Community Connection - May 5 2026 - Tina Cosby with Julia Vaughn, Maggier Lewis, Andy Nielsen and Rena (renee) Allen - Community Connection With Tina Cosby

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
When the microphone goes on, everything in the room goes quiet. Ah,
because if it doesn't, you'd have feedback coming from the microphone.
So everything goes silent in there. Yeah, and then here too,
so that we can hear through the headphones.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Okay, okay, well we got that straight. We got that straight. Yeah,
let everybody in on it. Okay.

Speaker 3 (00:18):
Well, good afternoon, and welcome to Community Connection.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
I am Tina Cosby here with Eric Garnes.

Speaker 3 (00:23):
Today is Tuesday, May the fifth, Happy Cinco Demayo.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
Are you Are you a single Demayo celebrator?

Speaker 4 (00:30):
Yeah?

Speaker 1 (00:31):
Yeah, yeah, I think tonight my wife's gonna have something
special for Cinco Demayo.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
Really yeah. It is a big celebration around food, no.

Speaker 1 (00:37):
Doubt it is.

Speaker 2 (00:39):
Yeah, and it is. It's also Taco Tuesday, you know.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
Yeah, right, I was gonna can I say that, Yes,
we say what Taco Tuesday?

Speaker 3 (00:48):
I don't know's I don't think we're infringing on anyone's copyright.

Speaker 1 (00:51):
I hope everybody's Hey, that's my thing.

Speaker 2 (00:54):
No, everybody's got their own silo.

Speaker 3 (00:55):
This is mine's man say well we yeah, Taco Tuesday
is all over the internet everything else, So yeah, just
just let us make sure that that's okay. But I
think so rain eric expected to hang around until around
midnight or a little later. So yeah, yeah, going to
be a soggy, rather cool, soggy day.

Speaker 2 (01:14):
So there's our is that the weather for well, that's
pretty much.

Speaker 1 (01:17):
It showers, a thunderstorm and attempts are going to fall
to fifty three by five this afternoon.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
We got thunderstorms.

Speaker 1 (01:25):
There's a possibility. And I heard a thunderstorm this morning
about three am. I mean a wud cut got up
a boom boom.

Speaker 3 (01:32):
Yeah I saw you know, I saw some flashes, but
you know, you know how you just see lightning and
and then I knotted off and so it could have
been boom boom, but might have been.

Speaker 1 (01:41):
Oh I was awake and say, oh wow, that was
the one that shook the house.

Speaker 2 (01:46):
Shake that.

Speaker 3 (01:48):
But okay, well, you know, not nothing severe though, just
good old springtime in Indiana.

Speaker 1 (01:52):
That's it springtime. And it's a one chance of rain
tonight and I guess later this afternoon too, So okay,
it's coming in.

Speaker 3 (02:01):
Okay, cool, cool, cool, you know Mother Nature car wash,
that's exactly right.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
I haven't haven't taken mine to have it washed it.

Speaker 3 (02:08):
You need to get a new card, so you wash
yourself sometimes once or twice a year, not often.

Speaker 1 (02:15):
I have not had time.

Speaker 2 (02:16):
I've just don't exactly.

Speaker 1 (02:19):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (02:19):
You know what, Eric, I don't know if is that
we don't have time or we don't make time anymore,
because I remember.

Speaker 2 (02:25):
Years ago, that's all the way we did.

Speaker 3 (02:27):
Who wanted to go to a car wash, froll out
the hose in the front yard and just soap it
up and go on about your business.

Speaker 1 (02:33):
That's what I did. Yeah, yeah, Now all of a sudden,
I don't have time.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
You know, I can't do it.

Speaker 3 (02:41):
But it is for other things too though, like hosing
down the driveway the house, even the house, you know,
bringing stuff, so still got to do that. But in
the meantime, I'm like you, I don't have time to
go to the car wash time. Indeed, again, today is Tuesday,
May fifth, go to Mayo, soggy Rainey.

Speaker 2 (03:02):
It is also primary election day.

Speaker 3 (03:05):
Here in the state of Indiana, and we are going
to get to that shortly with our voter education contributor
Juey Yvonne. I think she's coming today, you know, she
should be here with us today.

