Comments on: The China Syndrome

By: KC

KC — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:12:08 +0000

Give me a break people! So Mayor Ballard took his wife along on a buiness trip. Ed Treacy and Bill Oliver never had anything to say about the millions of dollars of tax credits granted to Peterson’s wealthy real estate developers and political cronies while he was mayor. Prime real estate in downtown Indianapolis with no property tax payments for 10 years or more, nor was anything said about the millions in cost overruns that is a future burden for taxpayers.

By: John Howard

John Howard — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:58:13 +0000

Well, since Mayor Ballard went on TV and said it himself, that seems like a pretty official and definite that the city is not paying for her fare.

As to the city policeman/men going with him, you DO realize the Mayor has a 24/7 security detail provided by IMPD don’t you? May as well ask why the Secret Service follows the president to other countries.

While the mayor and his wife are gone, there’s probably still two officers per shift on watch at their house.

By: Taxpayer 834512

Taxpayer 834512 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:22:28 +0000

…estimated, we’re at….

By: Taxpayer 834512

Taxpayer 834512 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:21:46 +0000

Dunno Bemused. Maybe the norm is haul five guys overseas for security. Maybe zero. What’s normal traveling security for a medium-size American city Mayor, trying to harpoon jobs overseas? If we’re not giving the security guy a 69% raise, or finding out later that the trip cost millions more than estimated, where at least ahead of the local Somali pirates of Washington Township and Carmel.

By: Bemused

Bemused — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:29:06 +0000

and once again, why does he need or how can he justify a city police officer accompanying him to a foreign land? I could care less what ethnic group the officer is, as floated earlier to somehow justify a diverse work group as fleecing the taxpayer

By: Bart Vlies

Bart Vlies — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:33:03 +0000

This is a joke. And a junket.

Actually maybe Ballard should send Winnie instead of himself. I’ve heard she is actually able to put together a sentence.

By: Think Again

Think Again — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:40:05 +0000

Firehammersteel, where did any official report indicate the mayor is paying for some or all of her trip? I’m not saying it’s not there, but I just didn’t see it.

Melyssa, I’ve met every single First Lady of our city since Mrs. Barton. They were all accessible and charming. Let me tell you how the Petersons handled a similar touchy First-Lady-fiscal-impact situation:

Whilst performing her duties locally, as First Lady, Mrs. Peterson fell off the stage at Clowes Hall, and needed multiple surgeries and therapy to repair her badly-injured shoulder and arm/back. They insisted on personally paying for the transport to and from therapies, and asked how to reimburse the city for her security person during the hospital stay. (I believe it was determined the regular security transport was already budgeted for wherever she went anyway)

I know of a similar situation regarding travel for the first Mrs. Goldsmith (pre-divorce), and she paid her own way on a foreign trip.

If Ballard is not paying for his wife’s trip, I don’t understand it…he’s been pretty impeccable on that score since he went into office. It would be uncharacteristically stupid for him to let this kind of thing go…

By: Really

Really — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:05:32 +0000

Abbie,

Do us/we/citizens a favor. Follow up with this story on January 1, 2009. See if Bart comes through. Unfortunately, little will come of his trip other than visiting his wifes family. Bad karma.

By: firehammersteel

firehammersteel — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:35:42 +0000

Bemused. Mrs. #20 is with him.

By: Bemused

Bemused — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:29:54 +0000

No offense #20, but unless you are the Mayor’s spokesperson, how can you speak on how concerned he is? And its wonderful that the officer is black, but not germane to the original point of Why he/she is going, and at who’s expense?