Political Potpourri Part II
Stadium View
Republican County Councilor Ike Randolph is calling on the city to give up its luxury suites at the RCA Dome, Lucas Oil Stadium, Conseco and Victory Field House. In a news release issued Thursday afternoon Randolph said the private sector should pay for such accommodations, not the public sector. He also says with the operations costs for Lucas Oil Stadium slated to run nearly $10 million annually over budget, the city should not pay for luxury seating. At best Randolph says the city should sublease the suites. He is also filing a freedom of information request with Mayor Bart Peterson’s office to find out how much the city has spent on the suites at the Dome, Conseco and Victory Field since 2000.
Mayor’s Budget Blues
Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson says he will unveil his plan to full a nearly $10 million budget shortfall on Tuesday. The city needs the money to pay for public safety. The Mayor says in addition to a short-term funding solution, Indianapolis also needs a long-term one. He says his choices won’t be popular, but they are necessary. The Mayor’s options include increasing property taxes to pay for court expansion and raising the County Economic Development Income Tax. The city could not raise the CEDIT until March. A quarter percent increase would yield about $30 million.
Brizzi Gets Labor
Right before Labor Day Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi is announcing some labor endorsements. Teamsters Local 135, International Union of Operating Engineers 103, and AFSCME Locals 725, 1437, 3131 and 3766. Republicans normally don’t get union endorsements so this is newsworthy to that extent.
