Take a break from the battle over chicken sandwiches (and no, people refusing to eat at a fast-food outlet are not attacking the company’s right to free speech–they are exercising their own. Only government can violate the First Amendment!) Read the morning Star if you must (it won’t take long–without reporters, there isn’t much news), but avoid the embarrassing letters to the editor. (Yesterday, two letter-writers insisted that separation of church and state isn’t in the Constitution because, you see, the actual words aren’t there…). Turn off the TV ads for candidates promising to deliver public services with fewer tax dollars.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we all stopped squabbling, and judging each other and generally acting like spoiled children? What if we actually came together to grow the kind of city that Len Farber is describing?
Maybe if we improved our municipal quality of life, we wouldn’t be so cranky.
All of those things he lists in the article are great; as long as you have a job and have some disposable income. Have you priced the cost of going to a museum in this town? Or an Indians game? Nothing, I mean nothing is free around here. The zoo offers some music nights (during the week no less) but you have to pay for admission! I guess giving the mayor’s staff a 20-30% raise is more important!
I read Mr. Farber’s article and his reasons for opting to move to any city and am totally confused as to why he woud move to Indianapoilis. I was forced to move back here from Florida 11 years ago due to failing health and have regretted it ever since.
Locally owned shops, etc. I am not far from Irvington but parking continues to be a problem, walking on the cracked sidewalks using a cane or walker is also a problem. Walkable neighborhoods with parks and close proximity to nature; not safe in most parts of this city to walk after dark and who wants to visit a park or nature in the dark? I was also warned not to go alone to any city park during the day as they are not safe. Non-profit commuity involvement and strong social services is laughable here. Being deaf and disabled I have sought for and found little offered, assistance such as occasional transportation for disabled is costly. Diversity; being in my condition I have no opportunity to seek out diversity or some of the pleasures Mr. Farber referred to but, as AgingLittleGirl pointed out, everything here is costly. Decent public transportation and quality schools – please – you must be joking. The powers-that-be in this city decides which shape and color ball venue should they assist first. Citizens in Indianapolis are not squabbling over ball games; they are trying to educate their children in a poorly operating public education system. Many schools are in unsafe neighborhoods lacking quality public safety protection (check out Riverside #44 school at 21st and Sugar Grove and the surrounding area). Also check out condition of the infrastructure in school neighborhoods, or any neighborhood for that matter. Sports have become big business nation-wide; education, public safety and workable infrastructure are not games…they are the life blood of this city and they are all in need of assistance.
Thanks for the kind words, Sheila.
AgingLittleGirl – No city is great if you are unemployed. I would love to see “free days” or “pay what you can” days at our museums, but first we have to have those great museums and then see how we can help expand their reach.
JoAnn – I’ve lived in six states, on both coasts and in the mid-west. Given my choices at the time, I chose to move here. I am not saying that this is THE place; I am saying that I recognize great potential in Indy. Let’s develop it.