Bloomington, IN Development News

[HoosierInBTOWN]

Editorial: Convention center expansion should go ahead
December 22, 2011, last update: 12/22 @ 8:12 am

A lot of business that could come to Monroe County is going elsewhere because the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention Center is not big enough. A consultant’s report released this week suggests a $68 million investment to expand the facility and add a new, full-service hotel could bring much of that business here.

RELATED: Expanding convention center would be worth the cost, study says

The result would be 220 new jobs and an estimated $19.7 million a year in direct and indirect spending that the additional convention business would bring to the community, according to the report from the HVS consulting firm.

The numbers are big in the report, but they should not scare local leaders. First of all, the numbers are preliminary. But secondly, this is the kind of bold step that could move the downtown area a big step forward and make Bloomington an even more attractive destination than it is now.

The current convention center was a strong public-private partnership that involved primarily city and county government and the Cook Group leadership from the private sector and the attraction of a Courtyard by Marriott hotel. This expansion project could be the same, as public policies and private investment lead to a major asset for the community.

The previous cooperation and vision brought the community a facility that hosts many local functions and some small-to-mid-sized conventions. The next step is to attract larger groups of out-of-town visitors that would spend their money here. The recommendation would increase floor area from 31,505 to 171,455 square feet.

On the public sector side, it’s important that the Monroe County Council begin the conversation now about implementing a food and beverage tax, which would be one of the main ways to finance the expansion. The Indiana General Assembly has passed legislation enabling the council to do so. It’s time for the local action.

We’ve long supported this 1 percent voluntary tax on people who dine out. As noted before, this would add 10 cents to a $10 meal; 50 cents to a $50 special occasion night; and $1 to those $100 bills of college students being treated by their parents.

Those fees on the experience of dining out would pay dividends with the added jobs and the increased business from convention visitors for retail businesses and hospitality-related enterprises including restaurants, hotels and arts venues.

City government also can look at tax abatements and other district-specific tax tools to help developers who want to take a risk on investing in Bloomington.

As for the private sector, a hotel developer would need to step up to make such an investment. Perhaps Marriott might consider expanding its current location; perhaps a competitor would want in on the project. Perhaps local development groups would come forward to assume the risk for the potential rewards for itself and the greater community.

The consultants report noted Bloomington is viewed as the second most desirable meeting location in Indiana, behind No. 1 Indianapolis and ahead of No. 3 French Lick. That kind of demand should be embraced and pursued vigorously.

Our local leaders, in both the public and private sector, should work hard to move this forward in 2012.

Copyright: HeraldTimesOnline.com 2011
http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/sto...d-go-ahead.sto

[GarfieldPark]

Great info. I guess I mis read the earlier post because I thought you were talking about - with the new hotel at 9th and College -- there would be a new convention center built near it - with another hotel. Now I see that you were just saying that - with another hotel -- it just adds to the hotel capacity for Bloomington and makes the potential development of an expanded convention center all the more palatable.

Continuing to use the existing convention center while adding on to it sounds like a good idea. I like the talk about how that could help grow the entire neighborhood around the convention center. I agree that Bloomington would be considered an attractive place to go for conventions. It just needs to have a larger facility to attract the larger conventions. There is a parking lot immediately to the north of the CC - across Third Street. Looks like it is used by the adjacent building though. I'm not sure if / when that lot might be available for an expansion.

[HoosierInBTOWN]

Sorry that I was unclear in my post. By the way, I drive by the CC every day on my way to work/school and I was looking around to figure out where to put anything. The parking lot to the North of them on 3rd St is taken by a few businesses, so I don't know if it could take anything from them. Then the lot across College to the East is going to be where the new hotel is going to be built (maybe they will build the space together with the hotel?). So I still don't know where they plan to put 40K square ft.

[GarfieldPark]

It could be a whole lot more than a 40K sq. ft expansion.

Its hard to tell exactly how large the proposed expansion might be. In the article from the HT (on the previous page of this thread) it sounds like there could be a "tripling" in size -- which would mean going from the current 35,000 - 40,000 square feet to maybe a total of around 100,000 to 120,000 sq. ft. -- or a 60K to 80K square ft expansion.

Then, in the posting above -- the editorial says:

"The recommendation would increase floor area from 31,505 to 171,455 square feet."

That seems like a very large amount of space -- and like you said, I don't know where that large of a building might be able to fit.

