Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 December 2002 — Page 10

PAGE A10

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, DECEMBER «, 2002

EDITORIAL Ex-offenders deserve a chance at finding work

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This week. I’d like to

piggyback off the article on page A-l that talks about exoffenders and the difficulties

they face when trying to

obtain jobs. This is an issue that so many people have to deal with in today’s society.

I’ve discussed the lack of

jobs available for individuals that were incarcerated to various people including business owners and managers, the average law-abiding citizen and even to exoffenders. All of the people I talked with had some pretty interesting and valid points. As far as the business owners and managers were concerned, many told me that they have hired ex-offenders in the past and that most proved to be unreliable. Now whether this is the truth or just a way for them to be politically correct -1 don’t know. But nonetheless, that’s what most of them said. If I were a business owner and everytime I hired an ex-offender, it didn’t work out, because they were at fault someway or another, I’d probably not want to rehire any more either. Because business is still business. But initially, I would still give them a chance. The everyday people I talked with pretty much straddled the fence as far as what they felt about the situation. Some said that exoffenders should not expect to get certain jobs because of their record. Others felt that everyone is entitled, despite whatever reason they

were incarcerated for.

Now, the ex-offenders I spoke with were obviously upset about the lack of jobs that are obtainable for them. I totally sympathize with an individual who truly tries and doesn’t give up on finding work, but the others are who I

have a problem with.

I’m talking about the men and women who expect people to take care of them once they are released. I did say men and women, so there is no excuse for anyone to not do what is legally necessary to attempt to make it on their

own.

I know adults who have been released from jail, who have really no experience or training in any field - refuse to work at, lets say, a fast food restaurant or even cleaning office build-

ings.

I understand that to some, these may not be their idea of career choices, but hey - it pays, it’s most likely steady, and it’s a start. Also it could lead t9 other opportunities. There are people out there that have previously been incarcerated and now own their own businesses. Why? Because they worked hard and sacrificed their egos, in order to make a change in their lives. I’m not saying that ex-offenders should give up on their dreams or always settle for less, I’m just saying take responsibility for yourself, especially if children are involved. For ex-offenders that truly try and are willing to comprise certain things in order to make their opportunity better in the future, I think that is admirable. Continue to strive because the end will justify the means. For the others, who opt to give up before starting, I say grow up. Be a responsible adult. After all, you can’t complain about something that you never even put forth an effort in changing.

INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER DIRECTORY

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Neanderthals' tiff over TIFs shows contempt for reviving Black neighborhoods

Those lovable, irascible, recalcitrant, ultra-conservative Republican Neanderthals on the City-County Council continue to take positions hostile to the interests of the city as a whole and our African-American community in particular. At last week's council meeting, the Neanderthals created a tiff

about TIFs. Place, the massive new housing For over 30 years, India- development between Fall napolis has used TTFs, or Tax Creek, Meridian, 22nd Street Increment Financing, to fond and Park Avenue being develbonds (loans) to create and oped by Mayor Bart Peterson’s fond a number of important administration. In a neighborprojects. As the project gener- hood residents used to call ates property tax revenue, the "Dodge City," where vacant lots additional monies, above abase outnumbered residents, today amountexistingbeforetheTIF new houses are selling like was created, is used to pay off hotcakes (though more African the bonds. Americans could and should be TIF districts are all over In- buying homes there).

dianapolis and support many worthwhile projects: Circle Centre mall, the 96th Street Bridge over White River, the United

Fall Creek Place's success means that the chances of a TIF default are extraordinarily small. But that didn't stop the

Airlines Maintenance Facility, Neanderthal trio from tiying to the former Naval Avionics Cen- amend the Fall Creek Place TIF ter and neighborhood redevel- to absolve city/county taxpayopment efforts in Barrington, ers from responsibility in the

the UNWA area and along Fall event of a default.

