Politix – lee-lawmaster.com

Thrust into the Spotlight

While annexation in Bloomington is primarily a dead issue, areas 1A and 1B were not successful in completely squashing the attempt. They did however achieve enough verified petitions for remonstrance to have the case reviewed by a judge.

I have been keeping an eye on the social media site NextDoor, where my Township Trustee typically makes her official statements. There seemed to be an outcry of people wanting to raise funds and hire an attorney to use this final tool given to them by the state.

I told her when this all began that I would do whatever I could, whenever I could. So I began a gofundme for the explicit purpose of raising those funds, based on the leadership I had been provided by my Township Trustee.

https://gofund.me/66bb55b6

I did not want to share this personally, this issue does not affect me directly. Legally I have no say in how this annexation goes as I am not being annexed. Sure I can have an opinion, and I do. I would rather leave opinions to the side however. I did feel that informing the local press might be a good idea though, so I reached out to a personal hero who was a journalist for a long time to seek guidance on writing a press release.

He gave me a extensive and amazing primer that I followed. I then sent it to 3 outlets, with another asking for it the next day.

This led to being interviewed by 3 news outlets and a journalism student that another friend decided he would sic on me. Thanks Leo.

The first thing to hit was the front page of the Herald-Times on March 8th, 2022.

Then, on Friday March 11th I was on WFIU and WTIU (our local PBS affiliate). They used an audio clip of me and a video clip.

Meanwhile, it appeared to me that the wind that was in the sails from the people I looked to in this entire situation had to step aside. I’m no politician and I will never understand the games they play.

I felt a large responsibility to all of those who had donated. With the help of some volunteers upwards of 30 attorneys were called. Most of which have either not returned calls or stated that they had a “conflict of interest.” The lawyer I was originally told was going to take the case had to step down for similar reasons, and another I had spoken with was relying upon a local attorney to file the case before he would become involved. There is one local attorney that several referred me to, but I have still not received any communications from him. He is apparently “the” guy for this exact situation.

If you were paying close attention to the video clip, you will notice the County Residents Against Annexation sign. I had seen them in some of the more influential and better off areas of the county, but not mine. We had our own signs. It soon become clear that they were some sort of power as people would cite them as they stated they could not longer help with this effort.

Nevertheless I persisted.

I had a phone call with the president of CRAA, who introduced herself to me by boasting about accomplishments and listing “things” she had done, overall trying to somehow impress me. It only did the opposite. She then crossed the boundary, she asked that I give them all of the funds raised in the gofundme.

I have since received several negative messages about this organization through the gofundme. I’ve received many messages from it, I have responded to most of them in kind.

CRAA from what I know has not focused on the area I live near, but the areas ripe with cash and/or retirees. I do not know them from Adam nor will I speak on behalf of them.

I will however work with them (as difficult as it has been at times) to complete the mission, to let the residents use all tools legally available to them to stop this over reaching annexation by the city of Bloomington. An action that is really tantamount to a tax heist. When looking at the balance sheet, across the board the only org with a positive change are the city’s coffers. Even the public schools and county library will lose money. For me, that’s a non-starter.

I have not hidden behind an organization, I have used my name. In the end when dealing with community issues that is akin to putting it all on the line. The only way to be is to be honorable and moral. If I didn’t follow the will of my community members, I can literally see a “torches and pitchforks” situation occurring.

This has definitely been a very interesting experience in local political theater, reaffirming why my feelings of anarchy run deep to my core. My love for my immediate neighbors however will never fail or falter.

NO!

I was hoping to wake up at 7am and begin working on a test I need to update for a faculty member. My hopes were dashed, and I ended up not really getting out of bed until about 10am.

I then began my morning routine of going through all of the emails I had received overnight. When I was almost finished with that task, another email hit my inbox, from The Bloomingtonian. The City of Bloomington is beginning a retry at annexation. Sigh.

The green, purple, red, pink, yellow and orange areas are to be annexed.

