Indiana

A Few Observations

Posted on June 24, 2010
Last night I attended two public meetings on the proposed transfer of  the city’s water and waste water facilities to Citizens Gas.   You know the basics, the city gives Citizens the water and waste water, Citizens assumes the water company’s debt and pays about $425 million which will go for streets, sidewalks and infrastructure...

Training Day

Posted on June 23, 2010
Indianapolis Public Safety Director Frank Straub says the latest allegation of excessive force by an IMPD Officer underlines the need to continue to re-evaluate the way officers are trained and recruited. IMPD is investigating 3-year veteran Nhat Ngyuen who reportedly choked a suspect he was trying to arrest during a domestic disturbance call...

Coats v. Ellsworth

Posted on June 22, 2010
I managed to run into Dan Coats and Brad Ellsworth over the weekend at separate events.  I asked them about a number of issues, and oddly one thing they both seem to agree upon is that the race will be a lot closer than what the current polls are showing now...

A Truce Is Not a Surrender

Posted on June 21, 2010
Anyone who knows me knows that when it comes to social issues  (i.e. abortion, gay marriage, etc.) I tend to take a more libertarian approach.   I’m not a big fan of abortion so I don’t plan to have one.*  I frankly couldn’t care less about gay marriage because divorce does more to kill a marriage [...

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Like Father, Like Son

Posted on June 20, 2010
Last year my Dad had some major health issues.  This year he looks great and through diet and exercise you would never know there was anything wrong.   I’m grateful to have him around for another Father’s Day. And for the record, he’s a very quiet, mild-mannered type so I have no idea what happened to me...

Amnesty for All

Posted on June 18, 2010
Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi is offering temporary amnesty for individuals who owe back child support.   It’s something I’ve seen done in other jurisdictions.  The government gives people an opportunity to get caught up on back payments by a certain date and in exchange there’s no additional penalty lobbied against them...

Doing Better with Less

Posted on June 17, 2010
I am going to probably shock the lot of you this morning by saying something nice about public education here in Indiana.   The latest round of ISTEP test scores show students improving overall in the state. According to the Department of Education,  81 percent of students showed improvement in their test scores...

The Loyal Opposition

Posted on June 16, 2010
Today’s blog post comes to you courtesy of  both state and local Democrats. Equal Time City-County Council Minority Leader Joanne Sanders told a recent gathering of Ds that the proposed transfer of  the city’s water and waste water facilities was was moving full steam ahead and Democrats were feeling run over...

Pacers Problems

Posted on June 15, 2010
News Flash, the Pacers and the City of Indianapolis won’t reach a deal before the team’s June 30th deadline.  I’m shocked too.  (Insert sarcasm here) The big question now is what’s next?  I seriously doubt if the Pacers will go anywhere for several reasons...

Williams Exits Mayor?s Race

Posted on June 15, 2010
Brian Williams is exiting the race for Mayor.  Here’s the message he sent supporters on Facebook. Last year, I entered the Indianapolis Mayor?s race with a vision of building an Indianapolis that works for all of us. An Indianapolis that works for kids with a safe, academically rigorous education, an Indianapolis that works for families and [...

Monday Morning Musings

Posted on June 14, 2010
I had a few thoughts in the car Sunday while driving back to Indy following a visit with the parents in Chicago.  Here they are… Huckabee Hounds Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels caused a stir by trying to be practical by calling for a “truce” in fight over social issues so this country can get its financial act [...

While You?re Out Protesting This Summer?

Posted on June 12, 2010
Since everyone in “the community” has suddenly taken an interest in the plight of black men as victims these days here are a few names  they may want to keep in mind… Julian Brown Randy Elder Harold Stewart George Hagan Deshawn Brooks Aaron Cawthon Ashley McGraw* (Yes, I know this is a female, does it matter?) Keith McGee Jimmy Johnson Christopher Hampton Thaddeus Bell Arnold James Jarren Jackson Dante [...

Time For Perspective

Posted on June 11, 2010
Now that IMPD has released its findings on the Brandon Johnson police brutality case, it’s time to offer a little perspective. IMPD investigated the case for nearly a month, interviewed 27 witnesses, and drew a conclusion that Officer Jerry Piland crossed a line that he should not have...

Equal Time

Posted on June 11, 2010
Here is the statement released by the Baptist Ministers Alliance of Indianapolis regarding the Brandon Johnson incident. STATEMENT FROM INDIANAPOLIS BAPTIST MINISTERS ALLIANCE Dr. Stephen J. Clay, President, June 11, 2010 Today I?m joined by Pastors, Lawyers, Funeral Directors, Business Owners and other Community Leaders to express our outrage at the determination reached by the [...

