Money, money, money - Indianapolis style

It is amazing how tax laws can be changed by the state legistlature and willingly adopted by local entities, when the construction of a sports stadium and convention center is involved. While these edificies are important to the viability of other tax-payer supported downtown development - think mall and several hotels, they do not contribute much to the overall economy, except for the provision of a lot of low-wage jobs. Could not those low wage jobs be provided for more cheaply?

In creating these tax laws, the state limits their use, and does not allow them to be used for real issues, like combined sewer overflows, pension defecits, jail overcrowding, juvenile incarceration debt, public safety layoffs. Gee, how about using the proprosed 18 million to plug the gap in the city budget. Oh, but it can't be done, because it is a targeted tax. Anyway, what is the connection between restaurants, hotels and car rental agencies and the permitted taxes. The connection is they all depend on city services (some depend on city funding) to function.

When will government learn to set priorities and not continue to succumb to the promotion of the grand project. Economic growth really depends upon the government grinding it out and providing basic services. It is time that government realized that there are no short cuts to economic development. An economy and city grows and prospers one business and one dwelling at a time.

Projects and infrastructure investment

Hey, everybody, it's Amanda from Princess Elementary School. I'm back and as curious as ever. I just graduated sixth grade and will be attending Princess Middle School next year. Princess Middle School is directly adjacent to our city hall and it got me thinking about the purpose of governement. Is the purpose of government to create flashy projects that make everybody say "Wow." I hear about a lot of new taxes to fund big projects in Indianapolis, like Conseco Fieldhouse, the new Colts stadium, the convention center and various hotels. I also hear about a lot of other things that need funding like combined sewers, police and fire pensions, the court and correction system, schools, roads, and the bus system, etc. But I rarely see results with respect to fundings those activities. I only hear alot of talk about it, but little action. So, since I was confused, I asked the mayor, Bart Simpson, of Prince, IN what he believed the role of governement should be. He indicated that government collects tax money so that it can be reinvested in facilities that encourage the future growth and economic vitality of a city. He said that some people try to make government exciting by focusing on big fancy projects, but that real government was not that exciting. Real governments keep their nose to the grindstone and focus on investing in the community by providing and improving services and infrastructure. He also said that it is important to keep up with new technologies, like wireless communications, including broadband. He indicated that not only do small cities like ours have to make sure that we upgrade our sanitary sewer plant to accomodate future growth, but that we also must have the foresight to provide for the future technological needs of our community's economy. Otherwise, a small town like ours will most definitely decline, he said. Unfortunately, he indicated, many people are hypnotized by the fancy projects and do not focus on this type of investment because the results of the investments are not as immediately obvious. Bart belives that if you invest in your city, neighborhood by neighborhood and stay away from the glamour projects that you can maintain solid, steady growth and continue revitalize your community. He believes that there is no reason for any area of city to turn into a ghetto if the city leaders focus on investment and reinvesment in infrastructure and services.

Well, after having a talk with our mayor, I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't be excited about providing a sound infrasturcture in our community to enhance our economic development and prosperity. Now I can't wait until I have civic class in eighth grade and can discuss these important issues with my peers and teachers. But now, I need to do my own research to find out what progressive communities are doing. My mayor said that I might have to look outside Indiana for progressive thoughts, actions and results. I hope that is not true, but I'll let you know what I find out.

Daylight savings time

What a waste of time. The state legislature and the governor spend half a year talking about changing the clocks twice a year. Who cares. My solution. Get rid of daylight savings time for the nation, so that no one has to change their bloody clocks. Thanks for dealing with the important issues of the day. What a bunch of wankers.

Leadership

The lack of leadership from the Bart Peterson administration has been appalling. First, he begins his administration with a crucial fight to stamp out the menance of violent video games. This was not an important endeavor and it wasted valuable city resources and time that resulted in a losing effort. Meanwhile other more important issues were not addressed, like the current (historic) budget crisis. The budget has been in crisis for decades to the mismangement and thievery of previous so-called leaders who robbed Peter to pay Paul. Peterson knew there was problems with the budget, as he said so repeatedly during his campaign. At the same time he proposed to hire 200 new police officers. But if you review his Peterson Plan I, there is nothing in there about fixing the budgetary problems that were known to exist. He just tried to ignore it just as the state ignored the court order related to property tax assessement for nearly a decade. Instead of Peterson urging his fellow do-nothing Democrats to take the steps necessary to ensure that the changes would be phased in over a period years, he and they buried their heads in the sand and pretended that everything would be okay. Then when the proverbial shit hit the fan, he pretends to help to solve the crisis. Real leadership prevents the crisis by taking early action, not by providing after the fact bandaids.

The IndyWorks proposal is another example of this mentality. Waiting until five years into his administration to address a problem that had been given bandaids solutions for years was counterproductive. Especially, when it could have been more effectively dealt with when there was more Democratic control of the state government and legislature. Instead he waits until it is crystal clear that there will be a shift in the state government before he even proposes a solution to a crisis. Again, lack of leadership and foresight rears its ugly head. Dealing with the budget should have been one of its first priorities. It was clear to anyone who paid attention that the eight year Goldsmith administration was about shifting costs to the future so that increased taxes would not occur under his watch. That is why he had the fight with the Library Board, the school districts, and was constantly refinancing every loan to lower payments during his time, without concerning himself with how those extended payments would wreck havoc on the future budgets of Indianapolis. Yet Peterson chose to ignore the problems, until it was too late. Now, the city has to face the prospect of even more service cuts, at a time when greater services are needed because of the decades of neglect. The CSO problem with our sanitary sewers, the deficient road network, the deficient drainage system (as anyone out in the rains of May 13, 2005 could attest), the lack of payments to the state for juvenile incarceration, the deficiency in our court and jail system, and the police pension problem, etc.

It is long past time for real leadership in Indianapolis. Are we going to demand it as citizens, or allow ourselves to continue to be bamboozled by the puffery and pretty words.

Illegal Aliens

When are the federal, state and local governments going to do something about the invasion of illegal immigrants? Each and every day the illegals become more entrenched into our society. Instead of seeking them out and deporting them, our government instead coddles them because some people make more money (not the average working stiff), by turning a blind eye to illegal immigrantion. This has got to stop. We, as a nation, need to rise up and say enough is enough. A country that can't control its borders, can't control its destiny. One need look no further than Iran and Afghanistan for examples of what happens with uncontrolled borders.

Our lack of will on this issue will be our downfall. I hope that I do live to see this country implode from within (However, since I plan to live another 75 years, I surely will). But the continuation of current policies on this issue, and many others, will lead to an internal takeover of our country. What a sad day that will be. The signs are everywhere. Pay heed to them.