It’s no secret that the mayor of Indianapolis and I haven’t agreed on many issues.
And unlike some who want to start controversy, Mayor Greg Ballard and I aren’t feuding like Hatfields and McCoys, Jon and Kate or Sarah Palin and the Republican establishment.
Despite my warm words here for the mayor when his administration began and my support of his efforts finding opportunities for ex-offenders, this mayor and I have disagreed.
Despite our differences, the mayor and I share a common goal – doing what we feel is best for Indianapolis.
Regular readers of this space know my day job includes the study and understanding of the demographics of Indianapolis.
Several weeks ago, Deputy Mayor Olgen Williams, on behalf of Mayor Ballard, asked if I’d consider providing leadership to make sure Indianapolis counts in the 2010 Census.
Mayors in every city, especially the biggest, create Census Complete Count Committees to help promote cooperation and participation in the decennial national head count. I was privileged to be a member of Indianapolis’ Census committees in 1980, 1990 and 2000.
Mayor Ballard, Williams said, would be honored if I’d accept being co-chair of Indy’s 2010 Census committee.
I was surprised and humbled. And on this issue of major importance, we both put aside partisanship for the good of the community and I accepted the mayor’s invitation.
The 2010 Census has been simplified. No complex, intrusive questions, just simple ones.
Who are you and who is everyone else living in your household?
What’s their ages and genders?
What’s their relationship to you?
What race or ethnic group do they consider themselves?
And do you rent or own?
Simple questions. Simple form. Takes between five to 10 minutes to complete.
In mid-March the estimated 420,000 housing units in Indianapolis will get a 2010 Census form. We ask you to fill it out and mail it back, postage free, by April 1.
If you return your form on time, no Census taker will come to your home.
In 1990 and 2000, Indianapolis overall and our African-American community, had one of the best Census responses of any major city.
Despite that record, there are numerous neighborhoods, inner city and township, where getting folks to return their Census forms will be a challenge.
In future weeks, I’ll be telling you about those neighborhoods and asking those residents and grassroots leaders for their help.
The past 10 years Indianapolis/Marion County has changed a lot. The 2010 Census will document those substantial changes in a simple head count of everyone. Those with homes and those who are homeless. Those incarcerated and those in dorms and nursing homes. Those new to town and America and those here for decades.
I’m humbled by the mayor’s request and awed by the challenge. But, as I’ve written many times, when we want to, Indianapolis is capable of meeting any challenge.
In the 2010 Census, Indianapolis’ African-American community, it’s in your hands. I need your help. Will you answer the call?
What I’m Hearing
in the Streets
35,289.
That’s the “announced” attendance at this year’s 26th Circle City Classic. But there were far less actually in the stands with scores of empty seats in the $45 and $40 sections that were sold out weeks before. Even the sold out $10 sections had hordes of empty seats.
Perhaps it was inevitable that a Classic in the midst of the Great Recession would endure its worst attendance ever. The decision to bring last year’s teams back didn’t help.
The emphasis on the core purpose of the Classic – education – by new Classic honcho Marc Williams was welcomed. But in the final days before the game, when ticket sales were anemic, the Classic exhibited a dangerous message disconnect.
On the radio, it seemed rapper Master P got more publicity than the Classic’s core sponsors and the two teams themselves.
And at a time when America’s top brands, from Disney to Mc Donald’s are offering discounts and deals, the Classic’s stubborn refusal to wait until the 11th hour to offer ticket discounts didn’t help.
More fatally, the Classic, like Expo, continued to suffer negative perceptions among their most critical constituency – sponsors and donors.
The bitter criticisms I heard the past week about the Classic, from sponsors, are serious, endemic, and must be addressed immediately by the Classic, Expo and Sports Corporation brain trust!
The Classic Parade crowd was strong, but it also seemed down from past years. Again, fundamentals missed. Why aren’t people told who’ll be participating the Parade? Wouldn’t attendance increase if people knew more about the bands, celebrity role models and attractions at the parade?
One successful event last week wasn’t directly Classic related. It was the biennial convention of the Black McDonald’s Owner/Operators.
Over 300 owner/operators from every state (even Utah) attended a three-day meeting at the Marriott. Indy’s Black McDonald’s operators were instrumental in convincing their group to meet here and these Black entrepreneurs gave our city a big thumbs up.
I saw former Indianapolis Police top official and former Public Safety Director Joe Shelton and his wife at the convention. They own two McDonald’s in Grand Rapids. Another Indy couple, who used to be educators in the Washington Township schools, now own Mickey D’s in South Carolina.
It was great to see former Hoosiers making it big with the Golden Arches.
Prospective candidates in next year’s local and statewide elections were absent from this year’s Classic events. But those wanting to be the next mayor of Indianapolis were out in force on the suite level at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Mayor Greg Ballard and First Lady Winnie Ballard made the rounds on upper and lower level suites, meeting and greeting Classic sponsors and visitors. It was the strongest mayoral effort at the Classic yet.
As the mayor made the rounds, his two leading Democratic challengers; former prosecutor candidate and Deputy Mayor Melina Kennedy and businessman Brian Williams made the suite tour. At one point, in front of me and Congressman Andre Carson (who also made the rounds), Kennedy and Williams shook hands. I have no idea if they met up with Ballard as they made their rounds.
I hear Councilman Jose Evans, another potential mayoral candidate was there, but I didn’t see him.
And where were all the candidates running in next year’s elections? They missed a great opportunity to network with community leaders and potential voters.
See ‘ya next week!
