Illinois, Again

For Wednesday and Thursday, I will be wrapping up projects in Danville and Decatur, then starting a bigger project in Champaign. In fact, Champaign will be as large as the other two combined!

Never fear, I'll be back on Friday, bright and early on your radio!

Tune in to "Abdul in the Morning" at 7am Friday morning to hear me along with Brad Klopfenstein and Mark Rutherford. That's 1430-am on your radio dial, and online at http://www.wxnt.com/

I'm not sure exactly what Abdul's up to here, as the three of us represent the Libertarians who have passed the torch to the next generation. Certainly, we'll talk about property taxes, and the LPIN's 2001 plan to overhaul them.

More Tax Protest

A spineless committee of the City-County Council, in the face of mounting public opposition to the increasingly heavy tax burden in Marion County, assumed the sit-on-your-hands position and froze there, not taking a vote on Mayor Peterson's ill-advised tax hike for public safety. From the Indy Star:

"Now you stand up and ask for an income tax increase," said Jack Borgerding, who said the taxes on his Downtown home rose from $2,200 to $15,000. "Enough is enough."

In delaying a vote that would send a recommendation to the full council, Vice President Joanne Sanders said she wanted to see whether any of a half-dozen tax-relief proposals takes hold this week.

"This isn't happening in a vacuum," Sanders said. "There are other options being thrown out daily, and the situation is changing every day."

At stake is a plan to increase the county option income to pay for Mayor Bart Peterson's $90 million plan to improve public safety.

Here's an idea: CUT SPENDING ELSEWHERE! There is plenty of money to be found, simply in scaling back departments that are less important than public safety... which is to say, all of them.

And there are a lot of them. Take a look at all of the departments the City-County government funds, per the City's website:

Mayor
Arts
Diversity
Mayor's Advisory Council on Disabilities
Membership
Committees
Celebration of Diversity Award
Commission on Latino Affairs
En Espanol
Education
Charter Schools
Board
For Parents
For Schools
Accountability Reports
Putting Education First
Mayor's Youth Council
About
Excellence in Education Award
Character Achievement Award
Families
Housing
Jobs
Neighborhoods
Transportation

Council
Councillors
Biographies of Councillors
Meetings
Council
Committees
Minutes
Committees
Proposals

City
Administration
Human Resources
Employment
Benefits
EEO Statement
Equal Opportunity
MBE/WBE Program
Program Information
Certification
Forms & Resources
Vendor List
Administrative Services
Bond Bank
About Us
Board of Directors
Outstanding Debt
SRF Loan
Warrants
Notes
Official Statements
Rating Agencies
Controller
Purchasing
Bids & Quotes
Vendor Information
City Finances
City Budget
Monthly Financial Reports
Licensing/Barrett Law
Barrett Law
Taxi Service
Special Events Permits
Walk-Run Route Information
City Legal
City Prosecutors
Litigation
Counseling
Labor/Employment
Collections/Admin. Services
Paying Parking Tickets
IndyParks
Parks
Sports Complexes
Amenities
Winter Recreation
Programs
Arts
Administration
Public Information
Rangers
Forestry
Planning
Parks Board
Golf
Greenways
Metropolitan Development
Neighborhoods & Housing
Questions & Help
Code Enforcement & Inspections
Community Development Goals & Strategies
Neighborhood-Based Economic Development
Historic Preservation
Grants & Assistance
Resources
Initiatives
Businesses
Questions & Help
New, Relocating & Expanding Businesses
Resources & Tools
Initiatives
Development Process
Builders & Developers
Questions & Help
Permits
Inspections
Licenses
Pre-Development Requirements
Resources
Planning & Zoning
Question & Help
Boards & Commissions
Zoning & Land Use Petitions
Zoning & Petition Processes
Comprehensive (Land Use) Planning
Neighborhood
Transportation
Demographics & Statistics
GIS & Mapping
Documents & Plans
Resources
Resources
Documents
Maps
Applications & Forms
Statistics
Online Tools
Public Safety
Animal Care & Control
Animal Control
Kennel
Community
Volunteering
Emergency Management
Assistance
Preparedness
Homeland Security
Training
Hazards
Fire Department
About IFD
Stations
Divisions
IFD History
Recruitment
Indiana Task Force One
Administration
Training
News
Public Works
The Road Home
Project Information
Sidewalk Repairs
Snow Removal
Street Closings
Street Repairs
Traffic Signs & Signals
Residential Services
Abandoned Vehicles
Beautification
Dead Animals
Drainage
Illegal Dumping
Recycling
Services for Persons with Disabilities
Sewer Construction
Sewer Services
Trash Pickup
Protecting the Environment
Air Quality
Indianapolis Clean Stream Team
Land Quality
Wastewater Management
Water Quality
Business with DPW
Planned Public Bids
Specifications & Manuals
Waterworks
Governance
Board of Waterworks
Service Advisory Board
Resolutions
Capital Projects
Legal Documents
Management Agreement
Asset Purchase Agreement
Inter Governmental Agreement

