Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 January 2004 — Page 1

Preparing a conscious community May and beyond Big Mama s restaurant reopens. Page D1 iThe Indianapolis

INDIANA’S GREATEST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

Volume 109 ■ Number 31 Since 1895 ■ FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2004 ■ www.indianapolisrecorder.com ■ Four Sections ■ 75C

Citizen's Gas appoints new vice president

See what local organizations have planned for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on page A8. Honoring a community activist Friends of Willie Frank Middlebrook in conjunction with Pastor Franklin Florence II and Central Heights Church of Christ will host a community tribute in honor of Middlebrook. The event will be held on Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Omega Conference Center, 3110 Sutherland Ave. For more information contact Gre,tta Sharp at (317) 313-2477. New voter registration form There is a new and revised voter registration affidavit currently in effect. In order to comply with the new "Help America Vote Act" and the laws of the state of Indiana, only the new form will be accepted. All full service agencies have the new forms available. If you wish to obtain a copy of the new form, please contact Marion County Voter Registration at (317) 327-5040. Also, you may go to the Web Site at www.indygo.org/voters. YMCA appoints new position The Board of Directors of the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis is proud to announce the appointment of Cheryl Hall-Russell as Assistant Vice President of Urban Services. In her new assignment Hall Russell will provide primary staff leadership to position the YMCA as a community leader in the delivery of outreach services to urban youth and their families, and to review and provide advice and counsel on all urban outreach initiatives for the Association. Ill School of Medicine honors Dr. King By ERICKA P. THOMPSON Staff Writer The students and faculty at the Indiana University School of Medicino(IUSM) on the campus of IIJPUI are celebrating the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a little differently than most: They are focusing on exploring issues ofdiversitv in medicine while honoring the late civil rights leader. “It was important to me to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King by providing infor mation on the issues of healthcare disparities to students, faculty,and staff. Especially during the period of his birthday,” said Robert Patterson, president of the Student National Medical Association (SNM A) IU chapter and student member of the ILISM diversity council. ► See MLK, Page A3 Got a hot news tip? r Want to be heard? If you would like to report any news or share your comments, call the Recorder News Hotline at (317) 924-5143 ext 300

By ERICKA C. WHEELER

Staff Writer

She's no amateur. She has plenty of experience. She is an African American woman moving up the corporate ladder. She is the new Vice President of Community Relations at Citizens Gas & Coke Utility. She is Yvonne Perkins. “I came in Monday and was told of the position. That same day I was working in my new

IndyGo riders in uproar over restructuring

By ERICKA P. THOMPSON and . . ERICKA C. WHEELER Staff Writers The unexpected decision to eliminate 14 IndyGo bus routes has bus riders and IndyGo employees in an uproar. Accordingto I ndyGo administrators they will do away with 14 of the 37 existing routes. All bus service will end at 10:30 weeknights on all routes except No. 8, Washington Street, No. 10, East 10th Street and No. 39 East 38th Street. IndyGo will also eliminate 11 Saturday and Sunday routes, will lay off nearly 70 employees and will raise the fares by 25 cents per person, per ride. “We are the worst public transportation system in the country, “ said President and CEO of IndyGo Gilbert Holmes. In a recent study comparing Indianapolis public transportation service to other M idwest cities, IndyGo’s service area has the highest population and has the second largest service area among those comparable cities, yet it has fewer buses and service at peak hours and has the lowest operating budget of this group. IndyGo services a population of 823,424 with 187 buses in service and an operating expense of $36.1 million compared to Dayton, Ohio's service area population of 559,062

position." she said.

Perkins earned her bachelors degree in business administration from Butler University . She began her career at Citizen s Gas in 1969, as a parttime student accountant. Since that time. Perkins has served in various positions of increasing responsibility including economic development manager, budget and financial manager and general accounting supervi-

sor.

“Yvonne Perkins brings wealth of skill and experience to her new position. Yvonne's leadership will help the uwlitv make strategic use of its resources to position the company as a community leader in support of neighborhoods. economic development and the cultural infrastructure of our community," said Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Carey Ly kins. Her community involvement

does not end at her place of employment. She is the Chair of the Finance Committee for Girl Scouts of the USA. Locally, she is a board member of Coburn Place and the IPS Education Foundation. Perkins is also a member of the 100 Black Women I ml ianapt >- lis Chapter and the Circle City

Chapter of the Links.

