The Afternoons with Amos PODCAST For Tuesday, September 22, 2015. Afternoons with Amos ambitious series of Candidate Tuesday interviews continues with Council candidates from Districts 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25.
IMPD Chief Rick Hite
DeShaun Swanson/ Twitter by Swanson Family
(Interview With IMPD Chief Rick Hite Begins At 1:39 Mark On PODCAST Media Player). Before the candidates were interviewed, IMPD Chief Hite stopped by to update the community in the wake of the drive by murder of 10 year old DeShaun Swanson. An heinous act that has the community upset and angry. Chief Hite told Afternoons with Amos listeners that he’s heartened at community outrage about DeShaun’s death. The Chief was pleased that the community in the area of the murder are coming together. Chief Hite is also pleased that there’s outrage from those on the other side of the law who feel that this crime went far, too far. Chief Hite continued to encourage the community to call Crimestoppers (262-TIPS) with information about Saturday’s shooting. Chief Hite pledged that his officers are working to make sure those responsible are brought to justice. And he encouraged those who did it to turn themselves in. Chief Hite also said there would be a Community Conversation Wednesday, September 23rd at 5pm at 40th and Boulevard Pace to discuss the incident and next steps. Chief Hite also briefed the community on Federal grants they just received for 15 additional new police officers and funding for some other needed services IMPD will be able to provide. After the Chief’s interview, the program moved to candidate Tuesday and candidates for City-County Council from Indianapolis’ Southside. Here’s some basic information about the Districts.
Council District 21 / City of Indy
Council District 21 – includes neighborhood around a Garfield Park, Manual High School, the City of Beech Grove . An area from Madison Avenue on the West, Prospect on the north, Emerson on the east and I 465 on the South. The District is: 81% White, 19% Minority
Council District 22 / City of Indy
Council District 22 – includes southwestern Wayne Township and north-western Decatur Township. An area with bounded by the Conrail tracks on the north, Hendricks County on the west, Holt Road on the east and Thompson Road on the south. It includes the industrial areas just to the east of the airport, and the airport itself. The District is: 77% white; 23% minority.
Council District 23/ City of Indy
Council District 23 – includes a good portion of central Perry township. Neighborhoods around Perry Meridian High school, and most neighborhoods along Bluff Road, Meridian Street and US 31 from Thompson Road to Johnson County. The District is: 86% white 14% Minority.
Council District 24 / City of Indy
Council District 24 – includes eastern Perry Township from Hanna Avenue on the North, Emerson on the east, Stop 11 and County Line Road on the south and Shelby Street on the west. It includes The District is: 83% white; 17% minority.
Council District 25 /City of Indy
Council District 25 – includes much of Franklin Township on the country’s southeast corner. The district is bounded by Johnson County on the south, Hancock County on the east, Thompson Road and Troy Avenue on the north and Emerson on the west. The District is: 90% white, 10% minority
The three Democrats and three Republicans who appeared this week expressed their views on a wide range of issues. All agreed that crime and public safety was an issue including a lack of police officers available to patrol in widely dispersed southside neighborhoods. Infrastructure, the condition of roads and streets, draining and others such problems are major issues for the districts as well. The candidates were asked about the Sunday Indianapolis Star story about poor construction and use of poor quality asphalt in state roads and whether the city needed to investigate how roads have been built and resurfaced here. The candidates ageed. The Democratic and Republican candidates bitterly complained about the electric car programs. Republicans complained about the Vision Fleet fiasco, democrats complained about that an the Blue Indy mess along with the scandal surrounding the ROC Center. Incumbent Councilmen complained about lack of communication by the Mayor’s office with Council members. All six candidates supported getting body and cash cams for police. But stressed that the storage of the videos would be expensive. And that the city needs clear policies on how those videos would be handled and how or what should be released to the public. Many of the issues other inner city and predominately Black neighborhoods complained about, including a lack of development and focus by the city on neighborhoods was expressed by the candidates who appeared.
Frank Mascari / Marion County Democrats
Jeff Wheeler / Marion County Democrats
Jared Evans
(Interview with Democratic Candidates In Districts 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 Starts At 19:30 Mark On PODCAST Media Player). Councilman Frank Mascari is the Democratic incumbent in District 21. He was joined by Jared Evans, District 22 and Jeff Wheeler, District 25. Democrats have not fielded candidates in Districts 23 and 24.
Jack Sandlin / Marion County Republicans
Scott Kreider / Marion County Republicans
Aaron Freeman / Marion County Republicans
Robert Lutz / Marion County Republicans
Anthony Davidson / Marion County Republicans
(Interview with Republican Candidates In Districts 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 Starts At 59:27 Mark On PODCAST Media Player). Appearing were Republicans Scott Kreider running in an open seat in District 23; and Republican incumbents Councilman Jack Sandlin, District 24 and Councilman Aaron Freeman, District 25. Newcomer Anthony Davidson, District 21 and Councilman Robert Lutz, District 22 were invited but had work conflicts and couldn’t appear.
The Afternoons with Amos PODCAST For Tuesday, September 22, 2015 Runs 97 Minutes. ©2015 WTLC/Radio One. PODCAST Starts After Brief Video Ad.