Surprisingly, I guess I did not write anything on my blog about it when this originally popped up in 2017. The map above was originally a much larger area to be annexed.

I can’t say that it was due to my input, but all of the “1” areas were originally a singular area. I kept telling a friend who is on the city council that those areas needed split up, as they differ greatly. The next map produced was wildly similar than the one shown here.

During that time, he would provide me with information in confidence and I would spew it out and about, frustrating him to the point where he almost ended our friendship.

This is one area where he and I are diametrically opposed, and I failed to consider our relationship in the grand scheme of things with the words I said. I failed him, and for that I will not pester him and then blab my mouth in the clear on social media.

BUT I WILL WRITE MY OPINIONS

A button I received at the first “informational session” during the original annexation push in 2017

I feel that I must provide some history on this since I did not write about it previously.

In 2017, seemingly out of the blue the mayor of Bloomington, John Hamilton unleashed this wide plan to annex over 10,000 acres of “fringe” area into the city of Bloomington. The city hadn’t annexed anything for a period of almost 20 years, and there are certain areas that quite obviously need to be. Over that period of time the city has changed significantly, and the population has increased as well.

There were several township meetings held so the residents of these areas would have an opportunity to redress the elected officials about this. The one for Van Buren township (where I live) was quite lively. With many boos, etc, etc. It was there where I was first introduced to Geoff McKim, a county council member. I call him the “numbers guy”. He broke down what would happen fiscally if annexation went through. It wasn’t pretty.

I do not live in an area that will be annexed, but per what he said in 2017 my taxes would increase by 26% due to the loss of others on the tax roll for the county and my township.

The only play against annexation in Indiana is remonstrance, where I believe it is 63% of the property owners officially state they do not want to be annexed, it will be stopped.

Back in 2017, the city also stated that many of our township fire departments services would be essentially gutted; and people including me would have to rely upon the Bloomington Fire Department. Their closest station is almost 5 miles away. My township fire department has a station less than 2 miles away, and they have been here in under 2 minutes.

The city pulled some blows that were quite frankly below the belt back then too, as the issue of remonstrance waivers became a major issue. Many new subdivisions outside of city limits would connect to city utilities, and the city would provide it given waivers were signed for these properties. This gave the homeowners no say in the process. It essentially silenced them. This angered me, greatly.

Then it was announced that Cook would pay the city $100,000 per year in order to not be included in the area to be annexed. This made it very clear to us poor working stiffs that this was clearly about money, and a pay to play system was in place locally.

My buddy Steve was right, “All Politics is Local.”

Then, something came out of left field that shocked us all. The state added language into a bill that killed the annexation. Bloomington quickly filed suit stating the bill violated the state’s prohibition on special legislation. The city eventually won that case in the Indiana Supreme Court.

I was happy to see that play out, and work it’s way through the court system. I am no scholar on our states constitution and do not understand many of the rules and mechanisms in play for situations like these. I may be against the annexation; but I am not against our judicial system for these decisions.

So, here we are again. Four years later, a whole lot of arguing in person, online and before the highest court in the state. I don’t know what will happen, but I am still against this massive annexation plan.

The city has went on a wild spending spree, built a $25 million dollar park but still seems to need more money.

By contrast, my township recently completed construction on a new fire station at it’s secondary location. No bonds were issued, no taxes were raised. It was done through fiscal responsibility and saving funds for the expense.

I’m going to end post I’ve been working on all day long with something short, but sweet. This is an image of me in 2017, at the first informational session the city held on annexation. It was promised to be almost like a round table discussion; but it ended up being just a lot of poster boards around city hall. It felt like they were just trying to hide from those who they wanted to bring into the city to me. I proudly held that sign then, and I feel the same today.

Don’t make me bring the crazy eyes back out!

Darkness in the World of Academia

I’ve been in IT at Indiana University since 2008. In that time, Bradley Wheeler has always been the CIO, head of all technology.

I really don’t know where this post will lead me, but I feel I need to write it to get it out of my head, the subject matter bothers me.

