Category Archives: Politics

Participatory Culture, Politics

WBAA: Ask the Mayor

I first heard about an upcoming original program on WBAA that would involve local mayors taking questions from WBAA staff and citizens.  Live.  On-the-air.

A return to WBAA’s call-in-show, AM 920 Magazine.

This rumor became a reality last week on July 3rd around noon when Ask the Mayor debuted on WBAA.  The inaugural episode was hosted by Stan Jastrzebski and had Mayor John Dennis on as its first guest.  You can listen to the show’s MP3 archive.

Sadly, work forced me to be away from audio during the time it was broad cast.  I even had it on my calendar:

Ask-The-Mayor-2014-07-03I also missed the rebroadcast at 6PM that day.

Today, WBAA finally posted a link to the show, but sadly, no MP3s were included.  They do, however, have an RSS feed.  No embedded content, though.

I hope this changes soon so I can hear how the first show went.

[UPDATE 2014-07-10: They are online now in the RSS feed. Even today’s with Mayor Tony Roswarski.]

I would encourage everyone who cares about their local community to mark in their calendars for 12pm – 12:30pm on Thursdays and tune in to WBAA’s local program, Ask the Mayor.

We could certainly use more of this type of local programming. Especially on WBAA. Call them. Encourage them. Let Mike Savage, Station Manager, know you want to hear more.

Participatory Culture, Politics

WL: Growing Pains Moving from a Third to a Second Class City

As an assiduous citizen of West Lafayette, the place where we call home, I write this with a curious mind.

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The biggest question to go before the Council in decades, forever changing the political makeup of West Lafayette, should not be made haste and must be given its due consideration.

On June 2nd, the West Lafayette City Council publicly asked itself if it should move from a Third Class to a Second Class City with Ordinance 17-14.

It passed its first reading by a vote of 6 -1.  Councilor Vicki Burch (District 3) voted against the ordinance.

When it goes before the Council again, possibly as soon as July or August, it will be for its second and final reading.

How do we qualify?

Indiana Code 36-4-1 covers the classification of cities in the State.

STATUS AND POPULATION CLASS

Cities of 600,000 or more First class cities

Cities of 35,000 to 599,999 Second class cities

Cities of less than 35,000 Third class cities

Prior to annexation, the population of West Lafayette was around 29,596 according to the 2010 US Census information.  With the recent Annexation of land around West Lafayette, including the Purdue University campus the population grew to include the residence halls located within the new boundaries. The majority of the population growth attributed to the City is now made up of non-residents who attend Purdue.  I have been trying to locate a new population estimate from the City, but have been unable to do so. You can, however, use the information provided by City-Data.com and compare it to the Annexation map to get an idea based on their density maps.

Ch…Ch…Changes!

The governance changes to the City have been well documented in this memorandum (quick 5-page read) provided by City Attorney, Eric Burns. A quick overview of the memorandum:

  • Mayor no longer presides over the City Council.
    • A president, elected by the Council (currently Councilor Ann Hunt).  The Council must also elect a vice-president.
    • The City Council would also be responsible for producing the agenda, which is currently handled by the Mayor’s office.
  • City Council will grow to six districts and three at-large members.
    • It is currently five and two, respectively.
  • The Clerk-Treasurer position is split, with the Clerk becoming elected by the citizens and the City Controller (formerly Treasurer) is appointed by the Mayor.
    • The appointment of deputies and employees becomes governed by City ordinance.
  • When there is a vacancy in a City office, the position is filled by the city controller until the caucus appoints a replacement.
  • The West Lafayette Community School Corporation loses its Playground Found (~$68,000) yearly.
  • The City receives two more seats on the Tippecanoe Area Planning Commission.
    • One is an elected official, the other is a citizen.

In going through all of this data, it appears we are moving incredibly quickly towards radically changing the governance model of our City.  We recently redistricted (December 2012, original map).  We recently passed a large Annexation with a public university.  Now we want to change classification of our City.  All within the span of less than 2 years. When I have asked the City Council and Mayor about the rush towards reclassification, I hear that we want to put up the new districts prior to the next election.  My initial concern with this redistricting is that it may have to be heavily skewed towards creating another student district.

