Monday Morning Musings
Here are some things to munch on this morning…
Will Ballard C.I.B.?
- Expect a plan to be unveiled today from Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard on eliminating the Capital Improvement Board’s $47 million shortfall. Details are unclear at this time but expect the Mayor to offer up a menu of options that gets him to that $47 million figure.
Delay, Not Denial
- If Indiana lawmakers do nothing to help close the C.I.B. shortfall this year that may not necessarily be a bad thing. There is discussion of floating the city a loan to get it though it’s deficit for one year and taking that time to do a thorough examination of the finances of all the parties involved and coming up with a workable solution that solves the funding problem long term. Stay tuned for that one.
CCC Stuff
- Look for the City-County Council to vote tonight on a proposal that would have lobbyists register with the City. Look for a proposal to be introduced at tonight’s meeting that would to push back the deadline for Councilors to file their statements of economic interests until July.
Evans for Mayor?
- I’m hearing another name being tossed around into the ring for Mayor. This time it’s City-County Councilor Jose Evans of Pike Township. Although Evans is a freshman councilor he has strong ties to 7th District Congressman Andre Carson which could give him a leg up in a crowded primary.
April 13th, 2009 at 8:14 am
So, with all basic functions of gov’t (safety, education, utilities, etc.) under extreme stress, we’re going to spend money to make a loan to the CIB, because our lawmakers don’t have the gumption to vote on more taxation or revenue as a fix? They’re going to have us live with this (and pay for it) until “the moment’s right”? Given how “earnestly” we’re pursuing root solutions for dysfunctional spending, taxation, lobbying, parenting, immigration, and redistricting- when would you expect that right time to happen? Probably about when I can buy a cherry Icee in hell.
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Hope to see you at the statehouse, Weds. The only issues wil be government spending less money and adherence to the Constitution.
April 13th, 2009 at 8:39 am
Taxpayer is right about one thing: these clows can’t focus on their navels. A pox on their house.
Cannot attend the rally Wed.–gotta earn a living. If it’s anything like the one a couple of weeks ago, I’d rather stay away anyway. A few good ideas sprinkled with way too many nutcases.
Jose has been making some calls, Abdul, but in each one, strangely enough, he never commites to a run for mayor…just “staying in touch.” He’s a good councilman. We could do worse…and we have.
April 13th, 2009 at 8:44 am
No action by the legislature would place the problem squarely on the teams shoulders were it belongs.
CIB money runs out as early as July.
April 13th, 2009 at 8:52 am
Everyone should remember that all tax increases (increased alcohol tax) and tax shifts (expanding professional sports districts)only funnels money into Jim Irsay and Mel Simons bank accounts.
The team owners should be forced to provide the solution to CIB’s financial problems.
Extra time only works in CIB’s favor. More time for people to audit your financial, expose lies, shame you in the media.
April 13th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Oh yeah, and a year provides a lot of time to have politicians shake down owners for millions in “political donations” and “lobbying fees”.
April 13th, 2009 at 9:14 am
That’s all we need, Carson running the city through the Mayors office.
April 13th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Public Notice:
Today’s CIB Meeting is being held at 2:00 Room 110 at the Indianapolis Convention Center.
Public is welcome.
Ask questions.
Give guidance.
April 13th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Why did the state get involved with Lucas Oil Stadium financing and construction in the first place? Isn’t Lucas/CIB a local government issue and NOT a state issue? And did the state overstep there constitutional authority by being involved with a local funding issue (CIB, Lucas Oil, etc). and Whose name is associated with the Colts, Indianapolis or Indiana? Now that the state is involved, look at the mess we have. Whoever got the state involved, should resign. Or did state officials get “punked/hustled” into the financing of Lucas Oil?
April 13th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Jose Evans would be ok with me as a candidate…he won’t travel the world at our expense and he won’t lose his cell phone in another city in some bizarre scenario. Actually the real reason I like him is that he is not a Bayh person. I am sick of Evan Bayh undermining Obama and voting with the republicans. I wish he would switch parties. He will come running to the Dem party organization but I believe this time a lot of the party vets are going to turn a deaf ear to the turncoat.
April 13th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Evans for mayor? Whew! Now THAT’s a good one.
