Quality of Life/Can We Afford Peterson Plan 3?

What makes for a good quality of life in a city? It is a question that is extremely relevant for today’s Indianapolis. I moved back to this city after retiring from the Marines because I wanted my kids to call Indianapolis their hometown. Now, due to an ever-increasing crime rate and a declining educational system, the middle class continues to move out of Indy at alarming rates and even more families are considering moving every day. They get far better value for their dollar just outside of Indianapolis.

Companies looking to move to Central Indiana are choosing almost anywhere but Indianapolis. There are reasons that companies are moving to Hendricks and Hamilton Counties in droves while Indy lags behind. It’s disturbing, but understandable considering the direction this city is headed. Our tax base erodes even further and those choosing to remain in the city have their rates raised, as we have just seen clearly in the last two months.

Let’s look at some quality of life issues.

Crime. As any sociologist would tell you, physical safety is a foundation of human life. No one thinks about going to a ball game, reading a book, or enjoying the sunset while getting mugged. Higher-level pursuits are simply not relevant in a crime-ridden society. I’ve altered my behavior in the last couple of years and I’m sure many of you have also.

Indianapolis has a crime rate that is drawing national attention, and it is getting worse, not better. This is not part of a national trend; it is an Indianapolis problem. I could give you statistics until you drop, but just two will suffice. Murders were up 55% from 2005 to 2006, while nationally, for cities our size, murder was up 1%. This year, carjackings are currently up 145%!

The Mayor would tell you that he is not responsible for crime, since he gave away his police department to the Sheriff during consolidation. I have said repeatedly that I would petition the State Legislature to put control of the police department back underneath the Mayor. Isn’t that one of the reasons you elect a Mayor?

The Mayor has had eight years and his programs are in place. But crime is still out of control. Many will tell you that nothing new is coming to fight crime. Just the same old stuff. It’s time for a change.

Education. As many of you know, this is a subject near and dear to my heart. But it is also critical to the future of Indianapolis. Yes, companies look at our crime rate, but they also look for an educated population. When I do seminars and ask companies what is the most pressing problem for them, without fail they reply “Finding a good worker.”

Yet IPS graduates less than half of its students and many of our township schools are heading down the same path. Are we really focused on education in this city?

In the Ballard Rules for Indianapolis, which is on my website ballardformayor.com, I say that “The education level expected of children reflects the priority of its citizens and its government.” With the recent truancy problems at John Marshall Middle School and others, it seems to me that education is a low priority within our community. We are not only failing our children, many of whom will turn to crime without a good education, we are also dooming the economic development of the city of Indianapolis.

The Mayor has had eight years and education is getting worse. Many of you would say that the Mayor is not responsible for education. Really? Isn’t he responsible for the safety, security and well-being of the citizens of Indianapolis? He needs to weigh in and he hasn’t. It’s time for a change.

Taxes. Spending in this city is out of control. Not only the city budget, but also all of the taxing agencies (60+) are making your hard-earned dollars disappear. I could go on and on about this subject, but suffice it to say that long-term debt in this city has dramatically increased and all of the various taxing agencies are directly affecting your property tax bill.

The real problem is diluted accountability. No one in Indianapolis is looking out for the welfare of the taxpayer. All of the units of government operate independently with no oversight. Consequently, your taxes are raised a bit here and a bit there, but the overall effect is horrendous. The Mayor and his people know how this works; they just hope that you don’t.

The system is designed so that no one is responsible, but the Mayor should always be looking out for the welfare of the taxpayer. I would provide that oversight of the various taxing agencies and cut spending.

The Mayor has had eight years and taxes are out of control. It’s time for a change.

How are we doing on quality of life so far? Notice a pattern? No accountability, no one in charge. It’s easy to look out ten to twenty years and see what this city will look like? Sure we have some nice facilities and attractions, but soon the only people coming to see them will be from neighboring communities, if the risk is not too great.

Economic Development? Not unless we get crime and education under control. Without economic development, where will the jobs come from? In a few years, citizens of Indianapolis will be driving to Brownsburg or Carmel to their jobs, not the other way around. Which company wants to place their workers in physical jeopardy daily and have their workers’ children attend substandard schools? None that I know of.

I love Indianapolis, but you must see the warning signs. I’ve said repeatedly that the city is going in the wrong direction. Can you see it now? The Mayor has had eight years and the future quality of life for the citizens of Indianapolis is in doubt. Can we afford Peterson Plan 3? I truly believe that if we have four more years of this sort of government that Indianapolis will be lost for a generation or more. Think about it. Tell your friends.

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