Alternatives?

For decades the people of Indianapolis have been subjected to a one-sided flood of (mis)information about the public policies concerning the "investment" of public funds.  Up to and including the complete mis-use of the word "investment" to wrongly supplant the more honest word of "expenditure."

Despite continuing, severe budgetary problems, we are told that the commitment of a billion dollars of public funds as subsidy for professional sports has been a tremendous plus for the city.  (We’ve tried for years to get a definition of the word "city"  in this context  from those who make the claim.)  Does the phrase "world class" come to mind?

We’re now in the midst of a mediawide, semi-hysterical campaign to allow a new tax increase to provide "mass transit" for a multi-county area.  While it is generally conceded by all that IndyGo is a very poor example of public transit service, the grandiose plans being presented show no promise that intra-city service as such will have a high priority.  But the new plan also generates the phrase "world class."

Being "world class" seems to be the general aim of the supporters of  professional sports as well as mass transit.  And interestingly enough, both groups make the claim that their projects are what will make the city "world class" and therefore attractive to the "young professional" it so vitally needs.

We began to wonder about that.  Is that really a serious consideration?  We think there may be some "young professionals" out there with a different approach to living.

There surely must be some of those folks who live in the suburbs because they think a decision to spend $180 plus million on Indianapolis public schools rather than on a basketball building would have been a wise move.

How many are there who think an annual additional subsidy of $10 million to the basketball team would instead give the city a magnificent park system available to all families in the city?

How many are there who think it is reprehensible that the CIB and the city’s bond bank both sit on huge amounts of cash, while a currently undermanned police force goes without a recruit class for lack of funds.  (After all, we do need someone to police the tremendous activity on Georgia Street!)

Are there "young professionals" out there who have decided the nearly $800 million spent on the football field might have made a tremendous step toward a public transit facility producing an efficient system for movement in the city for all the John Smiths with no other means of doing so?

And finally, we wonder whether there are a significant number of those "young professionals" who are turned off ethically and morally by the profusion of projects involving corporate welfare in general while so many normal municipal activities are feeling the financial crunch.

We think it is time for someone to make an accurate and impartial survey as to how many "young professionals" have already looked at the day-to-day, decades old operational and financial policies of the city.  We should find out how many of these people have already made a different decision - a decision which will be the same for many others.

The decision is, "No, thank you!"

Comments

[Leslie Baker]

If I were still young and professional, I'd be voting with my feet!!

[Jim Fuquay]

Opinions and good public policy are abstractions at best absent a factual basis. Poor old Indiana citizens (some do vote) are not paying attention and/or do not demand facts, such as the ones you note are needed in your editorial. The problem with no critical thinking on the part of the public is not just limited to assessing mass transit alternatives and costs--it encompasses tax cuts vs tax increases, overall health of Hoosiers, gun control, civil unions, other transportation priorities, a women' rights to choose, the cost of coal gasification plants, etc. I watch as Hoosiers continue to let our Governor and legislatures focus on "kooky" issues. I suggest you read the Star's Sundary editorial by Tim Swarens and the op/ed piece by Matthew Tully to begin to understand why the state of Indiana lacks vision on important issues. I personnally support mass transit but I think the alternatives, costs, and intangible benefits need to be enumerated more clearly. Absent a good mass transportation system, Indianapolis and its surrounding counties will be 2nd class when compared to other cities of similar size.