Sunday, March 22, 2009

Those Damning MAC Statistics

If Mayor Greg Ballard thought he was getting too much heat at his public meeting at Bethel Park over his administration's decision to close five public pools for repairs, he's going to be feeling a lot more after an analysis of the Mayor's Action Center's response time in today's Star shows a large disparity in the time to respond to complaints from affluent areas versus complaints in lower-income areas. Here's what some of those statistics show:

Overall, residents in the poorest neighborhoods had to wait about 14 days longer to have a complaint resolved than residents in the wealthiest areas. The percentage of complaints that took 90 days or more to settle was three times higher in the poorest areas.

» The biggest difference in average resolution times -- 42 days -- involved trash complaints. In the poorest areas, it took an average of 48 days; in the wealthiest areas, just six days. The percentage that took 90 days or more to settle was nearly 20 times higher in the poorest neighborhoods.

» Residents in the lowest-income neighborhoods had to wait about 18 days longer for chuckhole repairs. The percentage of complaints that took 90 days or more to settle was almost two times higher in the poorest areas.

The difference in response times -- most pronounced for trash and chuckhole complaints, which are handled by the Department of Public Works -- caught city officials off guard.

Amos Brown will have a field day with these statistics.
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12 comments:

  1. Unigov12:52 PM EST

    Also, signage violations are pretty much ignored in the inner city.

    Look at the gas station on the NW corner of 30th and Keystone - covered with illegal cigarette signs - reported to the city in January, 2008. Signs are still there - here's the case:

    https://www3.indygov.org/PermitResearch/summary.do?caseNo=INV08-00055

    You don't see the ubiquitous "bench billboards" in Meridian-Kessler, do you ? Nope, the preponderance is in minority areas.

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  2. Concerned Taxpayer1:17 PM EST

    Well, personally, I figure 99% of the crap written in the Indy Red Star Rag is a big lie aimed to elect democrats.

    There are a 100 reasons why those statistics could be wrong. IF they are honest statistics in the first place.

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  3. Zookeeper294:03 PM EST

    Could it also be that trash is significantly less abundant in certain areas as opposed to others?

    Could it be due to the fact of pride in living somewhere as opposed to just living somewhere?

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  4. Covenant609:16 PM EST

    areas that pay more taxes SHOULD get quicker, better service.

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  5. jon porter9:32 PM EST

    Read the damn article--the preponderance of cases involved trash collection, especially replacing stolen city trash cans in Center Twp., which are on back order. In Meridian-Kessler, you can use any trash can you please, or just bags. Downtown, you must use a city bin.

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  6. Jason1:46 AM EST

    I drive the city quite a bit. The roads are much worse in the side streets of Center Township, I had always assumed it was because the roads and side streets in the city were older and more travelled...

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  7. Anonymous4:54 AM EST

    Rich people are paying the most for these services. It is about time they get _something_ back.

    Could it also be that trash is significantly less abundant in certain areas as opposed to others?

    Surely your not implying that poor people are more trashy than rich people? I mean just take a drive around certain Section 8 properties, they are as clean as a...uh, oh wait, never mind.

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  8. Douglass6:33 AM EST

    The average response time is 8 times faster in rich neighborhoods. Damning indeed.

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  9. Downtown Indy2:37 PM EST

    Where are these 'rich' people and neighborhoods?

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  10. Unknown10:44 PM EST

    "Surely your not implying that poor people are more trashy than rich people? I mean just take a drive around certain Section 8 properties, they are as clean as a...uh, oh wait, never mind"

    I for a moment wondered if I should even respond to this. Why? Because the level of UNsophistication and LACK of self awareness it takes to make such a comment almost makes the exercise fruitless.

    Surely you aren't implying that poor people are trashy right? I mean, please clarify....and state your religious affiliation....the lack of a large bank account makes it ok to compare someone to something that gets taken to the dump?

    Please tell me you at least don't go to Church on Sundays...and if you do....look up the word hypocrite.

    I apologize, but some of these comments are CLEARLY out of line and yet they still get published.

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  11. Unknown10:46 PM EST

    Could it also be that trash is significantly less abundant in certain areas as opposed to others?


    That depends on your geographical location I guess? Outstanding...you justify these statistics by dehumanizing people. Where have I seen this before?

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  12. Unknown10:47 PM EST

    "Well, personally, I figure 99% of the crap written in the Indy Red Star Rag is a big lie aimed to elect democrats.

    There are a 100 reasons why those statistics could be wrong. IF they are honest statistics in the first place."


    Can you name at least one then? We'll debate it, then move on to the next reason they could be wrong. Then...after your 100th reason, I hope we can discuss why they may be right?

    ReplyDelete