WTF Indiana?
2010, 2011, and 2012 are big years in Indiana.
In 2010 we have many state legislature and some state senate seats up for grabs, as well as various congressional districts. Most incumbents in the state are fairly safe. Despite the "tea parties" and any other "populist" movements most people are not as divisive or angry as the extremes would make them seem.
So, Mike Pence is stepping down because his wife is gravely ill. I think we can all understand and respect that. You figure political leaders from the NE part of the state would seize on the opportunity. Instead, the (R) successor-apparent is Todd Rokita, the current (R) Secretary of State who is fairly loved by both sides of the aisle due to his anti-gerrymandering stance and redistricting campaign. This impacts 2012.
2010 just opened up widely for the state's national senate seat. Surprisingly, Bayh is stepping down, opening a void the Republicans are anxious to fill. However, their top contender is Dan Coats, who is starting to be despised locally because of his lobbying and public desire to retire out of state. The Dems have to get 4500 signatures to get SOMEONE on the ballot ASAP. Without an evil (D) boogieman to run against, the state Republican establishment has no-one to promote. But there is no-one from the (D) sideline who has been groomed and is ready to go to run for Senate at this point. Maybe Joe Kernan could come out of retirement?
2011 may be the last "odd year" municipal elections in Indiana. I believe this is the first year that some new anti-corruption laws take hold, meaning that people cannot hold civil jobs and also serve as an elected official. So no more policemen and firemen (and women) can run for office. This essentially guts the Indianapolis City-County council and likely many other local boards/groups. Also, the Indianapolis mayoral election occurs, which could be interesting. The current mayor isn't a bad guy, but has been described ranging from "buffoon" to "poorly spoken." However, there isn't the necessary public outcry to ouster him, not like what happened to Bart Peterson in 2007 when the public needed to take out their anger over property taxes and crime on someone.
So far Melina Kennedy is the strongest (D) contender for mayor, but she may lose based on two or three things. One, she's seen as a political insider and insider of the Peterson administration, which was combative with police and responsible for a rise in crime. That isn't the truth, but that is the perception on the street, regardless of how many plea bargains and early releases were concocted by the city prosecutor and other state agencies. Two, she's seen as a political insider, and the current incumbent, although he's quickly ascended to be a political insider, is perceived as an outsider. It's a battle cry that resonates with many of the people. The third is that the last time most of the local public saw Melina Kennedy is someone that lost the city prosecutor election, so she may be seen as a "loser" by locals.
Although Mayor Ballard may be seen as a buffoon by many, he's been exceedingly lucky. He's played the political magic to declare his budget as balanced (implying other budgets weren't balanced, but that's a fallacy of its own.) When the city's Capital Improvement Board found itself in a financial crisis he ignored the problem and let other people solve it. Although his lack of leadership is noted, the perception is that he was in office when the problem was solved, ergo he solved it (although local politicos from both side know otherwise.) The State cleaned up its property tax mess, which happened on his watch (again perception.) And the overall crime rate has gone down (although many feel that different types of crime have shifted.)
To win Indianapolis mayor, a (D) must focus on rising property crime trends, inaction of the city on abandoned homes, and the return of the city to outsourcing strategies that failed in the past, like the management/maintenance of parks by 3rd parties. Going after the "quality of life" specter could be perilous, because the city has made strides in some areas (pot hole filling) while failing in others (quality of parks.)
2012 may not be the year the world ends, but Mitch Daniel's two-term limit as governor is up. He's positioned as a VP or Presidential contender in 2012. With Todd Rokita busy in the US House, there isn't a clear (R) succession plan for the state's highest office. The current Lt. Governor, Becky Skillman may run, but I do not believe she's popular enough or wants the job.
One rumor floated is that Bayh's retirement is so that he can return and be the governor of Indiana again. Although many (D) faithful may like that idea, I see it as unlikely at best.
So once again the Chinese curse of "may you live in interesting times" comes to Indiana, wrecking havoc with the leaders of both political parties locally.
Illogic, anger, and confusion. Has the state legislature declared war on Irvington?
I think a main premise of our democracy is that the elected officials work to serve the citizens. Not corporations, not individual developers, and not unions and not individual police departments and not robots.
A few years ago my neighborhood worked diligently to ensure its status as a protected historic district. Major alterations to buildings and new buildings would have to pass muster before the city's historical preservation commission. A supermajority of the neighborhood (65%) stepped up to say they wanted this protection and these regulations as a method to control their surroundings and enhance property values.
The bottom line was that the preservation commission (IHPC) had the final say. However, this is not expedient for retail developers and builders, which seem to be lobbying at the statehouse.
Enter Senate Bill 177, authored by "my" state senator (who should be representing her constituents.)
As far as I know, my neighbors have asked for no changes to the historic preservation laws and rules, but she is proposing a major change; essentially putting IHPC at the mercy not city planners, but of the City Council itself. This is nothing short of a power grab.
