Indiana Blog Review

Northwest Indiana Blues

Prof. Eisenstein:

Indiana University Kelly School of Business and Indiana University Northwest’s economics professor Don Coffin released the most comprehensive report of the overall failure of Northwest Indiana’s economic enterprise last week during a presentation to local business people. It was the 2007 economic forecast for Indiana and NWI.

Although this report was a condemnation of everything the political leadership is doing, as well as all its wasted promises and resources, not one member of the business community dared to speak out and condemn what is happening in NWI.

Stifling Free Speech?

Prof. Eisenstein's criticisms of Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott (D) have really gotten under his skin.  So much so that the Mayor has now filed a lawuit againt the Professor.

Suing bloggers almost never works -- and usually backfires.

Disco Inferno

Prof. Eisenstein reviews the electoral aftermath in Northwest Indiana.

Does Cabellas Make Prison Wear?

Prof. Eisenstein:

It has been confirmed from a couple of local (NWI) sources that the McDermott family is being investigated by the grand jury for the Hammond Cabellas deal.  If the indictments come down, then it will really re-assure NWI citizens that the system still has a chance in Lake County . . .

Any sane thinking citizen could tell that this was a kick-back scheme.

Rare Endorsements

Prof. Eisenstein makes some endorsements in Northwest Indiana for Highland Clerk-Treasurer Michael Griffin, Sheriff Roy Dominguez, and First Senate District candidate Chris Morrow.

More: Michael Griffin, too.

We're In the Money

Doug Masson:

Voting for Privatizing the Toll Road and supporting (or at least not
impeding) Daylight Saving Time appears to have been very lucrative for northern Indiana Republicans. The campaign finance reports are coming in, and they make for some interesting –to a geek such as myself– reading.

Neighbors to the North

Let's take a quick break from central Indiana and look elsewhere for some bloggage.

The always provactive Prof. Eisenstein has some news from Northwest Indiana:

• "More Thieving NWI Comical Politicians Going to Jail"

So far there have been over 30 local Democrats indicted and convicted of public fraud.  In addition, there are seven more awaiting trail and certain conviction.  Not a single one has said they are sorry nor had a reasonable explanation for how they got into the theft culture of NWI . . . not a single NWI Democratic Politician at any level has ever, not ever, called for the resignation of anyone responsible.

• He also addressed the Indiana Commission of Higher Education on geographic funding disparities.
• And some speculation on whether recently-retired president of Purdue Martin Jischke may be Gov. Daniels' opponent in '08.

We'll See Soon

Prof. Eisenstein:

The rumor currently in Northwest Indiana is that there are going to be a number of surprise, or maybe not so surprising, indictments come out of the current ongoing federal inquiry next week, the week of October 1.

The individuals who are to be indicted on corruption charges are: Will Smith, Willy Harris, and Roosevelt Powell.  The reality is that these indictments are more than just the usual rumors but rather are in the neighborhood of pretty good probability since at least one of the individuals is aware of the upcoming indictment against him . . .

Run Away!

Prof. Eisenstein warns LaPorte County to stay away from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority.

Northwest Indinana Comical Politics

One of the best things about Prof. Eisenstein's blog is that his post titles are strikingly blunt:

• Karen Freeman-Wilson: "don't confuse me with the facts"
• Rep. Patrick Bauer is a complete incompetent
• By Comparing Rochester and Gary, Freeman-Wilson lacks insight for Mayor of Gary
• NWI's Calumet College of St. Joseph Demands Censorship of Conservatives and Political Critics, and support of Democrats in NWI
• Catholic College Tries to Halt Higher Education Development in NWI

Mr. Van?

Prof. Eisenstein:

State Senator Frank Mrvan is running scared of his opposition in the coming November election.  This response on his part has some real substance and is not just a ploy or a figment of someone's imagination.  Mrvan is very vulnerable and he knows it. 

What's New in NWI?

Prof. Eisenstein:

Tribal politics continues to affect Northwest Indiana negatively. Tribal politics, the norm in our politics, has to do with mutually supportive relationships between public officials, rather than with producing effective policy. These values are painfully obvious in at least two recent local stories.

