UPDATE: Democrats announce plans to elect Maggie Lewis, John Barth as new council leaders
Lewis previously served as president from 2012 to 2017. The council—which Democrats control 19-6—will make the decision official at the Jan. 5 council meeting.
City Government
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Indianapolis officials release Vision Zero plan to end road deaths by 2035
The 102-page plan—released by Indianapolis’ Vision Zero Task Force, part of the city’s ongoing street safety efforts—offers strategies that may improve driver behavior and road safety.
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Apartment project planned near Goose the Market seeks city’s OK for eco-devo designation
A local firm with plans to build a 46-unit apartment project north of downtown Indianapolis soon could have the means to request up to $2 million and change in city funds to help finance the development.
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IBJ Podcast: Indy’s fast-rising chief of community outreach on potholes, curbside recycling, rural roots
In eight years, Butler grad Natalie van Dongen she risen from an internship with the mayor’s office to the city’s point person for addressing the concerns and complaints of nearly 1 million people.
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Proposed ordinance calls for stricter curfew times in Indianapolis
A proposal backed by the mayor to change curfew times in Indianapolis was introduced to the City-County Council on Monday night in the wake of a downtown shooting that left two teenagers dead over the holiday weekend.
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Articles
Here are 5 things the mayor and IPS superintendent want in the ILEA recommendations
The Indianapolis Local Education Alliance is scheduled to vote Wednesday night on final recommendations about the future of the city’s district and charter schools.
Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal announces 2026 run for Indiana Senate
District 31 is currently represented by Republican Kyle Walker, who announced earlier this month that he will not seek reelection next year.
Bill Taft: Our mayor-centric civic culture needs to be replaced
Indianapolis should adapt its own leadership culture to invest in decentralized and intersecting ‘dense networks’ of engaged residents.
City taps new firm for Indiana Avenue strategy
A year after a $450,000 contract intended to help shape development for historic Indiana Avenue expired with no published results or recommendations, the city of Indianapolis has hired a new contractor.
Dan Parker, chief of staff for Hogsett administration, stepping down
Parker has served as chief deputy mayor for Mayor Joe Hogsett since August 2022, appointed to the post after five years as the director of the Indianapolis Department of Public Works.
UPDATE: Metropolitan Development Commission approves east-side Wawa project
Convenience store chain Wawa has the go-ahead to build a location along IndyGo’s future Blue Line route after receiving a variance of development standards for the proposed project.
Downtown post office property once again stirs what-ifs
For 20 years, every mayoral administration has explored taking over or facilitating the sale of the post office directly east of Lucas Oil Stadium—with each attempt failing to gain traction.
City’s roster of cultural districts spikes from seven to 19
The move nearly triples the number of highlighted areas and recasts perceptions of what areas are worthy of recommending to visitors.
City-County Council encounters obstacles to HR reform
Nearly six months ago, a Chicago law firm made a series of recommendations to the council aimed at making the city of Indianapolis a safer and better operation for its employees. Few of those recommendations have been implemented.
Indy homelessness providers delay winter plan, citing warmer weather patterns
Indianapolis won’t open up additional shelter space intended to house people during cold-weather months until Dec. 1 this year, a month later than usual.
Rokita encourages Trump to send the National Guard to Indy to fight crime
In response to Attorney General Todd Rokita’s social media posts, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett told The Indiana Lawyer that he discourages any request for a National Guard intervention.
Commission signs off on city’s nearly $11M purchase of downtown heliport
The commission’s vote authorizes up to $11 million in cash from the city’s downtown tax-increment financing district to be used for the purchase.
Indianapolis launches cash-assistance fund for expectant mothers
Using more than $2 million in philanthropic funding, 100 pregnant women in the city’s poorest ZIP codes will be given monthly cash-assistance allocations.
Carmel mayor, councilors aim to get past internal discord
Carmel’s elected leaders are working to mend differences after a contentious budget-writing season during which conflicts arose and disagreements played out in public.
Surack made $15M offer for heliport before airport authority’s vote to sell property to city
Fort Wayne billionaire Chuck Surack made an offer to buy the Indianapolis Downtown Heliport at a 38% premium on the price the city has agreed to pay for the site.
City hosts groundbreaking for low-barrier shelter expected to open in 2027
The project is being funded through a $12 million commitment from the city along with $20 million approved by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.
City-County Council leaders seek third-party review for city HR complaints
Council leaders say they want a third party to investigate human resources complaints at the City-County Building, but steps on how that would happen are far from being worked out.
Council releases additional information from investigative law firm, HR policy recommendations
A special meeting of the council next week will allow public comment regarding the recommendations, based on the results of an investigation into Mayor Joe Hogsett’s handling of harassment allegations within his administration.
Examiner recommends city deny east-side Wawa request
Joe Calderon, a Barnes & Thornburg attorney representing Wawa, told reporters that he is unsure whether Wawa will appeal.