Nate Feltman: Gov. Braun steps into Indy public safety void

Following my June 27 column titled “Mayor Hogsett is missing in action,” in which I criticized the mayor for, among other things, being tone deaf after multiple downtown shootings and homicides, I received dozens of notes and calls from prominent CEOs and civic leaders thanking me for saying what is on their minds and expressing concern for the future of downtown.

Now that some weeks have passed, and I’ve had time to reflect, I am disappointed that the leaders of our great downtown companies and civic organizations have been unwilling to step forward and say publicly what so many have said to me privately.

Sure, there have been a few behind-the-scenes meetings but no public outcry from our business community for a public safety plan of action from our mayor, whose primary responsibility is keeping our city’s residents and visitors safe. Maybe our city’s civic leaders are hoping the multiple nights of summer downtown shootings were an anomaly or that crime is someone else’s problem. Or perhaps they are afraid that if they publicly demand better from the mayor, their business interests could be harmed.

All of these reasons for inaction are likely, along with one more. Sometimes holding one another accountable can be viewed as not the Indy or Hoosier way. Let me explain.

I often hear that Indy is different because we work together to grow our city, regardless of party affiliation. It is often said that our sports and convention business wouldn’t be what it is today if governors, mayors and civic leaders of different political parties had not worked together for the betterment of central Indiana. In other words, we treat one another nicely—Hoosier hospitality.

No doubt, Indy has benefited from bipartisan efforts to grow the central Indiana economy. But it is faulty logic to equate holding the mayor accountable on public safety matters with working as a team on economic development matters.

To the extent we do not hold our public officials accountable, we will undoubtedly get more of the same outcomes. When it comes to public safety, going along to get along will not serve Indy well. Sometimes progress happens only when there is conflict and public pressure from those who have the power to make change.

So when Gov. Braun criticized Indianapolis local officials for their public safety failures and their lackluster response, I cheered. If teenagers dying on the streets of our downtown does not elicit public outrage and calls for accountability from the business and civic community, what will?

Braun stepped into this leadership void and publicly spoke out and correctly placed blame squarely where it belongs and demanded better. He called for a crackdown on gun violence and accountability, stating clearly that Hogsett and Prosecutor Ryan Mears are “non-compliant in their duties.”

In response, IndyStar columnist James Briggs in his July 18 column called Braun’s comments grandstanding, noting that homicides are down in Indy this year. Briggs criticized the governor for calling out Indy elected officials without offering specific public safety solutions.

I disagree with Briggs.

Failure to hold officials accountable is uncaring and inhuman in this case. Our community will not improve with this mentality. We must hold one another accountable and speak out when we know it’s the right thing to do. Credit to Braun for having the courage to do so.•

__________

Feltman is publisher of IBJ and CEO of IBJ Media. Send comments to [email protected].