[HoosierInBTOWN]

I didn't catch that. Thanks for pointing it out.

[HoosierInBTOWN]

More jobs to Btown... now only if I could find something better!

Bloomington City Council OKs incentives for Cigital
By Kasey Husk 331-4243 | khusk@heraldt.com
March 8, 2012, last update: 3/8 @ 1:48 am

A technology company planning to bring high-wage jobs to Bloomington will be getting extra incentives from the city.

The Bloomington City Council unanimously agreed to offer Cigital, a Virginia-based software security consulting firm, up to $32,000 in incentives in a special council session Wednesday. The funding, which comes from revenue from the city’s Industrial Development Fund, would be used to reimburse the company for part of the $52,000 in expenses it expects to incur to establish its office in part of the Chase Bank Building at 100 S. College Ave.

The funds come from tax revenue from the Downtown Community Revitalization Enhancement District, which was established in 2004 to allow the city to capture state income and sales taxes within the district and set those dollars aside in the development fund. The fund currently has a balance of $5.3 million, said Danise Alano-Martin, city director of economic and sustainable development.

The incentive funds hinge on meeting certain benchmarks, among them that the company spend $52,000 on eligible expenses. Such expenses would be the building out of two suites in the Chase Bank Building, making IT infrastructure improvements, purchasing computer hardware and the relocating of business systems and other items.

EARLIER: Cigital may open computer security office in downtown Bloomington

Alano-Martin said the city looked at costs it was comfortable supporting with tax dollars, such as infrastructure improvements that would remain in the building even if Cigital moves out of it.

Other requirements are that the company fulfill its promise to add 25 jobs that pay an average of $75,000 a year by 2014 and that it stay within the Downtown Community Revitalization Enhancement District or within the city’s certified technology park. The contract would include “clawback measures” that would require the company to pay back all or part of the incentives if it does not meet its requirements, said Adam Wason, assistant director of economic development for small business and sustainable development.

Council members voted 8-0 — council member Tim Mayer was absent — to approve the incentive package, after which several of them took the opportunity to welcome the company’s representatives to Bloomington.

Council member Steve Volan saw the company’s decision to locate in Bloomington as a win for the city leadership’s longstanding belief in investing in economic development.

Quality of life was one of several factors that led Cigital leadership to choose Bloomington to locate an office, said Brian Mizelle, vice president of operations for Cigital. He also pointed to the low cost of living, short travel times and availability of a quality workforce, specifically from Indiana University’s School of Informatics and Computing.

The proposed incentives “solidified our decision that this was the right place,” Mizelle said.

Copyright: HeraldTimesOnline.com 2012

http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/sto...or-citigal.sto

[mgk920]

After much wailing and gnashing of teeth (and a strong push from INDOT), I-69 was finally added to the Bloomington transport plan.

"BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The path to the Indianapolis-to-Evansville Interstate 69 extension’s completion is much clearer after a panel here voted Friday to remove the procedural blockade it had placed in front of the project.

The Bloomington/Monroe County Metropolitan Planning Organization voted 7-6 to place part of the 142-mile highway extension back in its transportation plans.

Though it was the first of three such battles the Indiana Department of Transportation must win with the group, its chairman, Kent McDaniel, said he believes those that follow might not be as combative as this months-long saga.

“Some people are going to oppose it forever, but I think there will be a lot less contention,” he said."

(see: http://www.courierpress.com/news/201...-i-69-section/ for rest of article)

Whew!

Mike

[HoosierInBTOWN]

Mike, glad that's behind us now... it's taken forever and it's just amazing that something can be caught up for so long.

On another front, does anyone know if they are starting construction of the new DT bus terminal? They have some fencing going up, but I haven't seen word of it yet. Anyone know anything!

[Indy'd]

The I-69 approval and entire project is very VERY unfortunate. A massive step in the wrong direction......

[GarfieldPark]

Not everyone agrees with you -- including myself. I think its an argument that will just continue to have two strong sides of opinions however -- and I'm not going to spend time typing up my reasons. I think those who are opposed to it will continue to be opposed - and those who support it will continue to support it.

[HoosierInBTOWN]

I'm with you, GP. I may be pretty liberal, but I've made the drive to Indy and back too many times to count (parents live a few miles off I-69 north of Anderson), and I can't tell you how much I've wanted an interstate down here forever. I understand all the environmental concerns, and I also understand everything being based around a car. But without any other feasible alternative quickly to make life easier, this works best.

