We were taken to task in a comment on our last post concerning a column by Mr. Tully in the morning daily paper. We decided to answer in the additional space of a new post, rather than a "comment on a comment."
The author of the comment made two basic points. One, that Hoosiers like to live on the cheap, and two, that Hoosiers should demand better government for the tax dollar. He also expresses admiration for Tully being the only reporter willing to "take on" the administration.
We’re not ready to agree that "Come on, Mr. Mayor" appearing once or twice a year actually constitutes "taking on" the administration.
If the citizenry is indeed apathetic about governance, the entire staff of Tully’s paper can take a large share of credit for that. Football, basketball and the Super Bowl have made this a world class city. That’s the theme the paper has belabored for years. The attitude of the paper is pretty plain when one considers that the sports editor gets more front page space than the political reporter.
If the citizens are not in favor of "chipping in a little more," it just may be because they think revenues are adequate if they were to be spent on things like ice removal and public safety rather than extravagant scoreboards and "spiffing up" Georgia Street.
When was the last time a column pointed out that a billion dollars worth of the most valuable real estate in the city - or state, for that matter - has become virtually the private property of professional sports franchises and does not pay one penny of property tax into municipal coffers?
As we write this the thermometer on our porch shows 31 degrees. (It’s considerably warmer over this keyboard!) But it will be an even colder day you-know-where when the local media really decides to ask some pertinent questions and "take on" the administration.
That would indeed be cause for celebration!
This is absolutely true about the local newspaper for which Tully writes. Time and time again there have been additional "special" sections for sports on top of the regular Sports section, which already far exceeds the coverage of anything else about which they write.
Maybe one of the reasons we have a "brain drain" here is because the only kind of "success" touted in this city is athletic. Sure, there are token articles about math competitions and geography bees - IF an Indiana student is doing/has done well.
Yes, there was an intermittent series of articles on a particular school last year, and some of the needs of the school system in general. Great! But why not devote a whole section to it *every day* - or even a page? How about a regular page on laying out the city's finances: where they originate; how much money there is (which no one seems to know); from whom it comes - taxpayers? How much? Private funds? And as this blogger has asked so many times, if we are going to continue to pour millions of dollars into tax support and tax abatements for privately owned entertainment franchises, when are we going to see their books?
Until the city (with the media no doubt dragging its collective heels along, as it certainly won't be leading the way) gets the idea that "bleeding blue" *doesn't* mean bleeding taxpayers dry, we'll continue to see sports coverage here, there and everywhere, while other NECESSARY systems in our city continue to spiral downward.
And it's not only the newspaper. A local TV station won accolades for, acting on a tip, ferreting out information about tax loopholes sanctioned by the IRS, costing taxpayers millions. How is it that they can see that as news, but not investigate questionable financial practices locally?
Posted by: Leslie Baker | January 05, 2013 at 02:03 PM
The Star has been as far as I remember totally silent on the Basic Question of, "Is it the right choice to use Public Tax Dollars to build stadiums for Mega-Billionaires."
The only question The Star ever has, is how to fund additional money the CIB wants.
The online edition of The Star always has Sports Story on the first page. There is more important news in the World, Nation and State than Sports but you would not know that by reading The Star. Science has been exploding with discovery. Our fabulous journeys to Mars, receives slight mention in The Star.
Perhaps one other item I noticed when I moved here decades ago. Indianapolis does not have it's own Museum. I recall my own intellectual stimulation as a boy going to the Field Museum, and Science and Industry in Chicago. Yes, we have a State Museum, but it falls well short of the Chicago Museums.
Yes, I would love to have better snow removal, and better Public Transportation System, and a better Public Parks system. I would be willing to "chip in" too. Revenues are probably adequate if they were spent for the Public Good rather than the Private Profits of Professional Sports Teams.
Posted by: Louis | January 06, 2013 at 07:52 AM
You are all helping make the point I tried to make in my initial comment. As the latest entry states, "If the citizenry is indeed apathetic about governance, the entire staff of Tully’s paper can take a large share of credit for that." Absolutely! The likes of Russ Pulliam, Tim Swarens, and all the other Star editors, who weild the power at the Star, give the city and state administrations a pass on just about everything. At least Tully tries to throw up some opposition. When you are in the minority of opinion at your paper, you often have to take incremental steps to get anything done. At least this blog is trying. I have also writtin my city council rep, my state senator, and my state representatives. I have found that writing to my state senator (Merritt) and state representative (Bosma) has been a waste of time. They either say they don't agree with my views and/or send me a form letter that does not address the issue I raise. Complacent citizens need readily available and motivating information to get them to act. We are all in this together and I give Tully his due even if he has other things to write about than just the city mayor and his administration.
Posted by: Jiim Fuquay | January 06, 2013 at 10:01 AM
One more comment about the Star. It does no systematic reporting on key issues. There is no follow through. The reporting is more ad hoc rather than focused and consistent over time. This is particularly true on social issues and business. For example, the Star keeps reporting about all the jobs the Governor has brought to Indiana but what about the "net" number of jobs that is the real measure of growth. I could go on but I think you get my point.
Posted by: Jiim Fuquay | January 06, 2013 at 10:06 AM
I got three Breaking News reports in my inbox from WTHR today. The first one was about a Colts coach who wouldn't be on the sidelines today because he had been taken to the hospital. (No further information, and not even seeing a follow-up on their website at the moment.)
The second was about the possible abduction of an infant downtown today by a non-custodial parent, with descriptions and location given. Clearly this was being handled has a high alert situation.
The third bit of Breaking News was that the Colts lost today.
What does that tell us about the priorities of any of the "news gathering" operations in this city, when sports news if put on par with a child's safety and well-being?
Posted by: Leslie Baker | January 06, 2013 at 06:54 PM
By the way, the baby was found and is safe. That was *not* breaking news.
Posted by: Leslie Baker | January 07, 2013 at 12:18 AM