Comments on Advance Indiana™: Not Your Father's Chamber of Commerce

Anon 640, Nice set a liberal "talking points" yo...

2007-11-03T11:00:00.000-05:00

Anon 640,
Nice set a liberal "talking points" you got. Did you get them from the nutcakes at TDW or the 25th floor? Surprised you didnt include senior citizens and children. as for a few "whiners" well go ask the EEOC how many discrimination cases officers have filed against the city, I think you'll find there are more than just a few

It's just as bad down here in Evansville, Gary.The...

2007-11-03T10:30:00.000-05:00

It's just as bad down here in Evansville, Gary.

The Chamber of commerce is backing a new $200 million stadium...despite the fact that Evansville already has over $500,000,000 in bonded indebtedness.

It's reverse-Robin Hood: the rich stealing from the poor in the form of tax abatements and massive capital improvement projects.

Any organization has it malcontents and constant w...

2007-11-03T08:55:00.000-05:00

Any organization has it malcontents and constant whiners...they usually are vocal. IMPD is no different...there are a few bugs but it is working well....and the system is being tweaked to address the bugs....the whiners who are vocal must be those who thought they had the skids greased for promotions and extra perks under the old unfair system.

One needs to understand that in the not to distant...

2007-11-03T08:02:00.000-05:00

One needs to understand that in the not to distant past it was indeed a cold day in hell when the Chamber endorsed a Democratic ticket.
The Republican power brokers put together a group called the City Committee which worked with the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and Lilly Endowment to essentialy dictate public policy and public/private development, specifically downtown Indy. They picked the political leadership in Indianapolis.

Former Republican Lt.Gov.John Mutz was heavily involved. There were no women allowed to be on the City Committee. Louis Mahern was the only Democrat allowed and Bill Crawford was the only Black. For all intents and purposes they ran the city. Lilly Endowment, while in the shadows swung the biggest stick.

So what we see today with all the Tax Abatement and TIF schemes not to mention public bond issues for private businesses all began with the City Committee. The City Committee was never concerned about crime or quality of life issues. It was strictly money, downtown money.

Mayor Bart Peterson and "cabinet" are the continuation of:
1) The City Committee
2) The Chamber of Commerce
3) Lilly Endowment

It is ludicrous to cast Peterson as Democrat when all the old Republican and money and power have been given to him.

When downtown redevelopment has reached it's peak and the last dollar has been made by those in the "inner circle" then downtown Indianapolis will begin it's decline.

11:51, by whose measure is IMPD a "mess" ?I keep h...

2007-11-03T06:40:00.000-05:00

11:51, by whose measure is IMPD a "mess" ?

I keep haring this from a few whining officers, here and on IndyU.

I've had two experiences with IMPD since it merged. Both were professional, prompt and thorough.

I'm hoping for more police officers, just because the presence of more officers is an almost certain deterrent.

I also travel all over the city daily for my business. I have noticed a marked increase in the number of cars I see patrolling. That's not scientific, just an anecdotal observation.

The "Chamber" supported Bart's idea of CONsolidati...

2007-11-02T23:51:00.000-05:00

The "Chamber" supported Bart's idea of CONsolidating IPD with MCSD at one of the CCC hearings. Their president at the time said it "sounded like a good idea". Now the new department is a complete mess, understaffed and over budget. I gues the "Chamber" knows goood business sense when they see it.

I guess the Chamber is part of "the machine" too. ...

2007-11-02T22:51:00.000-05:00

I guess the Chamber is part of "the machine" too. Silly me, I thought a Chamber of Commerce was supposed to be a bipartisan group that supported businesses in a city? You may say, I'm a dreamer....

Though the "Chamber", as they like to be called, i...

2007-11-02T22:41:00.000-05:00

Though the "Chamber", as they like to be called, is seen as pro-business, the business interests locally have moved toward a position of advocating for, and becoming even more beholden to, corporate welfare.

The Chamber of Commerce was FOR the new Colts stadium, which funneled $600 million in tax money into building a new home for a team owned by a corporation owned solely by one very wealthy man.

http://web.archive.org/web/20041211034440/www.coltsbusinessalliance.com/members/members.htm

So as I keep saying, when even the Republicans become socialists, watch your wallet.

let's see...you are going to drop your subscriptio...

2007-11-02T22:28:00.000-05:00

let's see...you are going to drop your subscription to the Star...boycott their anyone use places an ad with them, not cooperate with the Chamber of Commerce, ..........what next?

Another reason the City of Indianapolis is quickly...

2007-11-02T21:53:00.000-05:00

Another reason the City of Indianapolis is quickly becoming a cesspool of the midwest. Greed, along with politics, will be its downfall. I pray that the citizens of Indy wake up to the corruption and ineffective leadership on Tuesday. To the Chamber of Commerce...remember, at some point you WILL ALL pay the piper. Of course, if crime continues violently spinning out of control, the precious downtown area will be a ghost town of vagrants, thieves and robbers.