April 13th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Really,
There really is no limit on states to be involved in city/county affairs. Cities/counties are merely subunit of state government under our constitutional structure.
April 13th, 2009 at 11:00 am
After 15 months on the job, Ballard finally finds “the fluff” in his crumbling CIB Budget? We’ll know at 2pm this afternoon (maybe)!
April 13th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Think again…regarding the state house revolt….exactly what took place there that was led by “nutcases”? I think if you are going to make accusations, you need to back up every word you say with fact. So please begin explaining yourself. I’d like to hear it.
April 13th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Nick…thanks for notice on the CIB meeting…how much work I am supposed to miss this year?
April 13th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
What a day! I made a lot of money on the financial ETF (FAS) and FiberTower (FTWR) in the past 3 trading days! This is going to be a fun bear-market rally until the stress tests in the equities market comes out towards the end of the month. I foresee the market retesting 6,500 as the next wave of foreclosures take root. Yes, I am still quite bearish and as the market climbs closer to the 8,500 point, I will be switching positions to FAZ (Financial Bear ETF), but will continue to ride the ups and downs to FiberTower (FTWR) as this stock will eventually be over $20 per share.
As far as this whole CIB crap, if Ballard’s solution calls for increased taxes, then I will invest the next two years of my life in helping established neighborhood events to meet the next Mayor of Indianapolis. I expect my public servants to reduce the size of government, the follow the Constitution, and to end all property taxes. Anything less will be the prescription towards new leadership in our state. This is not a game and I am sick of being used as a pawn to have my hard-earned money stolen by the government, CIB, and the for-profit enterprises of the Pacers and Colts. Bring it on.
Note: I am not licensed in securities and the information I provide is only based upon my own personal investing decisions.
April 13th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
‘White Fight’ seems sealed-off for comment, so will post here as from reading Sunday’s Star article, it is indeed a ‘Monday Musing’:
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1) Socrates and his disciples could return to teach IPS, but without expectations of parenting- it’s not getting better.
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2) Hiring restrictions: Principal White was indeed hired “just” prior to a 90% flush of his teachers? If this is true, was he given prior advisement? Why weren’t the schools that hired aways the better teachers stuck in the same rut as Marshall, in having to interview incumbent laid-off teachers first? A more fundamental, naive question: If some of the teachers are so bad, they can’t be replaced with good teachers because of a lacking, or because of union rules?
3) Fear of Litigation: I have some sympathy with this issue. We moved our youngest child out of public schools when it became apparent the school was more concerned with money from potential litigation by the protagonist’s family, than protecting the playground safety of the victim. Isn’t there an associated Indiana Assembly bill stuck in limbo on this issue?
April 13th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Melyssa, Think Again has his head too far up his you know what to be honest about we talked about at the Revolt at the Statehouse. I’m pretty sure that more open, accountable government is something we all agree on.
April 13th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Paul, while Think Again and I are often ideologically from different perspectives, he’s always been a reasonable tolerant kind of guy. On here today he sounds like he’s taking a play out of the Jim Shella notebook.
April 13th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Melyssa, sorry for the tardiness…working on my taxes. Joy.
I attended maybe 45 mins. of the event a few weeks ago. While there, I talked with and/or heard distribes on school vouchers, immigration, CIB, the Pacers, the Simons, taxpayer revolts, English as our “Official Language” and gun control.
All valuble subjects. But it was a hodgepodge of odd speakers and odd topics–on and off the stage.
Ther was some valuable information. Wedged in the nonsense.
I admire anyone who plans an event like this. But Paul, you gotta admit, the agenda was scattered, at best. A single-focus would’ve had me roped in and cheering.
More open and accountable government? Hell yes! I was there when the Open Door Law was passed, in 1977. It took years of hard work.
But it was–and is–one of America’s weakest state open door laws.
April 13th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
I cant wait til it all catches up and collides! Petticoat junction! What a mess
April 15th, 2009 at 8:58 am
As a life-long Republican, I think Evans is the only candidate on the Dems side that could repeat an Obama movement. He is young, articulate, educated from the best schools in Indianapolis and from what I hear respected on both sides of the party. If he decides to run he will win the Democratic nomination.