>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," UNITED AUTOWORKERS ARE ON STRIKE AFTER CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS FAILED LAST NIGHT.
>> I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE STRATEGY BEHIND IT, IS TO KIND OF KEEP BOTH THE COMPANY ON ITS TOES.
>> IT'S ANYONE'S GUESS HOW LONG THE STRIKE WILL LAST.
SOME RESIDENTS ARE PLEADING WITH TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS TO PRIORITIZE A REDESIGN OF A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE, CONNECTING BLOOMINGTON AND ELLETSVILLE.
>> IT'S A ZOO OUT THERE.
THEY ARE COMING AT YOU FROM EVERY ANGLE AND THE CENTER.
IT'S A MESS.
>> THE TIME LINE ON THE 46 CORRIDOR REDEVELOPMENT PLANS COMING UP.
>> COLUMBUS IS CELEBRATING THE FAMOUS ARCHITECTURE WITH THE EXHIBIT COLUMBUS FESTIVAL.
A TOUR OF THE INSTALLATIONS AND HOW THE CITY IS INTEGRATING ITS DESIGN LEGACY INTO ITS FUTURE.
THOSE STORIES, PLUS THE LATEST NEWS HEADLINES FROM ACROSS THE STATE RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."
♪ >> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."
I'M PERRY METZ, SITTING IN FOR JOE HREN.
UNITED AUTOWORKERS AT THREE SITES IN THE MIDWEST ARE ON STRIKE TODAY AFTER THE UNION DID NOT REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE BIG THREE AUTOMAKERS THURSDAY NIGHT.
THE STRIKES IN MICHIGAN, OHIO, AND MISSOURI TARGET ONE FACTORY EACH OF GENERAL MOTORS, FORD, AND STALANTIS, THE COMPANY THAT BUILDS CHRYSLER AND DODGE PRODUCTS.
IT'S THE FIRST SIMULTANEOUS STRIKE AGAINST THE BIG THREE, AND THE FIRST STRIKE SINCE 2019.
BUT PRODUCTION WILL GO ON AT THEIR OTHER FACILITIES, INCLUDING PLANTS IN KOKOMO AND BEDFORD.
WE'RE JOINED NOW BY INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING'S ADAM YAHYA RAYES FROM KOKOMO WHERE HE'S BEEN FOLLOWING THE STRIKE.
ADAM, CAN YOU TELL US WHY THIS IS A TARGETED STRIKE, RATHER THAN EVERYONE WALKING OUT?
>> YEAH, SO THE U.A.W.
IS DOING A LOT OF THINGS DIFFERENTLY THIS TIME AROUND, THESE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT, AND THE -- AND THE UNION IS TRYING TO TARGET ALL THREE COMPANIES AT ONCE.
USUALLY THE UNION WILL JUST TARGET ONE COMPANY TO KIND OF SET AN EXAMPLE, WHILE CONTINUING TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE OTHER TWO.
SO AS A -- BOTH AS A MEASURE OF KEEPING THE COMPANIES ON THEIR TOES, AND ALSO TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN ITS STRIKE FUND AS IT STRIKES AT ALL THREE, THE UNIONS ARE DOING THE TARGETED STRIKES WHERE AT CERTAIN POINTS IN THE NEGOTIATIONS, THE UNION WILL ANNOUNCE NEW WAVES AND ADD MORE AND MORE PLANTS TO THE STRIKE, UNTIL THEY GET WHAT THEY WANT FROM THE COMPANIES.
U.A.W.
PRESIDENT -- OUR LOCAL U.A.W.
PRESIDENT, IN BEDFORD, DERRICK CRONIN HAD THIS TO SAY ON THAT.
>> I DON'T THINK WE REALLY KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE STRATEGY BEHIND IT, IS TO KIND OF KEEP BOTH THE COMPANY ON ITS TOES.
>> WHAT CHANCE IS THERE THAT THE U.A.W.
COULD EXPAND THE STRIKE?
>> IT'S REALLY NOT CLEAR AT THIS POINT.
WE ARE, YOU KNOW, STILL -- WE'RE SEVERAL HOURS AWAY FROM THE DEADLINE THAT PASSED LAST NIGHT.
SO THE CONTRACT EXPIRED, AND IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE UNION AND THE AUTOMAKERS ARE REALLY ANYWHERE CLOSER TO GETTING A CONTRACT WITH THE UNION IS WILLING TO GIVE TO ITS MEMBERS TO VOTE ON.
