just going to Whole Foods, I will break down and wear shorts, but I try to avoid them for business.”Full story: The New York Times
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HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCTION OF 'OUR TOWN' FEATURES LINE MEMORIZATION
LOL:
Surprised audience members reported Sunday that Morgantown High School's production of Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize–winning play Our Town features line memorization, a marked change from last year's staging of Guys And Dolls.Full story: The Onion (satire)
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