Indiana’s top education official, Tony Bennett, ruffled feathers last month when he proposed increasing teacher expertise
in math, science and other subjects, and stripping red tape from teacher certification and hiring of administrators.
Venzago was essentially an absentee conductor. He didn’t
live here and never seemed fully engaged with the city.
The local eateries are suffering along with everyone else, but those that have
the wherewithal are taking a chance by expanding into bargain-priced locations.
The City-County Council wisely averted disaster for the Capital Improvement Board Aug. 10 by voting to raise the city’s
hotel tax from 9 percent to 10 percent, but the razor-thin vote was another disappointing case of elected officials making
decisions based on partisanship rather than good judgment.
If Denver-based Ecolonomic Realty Group decides it wants to pursue a $25 million redevelopment of the old Winona Memorial Hospital site and presents a solid proposal, the city is in no position to turn down the tax revenue it would generate.
Corporate boards need more women, but not people such as Susan Bayh, wife of Sen. Evan Bayh. It’s not
that she isn’t up to the task. The former attorney at Eli Lilly and Co. and visiting professor at Butler University
is by all accounts capable. So we’re not surprised she regularly receives invitations to serve on boards. But
we are surprised she accepts.
A referendum this fall on Wishard Health Services’ plans to build a $754 million hospital will tell a lot about the
mood—and savvy—of Marion County voters. In this economy, and with government at all levels strapped
for cash, the knee-jerk reaction might be to reject such a proposal.
In trying times, people and businesses often have to get creative to make ends meet. The same should hold true for local government. That’s why we commend city leaders for thinking outside the box in considering two initiatives to cut costs and generate public revenue.
A state budget was passed June 30, but it’s balanced on the backs of poor children. Legislators
deserve praise for at least slightly increasing overall education funding, but because of a flawed funding
formula, urban districts such as Indianapolis Public Schools actually will lose money in the next two
years.
The legislative session that concluded June 30 with passage of a two-year budget left a bad taste in our mouths. For starters,
legislators lacked the courage to tackle local government reform—even though cash-strapped units of government
desperately need the millions of dollars in savings they would generate. In short, they put political cronyism ahead of the
interests of the state.
Lawmakers must take action but also ensure that any plan incorporates four basic principles.
The city has unveiled a dramatic plan for new housing and retail development to revitalize the old Market Square Arena site.
Despite some shortcomings, the project deserves a chance to give the stagnant area a boost.
Overtures Gov. Mitch Daniels has extended to the General Assembly should be sufficient to end squabbling over the budget.
Legislators ought to take the offer, pass a budget, and leave the Statehouse before they throw any more sand in the gears.
We applaud the efforts of those who are laying the groundwork for viable mass transit in the Indianapolis area.
Incentives have long been used as an effective tool in business to improve employee performance. But can a concept that helps
companies motivate workers also work in public education?
Indianapolis still looks like a city with momentum, despite the dismal economy. But appearances can be deceiving.
A strong economy requires risk-takers, and it is the bold and brash who will seize opportunities as the economy rebounds.
Lawmakers sometimes do their best work right after an election, when they have a fresh victory in hand and can think beyond
their political self-interest. Not this time.
Casting the CIB’s deficit as an Indianapolis problem is simplistic and inaccurate because it overlooks the millions of dollars in state tax revenue generated by those venues and an endless list of vendors that do business with them.
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