YOU KNOW, ONE THE BIG ISSUES, OBVIOUSLY, AS IN MOST CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS IS WAGES.
SO THERE IS -- THE UNION IS ASKING FOR 40% INCREASE OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
THE COMPANIES ARE OFFERING CLOSER TO 20%.
SO THERE'S STILL A BIG DEFICIT THAT WE'RE NOT SURE HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE THEM TO GET CLOSER ON.
I'M STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE U.A.W.
LOCAL 685 IN KOKOMO, WHICH REPRESENTS SEVERAL STILANTIS PLANTS HERE IN THE CITY AND THEIR PRESIDENT GARY QUIRK HAD THIS TO SAY.
>> IF THEY DON'T COME TO THE TABLE, THERE WILL BE A SECOND WAVE AND A THIRD AND A FOURTH AND A FIFTH.
SO IT'S UP TO THE COMPANY.
IF THEY WANT TO -- IF HE THIS WANT AN AGREEMENT, THEN THEY WILL GO TO THE TABLE AND GET US AN AGREEMENT.
>> WHAT PLANTS IN THE STATE ARE LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED?
>> SO RIGHT NOW, ACTUALLY, THESE STILANTIS PLANTS MAY GET AFFECTED, ACTUALLY.
THEY PROVIDE A LOT OF THE PARTS THAT GET USED TO ASSUMABLE THE CARS THAT ARE MADE IN THE TOLEDO PLANT, THE TOLEDO, OHIO, PLANT.
SO THERE IS A CONCERN THAT AS THAT PLANT GOES ON STRIKE LONGER, AND IF OTHER ASSEMBLY PLANTS JOIN, IT THE TRANSMISSIONS AND THE SUCH THAT THE PLANTS MAKE HERE WILL NO LONGER BE NEEDED AND THOSE MIGHT EVENTUALLY SHUT DOWN AS QUIRK TALKED ABOUT HERE.
>> THE THING IS IF THEY SHUT THIS -- THE TOLEDO ASSEMBLY PLANT GOES DOWN, THEY DON'T NEED TRANSMISSIONS.
I MEAN WE -- SO, YEAH, I MEAN, EVENTUALLY, IT WILL AFFECT US, ABSOLUTELY.
>> THANK YOU, ADAM FOR YOUR REPORT.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
>>> NOW, WE'RE JOINED BY CALI LICHTER FOR MORE HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE.
CALI.
>> THANK YOU, PERRY.
BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL HAS REJECTED A DRAFT PIECE OF LEGISLATION WIDELY SEEN AS AN EFFORT TO PREVENT HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS FROM CAMP ON SIDEWALKS, STREETS AND ROADS.
FIVE OF THE NINE COUNCILMEMBERS VOTED AGAINST THE ORDINANCE, WHICH EFFECTIVELY WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE CITY TO FORCIBLY REMOVE THE ITEMS BLOCKING THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
IT AS PROMPTED BY REMOVING BELONGS FROM A PUBLIC AREA WITHOUT A COURT ORDER.
>> THE STAFF REACHED OUT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR HELP.
THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT ADDRESS PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY OBSTRUCTIONS.
>> IT IS UNCLEAR IF THE CITY REQUIRES A COURT ORDER TO REMOVE BELONGINGS FROM CITY PARKS WHICH IS DONE IN PRACTICE.
FIRST IN 2021 AND AGAIN THIS YEAR.
MONROE COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY IT WILL BE AT LEAST 2027 BEFORE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW JAIL IS FINISHED.
THE COUNTY SAYS IT AIMS TO COMPLETE THE DESIGN PROCESS BY SEPTEMBER 2024 AND GATHER CONSTRUCTION BIDS BY JANUARY 2025.
THEY STILL HAVEN'T DECIDED ON A SITE FOR THE JAIL, AND THE CITY HAS BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE PROCESS.
>> SITE SELECTION, WE HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT, IN ANY WAY, I DON'T THINK AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE SUPPOSED TO ENDORSE IT OR REACT TO IT.
>> COUNTY OFFICIALS WANT TO FURTHER RESEARCH THE FORMER THOMPSON SITE ON BLOOMINGTON'S SOUTHWEST SIDE AS A POTENTIAL JAIL SITE.
OFFICIALS SAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO FINALIZE THE LOCATION WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
>> THE ELLETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL IS LOOKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL $314,000 IN PROPERTY TAXES FROM RESIDENTS.