Recently, and shockingly it was announced by the president of IU that he would “retire” his role, take a sabbatical and then return to his roots as a professor at the Kelley School of Business.

Replacing him? The head of my very own department. A person that has went from essentially a nobody that I had never heard of before, to being the head of IT in just a short 2 years. It doesn’t pass my sniff test. Not by a long shot.

When I was just beginning to really make a name for myself in the pit of nameless souls called IT, Brad would come to the office I worked at and talk to me on a level that was personal. He would talk about how the office in which I resided was one of the first big projects he had been in charge of. My office at the time had a long curved desk, with a meeting area that was turreted with long vertical windows.

He spoke of that office like it was his baby. Genuine care and pride. He never made me feel like the hourly nobody that I was, and never did. I appreciated his vision and I appreciated his leadership.

As time marched on, and I did create a name for myself I was given a bonus and a letter from Brad. It was for being a IU Brand Ambassador, in my work in helping other centers of the School of Medicine across the state. I hold that letter in the highest of regard. It sits framed, right next to my degree from IU.

To get to my point however. I don’t think this is something Brad wanted to do, I think it’s internal university politics at play, with him paying the price.

The current lead of my division came to us more like a blue collar person, not a white collar leadership person. His speech was rough, his ideas even more obtuse. Overtime it was like he went through a makeover for executives. I found it very odd, and still do.

At the same point, we are all working off campus and working on paths to return to a new normal. My leadership are pushing unreasonable expectations to migrate our computers to a different build, regardless of what problems this causes the users of said computers. Users who have little to know real computer / operating system knowledge, medical research labs that are working hard to fight cancer, and computers that are accessed remotely by users that need them for their job.

They don’t care, they just want their dashboards to say X numbers of computers have this. There is no security threat, there is no significant reason for the change other than the change itself.

I sent a message to several of my research labs and faculty members to make them aware of this today. What came out of that message was one thing, consent. That’s what is missing here, consent.

My people rely on these computers to do work, and store data important to their work on them. If I were to blatantly rebuild these machines, there is a possibility that data that is important to them would be lost. To me, an unacceptable risk.

I haven’t connected all of the dots yet, but there has been increasing measures to combine IU and IU Health’s computing resources. Those measures didn’t increase until the head of my division started his role. Coincidence? I really don’t think it is.

I sent Brad an email, not expecting a response. I had to air some of my grievances at what is going on. He replied in kind, and thanked me for my kind words. I know he will be okay, I know I’ll be okay. I just do not like the direction I see the world of education going. A world that welcomed me in where the real world never did.

Political Revolutionary?

The United States of America was founded on some core principals. These principals are inherent to what it is to be an American. Due to the ways in which some state laws were created, and the way my county implemented them, there is now an unbalance that a group of politicians want to exploit.

While I may spew meaningless banter on social media on political issues, I have never been one to hold much weight on political issues. To me it’s always been used to divide the people, so powers can go unchecked. I’ve tried to live my life as far away as I can from governmental intervention. I pay my taxes, I do my civic duty. Just leave me alone.

At the beginning of January, the mayor of the city closest to me proposed an increase in the county wide income taxes by 1/2% for efforts to stop climate change.

WUT? Full stop.

A municipality does not have the jurisdiction to change policy for an entire county when spoken at a general level. In this situation, they do however. Why? Numbers. The weight of the vote is determined by the citizenship behind the municipality.

The imbalance is so high that the combined voting capacities of the entire county and 2 other municipal areas within the county do not have the capability to stop the proposal.

That is not democracy.

So I spoke up, with the encouragement of a township trustee I then made a facebook page to focus my views and thoughts on the subject at hand. I can only assume that my words were noticed, as a reporter for the local newspaper wants to interview me on the subject.

Unfortunately this puts me in an awkward situation with a friend. As he is currently the president of the city council. The exact board at which I’m currently at odds with. He and I have often butted heads regarding issues the city council is considering. I value his friendship, and have let him know as such. My feelings on this subject are purely political.

