IndyStar: Indy announces $3.5M for downtown public safety, cleanliness projects
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Democratic Party, the organization that advocates for the future of Indiana and its families, today celebrated the brighter economic future the American Rescue Plan is delivering for Indianapolis. This time, the Rescue Plan will use about $3.5 million to improve the public’s perception of the City about a year ahead of the NBA’s All-Star Game in February 2024. Investments include additional IMPD patrol shifts downtown, new mobile security cameras, and a cleaning crew specifically focused on the downtown square.
Democrats like Congressmen André Carson, Mayor Joe Hogsett, and the Indianapolis City-County Council delivered this brighter future for the City of Indianapolis.
Unfortunately, every single Congressional Republican said“NO” to this brighter future – despite campaigning on crime in the last election. This is another example of the Indiana Republican Party putting their partisan rhetoric before a kitchen-table issue important to Hoosiers. And, it’s another reminder they have no plan for Indiana’s future – just abiding by an extremist agenda.
Here’s a look at the impact Democrats’ American Rescue Plan will have on the Circle City:
IndyStar: Indy announces $3.5M for downtown public safety, cleanliness projects
As part of the city administration’s renewed push for investment and development downtown, Mayor Joe Hogsett announced Thursday that the city will partner with the public-private partnership nonprofit Downtown Indy to invest $3.5 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act money into safety, cleanliness and outreach in the Mile Square.
“Downtown achieved all of this (new development and a return of its convention business) despite the most challenging two and a half years in living memory,” Hogsett said. ”We’re here to prepare for an exciting future.”
The money will fund overtime for IMPD bike patrol officers downtown, three new mobile security cameras downtown, and a new Department of Public Works cleaning crew focused specifically on downtown as well as new trash containers to contain litter.
Small and mid-sized businesses will also have access to a grant program aimed at increasing participation in the city’s b.link security camera system.
Hogsett said the city will spend the money throughout February, ahead of the NBA All-Star game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. […]
Hogsett told IndyStar he hopes the investment will increase public perception and a sense of safety downtown at a time when residents, especially in Indianapolis’ surrounding counties, view it as having a crime problem. He thinks data doesn’t back that view. […]
Despite rhetoric that downtown is getting more dangerous, especially during the Marion County prosecutor’s race between incumbent Democrat Ryan Mears and Republican opponent Cyndi Carrasco, the mayor and IMPD recently told IndyStar they believe downtown is not a major contributor to crime in the city.
“Downtown is one of the safest places in our city. Downtown accounts for less than 5% of all crime throughout the city of Indianapolis,” IMPD Downtown District Cmdr. Phil Burton previously told IndyStar, when Starbucks on Monument Circle announced it was closing due to safety concerns.
The investment comes from money the city set aside its from $420 million federal largesse in American Rescue Plan funding, intended originally as a safeguard in case revenue replacement was needed for the city budget, the mayor said.
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