THAT WOULD BE ON TOP OF THE 4% TAX LEVY SET BY THE STATE.
THE COUNCIL VOTED THIS WEEK TO PETITION THE STATE FOR AN EXCESS LEVY.
THE TOWN CLERK SAYS ELLETSVILLE POPULATION HAS GROWN QUICKLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND ASSESSED VALUE HAS JUMPED, AND THAT'S FORCED ELLETSVILLE PROPERTY TAX RATE DOWN FROM .8 TO .4.
>> LAST YEAR, I DID A LITTLE SYNOPSIS AND THE WHOLE COUNTY, WE WERE THE ONLY MUNICIPALITY THAT ACTUALLY LOST TAX RATE.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, IT DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GROWTH.
>> IT SINCE JANUARY 2021, ELLETSVILLE HAS ADDED 207 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND 314 NEW APARTMENT UNITS.
HASH SAYS POLICE CALLS INCREASED 43% AND FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLS ARE UP 62%.
SHE SAYS THE TOWN'S HIRED A FEW NEW FIRST RESPONDERS BUT NEEDS ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROWTH.
>> THE JACKSON COUNTY JAIL HAS SETTLED A LAWSUIT WITH THE STATE OF AN IN -- ESTATE OF AN INMATE WHO DIED THERE.
JOSHUA McLEMORE WAS TAKEN TO THE JAIL ON THE MORNING OF JULY 20th, 2021 AFTER BEING ARRESTED FOR PULLING A NURSE'S HAIR WHILE BEING EVALUATED FOR MENTAL ILLNESS.
HE SPEND THE NEXT 22 DAYS IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, RARELY EATING, DRINKING OR SLEEPING.
HE LOST 45 POUNDS.
BY THE TIME HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL IN SEYMOUR, HE WAS TOO FRAIL TO LIFT HIS OWN BODY.
THE ESTATE FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT IN APRIL, ACCUSING THE JAIL OF FAILING TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE TREATMENT, WHILE McLEMORE WAS IN CUSTODY.
>> A MAN CHARGED WITH BURDENING HIS PURDUE UNIVERSITY ROOMMATE HAS BEEN DETERMINED FIT TO STAND TRIAL.
GENE MENSHAW WAS ACCUSED OF STABBING HIS ROOMMATE IN THE HEAD AND NECK.
SHAW WAS NOT ABLE TO PREPARE A DEFENSE AFTER ARGUING AN INSANITY PLEA.
HE HAS BEEN TRANSPORTED BACK TO THE TIPPECANOE COUNTY JAIL.
>>> INDIANA UNIVERSITY HAS LED THE COUNTY FOR NEARLY A YEAR IN THE PERCENTAGE OF CALLS TO THE 988 HOTLINE ANSWERED IN STATE AT MORE THAN 90%.
INDIANA'S FIVE CALL CENTERS AVERAGED NEARLY 4,000 CALLS A MONTH FROM HOOSIERS IN CRISIS.
THE AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME IS 9 TO 10 SECONDS.
OFFICIALS SAY IT'S IMPORTANT TO ANSWER CALLS IN STATE BECAUSE IT HELPS BETTER CONNECT PEOPLE TO RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO 988.
>> IF THE THING THAT REALLY ACCELERATED YOUR CRISIS WAS SOMETHING LIKE HOUSING AND SECURITY OR FOOD INSECURITY, WE CAN DEAL WITH THE CRISIS BUT THEN WE CAN CONNECT YOU TO 211 WHO WILL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU WHERE IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY THOSE RESOURCES ARE THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE.
>> AND PERRY, THEY PLAN TO EXPAND THE HOTLINE, INCLUDING THE ADDITION OF THOSE WHO DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH AND VIDEOCONFERENCING FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING.
>> WHEN YOU PICTURE STATE ROAD 46, THE FIRST THINGS THAT COME TO MIND ARE MASSIVE APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND GAS STATION PARKING LOTS EMPTYING ON TO A FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY.
THIS IS CALLED A STRODE.
A SUBURBAN FIXTURE WITH THE STOREFRONTS AND THE HOUSING OF A STREET BUT THE HIGH-SPEED AND TRAFFIC OF A ROAD.
REPORTER ETHAN SANDWEISS TALKS WITH THE RESIDENTS ABOUT THEIR FRUSTRATIONS AND ANSWERS THEIR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE PLANS FOR THE STRODE.
