I was watching some old ‘80s music videos the other day when I came across one of my favorites, Janet Jackson’s “What Have You Done for Me Lately.” It starts out with her lamenting with a friend about her current boyfriend who used to do nice things for her like take her dancing and to dinner, now his dancing feet are always on her couch and if she didn’t cook they would starve to death. So Janet asks a very reasonable question, “What have you done for me lately?”
If you are a Democrat in Marion County, particularly a member of the African-American community you should be asking yourself that same question.
For the past four months, Democrats have done nothing but whine about the bill formerly known as SB 621. Now it is law. They called it a power grab, claimed Republicans were racist and said it would galvanize the public and would spark a revolution the likes of which this county had never seen.
Meanwhile, in their own districts, they’ve done about the best job of neglect I have ever seen.
For example, let’s take the crime issue. Democrats were quick to run to the defense of Sheriff John Layton who has overspent the taxpayers’ money by $20 million over the past three years. However, if you live in the 46201 zip code, you are at ground zero when it comes to violent crime. According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, in 2012, zip code 46201 led the city when it comes to murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults. And where were the elected officials? Where was Democratic state Sen. Jean Breaux?
What about the folks who live in the 46216 zip code area? You had nearly 900 murder, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults in 2012. When was the last time you saw Democratic state Rep. Greg Porter?
I could go on and on. In 46222 there were more than 750 violent crimes. You were probably more likely to see someone get shot than Democratic state Rep. Vanessa Summers. And in zip codes 46203 and 46219 you were probably more likely to be carjacked or a victim of a home invasion than actually see your local Democrats.
The point of this is that Marion County Democrats (the Black ones in particular) spent more time fighting to protect the jobs of four part-time politicians than doing what was needed to create real jobs. How much of a fight did they put up for mass transit? They voted against a state budget that not only gave roads and schools more funding, but put more money back into your pocket as an individual or an owner of small business in the form of a tax cut.
And if you were blessed enough to accumulate some wealth to pass on to your children, Marion County Democrats voted against the immediate phase out of the inheritance tax. All those measures that would have helped you, they voted against.
Why do you continue to vote for these people? What have they done for you lately? You need to take control!
Abdul-Hakim Shabazz is an attorney, political commentator and publisher of IndyPolitics.org. You can email comments to him at abdul@indypolitics.org.