Cheney's Hard Words

Frugal Hoosiers:

Portage Democratic Representative Duane Cheney let his mouth get the better of him just two short weeks after telling Hoosiers that Governor Mitch Daniels is "raping" Indiana. In a recent meeting Cheney called Daniels a "demon spawn".

Say Joe, Whaddya Know?

Rob from Confessions of a Hoosier Democrat posted responses to five questions for Democratic challenger for Indiana's 2nd Congressional District, Joe Donnelly.

Survivor: Gary

Prof. Eisenstein explains why, "politics and economic development in NWI is 'tribal.'"

Another Northern Airport

Prof. Eisenstein:

[T]he people responsible, or claim responsibility, for economic development in NWI do not have the slightest idea of how to go about it or even what it truly means and entails.  That is they have no conception of what the problem is as to why NWI lags in economic development nor do they have an idea of how to move NWI into self sustaining economic development.

The first poster-child of this state of affairs is Paul Karras, the executive director of the Gary/Chicago International Airport.

The Fightin' 26th

Tippecanoe Politics gives us the lowdown on the upcoming election in Indiana's 26th representative district.

A Laundry List of Failed Policies

Maurice M. Eisenstein ticks off every failed effort to get northwest Indiana off the ground.

No Solid Authority

Doug Masson, "Chocola is apparently willing to sell his liberty cheap for the illusion of security. I’m not."

Marie at Hoosier Democrats has a roundup of comments from Hoosier politicans on the latest news about NSA phone surveillance.

Incredible

Not really.  Advance Indiana, "There's another gaming scandal brewing in northwest Indiana, and it involves another former Democratic mayor, Scott King of Gary."

The Usual

Two more hard-hitting posts from Dr. Eisenstein:

• Gary is a Lost Cause
• John Buncich and Scott King are the Ethical Scum of NWI

Now, don't mince words.

Living to Regret

Jerry Madsen says the new MoveOn ads are causing him to regret supporting Chris Chocola (R-IN02).

Are You Game?

Corruption in Northwest Indiana?  Involving gambling?  No way!  Check out Advance Indiana for the incredible details, "This story has all the signs of blossoming into a full-blown scandal."

Up in Smoke

Jerry Madsen gets on a rant about St. Joseph County's new smoking ban.

My favourite line, "It's a little known fact, but California is actually the world's largest exporter of smug . . ."

First!

Who will succeed Rep. Pete Visclosky (D) when he retires from Indiana's First Congressional District?  NWI Comical Politics has some interesting speculation.

The Big City

Fort Wayne Observed notes the rising star of Fort Wayne native Zach Klein.

Forgotten NWI

Northwest Indiana Comical Politics:

If one looks at the distribution of funding and development of higher education in Indiana it becomes obvious that the northern part of the State has been intentionally ignored by the institutions responsible for higher education in Indiana . . .

NWI is the second largest population concentration in the State. It must have as soon as possible in the next budget cycle of the General Assembly a university designated as a metropolitan university. That is what happened to Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis twenty years ago and it has made all the difference. IUPUI is now the third largest campus in the State and has had a miraculous effect on the economic growth of Indianapolis.

Interesting proposal, but I doubt trying to squeeze oneself onto the Trustees' Agenda is an effective tactic.

Move On to the Details

Doug Masson on Chris Chocola's objections to some negative campaigning by MoveOn.Org:

Upon reflection, I think it’s incumbent upon Mr. Chocola to specify which assertions in the ads are factually incorrect and ask his opponents to join him in disapproving of those assertions. If it’s simply a matter of the ads making factually correct assertions but putting them in a context which Chocola finds unflattering, I think it’s up to him, and him alone, to provide the context . . .

But, frankly, I had not considered Chocola’s relationship to Big Oil as a potential issue.

Worth Fighting For has more insight on Chocola's past with MoveOn.

Reach Out and Fire Someone

Northwest Indiana Comical Politics:

Indiana's First District Congressman Peter Visclosky and State Senator Earline Rogers have forced an Indiana State elected official to be terminated from his full time employment because he publicly criticized them.

If the allegation is true, then it is appaling that "this kind of strong arm blackmail and destruction of individual lives for criticizing public officials is a common practice in NWI."