I'd rather drive straight there with no stops from here to there than have to stop at at least 50% of the stoplights and have to waste so much gas accelerating/decelerating, idling, etc. I can probably make it there on less than a half tank now and still have some to spare when I get back.

Regardless, I'm glad it's in the past now and I look forward to when the entire things is complete. Hopefully within the next decade.

[CorrND]

There is at least transportation value in a connection from Indy to Evansville even if we disagree about the route. However, the 37 segment from Bloomington to Indy is entirely adequate. I commuted from Bloomington to IUPUI for grad school for several months before I finally got a place here and 37 is not bad at all. The worst part might be Martinsville, but there are relatively few lights, they're roughly timed (I think I got all the way through without hitting a light one time) and traffic volume isn't that bad. You might knock 5 minutes off the drive if you remove all the lights on 37. Not really worth the money.

By comparison, upgrading 31 from Indy to South Bend is a whole different story. Carmel/Westfield and Kokomo each have a ton of lights, huge traffic volume and are absolute clusterfucks at rush hour. Upgrading those areas to limited access will be a huge improvement. I'd argue that the upgrade in the South Bend area is -- like the 37 limited access plan -- a waste of money. That area is really not that congested.

[GarfieldPark]

FYI --- and not sure how this will ultimately turn out -- but, the Senate version of the US Transportation Bill that was approved today included language that would eliminate all Metropolitan Planning Organizations (regional transportation planning organizations) that serve regions with fewer than 200,000 people. Bloomington's MPO would be one of these.

The House still needs to pass its version of the bill and then there would be some compromise language figured out -- so its hard to say where this all might end up -- but right now, there is still the possibility that MPOs might be eliminated in "smaller" regions across the US.

[HoosierInBTOWN]

Moving on, because I feel like the I-69 issue has been beaten to death, and I like stuff that makes the community better... such as this project:

Section of South Walnut Street to get storm sewers, new look
By Kasey Husk 331-4243 | khusk@heraldt.com
March 15, 2012



A portion of South Walnut Street is getting a facelift. Flower planters, green space, bicycle lanes and better sidewalks are coming to an area from just north of First Street to Third Street in an effort to make the area more attractive and tie in better with the rest of downtown.

The project is a joint effort between the Bloomington Utilities and Bloomington Public Works departments as the city replaces and reroutes storm sewers and other utilities in the area while also improving the area’s appearance.

The roughly $5.4 million project, which started Monday, will be completed by March 2013 at the latest but could be finished by the end of this year if the weather cooperates, officials say.

“I think there’s two big reasons people will find this project appealing,” city sustainability coordinator Jacqui Bauer said. “One is that it will help address stormwater issues that have been a problem in some areas of downtown, and it will also make this area adjacent to the downtown much more friendly to pedestrians.”

The utilities portion of the project will include extensive repairs and replacements of storm sewer culverts in several areas, said Justin Wykoff, manager of engineering. The city will also reroute an aging open storm sewer channel that flows underneath and behind the Players Pub, moving it away from commercial properties.

The sanitary sewer and water lines will also be replaced, he said.

Since the street is already being torn up to accommodate those repairs, the city is also taking the opportunity to improve the look of the area. Right now, many sections of that corridor are completely paved rather than having greenery and trees, and the sidewalks are in poor repair in places, Bauer said.

“It’s just been kind of a dilapidated streetscape for a long time,” Bauer said. “This project will unify the look of the street, it’ll tie in better with downtown and it’ll add amenities like bike lanes (and) make it more pedestrian-friendly.”

The city will install raised planters with flowers and trees on the east side of the street, plus plots of grass and trees on the west side. It will also improve the sidewalks, add pedestrian crosswalks and leave room for future public art.

The street, meanwhile, will be reduced from three lanes to two and a bike lane will be added. The area south of that stretch of Walnut Street is two lanes, so drivers tend to stick to just two of the lanes anyway, Bauer said.

“We’re putting the road on a diet, and that lets us accommodate bike lanes,” she said. “And it, I think, makes it clearer for drivers.”

The street will also be paved with concrete, which has a life expectancy of 30 years or more, instead of the standard asphalt, Wykoff said.

Motorists in the area can expect to see partial lane closures throughout the project — as of Wednesday, two of three lanes were closed — but the road is expected to stay open to traffic throughout the project, Wykoff said. All area businesses will remain open.