Speaker 2 (03:17):
She's usually right here.

Speaker 3 (03:18):
But anyway, if she doesn't, that's okay, well, but she will.
She will, so primary elect voter education contributor. We're also
going to be talking with the city County Council president
and a couple of her fellow councilors. Big news last
night made by the council in terms of youth curfews

(03:43):
and data centers.

Speaker 1 (03:45):
Oh yeah, data centers. I think I saw something pop
up on that yesterday afternoon. We were on the air still,
and I didn't get to read the whole thing. I
think I headlined that was it a was it a
pause or something like that, a moratorium some degree on
data centers. I think I didn't get to read the
whole thing, but it came up yesterday while we were

(04:05):
on the air and you were talking to guests, and
so I didn't mention it, but it was there. I
did see it.

Speaker 2 (04:11):
Julia says she can't get through.

Speaker 1 (04:15):
Let let me send the message to the engineers. Something
is probably.

Speaker 2 (04:20):
Yeah, says she's trying. But the line is busy.

Speaker 1 (04:23):
It's weird.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
It is it is.

Speaker 1 (04:26):
It is.

Speaker 3 (04:28):
See let's see we will if we're checking. Um hmm, okay,
there's yeah, it's the same number Yeah, it's a.

Speaker 1 (04:45):
Mm hmm.

Speaker 2 (04:48):
We send a message to them, right.

Speaker 1 (04:53):
See live radio, ladies and gentlemen radio about now it's ringing. Okay,
well something someone's calling your hango.

Speaker 2 (05:00):
I think that's her. I think that should be her.

Speaker 3 (05:04):
But big news though from Indiana Black Expo regarding Circle
City Classic. Y'all, whoa when I read that this just
a short time ago. We're going to get into a
little bit more of that. But yeah, that's that's big
news too. That's just breaking. I think there was another
outlet that jumped the gun, so to speak, and started

(05:27):
reporting it before Indiana Black ex Bow could report it themselves.

Speaker 2 (05:31):
But it looks like they're The.

Speaker 3 (05:33):
Indianapolis Business Journal apparently was reporting it, but it looks
like the Indiana Black x was calling it a strategic
evolution of Circle City Classic. Strategic evolution of the Circle
City Classic. And we are going to get into a
little bit more of that with you probably coming up

(05:56):
in the second hour. But a bit of breaking news
Eric about the long standing Black HBCU college football game.
Looks like it will be no more.

Speaker 1 (06:06):
I missed that completely.

Speaker 3 (06:08):
Doesn't mean it doesn't mean we're not going to have it. Yeah, anyway,
we're going to talk about it.

Speaker 2 (06:12):
Did you see it?

Speaker 3 (06:13):
But uh, yeah, it looks like the traditional the traditional
circle city.

Speaker 1 (06:18):
They're going to change it someone right, right, and again
we'll not going away.

Speaker 3 (06:23):
No, no, it's just going to be more heavily local
and it will not be black college football.

Speaker 2 (06:28):
Oh really, I guess I'm giving some of them. But
we can't get into that.

Speaker 3 (06:34):
But right now, we got to get to this, uh,
this primary election. Our voter education contributor Julia Vaughn, bless
her heart, she is she's a trooper because she kept trying.

Speaker 2 (06:46):
So Julia, I love your persistence.

Speaker 3 (06:48):
That that goes a long way, and thank you. We
apologize for the inconvenience. Sometimes the gremlins just get in
the way.

Speaker 2 (06:54):
We don't we.

Speaker 5 (06:56):
Probably in that, but you know I called fourteen Oh.

Speaker 3 (07:00):
My goodness, Okay, that that definitely needs to go to Well,
we've already reported it to Engineering, so that that is
so crazy.

Speaker 2 (07:10):
Yeah, I had to. I had to report something.

Speaker 3 (07:12):
From Sunday, I was trying to listen through the app
because I was listening to Cameron and then to Reverne Al.
Those are the two shows I listened to on my
way to church. On Sunday Mornings Cameron when I can,
but you know, and the streaming app just it just
all of a sudden started looping the same commercial over
and over and over and over, and then I went

(07:34):
to a couple of other options and it was pretty
much the same. Ironically, when I got to reveren Al's show,
the prop it all cleared up. I don't know if
that's because that's a direct satellite.