What is saddening is that the city is so distracted by the Colts that items like this are footnotes and not even reported upon in regular media.
Thank you, Google, for stealing my lot!
A friend from Calgary posted that he found himself on Google maps. Knowing that the Google spy-camera-car came through my neighborhood not so long ago, I wanted to see if they updated the site. They have updated the maps with their own map data (not from Navteq) but the street-view pictures are still old. Then I noticed something.
You can see a line that extends the alley from behind my house, through my old garage and our driveway to Washington street. Sorry guys, that's not an alley. It's a private drive, my driveway. Private land that I pay property tax on. In fact, I'm in the process of fencing it off.
The Indianapolis GIS map shows this pretty clearly.
Google lets you submit problems as you find them, so I submitted this to them.
Hopefully we don't have people trying to drive through our driveway in the interim.
Obstructionist versus Constructionist
People will wax philosophical about the give and take, the ebb and flow of political battles, especially in our entrenched, two-party system.
Typically a battle will play out between two diametrically opposed sides, with fringe members of either group courting each other to ensure the smooth passage of a bill by throwing in earmarks or concessions or a combination thereof.
What bothers me is that here in Indiana, the sides that are opposed are always obstructionist. They never hear the other side out, evaluate the plan, and offer enhancements or changes. they're just against it either due to misguided political ideology and/or ego. Most major bills that make it through the Indiana legislature are voted upon by party lines. Think budgets, school funding, gambling, environmental regulations, etc. OK, that's seemingly obvious, but I can't understand why the underdog side doesn't push the majority side to do more, especially on the environmentalist side.
Our local government and statehouse are no friends of the environment. They sat on the sidelines hoping for 50 jobs while BP was ready to pollute Lake Michigan, ignoring that two other states use that lake. My theory does not relate to that tidbit, but that fact provides some interesting background.
The I-69 extension project has been contentious here in Indiana, with environmentalists opposed, most Democrats thinking that the existing infrastructure, like US-41 through Terre Haute and Evansville should be fixed, and the rest of the Republican and Democrats in the hand of the business and/or union construction lobby, pushing for the new highway. Those opposed, instead of working creatively, simply sat opposed.
There were far more creative ways of being opposed; things like stipulating 100 trees were planted for each mile of highway paved, stipulating that 15-35% of the cost of the highway be put in a fund for public transit, something sorely lacking regionally. Something like putting parts of the project in place to help fix US41 and other smaller regional highways and not just building a new I-69.
Instead, those opposed were opposed, with no real sense of compromise or willingness to set alternate goals to ease the pain of a plan that would be passed by a simple majority. This is all too typical in Indianapolis by either political party. Neither is willing to hear the other out. Neither is willing to compromise, they all want to do things in their own best interest.
We need a new ethos in office. We need to be Constructionists. We need to build on successes and view opportunities and not just hold onto buddies clothed by an elephant or donkey.
More letters exchanged…
Jon,
You should be receiving a response for ZLB. However, I spoke to center manager and per Hq, effective immediately, the center will no longer use gauze and will go back to band aids. ZLB does and has been doing neighborhood sweeps in the a.m. and p.m for several years. This will also be confirmed by ZLB.
Zoning and Health and Hospital has confirmed ZLB is in total compliance with all ordinances and MCHD regs.
Per State, and Federal medical facility practices and medical boards, ZLB continues to complies with all regs, policies and procedures. No violations currently on file. All state, fed inspections current and no violations.
Zoning and H&H inspectors takes their jobs seriously and at any time ZLB or any business facility or residential dwelling in non-compliant, appropriate action will be taken accordingly.
Jon, please feel free to contact Councillor Ben Hunter to discuss and present your case for ZLB to relocate. As you know, ZLB has a 20yr lease with Tharp Investments, the facility is zoned accordingly, has been at this site for well over 35yrs and until there is just cause the city's position on ZLB remains as is; doesn't warrant interference with landlord-tenant business.
So basically the City doesn't want to do anything and is resting on the City and State's laurels that everything is OK. It doesn't even acknowledge the sanitation and health concerns that I have over the discarded bandages.
Ruth Ann,
The issue isn't band-aids vs. gauze, it's a systematic skirting of regulations and a long-term issue with a business and its clientele not belonging in a residential neighborhood. The photos I took should be ample evidence that there is a problem.
Two years ago there were complaints about bloody gauze. ZLB changed to band-aids. At some point I'm willing to wager there was a complaint about the waste band-aids and there was a change to gauze to alleviate that concern. Such superficial measures fail to assuage anyone and are nothing but a slight of hand.
Regularly the City targets nuisance businesses such as ZLB. I fail to see the distinction between ZLB, the Indy East, Lynn's Lingerie, and a host of other nuisance businesses the City has targeted. What makes this case different?
So I wrote the City back…
Ruth Ann,
Thank you for forwarding on my concerns.
I'm greatly troubled by your response. Is the City NOT concerned with the unsanitary waste produced by the plasma center? Is the City not concerned that this waste blows onto the grounds of an elementary school?