“Our hope is that this will not only make the street more friendly to all forms of transportation, but it will make that area of the downtown more welcoming for people who want to patronize those businesses,” Bauer said. “And we hope it will induce more economic development in that area.”

Copyright: HeraldTimesOnline.com 2012
http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/sto...s-new-look.sto

[HoosierInBTOWN]

Also, as they bring in more equipment, such as lifts, I'm beginning to be more convinced that they are finally starting work on the new Downtown Terminal at the same time they are working on this project. This entire area is about to look completely different and I couldn't be happier. Hope it spurs some growth.

[ndrwmls10]

They should have just connected I-69 to IN-37 and left it at that. That, too me, makes much more sense and saves money. It's not as if IN-37 is some horrible time-wasting road. It isn't bad, at all. So I'm not sure where the argument that it is, is coming from. Unless, of course, 5 minutes is too much! But, alas, it's not going to be stopped. I wish they would have considered building a commuter rail in the median. That would have made I-69 slightly more worth it.

[hoosier]

Originally Posted by ndrwmls10

They should have just connected I-69 to IN-37 and left it at that. That, too me, makes much more sense and saves money. It's not as if IN-37 is some horrible time-wasting road. It isn't bad, at all. So I'm not sure where the argument that it is, is coming from. Unless, of course, 5 minutes is too much! But, alas, it's not going to be stopped. I wish they would have considered building a commuter rail in the median. That would have made I-69 slightly more worth it.

It is not a good idea to dump interstate traffic onto a non-interstate quality road. It creates a variety of dangers chiefly among them drivers and semis accustomed to traveling 60 mph having to stop for traffic lights. I doubt the FHA would like or tolerate that either.

[HoosierInBTOWN]

Corey does a restaurant roundup type thing for the IBJ in Indy, but since we don't have anything like that, I'll do my own version here... with the help of the Herald Times, of course.

Bobby's Colorado Steakhouse opens; Owlery now in new location
By Lynn Schwartzberg onthemenu@heraldt.com
March 28, 2012

Bobby’s Colorado Steakhouse open for dinner, brunch

After several years sitting idle, the Colorado Steakhouse has reopened as Bobby’s Colorado Steakhouse. Bobby is Bob Scank of Bobby’s Pub, Classic Catering and many of Bloomington’s most popular restaurants of days gone by including the Gold Rush and Jeremiah Sweeney’s.

Currently the restaurant is open from 4-11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday for brunch.

The restaurant will serve sandwiches and snacks until April 19, when it will roll out its full dinner menu. The current menu includes a local Kobe burger, triple-decker grilled cheese, Jack Daniels steak sandwich, chicken teriyaki sandwich, all-American cheeseburger and a grilled portabella sandwich.

Also available on the menu are a variety of appetizers including tempura mushrooms, panko-breaded zucchini, cheese-filled wontons, cheddar and pepper bacon potato skins, shrimp cocktail and French onion soup.

Bobby’s serves a variety of specialty drinks including a Cuba Libre, Peach wine cooler and a Bloody Mary made with freshly grated horseradish. The bar features daily specials and newly remodeled Indiana University decor.

On Sundays, Bobby’s Colorado Steakhouse serves brunch featuring an omelet station, breakfast items including frosted flake coated French toast, Brown County biscuits, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy and several entrees including carved meats, vegetarian dishes and fresh fish. A salad bar as well as dessert and pastry table are also included in this all-you-care-to-eat brunch.

Bobby’s Colorado Steakhouse is at 1635 N. College Ave. The phone number is 332-7552, and the website is www.bobbysbloomington.com. The restaurant will be open for Easter dinner. Please contact the restaurant for details and reservations.

Owlery opens in new location

The Owlery Restaurant has reopened at its new location on West Sixth Street on the Monroe County Courthouse Square. The restaurant, specializing in vegetarian and vegan dishes, is open daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 5-10 p.m. for dinner.

The menu includes a wide variety of tofu, tempeh and seitan-based entrees including a BLT, fried “chicken” strips, and a Reuben sandwich. Several vegetable-based dishes are also available, including grilled portabella caps, sauteed vegetables in peanut sauce over brown rice and a variety of salads.

The Owlery is at 118 W. Sixth St. The restaurant’s phone number is 333-7344. Check out the website at www.theowleryrestaurant.com.