Speaker 2 (07:44):
Feed or so. I don't know, it could be so anyway,
Julia glad Primary election day. We are here.

Speaker 3 (07:51):
It's rainy, a little cool, but you know, some of
the news from what I understand, uh, at least in
terms of early voting, there's some things to be excited about.

Speaker 5 (08:05):
Oh yeah, definitely, turnout is up, at least for early voting.
The weather's not helping us at all today. It is
kind of dreary and drizzling out there, but steady, I
would call turnout steady across Marion and Hamilton Counties. At
least the reports were getting back from our volunteers. Not

(08:28):
a whole lot of problems out there, you know, a
handful the usual seems like the extremely aggressive electioneering that
we talked about last week. A lot of that going
on at the Pike Township early voting location. People seem
to be a little bit more relaxed today, so not
so much of that going on, So that's a good thing.

(08:51):
But do just want to remind people that you have
until six o'clock this evening. So if you haven't taken
advantage of this opportunity new dyed to make your voice heard.
It got until six o'clock. And remember that Indiana Las
says if you are in line at six pm, you
have to be allowed to vote. Doesn't matter if the

(09:12):
line stretches around the block. Everybody who's in line at
six gets to vote. So you know, get out there
and make your voice heard.

Speaker 3 (09:20):
Yeah, indeed, I, as I typically do, I was late
getting into the office, not necessarily late, because I guess
I can consider it working, wasn't it Eric because I
was Yeah, I was driving around to a lot of
different sites.

Speaker 2 (09:32):
I was working.

Speaker 3 (09:33):
Yeah, yeah, I just wasn't in the office until about
eleven a little bit after that.

Speaker 2 (09:37):
But anyway, there were a couple of sites that I
drove by that were just you know, average. But when
I went to.

Speaker 3 (09:46):
Over there on the northwest side New Augusta Public Academy
on roadaball. There was no parking, there was no part
and you know, school is in session. I get that,
but I've I've been over there before during primary and
it's never it was never like that. Folks were pulling
up on the grass on the outside of the streets.

(10:06):
I mean, I didn't see lines and I didn't get
a chance to go in because I didn't want to
have to park a block away. I was just because
sometimes I'll just pull up, you know, seriously, just pull up,
run in and ask them how many you got today
or what do you And I just didn't. I said, Okay,
a visual is all I need, and I got a
great visual there.

Speaker 2 (10:26):
I don't know what was going on. I think a
lot of it.

Speaker 3 (10:29):
Too, has to do with the hour, because I started
between eight thirty and nine, and that's that's always a
busy time, I'm sure. And then I finished close to eleven,
so that there was a little bit of a lull
between ten and eleven. And those were the places, Julia
that I went by a couple of churches. There was
what was the other place went but anyway, they were

(10:51):
they were average, you know, just average.

Speaker 5 (10:53):
Yeah, but well, and I think One of the things
that is le lending to the big turnout in Pike
Township is there are a lot of contested races going
all the way from the township level to State Senate
and you know, even the congressional race though and that
state Senate race, you know, there are on both sides,

(11:14):
the Republican and Democrat, there are several candidates. So I
know that is definitely fueling turnout in Pike Township. And
you know, it just goes to show you whos yours
are happy to participate when we have something to vote for.
You know, when it's competitive, we get it. We want
to be part of that action. But in too many

(11:36):
areas across Indiana there is no real competition because of gerrymandering.
So you know, I just wish that we could find
a solution to partisan and racial gerrymandering. Of course, the
situation simply gotten worse because of the Supreme Court decision

(11:56):
that we saw handed down last week. So you know,
our fear now is that we will have some state
legislators who think this is motivation for them to come
back next year and redraw our congressional and perhaps even
state legislative maps in response to this most recent decision

(12:18):
out of Louisiana. So you know, just continue with the
evisceration of Section two of the Voting Rights Act. There's
not much left.

