The Quest Begins…
Wednesday I attended a news conference held by the Baptist Ministers Alliance of Indianapolis. (Yes, I know where this is going too.) Reverend Stephen Clay and his minions were doing what they do best, accusing Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard of being a racist. They accused him of “dividing the city” as opposed to uniting it, engaging in “polarizing political practices” and being insensitive to the Black community. Now these are also the same people who said the latest plans by IMPD to conduct a “surge” in high crime neighborhoods was bad for the blacks who live in those communities because the city was treating them like terrorists. In other words, the news conference was pretty standard stuff for the BMA so there was no news at all.
At the end of the news conference, I decided to do some follow-up on something I’ve been hearing for about seven months and needed some clarification. As you know, I hear a lot of things about a lot of people in this town. Some of them are pretty right on the money, some are just down right ridiculous and never see the light of day. But every once in a while, I have to ask a stupid question just to get the newsmaker to say “no” and put the matter to rest.
For the last few months I’ve been hearing some rather disturbing things about Stephen Clay. To put it mildly some of it would just make you downright nauseous. I was also told that some of it involved an investigation by the Department of Child Services Child Protection Division. I originally dismissed the rumors as simple rumors, but they kept resurfacing. I contacted DCS and their spokesperson told me they don’t comment on past investigations. Fair enough, so I decided to go to the other source, Stephen Clay.
A couple days before the news conference, I sent him several text messages outlining what I was told and asked him to respond. He never did. Well, I take that back. Since he didn’t have my phone number he wanted to know who was texting him. After I identified myself, he never got back to me. So at the end the news conference on Wednesday, I asked the question again. I asked if he had ever been the subject of an investigation by the Department of Child Services. His response, “I’m not going to answer that question” and walked off.
Now I know I am not one of Clay’s favorite people, but this was a simple “yes” or “no” question. Either you were, and the allegations were unfounded, or the answer was “no” and we move on. By not answering my question, Clay makes me think there might actually be something to what I’ve been hearing. So now my expedition begins to go find out what’s really going on. I have a couple of leads I’m going to track down. And while I could be pursuing a wild aquatic fowl without a purpose, my reporter instinct tells me there’s something there and I’m going to find it. When I do, I will definitely let you know.
