QUOTE(exsteel5 @ Apr 19 2019, 08:28 AM)
I agree with Hypnotic. You can't really blame the Mayor for a person with a mental disorder murdering people, but you can lay some of the blame on the Mayor and the Council for the increasing unemployment rate, especially when the rest of the country has the lowest rate in 50 years. Our Council and Mayor need to be finding and offering incentives to get new industry jobs into our community. But instead, what is our council talking about? Going no smoking at parks and beaches. What? Hello, is anyone in there? How about a tax incentive to whoever wants to start making something at the old wiper blade building again? How about 10 year property tax free to a business that buys and starts a business in one of the downtown dilapidated building? How about advertising it? Are we still earning less than 0.5% on our municipal cash accounts or did someone with some financial wisdom finally invest in a high interest bearing account like at least >2%. Thos accounts are out there. Just tell Horizon to start paying higher interest or take the business somewhere else. Make a deal. Did anyone look into that or is it business as usual? The Mayor is good at making improvements to the City landscape, but that will not sustain us at people don't have jobs and end up leaving the City.
I am not connected with any campaign. I do not have any contracts with the City. I am a citizen - that's it.
I work for a local manufacturer, and you have no clue - there is no one in this county or neighboring counties that
cannot find a job somewhere close by. The latest stats show about 2000 ppl in the county drawing unemployment - those folks are not looking for jobs as they say, they are collecting. People are dropping off the roles because it is cheaper to do your own child care than to pay for it, you can now almost live on one wage, and there is quite a pick of jobs to choose from now. People do not want manual labor jobs. Obviously you have no idea what is really happening in small scale manufacturing in the area.
As far as your comment on interest rates, there is no control over this whatsoever. They keep the money local to support the local bank - duh! One (big) reason for the hot economy is low interest rates (perhaps artificially), so us savers, like the city, gets paid nothing for saving.
And why are you against smoking at the parks and beaches? Ok to blow smoke into a child's face? There are plenty of bars violating the law for you to smoke in. Public areas are for everyone and we have the right to breath fresh air.
MC Economic Development is constantly, every day, working to get those buildings filled - I know, they call our company probably monthly! The deals are great - but who, exactly, is going to take a small manufacturing job at $9 or $10/hour when McD's/Family Ex pays $13? And we need dozens of these folks, not one or two. Get a clue!
Now, back to the issue - first of all Valpo = 37k, Laporte 21k and Portage 36k ppl; MC = 29k and declining. The biggest group growing is seniors; the biggest group declining is 18-35 educated. Why? Lack of high paying jobs! Crime is down; elimination of officers on duty has no relationship to crime - use graduation rates (which are up big time), employment (comparatively, numbers are historically very good) and all sorts of other good news. What we need is exactly what we are doing - opportunities in education, park & rec improvements, good business climate and a solid government. Oh, BTW, I'm not from Naperville either, but plenty of my beach area neighbors are, and why shouldn't they want a place that looks just like home?
Condemnation of our wonderful city with no real data is just empty barrels making noise. Chiming in by people who vote against the next generation's needs just pushes the following generations further away from those areas of employment that would secure a family. We just need a few more people to open their eyes and vote before you can find a loophole so they can't.
Our schools are solid, our business climate is unreal good, our parks are outstanding and living here beats the crap out of most places on earth (including Valpo, Portage and yes Laporte). Do your own research. Maturity is about commitments and wisdom, not emotions.
Here's some data for you:
1. Highest deficits in human history by the current federal government - interest remains low
2. Highest concentration of wealth in USA as in most Latin American countries - on par with Guatemala now
3. Lowest union membership, supported by RTW which says some don't even have to pay for it (12% paid now)
4. Manufacturing jobs dipping below 20% of total employment in Indiana - first time ever