Indy Arts Council seeks increase in city funding for not-for-profits
The $1.3 million proposed for the Indy Arts Council will be discussed Thursday during a Parks and Recreation Committee budget hearing.
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Mayor Joe Hogsett says he will veto pay-raise proposal if council passes it
City-County Council President Vop Osili has authored a proposal to elevate the Indianapolis mayor’s annual salary by 31%, as well as increase salaries for seven other elected positions.
City-County Council committee advances effort to overhaul sexual harassment policy
The proposal calls for a formal investigation into the city’s handling of sexual harassment allegations against a former top official in the Mayor’s Office, as well as overhauling the way similar claims are handled by city staff in the future.
Hogsett mandates sexual harassment training for all employees
The Hogsett administration is currently under scrutiny after three former female employees made harassment accusations against former Chief of Staff Thomas Cook, who served as Hogsett’s close adviser for years despite concerns raised about his behavior.
Indy council OKs task force to work toward goal of zero road deaths
The City-County Council also approved measures Monday that would require owners of Airbnb and VRBO rentals and dogs not spayed or neutered to register with the city.
City-County Council approves tax district for downtown enhancements
The taxing district is expected to generate about $4.65 million a year for downtown-focused efforts in Indianapolis, along with funding the operating costs of the low-barrier homeless shelter planned on the southeast side of downtown.
Hogsett’s $1.6B city-county budget proposal includes more support for police, transportation
Mayor Joe Hogsett’s staff stressed, however, that federal American Rescue Plan Act funds are running dry and union contracts are currently being renegotiated—two factors that constrain spending.
City-County Council Dems pledge reforms to protect against sexual harassment
Most of the council’s Democratic caucus issued a joint statement Friday morning committing to city human resources reforms in light of sexual harassment allegations against a former top aide to Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett.
City-County councilor calls on mayor to resign over sex harassment claims against ex-aide
Jesse Brown, a first-term Democrat, said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett should resign over his handling of sexual harassment claims against former top aide Thomas Cook.
Downtown tax poised for passage as owners of Indy’s tallest buildings decry costs
For the JW Marriott, the fee would be nearly $348,000 a year. For Salesforce Tower, the cost is about $251,000.
GOP leader says Hogsett failed to take serious action against top aide accused of sexual harassment
An IndyStar investigation reported that Thomas Cook, who served as Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s chief deputy and advised him in other capacities, was accused by three subordinate women staffers of showering them with gifts and attention and then pressuring them toward intimacy.
City-County Council considers permit system for Airbnbs, VRBOs
The proposal would create a permitting system that imposes a $150 annual registration fee and allows the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services to conduct an inspection of the properties.
Black Church Coalition exits Faith in Indiana, taking new steps to influence Indiana politics
Over the next six to 12 months, the organization will be scaling up in order to play what one organizer called “offense” in a statewide push for efforts intended to decrease poverty, a root cause of crime.
City-County Council approves mayor’s plan for new soccer stadium district
The City-County Council on Monday evening approved a major piece of the Hogsett administration’s plan to lure a Major League Soccer team to Indianapolis, advancing a proposal for a new professional sports development area intended to fund a soccer-first stadium.
Hogsett-backed stadium tax-district plan advanced by City-County Council committee
After a three-hour meeting in a room packed with supporters of the Indy Eleven, a City-County Council committee on Tuesday narrowly advanced a proposal for a taxing district on the east side of downtown to support a potential Major League Soccer stadium.
After legislative changes earlier this year, what’s next for Indy’s downtown tax district?
Under the new law, owners of apartments and single-family homes are exempted from the tax unless they decide to opt in to paying the tax, leaving potential for a large decrease in available funds.
Calumet Specialty Products a step closer to tax break for HQ move to Stutz
The City-County Council’s Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee advanced a tax-abatement proposal Monday that would save Calumet about $129,440 over a four-year term. In return, Calumet has committed to retaining 190 jobs.
Mayor’s stadium plan faces more criticism, gets additional sponsors in introduction to City-County Council
Mayor Joe Hogsett’s plan to create an additional professional sports development area in downtown Indianapolis was introduced to the City-County Council on Monday with two additional council sponsors—and questions over the committee assignment for the proposal.
Mayor’s stadium tax district proposal to be introduced to City-County Council on Monday
The Hogsett administration has found a sponsor on the City-County Council for the mayor’s plan to create a new taxing district that could be used to fund a new downtown soccer stadium. Without a council sponsor, the measure could not move forward.
Hogsett’s plan to win MLS franchise faces city-level legislative hurdles
Following the mayor’s announcement, some Indianapolis councilors expressed apprehension about abandoning a soccer stadium already in the works. But the council’s majority Democratic leaders have not weighed in.