The Week in Review
Although there has been a lot of news this week, I have some observations about some of the news behind the things you may have read, heard or watched.
We Shall Overcome Stupidity
Although Judge Greg Scott freely admits he was wrong to grab the arm of Judge Tonya Walton Pratt during a dispute over the state’s annual Martin Luther King celebration, I found out that one of the acts that was in dispute wanted to perform a skit where a character dressed as the Devil (would represent white people) was going to enslave Black people, who would later rise up and kill him. Somehow that doesn’t seem like something I would associate with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And to add insult to injury the Commission has hadn’t a quorum in years, even though it’s members can call a toll-free number and participate in meetings. Oh, and State Representative Vanessa Summers (D-Indianapolis) says the Commission should under FSSA instead of the state’s Civil Rights Commission. Yes, let’s put an MLK celebration under the state welfare agency. I think I’m about to be offended.
Everyone Knows Your Name
Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi says he will sell his interest in Harry and Izzi’s, a restaurant-bar, slated to go into Circle Center Mall. State law does not allow law enforcement officials to have financial interests in an establishment that serves alcohol. Although it’s been reported that Brizzi had a 10 percent stake in the restaurant, he actually had a 10 percent stake in the corporation that was a partner in the restaurant venture. We can have an honest about debate whether Brizzi should have a stake in a place serves alcohol, but if the standard is simple “financial interest” then any police officer or law enforcement official with stock in any publicly traded company that serves alcohol is breaking the law. I’m not sure if that’s what we want.
It’s Murder Living in Indianapolis
I don’t have to tell you how bad the murder rate has been in Indianapolis, but what I do have to tell you is that it’s getting worse. At the beginning of the month we averaged a homicide every 3.8 days. Now the number is every three days. This is a trend that is going the wrong way and it’s only going to get worse as the weather gets better.
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:10 am
I thought both Brizzi and you, Abdul, have ownership interests in several bars around Indy. My legal theory is adverse possession.
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:07 am
Abdul – your statement about “financial interest” is quite thought provoking. How far does one stretch the definition? If you hold a 401K and that 401K invests in say Budweiser, SABCO (South African Breweries – owners of Miller), or Molson does that give you a financial interest in a company involved in alcohol?
-OR-
If you’re invested in the corporate owners of say Olive Garden, Don Pablo’s, Chili’s, Texas Road House, among others.
Back to the Carl Brizzi example, if he holds 10% in a holding company that is partners in this business how much did he really have percentage wise? less than 5%?
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:08 am
I might be in trouble, just checked my city retirement account and one of the funds that I’ve invested into owns a .06 interest in the company that owns applebees. Do I sell or quit my job? -a IMPD officer
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Abdul, I hear that someone may be trying to scoop you on the peashakes corruption. I hope it doesn’t take folks from out of state to get a story out to the public. How about giving them a run for their money and getting the story out first?
March 2nd, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Shorebreak: so how did your lunch at the Skyline Club with that reporter from the Louisville Courier-Journal go today? Good food? Good gossip? Good facts?
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Sorry Anonymous, it wasn’t Shorebreak. He deals with facts. I deal with the rumors to get at the facts. Gossip? It’s not gossip when it’s common knowledge. And the food was lousy btw.
Want to know how the Senate’s going to vote on the slots at the racetrack bill?
March 2nd, 2007 at 3:26 pm
The whorish Ice Miller crowd is heard from yet again…
And multiple clients probably got biled for those lunch meetings. Scrivener’s notes, ya know.
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Actually Ice Miler is not involved in the slots at the tracks lobbying. My understanding is that Bose Public Affairs is handling it with Marion County Democratic Chairman Mike O’Connor in a leading role for Bose. Remember Bose Treacy? They are now Bose Public Affairs. They changed the name when Treacy exited and O’Connor came in. Remember Treacy the former Marion County Democratic Chairman until O’Connor replaced him? Is the picture getting clearer? Bose represent a good portion of the gaming interests in Indiana. I’m sure they don’t know anything about the numbers racketeering going on in Indianapolis either. LOL!
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:37 pm
… so that explains why Democrats like Susan Brooks, Steve Goldsmith, Scott Newman and Carl (“Shaken, Not Stirred”) Brizzi have all given a pass to peashakes and other numbers racketeering?
March 3rd, 2007 at 4:47 am
No investigations of violations at 300 East Bar/Restaurant. The property owners of Mapleton Fall Creek have been betrayed once again by their elected officials. Now we know why!
March 3rd, 2007 at 7:57 am
You might want to re-check your lobbyist registrations.
IM definitely represents some gaming interests. From day one.
March 3rd, 2007 at 8:19 am
Ice Miller does not lobby for Centaur, Inc. which now owns Hoosier Park and is pushing the slots bill. Please go to http://WWW.BOSEPUBLICAFFAIRS.COM you will see who they lobby for in the gaming industry. Ice Miller was involved when Churchill Downs,Inc. had controlling interest in Hoosier Park. IM may still represent some in the gaming industry but they are not on the point for Centaur, Inc. There may be some interconnection but most likely not. One of the main reason that slots were never approved was because of CDI’s majority ownership. Now that Hoosier Park is Indiana owned they feel there is a better shot for the slots to go thru. That’s one of the reason Centaur, Inc. is using Bose. In the end CDI will be involved in Hoosier Park again. Remeber, Centaur still has to come up with $100 million for license plus continue to repay $8.2 to CDI and an additional $24 million to CDI (owed to CDI from prior partnership. In short, Centuar does not have $132 million in capital to get the slots of the ground. They’ll most likely go back to CDI in which case IM will be more directly involved. IM represents CDI not Centaur, at least on the point.
March 3rd, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Where does Louie appear in this?
March 5th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Again, to the point: Ice Miller represents gambling interests. Always has.