King for 11 Years

Following the announcement that Gary Mayor Scott King (I) was resigning, Matt Tulley gives a minor tribute to his legacy.  (I'm unimpressed.  "[F]ewer burned-out and abandoned buildings" is an accomplishment?)

Northwest Indiana Comical Politics has a rather different approach, wherein two posts (here and here), he delivers a blistering condemnation of King's resignation, cushy new job, and insubstantial (and allegedly crooked) accomplishments while in power.

Promises? -- II

Northwest Indiana Comical Politics:

Keeping in the tradition of Emile Zola, I accuse NWI leaders of going along with unethical behavior because they are too scared to act on unveiling unethical behavior of public officials.

Leaders of NWI, stop the silence. Quit being afraid of making waves; if change is what you want, then fight for it.

Gary woman's novel to be published

Meta Smith's novel, The Rollexxx Club, about the rise of a woman in the world of hip-hop, is set to be released by publisher Warner later this summer, reports Deliberate Chaos.  Meta Smith is a former resident of Gary who has recently moved to Ohio to get married.

Says Meta Smith in Deliberate Chaos:

Currently, I'm an author. I'm on a major publishing house (Warner), I'm represented by one of the foremost literary agents in the biz (Marc Gerald of The Agency Group), and my book The Rollexxx Club, drops July 11, 2006. And it isn't some badly written faux "cautionary tale". It's a novel, and it's damn good. No ghost writers like your girl Karrine either, this is all me.

Serial killer hanged in Lake Co. jail

Region Broad has the breaking news that convicted serial killer David Maust hanged himself in the Lake County jail today.  Maust was convicted of killing three boys and burying them in the basement of his Hammond, Indiana home.  CBS2 Chicago reports that Maust's suicide note admitted 5 killings.

Writes Region Broad:

Serial killer David Maust hanged himself in the Lake County Jail early this morning. Some reports have him dead, while others say he's on life support.

Gary/Chicago Airport deal 'a dud?'

Northwest Indiana Comical Politics opines on news that the Gary/Chicago International Airport is going to receive millions of dollars for expansion projects in hopes of becoming the "third" Chicago airport.

A Governor and a Congressman are actually going to be coming into NWI, to the Gary/Chicago International Airport (an oxymoron), to announce how they are going to mis-spend Hoosier tax dollars and the tax dollars of all Americans through the FAA pork barrel system. ...

The fact is that Daniels is smarter than that; he is going to let us waste our money and time on the useless RDA and its plans, including the airport, while he gets Republicans elected to State wide offices. His plan to lease the toll road to develop the rest of Indiana is superb.  We in NWI are going to be left holding the stick.

Majority of N. Indiana lawmakers oppose Toll Road plan

The majority of Northern Indiana lawmakers oppose Gov. Mitch Daniels' Toll Road lease plan as it stands today, reports Deliberate Chaos.

A joint Post-Tribune and Elkhart Truth survey of Northwest Indiana and Northern Indiana legislators found that a majority are against Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels' plan. Almost all of Northwest Indiana's legislators surveyed are against or are leaning against the plan to lease the Indiana Toll Road.

Indiana State Rep. Chet Dobis, (D-Merrillville), is quoted as saying "It seems the people in my district are very much against it." Rep. Bob Kuzman, (D-Crown Point), said, "The RDA was not designed to pay for road projects and that is where we need the money."

Said Rep. Ralph Ayers, (R-Chesterton), who is leaning against the Toll Road Lease plan: "If it came up for a vote today, it wouldn't get 10 votes, but the vote is not today."

Taking Down Words has more on the Toll Road leasing plans from across the country.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram takes an in-depth look at the toll road privatization trend that's sweeping the nation right now:

"Since 2004, private companies have pledged about $35 billion to build and operate toll roads across Texas and the United States, a Star-Telegram review of proposals shows.

"That's more than the $34 billion in federal highway aid that Congress disbursed nationwide last year.

"The value of the projects, many of which are still being negotiated, astonishes even those who support toll roads. The proposals include the Trans-Texas Corridor toll road from Dallas-Fort Worth to San Antonio and toll express lanes on Northeast Loop 820 and Airport Freeway.

