During his campaign for mayor of Louisville, Greg Fischer published what he referred to as a “Citizen’s Bill of Rights” that appears woefully hollow today.

In it, Fischer outlined six “rights” that citizens could expect to enjoy in the event of his election, one of them being the right to an “inclusive and transparent process,” which sounds nice enough that, when combined with other assorted campaign talking points, people just couldn’t resist and went out and voted for the man last November.

Unfortunately, in light of recent closed-door economic developments, that Bill of Rights might need some revision to stay accurate…

As stated on page 49 of Fischer’s “Greg on the Issues” supplemental campaign booklet:

V. Inclusive and Transparent Process

Every citizen has the right to be involved in government and have his or her voice heard at Louisville Metro Hall. As mayor, I will create a culture of inclusiveness and maintain open communications with the community. To understand diverse viewpoints, answer questions, and promote dialogue, I I will keep regular open office hours and hold countywide community forums to meet with citizens and business owners and listen to their concerns.

Noble, yes, but as LEO Weekly’s Phillip M. Bailey reported, Fischer met with Cobalt Ventures developer Todd Blue yesterday and pledged to him $450,000 in taxpayer money with the option of demolishing the historic Iron Quarter district (which Cobalt Ventures owns) in the event that preserving the structures’ façades proves too costly, unfeasible, etc.

The city of Louisville and developer Todd Blue have reached an agreement that allows the local businessman to demolish the row of historic cast-iron buildings along Main Street within 90 days.

In a consensus reached Monday, Blue has agreed to drop his federal lawsuit against Metro government while the city has said it will help investigate a way to preserve the facades of the 19th Century structures.

“I believe this is the best outcome for both parties,” Mayor Greg Fischer said in news release. “This keeps taxpayers from further litigation and removes a safety hazard and will hopefully save the facades for future generations.”

…

“Our company has a history of preservation and a love for the heritage of this community; our projects have always exemplified this,” Blue said in a statement. “It’s great to have someone in a position of leadership like Mayor Fischer who has a desire to work and reach a compromise.”

Local preservationists, however, were surprised by today’s announcement and were unaware of about and pending discussions with Blue leading up to the agreement. For those who fought to designate the cast-iron buildings as historic, many are unsure about the mayor’s closed-door meeting and have serious questions as it develops.

The agreement between Abramson and Cordish Fischer and Blue wasn’t vetted before the city’s preservation community, nor was it held as public spectacle during the mayor’s “open office hours.” The deal was made sans public input, contrary to lofty claims made on the campaign trail by a candidate ostensibly banking on liberal preservationist support.

Indeed, the Neighborhood Planning & Preservation denounced the deal for these very reasons via press release:

The Mayor’s office has announced that Mayor Fisher and Todd Blue have struck an agreement may “hopefully save the facades” and “similar architectural appearance” of the building that Mr. Blue has neglected and allowed to deteriorate. This is a staggering blow to preservation in Louisville. NPP would like to know why there was no public discussion regarding this matter? When did the Landmarks Commission and the Waterfront Development Review Overlay District have hearings on the fate of these structures? Please note that phrasing such as “hopefully save the facades” and “similar architectural appearance” does not bode well for buildings that require care and attention to restore them. It suggests that there is no committment to save even the facades.

How did this happen? Did the city’s engineers who previously declared most of the buildings were sound suddenly change their mind? Probably not.

When discussions are held behind closed doors and public processes are abandoned, expert opinion and facts matter less than the well chosen words of the few who happen to be in the room. Our question is this—Why wasn’t the public in the room? It is disappointing that a mayor who has promised transparency and involvement of the public…. forgot to include the public.

Furthermore, claims that the agreement was a “compromise” don’t quite hold up once you realize tha Blue was already going to keep the facades even amidst his pissing war with former Mayor Jerry Abramson. The only difference now? Blue’s getting a half-million dollars from the city and the decision to raze the structures is virtually up to him. Hardly a compromise in the Henry Clay-sense of the word. (But maybe in a Goodfellas “fuck you, pay me” kinda way)

Less than 24 hours later, however, the following press release eked it’s way out of the mayor’s office, thereby quashing all concerns made by this post (bold emphasis mine):

LOUISVILLE (Feb. 1, 2011) – In keeping with his commitment to open Metro Government to the citizens, Mayor Greg Fischer announced today that all news conferences held at Metro Hall will be live streamed on the city website.

“This allows the public to watch in real time and to see and to hear what’s happening in their government,” Fischer said. “It’s a step forward for transparency.”

Fischer also announced that, in the future, he hopes to have all news conferences – including those held in the community and outside of Metro Hall – live streamed.

In other words: Oceania was always at war with Eurasia, you fools. Now back to work!