Comments on Advance Indiana™: It's All About One Super Bowl Game

This is a local example of what's offensive to...

2010-10-05T21:57:45.018-05:00

This is a local example of what's offensive to those of us who believe in reducing goverment and spending. Again, 88% of Republicans, 74% of Independents, and 44% of Democrats agreed in a WSJ-cited poll that "reduce federal government" was issue one. That's a majority akin to the America that opposes Obamacare, Arizona's illegal immigration response, and building a mosque near Ground Zero.

What do you imagine these same citizens think about 33M for the Pacers, basketall, a huge loan for Lilly development, and rennovating Wishard based on a revenue stream of overcharging the feds (with our properties as plan B)- all while half the kids can't graduate downtown, the libraries reduce hours, and we can't test a cop for being drunk?

They think local goverment is as corrupt and detached from the basic needs of citizens as D.C.

If we don't get involved and take our goverment back, we get what we deserve.

I know when the Super Bowl was held in Detroit a l...

2010-10-04T19:28:08.844-05:00

I know when the Super Bowl was held in Detroit a large number of corporate 500 corporations decided to have their parties in Las Vegas. Who in their right minds thinks lets go to Indianapolis in the winter! With a potential lock out of the players ,I set the odds at about 95 percent that at least the first 4 regular games will be canceled. I suspect there will be a back lash against the NFL and wouldn't be surprised if our Super Bowl gets crummy ratings and there will be more owners looking for bail outs from the tax payers.

I believe it is against federal regulations to pla...

2010-10-04T16:11:47.217-05:00

I believe it is against federal regulations to plant trees in interstate right of ways. I'm working on an eminent domain case now where they are widening a state highway (using party federal money) and they had to eliminate the tree buffer.

Apparently it's all about safety...they don't want the trees running off the road and hitting trees.

Any idea who will attend to and maintain this I-70...

2010-10-04T14:17:18.849-05:00

Any idea who will attend to and maintain this I-70 landscaping project once it is established? Or will it become overgrown after the 2012 Super Bowl?

AI: You don't get out much, do you? They don&...

2010-10-04T13:29:20.909-05:00

AI: You don't get out much, do you?

They don't do that in Indiana because there are large mowing contracts. You go to Maryland, for example, and you would think that you are traveling in a woods... not a densely populated area. It's easy to simply stop mowing 40 feet from the road and let areas beyond that go natural. It would cost less too.

Cloverleafs and ramps should be planted with trees, shrubs and native wild flowers, etc. There's no excuse for the nasty post-industrial look of our roadways, particularly in Marion County. With a little bit of forethought these areas would not only look good but could clean surface water runoff as well.

I've seen similar roadway landscaping in other states too. It's an attitude problem in Indiana, not a driving hazard problem.

Landscaping, particularly trees, are not planted n...

2010-10-04T12:59:08.210-05:00

Landscaping, particularly trees, are not planted near Interstate highways to avoid the attendant problems with downed branches, leaves, etc. covering the pavement when it storms and creating driving hazards.

Cato and AI: I agree that there are lots of place...

2010-10-04T12:32:15.899-05:00

Cato and AI:

I agree that there are lots of places that need work... but some of those places are getting work done on them. The legacy projects on the eastside are just one example.

That said, roadways aren't just a sewer for automobiles, although we treat them that way here. It makes sense that the route from the airport look good, not only for this event but for all of the guests that come in from the airport.

The landscaping on a roadway shouldn't be an afterthought. I'm surprised that we have such low standards for INDOT landscaping and such. You would never get by with the lack of trees and landscaping in most other states. Those sound barrier walls, for example, are covered in vines on the east coast.

It's impossible to fix everything - and not everyone will agree on the priorities. But I think that most of the projects represent a good cross section and they aren't all just about the folks who are attending the game.

I too hope that someone is keeping a tab on what M...

2010-10-04T12:04:47.123-05:00

I too hope that someone is keeping a tab on what Marion County Government is spending for one super bowl game. Thanks for this slamming piece, AI.

That's not their goal, Cato. It's all abou...

2010-10-04T11:45:53.578-05:00

That's not their goal, Cato. It's all about window dressing and looking good to outsiders. They're counting on the outsiders not looking under the beds and in the closets to see how bad things really are in this town.

The highway beautification is stupid. Beautify a n...

2010-10-04T10:46:43.540-05:00

The highway beautification is stupid. Beautify a neighborhood, not a highway.

We don't live on a highway. Get to the highway last. Indy has miles and miles of dumpy areas that need beautifying.

Wait, 25 W. 9th is in the "heart of downtown&...

2010-10-04T07:49:51.036-05:00

Wait, 25 W. 9th is in the "heart of downtown"?

Inventory the evidence room. The Public Safety Director has been smoking something - again.

25 W. 9th is along the extreme northern fringe of the downtown core, not in the "heart". Jeez dude, having a Ph.d ain't all that, is it?

I understand the sentiment, but I'm not sure t...

2010-10-04T07:45:34.983-05:00

I understand the sentiment, but I'm not sure that I agree with everything that you've said.

Look, I see some of the Superbowl prep work as being an "excuse" to do things that will have an ongoing benefit... sort of like getting the living room repainted before guests arrive. It needs to be done anyway, but putting a deadline on it makes it happen.

I've always wondered why they haven't moved the fire headquarters out of the Mass Ave area... it's not a great use of that space. And reusing school 97 for that is a great idea.

The beautification along I70 to the airport is another great project.

Reuse of the mall on Shadeland is a good idea as well, I don't know what happened to the the data center plan.