Indiana

Massa Hits The Airwaves, Again

Posted on September 13, 2010
Republican Mark Massa is hitting the airwaves for a second time with an ad in his race for Marion County Prosecutor.   I’ve embedded it in this post.  And for the record, in the interest of fairness, I will be more than happy to post an ad by the Terry Curry campaign should one become available.

IPS v. EAG

Posted on September 12, 2010
The war of words is heating up between Indianapolis Public Schools and the Education Action Group.  IPS is responding to a release put out by the EAG regarding its cell phone bills.  Here’s IPS’ response. Fox 59 Airs Faulty Report on IPS Cell Phones 09-09-2010 Using a report from an anti-public education advocacy group as [...

Read Before Burning

Posted on September 11, 2010
I saw this essay posted on NPR.  On the 9th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks I thought it was most fitting to re-post here.  There’s a message in it for everyone. ******* Essayist: Before Burning Quran, Know What’s In It by Anisa Mehdi An outcry from Muslim communities around the world greeted Florida Pastor Terry [...

No Parking, Part One

Posted on September 11, 2010
I?m in the middle of a gentlemanly debate over the City of Indianapolis? proposed public-private partnership regarding the parking meters in downtown and Broadripple.  My friend opposes it.   He?s a downtown merchant, so I can understand where he?s coming from, but my fall back position is stuff has to be paid for...

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Second Day Stories

Posted on September 10, 2010
My original plan for the day was to finish up the Abdul version of Ramadan, by having a martini and cigar after 30 days of abstaining, but the Baptist Ministers Alliance of Indianapolis and Indianapolis Public Schools found a way to end up on my radar screen one more time...

Catching Up on Political Potpourri

Posted on September 09, 2010
There have been quite a few news items that have been on my radar screen this week that I’m finally getting a chance to chime in on, so with that said, here they are. Senate Stuff Is it my imagination, or is there a 9-11 subtext in the latest round of Dan Coats political commercials?  [...

What Have They Done for Her Lately

Posted on September 08, 2010
I realize that most of the blog space I have dedicated to the Baptist Ministers Alliance of Indianapolis (BMA) has not been flattering.  I freely admit to being skeptical of an organization that says it?s been around for more than 140 years when it filed as a not-for-profit with the Indiana Secretary of State?s Office [...

Organizing Chaos

Posted on September 07, 2010
After spending a few days away for quality time with the lovely Mrs. Shabazz, we return to our regularly scheduled pontificating on local government.  And of course that means a look at what?s been going on with public safety.  Between news conferences, umpteen rallies, bugs that don?t work, internal tug-of-wars, we have to admit it?s [...

One Year Later

Posted on September 03, 2010
This weekend the lovely Mrs. Shabazz and I are celebrating our one-year anniversary.  It’s been a great year.  Lots of highs, an occasional low, and a love that grows everyday, and I’m not talking about me for myself.    So that means the blogging and tweeting is going to be kept down to a bear [...

Our Text For Today

Posted on September 02, 2010
Although my time lately has been spent preparing for the the first weeks of college teaching and more importantly, making sure everything goes well for my first anniversary this weekend,  I’ve still been keeping close tabs on the situation involving the latest troubles regarding the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department...

Term Limits of Endearment

Posted on September 01, 2010
I had a very good conversation with U.S. Senator Dick Lugar Tuesday evening.  We talked about Iraq, Afghanistan, the 2010 midterm elections and his own re-election bid. I asked him his reaction to critics who say he’s been in office too long and what he thinks about a primary challenger?  He told me he will [...

Hit the Books

Posted on August 31, 2010
I knew this was coming. I figured one unit of local government would get ready to head to the Department of Local Government and Finance and ask for a property tax levy appeal so they could max out on what they could get from the taxpayers.  This time it’s the Marion County Public Library and [...

Battle of the Social Network Stars

Posted on August 31, 2010
I had a couple minutes today so I decided to do some cruising through Facebook just to see how some of Indiana’s candidates are doing with their social network worlds.   I tried to use campaign Facebook websites where possible.  Now this is not to say whether your “friends” will translate into votes, but I think [...

Slam Dunk!!!

Posted on August 30, 2010
I spent some time this weekend at the Feast of Lanterns, a near east side community event.   I volunteered to sit in the dunk tank for an hour.  I managed to get dunked by Democratic City-County Council candidate Zach Adamson, an 11-year old and my wife...

House Party?