I guess I will see where this road takes me. I just hope that road doesn’t mean the loss of a friend.

The National Rifle Association

A few months ago, I purchased my second handgun. This is the first public mention of it. The model to be exact is a Taurus P111 G2, chambered in 9mm. It’s a great compact concealed carry weapon. I happen to be a firm believer in the 2nd amendment, but I do believe certain views of it are outdated and some change needs to happen.

I was raised with weapons all around me, and have always been a natural with whatever firearm I shoot. Whether it be a handgun, an AK-47 or a shotgun. I’m a good aim. With that much power, comes responsibility. I’m a responsible firearm owner, and hold human life higher than anything else and would only take a life in the defense of another. I wanted to join the military but a diagnosis of epilepsy at 16 prevented that from happening.

With the number of mass shootings in this country skyrocketing by the day, I sometimes don’t feel safe anywhere I go. I had a gun pulled on me in my early 20s by someone who can only be best described as a hoodlum. It scared me right to a gun shop. The fact that I work at a very large geographical location that bans weapons from being held by anyone but police? I don’t want to die at my job because someone didn’t like the support we gave them just like I don’t want to die while watching a movie.

As a part of the purchase of the firearm, I was given a free 1 year membership to the NRA (National Rifle Association). I took it, and accepted a subscription to one of their magazines, called “America’s 1st Freedom.” At first glance, I just received the 2nd one today this is a magazine filled with very right-wing values. Any views or stances against a militarized population who has access to full automatic weapons seems to be against their views.

I joined to get an insider’s perspective, and while I totally understand the whole left/right perspective to get a middle consensus, this is just unhealthy. They seem to be a breeding ground for the mental issues that seem to be the majority of reasons for the mass shootings I spoke of earlier. You would totally think than an organization such as the NRA would want a healthy talk of different viewpoints, and healthier individuals sending their message across the country. This is not the feeling I get from their literature.

Regardless your views, without weapons we would not have been able to overthrow the British. It’s only right that we have the same capabilities in proportion if actual government tyranny were to happen again.

My view is pretty simple and understandable. Wouldn’t criminals be very leery of committing crimes if they knew a majority of individuals were armed? It’s not about being loud and proud. It’s about being silent and at the ready, much like the minutemen of the 18th century. You only get one life, and I don’t want mine ending for reasons other than my body being finished.

Save Our Children’s Future

With the “Great Recession” the economic outlook in Indiana has been downright bleak. It’s so bleak that the state has been forced to cut funding to K-12 schools and all publicly funded post secondary schools. This is primarily due to the cuts in property taxes passed several years ago, which is where our public schools get their money. A decade ago, I didn’t really care, as my time in school was horrible at best. I have a daughter in 4th grade now, and another who will be in school before I know it. It’s important to me that they have the same opportunities to enrich their lives that I had.

While the post secondary schools can handle these cuts by many different means, our public (K-12) schools have very limited means to deal with the lack of funding.

Many are closing or consolidating schools, requiring payment to ride a bus, adding fees for extra-curricular activities. This is almost all options our public schools have, and it really ticks me off.

While I’ve been hearing about school systems around Indianapolis having meetings and public forums to discuss how they are going to handle these shortfalls, it didn’t hit home until our local school system, MCCSC (Monroe County Community School Corporation) brought up the subject. They are proposing to eliminate many of the programs and services that make our school system diverse and great.

There has been talk of a referendum that if passed, would help eliminate that shortfall. I’m all for it, but I don’t know how much support it really has. My property taxes are so low, that it wouldn’t bother me at all to pay a little extra to help my childrens education. Property tax caps are the reason for this mess in the first place. Thank you Mitch Daniels, you’ve done a wonderful job ruining the surplus our state had.

Here’s a list of the proposed cuts:

• Increase class-size ratio, generating approximately 45 certified staff (teaching) cuts.

• Eliminate elementary and middle school media specialists.

• Eliminate middle school foreign language.

• Eliminate middle school Family and Consumer Science.