"At least 17 states are pursuing privatization of highways at some level, a compilation of reports by the Federal Highway Administration and the Reason Foundation shows. Supporters say this may be the beginning of a trend that forever changes how America pays for roads."

Inn proposed for Dunes State Park

Plans are in the works to build an inn at the Indiana Dunes State Park, advises Taking Down Words.

Environmentalists are a bit rankled, but everyone seems to be largely on the same page about the announcement that the state will be allowing a private company to build an inn at Dunes State Park in Northern Indiana:

"Department of Natural Resource Director Kyle Hupfer told a group of state and local environmentalists that the DNR will soon coordinate the release of a request for proposals (RFP) from the private sector to construct an inn at the park, likely near the pavilion and the lake."

'Great and RDA do not belong together'

Northwest Indiana Comical Politics writes about Gov. Mitch Daniel's recent visit to Northwest Indiana to tout the Regional Development Authority.

Last week, Governor Daniels came into town. His comments served only to remind me of the continuous distortions and lies that are spewed out of the mouths of our Northwest Indiana leadership. Not that I needed his help.

Daniels talked about the great things he expects of these learned old men of NWI called the Regional Development Authority. With the Governor’s optimism at my side, I looked for the brilliant ideas these visionaries are hatching. Alas, the words great and RDA do not belong together. The mantra that they do is lie and distortion numero uno.

Food for guns

Pastors in Gary, Indiana are trading food for guns in the city crowned the nation's "Murder Capital" for its 60 murders last year, reports Deliberate Chaos.

Forty Gary, Indiana Baptist churches are raising funds to provide food in exchange for guns, reports NBC5 News.

Gary residents turning in guns at the Gary Police Department will get a receipt that can be exchanged at the churches for a $50 food voucher.

'Could not be verified?'

It was a basketball game like any other game.  Or was it?  Afterward, charges of racism were leveled at the high school students in a Northwest Indiana city.

Deliberate Chaos has a post about the School Town of Highland's response:

The Post-Tribune published a column by School Town of Highland's superintendent answering charges made by a Gary West Side high school boy's basketball coach that Highland High School students were engaging in racist activity at a recent basketball game.

Writes Renner Ventling in the Post-Tribune:

I take strong issue with (John) Boyd’s allegation of racism in the School Town of Highland and the Highland community based upon the events of the basketball game between West Side and Highland on Dec. 2.  ...

Most of what Boyd has described as facts concerning the events that occurred at the game are either not true or could not be verified by either our investigation or that of the IHSAA.

Toll Road plan causes cities and counties to fight?

Taking Down Words reports that the Toll Road lease plan is causing fights between Northern Indiana cities and counties.

While we react to the "State of the State" speech in Central Indiana, our friends in Northern Indiana are still trying to figure out how the Toll Road lease is going to benefit -- or not benefit -- residents in their neck of the woods. From the South Bend Tribune:

"A legislative proposal for distribution of Toll Road lease funds that would provide 34 percent of the total to the counties through which the road runs drew mixed reactions from local officials Wednesday.

"'Now it depends on how we share it,' said Elkhart County Council President John Letherman, R-Elkhart. ...

This is turning into a fight among Northern Indiana cities and counties.

'Scam?'

Professor Eisenstein writes in Northwest Indiana Comical Politics that the whole Cabela's deal was "a scam by McDermott Incorporated to get the country club land."

NWI I have warned you over and over.  I said Cabellas was never going to happen and that it was not economic development.  I also said that Cabellas never seriously intended to come here.

Will we have a Cabela's?

Will Northwest Indiana get a huge sporting goods store if Indiana isn't willing to fork over $40 million in economic incentives?

Hammond's mayor says he can't see how the state can attract Cabela's without Sales Tax Increment Financing (STIF).  The state says it still want Cabela's to locate in Hammond. Also brewing is a plan to bring a Bass Pro Shops to Portage, Indiana.

Deliberate Chaos writes:

“We have come to the conclusion that in both cases, the state is willing to provide some economic help,” Nathan Feltman, vice president of the Indiana Economic Development Corp said in a Post-Tribune report. Feltman was referring to efforts to bring a Bass Pro Shops to Portage and Cabela's to Hammond.

