Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Straub Narrowly Wins Council Backing



The Indianapolis City-County Council narrowly approved the reappointment of Frank Straub as Public Safety Director by a vote of 16-13 at last night's council meeting. Two Republicans, Christine Scales and Janice McHenry, boldly bucked the party leadership in voting against his reappointment. At least two other Republican councilors rumored to be leaning against Straub ultimately voted in favor of last night's resolution. Libertarian Ed Coleman voted against Straub, while Three Democrats, Vernon Brown, Angela Mansfield and Jackie Nytes, supported Straub. I wondered if Brown didn't have a bit of a conflict of interest seeing that he is a battalion chief for the Indianapolis Fire Department, which Straub oversees as Public Safety Director. If Straub's vote failed last night, it is likely he would have remained in the position through the end of Ballard's term if Ballard held off naming a successor. An Avatar-styled animation video has popped up on YouTube poking fun at Straub's abrasive management approach. A similar video appeared on YouTube recently taking issue with Carmel Mayor James Brainard's relationship with his fire department. Hat tip to IndyStudent.

11 comments:

Concerned Taxpayer said...

It is so sad that the so called republicans on the council felt it more important to back "their" mayor than to properly vote "no" on Herr DOC-TOR Straub, the New York liberal.
This is what happens once you get a sip of the kool-aid. Hats off to Janice & Christine.

Indy4U2C said...

I applaud Janice & Christine for doing the right thing and voting for the needs of the constituents rather than a political favor. I also realize that Christine lost her seat on the Public Safety committee, which was given to a very weak-minded newcomer, Aaron Freeman, presumably because he can be 'controlled' by pressure from the committee chair and council president......

The video was an excellent satire of what is currently going on inside the city-county building.

As for "Vermouth Vern's" vote to retain his own boss (Vern is a fireman)...I just think there is an ethical problem there.

Mayor Ballard, apparently you called in some clout to get that vote. I'm not so sure that you will be able to retain this author's vote next election.

Blog Admin said...

Do you have a link to the Brainard video, Gary? The one you provided doesn't lead anywhere.

Flipper said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTN8JbTaang&feature=player_embedded

Gary, Check this video of our police chief out

Don Sherfick said...

The size of the House of Representatives has been frozen for a century. The Constitution requires only that (subject to the one-representative minimum for each state) the MINIMUM number of people in a district is some 30,000. No maximum size. SCOTUS has before it a suit (rejected by a lower appeals panel) saying that the failure to the House to increase in size (which takes a law) violates the Constitution. It will probably fail because the court seldom enters the thicket of what's seen as a "political question" reserved for the legislature. And obviously had the House size grown proportionally to the increase in population since our founding, we'd have to move the whole thing to Lucas Oil Stadium (sorry, Gary, couldn't resist!). But it does see that some kind of overall adjustment might be in order. I won't hold my breath, though.

Indy4U2C said...

Don, you are way off the original post.

Paul K. Ogden said...

Indy4U2C, I agree. Brown should have recused himself. He's really voting on whether to retain his boss. That's a conflict.

Cato said...

It rings so hollow to hear the rude, abrasive, strident, tyrannical, loathsome, murderous and contemptible "officers" complain about being treated in a far better manner than these erstwhile "servants" treat the public.

The offense to Straub's management evinces the cops as cowardly bullies, weaklings who are tough only when they hold every advantage in hand, but reveal their true nature as simpering cowards when forced to meet someone on equal footing or at a disadvantage.

Keep it up, Straub. We all know the police have become an overlord class who claim dominion over every asset and every freedom the citizens hold. Keep firing and prosecuting bad cops. Keep humanizing the department. If you find the guts to cancel the take-home cars, I'll vote for Ballard's reelection.

Concerned Taxpayer said...

Cato, sometimes your sheer ignorance really amazes me!
That is, unless it is just your pure hatred for this country and its laws.

Cato said...

Concerned Taxpayer, don't ever arrogantly equate you and your big-government authoritarianism with this country.

People such as you are a scourge on this country that I fear we will never be able to eradicate, but we can lessen your influence.

Every succeeding generation will increasingly view your mentality as anomalous, backwards and ridiculous. In 100 years, few in this country will hold beliefs similar to yours.

That liberation can't come soon enough. Good riddance.

Unknown said...

You do realize that we have by far the most stringest search and seizure laws and the greatest restrictions on government control in the history of the developed world, right?

Great video, whoever it was that made it. Spot on. It amazes me that people decry corruption and then have the audacity to give the IMPD administration a hat tip. Pick a side.