The Death Spiral

The Indianapolis Star is going to source most of its news and features from USAToday -- except for an undefined bit of "local coverage" that seems to be metro- rather than city-oriented.

This Indianapolis Observer thinks that thunder you hear is Gene Pulliam rolling over in his grave.

Exodus Refugee Fundraiser

Here's a meal you won't be able to duplicate at home: local immigrant-owned restaurants will cater the annual fundraising dinner of Exodus Refugee Immigration.

"Home at Last in Indianapolis" set for 6 p.m. 26 September in the Athenaeum, 401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis. Tickets are $35 in advance, or $45 at the door.

Three women who were refugees will speak at the gathering, which also includes entertainment and a cash bar.

Exodus Refugee has a long history of welcoming refugees from many countries, cultures, languages, faiths and political opinions. It began in 1981 with the mission to serve the legal needs of immigrants and Cuban refugees, who had arrived as part of the Mariel boatlift in 1980.

(Image courtesy of Exodus Refugee)

Yet Another Example of Ballard's Mis-Management of City Resources

According to Gary R. Welsh, the Indianapolis Public Safety Director has ordered 150 Indianapolis police officers and homeland security department personnel to immediately abandon the $18 million, public safety regional operations center at the former Eastgate Consumer Mall the Ballard administration rushed into use for the Super Bowl in 2012.

This Indianapolis Observer wonders why the mayor thinks this kind of waste of taxpayer money is perfectly fine.

UPDATE:
Check out the contract, as reported by Paul K. Ogden: "A review of the of the 25 year lease costing taxpayers over $18 million reveals it is so one-sided as to leave the City with no contractual recourse against the Landlord."

Here We Go Again

IBJ.com reports, "Indianapolis officials hope to include plans for a new downtown luxury hotel in their bid for the 2018 Super Bowl, but they’re not sure all the pieces for a deal—potentially on Pan Am Plaza—can be put together before a bid presentation for 32 NFL owners in May."

As Indy taxpayers should know, we (not the hotel owner or operator who profit from the venture) invested $48.5 million in the JW Marriott complex beginning in 2006.

There's no telling how much it would cost us to build yet another 4-star hotel -- at a time when downtown hotel occupancy is said to be well below 65% (city-wide occupancy in 2012 was a paltry 59%).

As the IBJ reported, "The idea is already meeting serious resistance from local hotel officials, who fear a new property will make it harder to fill their own beds."

This Indianapolis Observer thinks that the city leaders are, once again, selling off their children's futures to line their own pockets (and score Super Bowl tickets) today.

Mayor Ballard Gets It All Wrong

The fallout from Mayor Greg Ballard's disingenuous interview with The Indianapolis Star continues.

For example, this, from Paul K. Ogden.

And this, from Had Enough Indy.

And this, from Gary R.Welsh.

How could a second-term mayor get so many of his facts wrong? How could a second-term mayor not have learned to tamp down his quick fuse?

This Indianapolis Observer is mystified.

UPDATE:
Here's another recounting of Ballard's short fuse: "An allegedly visibly angry Mayor Greg Ballard apparently got into some sort of verbal altercation with City-County Councillor Zach Adamson at the recent Hob Knob event sponsored by the Indy Chamber."