The state won't grant the Sales Tax Increment Financing (STIF) for the projects, however. What the state will do, isn't clear. Cabela's wants $40 million in economic incentives, according to news reports.

Region Broad has a good commentary on the STIF issue:

Now, I didn't necessarily have a problem with granting STIFs for retail, because (after the way it works was explained to me for the fifth or sixth time before I understood it) it's a good economic development vehicle, and one that Lake County could use. The problem I have with it is that now that there's a Cabela's planned for Hoffman Estates, Ill., which is no more than two hours from NWI on a good day, and other sporting behemoth Bass Pro Shop planned for Portage -- not to mention a Cabela's in Milwaukee already, which is about three hours from here -- you've just saturated the market, and one of them is going to choke, taking with it at least some of the 300 to 400 jobs they promised to bring.

Taking Down Words adds:

In other words, we stiffed Northwest Indiana on incentives this year. We stiffed them on STIF. And now they're pretty darned pissed.

From the end of the story:

"Feltman said that the IEDC helped create nearly twice as many jobs in 2005 as its predecessor state agency did in 2004 but committed less state funds.

"'We’re trying to win opportunities but give away as little as possible,' he said. 'It’s just good business.'"

Sometimes, you get what you pay for.

No STIF, no Cabelas?

The governor says "no" to sales tax increment funding to woo Cabela's to Hammond.

Region Broad reports.

Gov. Mitch Daniels absolutely wants Cabela’s to come to Indiana, but the state won’t be paying the store’s asking price to do it.

According to the Indiana Economic Development Corp., retail businesses move money only from place to place instead of bringing new money into the economy, Daniels said. He was the speaker Thursday during The Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours event at Horseshoe Casino.

While sporting goods stores Cabela’s and the proposed Bass Pro Shop in Portage have the potential to bring millions of dollars into the state, allowing them both to have sales increment tax financing (STIF) — which is on the books but has never been used in Indiana, according to Daniels — would cost more than it’s worth.

“Both companies asked for identical amounts of money, and the (IEDC) didn’t like it,” he said. “The IEDC has measured the cost benefits of spending the money vs. the return, and we don’t do retail.”

Inmates running RDA?

Professor Eisenstein  at Northwest Indiana Comical Politics comments on the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority:

Now NWI I have told you over and over that selecting buffoons on the RDA and the RDA itself is created by buffoons, called NWI State Legislators is going to sink this area to oblivion. ...

So our illustrious RDA has decided to send money to NEW YORK CITY (JPMorgan Chase), CHICAGO (Harris Bank, Merchantile) and a third out of state bank (Horizon). The two locally owned banks People's and Centier were completely left out. So the RDA in their first decision made good economic development decision for New York City, Chicago, and an unknown third city. None for NWI. These are true imbeciles.

Gary, Indiana murder capital again

Hurricane Katrina knocked New Orleans off the top spot for the nation's "Murder Capital" for places with population over 100,000.  Deliberate Chaos has the story that Gary, with 60 murders in 2005, is the winner of a title no city wants.

Audit uncovers more GUEA corruption

An audit of the Gary Urban Enterprise Association shows the agency that received $16 million from the State of Indiana's state tax credit programs in 2001 to 2004 had no controls on spending.

Deliberate Chaos reports:

More information is scheduled to be published on New Year Day, advises the Post-Tribune.

The GUEA "officials apparently knew no limits when it came to spending hundreds of thousands from the not-for-profit's bank accounts," writes Jim Stinson and Andy Grimm of the newspaper.

Evidence from the audit shows that money was paid to friends and relatives of the GUEA officials, and board members with oversight over the agency's funds, reports the paper.

"While stories of cars and trips led to the 20-year-old agency's downfall, for the first time the full extent of the spending spree by two former executives is revealed in a report obtained by the Post-Tribune," writes Stinson and Grimm.

RDA and economic development

Professor Eisenstein in Northwest Indiana Comical Politics teaches us a lesson or two about how economic development in Northwest Indiana should proceed.