>> BUSINESS IN SOUTHEAST ELLETSVILLE IS EXPANDING AND SOME OF THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE FEEL THE GROWING PAINS.
JUST STEP INTO A LOCAL COFFEE SHOP AND IT WON'T TAKE LONG TO HEAR RESIDENTS THOUGHTS ABOUT STATE ROAD 46.
>> YEAH, I MEAN, I'M HIGH ALERT WHEN I TRAVEL ON 46, BECAUSE IT'S -- IT'S A ZOO OUT THERE.
IT REALLY IS.
I MEAN, THEY'RE COMING AT YOU FROM EVERY ANGLE AND FROM THE CENTER, AND IT'S A MESS!
>> AMY METER OPENED THE CAFFEINATED COOK IN FEBRUARY OF 2022.
SHE TAKES 46 SEVERAL TIMES A DAY FOR WORK AND THAT ROUTINE DRIVE IS NERVE WRACKING.
>> I HAVE BEEN PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF MANY TIMES BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST HAVE TO GUN IT TO GET OUT THERE, BECAUSE THERE'S NO TURN RAINS OR STOPLIGHTS OR ANYTHING.
>> UNTIL IT WAS EXPANDED IN 2003, THIS STRETCH OF HIGHWAY WAS JUST A TWO-LANE ROAD, BECAUSE 46 REMAINS ON THE WEST SIDE BETWEEN ELLETSVILLE AND SPENCER.
>> STATE ROAD 46, THE TWO-WAY SECTION IS, OF COURSE, AT ITS TIME WHEN IT WAS DEVELOPED WAS VIABLE.
BUT OVER TIME, LUCKILY, ELLETSVILLE HAS DEVELOPED AND WITH IT THE ROAD HAS NOT.
THERE ARE NOW ENOUGH INS AND OUTS THAT YOU CAN BE MAKING A LEFT TURN.
SOMEBODY IS MAKING A RIGHT TURN.
THERE'S NOTHING TO KEEP THE TWO OF YOU FROM HITTING HEAD ON IF YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
>> BUSINESS HAS BEEN EXPANDING ON THAT ROAD WITH RESTAURANTS AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS POPPING UP IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.
GROWTH IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS, BUT IT HAS LED TO MORE TURNOFFS AND EXITS.
PARTICULARLY CONCERNING TO SOME RESIDENTS IS A NEW 168 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX OFF SMITH PIKE, CALLED 46th FLATS.
RESIDENTS WORKING IN BLOOMINGTON MUST EXIT RIGHT ON TO STATE ROAD 46, DRIVING INTO ELLETSVILLE FIRST.
>> SO I'M DRIVING BACK TO BLOOMINGTON NOW, BUT I HAVE TO TURN RIGHT HERE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY GOING WESTWARD INTO ELLETSVILLE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS PLACE IS THAT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE HERE ARE GOING TO LIVE IN BLOOMINGTON, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO TO DRIVE INTO DOWNTOWN ELLETSVILLE BEFORE TURNING AROUND.
>> STATE TRANSPORTATION DATA SHOWS TRAFFIC CAN BE A PROBLEM HERE.
ESPECIALLY FROM 7 TO 9:00 IN THE MORNING AND 4 TO 6:00 IN THE EVENING.
THE CITY OF ELLETSVILLE HOPES TO CHANNEL DEVELOPMENTS IN A MORE PEDESTRIAN AND TRAFFIC-FRIENDLY DIRECTION.
IT'S STRATEGIC PLAN ENVISIONED ELLETSVILLE LAYS OUT A CONTEXT SENSITIVE GROWTH PLAN.
THAT WOULD INCLUDE ROUNDABOUTS TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND CROSSWALKS.
BUT STATE ROAD 46 IS JUST THAT, A STATE ROAD.
THAT MEANS CHANGES LIKE ROUNDABOUTS AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
>> INDOT WOULD HAVE TO DO SOME STUDIES ON THE AREA TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S -- IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THOSE THINGS TO BE IN PLACE THERE.
>> MANY DRIVERS FEEL UNSAFE ON 46, BUT IS IT UNSAFE?
ELLETSVILLE POLICE CHIEF JIMMY TURNAL DOESN'T THINK SO.
>> THERE'S BEEN MANY, MANY, HOUSES OBVIOUSLY BUILT AROUND THE AREA THERE BUT WE'RE EXPANDING.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE COMPROMISED OUR SAFETY AT ALL.
