Indiana

Friday?s Follies

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

Between shootings and court rulings on gay marriage it’s been a pretty busy week, however there have been quite a few items that have popped up on that are worth a mention or two, so here they are…

• The Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police has overwhelmingly rejected the latest contract offer from the city.    Ironically,  money wasn’t an issue.   My sources tell me the officers were generally pleased with an offer of a 7% raise over four years.  The issue was the reassignment of about 60 detectives from downtown into the districts.  Union officials say the way the city wanted to do the reassignment would have gone against their agreement.   I think this is an issue that the two sides can work out.  In order to effectively fight crime, there will have to be some redeployment of detectives and the last thing law enforcement needs are internal fights while trying to keep crime under control in this town.

• Speaking of law enforcement, both candidates for Sheriff have rubbed a few folks the wrong way lately.  Some Republicans have privately complained that Dennis Fishburn isn’t campaigning hard enough for the job.  Meanwhile Democrat John Layton reportedly told a community group that he should be sheriff because “it’s his turn” and he said he wouldn’t make any changes should he take over from outgoing Frank Anderson.

• Democratic candidate for Marion County Prosecutor recently Terry Curry did a musical fundraiser, “Curry-palooza” as it was dubbed.  Was most intriguing as one attendee told me were the Curry for Prosecutor tie-dyed T-shirts.  He said Democrats wearing tie-dyed T-shirts doesn’t help portray an image of being tough on crime.

• Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels is promoting an idea he says will help Hoosier high school students.  The Governor says  his office has been talking to high school students and found a significant number of them can finish  school in 11 years.  He says if they can, the state should take the money it would have spent on their last year of high school and some or all of it towards their first year of post-secondary education.   It would save the parents money and help gets students into the workforce sooner.   I frankly think it’s a pretty good idea and would help explain why a new poll has put Daniels’ approval ratings near 70%.

That is all for today.  Enjoy your weekend.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on August 06, 2010 (boomark / email).