Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 22 July 2005 — Page 7

FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2005

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE A7

LETTERS TO EDITOR

Didn't want Bush at luncheon I am outraged and extremely disappointed that the Indiana Black Expo would extend an invitation to President Bush as its Corporate Luncheon keynote speaker. We must judge our leaders by their deeds and actions, not by smiles, handshakes or empty words. During his tenure, Bush has done nothing to eliminate the marked disparities that exist for African Americans with regard to health care, wealth, education, economic opportunity or justice. Bush’s selfish, self-serving, regressive policies have pushed our country into trillions of dollars of debt as well as into an untenable position in Iraq. I was also shocked by Joyce Rogers’ comment in The Indianapolis Recorder on July 14, 2005: “Politics has nothing to do with it. That’s what we’ve got to get past in this community. You know that has absolutely zero to do with this subject. These are people of prominence, people of power.” Politics had everything to do with it. Why else would Bush have been invited to the exclusive Corporate Luncheon rather than a free public speaking engagement where all attendees of the IBE could have participated? The IBE is a non-partisan organization, but perhaps the leaders there have forgotten this. Further, Rogers seems to believe that bringing Bush to Indianapolis will help it compete with cities such as Chicago, Detroit, and Cincinnati - truly progressive cities that I seriously doubt would wish to host such a president. Moments such as this contribute to the ongoing “brain drain” that is driving away Indianapolis’ young Black educated professionals like me. I have very fond memories of my hometown Indianapolis; however I am saddened by the recent events that have occurred there. With actions such as this, IBE is failing its mission to be an effective voice and vehicle for the social and economic advancement of African Americans. We should be protesting the unconscionable actions and policies of President Bush, not offering him our praise, thanks and adulation for doing so. Adria Crutchfield IBE sent wrong message Now that the smoke has cleared from this past IBE’s 35th Summer Celebration, perhaps a more realistic view of recent events can be had. I agree in principle with those that it is indeed an honor to have a sitting American president to visit and address Indiana Black Expo. IBE should have extended every courtesy and respect that the office warrants. However, I think it is a bit much that the Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon George W. Bush. I would pose the question: What has Bush done that is consistent with the mission and goals of IBE to warrant this award? He has gone on record as firmly opposing affirmative action, he has offered little hope to minorities and the inner city poor in the way of programs that would uplift and revitalize these communities. Additionally, he has also vehemently opposed an increase in the minimum wage that would help the working poor. We are bogged down in a horrendous war that was declared under several changing pretexts after the original declarations did not fit the ensuing facts. As a member of the African-Ameri-can community and a long time supporter of Indiana Black Expo, I am deeply disturbed by IBE’s decision to bestow this award to this president. This sends the wrong message to the world and the nation, and especially the local community of what IBE is supposed to be about and represent. This also sends the wrong message to African-American youth that our socalled leaders would recognize a doer of such deeds. Hopefully, a bit more scrutiny and good judgment would prevail in the future. But again, I guess it’s politics as usual. Millard T. Sprinkles SAFE HAVEN LAW FOR BABIES As a father, I am saddened by the recent story of a young Indianapolis woman who wrapped her baby in plastic and left her to suffocate in a bathroom trash can. As the sponsor of Indiana’s Safe Haven law, I am frustrated that this young woman, for whatever reason, did not take advantage of this law. She easily could have given her baby to an official who could help find the newborn a home. The Safe Haven Law was created during the 2000 legislative session after baby Ephram was abandoned in

the winter cold at Community North Hospital. This incident focused attention on an issue that had become frighteningly common. The law was passed to help prevent such senseless deaths. The Safe Haven law allows a parent who cannot care for an infant younger than 45 days old to leave the newborn baby with appropriate authorities at hospitals, police stations and firehouses. The parents do not have to identify themselves or explain their actions as long as the baby is unharmed. The key to the success of this law has always hinged on public education, but this recent event brings to my attention that we still have a long way to go in making sure new parents facing a crisis with a newborn are aware of these Safe Haven locations. I ask my fellow Hoosiers to join me in passing on the message that there is a way for parents in crisis to protect these innocent babies. Sen. Jim Merritt R-Indianapolis Larue Carter workers say thanks On behalf ofthe AFSCME members at Larue Carter Hospital and Council 62,1 want to thank the Recorder for its coverage of the staffing crisis at Carter. These are committed, compassionate workers who are standing up for themselves amd their patients, and we appreciate the attention the Recorder has given that struggle. Again, thank you. Joe Lawrence American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees International Budget woes call for more vision and less division We predicted this. Indianapolis and Marion County have a $90+ million budget shortfall today. The state has claimed part of our tax revenue to recoup some of what the county owes for state services ($70+ million), and the county child abuse fund currently has a $22 million shortfall. Another $3 billion looms in immediate needs, including sewer repairs (Yes, that’s billion with a “b!”). These unmet needs, and a cobweb of taxing districts and government entities, render our system of local government outdated, expensive and inefficient. This shortfall could have been lessened if Mayor Bart Peterson’s “Indianapolis Works” proposal had been enacted by the state Legislature. “Indianapolis Works” would have cut government spending in Indianapolis and Marion County by $35 million a year while still allowing us to make the appropriate investments in public safety to maintain our status as a world class city. There are no alternatives: budget cuts are necessary! The mayor has boldly called for 15 percent budget cuts across the board (except for public safety, with a five percent cut) for the 2005 budget - from now through the end of this year - to help eliminate some of the city’s debt. For this reason, the Chamber of Commerce began its “Invest in Indianapolis” initiative last year to offer ideas for both government efficiency and fiscal health. The first part of that initiative, chaired by Phil Bayt, partner at Ice Miller, and David Lewis, chief tax executive at Eli Lilly and Co., examined government efficiency and ultimately supported Mayor Peterson’s “Indianapolis Works” proposal in the 2005 session of the General Assembly. “Indianapolis Works” mirrored about 10 years of Chamber research and policies. The Chamber will continue the “Invest in Indianapolis” project by focusing on the local budget crisis and the need for increased revenue at the city and county level. Now that the Legislature has given us permission to merge the city and county budgets into one, we hope that the typical summer budgeting session conducted by the City-County Council will be one with more vision and less division. While the Chamber believes budget cuts are necessary, we will continue to be proactive in helping solve this fiscal crisis. We will begin a new research project aimed at crafting a three to five year fiscal plan to offer to local elected officials in the spring of 2006. The Chamber hopes to impact the local fiscal landscape by offering immediate input on budget needs, as well as offer to elected officials a new method of municipal budgeting with a multi-year view. Gene Zink, Chairman John Myrland, President Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce

