Center Township Trustee Carl Drummer assured Star readers last Sunday that alcohol would be served in moderation at the proposed 300 East "private club/bar" space he turned over to political insiders earlier this year without a lease, or without following zoning and building code regulations. But Indy Undercover reports that the man who is supposed to be in charge of the proposed bar, Lacy Johnson, III, who is the son of one of the investors, was arrested recently for driving while intoxicated. Indy Undercover reports:
Indyu was in the CCC today and guess what Indyu found? A DUI arrest for Lacy Johnson, Jr. Not only is he the son of Lacy Johnson, Sr., but also one of the registered owners of 300 East, that bar in the government building. Apparently Johnson's case is playing musical judges right now. Indyu will not make fun and point out the total irony of the owner of a bar in a government building is arrested for DUI, but you LEOs can. Have at it. By the way, he's also applying for the liquor license in the Carson Center as well.
If he is found guilty, demonstrating that one of the principals of the proposed bar in the government center can't drink and drive responsibly, how can we expect any better of the patrons served at the establishment. Julia Carson, shut down this bar before it's too late. Big hat tip to Indy Undercover for catching this one.
Abdul talks about this "Odd DUI" over at Indiana Barrister.
27 comments:
what do you Republicans all of a sudden have against DUI's? You elected Geo.W.Bush with one and Dick Cheney with 2 DUI's ! (what will we tell the children!)
Maybe young Lacy should run for office on the GOP ticket !
I must say, if true, driving like that is real stupid...
GWB and Dick Cheney aren't the ones applying for a liquor license.
Moron.
... only a racist automatically would think that a young Black male would be arrested for dealing cocaine ...
How's KennyBoi Mehlman coming with that GOP outreach to Blacks?
Thank you Gary for removing that egregiously racist comment from this thread. Wise decision!
The way you have been bashing almost-solely Black elected officials, your blog will be quite the racist-magnet from now on ... of course, it's mainly Black state legislators that champion gay-friendly legislation (plus David O.)
Sorry Wilson, but I don't think Brian Bosma, Mike Murphy, Eric Miller or Dan Burton, among others, would agree with you.
Subject Name: Johnson, Lacy
Case ID: 06160493
Time: 08/26/06 4:36 a.m.
Arrest Location: 1232 W. Michigan
Arresting Officer: Kenneth Pavan
Arresting Agency: Marion Co. Sheriff's Department
Offense Location: 6800 Michigan
Arrest charges: Operating Vehicle While Intoxicated, Public Intoxication.
There's some older stuff there, but I'll let you check into that Wilson. Pretty interesting. I omitted DoB, but he'd be about 27 years old.
Well, I rarely agree with them either !
But fair point ...
Now get back to those scoundrels and poltroons you just named!
I wasn't aware that arrest records of the general public were available ... Hoosier law specifically allows candidates for public office to have their arrest records searched for and disclosed ($7 at the State Police)
As a fellow dumpster-diver, how did you acquire legally that info on Lacy Jr?
The same way the news media acquires said information Wilson. How do you think they write their stories about arrests?
You mind sharing with us Wilson where you found the 15-year-old Dickerson document which wasn't in records accessed by media initially? Someone in Frank's office help you out there?
Wilson, I miss the small town in Illinois I grew up in. The weekly newspaper published all the arrests from the previous week in a column entitled "Police News". It was the first section everyone read when they got their newspaper.
Once again--with gusto, and for Wilson, since he can't seem to pay attention:
This is NOT about race. It is coincidental that the local Dem power structure, especially Center Twp., is mostly black.
This issue will NOT affect my vote for Congress in the 7th CD.
This is about process, and the subversion of same. And arrogance, thinking they could sneak something like this through while we all napped in fine Reagan fashion.
Look, Wilson, when one of the major investors boldly tells a reporter this will be a black social cllub, then it's fair game.
Evidently having alot of FU money doesn't compensate for common sense.
What no SS #'s ?
How decent of you.
:)
Advance Indiana:
Shary Johnson, executive director , Mapleton Fall Creek Development Corporation stated to me yesterday in a meeting with her that she was not told the bar/restaurant in the Julia Carson Government Center would be a private club for black professional only when her board of directors endorsed the project and wrote the letter.
It appears that Carl Drummer, township trustee and others misrepresented their intentions when they sought support of the organization.
The board was unaware of all the code violations and requested a list from me. I informed her that the information was made public and is on your website.