Creek. If the Neanderthals had got-

Now, if a TIFs revenues aren't ten their way, the city/county's

enough to pay off the bonds, credit rating would've gone then foe money must come from south and the cost of borrowing the main property tax revenues would've gone through the roof of the city/county; but as long But the Neanderthals don't care as Indianapolis has had TIF dis- about that. They don't want to tricts, none has defaulted. support projects benefiting a

The TIF's positive track Democratic mayor in general

record didn't stop Neanderthal and African-American neigh-

Councilmen Curt Coonrod, Wil- borhoods in particular,

liam Dowden and Scott So, even though AfricanSchneider from trying to reverse American taxpayers have been years of precedent. Councilman liable for TIFs in the Neander-

Coonrod told fellow councilors that taxpayers in his Lawrence Township district, "shouldn't have to pay for" development in

Center Township.

thals' neighborhoods, Coonrod, Dowden and Schneider don't want their people paying for stuff in our communities. Fortunately, the responsible

See, the city's newest TIF Republicans on the City-County raises money for Fall Creek Council (yes, there are some)

and council Democrats didn't agree and the Neanderthals proposal lost badly. Though he lost a battle, Councilman Dowden won one at the same meeting as the council approved a proposal to add a thinl police officer appointed by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), as an ex-offi-cio member of foe Police Civilian Complaint Board. Dowden, who referred this summer to African Americans angered by police behavior during Black Expo as "thugs and gorillas," pushed through this change, though he never explained why it's important to add a third police officer to foe Complaint Board while not adding additional civilians. Dowden, who chairs the council's Public Safety Committee, has the attitude that law enforcement can do no wrong, while those who criticize foe police, like African Americans, are to be shunned. However, Dowden lives in an increasingly diverse neighborhood. One-seventh of Dowden's neighborhood is now African American, as is his councilmanic district. The growing number of African Americans living in white-ma-jority Indianapolis neighborhoods is one reason Republican dominance of local government is eroding. Dowden and foe Neanderthals think they still live in their little lilywhite, Ozzie-and-Harriet world. In next year's councilmanic elections, foe thousands of Blacks living in foe Neanderthals' districts must make their voices and votes heard. I'll say it again - Indianapolis Republicans must choose between openingup their party to diversity, reaching out to Indianapolis' growing AfricanAmerican community or continue to kowtow to foe Neanderthals and risk becoming a permanent minority party. What I'm hearing in the streets Eunice Trotter, Indianapolis Recorder editor from 1983 to 1990 and owner from 1988 to 1990 has returned to Indy as enterprise editor of foe Indianapolis Star. It's foe first time foe Gannett newspaper's hired a veteran African-American journalist with an intimate knowledge of Indianapolis overall and our Black community in particular. I learned by accident about Trotter's return since foe Star issued no press release, published no story. Again top Star execs, including publisher Bar-

bara Henry and senior editors Terry Eberle, Richard Lunaand Leisa Richardson refused to inform our African-American community or its media about this positive news. Trotter, who's held top editorial positions at several newspapers since leaving The Recorder, now heads foe Star's extended or enterprise report-

ing.

Trotter's hiring somewhat fills a massive void. Since Lynn Ford's death in February, foe paper hadn't hired any Black editor or reporter who understands Indianapolis or our Black community, or who wants to learn about our city and community.

*****

Unrelated to Trotter's return, foe Star ended a two year boycott and again covered foe Mozel Sanders Thanksgiving Dinner (though I had to introduce their rookie reporter, who knew none of foe dinner's officials, to Rev. Roosevelt Sanders). The city's TV stations, Radio One's four stations and WIBC again covered foe event, Volunteering were Gov. and First Lady Frank and Judy O'Bannon, Mayor and First Lady Bart and Meg Peterson, Congresswoman Julia Carson, Judge-elect David Shaheed, new House Ways and Means Chair Rep. Fill Crawford, state Sen. Glenn Howard and Butler University President Dr. Bobby Fong, which has hosted foe t event for three years. WTLC-FM/106.7's Guy Black helped serve and MCd foe devotional program. The city's newest DJ's, WHHH/ 96.3FM's new midday announcer a bright, vivacious young lady named "JJ" and a rising young talent, evening jock "DJ Wreck 1," also volunteered Thanksgiving on foe

serving lines.