Precincts, Districts, and the Student Voting Bloc

I have asked this and similar questions, voicing my concerns, when the City was first discussing Annexation of Purdue and the surrounding neighborhoods to the South and West. Journal and Courier article (portion online, behind paywall):  West Lafayette annexation concern: the student voting bloc WLFI (thanks for being online and accessible): Currently, District 1 (represented by Councilor Eddie VanBogaert), was won by 41 votes (page 30). West Lafayette District 01 Votes 2011 19 votes went towards Republican Josh Teasdale.  There were 1990 registered votes.  62 turned out.  Two did not vote for either VanBogaert or Teasdale. West Lafayette District 1 Map 2011 A total of 5,941 people live in District 1 according to the 2012 redistricting map, which is close to the 2011 map, except for the addition of what appears to be blocks 68, 204, and 6. Of those, 1990 are registered to vote.  Of those 1990, only 62 voted on Election Day.  That’s 3.1% of the population that was registered to vote in District 1.  The 62 is 1.04% of the population that lives in District 1.  Due to its location, I would assume the majority are college students above the age of 17. Indiana Code IC 3-5-5-7 does define temporary residency, so I am not sure how this will play out with the Purdue population that now resides in West Lafayette City Limits:

Temporary residency Sec. 7. Subject to section 6 of this chapter, a person does not gain residency in a precinct into which the person moves for: (1) temporary employment; (2) educational purposes; (3) preparing to purchase or occupy a residence; or (4) other purposes; without the intent of making a permanent home in the precinct.

How many students will claim they are making their Purdue residency their permanent home? Councilor Peter Bunder (District 2) is happy about the proposition of a new student district:

Professionally, I would hope the new “District Six” would be a (mostly) student district. My job includes pushing Purdue students beyond self-interest and corporate utility into an appreciation of community and a participation in the political process. Governing is difficult, but government is good. The West Lafayette political community should model young adult inclusion in government.

I agree with Council Bunder.  Inspiring students beyond self-interest and corporate utility is a good thing.  Sadly, however, students are idiots (in the classic Athenian sense, selfish) as represented by their involvement in the City proper, their turnout for District 1, and the countless other ways they egocentrically view the Commons that is our great City.

I worry, with the Annexation and subsequent redistricting, along with the Second Class City demand for another City Council district, we may create another abysmally low turnout Councilor position, possibly providing two seats at the table for a mere 120 votes.

An unaccountable elected leader is not what this City needs, especially with the upcoming State Street Master Plan, updates to the Purdue Master Plan, and countless developments (Fuse, 225 Northwestern, #plywoodcity) that continue to go before the Council for final approval.

What I Have and Continue Ask

I have asked for the City Council members and mayor, at their meetings, in phone calls and e-mails, to answer a few questions regarding the transition.

  • Why do you want to reclassify the City of West Lafayette now?
  • What new monies would we be eligible for if we reclassify ourselves?
    • In some cases, I have been told that the awarding amount changes with classification.  A follow up to this has been:
      • How have we fared with the Third Class City amounts?  Have we required more?  Do we require more now?
  • What does the Second Class City redistricting map look like?
    • In various instances, other cities that have moved on this reclassification, have their district maps prior to final approval of the transition.  The most recent case that I could find is from Fishers, Indiana.
    • What is the filing date for the new district maps?
      • Is there an Indiana Code that mandates this time?
      • Can we have the redistricting proposal prior to the Second Class City transition vote?
    • How many students would be eligible to vote in local elections per Indiana Code 3-5-5-7?
  • Is there a reason why Ordinance 17-14 was not asked as a public referendum question?
    • I cannot find Indiana Code that forbids certain questions being asked as a referendum.  I have found specific mentions as to when a referendum must be used.  I will continue to investigate.