Posted on August 29, 2010
If  you are rooting for Indiana Republicans to take back the State House of Representatives, I’ve got some good news for you and some bad news for you.  First, the good news.  If the election were held today, you would win by a very comfortable margin...

Indianapolis? Finest

Posted on August 27, 2010
As someone who spends a lot of time in downtown Indianapolis, there’s nothing more disturbing and frightening than listening to a report about someone on the roof of a parking garage firing shots. Luckily, no one on the street was injured.  Unfortunately the entire incident was the end result of a murder-suicide...

Proper Protocol?

Posted on August 26, 2010
Quick note,  I’m hearing the early word on the federal review of the Brandon Johnson excessive force case is that Indianapolis Metropolitan Police followed proper investigative protocol in its review of the matter. Some members of the Indianapolis community have been calling  for a federal investigation of the case...

IMPD Policies and Procedures

Posted on August 26, 2010
With recent problems plaguing the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the City-County is stepping into fray.  Council President Ryan Vaughn and Public Safety Committee Chairman Ben Hunter are offering up a proposal they say will bring changes to the department that are 20 years in the making...

Resign, For What?

Posted on August 25, 2010
My brothers and sisters in the media today are all writing about the the calls for the public safety director, Frank Straub,  to step down.  The calls to resign center around recent scandals involving the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.   Now some of you are going to say, “Abdul, you’re on that public safety advisory board [...

Conspiracy or Just Good Strategy?

Posted on August 25, 2010
The following post is based on a number of conversations with individuals in Marion County. None wanted to go on record for fear of repercussions, but they were more than willing to talk as long as I kept their names out of all this.   What you take away from this post will likely depend [...

Party of No Becomes Party of Go

Posted on August 24, 2010
When I was a kid there was nothing better than a trip to the circus.  Monday night’s Council meeting was a return to my childhood. I don’t know which contributed more to the circus-like atmosphere.  The Council Democrats who got up and walked out of the chamber before Mayor Greg Ballard delivered his budget address...

Ballard?s Balanced Budget (Year III)

Posted on August 23, 2010
Indianapolis city officials say what started out as a $126 million decrease in revenue has turned into $55 million in cash reserves.* Mayor Greg Ballard will present the Indianapolis City-County Council Monday night with a $1.02 billion budget that is down 2...

Department Policy

Posted on August 23, 2010
In order to get a better understanding of IMPD policy on officers and vehicle use, I’ve decided to post the policy (General Orders) on vehicle operations.  After reading through it, especially when it comes to driving under the influence, I can clearly see where some changes need to be made for future incidents...

Broken Chain of Command

Posted on August 22, 2010
Here is the audio from Saturday’s news conference where Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, Public Safety Director Frank Straub, and Police Chief Paul Ciesielski announced the demotion of IMPD command staff members Asst. Chief Darryl Pierce, Deputy Chief of Operations Ronald Hicks and Commander of Homeland Security Bureau John Conley...

A Matter of Trust

Posted on August 21, 2010
My wife and I were driving back from dinner last night when we heard police sirens.  It was an officer responding to a call so we did what you’re supposed to do, which is pull over to the side of the road.  However, as I got out of the officer’s way, for a brief moment [...

In Case You Were Wondering

Posted on August 20, 2010
With school getting ready to start, your favorite political pundit had to take today to get a lot of class stuff taken care of.  The joy of teaching graduate and undergraduate classes.  I do  ha’ve got some thoughts on IMPD which I will share with you tomorrow...

What the _______ Are They Thinking?

Posted on August 19, 2010
If you understand the logic behind the UAW Local 23 and its refusal to allow a vote on an offer by JD Norman Industries regarding the GM stamping plant in Indianapolis, please explain it to me.  I consider myself a pretty smart, but I can’t figure this one out...

Vote Centers Instead of Satellites

Posted on August 18, 2010
I sat through the Marion County Election Board hearing Tuesday as members of the public (albeit Democratic constituents) but the public nonetheless, express their support for satellite voting and encouraged the board to approve it.  It takes a unanimous decision by the Board to approve satellite voting...

Dear Dr. White

Posted on August 17, 2010
The following is an open letter to Dr. Eugene White, Superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools. I don’t think he’ll respond, but it’s worth a shot. Dear Dr. White, I know things are tough for you these days, nearly 16% of  your students don’t show up for the the first day of school...

Massa Hits The Airwaves

Posted on August 17, 2010
Marion County Republican Prosecutor Mark Massa has unveiled his first television commercial. No word yet on when Democrat Terry Curry plans to unveil his first television ad.

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