The critical factor in attracting new business into NWI is the quality of life and the quality of life has to be improved beyond the basics of low crime and good public education. Those are necessary but not sufficient conditions.

The only Regional Development Authority program of any value to bring new economic energy into NWI is Congressman Visclosky’s Marquette Plan. Its basic purpose is to create a public zone all along the southern lake front in NWI. This is important because coupled with our proximity to Chicago that combination is our sole competitive advantage.

Gary Police to combat New Year's Eve gunshots

The Gary Police Department will be using the same technology used by the military in Iraq and Afghanistan to combat the deadly New Year's Eve tradition of firing guns into the air, reports Random Chaos.

The Gary Police department plans to have 18 ShotSpotter equipped patrol cars looking for New Years Eve gunshots, reports the Post-Tribune.

"There are many appropriate ways to celebrate," said Gary Mayor Scott King.  "Firing a gun into the air is not one of them."

Police say that anyone caught firing a gun will be arrested and will have to pay $2,000 to bail out of jail.

Comical officials?

Region Broad details the joys of covering elected officials in Northwest Indiana when meetings run long into the night.  Broad left 4 hours into the meeting and someone called the paper to complain.

Well, as I left (and I'm sure shortly before while I was sitting there), I let out more than a few disgusted sighs in protest. And a couple people who my editor swore she wouldn't divulge (though I bet I know who they are) called to complain that my behavior was "inappropriate." ...

(L)et's look, shall we, at the councilmen's behavior for a moment -- is it really appropriate for them to call a 35-minute recess during a meeting already in progress so that two of them can go to another meeting that they said was going to take only 15 minutes!?? Is it also fair of them to belabor a point for 10, 15 minutes on the money for the park equipment during the meeting, when they could, oh, I don't know, wait until it's been adjourned!?? Keep in mind, folks, that I wasn't the only person waiting for them to finish the hell up -- hell, the mayor herself left at 9:45 p.m. because she's diabetic and had to get something to eat.

NWI loses out again

The state's second most populous region, Northwest Indiana, missed out on the governor's town hall meeting last Wednesday because no Chicago media outlets covered the event, reports Taking Down Words.

This was despite the fact that Merrillville's PBS affiliate, WYIN Channel 56/DT-17, is available to viewers in a 65+ mile radius with its 1.35 million watt transmitter and also on satellite to Northwest Indiana viewers.

From WYIN's website:

WYIN came into existence because WTTW, the Chicago PBS station, declined to be inclusive of Northwest Indiana in its local programming and public affairs efforts, thus PBS56 was founded to give the region its only broadcast television voice for local news, sports, cultural events and community issues. WYIN remains this "sole source" today.

TDW quotes a Times editorial on the topic:

"'On the television side, technically, you are part of the Chicago market, and as far as we know there was no interest from anyone in Chicago,' said Kevin Finch, WISH-TV assistant news director.

Deliberate Chaos writes:

I wonder if anyone in Indianapolis ever thought to contact WYIN to see if they'd be interested in the governor's tall hall meeting?

The Times in McDermott's pocket?

Professor Maurice Eisenstein at Northwest Indiana Comical Politics alleges that The Times is in Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott's pocket.

The Times newspaper of NWI has again shown itself to be completely incompetent in its editorial policy and biased or bought by the McDermotts.  This is the newspaper that dared refer to me as "spewing my spleen" when they have no idea of what they are talking about or their editorial policy has never been right (except for when it favors the McDermotts). ...

With some exception, all of our politicians are failures at making a living so they become politicians or State administrators at some level.  They are still incompetent but are being protected by Bill Nengle. 

The worst of these are the McDermotts.

Hooters Air stops Gary flights

Hooters Airline has stopped service to the Gary/Chicago Airport leaving it without passenger service for the first time in two years.  Deliberate Chaos has some thoughts:

It's too bad that some of the major carriers using Midway don't shift some flights to Gary/Chicago. The runway is longer, parking is free, and travel to and from Chicago is easy using the Indiana Toll Road and Skyway combination.

Energy bill equals rent for some

NIPSCO bills have arrived and people are feeling the sticker shock of sky high natural gas prices, reports Deliberate Chaos.

