Comment Archives: stories: Voices: Hoppe
Re: “Money talking in Broad Ripple”
I still don't like the idea of tearing down all of old Broad Ripple. Under the aluminum facade of those buildings are very attractive apartments.
Re: “We could lose passenger rail service”
It is true that no rail system is "self-sustaining," but neither is any road. Every road is subsidized--it was built with tax funds from people who might never drive on. And even though gasoline taxes are "supposed to" cover all the maintenance, when it falls short we don't just shut down the road, we spend money from other taxpayers.
Trains are no different, and with an appropriate infrastructure to support high-speed rail, would be a far superior experience to "MegaBus" or driving yourself. You'd be in downtown Chicago in under two hours.
Yeah, really, who wants that.
Re: “We could lose passenger rail service”
Too bad Hoppe is trying to live in the 1800's when rail travel
was the transit mode. Just rent the movie, Once Upon a Time in the West to get your rail fix and watch old History Channel train documentaries.
The transit mode of the 21st Century is the personal mobile
vehicle (PMV) aka automobile. Why? Um..total versatility.
If Amtrak closes their Chicago route, because of lack of customers, why in the hell would you want a high speed rail?
Time for Hoppe to get on the clue bus, er, the MegaBus and ride
one and see the advantages. Then go rent the movie.
NO rail system in the USA supports itself or is SUSTAINABLE.
You want to be 'SUSTAINABLE' don't you?
Mass transit relies on heavy subsidies to operate. At the turn of the 1900's only the very rich could afford a car, now almost everyone can...it has been democratized, like most technology.
Would you go back to dial up modem? Every google search
amounts to the same energy as bringing water to a boil. Want
to give up google search to save the planet?
Re: “We could lose passenger rail service”
A quick wiki search reveals:
"During fiscal year (FY) 2011, the Hoosier State carried approximately 37,000 passengers."
So with a $4,000,000 subsidy / 37,000 passengers = $108 subsidy per passenger plus the passenger pays $32 per ticket.
Or passengers can buy a megabus ticket for the same $32 price and the state can keep it's $4,000,000
Re: “We could lose passenger rail service”
Just to clarify, the Hoosier State runs 4 days a week, as you point out, and it could be going away. However, the Cardinal still will run from Chicago to DC and stop in Indy, so not all service is lost.
Also, the route is 5hrs 5mins, station to station due to stops in Crawfordsville, Lafayette, Rensellaer, and perhaps Dyer. Megabus is 3.5 hours and Greyhound is about the same.
Re: “We could lose passenger rail service”
Well written. What is Indiana afraid of? Investing in rail travel isn't going to put current means of travel in jeopardy, only improve it. You can't tell me the cost of maintaining or building rail lines are more costly than roadbeds for vehicular traffic.
Re: “We could lose passenger rail service”
"But have you driven Interstate 65 between Chicago and Indy lately?"
-I do this frequently, as recently as yesterday. The pot holes are as bad as I've seen, no doubt due to the harsh winter we just went through, coupled with the heavy traffic. I would love to have more passenger rail options, and quit contributing to the problem!
Re: “The fear that voting actually works”
I willingly voted for the new Wishard Hospital and so increased my tax bill. I expected that our leaders would take a fiduciary responsibility to manage costs – but instead they saw their responsibility to build their own campaign war chests. It wasn’t until well after the tax increase passed we learned that a PLA (Project Labor Agreement) was signed, locking out 80 percent of local contractors and increasing costs by tens of millions of tax dollars. (If you remember, citing quality concerns, a PLA was signed for Lucas Oil Stadium, which after just two years needed millions of our dollars to repair shoddy plumbing work.)
The new Wishard Hospital was needed, but it quickly became a scheme to increase union membership, with monies flowing from taxpayers to favored union shops to campaign war chests to elect politicians who will increase union membership and dues.
With this memory, I will never again vote to increase my taxes
Re: “The fear that voting actually works”
liberals spending money we don't have
Re: “The fear that voting actually works”
well put. undermining, underfunding and throwing public services (like they have done to public schools for a decade or so) under the bus are how the rich people keep appropriating the best services for themselves and controlling wealth information and society in general
Re: “Indiana government, sponsored by Koch”
Ironic that Mr Hoppe is so skeptical of ALEC, yet so supportive of a transit plan that was written by rich white Republicans.
Re: “Mick Jagger, the Rock Star”
Mic Jagger is the CEO of The Rolling Stones, Inc. Making it look like fun is all part of the deal. We are only left to hope it really is still fun.
Re: “Mick Jagger, the Rock Star”
metaphor: rock and roll (cocaine and heroin)
http://adventuresofagreenhorn.blogspot.com/2013/02/metaphor-rock-and-roll-cocaine-and.html
metaphor pt2 (rock and roll, parade)
http://adventuresofagreenhorn.blogspot.com/2013/02/metaphor-pt2-rock-and-roll-parade.html
Re: “Indiana government, sponsored by Koch”
As a nation, and worse, as a state, we have lost track of the difference between capitalism and democracy. As a whole we fail to recognize when competition is out of control. While not forced to vote, we are forced to buy milk. The difference between social apathy and ignorant ideals is funding.
Re: “Those cuts at the IMA: The end of an era?”
Just like the Ai Weiwei show, the Matisse exhibition was NOT negotiated by Venable. It was accomplished because of the prior director and his administration. Venable is just getting the credit for the efforts of Max Anderson.
Re: “Indiana government, sponsored by Koch”
Don't forget that Chris Atkins, Pence's budget director and his campaign policy director, was previously the tax policy director at ALEC.
Re: “Getting married: Here's to the future!”
Nice write-up, David.
Re: “Those cuts at the IMA: The end of an era?”
What's happening at the IMA is saddening. However, I wish the author of this article hadn't made his point by declaring the IMA to be the ONLY museum providing access to contemporary art of “any significance” in Indianapolis. For well over a decade, the Eiteljorg’s Fellowship for Native American Art has provided extremely thought-provoking and engaging exhibitions of contemporary art.
If you want social and global, it's important to not neglect the artwork and institutions that challenge the traditional western/European viewpoint of what contemporary art should consist of.
Both of these institutions are gems in the Indy contemporary art scene! And one should not be disparaged or neglected simply for the sake of raising awareness for the other.
Re: “Getting married: Here's to the future!”
Great post. And best wishes to the bride and groom.
Ron Tierney
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Re: “Money talking in Broad Ripple”
if broadripple wants to really change itself,
shut down the road going through the main area.... make it foot traffic only.
Aim for more local businesses, and fewer big box stores.
ENCOURAGE rather then discourage locals to setup "carts" along the canal selling art, and food....
Clean up the alleys, streets, and sidewalks.... make this the responsablitiy of the local businesses...
Setup safer travel to the area via pickup / drop off services to downtown... and hotels through out the city... (tax every beer 10 cents to pay for it)... turn the shell station into a large parking lot... Open a farmers market one day per week. Open an artist market one day per week... at least spring through fall... Open the monon between BR ave and about 64th street 24/7.
want the canal to be something.... let vendor set up there every day.... for little to no cost (maybe just have them charge local sales taxes)... open a beer garden on the canal on fridays or saturdays.... So many ideas for this (my favorite part of the city).... that do not include begging big businesses to come in and lower the community value of the enviroment.