>> INDOT AGREES.
A SPOKESPERSON SAYS NO INTERSECTIONS IN THE STRETCH OF 46 BETWEEN HEART STRAIT ROAD SHOW UP AS ELEVATED CRASH LOCATIONS.
>> WE DO TRY TO IMPLEMENT SAFETY MEASURES IN AREAS WHERE WE SEE A HIGH NUMBER OF PEDESTRIANS AS WELL AS TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH THE AREA.
>> PATIENCE IS WEARING THIN FOR SOME, BUT TOWN MANAGER MIKE FARMER FEELS COMFORTABLE WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS AND SAYS INDOT HAS BEEN COOPERATIVE AND COMMUNICATIVE WITH THE CITY.
>> THE PROBLEMS WE HAD IN THE '90s WERE SOLVED BY INDOT AND LIVED A PRETTY GOOD LIFE.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, THEY IMPROVED A STEADY, DRAMATICALLY WHEN THEY WENT THROUGH TOWN.
SO WE WILL PROBABLY GO THROUGH THAT SAME PROCESS AGAIN AS WE GROW.
>> INDOT, POLICE AND CITY OFFICIALS AGREE THAT TRAFFIC IS INCREASING, BUT NOT YET TO THE EXTENT THAT STATE ROAD 46 HAS BECOME DANGEROUS.
>> YOU ARE ASKING ME HOW WE WILL SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS AND I'M SAYING WE'RE GOING TO PLAN FOR THEM.
AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT IF WE DON'T PLAN AND IMPROVE OUR SECONDARY ROADS, THEN WE WILL HAVE PROBLEMS.
>> THE CITY SAYS THERE'S NO TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTING ELLETTVILLE'S 46 CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ETHAN SANDWEISS.
>> AND THE CITY DOES CONFIRM THERE IS NO TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTING ELLETSVILLE'S 46 CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," BLOOMINGTON'S BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS HAS TEMPORARILY HALTED CONSTRUCTION OF THE BLOOMINGTON GATEWAY PROJECT.
AND WE TAKE A TOUR OF EXHIBIT COLUMBUS, FEATURING 13 NEW WORKS OF -- ART AND ARCHITECTURE AROUND THE DOWNTOWN.
>> THESE STORIES AND MORE RIGHT HERE ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."
>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."
A NEW COVID BOOSTER IS AVAILABLE.
AFTER THE GUIDANCE WAS UPDATED.
COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, DR. ROBIN LEDGARD SAYS THE NEW BOOSTER IS PROVING TO BE EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING DISEASE AND EVEN BETTER AT PREVENTING SEVERE ILLNESS.
SHE SAYS THE APPROACH FOR THE MONOVEILANT VACCINE IS SIMILAR TO DEVELOPING YEARLY FLU SHOTS.
>> WHEN YOU DO THE FLU SHOT, THEY TAKE LAST YEAR'S DATA, AND KIND OF BASE IT ON THAT FOR NEXT YEAR'S FLU.
KNOWING THAT THE MUTATIONS WON'T BE THAT GREAT AND THAT THEY ASSUME THAT THAT VACCINE WILL WORK.
THEY ARE NOW DOING THE SAME WITH COVID.
>> THE C.D.C.
RECOMMENDS THE NEWEST BOOSTER SHOT FOR EVERYONE SIX MONTHS AND OLDER.
INDIANA UNIVERSITY STUDENT HEALTH CENTER HAS COVID TESTS IN STOCK AS INFECTIONS INCREASE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
TESTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF THROUGH DELIVERY AND ON CAMPUS VENDING MACHINES AT McNUTT RESIDENCE HALL AND THE INDIANA MEMORIAL UNION.
>>> PLANS FOR THE $1.1 MILLION BLOOMINGTON GATEWAY PROJECT ARE ON HOLD, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING.
THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS VOTED TUESDAY TO DELAY A SIDEWALK CLOSURE REQUEST POSTPONING CONSTRUCTION ON THE PROJECT AT MILLER SHOWERS PARK.
RESIDENTS WHO SPOKE AT THE MEETING WERE CRITICAL OF THE PROJECT AND AS PAT BEAN REPORTS THEY WANT TO SEE THE PROJECT GO AWAY FOR GOOD.
>> APPROVED IN 2018 WORK ON THE BLOOMINGTON GATEWAY PROJECT WAS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK.