In my unscientific survey of a couple of people, I've discovered people's energy bills range from $500 at the highest to around $250 at the lowest. I remember reading a news article about someone seeking assistance with a $1500 bill that was for one month only.

Santa skips NW Indiana?

Were Lake and Porter counties bad this year?  Santa and his bag of goodies skipped Northwest Indiana.  Taking Down Words explains:

For their part, Northwest Indiana Dems were a bit surprised by the IEDC's lackluster performance.

State Rep. Bob Kuzman: "I supported the IEDC, because it was sold to me as an economic development tool for Northwest Indiana. But, obviously, at this point, Northwest Indiana has been shut out."

'In Kind' contributions?

Is Purdue Calumet providing "in kind" contributions to Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott, Jr.? Professor Maurice Eisenstein raises the question in his Northwest Indiana Comical Politics blog:

Purdue is providing free press advertising, Internet advertising and most importantly credentials and status building to the turncoat Democrat. One never knows how legal these are for a state institution. But in NWI legality is a matter of flexibility and don't talk about ethics, even the people who are pushing to ethical "rules" won't speak against anyone breaking them.

Cops are robbers

Two Munster, Indiana police officers were busted for stealing their late chief's antique sword, reports Deliberate Chaos.

A probable cause affidavit states that Sgt. Douglas Simpson took the sword and give it to Officer Jeffery Huckaby. Huckaby listed the sword for sale on eBay, but Indiana State Police officers obtained the sword before it was shipped to a purchaser, reports the Post-Tribune.

Bye bye Trump!

Detroit businessman Don Barden announced today that he has purchased the Trump Indiana Casino at Buffington Harbor in Gary, Indiana for $253 million, reports Deliberate Chaos.

With the two casinos combined into one, the earnings for the Majestic Star should increase significantly. I hope Barden is able to make a mark on Gary, Indiana by developing Buffington Harbor into a significant tourist destination.

Pol's second gig as professor raises questions

Hammond's mayor has a second gig working as a professor at Purdue Calumet.  When politicos, money, and government jobs are involved, it always raises questions for some in Lake County.

Northwest Indiana Comical Politics writes:

"Professor" McDermott, Jr. has officially decided that the book to use for a course on Lake County Politics is John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage. It can now be officially said that this is a fraud that knows nothing about political science and even less about Lake County politics as would be reflected in a university by a political scientist.

Birds love it here

Several areas in Porter County, Indiana have been recognized by the National Audubon Society as Important Bird Areas, reports Marcia Oddi at the Indiana Law Blog. Porter County is the only county in the state with more than one designated area.

ILB quotes a Post-Tribune story:

Beverly Shores, Cowles Bog in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, and Indiana Dunes State Park are the first and so far only designated IBAs in the region, according to James Cole, Indiana Important Bird Areas coordinator. In Indiana, just 13 sites have been identified out of a potential list of more than 100. Porter County is the only Indiana County with more than one site.

The inside scoop on LCCVB

Michelle Quinn at Region Broad details her reporting of the flap between the Gary/Chicago Airport officials and the head of the Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau which was reported in the IBR earlier this week based on her story published in the Post-Tribune.

The aftermath of the resistance of the CVB to support the airport had an airport official fire back: "The LCCVB is about as useful to the airport as a screen door on a submarine."

Writes Region Broad:

You know how everyone who's anyone in NWI has been talking about unity and working together toward a common goal and all that for like, oh, the past 30 years or so? This would've been a great time to embrace that concept.

We don't need an airport

The head of the Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau pulled his support from efforts to market the Gary/Chicago Airport saying that he didn't want to support an entity that sends people away from Lake County.

Deliberate Chaos posits:

It seems silly for the CVB to not support the one entity that would make hosting national and international conferences a possibility.

Speed kills?

Is the toll road lease idea moving too fast?

Taking Down Words cites the example of a California toll road lease plan that didn't work out in Orange County.  The government subsequently bought back its express lanes for $207.5 million when the highway needed $1.6 billion in improvements.

Opines Taking Down Words:

Thankfully, it seems to TDW like more media are picking up on and reporting about the pace on this process. There's a meeting tomorrow for potential contractors at the Statehouse, and the Governor will be pushing for legislative approval in a matter of weeks.