*****

In my Nov. 22 column, I said Republicans dumped Paula Parker-Sawyers for a CityCounty Council seat "in favor of Sean Frick, a wet-behind-the-ears, twenty-something Republican whose father was deputy mayor." My error; Sean Frick is not related to former Hudnut Deputy Mayor Dave Frick, but foe rest of my characterization of young Frick stands. See 'ya next week! • The opinions of Amos Brown are not necessarily those ofThe Indianapolis Recorder. Brown may be reached at (317) 2210915 or at [email protected].

What if this was your last Christmas ever?

this holiday season, or someone fill contributions they made to you know is living right now on your life, see more color in foe

life support, foe trufo is God is lights than ever before,

the only power to definitively You might call someone who declare when human life ends, you’ve grown distant from beBut if your sense of physical cause of what they did to you or demise were overwhelming, said about you or didn’t do for would it have a significant im- you and tell them that - after all pact on how you view foe holi- of this time - you’ve decided to

days? forgive them.

Everyone is different. But You’d probably embrace your hopefully, it would make all of family more firmly than ever, us think more charitably. - not not even wanting to let go. And just for those that we know but you’d probably pray a prayer

By REV. CHARLES WILL-

IAMS

What if you knew that this holiday season would be your

last?

Don’t think the proposition morose or depressing in any way. After all, when we think of life we sometimes function as though living is guaranteed and death is a possibility. No matter how we try to escape discussion of our mortality, there is an inevitable end to our physical existence that each of us faces at some point. put aside foe rent and other big To my friends, don’t fret. This bills to make sure you got eveiydiatribe is not foe outgrowth of one on your list received what any loss of faith or inordinate was asked for? worry on my part. Though I am Would you still savor the turin the so-called final stage of key, dressing, macaroni and prostate cancer and the disease cheese, greens, sweet potatoes has spread, I remain confident and German chocolate cake desin a doctor who has never lost a sert? patient. God. Would you be brim full of I still want you to ponder the anticipation about that gift that original question. What if you you anticipate from your sigwent through foe next month nificant other? or so with foe complete knowl- Would you be quite as prone edge that you wouldn’t be tomakefoeroundsattheChristaround to celebrate foe Yule- mas parties dancing holes in tide in 2003? your shoes and searching for Think about it? mistletoe? Would you get foe same thrill. What would change? from foe “shop til you drop” No one realty knows because workout that has become as no one can say when bein'she is American as apple pie during going to die. Even if foe doctors the holidays? teQyou that your body is so weak Would you still be ready to foat it might not make it through

•

to nameless individuals whose suffering is only soothed by foe

generosity of strangers. I would like to foink that it

would mean we would be less prone to negative confrontations

that would shake the foundation of heaven thanking foe Lord for all of the blessings you’ve received throughout

your lifetime.

You might offer an extra “hal-

with the people in our lives - be lelujah” and “thank you, Jesus” they friends, neighbors, co- in appreciation offoe reason for

workers, or relatives.

Perhaps we would all be a little more tolerant of differences that cause some to hate and dis-

foe season.

If any of these are things that you might do if you knew that this Christmas season were your

criminate. We would bring into last, let them be things foat you focus foe fact foat death is foe dojust because. None of us know common denominator of rich foe day or hour of our transiand poor, Blade and white, male tion. So wouldn’t that make raand female, young and old, gay tional people want to live each and straight, and all other con- day- much less each holiday-as trasting lifestyles. though it were their last? If you knew that you would We hearthe cliche allfoetime.

never have another Christmas, you might sing carols more heartily with no worry about being off-key. You might lift a toast to all of those who have gone thankless for the wonder-

Now we should live ft. God bless you and yours. Rev. Charles Williams is president oflndiana Black Expo

Inc.

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