County
Assessors
Auditor
Homeowner Services
Online Deduction Forms
Additional Deductions
Tax Rates
County Budget
Financial Reports
Cooperative Extension Service
Clerk
Court Records & Filings
Filings
Juvenile
Probate
Marriage Licenses
Child Support
Account Information
Election Board
Candidate Information
Election Information
Poll Worker Information
Voter Information
Forms
Commissioners
Surplus Sale
Community Corrections
Services
Residential Component
Home Detention Component
Advisory Board
Minutes
History
What's New
Coroner
Roles and Responsibilities
Organ Donation
Forensic Services
About I-MCFSA
Jobs and Careers
Disciplines
Human Resources
Information Services
About Us
IT Governance
Services
Geospatial Information Services
Business
Justice
Planning Council
CJPC Board Meeting Agendas
CJPC Board Meeting Minutes
Administration and Support
Indianapolis Violence Reduction Program
Transcriptionist Unit
Metropolitan Emergency Communications Agency
About Us
Board
UCON
Radio
911/CAD
PRMS/FRMS
Mobile Data
Paging
Comm Van
Project Updates
Radio Upgrade Project
Help Desk
Probation
Locations
Programs
Internship & Volunteer Opportunities
Prosecutor
Prosecution
Violent Crimes
White Collar Crime
Narcotics
Terrorism
Protection
Keeping Children Safe
Domestic Violence
Keeping Seniors Safe
Reducing Juvenile Crime
Child Support
Prevention
Tobacco Cessation
Zoning
Racial Profiling
Community Prosecution
FAQ's
Protective Orders
Witness Information
Victim Information
Citizens Intake
Other Areas of Interest
Cases of Note
Traffic Safety Partnership
Public Defender
Administration
Office Locations
Board of Directors
Divisions
Court Information
About Us
Recorder
Documents
Services
Sheriff
About the MCSD
Community Relations
Organization
In Memoriam
History
Jobs and Careers
Merit Deputy
Reserve Programs
Special Deputies
Public Services
Real Estate Sales
Jail Information
Visitation
Investigations
Surveyor
Information
Surveys
Treasurer
Property Taxes
Tax Sale
Voter Registration
Voter Registration
Elections
History

Courts
Circuit Court
Rules & Regulations
Resources
Law Library
Superior Court
Court Information
Court Listings
Rules & Guidelines
Resources
Law Library
Jury Pool

Metropolitan Police Department
About IMPD
Annual Reports
Departmental Policies
History
In Memoriam
Staffing
Crimes & Incidents
Crime Trend
Law Enforcement
Service Districts
Criminal Investigations
Traffic Enforcement
Special Units
Services
Citizens' Services
Outreach Programs
Employment
Sworn Employment
Civilian Employment
Internships
Get Involved
Crime Prevention
CrimeWatch
Volunteer Services
Youth Involvement

Cable Communications Agency
Cable Operators
Government Access TV
Reports
Operator Reports
Bright House Networks
Comcast Cablevision
Cable Agency Reports
In-Kind Reports
Programming / Production Reports
FCC Filings
Franchise Board
Board Meeting Minutes
Franchise Agreements

The best tax relief to the people is the slashing of a budget. Or three. Or 30. Think Marion County has enough government yet?

