Hogsett, Brewer Talk Neighborhoods

Indianapolis’ mayoral candidates want to decentralize government services and make access easier. Democrat Joe Hogsett and Republican Chuck Brewer discussed neighborhood issues as a forum Thursday night.

Hogsett says he would create “mini city halls” throughout the city to cut through red tape. ."It’s really not a cost matter because I think that there is enough unused governmental space currently that we could get the bureaucrats out of the city-county building and into the streets of the neighborhoods," he said.

Brewer wants to take a more digital approach. He points to how technology is changing how people purchase services and interact.

"We can create that kind of engagement, that model, where people can engage with their city. Either to get things done, get permits, file complaints, engage with their city leaders," Brewer said.

More than 100 people attended the forum at the Indiana Landmarks Center, sponsored by LISC and the Historic Urban Neighborhoods of Indianapolis.

Hogsett and Brewer took questions ranging from gentrification and blight to hiring ex-felons.

Affordable housing is the key to redeveloping distressed neighborhoods, and Hogsett says he would look to other cities for models and best practices on how to do it.

"I think we need to try everything and anything. If we try it and it doesn’t work, we stop trying it. If we try it and it does work, we invest more money in it," Hogsett said.

Brewer pointed to places like Fall Creek or Fountain Square as evidence that intensive redevelopment efforts can work.

"Our greatest successes in developing these pocket neighborhoods have been establishing a beachhead, and then you see some of these satellite neighborhoods develop around there and people become attracted and we make a lot of progress by focusing a lot of energy and resources in one very specific area."

Brewer drew applause from the crowd when he suggested that large employers need to do more to hire ex-felons, saying “everyone deserves a second chance.”

"These people have paid their dues, and they need to get a job to support their family. And I’m sorry, if you’re a large employer in this county ... you need to come to the table and talk to us about how you can do to hire people for positions that don’t require them to touch money or whatever your requirements are," Brewer said.

Hogsett reminded the audience that his public safety plan also includes ways to keep people from returning to a life of crime.

"That is on the back end of the cycle and if we’re truly going to meaningfully change the back end, we’ve got to change the front end. If we’re going to meaningfully change the public safety system, we have to keep our kids out of the criminal justice system altogether," Hogsett said.

The two are running to replace Mayor Greg Ballard, who is retiring.

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Democratic candidate for Indianapolis mayor, Joe Hogsett, would like to open satellite city halls all over the city.

He says that will cut through red tape and improve public services. The role of Deputy Mayor for Neighborhoods would also be overhauled, Hogsett said. That person would work more on neighborhood redevelopment and the deployment of services.

The Hogsett campaign laid out the second half of his neighborhoods plan shortly before he speaks about neighborhoods at a public forum Thursday evening. Previously, Hogsett called said he wants to help more Indianapolis neighborhoods write quality of life plans, a roadmap for neighborhood redevelopment.

From the Hogsett campaign, here's the overview of the second half of Hogsett's plan for neighborhoods.

• Neighborhood City Halls: The city will make key services and operations more accessible by opening “mini City Halls” in existing public buildings in neighborhoods so that residents don’t necessarily have to visit the City-County Building for basic needs.
• Neighborhood Advocate Initiative: Neighborhood liaison positions will be refocused on making city hall more accessible and responsive for neighborhoods. These newly dubbed Neighborhood Advocates will act as community builders and organizers, and will facilitate Quality of Life planning and aid in identifying key community resources.
• Redefine Deputy Mayor of Neighborhoods: The Deputy Mayor of Neighborhoods will coordinate the deployment of neighborhood services in an effort to introduce projects that serve as catalysts for organic, outside investment in neighborhoods, build quality of life, create amenities and improve public safety.

Hogsett and Republican candidate Chuck Brewer will discuss their neighborhood agendas at a forum this evening. Indiana Landmarks is hosting both candidates at their offices at 1201 Central Ave. It begins at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public. 

WFYI will have more on the forum and the candidates' neighborhood plans after the event.