This issue has been an ongoing concern in my community for 25+ years and has yet to be resolved. Rightly or wrongly, I, as an individual citizen am counting on you and the City to help ensure my neighborhood is safe. To me, this means the proper monitoring and enforcement of zoning and health rules. I want my kids and the children of my friends and neighbors to be able to walk to school without seeing bloody gauze along their route. I think that is a sane and simple request to be made by any citizen of a world-class city.
Finally, and most disturbingly, am I not being a good neighbor because I refuse to accept these unhealthy, and frankly disgusting conditions? Does complaining about the fact that a business that increases our neighborhood's crime rate and produces disgusting health waste make be a bad neighbor? Am I supposed to accept these conditions because they have donated money to different community groups?
It is obvious that ZLB is incompetent in policing itself or its clients, as these concerns have been the same ones voiced for 25 years. Cyclically, the neighborhood and various individuals complain, the trash potentially abates for six months, and then it flows again. That is why I am asking the City for help.
Ultimately, I think it is in everyone's best interest if ZLB were to move out of Irvington, as that is what many residents have wanted for many years. What options does our community have in getting them to leave? How can the city help us with this?
Thank you!
-Jon
The city has a response!
So I got a very quick response from the city. I've added some emphasis. See below:
Jon,
Please note that I have forward you message to ZLB Hq reps for review and action.Jon, Dale and Brian, please feel free to take any/all complaints, photos and issues to Brandon Voege, Center Manager. There is no doubt Brandon would be more than willing to meet with you to discuss issues/concerns and if warranted take appropriate action.
Please consider being a good neighbor by working with a business partner; one that has invested $500K, at the request of area residents, in the exterior of the facility to enhance the corner, and shield parking from public view. Also, when approached, has contributed to many efforts of Irvington Organizations, IPS #57, Guardians Home and Our Lady of Lourdes either with monetary and/or in-kind donations.
So from what I'm told, I'm not supposed to complain about wanting the business gone, something the neighborhood has been complaining about for 25 years. It seems to be inferred from this communication that I'm supposed to look the other way.
An open letter to the city
The Plasma center has been a bone of contention in our neighborhood for quite some time. To me, it came to a head the other day when friends mentioned to us the disgusting, bloody gauze was "back."
All,
It's no secret that ZLB Plasma is a blight on our neighborhood and needs to move out. I know during the 2007 election season the issue was given a lot of attention by all the candidates. Since then a lot of the hubbub has died down.
During a recent visit with fellow neighbors, they stated that while on a family walk they had seen a tremendous amount of bloody gauze not only on the property but being blown throughout the neighborhood. Taking advantage of the lovely weather my wife and I drove over to the Walgreen's parking lot and looked around. I brought my camera.
I was astonished to see that the claims I heard were NOT embellished. I was easily able to snap 10 photos. Bloody gauze was throughout the parking lot as well as blown into the bushes at Walgreen's. What is more troubling that if it is blowing into the Walgreen's that means it is also blowing across the street onto the elementary school's grounds. School will be starting within a matter of weeks. Although my children are too young to attend School 57 I have family and am friends with many neighbors who do send their children there, and they deserve far better than the health hazard posed by the plasma center.
What is the City doing to encourage the plasma center to leave Irvington or at least curb this unacceptable and unsanitary behavior?
Thank you!
-Jon
(Attached are the photos I sent to the city. I cropped them solely so they could be e-mail sized. The full ones are available at my picasa album.
Drug testing of public officials?
I also submitted this to the Star, given the fact we've had 10 or 12 police officers arrested in the past two months...
Given the constant barrage of news surrounding corruption in our police force and among our elected officials I'd like to propose compulsory, annual drug tests for public officials. If countless private employers shell out for drug tests for their minimum wage employees it must be in their financial best interest; why can't this philosophy be applied to the public sector? Given the "bad eggs" that we could be rid of from the City-County building, Statehouse and Police HQ the savings in salaries from a "one-strike, you're out" policy would easily offset the cost of any testing.
An older letter to the editor. All about drinking.
I wrote this a year ago. Now with college presidents calling for a lowered drinking age, I've dusted it off for this blog.
With all the recent news about underage drinking and adult chaperoned parties our society needs to answer some tough questions.
First and foremost, why is our drinking age 21? In this country 18 year olds are able to vote and fight and are considered able to legally enter into contracts. However, they cannot buy a pint.Conversely, people under the age of 18 are regularly charged as an adult because the level or reasoning or crime they're committing is so heinous that the judicial system is justified as treating them as an adult. If that's the case, the notion of an "age of majority" at age 18 is up for debate. A 15 year old can be treated as an adult if he's holding a gun at a liquor store robbery, but a 15 year old girl is still a vulnerable child who was taken advantage of by 19 year old adult.
We're surrounded by uncomfortable fallacies and double-standards that our society is choosing to ignore.