Anyone who says they can't find anything to cut isn't trying. As you review the list, ask yourself, "Is this a proper function of government?"

There are so many that aren't, but let's go with the truly obvious: golf and cable TV. Lose these immediately. Sell the golf course land today. A pretty penny will be reaped. Get out of the business of micromanaging cable tv. Let any operator do business in the County. The people will have more choices and lower prives through competition, and an entire bureaucracy will be gone.

That's a lot of savings, right off the top. Might even be able to put enough police on the ground to prevent the south side garage fires, or at least enough firefighters to put them out.

The City-County Council needs to find the spine necessary to cut spending. The Mayor needs to find the spine necessary to tax back his request for higher taxes and replace it with a call to eliminate unnecessary government so that the proper government- public safety- can be fully funded.

Another Day, Another Anti-Tax Event

This time, it's not a protest. There is a Meet-up Group for the Fair Tax plan. It convenes monthly to discuss everything from the fine points of the plan, replies for tough questions from skeptics, to public outreach planning. Here are the details and linkage:

What: The Indianapolis Fair Tax July Meetup
When: Tuesday, July 17 at 7:00PM
Where: Borders Book & Music / 8675 River Crossing Blvd / Indianapolis IN 46240 / 317-574-1775

RSVP at: http://fairtax.meetup.com/5/calendar/5910697/t/nr1_nr

You Tube Video - 'Black Sunday'

Friend and Libertarian candidate Tim Maguire was at the 'Black Sunday' rally, and his comments were recorded. Here's the You Tube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm-gYdRu2KM

(As a total aside and refrain, I'll stomp my feet about New Blogger here. I want to EMBED the video, which New Blogger does not let me do. I can go to 'edit html' all I like, but it simply doesn't not embed the way it used to. The way it used to work was the user clicked an icon, and it embedded. Then they went to 'New Blogger' and erased the tool. Real smart. When you are on You Tube, you can embed directly via Stumbleupon, Reddit, Digg, Furl, and del.icio.us, but NOT Blogger.)

Sunday's Property Tax Protest Creates "Petersonvilles"

I was not able to attend the 'Black Sunday' downtown property tax protest, but I was enthused to see the press coverage:

Indy Star: front page article.
Fox-59 TV: Lead story this morning, top of the hour. No direct linkage yet, but many clips about property tax issues currently.
RTV-6: AWESOME photo slideshow.
WISH TV-8: Article focused on affects on rental properties.

Most of these articles have video to accompany. Great imagery! The history buff in me was delighted to see the modern Hooverville, with the cardboard boxes and shopping carts as homes. Let's call them "Petersonvilles", shall we?

Today's event: Hoosiers for Fair Taxation, which held the first rally on the 4th of July at the governor's mansion, will demonstrate at 5:30 p.m. at the City-County Building in Downtown Indianapolis. Topic? No surprise: excessive local taxation and Mayor Peterson's proposed large county income tax increase at the public hearing at City Hall.

Add your shanty to the Petersonville!

The Decline of Marion County, and The Want of a Gun

I was just listening to "Abdul in the Morning" on 1430-am WXNT in Indianapolis, when a female caller and apparently a personal friend of host Abdul, related her tale of being mugged in Indianapolis the other day.

According to the caller, it happened downtown, at 3:30 in the afternoon- broad daylight. A man on a bicycle cornered her and demanded her purse. She was using her cell phone, and she told the man that she was going to call 9-1-1.

The man laughed at her and told her, 'go ahead. Call 9-1-1.'

She related how frustrated and defeated she felt by this reaction. She expected the man to be worried. She said that she figured he knew he would be long gone before any police officer arrived.

Then she said, "it's not like I had a gun or some mace".

This incident as described by the caller illustrates that police protection is a great thing when you have several minutes to spare. When you don't, self-reliance is your only option, and a gun or a can of mace is a very handy tool.

Indeed, your threat of using a gun by simply showing it is more powerful than following through on a call to 9-1-1.