ALL THAT WAS NEEDED WAS FOR THE BLOOMINGTON ROAD OF PUBLIC WORKS WAS TO SIGN OFF AT THE REGULAR MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK.
BUT WHEN THE RESIDENTS SAW THE MONOLITH AND FOUND THE ARTIST'S RENDERING OF IT, THE BACKLASH BEGAN.
>> WHAT PEOPLE ARE ATTENDING IN PERSON AND ON ZOOM ARE ASKING YOU TO DO IS SOMETHING LIKE JURY NULLIFICATION.
YOU RIGHT NOW, ARE THE PEOPLE WHO CAN STOP THIS.
>> BLOOMINGTON ARTIST DAVID EDINGHOUSE HAS WRITTEN ABOUT THE SCULPTURES SAID HE JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE MONOLITH A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THE MEETING.
>> THIS IS LIKE A VANITY PROJECT.
I WANT TO PUT IT ON RECORD THAT THIS IS A BAD IDEA, BAD DESIGN, BAD PLACEMENT OF NO ARTISTIC VALUE AND IT DOESN'T FIT IN THE PARK.
>> THE CITY'S PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR NOTED THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE PROJECT FIVE YEARS AGO AND ALLOCATED THE FUNDING THROUGH THE BICENTENNIAL BOND.
HE POINTED OUT THAT IT'S NOT A PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT BUT A PARKS DEPARTMENT PROJECT AND THEY JUST NEEDED TO OKAY THE CLOSURES SO THE CONSTRUCTION COULD BEGIN.
>> AGAIN, I JUST REMIND THE BOARD THAT THE PURVIEW OF WHICH YOU ARE USING IS THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY, NOT THE ART PROJECT OR THE SPENDING.
>> THE BOARD PRESIDENT SAID SHE HAD CONCERNS NOT ONLY ABOUT THE MONOLITH BUT SOME OF THE SIDEWALK WORK PLANNED OUTSIDE OF THE PARK AND HOW THE PROJECT WOULD FIT WITH THE CURRENT COLLEGE WALNUT CORRIDOR STUDY.
>> WELL, SEE HOW WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, I'M FULLY AWARE OF THAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO TABLE THIS ITEM.
>> SO AT LEAST UNTIL THE BOARD'S NEXT MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 26th, THE GATEWAY PROJECT IS ON HOLD.
FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M PAUL BEANE.
>> THE PROJECT HAD BEEN SCHEDULED TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 18th, WITH BOARD APPROVAL.
>> THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS VISITORS AND MEMBERS HELPED TO USHER IN VISIT COLUMBUS.
JOE HREN MET WITH THEM FOR THE FOURTH SHOWCASE OF PUBLIC DESIGN.
>> THIS WHOLE PROJECT STARTED NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO WHEN WE REBILLED AND ENTIRE CYCLE OF EVENTS TO THINK HOW WE CAN ADVANCE THE LEGACY OF COLUMBUS, INDIANA, WITH OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH ART, ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN.
AND SO TO GET HERE, WE HAVE SELECTED 13 ARTISTS AND ARCHITECTS.
WE HAD A SYMPOSIUM LAST YEAR, WE HAD DESIGN PRESENTATIONS THIS SPRING, AND NOW WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXHIBITION.
THIS ONE IS CALLED PUBLIC BY DESIGN.
AND WE'RE PURPOSEFULLY TRYING TO CREATE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY IN THE PUBLIC SPACES WE SHARE.
AND WE'RE SEEING THAT EVERY DAY.
THIS IS CALLED MACHI AND IT IS DESIGNED, BUILT, BY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THIS COUNTY.
IT'S CRAZY.
THIS IS A HUGE INSTALLATION, ALL WELDED BY STUDENTS OVER THE SUMMER AND THEN THEY SELECTED AND PAINTED DIFFERENT THINGS.
THEY CUSTOM FABRICATED THESE THINGS CALLED A KID A PART.
I WOULD START AT THE COLUMBUS AREA VISITORS CENTER, AND THEN GO ACROSS THE -- STREET AND GO ACROSS THE STREET AND SEE THE BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY LIBRARY, AND IT'S NEXT TO AN AWESOME CHURCH BUT IN THE MIDDLE THERE'S AN INSTALLATION BY BABOW, THEY ARE CREATING SOMETHING HERE THAT IS A NEW WAY TO THINK ABOUT WHAT A LIBRARY IS.