• Eliminate one assistant, part-time athletic director at each high school.

• Reduce high school assistant coaches (no specific numbers or areas revealed)

• Possibly reduce extracurricular activities (brain game, spell bowl, etc.) at high schools and middle schools.

• Eliminate six elementary assistant principal positions for 2011-12.

• Eliminate the unfilled assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction job and the secretarial job for that post.

• Eliminate the healthy school coordinator position.

• Freeze all administrative salaries.

• Reduce school board salaries.

• Consolidate Aurora Alternative High School into an existing high school with some reduction to staff.

• Close the Teen Learning Center.

• Close Alternative to Suspension.

• Close Youth Outreach.

• Eliminate the Bradford Woods.

• Eliminate Honey Creek School.

• Eliminate elementary strings program.

• Drain the high school pools out of season.

• Eliminate Batchelor Middle School pool and fill it in.

• Eliminate substitutes for building secretaries.

• Eliminate summer school.

While some of these cuts make sense to me both financially and logically others do not. Here is a list of the programs/services that should be saved in my opinion.

Elementary and middle school media specialists (librarians). This is a bad move, really bad. As a child I loved books, and I believe librarians are the reason why. Without librarians, our children won’t receive the proper knowledge, appreciation and enthusiasm about books. This seems like a gateway to eliminate libraries altogether.
Reducing some extra-curricular activities. Some kids aren’t athletic, some kids like to expand their minds through some of these activities. Why punish those kids while leaving the ones who enjoy athletics alone? Why some and not all?
Consolidation of Aurora. I’m a little on the fence about this issue. My generation was the first to use this invaluable resource. Some kids don’t learn well in normal learning environments. Aurora allows these kids to learn on their terms. In many cases these kids would simply drop out. While consolidation may help the bottom line, it’s not beneficial if it hurts the education of it’s students.
Alternative to Suspension. Is this “In-school suspension?” That’s what the alternative was when I went. It should be saved so those students don’t fall farther behind, this is essentially turning your back on the students who need help the most.
Eliminating Bradford Woods. When I went, it was a week long event. It’s now only a day or two I believe. While I understand it’s not completely necessary it is a nice treat to get away and learn about nature and your surroundings.
Eliminating Honey Creek School. This astounds me. This school is a two room schoolhouse that is used as a learning lab for elementary students. They get the opportunity to act as if they are living in the 19th century. If you don’t appreciate your past, you’ll never appreciate what the future brings.
Eliminating the Elementary Strings Program. This program is dear to my heart, as I was in this program in 4th and 5th grade. Without this the only interaction children have with instruments is the recorder in 4th grade. It’s really an eye opener to the world of music. Without this program, I don’t think I would have played the violin in the school systems’ orchestra from 7th grade until I left high school. I can’t wait for the day I can get my hands on another violin and start playing again. Music is essential to creativity, something that doesn’t transmit on paper.
Eliminating Summer School. Hello? Seriously? I don’t even think I need to explain this one.

I hope the community will rally behind our children. They are our future! If you want to voice your opinion, the MCCSC has a web page you can visit and let them know. I’ll be sending them a link to this posting. Do the same! As Spock always said, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.”

Primarily Undecided

For the first time in my lifetime, the Indiana Primary has become an important step in the process of deciding who will become the next president of the United States.

The hardest part, for this household anyway is deciding on who to vote for. We are not “hardline” party voters. We instead vote for the issues that are more important to us, and try to make an effort to vote for a person who will do their job, and do it well.

Since G.W.’s administration has made everything under the sun a nightmare, we are voting Democratic this time. One point I have been making since it has become a Obama vs. Clinton showdown is that history will be made no matter who wins the nomination.

Both canidates have made appearances in Bloomington.
Obama showed up for the Little 500, and was here last night. He gave a speech at Assembly Hall with a crowd of 13,000 present. I sat comfortably at home and watched it via a live feed on the Herald-Times website.
Hillary, Chelsea and Bill Clinton have all made appearances here. While I have not gotten a chance to see any of them speak, I haven’t heard much buzz regarding those appearances either.

