Indy’s Top 2000*
This post is a little tricky as I’ve only been hanging around Indianapolis since the Fall of 2004. But I think I’ve done enough research to fill in the gaps for the biggest news stories of the decade (although the decade doesn’t end until December 31, 2010). If I missed something, let me know.
2000 - Bart Peterson sworn in as first Democratic Mayor of Indianapolis in years.
2001 – 9/11.
2002 – Economy takes major toll on state, calamity slated to repeat in six years.
2003 – Indiana Governor Frank O’Bannon dies in office after suffering massive stroke in Chicago.
2004 – Mitch Daniels elected Governor of Indiana. Republicans control both chambers of the Legislature.
2005 – Indiana lawmakers join 20th Century by passing Daylight Savings Time.
2006 - Indiana voters turn state congressional delegation more blue, throwing out three Republican Congressmen. State delegation goes from 7-2 (R) to 5-4 (D).
2007 - Political novice Greg Ballard rides wave of taxpayer discontent into office sweeping out two-term incumbent Bart Peterson. Election also becomes catalyst for property tax reform. Julia Carson passes away.
2008 – Mitch Daniels easily re-elected to second term at the same time Barack Obama becomes the first Democrat to win Indiana since 1964.
2009 – Slow, stagnant economy wipes out a lot of jobs and Indiana’s billion-dollar plus surplus.
2010 – Property tax caps fully kick-in. Chaos ensues at local level, could consolidation be far behind?
December 30th, 2009 at 5:43 am
Abdul, you forgot the Amendment to Article 10 (inventory taxes) in 2004.
Remember…this is where government and the media sold this 'repeal' as a method to exempt residential property taxes, and 77 percent of the people bought the lie.
Remember when government and media said that the tax would not shift onto residential property owners?
December 30th, 2009 at 6:01 am
With all due respect, 9/11 was not a local story. Did it have a local impact? Yes, such as FAA cancelling all flights. Perhaps listing “The ramifications of 9/11″ would've been more appropriate.
December 30th, 2009 at 7:46 am
Here's a fair question. How is the existing property tax cap, Article 13, working or being applied?
December 30th, 2009 at 8:42 am
“2010 – Property tax caps fully kick-in. Chaos ensues at local level, could consolidation be far behind?”
If the folks who pushed for capping property taxes get their way (the same folks who omitted any alternative funding mechanism that would keep municipalities viable, and never informed the public that this would be the result), yes, there will be consolidation.
After consolidation occurs, it will probably be the very same folks who step up and say “property tax caps were a mistake – our failed municpalities need funding so we need to go back to the same-old, same-old. Only when that happens, under the consolidation scheme we'll only have one elected county official with a council of unelected appointees, and all local representation will have been “democratically” eliminated by the folks who have no comprehension that local representation is the only direct conduit to self governance for the majority of individuals and businesses.
December 30th, 2009 at 9:15 am
10 blunders: State passes property tax cap but Senator Long tells Star News it is unconstitutional, though he voted for it in a touted 'historic' legislation. Pacers brawl in Detroit and afterhour club shootings draws ire Bart Peterson misjudges public mood on property tax; gets booted to Lilly. CIB discovered operating in red; then hoodwinks legislature City Council plagued by ethics problems ISTA in financial conflicts Schools deficient in reading, writing, and low graduation. Indiana marked by high obesity, 2nd highest smoking rate, 4th worse place with unhappy residents, top 10 in contaminated tap water. Record home foreclosures; enormous property auctions Colossal problems with property reassessments. Shepard-Kernan report mostly failed to produce action on reforms
December 30th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Damn Paul, who peed in your cornflakes? Take a breath.
December 30th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Piss-poor government is the problem. What is particularly frustrating is that there doesn't appear to be any end to the piss-poor government we have inflicted upon us.
December 30th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
“Think Again”, I'm hyperventilating, but it's just the beginning. Let's not forget the boondoggle of the underestimating cost of Lucas Oil Can, and the over-runs on the Library, and downtown escalating office vancancies. IndyAries has it correct.
December 30th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Daylight saving time. HAHAHAHA. You are a lockstep boot licker, Abdul. Commerce has increased as a result of DST. My butt. Keep up the great humor.
December 30th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Abdul is a stickler (and is incorrect) about when a 'decade' ends and then puts the entire state back in the previous century. Well, he may be right on the latter item.
December 31st, 2009 at 1:02 am
lets not forget the jimmy buffet concert was cancelled!
December 31st, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Well, Guest, DST hasn't put direct dollars in my pocket. But I am required to communicate with other offices of my company, and with vendors, mostly on eastern time.
The time switch has made my life easier all year long.
We were living in the dark ages. Build a bridge and get over it.
January 1st, 2010 at 12:25 am
Well, Guest, DST hasn't put direct dollars in my pocket. But I am required to communicate with other offices of my company, and with vendors, mostly on eastern time.
The time switch has made my life easier all year long.
We were living in the dark ages. Build a bridge and get over it.