A lot of questions still need to be answered and new ones form as information arises.  I am cautious about Ordinance 17-14.  We can’t go backwards.  The Mayor presiding over the Council, Clerk-Treasurer split, and the possibility of another 60-vote district are concerning to me.  The latter being frightening in a representative democracy.

Be Engaged! Democracy Only Works with You.

Republics need you even more. Please contact our City Council.  Call the Mayor (765-775-5103). Talk to your neighbors.  Let the City know how you feel about this question.  It will forever impact West Lafayette, Indiana and it would behoove us to make sure future generations know that we answered this question with care, compassion, and thought. Some of the local media’s coverage of the Second Class City question:

 

Education, Politics

#bikelala, Planning, and Cognitive Dissonance

In April 27th’s Sunday paper, Dave Bangert writes Drivers, cyclists and a mirror of shared blame, discussing the recent APC study regarding bicycle crashes in Tippecanoe County from 2007 – 2012.

The report is a good reference point with statistics, maps, and suggestions.  Crashes are denoted by time of day, weather conditions, etc.

In this particular map (page 18), it shows the location of the crashes and their density by color.

APC-Bicycle-Crash-Map-2014

The report does not state if the cyclist had proper gear on their bicycle.  For instance, I cannot find the words bell, whistle, siren, or audible in the report.

In my own riding, I find that, during daylight hours, my bell is the most important piece of equipment on my bicycle.

Per Title 9 of the Indiana Code, a bicycle should have something that makes noise that is not a siren or whistle.  Yelling also does not count, however, communicating On your left! is helpful and respectful.

IC 9-21-11-8
Bell or other audible signaling devices; sirens; whistles
 Sec. 8. A person may not ride a bicycle unless the bicycle is equipped with a bell or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least one hundred (100) feet. A bicycle may not be equipped with and a person may not use upon a bicycle a siren or whistle.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.

Making everyone mindful that a bicycle is present is one of the most important defensive riding techniques one can employ.  If you don’t have a bell, I highly recommend purchasing one ASAP.  I personally use a Crane and find them to be amazing in their clarity and have a pleasant tone.  You can purchase them at Virtuous Cycles in Downtown Lafayette.

Another disturbing aspect in Bangert’s article is the mentioning of Purdue’s recent plan suggestions (emphasis is mine).  If anyone has a full link to this report and/or suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it.

Purdue is paying $150,000 to consultants Rundell Ernstberger Associates of Muncie and Toole Design Group of Silver Spring, Md., to develop an integrated bicycle master plan and make recommendations on commuter routes to and from campus. During a public meeting Thursday, the consultants outlined a number of suggestions, including possible “contraflow” lanes that would allow cyclists to ride against traffic on one-way streets, separated bike paths through and near campus, better designed intersections and curbs, and better driver and cyclist education campaigns. A lot of it, consultants repeatedly said, could be done, perhaps with just some paint, “on day one.”

Creating contraflow lanes is a myopic and foolhearted endeavor that will only lead to greater confusion and possibly disastrous cognitive dissonance.  I would be curious about the empirical data to back up this suggestion, especially in the context of Purdue.

Our traffic system in #greaterlala is not that complicated.  It may be perceived as an inconvenience to ride a couple of streets over, but you are on a bicycle.  Pedal a bit.

For instance, this is my path to the West Lafayette Public Library.  I avoid going the wrong way on Vine St.

Bike-Path-to-WLPL

It appears, based on this and other suggestions, that we as a community wish to lower our standards for cycling by providing exceptions to the rules so people can ride in illogical and less predictable ways.

I have similar concerns over the State Street (Traffic) Master Plan‘s inclusion of bike lanes on campus.  Turn off the bike lane and you have to become a car again.  Enter downtown Lafayette and the same is true.

Portions of the cycling community believe that since we are not wrapped in metal and are powering ourselves by way of our own bodies, we somehow elevate to the status of magical pedestrian, able to bend traffic rules and laws at will.

These types of suggestions do nothing but prevent us from evolving into a predictable agent of travel, by whatever means we choose to transverse the land.

Be mindful out there.  Use your bell.  When it’s dark, use your lights as well.

Ride safe.