Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Hannan / Politics Indianapolis Sucks in New and Interesting Ways
Posted by Caleb Hannan on Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 12:28 PM
A couple weeks ago, before sitting down with Dean to talk about the proposed Music City Center, I got an e-mail from the Mayor's office with a link to an article about Indianapolis's revitalized downtown. For $500 million, the city is doubling the size of its convention center and building a 1,500 room hotel. The article was from USA Today. It quoted four people, three of whom made their living selling the city to tourists. It was a poorly argued preemptive answer to the question Why start a billion dollar project in the middle of the Great Recession?
Now comes this: Indianapolis officials are threatening to close Lucas Oil Stadium, their brand new football field/convention center add-on, unless state officials agree to hike sin taxes in order to raise nearly $50 million. The city's previous mayor, in a rush to get the thing built, severely underestimated how much it would cost to keep the thing running. Thus the shortfall.
Of course, we've seen the beginnings of this misinformation campaign already. In a letter to council members, MDHA head Phil Ryan claimed Nashville's old convention center cost the city nothing. He failed to mention the roughly $1 million a year it cost to keep the place running (precisely the same bad math that's catching up with Indianapolis, the cultural void we're supposed to be immitating).
But forget all that. Let's be more like Indy!
Comments (9)
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Caleb- Your argument is illogical, or at least pre-mature.
"The city's previous mayor, in a rush to get the thing built, severely underestimated how much it would cost to keep the thing running. Thus the shortfall."
"Of course, we've seen the beginnings of this misinformation campaign already."
Phil Ryan may have been mistaken as to the old center, but as of this time you have no information to demonstrate that Metro has underestimated the cost of building the new center or running it thereafter. Indeed, in your previous post you say that the final cost hasn't been provided.
I don't know whether I think a new convention center is worth it or not. However, your and the Scene's oppostion appears to be more "knee jerk naysayer" in nature than having a concrete basis.
P.S. Did some corn pone who lives in Indiana really come on her to talk smack? Hilarious.
ScottJ --
You're right, Metro still hasn't told anyone how much this thing is going to cost so any sort of bitching is premature. Point taken.
What I'm trying to say is that we should be very skeptical of anyone who suggests taking cues from a city like Indianapolis. Especially now that the Indiana legislature is being blackmailed into raising taxes (AGAIN), otherwise they're the guys who killed the Colts.
Caleb, if you are going to comment on a topic, it would help to know what the hell you are talking about.
First, the Indianapolis Convention Center is just fine and contributes very positively to the Indianapolis economy (which is doing quite well, and much better than most cities in the Midwest/Near South region).
Second, the deficit with the Indianapolis Capital Improvement Board results primarily from the operation costs of the new Lucas Stadium and the relatively new Conseco Fieldhouse. And the reason these facilities are costing the city dearly has nothing to do with anyone "underestimating" anything, but rather stems from the city having signed sweetheart leases with the Colts and Pacers allowing them to pretty much keep all the revenue from the facilities while the city bears all the expenses. The idea was that city would get permission from the state to refinance the constructions bonds to get more money to run the facilities (the city KNEW the facilities, especially the new stadium would cost a lot more to operate), but when the state refused, the city punted on this issue with the idea that a "solution
would be found to solve the problem. Now, the time for "solution" has come due. Personally, I think the city should just renegotiate the leases, and tell the Colts and Pacers to put out or get out, but the push by elected officials right now is to raise the hotel and food and beverage taxes instead (we'll see how far that goes, as it obviously has very little popular support).
Finally, I've been to Nashville several times, and my cousins used to live there (they moved). It's a nice town. But, I have found it can suck pretty hard in its own way. So, rather than posting s**t about other cities, why not just focus on how your own town can play up its strengths and compensate for its weaknesses--that would seem more to be a far more productive column to write.
I love Nashville and everything about it but took my first trip to Indianapolis recently. It is a sophisticated and interesting Mid-western city with arts, culture, sports, wonderful city parks and a proud US history.
ScottJ-
Better a corn pone than a breeding ground for the likes of Toby Keith and CCM.
And how can I forget all of the baptists. God, what's not to love about Nashville!
I live in Indianapolis, and I accept that this city sucks. Worst public transportation in the country, one of the worst school systems, the top ten worst tasting water (urine would probably taste better), among the highest gas prices, among the highest auto repair costs, one of the highest crime rates in the country, worst road repairs in big cities. We are extremely ignorant, rude, arrogant and smug about it. Face it, Indianapolis sucks!! You know it and I know it! Admitting it is the road to recovery.
I agree that Indianapolis sucks because I've lived here for over 10 years investing in this place for the better. It will continue to get better...but in these neck of the woods...the policy making here keeps things very stagnant and unproductive. Time for a new guard for urban development.
