TEARING AT THE HEART – OF OUR CITY

Parkview North is deserting the eastern side of the city for the northeast DuPont area of Allen County. The project, which is to begin in a couple of months, has been in the works for almost five years and, no big surprise, received the approval of the Allen County Plan Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals.

A number of years ago, Lutheran packed up and moved to the southwest area of Allen County, leaving only St. Joe Hospital to truly serve the urban core. St. Joe has remained faithful to the City, remaining at its current location and expanding to provide even more services to those still living in the center of the city.

Parkview has simply joined a long line of businesses and individuals who have decided to flee the City, and, in the process, widen the doughnut hole – better known as urban sprawl. With no mandatory regulations to prohibit the moves outward, our city will continue to be pulled apart.

We discuss sprawl constantly, but on one wants to take the necessary steps to curb it because of the politics of doing so. A successful restoration of the urban core – businesses, neighborhoods, etc. – must be complemented by restrictions on subdivision expansion. But restricting subdivisions requires going toe-to-toe with real estate companies, land developers, construction companies, and financial institutions. A pretty tall order that most boards and commissions lack the guts to undertake.

Residents of sprawling neighborhoods tend to emit more pollution per person and suffer more traffic fatalities. Sprawl is also linked with increased obesity since walking and bicycling are not viable commuting options. Areas of urban sprawl are characterized as highly dependent on automobiles for transportation, a condition known as automobile dependency.

Most activities, including shopping, commuting to work, and entertainment, require the use of a car as a result of both the area’s isolation from the city and the isolation the area’s residential zones have from its industrial and commercial zones.

Walking and other methods of transit are not practical. While many of Allen County’s subdivisions have sidewalks, they serve primarily as walkways for mail persons. In many suburban communities, even stores and activities that are close by are contrived to be much further, by separating uses with fences, walls, and drainage ditches.

Until commissions and boards find the courage to challenge the forces that create sprawl, we will continue to see the city pulled apart by the sprawl that continues to affect the restoration of our City’s heart.

The Google Earth map above reflects the sprawl creeping outward to the Allen and Whitley County line to the west of Fort Wayne.

WHERE’S SCHELLINGER?

Obviously, Jim Schellinger has decided to maintain some type of distance from the governor’s campaign since he was defeated by Jill Long Thompson almost two weeks ago. His concession speech did not once congratulate Jill Long Thompson. Here is his concession speech as found on his still-accessible website:

INDIANAPOLIS – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Schellinger called his primary opponent, Jill Long Thompson, at 4:15 p.m. to offer his congratulations and concede the gubernatorial primary race.

“We’re disappointed that we won’t get the chance to take on Mitch Daniels in November, but we wouldn’t trade the last 15 months for anything,” Schellinger said. “It truly was an amazing journey for me and my entire family.”

Earlier in the day, when more precincts were still unreported statewide, it appeared that the race was too close to call; however, the vote margin increased by a few thousand votes throughout the day. The final margin will likely be less than 0.5 percent.

“This was a hard-fought race that unfortunately was overshadowed by the presidential campaigns in Indiana,” Schellinger said. “I want to thank my fellow Democrats, my staff and my family for all of their support and kindness. We’ll never forget this experience.”

While the initial sentence indicates that he called JLT to offer congratulations, no where in the website speech does he once mention joining to support her in her bid against Daniels.

In a news conference at the Indiana Statehouse on May 14th, Indiana House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer (D-South Bend), Senate Democrat Leader Richard Young (D-Milltown), State Party Chair Dan Parker and several other state legislators, Marion County elected officials, and party leaders pledged their support to Long Thompson’s candidacy.

My understanding is that he was out-of-state when the Democratic party hierarchy gathered to support JLT at a news conference. You would think at some point though, he would have to come out of hiding and at least announce that he will work with the Democratic party and its nominee. If he doesn’t, it should give those who supported him pause to question his true loyalty to all Hoosiers and not just to himself.

JLT on election night

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OBAMA’S INDIANA SUPPORTERS NOT INTERESTED IN UNITY IN THE GOVERNOR’S RACE

The following is a clip from the Obama for President “events” website which literally says to Jill Long Thompson – “You support Obama, and we will support you”:

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Encourage Jill Long Thompson to endorse Barack Obama! (Organizing)

As Indiana Democrats, we want to “ditch Mitch” and see Jill Long Thompson elected as our next Governor of Indiana. As Obama supporters, we can offer her far more support in her campaign if she’ll offer support to us, as well.

We’re sending a letter, as a group, encouraging her to endorse Barack Obama for President.If you agree, but cannot attend this letter-sending event, please send an email to lpcinforobama@gmail.com and we’ll send you contact information and a form letter that you can send on your own. Of course, we still encourage as many people as possible to attend, in person; we believe in the impact of a group letter.We’ll meet in the large meeting room, downstairs, in the main branch of the La Porte County Public Library.

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So this is how Obama supporters want to build unity? By using a slimy coercive tactic to get JLT to support Obama? These supporters don’t even bother to hide what they are trying to do. You support us; we’ll support you. JLT doesn’t need help like this. It only begs the question of what else they are willing to do to get support for Obama.

The two races are separate and distinct in nature. If Obama supporters don’t want Mitch back in, they should support JLT. It has nothing to do with whether or not she supports Obama. I will be curious to see if Obama disavows this tactic.