Over a year ago, we wrote about Indianapolis’ version of "The Great Wall." This is the invisible but absolutely impenetrable barrier which permits people - mostly politicians and business organizations - to support new or increased taxes for such things as transit, parks and libraries, without every mentioning or even considering the simultaneous and very questionable use of public funds in other areas.
The thought was resurrected by a response we got to our last post concerning economic development commissions and the use of "freebies" for corporate welfare.
We announce a new post to this website with three emails. One goes to public officials. Another goes to media people. The third goes to friends and other interested people.
Yesterday we got a response from one of the media folks asking us to cease sending the "business" emails. We agreed to do so, apologized for any annoyance, and asked the meaning of "business" emails.
We got back a one sentence reply stating, "I’m a sports writer who writes primarily about the Colts."
Try to imagine the newsprint used over the years here, touting the economic benefits to business and the city from the acclaimed policy of being a sports capital, with over-the-top emphasis on the presence of professional sports. One of the most prominent businesses, and certainly the most intertwined with city finances, would be the Colts.
It almost makes one wonder whether there is an actual wall of some kind in the newsroom. Those who write about sports do not mix with those who write about business, taxes, etc., nor may they mention those subjects in their own efforts. And of course, those who author stories about business, taxes and public finance problems, are forbidden to mention multi-million dollar sports subsidies.
We’re pretty cynical, but we happen to think the word "forbidden" may be the problem. We don’t believe the working reporters can’t see what’s going on. We do think they might well be wearing management-imposed blinders.
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