Underground Cupcake Co. & Cafe opens

A new cupcake shop has opened at 3631 W. Ind. 46 behind the Arby’s in Smith Pike Crossing. The shop also serves a variety of soups and sandwiches from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The shop’s cupcake flavors include Anonymous Apple, Coconut Conspiracy, Chocoholic’s Demise, Lemon Lookout, Pistachio Paranoia, Poppyseed Pursuit, Crimson Caper (Red Velvet), Strawberry Secrets and about a half dozen other creations.

Cafe lunch menu items feature Carolina pulled-pork sandwiches, a BLT with cherry wood smoked bacon, three cheese grilled cheese, honey peppercorn turkey with cream cheese, sunflower seeds and sprouts, and several other sandwiches.

Sandwiches can also be made to order featuring a variety of deli meats, breads and condiments. A selection of Mexican tortas are also being offered including a salsa infused turkey with pepper jack, jalapeno, onion and avocado, a chipotle chicken and a vegetarian. On Friday and Saturday, the Underground serves tamales.

The Underground is open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The complete menu, including photos of all cupcake varieties, can be found at www. undergroundcupcakes.com.

New Coca-Cola Freestyle dispenser at Five Guys

A new custom drink making machine is now available at the Bloomington Five Guys Burgers and Fries. The dispenser offers more than 100 possible drink options featuring dozens of different custom Coca-Colas including vanilla, orange, cherry and raspberry. Sprite can be flavored with grape, peach, strawberry and several other flavors.

Barq’s, Dr. Pepper, Dasani, Hi-C, Powerade and many other beverages can be customized to each customer’s preferences. Five Guys is locally owned by Paul Gillard. The restaurant is at 1199 S. College Mall Road. The shop sells nationally recognized burgers and fries. Check out the company website at www.fiveguys.com to view the menu and for ordering.

New menus at Bloomington restaurants

Upland Brewing Company recently updated its menu and added several new entrees, salads and a new dessert. The new lunch menu features the new Beet and Citrus Salad made with shaved beets, mandarin oranges, shredded carrots, Capriole chevre, field greens and an orange-ginger vinaigrette. The new dessert, Porter cake is also on the menu featuring a moist chocolate cake made with Bad Elmer’s Porter and topped with chocolate whipped cream.

At dinner, new starters include cumin crusted tuna tacos, tofu tacos with roasted chiles and vegetables and crab cakes made with jumbo lump crab meat and served with a roasted red pepper and caper relish.

New entrees include a Fischer Farms bone-in pork chop served with avocado salsa verde, jumbo asparagus and a hash of local sweet potato and roasted poblano peppers, an airline chicken breast stuffed with ricotta, Boursin, spinach and roasted garlic and a veggie lasagna made with fresh zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms, fresh tomato and layered with a blend of three cheeses and bechamel sauce.

Upland Brewing Co. is at 350 W. 11th St. For complete brew pub details, check out the website at www.uplandbeer.com.

Restaurant Tallent welcomes the spring season with a new menu featuring seasonal ingredients. First course highlights include a soft shell crab “B.L.T.” with cornbread croutons, heirloom tomato jam and bacon vinaigrette, house-made spaghetti carbonara with spring peas, pancetta, basil and parmesan, and an asparagus and farm egg tartine with mixed greens and lemon vinaigrette.

New entrees feature a fresh halibut filet with dried morel and bread crumb crust; creamed cabbage, ramps and parsley new potatoes; Gulf shrimp risotto with spring vegetables and creole barbecue sauce; Viking Farms lamb leg with local barley and Merguez sausage risotto, carrots, peas and salsa verde; and an Italian sausage-stuffed Indiana rabbit loin with ricotta and sweet pea agnolotti, butter braised lettuce and lemon carrots.

Restaurant Tallent is at 208 N. Walnut St. Check out the restaurant’s website at www.restauranttallent.com.

At The Rail, a new menu of small dishes has been created for the season. New dishes include an antipasto salad with fried goat cheese, an Asian influenced bibb salad, potato pancakes with sunny-side up egg, maple syrup and scallions, rilette served with baguette and currant compote, highland meatballs in cabernet sauce, grilled lamb skewers; shrimp wraps and a sun-dried tomato rilette.

The Rail is at 825 N. Walnut St. and is open late nightly. The business specializes in pre-Prohibition cocktails and small dishes. Check out the Rail’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/therail.bloomington for complete menu details.

...

