Our city faces a choice. We can continue down the road that favors big corporations over locally owned small businesses, that uses taxpayer's money to bail out the CIB rather than funding public libraries, and that ignores our continuous public safety problems, or we can choose a new direction that favors our citizens and our communities over corporate interests.
As a citizen of Indianapolis, I've watched in frustration as Council President Vaughn and the Ballard administration have taken our city in the wrong direction. Neighborhoods have been ignored. Public safety has gone downhill. Libraries reduce their hours, and parks fall into disrepair. Meanwhile we give tax abatements to already thriving big businesses, we sell off our city's parking assets for 50 years (saddling future generations with no flexibility), and we divert taxpayer money to corporations that, at the end of the day, do not need taxpayer help.
I am running for City-County Council because these unsustainable, irresponsible practices need to end. Creating a better Indianapolis starts with responsible spending that focuses on strengthening small businesses, empowering communities, and creating safe, thriving neighborhoods.
ENDORSEMENTS
• Len endorsed by Communications Workers of America Local 4900
• Len endorsed by the Marion County Sheriff's Office Deputies Bargaining Unit
SPEECH TO THE NORA NORTH-SIDE COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Hello, my name is Len Farber and I am a candidate for City-County Council in the Third District, which encompasses most of the area that is part of the Nora-Northside Community Council. Read more of Len's speech >>
I want to tell you a little bit about myself and why I would be a great addition to the City-County Council. To begin with, I will bring a different perspective to the Council. While I have nothing against educators, lawyers, or lobbyists, I am none of those as my background is in biomedical research, I have earned my master's degree in chemistry and my PhD in pharmacology. More recently I have been working in the information technology industry and at various points of my career I have been involved in adult education. These are all areas of great importance to a city moving into the 21st century.
More importantly my background brings an added analytical perspective to the dealings of the Council, to the ordinances that we would pass, and to the contracts we enter into.
For instance, I would have rejected the one-sided 50-year parking meter leasing contract based on unrealistic projections that will commit our grandchildren to mistakes that we make today. And I would never have ceded the city's right to issue bonds for the sake of a private company in Texas that now controls our parking meters.
Now, the Ballard administration believes that giving $6.3 million dollars to a private developer to build a parking structure in Broad Ripple is an investment. By their estimates, it would take 18, 20 or even 25 years before the city recovers that amount in taxes. I have a different definition of investment – it involves a reasonable return on the people's money within a reasonable timeframe. I don't believe that the city should be a sugar daddy for rich developers.
My campaign is from the grassroots and based in a belief that strong communities and strong local small businesses are what bring vitality to a city. When I am on the Council, every dollar spent will be scrutinized and every individual neighborhood will matter. Thank you very much.
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November 8th
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