I had a copy of this article with me and showed it to her. She looked disgusted. The board had good intentions for the area, but personally, I think they were deceived also.
Once again, I emphasized the fact this is a residential neighborhood and the homeowners did not want drunken drivers traveling through the nearby streets endangering the lives of their children, grandchildren and property on a daily basis.
As I drove around the neighborhood, I saw children playing kickball in one of the side streets near their homes. I told her that I thought the CDC should support a larger park for the children in the area.
Area residents are willing to support a family restaurant but not a bar. This whole project has become an embarrassment for a lot of people.
Who can you trust these days, so much for integrity?
All around the Carson Building, there are ample commercial structures for lease or rent. One, in particular, at 28th & Central, has been vacant for years. It's shabby, but it could've used a nice fixup. And I'm sure the owners could've negotiated a cozy parking arrangement with the Carson Center parking lot, 45 feet outside its front door.
The money dumped into the 300 East property, redirected toward one of those buildings, would have been smarter. They're all owned, I presume, by private entities. I.E., they pay property taxes.
Carson Center is owned by the township, thus pays no property taxes.
By sinking money into the Carson Building, these n'er-do-wells have deprived the neighborhood of much-needed investment in privately-owned, property-tax-paying property.
Kinda like a double hit, huh?
Nice update - Thanks.
I suspected they did not have all the facts when they endorsed this project. Who in their right minds, other than the investors and their friends and relatives, would endorse this deathtrap.
“Shary Johnson, executive director , Mapleton Fall Creek Development Corporation stated to me yesterday in a meeting with her that she was not told the bar/restaurant in the Julia Carson Government Center would be a private club for black professional..."
It appears that Carl Drummer, township trustee and others misrepresented their intentions when they sought support of the organization.”
A reasonable folks understand that this was not what Ms. Johnson was told because it simply is not the fact.
Fact: Like every other startup in the restaurant/bar industry, market segmentation / demographics are used to determine a business’ target market. In this case, 300 East made the decision to cater to the areas black professional market segment; which is absolutely not the same thing as you saying it will be a “private club for black professionals only”.
“The board was unaware of all the code violations and requested a list from me.”
In order for this argument to have been fairly presented and with the conclusion/significance you want attached, you should have compared and contrasted ALL similar code violations citied … did you do that?
“Once again, I emphasized the fact this is a residential neighborhood and the homeowners did not want drunken drivers traveling through the nearby streets endangering the lives of their children, grandchildren and property on a daily basis.”
Hmmm… been sitting here trying to come up with just one residential neighborhood or street where drunken drivers are acceptable … thing is, I can’t think of a one!
Fact: the overwhelming majority of folks who wine-and-dine do so responsibility; stop trying to characterize the ‘black professional’ circle as outside this norm.
“As I drove around the neighborhood, I saw children playing kickball in one of the side streets near their homes. I told her that I thought the CDC should support a larger park for the children in the area.”
Wonderful idea, with your tenacity it can easily happen!
11:45 sounds reasonable, so I'll offer this up:
Regardless how one feels about this bar, it is not disputed, that Mr. Drummer and/or counsel, told the press that the neighborhood supports the bar. I cannot recall exact words, but "association" may have been tacked onto the sentence, to imply the neighbors did, in fact, support the bar.
Few KNEW about the bar to oppose/support it. The investors made sure this flew far under the radar. Stealth.
And, knowing zoning cases and ptorocol, the investors at least tried to insinuate that the neighborood association was in favor of the project. That is simply not true, and the investors and legal counsel know full well that CDCs are different entities altogether from neighborhood associations. The two have distinctly different functions.
CDCs are charged with the responsibility of building up an area. Neighorbood associations are all-volunteer, and try their hardest to watch out for the Comprehensive Plan, as well as a myriad of other issues.
The 300 East petitioners have other fish to fry right now, what with their fellow investor trying to beat a DUI rap.
But since the press is not asking this question, out of laziness or stupidity (don't really care which), let's make it clear:
Community Development Corporations are NOT neighborhood associations.
The petitioners know that and for that reason alone, they are disingenuous and not qualified to hold a liquor license. Let alone rezone a public building.
The more this "neighborhood support" line remains in circulation, the more people believe it.
*Disingenuous* is really a polite word for fibbing.
...another random thought on 300 East:
Didn't the Center Trustee swear an oath, when he took office, to follow the laws and ordinances or the city, state and fed governments?