Nadia’s Bistro offers new dishes, al fresco dining

Nadia’s Bistro has expanded its menu to include a daily seafood feature and a newly expanded selection of wines. Seafood entrees may include salmon in Dijon cream sauce, seafood stuffed flounder, oven roasted mahi mahi or soft shell crab with spicy remoulade.

The restaurant will begin serving brunch on Sundays starting on Easter from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nadia’s has opened its patio for outdoor dining for the season as well. The restaurant is at 2920 E. Covenanter Drive. Check out the website at www.nadiasbistro.com for complete details.

Olive Leaf celebrating grand re-opening

On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Olive Leaf will celebrate its grand re-opening. Under new ownership, the shop specializes in high quality extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars. The shop will serve refreshments during the event and will give away door prizes.

The Olive Leaf is in The Shoppes at 879 S College Mall Road. Check out the businesses website at www.oliveleafbloomington.com for more details and store information.

Copyright: HeraldTimesOnline.com 2012

http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/sto...w-location.sto

[indymidlander]

LOVE the owlery! glad to hear they are doing well enough to expand, although i'll miss the cozy old spot...can't wait to visit the new location and, of course, bloomington in general.

[HoosierInBTOWN]

As all in BTown know, West 3rd St in Bloomington between Rogers and Patterson, looks like that obstacle course of a road in San Francisco. Now, some Bloomington politicians are going too far in trying to limit the amount of traffic through the area. This is a public road (which I happen to use), and the speed bumps do a bit of damage to my undercarriage even when I'm not speeding through there... the sound in my back tire proves this! This is a poor use of our tax payer money when Bloomington is already looking at a budget shortfall. Here is an editorial explaining more of the issue:

Bloomington's West Third Street belongs to everyone
By Doug Wissing Special to the H-T
April 3, 2012

This guest column was written by Doug Wissing, a resident of Prospect Hill in Bloomington.

Politically empowered Prospect Hill insiders are attempting to use alleged high speeds on West Third Street as a rationale for unneeded speed bumps. The city engineering department has repeatedly indicated there is not a speed problem on West Third, which is already contorted — nay, near strangled — by expensive taxpayer-funded chicanes, bump-outs and landscaping pots.

For instance, council Member Chris Sturbaum is vociferously lobbying for a speed bump in the 600 block of West Third, where there are sidewalks on both sides of the street and the average speed is already 23 mph without the bump — far better conditions than vast swaths of Bloomington, where there are no sidewalks, and the traffic speeds, vehicle counts and pedestrian numbers are far higher.

In reality, this current pork-barrel grab for Bloomington taxpayer money is just the latest scheme in the decades-long campaign by elitist Prospect Hill insiders to essentially privatize a public street. The West Third Street campaign has always been about pushing nonresident traffic elsewhere. This time, the group is attempting to use these unsafe speed bumps to divert traffic volume, which is strictly proscribed by both state code and the city traffic-safety program.

At the last council meeting, council member Sturbaum repeatedly stated West Third Street needs the speed bumps, because “the road keeps coming back,” meaning Bloomington citizens have the audacity to drive on West Third Street, which the Prospect Hill insiders insist is “our street.” The road keeps “coming back” in spite of these absurd schemes because it is a road, a public road that all citizens have the right to use without running an expensive obstacle course that only benefits a few cosseted West Third Street property owners.

While reporting on the Afghanistan War, I saw first-hand how disrespect for the rule of law and power plays by self-serving insiders can destroy a polity. Approval ratings for the U.S. Congress are plummeting toward the single digits as a Washington culture of earmarks and political back-scratching undermines Americans’ faith in fairness and democracy.

Bloomington City Council members are the stewards of the greater public good. If these inappropriate West Third Street speed bumps are approved, it will set a budget-busting precedent for Bloomington. Taxpayers have already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in materials, subcontracting, city staff expenses and overhead on multiple accretions of traffic devices for this short stretch of West Third. Enough is enough. If a block with a 23 mph average speed and sidewalks on both sides gets a speed bump, then virtually any block, virtually any street, cannot be denied speed bumps. We’ll be Speed Bump City. Is this what the voters of Bloomington want?

I urge the City Council and Mayor Mark Kruzan to say “No” to the West Third Street speed bumps, and to focus instead on a comprehensive, citywide traffic-safety program that will benefit all of Bloomington.

http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/sto...-neighbors.sto