This is a huge deal, and we think it's moving way too fast. You know, considering it's a decision that would give control over our state's largest asset to a foreign company for period of time that could be as long as 99 years.

Joshua Woods fund

Northwest Indiana's Joshua Woods was singing Christmas carols with his family on a trip to grandma's house.

In an instant, 6-year-old Joshua's life was ended.

A plane landing at Midway airport during a snow storm skidded out of control, rammed through a wall, and crashed into Joshua's family's car.

Fox Rants advises a memorial fund has been established to assist his family during these sad days.

There's been a fund established for the family, who had already fallen on rough times (dad had been laid off) to help cover funeral costs and to help the family move on after this tragic freak accident.

Call Sherlock Holmes!

Is valuable artwork missing from the Gary public school's $.5 million collection?

Deliberate Chaos reports:

The Post-Tribune thinks so.  The school's superintendent says nothing should be lost.  Inventories show 112 pieces of art remain in a collection that had 87 more works in a 1939 inventory.

Where'd the art go?  The mystery gets more complicated because school officials won't allow reporters to look at the collection.

McDermott mess?

Northwest Indiana Comical Politics chronicles the sagas of Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott, Jr.

Writes NICP:

Once again Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott, Junior is the big looser in the North Township Trustee Vote.  His man Nutall lost and Marvan's man Flores won.  Anyone connected to the McDermotts we know is incompetent at best or at worst a user.

It's snowing

Fox Rants reminds us how to act now that snow is falling in Northwest Indiana.

When snow is falling at a rate of more than an inch per hour (like it is now) saying “oh its not that bad” should be justification for being drug to the gallows. Seriously. (glares at her Prof) jerk.

NWI RDA to get $10M from toll road lease

"If you want the candy, RDA, buy into our plan to sell off the state piece at a time," writes Taking Down Words.

Corruption Pays!

Northwest Indiana corruption update, from Deliberate Chaos:

State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, has two homestead exemptions for properties he owns in Lake County.

The homestead exemption is supposed to reduce property taxes by $35,000 for the homeowner's primary residence. Having two homestead exemptions is a significant tax savings that isn't allowed under state law.

Smith told the paper that he didn't know the exemption was on the second property. "I didn't think that was still on there."

"I don't even look at those things. I just add them up and pay the bill."

ALSO from Deliberate Chaos:

Shirley Stanford, the new Gary councilwoman who took over Robert White's position after he was convicted for concealing profits made from work with the city, hopes to bring integrity back to Lake County and the City of Gary.

[...]

"The corruption is not just a 2nd District problem," she said. "(D)on't make me sound like I'm saying the whole city is corrupt," said Stanford.

Same Old, Same Old

Another day, another story on corruption in northwest Indiana.

Stealing

Region Broad reports a blatant trademark infringement by a northwest Indiana business.

TRACKBACK: Deliberate Chaos on her post

Keeping Score

Northwest Indiana Comical Politics has a recap of recent corruption in the region (detailed in a guest column the blogger wrote for -- gasp -- an old media publication).

Turning the Tide

Deliberate Chaos:

Good news for Northwest Indiana's taxpayers.

Several cities have joined forces to develop "aspirational" ethical codes, reports The Times. Officials from Crown Point, Highland, and Munster have been meeting to rebuild trust in local government.

PREVIOUSLY: Take the Money and Run

Take the Money and Run

Deliberate Chaos:

The real news will be the day someone keeps their mittens off the money!

Indiana Missile Sites

Deliberate Chaos: Nukes in Indiana?

Professor Joe

Taking Down Words: Joe Kernan To Teach Political Science At Notre Dame

Bauer Not Fooling Anyone

Leo Morris:

[State Rep. Patrick Bauer] has the worst hairpiece in the history of toupees.

(Photo of Bauer by following link.)

Dogwood: Tribune Story Incorrect

The Dogwood Files does some fact-checking of a South Bend Tribune article and discovers a mix-up.

So, if a part-time blogger can figure this out, then why can't a full-time reporter for the largest daily newspaper in northcentral Indiana?

Environmental Questions

Indiana Law Blog: who is to blame for hig