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The Afternoons with Amos PODCAST for Thursday, June 4, 2015.  (This Story Starts At 25:33 On The PODCAST Media Player) It’s been discussed now for almost two years. From discussions and arguments over location; then the process for building it; then secrecy of the bid specifications and final bids and a huge public discussion, charged with election year politics, over the entire proposal.  Talking about the Indianapolis Justice Center.

Marion County Justice Center

Artists Rendering Of Proposed Marion County Justice Center

Monday, June 8 is the final opportunity for the City-County Council to take a stand on moving forward with a project that could cost taxpayers between $750 Million to $1.5 Billion over 35 years for a new Jail/Criminal Courts Complex on the White River south of the Zoo.  The company trying to build the project is a venture led by a French company Meridiam headed by a Black Frenchman Thierry Deau.  The venture, called WMB Heartland Justice Partners has tried to hear community concerns about the massive project for months.  Appearing on Afternoons with Amos was Joe Aiello, Director of North American Business Development for Meridiam. In an interview that was at times wistful, Aiello walked Amos and listeners through the revisions of the Justice Center proposal which would increase the number of spaces for those accused or convicted of minor crimes where they would receive necessary mental health treatment and alternative community corrections sentencing.  That and other changes in the proposal, said Aiello, were the direct result of community feedback the past several months.

Thierry Deau

Meridian Company Founder/CEO Thierry Deau

Despite Aiello’s optimism, late Thursday, after our interview aired, the Marion County Superior Court Judges issued a statement that may have placed a final nail in the coffin of the Justice Center Plan for this year. In the statement a spokeswoman for the Judges said, “The Proposal currently before the (City-County) Council does not meet the Court’s needs or expectations”. The view of the Judges along with Sheriff John Layton’s opposition Wednesday pretty much ends consideration of the plan until after the 2015 elections.  (This Story Starts At 2:26 On The PODCAST Media Player) It’s nearly summer, nearly everyone’s out of school for the year and the issue of summer jobs for youth is high on many minds.  The Indianapolis Department of Public Safety have teamed with with the Indiana Fever to help raise funds for summer jobs for youth this year.  It’s all part of the Opening Day event to start the Fever’s 2015 Season this Saturday, June 6. Explaining the need and the program were Deputy Director of Public Safety Valerie Washington; Indiana Fever VP of Business Operations Julie Grau, Anthony Beverley of Save Our Youth and a local businessman Will Marques.  (This Story Starts At 1:17:07 On The PODCAST Media Player) It’s the Mayor’s Action Center and its been around since the days of former Mayor Bill Hudnut. It’s a number you call 317-327-4MAC to report problems in the city/county or try to get assistance or get the problem resolved.  New software from Indy based software great Salesforce has been added to help make it easier for Mayor’s Action Center operators to better serve Indy residents. Stephanie Kelcy, Communications Director for the Mayor’s Action Center and one of the hard working Operators Jordan Rodriquez appeared on Afternoons with Amos to walk the community and listeners through how the Mayor’s Action Center works and how calls and complaints are handled. The Afternoons with Amos PODCAST For Thursday, June 4th Runs 98 Minutes ©2015 WTLC/Radio One. PODCAST Starts After Brief Video Ad.