Near the end of last Friday’s debate on WTLC, I finally realized why Greg Ballard isn’t the right mayor for Indianapolis.
Mayor Ballard’s stunning inability to connect culturally, emotionally and intellectually with his city’s largest minority group is among his fatal weaknesses.
Let me put it in musical terms. African-Americans think and feel like Coltrane, Aretha, Jay Z. Ballard thinks and feels like a Sousa march. And with Indy being 28 percent Black now and projected to be at least 31 percent in the next four to six years, Ballard’s inability to understand, communicate and connect with our Black community is fatal towards the progress Indianapolis must make.
For an hour Friday, (and again on Sunday on Channel 8’s debate), Mayor Ballard had a golden opportunity to address the major concerns our African-American community has towards him. He repeatedly failed to rise to the occasion.
During that same hour, with her passion on education, Melina Kennedy made a better emotional connection. So did Libertarian Chris Bowen who spoke as one who’s been unemployed, who rides the bus. He was someone our community could identify with.
If Bowen were a Democrat, or Black, or a sensitive Republican he could be a major factor in this race. But Libertarians only come to our community just before election time, bluntly if I invite them. Libertarians need to talk to our community throughout the year; not just days before an election.
But back to Friday’s debate, the first ever on Indianapolis radio – Black or white.
The mayor began with a blistering attack against Kennedy and the Democrats for an ad running on Indy’s three Black stations condemning not just Ballard’s “difficult populations” remark; but his abysmal record of diversity in the top ranks of city government.
Yet, when I asked him directly about his “difficult populations” remark, Ballard failed to address it or place it in a proper context.
Asked why just two of 19 members of his cabinet, top department heads, are Black, Ballard failed to answer or explain.
When asked if 21.4 percent Black unemployment was a crisis; the mayor failed to answer.
When I asked if Ballard would “make sure that outrages like Brandon Johnson’s beating never happens again” the mayor said he was outraged about it, but didn’t answer the question.
Repeatedly given an opportunity to clear the air and the record, Mayor Ballard ignored, danced around and just plain wouldn’t answer or clarify.
Ballard said during the debate that he’s “not a sound bite guy,” yet his mouth keeps issuing checks that he can’t cash; digging him into a deeper abyss with our Black community.
In January, the mayor bragged on WTLC-AM (1310’s) “Afternoons with Amos” that he was the best mayor for Blacks in the city’s history.
In June, Ballard infamously admitted he’d never met the leaders of Indianapolis’ NAACP, dismissing the NAACP as just another civil rights group.
Now his “difficult populations” remark.
Mayor Ballard says Blacks should re-elect him because he’s spent multi-millions on infrastructure projects in our neighborhoods. Projects handled by white, out-of-state firms; with virtually no Blacks working on them.
Ballard says he’s spent more millions with minority businesses than ever. Everyone knows I’m a statistics nut, so I’m puzzled why the mayor’s minions have never released exactly what he’s spent with Black-owned businesses compared to previous mayors.
Also, the mayor hasn’t practiced what he preaches as his re-election campaign has employed no Black-owned contractors or consultants; spent far less with Black media than Kennedy and has no Black staffers.
In the next four years, the mayor of Indianapolis must build community consensus around three critical issues.
Despite the mayor’s rosy assurances that Indy’s fiscal house is in order, city finances are a mess. The next mayor must make tough decisions on what programs to fund, what to cut and perhaps what jobs must be eliminated.
Mass transit will be a huge issue. Achieving mass transit reform will require city/county residents to approve it in a landslide to overcome strong opposition in the suburban counties.
And the next mayor will face a major crisis in how the Indianapolis Public Schools are governed.
A mayor who suffers from repeated severe foot in mouth disease with Indy’s largest minority group can’t lead.
Mayor Ballard can’t develop consensus when for four years he’s repeatedly refused to meet with Black elected officials and the NAACP; he only deals with Black ministers he likes; he’s given the fewest interviews with Black media than any mayor; and he consorts with his so-called Black advisory group; a super secret cabal whose members he refuses to identify.
Our African-American community can’t stand another four years of a mayor who’s suspicious, somewhat hostile and condescending towards our African-American community.
The mayor talks a lot about his Marine service; sometimes too much. I value and salute that service; and his service to our city; but we must have a change!
Two years ago, Melina Kennedy called and wanted to sit down for lunch. She asked me questions about our city, our community. What did our city need? Where does it need to go? What should we concentrate on?
Kennedy has had thousands of those kinds of conversations, in restaurants, coffee shops, in homes, businesses, union halls, playgrounds, and beauty and barber shops.
Kennedy has heard the hopes, dreams, frustrations and ideas of Indianapolis residents – white, Black, Hispanic, Asian; north, south, east, west; at the top, middle and bottom of the ladder.
As she listened, she’s gotten stronger and, more crucially, tougher.
There are some who wish that Kennedy would mix it up more with Ballard. Take him on head on. But I remember another woman who when she campaigned believed in staying positive. Talking about what she’d do, not about her opponent’s failings.
That was Julia Carson. And I see a lot of Julia in Melina. She’s not as down home and “street” as Julia. That’s not Kennedy’s background. But listening, empathy and connecting is.
We don’t need another four years of a mayor that leads by garbled words and twisted deeds. We need a mayor who’ll lead, by true words and deeds.
While Melina’s not “a” Kennedy, she’s Indy’s Kennedy. She deserves your vote as our next mayor.
See ‘ya next week.
You can email comments to Amos Brown at acbrown@aol.com.
