Well-intentioned or not, competent or not, the so-called “leaders” [sports columnist Bill Benner] referenced in your [May 4] column failed miserably in representing the best interests of taxpayers and instead presided over an unconscionable transfer of wealth from “We the people” to a small number of professional sports owners and players.
A vibrant Indianapolis powers a dynamic Indiana and the governor, the mayor and the members of the General Assembly should all recognize that.
A reasonable and workable solution to the financial challenges confronting Marion County its Capital Improvement Board should include the following:
No matter how the Capital Improvement Board funding mess plays out, we’re left with resentment coming from all directions
and an unprecedented splintering of the long-standing bipartisan cooperation that helped propel our city forward.
Without question, the Pacers’ road back to contending status remains decidedly uphill, but they have the talents of Danny Granger and other strong players and have worked hard to gain community support.
The two principal matters that all agree must be resolved are the biennial budget and a plan to return the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund to solvency.
When we read that all the Democrats in the House voted against all the Republicans in the House on a given issue, we know independence has been cruelly killed by the leadership of each party. The same applies to the Senate.
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.
The Indiana General Assembly session will end with a focus on what has dominated discussion since Organization Day back in November: fiscal issues.
My prevailing thoughts upon returning from Detroit were how fortunate Indianapolis is when it comes to hosting these kinds of events, and how a thriving downtown is essential to (A) success of the region and (B) national perception.
The Marion County Capital Improvement Board’s bailout depends on the success of Indianapolis’ new downtown JW Marriott convention hotel.
The Legislature has been behaving as expected lately: little public sound and fury, but action beginning to stir behind the
scenes.
The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association says it needs more sales and marketing firepower to fill an expanded convention
center and adjacent hotels. That means asking the city’s Capital Improvement Board—one of ICVA’s primary sources of funds—for
a budget increase of up to 50 percent at the worst possible time.
If the Capital Improvement Board comes, hat in hand, looking for help, we trust the investing companies will carefully weigh the benefits they’ve derived from the city and its thriving downtown before delivering an answer.
Some local officials wrestling with the Capital Improvement Board’s $37 million deficit think part of the profit made by the Indianapolis Indians could be used to narrow that deficit, but Indian officials balk at that idea because they say they’ve already paid more than their share.
A group of mostly local companies that made big investments to help launch Circle Centre mall soon could be asked to write
off a portion of profits they agreed to redirect into the construction of Conseco Fieldhouse.
“Group think,” a powerful and controlling force, was present as the Capital Improvement Board built Lucas Oil Stadium and Eli Lilly and Co. developed and marketed Zyprexa.
The Colts are our “heroes,” the bedrock of our community (at least for the few months per year that most of them spend here). Why should these esteemed athletes help the city?
I agree 100 percent that Colts’ owner Jim Irsay should step up to the plate to help bail out the Capital Improvement Board debt and that Colts’ ticket holders should be taxed.
Swamped by financial losses that go back to the time Herb and Mel Simon bought the Indiana Pacers in 1983, team officials
are now looking for a new game plan—one that may involve financial assistance from taxpayers and visitors.
