Abdul Assesses Political Climate(posted Sept 4) The Wayne Township GOP Club received a thumbnail view of the political climate by inviting radio personality Abdul-Hakim Shabazz to discuss his assessment of the county under Mayor Bart Peterson leadership. Labor Day Weekend is the pivotal day for the count down to the November Election. Candidates and incumbents are are even more concerned with the political winds because of the property tax crisis that hit homeowners. According to Abdul,"Marion County has some serious problems with crime, taxes and schools." He called it "distressing" that all three are broken. It's these "quality of life" issues that are causing taxpayers to move to Hamilton, Hendricks, and Johnson County. Although the homicide rate is down this year, he still urged the audience to look at the numbers of aggravated assault and robberies as a gauge of the county's quality of life. "Aggravated assault just means he had bad aim when shooting you," he quipped. Abdul suggested the GOP start asking people if they are better off than they were four years ago based on the format of Ronald Reagan's 1980 campaign that defeated President Jimmy Carter. Wayne Township Board Member Earl Salisbury asked Abdul if the voters are blaming the Mayor or the Governor. Abdul responded by saying that the general public is not selective when it comes to pointing fingers. They blame all the elected official across the board, that is why it is important at the local level to be able to deliver service. Abdul is currently analyzing Peterson's Plan 1 and 2 to see how much the Mayor has delivered to the public in the last eight years. He noted that this election is not really between the Democrats and Republicans, but about voter apathy vs voter anger. Abdul contends that voters still should be angry by the time the election rolls around because the county income tax will become effective October 1, coupled with his projections that reassessment will not be significant enough to lower homeowners' tax bills. He reminded the GOP about the 1,000 property tax owners protesting their bills this summer. He also qualified that anything can happen in politics, meaning the political mood could change and voter apathy could win. He said the tax situation will fundamentally change for the better next year that could lead to apathy. "The $35 million child welfare levy was going to be paid off this year and another $7-$8 million will be reduced over a settlement with United Airlines. So at the very least approximately $43 million in property taxes will be reduced because it was going to happen anyway." He did not see tax abatement and tax increment financing as bad tools. "It is knowing how to use them," he said. He said the government still needs the same amount of money to operate so issuing tax abatements and tax increment financing will require the pie slices to be cut differently. It might mean the homeowner could be paying more than the business across the street. He preferred that abatements be issued to industries, not commercial development. "Commercial follows the people," he said. Abdul predicts the Republicans may have a chance to regain the majority seats within the City County Council. "The revolution is yours. Go run with it and have fun," he said. |
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