If so he's clearly outside the city ordinances here. Proper procedures were not follwoed vis-a-vis the city zoning code.
And, it seems to me, he, as Landlord, conspired to keep this information private.
Is Mr. Brizzi willing to drive over the 300 East and work the same act he did yesterday on the coroner's office?
and "anonymous" means license to lie with impunity ...
12:38
So what, this is all just about getting even / being right / politics …
Be smarter than that.Use the leverage you’ve created to make them help with your park plans or adding business tenants to the other empty properties mentioned. Tell the 300 folks you’ll consider supporting their revitalization project if they’ll help you find the resources to support yours.
This club sounds like a good thing. It will add jobs, commerce, pay rent, keep and draw other black professional to the areas. Make a partnership, make em do more good things for your neighborhood, not less.
Oh, poor, poor misguided Wilson.
Some of us demand anonymity precicely because we have been, or are scared of becoming, targets of the Center Twp. cabal.
We know they play for keeps. 24/7
Most of us still have to earn a living in this town. Nothing I've seen printed on this subject is untrue.
If you can find an untruth, cite it.
Anonymous 11:45 AM: who are you?
Yes, drunks are everywhere on the street everyday. However, the area residents have the right to fight any form of development coming into their neighborhood not wanted.
These investors can take their money to Fishers or to their respective suburban neighborhoods.
The neighborhood continues to demolish crack cocaine houses, and fight drug pushers in the area, some prostitution.
The track record for each of these upscale clubs for black professional to network and kick back in have been closed due to illegal drugs related incidents and violent murders in the parking lots. Say it isn't so.
No real respect for the neighborhood, No signed lease at the time of construction, $500,000.00 investment, 10 code violations, lacks area homeowners' support, District councilor is against a bar and liquor license, legal fees and public relations paid with tax dollars, conflicts of interests, a liability to the Center Township governemnt.
The Savoy Bar/Restaurant, west 86th Street, Club Mecca 28th & Lafayette Road, and The Vaught in downtown Indianapolis across from the City-County Building.
The bar inside the building does not help economic development in the hood, their investment did not increase the property tax roles.
The blighted area from Fall Creek north to 30th Street on Central Avenue would have been a true investment and improvement to the neighborhood, and a property to call their own. They will not own the 300 Building.
The building and the parking lot surrounding the Center is owned by the tax payers of Center Township, not Carl Drummer, who has operated outside of his statutory duties.
No Wilson. Anonymous is not a license to lie.
It's when a certain township trustee plays "rent-a-cop" with his township car (a police Crown Vic) frankly people who would get in his way might end up as homicides #120-something.
Hail just said it better than anyone else could've. The trustee fancies himself a cop, even carries a Deputy Constable badge courtesy of his good friend, Mr. Duncan. He's been stopped by police for a traffic violation at least once, and flashed his badge to avoid a ticket.
Jocelyn rightly points out the Savoy Club on W 86th as a predominantly-black club. But guess what? Read on:
1. Been open over a year with improper building permits
2. Does not have an entertainment license, despite ordinances which require one for live bands.
3. Is a huge nuisance to neighbors.
4. Has at least one investor involved in 300 East: Bill Mays.
Neighbors who have screamed about this open night club, have been called racists. By none less than Amos Brown, on the airwaves, in so many words.
The Savoy sits in the zoning map as a Hospital Zone. Typically, live entertainment is not allowed anywhere in an H zone.
And in the ongoing zoning case involving Savoy, some of the same arguments are heard.
The Savoy owners got their rezone case continued...until after Circle City Classic, so they can rake in some big bucks over that weekend.
Meanwhile, neighbors clean up trash on weekends, including in recent weeks hypodermic needles, beer bottles, fast food bags, etc. And those neighbors endure the noise.
The City could've and should've shut this place down a year ago. The complaint sat around gathering dust at the DMD. Now, the neighbors have a strong ally in Councillor Angela Mansfield.
There is simply no good reason for Savoy. operating as an entertainment venue, to ever have opened, let alone stayed open this long after violations were caught.
Want an example of a club opened correctly, with proper security, and no nonsense? Jermaine O'Neal's Seven Club, in Broad Ripple. They worked with the neighborhood association and compromised on many aspects of the club. They charge a cover to enter, and have uniformed off-duty IPD or MCSD officers during all open hours. Nonsense is not tolerated.
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