“Citizens Gas is fortunate to

► See NEW VP, Page A4

Yvonne Perkins

Gov. Kernaiis speech outlines vision; GOP says he has none

Gov. Joseph Kernan

Iman Simmons, a local college student, said that IndyGo buses are her only means of transportation. (Photo/J. Hurst)

with 220 buses in service and an operating expense of $51.7 million. These facts have caused I ndyGo to begin making changes. With “the budget and bus routes not generating sufficient passenger volume for efficient operation" IndyGo has been forced to make a decision on Jan. 29 to cut bus routes. But the riders and IndyGo workers disagree with recent changes and are asking that the routes remain the same. “As far as eliminating the bus

routes it's inhuman and it's violating the people’s civil rights for public transportation,”said Keith Riley, an upset bus rider. “We feel like public transportation is being neglected by IndyGo and our city government administration and we re fed up with it.” Riley, who is speaking on behalf of a host of other upset bus riders, claims that Mayor Bart Peterson and IndyGo administration were aware of this situa- ► See INDYGO, Page A4

By Amos Brown III Recorder Correspondent Governor Joseph Kernan Tuesday laid out his agenda and vision for I ndiana in his first State of the State speech and was promptly attacked by Republican leaders for not having a vision or

agenda.

In a jammed House of Representatives Chamber and introduced by Kathy Davis, the first woman Lieutenant Governor in Hoosier history. Governor

Kernan addressed the executive, legislative and judicial branches of Indiana’s government. His speech was seen by Hoosiers on 13 television stations statew ide. Four months to the day after the death of the late Governor Frank O’Bannon. Gov. Kernan remembered O'Bannon’s legacy but moved forw ard on a number of pressing issues. “I know that many families and businesses are struggling”, said Governor Kernan, “My top priority is to create jobs. We will aggressively promote I ndiana businesses and workers to beat back the effects of this national reces-

sion."

“I will not stop looking for any way to create new jobs, grow our economy, and make life better for all I loosiers," Kernan pledged. I n support of that goal, Governor Kernan announced the creation of Indiana At Work, a plan that w ill. in his words, “train more

workers, better assess their skills, and match them with available

jobs."

Answering concerns about government business going to foreign firms, the Governor said,‘Through our Opportunity Indiana program, we will maximize the number of Hoosier companies doing state

work."

Addressing concerns about recent changes in the leadership ofthe state’s minority business efforts, the Governor declared, “We will assist women and minority busi-

nesses to get certified and gain ac-

cess to capital."

In his 35-minute speech, which was interrupted 43 times by applause, the Governor pushed for his Early Learning Trust program announced last week. The program would expand full day kindergarten twin additional 20,000 children now; create pre-school for at risk children and implement voluntary full day kindergarten everywhere by 2007. Defending the program, Governor Kernan stressed that it “is a sound and necessary investment in our future. For every dollar we inv est in high-quality,comprehen-sive early learning initiatives, we will save seven dollars in welfare, special education, and criminal justice costs. It s the right thing to do.” Despite state revenues running some $300 million below estimates, ► See KERNAN, Page A5

Pike ERC extends education opportunities [or high school students

Community rallies in support of Municipal Gardens worker After a Municipal Gardens Family Center employee was laid off, members of the community called an emergency meeting in protest. Doris Minton, president of the Westside Neighborhood Association (left) and Marshall Lewis, president of the Municipal Gardens Advisory Board spoke on having the employee re-instated. (Photo/J. Hurst)

By JOSHUA COHEN Stall Writer The Simon Youth Foundation recently opened its third Education Resource Center (ERC) in Indianapolis and its 19th across the country in Lafayette Square Mall. The Cooperative Achievement Program (CAP), started by retired Dr. Tom Garrison in 1996, grouped with Simon to establish the Lafavette Square ERC. "We arc very excited toestablisb this ERC on the west side of Indianapolis," said Deborah J. Simon, chairperson of the Simon Youth Foundation. ' We re looking ft irvvard ti > working with the area's youth to help them reach their educational objectives." CAP helps people who have not received their diploma but want to give it another try. This program is different from aGED program in that CAP partners with high schools and the end result is an actual high school diploma. The Lafayette Square ERC is partnered with Pike High School.

Chris Montgomery, a teacherjor the Cooperative Achievement Program at the Simon Youth Foundation's Education Resource Center (ERC), goes over material with one of her students. The ERC recently opened a Pike Township branch in Lafayette Square Mall. (Photo/J. Cohen)

"The students will get a diploma from their home school," said Cathy Briukcrhoff, director of the Pike branch. "This isagreat non-traditional option for students." Students have to be at least Hi and must get approval from their high school counselors. All par

ticipants arc screened first before they arc allowed to join the program. The curriculum is not easier than regular high school, and Brinkerhoffthinks it may even be harder. ► See PIKE, Page A4

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