Speaker 3 (12:29):
Aren't There a number of states though, that are challenging
the immediate redistricting. I mean Louisiana, they stopped midside, you know,
just right people had already voted, and some of them.
So there's a lot of legal challenges that may get
back to the Supreme Court. It's going to have to
be I don't know, what do you say, more they
have to clarify even more.

Speaker 5 (12:48):
Yeah, this isn't the end of certainly litigation and over
racial gerrymandering, but we are very concerned that, particularly in
Republican dominated state legislatures, they will see this as a
green light to draw maps with absolutely no regard for race,

(13:09):
and perhaps even take out the guidance in Indiana state
law that says you have to respect the Voting Rights Act.
Because again, there's just not much of the Voting Rights
Act left. So we are definitely there's going to be
litigation ongoing from those states that did mid cycle redistricting.
It's going to take some time for those lawsuits to

(13:32):
work their way through the process. But this latest decision
again does two states. No, you don't have to worry
about race as you draw maps, and that is something
that Indiana lawmakers took into consideration when they drew those
maps back in twenty twenty one. So I fear that,

(13:52):
you know, they will look at state legislative districts in
Lake County, Marion County, perhaps even Allen County and start saying, well,
let's readraw these because race doesn't matter anymore. And certainly,
you know, the seventh Congressional district, they would be motivated
to redraw that as well. So you know, we're a

(14:16):
long way from having this fully resolved. But what the
Supreme Court did last week is a race decades of progress,
oh that communities of colors have made in the electoral
process because of the federal prohibition on racial gerrymandering. So unfortunately,

(14:38):
the Supreme Court is taking us back decades. And it's
just disheartening to see the progress that has been made
undone in one legal decision.

Speaker 3 (14:50):
You know, it's just so hard to understand how they
can be so blind to certain things because yeah, okay,
take out race, but I guess it's okay. To Jerrymander
on the part of you know, politically because of your party,
but so many you know, so much of that is

(15:10):
tied to race in a lot of.

Speaker 5 (15:12):
Ways, connected absolutely, And so you know what's infuriating in
the decision that it is written by Justice Alida is
there's no need for this anymore. Right, there's no racism
in the United States. No, there is a ridiculous statement
to make.

Speaker 3 (15:31):
And is it Is it ridiculous or is it something
in his silo that he genuinely because people people live
in certain areas of thought.

Speaker 2 (15:41):
And certain groups, So it's insane to you and me.

Speaker 3 (15:45):
But for him and his group and his silo where
he lives, I mean, that's his reality.

Speaker 5 (15:50):
Yeah, I guess if you only interact with people like yourself,
and perhaps you just can't see the truth. But again,
for those of us with a more well rounded life,
we recognize that we're far from being a color blind society.
So to say that we have to draw these maps

(16:11):
color blind, well again undo decades of progress that communities
of colors have made through the Voting Rights Act being
able to elect members of their community to elected office.
And this has happened at the local state and federal
level that communities have benefited from Section two of the

(16:35):
Voting Rights Act, so to dismantle it as they have
done just systematically, you know, with case after case after case,
the Supreme Court has again just undone years of progress.
So this is a huge setback. And again we're going
to have to be very wary of attempts here in

(16:58):
Indiana to undo maps and put in place maps that
will seek to diminish the voting power of black and
brown Hoosiers. So, you know, we knew that next year's
session was going to be a rough one, but this
decision really makes me fearful that. You know, it is

(17:19):
bad enough we had to fight redistricting in twenty twenty five,
I sure don't want to have that issue come back
in twenty twenty seven. And it's particularly crazy because that's
just three years before the federal census and we would
have to come back and redistrict again in twenty thirty one.
So you know, the founders did not envision we would

(17:42):
be redistricting every election cycle. But that's what this administration
has kind of set us off on that politician thinks
it's okay to redraw the maps anytime you think you
need an advantage in the upcoming because that's what this
is all about, right, silencing the voices of any voter

(18:06):
that doesn't go.

Speaker 2 (18:07):
Along with exactly exactly.

