Missing facts

I recently read a July 7 letter to NUVO from a local environmental activist, Mr. Clarke Kahlo, criticizing Mayor Bart Peterson on his record on saving greenspace and parkland (Mail, “Commons Park”). He wrote “The current land grab attempt is particularly hard to swallow, however, because Bart Peterson has given so much lip service to the importance of parks.” He goes on to say that the mayor’s efforts in this area have chiefly been “window dressing.”
Although I certainly admire the passion of his conviction, Mr. Kahlo leaves out several very important facts from his discussion.

Fact 1: From 2000 to 2002, the City of Indianapolis — under the leadership of Mayor Bart Peterson, Indy Parks and the Indianapolis Parks Foundation — acquired more acreage of parkland than any other three-year period in nearly 30 years. That includes the 101 acre expansion of Southwestway Park, which is the city’s second largest park. What’s more, Indy Parks has acquired 172 acres of new park land in 2003 and 2004.

Fact 2: In the past five years, the city has raised millions of private and public dollars to expand our world-renowned greenways system. In the past five years, Indy Parks has built and extended the Monon Trail, Little Buck Creek Trail, White River Greenway and Eagle Creek Greenway. As a result, our greenways continue to be the envy of cities across the nation.

Fact 3: In the past five years, Indy Parks has secured millions of dollars in private and public funding — including a $10 million grant from The Lilly Endowment, the largest such grant Indy Parks has ever received — to build community centers and improve parks systemwide, but particularly in our center-city neighborhoods.

Fact 4: In 2002, Indy Parks was recognized by the National Parks & Recreation Association with accreditation. This elite designation recognizes Indianapolis as one of only a select number of cities that exceed various standards of professionalism and service in its parks system.

Fact 5: According to Indianapolis Downtown Inc., the registered neighborhood association for downtown Indianapolis, there are more than 200 acres of open space, greenspace and parkland in our downtown alone, with more coming on line in the near future.

As a current and past member myself of several environmental preservation organizations, I completely understand and agree that the city should always strive to acquire and save parkland. Mr. Kahlo and I are in lockstep on this point.

However, it is disingenuous in the least to suggest that Mayor Peterson has given “lip service” to the importance of parkland. The facts, which are plentiful, suggest quite the opposite.

Steve Campbell
Director of Communications, Office of the Mayor

Jack Miller’s report on Edison Schools got under someone’s skin (Mail, June 30-July 7 and July 14-21). Letters from Christel DeHann and Edison’s loyal fan, Superintendent Douglas Williams, were almost as long as Miller’s entire piece. His well-researched reports stand in stark contrast to the whining diatribes of these two critics. Clear and crisp, his style makes complex issues understandable, a desirable goal for both DeHann and Williams. Let’s have more Miller.

Greg Foote
Indianapolis

I MUST reply to the letter posted from Parker King, for silence, I’m afraid, will lead to acceptance (Mail, “Kerry and Edwards,” July 21-28). It is not difficult to understand which end of the political spectrum Mr. King hides his cranium in, since he makes it clear what he thinks of John Kerry’s and John Edwards’ management shortcomings, but to state that the Bush Administration has a “lack of bureaucratic scandals” is too laughable!

Mr. King, need I remind you that Halliburton’s no-bid contracts and Cheney’s blatant lies about his influence in the matter, plus the outing of a CIA operative (called TREASONABLE by Bush Sr.), threatening the country’s medical actuary with being fired if he revealed the true cost of the Medicare budget, lying about weapons of mass destruction to get us into a war with a country who never attacked us, failing to find Osama bin Laden, tax cuts for the wealthiest of Americans, running up the largest deficit in history, losing 1.9 million jobs, getting every other country in the world pissed at us and not being able to pronounce the word “nuclear” are the tip of the iceberg with this inept group of idealogues.

When will you get your head out of the sand and free yourself of justifying this administration’s actions? I’m a liberal, and I know where my politics lie. I also know when to let go of incompetence and stubborn futility. Face the fact that the antics of this administration would be criticized harshly by you if the president had a “D” behind his name instead of an “R.” And the principal difference between you and I is the fact that I would criticize him as well. Grow up.

George Harris
Pendleton

I heard there was a little tension when Andy Horning — the Republican candidate running against Julia Carson — showed up at the Black Expo for a candidates’ forum. The unspoken message was “Why would you think we would vote for a white Republican man over a black Democrat woman?” as though that possibility was incredible. I am writing to offer some reasons why the possibility is quite reasonable.

First, as a brilliant white professional, he could claim a big piece of the American Dream and live in an expensive house in an exclusive neighborhood. Instead, he chose to live in the 38th and Forest Manor area, and his family has been there for 11 years. It’s because of the injustices he witnessed and personally experienced in his own neighborhood that he decided to leave his comfort zone and get involved.

Second, Andy has been building bridges between two communities that have spent decades living next to each other but hardly know or understand the other.

Third, it doesn’t take long in talking to Andy that he brings a different perspective to the table that deserves a hearing.

Fourth, he is genuine. His commitment to Jesus demands that he walk his talk. This man is worth considering as the next representative of Indiana’s 7th Congressional District.

Nora Hovee
Indianapolis

Steve: I generally agree with your views and enjoy your articles. But your crack on the German government in the Aldi’s, etc. article was unwarranted (Hammer, “Martial Law Grocery Shopping,” July 21-28). Contrary to the impression you create, Germany is a very friendly country to the working poor, unemployed and most others. I’ve been there five times and have seen it firsthand. Germans get 24 days off per year, most work 35 hours per week and receive 13 religious holidays. See the related article in www.msnbc.com today. Also note that families are paid for each child born, and that women receive a generous stipend for the first year they stay at home with the little one. And don’t forget that college is free. Really. Unemployment benefits are generous, and rest assured you (or I) would much rather be there than here if we were a check or two away from true poverty.

Brett R. Fleitz
Carmel