IT'S AN EXTERNAL LIBRARY WHERE YOU CAN BORROW THINGS FROM THE INSTALLATIONS.
IT'S BRIGHT BLUE.
IT'S COLORFUL, AND THERE'S SOME PARTS YOU CAN CLIMB ON.
THAT'S ANOTHER INSTALLATION RIGHT NEXT TO IT, BY TWO PROFESSORS OF ARCHITECTURE AT UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
IT'S CALLED SCRAPPLE.
AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS THEY HAVE USED PIECES FROM AROUND COLUMBUS TO BUILD AN INSTALLATION, AND THEY INVITED PEOPLE TO SUBMIT RECIPES AND SO THERE'S THOSE THINGS THAT ARE OUT THERE ARE ACTUALLY MENUS AND RECIPES FOR YOU -- NOT MENUS, BUT THOSE THINGS ARE RECIPES FOR YOU TO COME AND THINK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN PUT THINGS TOGETHER.
>> THERE IS A BIG ONE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF FOURTH AND WASHINGTON, AND THIS IS AN INSTALLATION CALLED INTEROCULOUS, IT'S MADE BY PRACTICE FOR ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM, BASED OUT OF NEW YORK.
>> THEY'RE TRYING TO THINK ABOUT THE CENTER OF COLUMBUS IN A NEW WAY.
SO WE WORKED WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE CITY, REMOVED STOPLIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN AND THEN BUILT THIS DOME THAT ALSO HAS LIGHTS THAT LIGHT UP AT NIGHT, AND ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT COLORS.
IT -- LIKE MANY OF THE PIECES HAS BECOME A FOCAL POINT FOR PEOPLE TO COME DOWNTOWN AND EXPERIENCE WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
>> WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S AMAZING ABOUT COLUMBUS IS THE GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS FOR CUMMINS IS RIGHT HERE ON FIFTH STREET.
AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PARK.
WE HAVE THREE INSTALLATIONS THAT KIND OF SURROUND THAT, ALL BUILT BY UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS.
BUT THAT'S ALSO KIND OF AN INVITATION TO GO OUT TO MILL RAYS PARK.
ONE THE COUNTRY'S PRETTY PARKS IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN AND THERE'S A GIANT BAMBOO STRUCTURE CALLED ECHOES OF THE HILL.
IT'S A STRUCTURE THAT'S AS BIG AS A HILL OUT THERE.
AND I DON'T WANT TO GIVE OUT TOO MUCH.
I THINK YOU'VE GOT TO COME SEE COLUMBUS AND YOU'VE GOT TO EXPERIENCE THIS FOR YOURSELF, BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT DIFFERENT MOMENTS THAT ARE SMALL AND INTIMATE, PLACES WHERE YOU CAN BE WITH FRIENDS AND THEN HUGE EXPANSIVE PLACES IN COLUMBUS FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SPACE IN ITS BIGGEST WAY.
♪ >> IT LOOKS LIKE FUN.
THE EXHIBIT IS UP THROUGH THE END OF NOVEMBER.
>>> THE TAYVEN JACKSON ERA BEGINS SATURDAY AT LUCAS OIL STADIUM IN INDIANAPOLIS, WHEN THE INDIANAPOLIS FOOTBALL TEAM HOSTS THEIR FIRST HOME GAME.
HEAD COACH TOM ALLEN OFFICIALLY NAMED JACKSON THE STARTER THIS WEEK.
JACKSON IS A RED SHIRT FRESHMAN WHO TRANSFERRED TO I.U.
FROM TENNESSEE AFTER LAST SEASON.
HE WAS EXCITED TO HEAR THE NEWS.
>> IT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE.
IT'S EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO -- YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM A COACH.
YOU KNOW, COME IN HERE, IT'S BEEN -- IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE.
IT'S BEEN HARD.
YOU KNOW GOING THROUGH A QUARTERBACK BATTLE.
THAT'S LIFE.
>> I THINK HE WAS EXCITED.
SATURDAY'S GAME WON'T BE THE FIRST AT LUCAS OIL STADIUM FOR JACKSON.
HE PLAYED IN THREE HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES THERE WHILE AT CENTER GROVE.
INDIANA IS 1-1 AND LOUISVILLE 2-0 HEADING INTO SATURDAY'S GAME.
KICKOFF IS AT NOON, AND THE GAME WILL BE BROADCAST ON THE BIG TEN NETWORK.
>>> THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AS WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
♪ >>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: