Saturday night I went “undercover” at Castleton Square. I’ll explain in a bit why I had to go under the radar.
Castleton Mall is a reflection of the strong diversity that Indianapolis has become; whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians mixing together in what has been the norm – peaceful.
During my stroll from 4 to 8 p.m., there were hundreds walking, talking, interacting and yes, maybe doing a little shopping. The crowds were normal, but far less than the previous Saturday, when a fight inside the mall and a fight across 82nd Street at McDonald’s brought a rash of negative publicity and fears of teen crime.
Despite the perception that downtown Indianapolis is the critical economic engine for Indianapolis, Castleton is the main retail sales engine for this city and region.
Circle Centre and Keystone at the Crossing may have more cache, but for Simon Malls and parent Simon Property Group, Castleton is a bigger prize. Not only is it Indiana’s largest mall, but Castleton anchors a four mile long retail strip along 82nd and 86th between I-465 and Keystone that generates a couple of billion dollars in retail sales annually.
After the March 9 incidents, the city had no choice but to ramp up police presence with IMPD walking patrols and plenty waiting in reserve; ready to spring if there was trouble.
Mall security was beefed up with guards at every major mall entrance to enforce a special policy limiting teens and young adults to groups of four.
Earlier in the week there’d been confusion about how Castleton would handle security. The mall wanted to limit teens to four individuals per group. There was some trepidation by community leaders how Castleton would handle that, and Castleton management seemingly assuaged those concerns.
When I first walked the mall, all the mall security I saw were white. Three hours later, though, I noticed three African-American mall guards had come on duty. But the overall lack of diversity in mall security disturbed me.
As I walked, I caught up with IMPD Chief Rick Hite and Rev. Malachi Walker of Young Men Inc.; a faith-based group that works with young Black boys.
Chief Hite and Rev. Walker were pleased at the positive behavior and attitude of Castleton visitors. We observed security implementing the group of four policy in a non discriminatory manner.
But we all were concerned at what we felt was the lack of clear communication by Castleton Mall of its rules and code of conduct. Signs spelling out those rules, with a very small typeface, are spread out in the mall, but hard to see or find.
Castleton’s website doesn’t show the code of conduct; unlike other malls in the country and around the world.
Teenagers hanging around shopping malls aren’t just an African-American problem. Talking to store personnel at Castleton, I learned of similar problems at area malls like Hamilton Town Center at 146th and I-69, an outdoor mall where predominantly white teens congregate in front of stores. Mall security constantly makes them move along; breaking up large groups.
At that mall, white parents “drop off” their teens and kids and pick them up hours later. Talk to folks in the shopping mall industry and you’ll learn this happens at shopping malls from coast to coast with white kids, Black kids, Latino kids, Asian kids. This problem even exists at shopping malls overseas.
Chief Hite and Rev. Walker agree with me that we must find and provide more positive alternative activities for young people in Indianapolis where they can hang out and meet their friends other than a shopping mall.
We all agreed, as did employees of mall stores, of the importance of parents teaching and explaining to their kids the importance of appropriate behavior in public, including at malls like Castleton.
So, why did I go “undercover” at Castleton?
Well, “working media” are supposed to contact the mall in advance. But Simon Malls’ incompetent PR staff has made it impossible for folks like me in Black media to do our job.
Last week, in the wake of confusion over how Simon would keep Castleton safe, I tried to get questions answered and policies clarified by Simon Malls’ PR. My inquiries were unceremoniously turned down by a condescending Simon Malls’ PR representative. When I complained publicly about Simon Mall’s violation of PR ethics, the contemptuous PR person said Simon Malls would never speak with me again.
So, I had to go “undercover,” fearful Simon would banish me from their malls if they spotted me covering this story.
I assume because Castleton is such an important part of the Simon Malls empire, some of their best and most experienced personnel would be assigned there as managers and executives. It’s a shame the stuffed shirts at Simon’s corporate office downtown won’t let those talented mall employees interact and work with our community’s leaders, including Black media, to achieve a common goal – working to make the malls a positive experience for all the community.
What I’m hearing
in the streets
The great recession has impacted population growth with declines occurring in many areas of the country. And Indiana is no exception.
Population estimates for 2012 released last week by the Census Bureau report that Indiana’s population growth sharply slowed with 54 of Indiana’s 92 counties losing population since 2010.
In the new 11-county Indianapolis/Carmel/Anderson metro area, population rose 2.2 percent from 1,887,893 in 2010 to 1,928,982 in 2012; a gain of 41,089 persons.
Indianapolis/Marion County grew by 15,584 persons since 2010 to a record 918,977, a two year increase of 1.7 percent. But shockingly Hamilton County, which had been Indiana’s fastest growing county, has seen its growth slowing, rising just 14,926 persons since 2010 to 289,495.
You read the last paragraph correctly. Indianapolis grew more than Hamilton County since 2010!
Unfortunately, that didn’t stop last Sunday’s Indianapolis Star from running a huge article bragging about Hamilton County’s growth between 2009-2010.
Using outdated data to signify a trend that doesn’t now exist misleads local politicians and policy makers about what’s really happening in this region and state.
Our area’s growth is slowing down. Worse, Monday we learned Indy’s unemployment rate shot up sharply to 9.5 percent, highest since October 2011.
Indy’s economy and people continue to hurt, while Indy leadership twiddles their thumbs and does nothing!
See ‘ya next week.
You can email comments to Amos Brown at acbrown@aol.com.