Our vote, our voice — lessons from Ohio

By DONNA BRAZILE From BlackAmericaWeb.com

When it comes to voting in America, Black folks are still having a tough time 3m at the polls, f ; After months ’ * * of review, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Voting Rights Institute released an investigative report “Democracy at Risk: The 2004 Election in Ohio.” This report, which took five months to complete, was organized and compiled by a first-rate team of eminent statisticians, pollsters, technical analysts, grassroots activists and attorneys who concluded there was enough evidence to prove there were serious election irregularities which led to the disenfranchisement of many Ohio voters. “Democracy at Risk: The 2004 Election in Ohio” concludes that more than one-quarter of all Ohio voters experienced problems voting, including long lines, difficulty locating their proper polling place and voter intimidation. Far more troubling: twice as many AfricanAmericans voters as white voters reported experiencing problems at the polls, including incompetence and negligence on the part of polling officials, problems with registration status and unlawful identification requirements. Provisional ballots were vastly overused in Ohio, and that had huge implications because many provisional ballots were never counted. More than 158, OOOprovisional ballots were cast in Ohio, equaling 2.8 percent of all votes cast for president - compared with only 0.9 percent for Pennsylvania and 0.3 percent for Florida. First-time voters, young voters and voters who had moved since the last time they voted were more likely to vote provisionally. In urban Cuyahoga County, which

includes the city of Cleveland, African Americans who had moved since the last time they voted were nearly twice as likely to be forced to vote provisionally than white voters who had moved since the last time they voted. African-American voters were also far more likely to have their registration status challenged and to report experiencing intimidation at the polls than other voters. African Americans and voters under age 30 were more likely to have their identification checked at the polls, very often illegally. Sixty-seven percent of voters under age 30 and 61 percent of African-American males were required to produce ID in order to vote. Counties using DUE (touchscreen) machines had far more problems than voters in other counties. In Franklin County, where 74 percent ofvoters reported waiting in line more than 20 minutes, there were proportionally fewer machines in minority neighborhoods. Most troubling is that the study reveals a profound lack of confidence in the democratic process in Ohio, divided sharply along racial lines. Nearly one-quarter of Ohio voters report that their voting experience in 2004 has made them less confident about the reliability of elections in their state. And while 71 percent of white voters reported being very confident their votes were counted, only 19 percent of African Americans reported having the same level of confidence. Election reform is a bipartisan responsibility and a bipartisan concern. We must use the results of this report to call for immediate action to reform our electoral process. In our report, we highlight some areas that must be addressed by lawmakers at all levels so that every qualified citizen may vote and have their vote counted. Let’s start by making sure that fair and clear election practices are codified into law; that clear

standards for the equitable distribution of voting equipment and the assignment of poll workers are adopted; that uniform standards for voter registration and the monitoring of same are in place; that statewide voter lists are implemented, as federal law requires, and that uniform standards for the issuance of provisional ballots and enforceable rules for counting provisional ballots are adopted. We must also demand that states adopt legislation that limits identification requirements to a minimum and maintain and enforce procedures to guarantee that identification requirements are not abused as a voter suppression tactic. We also urge states to adopt precinct-tabulated optical scan voting machines, to discontinue the use of punch card machines, and to abstain from using touch screen voting machines unless they are perfected so that they are no longer vulnerable to error and tampering. Voting equipment vendors must be required to disclose source codes so that they may be examined by third parties to ensure that voting procedures are transparent at every level of the voting process. This summer, America will mark the 40th anniversary of the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act which abolished literacy tests and poll taxes that effectively muted the voices of so many and denied generations of African Americans a voice in the governance of their country. Three important provisions of this landmark civil rights act are set to expire in 2007- As Americans, we must call on Congress to renew and enforce these laws. The right to vote, and to participate in the political process must never be compromised. Donna Brazile is chair of the DemocraticNationalCommittee’s Voting Rights Institute. A copy of the report may be obtained at www.democrats.org.

YOUR VOICE Do you think that the warning labels on medical prescriptions and drugs are accurate?

“I think some are not. For example, Viagra was not supposed to be harmful, but now it is. I also have gotten a rash just from taking Tylenol. Some are just false advertisements.” - Michael Burton

“Yes, for the most part warnings are accurate. All of my experiences with medication have been fine. The drug Lipitor was a drug I took and the one of the side effects was increased appetite.” - Doris Holliday

“No, the warnings aren’t accurate because you can never see what the long term effects will be. The doctors don’t test to see what the results will be 10 years from now because they’re trying to get the products on the market so quickly.” - Tarus Blackburn

PAr,F It A7

TVAN MAr,FKITA

Rl ATK