Background Info

Posted on June 10, 2010
As IMPD gets ready to release its findings on the alleged use of excessive force against Brandon Johnson, I thought it would be interesting to share some data on police complaints and assaults against officers. Using the Department’s 2008 Annual Report as a starting point there were more than 180 complaints filed  IMPD officers in 2008, [...

In IMPD?s Own Words

Posted on June 10, 2010
Here is the audio from today’s news conference concerning the allegations of police brutality and IMPD.   Public Safety Director Frank Straub and IMPD Chief Paul Ciesielski addressed the media and recommended the firing of Officer Jerry Piland for excessive force against Brandon Johnson...

IMPD Releases Findings In Police Brutality Case

Posted on June 10, 2010
Indianapolis  Metropolitan Police Officials are recommending one officer be fired and two be disciplined for use of excessive force against a local teen. Sources say Public Safety Director Frank Straub will recommend this morning that Officer Jerry Piland be let go and officers Stacy Latinga and David Carney be reprimanded...

Look Out

Posted on June 09, 2010
I’m looking out for a few items today.  Here’s what they are… IMPD could release information regarding the alleged beating of 15-year old Brandon Johnson as early as tomorrow.  My sources tell me the officers involved could face discipline ranging from a reprimand to termination...

Internally Yours

Posted on June 09, 2010
IMPD will announce the results of its internal investigation into the Brandon Johnson beating case tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at the Police Academy on Post Road.   I will be there and will twitter it live.  Be sure to follow me.

A Little Less Conversation

Posted on June 08, 2010
Yours truly is a big believer in free speech and open debate on major issues, however, everyone once in a while a nut slips past my radar screen.  There were recently some comments by a poster who went by the name of “dirtyblues.” This individual was trying to make a point about black-on-black crime and in [...

In His Own Words

Posted on June 07, 2010
I managed to chat with the attorney for 15-year old Brandon Johnson over the weekend shortly after he finished an appearance on a local radio program.   I asked Steve Wagner about the alleged incident, what his client wants to see done and whether Brandon bore some partial responsibility for what happened...

Are We Missing the Big Picture?

Posted on June 06, 2010
A report on the alleged police brutality incident involving Brandon Johnson could come as early as Friday.   IMPD officials tell me they are being very thorough in their investigation, however details are still hard to come by.  My political instinct tells me that the report will likely find that there was enough  blame to go [...

You Call This a Strategy?

Posted on June 04, 2010
Is there anybody capable of  forming a coherent public policy thought over at Marion County Democratic Party headquarters?  If there is, will you please get out of the building before all the intelligence is sucked out of your brain.  I cannot believe the party that has a lot of pretty bright people in its ranks [...

Democrats Delay In Hopes to Deny

Posted on June 03, 2010
There may be some changes coming to the make-up of the Waterworks Board.  The Board hasn’t been able to reach a quorum because Democratic appointed members Frank Short and John Bayt, are having problems showing up to meetings. The two haven’t shown up for weeks, delaying a vote on the transfer of the city’s water and [...

May The Reasonable Use of Force Be With You

Posted on June 03, 2010
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officials demonstrated their use of force techniques to the media and public Thursday in order to clear up confusion over when force is determined to be reasonable or excessive.   They demonstrated a “force continuum” which ranged from verbal commands to use of deadly force and the circumstances among which are used...

Big Pimping

Posted on June 02, 2010
A group of local pastors and community leaders are calling on the Justice Department to investigate allegations of police brutality by IMPD against 15-year old Brandon Johnson. The group is not saying it doesn’t trust IMPD’s internal investigation but says a third party is necessary to restore faith in the community...

Part-Time Whining

Posted on June 01, 2010
There’s an interesting piece in the most recent edition of NUVO Newsweekly regarding the pay and working conditions of adjunct faculty here in Indianapolis.   For those of you who don’t know exactly what that means, an adjunct faculty member is someone who teaches part-time at the college level...

A Monumental Task

Posted on May 29, 2010
I’ve had a couple weeks to think now about the potential closing of Monument Circle to vehicular traffic as part of a possible city plan to turn the Circle into a destination spot and increase pedestrian activity.  After some careful thought and talking to a lot of people who use the Circle frequently, I don’t [...

Indy Going, Going, Gone

Posted on May 28, 2010
The City of Indianapolis is coming to the aid of Indy Go.  Mayor Greg Ballard announced a plan to provide the financially ailing bus system with short-term cash, while city leaders look for long-term funding solutions. From my vantage point, the big challenge for the city is going to be to convince people to actually use [...

Thursday?s Thoughts

Posted on May 27, 2010
As we get ready to go into Memorial Day weekend, here are a few things to ponder… The Indianapolis Water Works Board apparently hasn’t been able to meet on the transfer of  the city’s water and waste water facilities to Citizens Gas because the Board can’t reach a quorum...

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