Speaker 3 (18:10):
So let me ask you this, if, by chance, uh
after the election of the midterms in November, that the
Democrats are able to take the House and the Senate,
do you think that they would be able to move
quickly on Supreme Court reform or do you think that

(18:33):
that might not be a priority because you only have
a two year window without you know, anything to really
worry about as far as the numbers and numbers shift.

Speaker 5 (18:43):
Yeah, I think you know, systemic reform of the Supreme
Court is a pretty long term project. We haven't done
much of that in our country, so it's a pretty
big and new idea for a lot of people. But
if Democrats get a majority and Washington, DC, the first
step should be passing federal voting reforms ban partisan and

(19:07):
racial gerrymandering. To make it clear, it is the law
of the United States of America that we don't rig
maps for political advantage, and we don't rig maps to
silence the voices of racial minorities. And so that needs
to be a priority. I mean we have. It's been
death by a thousand cuts for voting rights across the years.

(19:32):
So what Democrats should do is sweep into office and
do those things that have been left undone and repair
some of this damage that Republicans have done to voting rights,
not just through Supreme Court decisions, but by failing to
pass things like the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. I mean,

(19:53):
we have left this issue undone for too many years.
There are too many differences state this date. You know,
it is much harder to vote here in Indiana than
it is in any of the other Midwestern states. And
that's just not right. It shouldn't be harder to vote
in Indiana than it is to vote in Michigan or

(20:15):
Illinois or Ohio. But that's the reality of it. So
we need federal voting rights legislation to put all Americans
on a level playing field and make all of us
have our votes more meaningful in the process.

Speaker 3 (20:31):
Well, certainly, ACEP. Then should the the both the House
and the Senate go asap? I think that it's they're
not even going to worry about trying to remove Trump.

Speaker 2 (20:41):
That's a that's not a priority.

Speaker 3 (20:44):
Should they get that, But you're right, voting rights is utmost, Yeah,
utmost and then a lot of times.

Speaker 5 (20:51):
Because that's what everything else stems from. Right, we as
Americans cannot get ourselves fairly represented through the ballot box,
and everything else we try to do is going to
be frustrated. So, yeah, we've got to start by really
bolstering the voting protections that we used to have under

(21:13):
federal law that have been slowly but surely taken away
by judges and by politicians.

Speaker 4 (21:20):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (21:21):
Three one seven for eight zero thirteen ten. Three one
seven for eight zero thirteen ten. It is primary election
day here in the state of Indiana, all day long,
six am to six pm.

Speaker 2 (21:31):
Julia Vaughn is our guest.

Speaker 3 (21:33):
She is, of course, our voter education contributor and the
executive director of Common Cause Indiana. We agree wholeheartedly that
already up to today, it's been great. I would say
in terms of primary early voting turnout.

Speaker 2 (21:51):
I believe I was.

Speaker 3 (21:52):
Listening to Channel six as I was preparing the show,
and they had a report that early voting was up
by forty percent for county wide. So that's that's saying
it's almost had that's almost fifty percent.

Speaker 5 (22:07):
So yeah, it's a good sign. You know, we have
those seen that you know in a couple of past
elections that will have really good early voting. It seems
like people just can't wait to cast that ballot. But
that's kind of taking away from the turnout that we
see on election day. So again, just want to really
encourage people. There are more choices. Your voice matters now

(22:32):
more than ever, And just a reminder that here in
Marion County, the primary election is the one that really matters.
You know, Democrats dominate this county and so the November
elections are just not as important. Most of the races
will be decided today and so there's a lot of

(22:55):
action on the Democrats Democrat side of the ballot. You know,
County Clerk, our seventh congressional district, many legislative races, many
township races are hotly contested. So you know, we could
see some really close races here and you know you'll
be kicking yourself if your candidate loses by one vote.

Speaker 6 (23:18):
You know that's entirely possible.

Speaker 5 (23:20):
These are some really close races, So get out there
and make your voice heard. Again. They will close at
six o'clock, so still have plenty of time to get
to your polling place. And just want to remind people
that here in Marion County you can vote anywhere. We
don't have the old situation where you just had one

(23:42):
polling place you were assigned to. There are almost two
hundred vote centers all across this county, so chances are
you are not more than a mile or two from
a voting location. So take that opportunity and cast your ballot.
If you face any problem, or maybe you've got a
question you're not quite sure how to vote, where to vote,

(24:06):
who's on the ballot? Call eight six to six hour votes.
That's the Election Protection hotline. That's eight six six six
eight seven eight six eighty three. There will be a
train volunteer on the end of the phone line. They
can answer your questions and provide any assistance if you've

(24:26):
got a hurdle that you need to get over.

