Time to Stand Up for the Neighborhoods

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The opinions expressed in these articles and features are those of their author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of McANA or the opinion of its Directors or Officers.

Time to Stand Up for the Neighborhoods
by Pat Andrews

The I-69 deadline is fast approaching and we still have many influential people sitting on the sidelines. Luckily not all are. U.S. Congresswoman Julia Carson and State Representative Bob Behning have recently gone public with their letters of support for the application of common sense in the I-69 decision-making process. The number of elected officials, Councils and Commissions who have taken a stand against any New Terrain routes or in favor of the ‘Common Sense’ route (I-70 to US 41) continues to grow.

The Hoosier Environmental Council is keeping the “official” list. So, if your group takes a position, please forward a copy to them. (aknott@hecweb.org or Andy Knott, HEC, 1915 West 18^th Street, Indy, IN,46202)

On the list as of September 16, 2002, are: 1 Congresswoman (Carson), 6 State Senators, 9 State Representatives (prior to Mr. Behning), 3 Mayors (including Judith Anderson of Terre Haute), 3 County Councillors. Entire Elected Bodies who have taken a stand include 7 County Commissions (including Hendricks), and 5 City Councils (including Bloomington and Terre Haute).

There are 15 Newspapers listed (including the Star and NUVO), 4 Taxpayer groups, 8 Farm groups, 9 Economic Development groups, 21 Conservationist groups (HEC, Sierra Club, and Protect Our Rivers Now!), 8 Citizens groups (McANA, Sunshine Gardens, and the Decatur Township Civic Council), 2 Religious groups, 1 University, and 20 Union Locals.

On September 9^th, the Decatur Township Civic Council sponsored its own public airing of the I-69 New Terrain routes that lead into Marion County via either SR 31 or Mann Road. We were fortunate to have a number of our local elected officials present to hear directly from their constituents. Among these were: Councillors Bob Cockrum, Karen Horseman, and Lonnell Conley; Marion County Treasurer Greg Jordan; State Representative Bob Behning and State Senator Mike Young; Decatur Township Trustee Steve Rink, and members of Decatur Township Board including the President Jason Holliday and Dale Best. Congress was in session, so Congresswoman Julia Carson and Senator Evan Bayh were gracious enough to send representatives.

We thank all of these influential people for coming to our meeting and for listening to our community. But, we need you to take a stand now.

November 7^th is the deadline for public comments and we will be sure to give our list of logical and substantive reasons I-69 should not come into Marion County via a new terrain route.

But let me give you one very emotional reason. Freeways kill neighborhoods and injure communities. All of the interstates we have slicing through Indianapolis have forever left scars on once thriving neighborhoods. They may still exist in a new form, but their spirit is broken and their glory is gone. One I-69 new terrain route will kill off Sunshine Gardens. The other a neighborhood at Mann Road and I-465. The rest of Perry or Decatur Township will see a huge cement barrier that will forever cut the community up and cut the community off from each other.

I-70 exists. Whatever damage it has done in Indianapolis can never be repaired, but it is done. Lets not repeat that cruelty.

I know I speak for many in Decatur and Perry Townships – We need the City-County Council to take a stand for us. We need the Mayor to take a stand for us.

Now is the time.