When all of this began I was leaning towards voting for Hillary, but I have changed my mind, I think. The turning point for me was last night when Obama said that, his entire campaign was funded by the american people, one $25 check at a time.”

Last night, we went to my grandmothers for dinner. We have to drive by the airport to get there, and saw a large plane. It had an american flag and “The United States” printed on the sides of it. We knew it was for Obama. While there, we were watching the news and they had a live feed from Indianapolis. He was there speaking. About 11pm, long after his speech here was over, we felt that plane leave. It was an experience unto itself.

This country needs a change, and while I see it happening with either canidate, I see it happening better with Obama behind the wheel.

My Presidential Vote is Going to Santa Claus!

Last Saturday evening, my father and I went to the Murat Centre to see one of my most favorite comedians, Lewis Black.

It was my first time visiting the Murat, and the first time my father and I had seen Lewis.

He is most known for his “rant” style of comedy. For those who know my father, they are very similar as he loves to rant about my step-brother.

I have attempted over the past several days to embed clips from YouTube of Lewis, but for some reason can’t, so I will leave links to my favorite clips.

Here he is at the 2007 emmys: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFYhupmhhBw I know the producers of a certain show will enjoy this clip tremendously.

He often speaks about politics, but his set didn’t have much to do with it this time, even though it was only few days away from election day. His main message: Santa for President in ’08! I know it may be shocking, but it has some merit behind it. Lewis said, “None of the current canidates for president have the one qualification needed, joining the republican and democratic party’s to attain goals.” I believe him.

This clip is the beginning of the set he performed for us (minus the helicopter): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUCxoeGZ_Js

There was one hiccup, as confetti speraticly fell from the catwalk above the stage. It diverted the audiences’ attention from Lewis and the other comedian. In a moment of frustration, Lewis said he would track down Sammy Hagar, who was the previous performer there. He would then put S*** on top of his stage to fall on him. It was a moment of pure angst. Somewhat similar to the clip above.

Lewis is also famous for his part on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He has a segment that airs from time to time called, “Back in Black.” I love it! Here’s a clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4SDQu7Izrk

All in all, I think he’s as cutting edge as George Carlin was in the 70’s. I can’t wait to see him again.

What Relief?

The Governor of Indiana, Mitch Daniels aka “My Man Mitch” has a new plan for the property tax crisis that is mainly afflicting Indianapolis and it’s surrounding counties.

I’m mad as hell, because I voted for this guy. He’s not “my man” anymore.

Let me outline this tax crisis for those of you not aware of the situation. This year, many peoples’ property taxes increased significantly. So much that it makes it almost impossible to own a home in some areas around Indianapolis. My sister-in-law lives in the extreme southeast corner of Marion County and has some personal knowledge of some of these increases. A co-worker of hers property taxes went from $2000 a year, to a whopping $10,000 a year. No this is not a mansion, this is a “standard” home, on a lot between 1/8 and 1/2 an acre.

The Plan: The Governor proposed a cap on property taxes to 1% of the assessed value of the property, plus a 1% increase in sales tax.

This may be a good deal for many in the Indianapolis area, but not for me.

This plan in effect would theoretically increase my property taxes by as much as 35%, plus I would have to pay 1% more for most of the items I purchase! How does this help me?

This is by no means a done deal yet. It has to pass through the legislature, and an amendment to the Indiana Consitution has to be made before it is law. As we all know, the beginning proposal and the end result can be completely different.

As a person commented on the Herald-Times website about this story, “They call this a 1% cap making you think that is all you will ever pay, the truth being as your property value goes up so do your property tax. According to my property tax a 1% tax is about what I’m now paying, so now I get to pay 7% sales tax? We need to do away with personal property tax and raise the indiana income tax. As people make more income the state receives more income, should never have to raise taxes again. The State needs to live within their means as all the private sector does. If you don’t have the money you don’t do it.”

Either way, I’m mad as hell.