Meeting Minutes for May 2007 General Membership Meeting
May 22nd, 2007 5:16 pmMeeting Minutes for May 2007 General Membership Meeting of the Indiana Democratic Club
Meeting Called to order by: IDC President Ken Kern at 7:45pm on 05/22/2007
Pledge of Allegiance: Marion County Clerk Beth White
Speaker: Katy Brett, Mayor Bart Peterson’s office “The community crime prevention task force”
The Mayor went to the State Legislature to ask to add $85 million in revenue for crime fighting and prevention. A large part of this was to also cover pension liabilities because the city not paying into pension funds in time around the 70’s. One part of this package was the ability to issue a bond to pay off that pension fund debt. This passed and pending Council approval they have the ability to issue the bond to pay off the pension deficit.
Another key piece is the ability to add additional revenue. Property taxes are pretty much currently the only way to get city revenue. The legislature agreed and gave property tax relief and a new revenue tool* and again pending Council approval can be used to help get more revenue to help fight crime.
Jail overcrowding was actually fixed last year in August and as of then there are no early releases due to overcrowding. A night court and additional public defenders and prosecutors have also been added to speed the process and therefore free up beds in jail.
Another key to the plan is more money for law enforcement initiatives such as cameras in neighborhoods. Cities such as Chicago have seen success in hotspot crime areas by adding cameras.
And finally, there is crime prevention programming - Ms. Brett’s job.
Mayor Peterson and Council president Gray asked the Greater Indianapolis Progress Initiative to come up with ideas for actual crime prevention - not just more police but addressing jobs, substance abuse, housing, neighborhoods , and the issues that former inmates and people who have been released from the corrections systems face in living a life out of crime with obstacles such as education, lack of jobs, etc.
The report is on IndyGov.org: The GIPC Community Crime Prevention Task Force Report
The task force meets bi-weekly with various agencies to see how those agencies are implementing the report and thinking about other creative ways that city government can think about crime. For example, the parks department has come up with ideas for programs for kids and neighborhoods.
The other part of Ms. Brett’s job is with the community at large to see what the community is doing and how the city can help. One example is mentors. Many groups are using mentoring but need more help and visibility so the city aims to help with that.
The city is “aggressively pursuing” federal and local dollars as well to help with programs. One such grand is a $2.5 million grand from the federal Department of Justice for anti-gang initiatives.
Police can “only do so much” and if we can make Indianapolis a great place to raise a family and strengthen neighborhoods, this can dampen crime for years to come.
Q&A:
Q: What is the pension debt?
A: The bond will hopefully be issues for over $400 million to cover both fire and police pension liability. We will then have a known $35 million a year in debt service rather than variable pension debts that grow from year to year.
Q: Has Indianapolis been slow on fighting gangs?
A: Two types of gangs in Indy. 1) Home grown, small. Small and local drug operations. 2) National gangs such as hispanic gangs moving in. Also, due to the location as the “Crossroads” it is putting Indianapolis at a center of drug trade. Gang experts see Indianapolis being at a critical time in fighting gangs, where if we can stop it now we can make a big impact.
Q: The federal government recently de-funded neighborhood policing. If this comes back, do we have officers that can go into Hispanic neighborhoods to work with the people in those neighborhoods and speak the language and interact well?
A: There is a small group of officers now, but it is certainly a great need for more.
*Q: What exactly is the ‘new revenue tool’?
A: The Legislature gave the county the ability to raise the county option income tax, pending city/county council approval.
Q: Have there been studies looking for a link between economic downturns or more reliance on minimum wage jobs and crime?
A: Does not know of a specific study, but there was an employment committee on the task force that looked into employment issues that lead to crime and how to help give people skills to get a job and also helping facilitate jobs that accept people with a criminal history.
Q: Enforcement of litter laws to help clean up the city and graffiti abatement?
A: They have done alot of work on the graffiti issue but she does not specifically know about the litter enforcement issue.
Q: Sidewalk and curb repair for areas that seem to have been historically ‘ignored’?
A: $8 million is going to be spent this year on curb, sidewalk and infrastructure upgrade. With upgrades and fixes like this, neighborhoods improve with more investment and other businesses moving in.
Also, different city agencies such as trash, animal control, etc will pick different neighborhoods will get blitzed by the group(s) to do major work - pick up every piece of trash, every dog, etc. This just started this week and will continue weekly.
Q: How does the city go about notifying neighborhoods that are being targeted for these cleanup blitzes to get neighborhood involvement in these cleanups?
A: Invite people from the task force to community groups and they will send a representative, and the city does need to do even more to get to communities and work with them even more than they currently do.
Q: is the city agressively soliciting Hispanic policement?
A: Yes! It is a great need that the IMPD has and is working to address.
Last Month’s Minutes/Treasurer’s Report:
- April minutes handed out. Approved as handed out
- Treasurer’s report is an “Advisory Statement” as there was no Board Meeting this month. Approved as read.
Guests/New Members/Candidates/Notables:
- State Senate Minority Leader and Gubernatorial Candidate Richard Young
- The General Assembly has wrapped up and finished on time. Even though the Senate Dems were in the minority they stayed engaged with their committees and the Republicans and although the legislation passed was not all like they would have liked but belies the legislation was better across the board due to their involvement.
There are times we need to be partisan, and there are times we need to work together. Elections are most definitely the latter.
- Marion County Clerk Beth White
- The IDC gave a unanimous vote of confidence to Beth White.
Meeting Sponsors Needed: Contact the IDC if you are interested in being a meeting or refreshments sponsor.
Announcements:
- Oct. 6, 2007
Eugene Debs Dinner.
Speaker will be Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed, Bait and Switch. - Southside Democrat Club
Cadillac Breakfast (pancakes and sausage), All you can eat
Saturday June 9
8:30am - 10:30am
Advance Tickets $5
Tickets at the door $6
One ticket holder will win $100 Government Savings Bond - Saturday June 23rd
2pm
House Chambers at Indiana Statehouse will be used for a memorial/celebration for former Congressman Jim Jontz
Park in the North parking lot and enter the north entrance of the Statehouse.
Old Business:
Meeting adjourned at