Loading ...NEWS FROM AROUND TOWN
There were quite a few things happening around town this afternoon. Here they are…
The Concerned Clergy, a small group of Black pastors, plan to protest Thursday’s Public Safety Committee meeting over handing control of the police department from Sheriff Frank Anderson to Mayor Greg Ballard. According to my sources, the group won’t protest under the guise of power being taken away from the Black Sheriff (because they read my blog and realized Anderson has endorsed the very white Kerry Forestal) but instead will try to argue that the city is trying to engage in discrimination and limit the hiring and promotion of Black officers by trying to get out of a consent decree on past racial hiring practices.
My sources tell me State Senator Jim Merritt’s local government reform plan may be awaiting a death sentence in the House of Representatives. Apparently some lawmakers are more concerned about protecting the township trustees than the taxpayers’ hard-earned money.
Marion County Clerk Beth White has unveiled plans on how the March 11 special election to fill the vacancy left by the late Julia Carson will work. White says there will be about 300 polling locations. She says she has about half of the 445 inspectors that she needs. Mayor Greg Ballard told me this afternoon that he plans to give city employees the day off if they agree to work the polls.
And speaking of Mayors, the Mayor named two more appointments today. Nick Weber, former aide to Senator Dick Lugar is taking over as the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development. Weber says his focus will be on workforce development as well as bringing new employers to the city. The Mayor also named former Marion County Clerk of the Courts Sarah Taylor as the head of Constituent Services. She says she wants to improve the response time on the Mayor’s Action call line.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Pat Bauer needs to get his people on board with the recommendations of Joe Kernan’s bipartisan report on reducing the cost and redundancies in government this session or they wont be around for the next session.
A summer study committee is a death sentence for true government tax reform.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Hey Everyone!
Lets all make sure we attend the public safety meeting to show our support for the removal of the IMPD back to our Mayor. Crime in this City is rampant and our childrend are being MURDERED all the while our BLACK wealthy sheriff is hanging out in his taxpayer paid yacht chillin’, ole skole.
Race is NOT an issue and we should NOT let these ministers project such into the community. This will be televised and the Star News will be there; we can’t a few people pretend they are speaking for the rest of us. WE are the people and we need to get our signs back out and head over the meeting.
Anyone else with me?!
January 28th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Pat Baurer? He needs to read the Mayorial Election results to his members. Seems that the election results have dimmed in their minds. Perhaps showing all of them that we are insulted by their being insulted by us expecting them to do their jobs and protect the taxpayer before they protect their county township trustee and send them home permanently. Vote out all incumbents! Wouldn’t it be funny to see a group that has no idea where the restrooms are and the corporate panders have to reintroduce their powerful clients to new people?
January 28th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Abdul:
You said, “but instead will try to argue that the city is trying to engage in discrimination and limit the hiring and promotion of Black officers by trying to get out of a consent decree on past racial hiring practices”
If this is true, this will make for a very poor argument. There are three things I’d like you to consider.
1) Prior to the consolidation, the MCSD had some of the worst numbers with regard to workforce diversity for merit deputies. The non-published reports indicate that the MCSD workforce was 9% minority and 3% female. This is in contrast to IPD’s sworn workforce numbers of 16.5 minority and 14% female.
2) The consent decree was under attack prior to Mayor Ballard being elected by the DOJ (Dept. of Justice) and from a pending lawsuit filed by white officers claiming reverse discrimination in hiring and promotions.
3) Even if the DOJ and the white officers claiming discriminiation prevail in their lawsuits and IMPD abandons the consent decree, the Mayor can still incorporate an effective hiring policy that promotes diversity in hiring and promotions.
Finally, after the consolidation, IMPD leadership disbandoned the departments Recruitment Unit in April 2007. The Unit’s primary objective was to recruit the best qualified applicants. Without proactive recruitment, finding the best qualified minority applicants is nearly impossible.
January 28th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Ballard, you just made 2 ill advised choices. I know Nick and Sarah professionally. I can tell you this, neither are qualified for there respective positions. Weber is what 33-35 yrs of age. Does not have a degree in finance or economics and has never operated a company, public or private. He is basically Melina Kennedy all over again. He worked for John Okeson, (Paul Okeson brother) at the State Clerk then Lugar. That is it. As for Sarah Taylor, she was way over her head as Clerk, and she is way over her head now. Her favorite words to the mayor will be “yes”. Ask former councilman Bill Dowden. Sorry to here that these 2 were chosen. Same old story. Different mayor. And I had high hopes for him.
January 28th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
By the way Abdul, look up the home address of Ballards Chief of Staff. Try Hamilton County phone book!!!
January 28th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Abdul,
Off the subject.
Heard there is a reverse discrimination law suit filed by 50 or so firefighters against the City of Indianapolis and the IFD fire chief over promotions. This isn’t going to make the Mayor happy.
January 28th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
What has Bosma done now? Oh my god.
January 28th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
OK, NEWS ABOUT TOWN: The kiddos over at Hoosier Access are reporing Tom JOhn is heading to Ice Miller, as Ice apparently needs to shore up municipal ties. TRUE, or FALSE?
Also, Bosma via Eric Turner torpedos property tax reform by gay marriage ban amendment?? BOO HISS!
January 29th, 2008 at 6:02 am
What this small group of Black pastors should be doing at the public safety meeting is protesting the crime rate here in Indy. They should be protesting the 11 murders that happen in the first three weeks of this year. But no they are more worried about the race card then crime. I will be there Jan. 31st
January 29th, 2008 at 6:58 am
David, I will go one further for you. It has nothing to do with race. It has everything to do with them losing the last bastion of Democrat power in the county.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Regarding Ballard’s Chief of Staff listing in the Hamilton County phone book. If that is indeed a current listing, the staff member has six months from accepting a position requiring Marion County residency, to move into the county. Thus, there will only be a problem with a Hamilton County address, several months down the road.
January 29th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Beth White requested that the Courts close on March 11 in order to have the employees staff the polling places. The Executive Committee determined that it was not fair to close for just a few to work the polls. She then requested that employees be given time off to work. The EC told her that, in addition to horrendous accounting problems, there were substantial ghost employment issues in doing that. The courts will remain open on March 11.
January 29th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
WHY didn’t we have this special election on a Saturday?
January 29th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
An inside source says (although it may be public knowledge) that Sarah Taylor went to work for the voting machine co. who’s machines she bought for the county. If this is true is it ethical? Got your 6 Mayor……keep an eye open!
January 29th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Hey Abby Dull, first Nick Weber (Economic director with no clue what economics is) and Sarah Taylor (Ms. Yes Woman), now Tobias. I wonder if there will be an escort service at the airport
Tobias tapped for Airport Authority leader
Updated: Jan 29, 2008 01:15 PM EST
Tobias tapped for Airport Authority leader
Indianapolis - Mayor Greg Ballard wants a former Eli Lilly president to be the new leader of the Indianapolis Airport Authority.
According to our partners at The Indianapolis Star, Ballard plans to appoint Randall Tobias.
Tobias stepped down suddenly from his post as deputy secretary of state and director of US foreign assistance last year after being connected to a Washington escort service.
Tobias said he would accept the appointment from Ballard and looked forward to the opportunity to serve the community.
January 29th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Really, don’t forget the lobbyist Grand. Didn’t Ballard say “no lobbyist”. A Bushy “no new taxes” huh. Ballard no longer a joke. He is a Miller I think.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
In Bart Peterson’s worst year, crime was STILL lower than it was under his predecessor and the Front Porch Alliance.