Although Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson said he would not cut funds from public safety, I am told that the Indianapolis Fire Department is having close to $800,000 taken away from it for now. The debate is whether the 800 grand that’s off the table is being cut or frozen. The city has already depleted its […]

Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson’s re-election campaign has unveiled its web site. On it the Mayor highlights his anti-crime plan, the first Peterson Plan and cultural development district. You can find it here, http://www.bartpetersonformayor.com

Shortly after yesterday’s news conference at Marion County Democratic headquarters, I spoke for a few minutes with City Council President Monroe Gray. We chatted informally for a few seconds and then Gray told me that I was very one-sided in my reporting of events here in Indianapolis. I was a bit taken back by that. […]

Marion County Democratic Party Chairman Mike O’Connor called on Republican candidates for this year’s municipal offices to get on board the consolidation train. O’Connor said he found it odd that the same people who opposed government consolidation for the past three years are now calling for less government. He said if they want less government […]

I am hearing rumblings from a lot of citizens angry about this week’s increase in the county option income tax that they may file a suit to have the vote thrown out. The tax was raised to help pay for public safety. The advocates say when several members of the City-County Council voted for the […]

The fallout continues from Monday night’s controversial City-County Council meeting where lawmakers approved a 65-percent increase in the county option income tax to pay for public safety. Former City-comptroller Jim Steele, who was hired by the city to help pass the tax increase and help solve its financial problems, has turned in his resignation. Steele […]

Anyone hoping for a special session from the Indiana General Assembly is probably better off hoping Lindsay Lohan will get her act together. The Senate Republicans don’t want one. House Speaker Pat Bauer doesn’t want one. And Governor Mitch Daniels would probably rather deal with the issue administratively for now. If you put it all […]

The increase in the minimum wage goes into effect today. It goes from $5.15 to $5.85 an hour. The purpose of raising the minimum wage is to put more cash in the pockets of low-paid, and usually low-skilled, workers. Someone should have told that to the City-County Council last night as they passed the public […]

There was almost a fight at tonight’s City-County Council meeting over the public safety tax. It wasn’t the one between Republican Ike Randolph and Democrat Vern Brown. Brown called Randolph a coward on the Council floor for not voting on the measure. Randolph asked Brown to step outside the chamber and talk like men, which […]

My sources are telling me the votes are there at tonight’s City-County Council meeting to increase the County Option Income Tax to pay for public safety. Republicans Scott Keller and Lance Langsford will vote “yes.” Assuming no Democrats vote “no”, the measure will pass 17-12. More details later.