Speaker 3 (24:29):
Indeed, indeed we have a caller Julia Chaplin, Ruth go ahead,
how are you online too?

Speaker 4 (24:36):
Hi?

Speaker 5 (24:37):
Everybody.

Speaker 4 (24:39):
That's why we early vote. We picked what day we
wanted to go and it was a beautiful day. Now
it's raining today. Smart, yes, but I just wanted to
tell you something, Sad. I talked to my granddaughter who
lives in Florida. He's only twenty two this year, and

(25:00):
she has voted since she was eighteen. Do you know
they've got them believing, the young voters down there, that
that law that passed and the voting rights all that stuff,
she doesn't think she can vote because she's black. And
I told her that's not true. So they've got them

(25:20):
in Florida believing, even though you're a registered voter, even
though you're legal and you've got your ID, you can't
vote because you're black. That's what this new law says.

Speaker 2 (25:33):
Who told her that?

Speaker 4 (25:35):
I don't. Yeah, Now she got it from the news
down in Florida.

Speaker 2 (25:39):
The news said that that's what she said.

Speaker 4 (25:43):
Now you know, she could have misinterpret what they said.
But I told her, I said, if you're registered, she
got your ID, go vote and she knows which way
to vote. I trained my children, right, so you know that.

Speaker 5 (25:59):
God, Yeah, I hear what you're saying. There is so
much misinformation, disinformation, just plain lies that are going out
and people don't know what to believe. And so that's
why I really push the Election Protection Hotline. If you
want the lowdown. If you want the truth, if you

(26:20):
want accurate information, don't go get on Facebook, don't go
on TikTok, call the Election Protection Hotline, because it's our job.
We take it very seriously to cut through the misinformation
and give you accurate answers to any question. So I
am so sorry to hear that about your granddaughter. But

(26:43):
I mean, I think that's the times we're living in, right,
and particularly young black and brown voters, understand that there
are people actively trying to get you to not vote.
And so that's why you've got to recognize you're voted
so powerful that there are thousands of people working over

(27:04):
time to try to take it away from you. So
don't buy the the bull just you know, get the
right information from places like eight six six hour Vote
and don't let anybody take that right away from you.

Speaker 2 (27:19):
Indeed, all right, thank you.

Speaker 4 (27:21):
Florida has that though well I don't know. Florida in
the sen says he's trying his best to stop.

Speaker 3 (27:28):
You know, and thank you, thank you, Chevain Ruth. That's
a good question of Julia. This number is is nationwide?

Speaker 4 (27:35):
Is it not?

Speaker 5 (27:36):
National national number hotline?

Speaker 7 (27:39):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (27:39):
And so I'm not sure when the primaries are coming
up in Florida. I do know that they just passed
a jerrymanderd map at the best of President Trump. So again,
that just makes me proud that here in Indiana we
said no to that stuff because the vaspinarity of red
states have gone right. We're gonna have to work hard

(28:00):
next year. But again, there is just a critical need
for accurate and information around voting, and I'm telling you
there's no better place to get it than eight sixty
six our vote.

Speaker 3 (28:12):
Absolutely couldn't agree more. Let's squeeze in one more question
before we have to let share it. Let Cherry go,
Let Julie go.

Speaker 2 (28:19):
Julia. This is Sherry Cherry, go ahead. Do you have
a question for Julia?

Speaker 8 (28:23):
Yes, I do. I have said my address, my address
and my registration about a year ago when I got
the real ID and I updated it a voter registration
the voting to registration site online and I assume that
it was the Indiana that up here in the last
couple of days I went in just to just to
make sure every time my best in a row. Because

(28:44):
I voted every election and I am listed as an
active voter. What does that mean and my old address
is still is my old address is showing up on
the bull web right now as opposed to the up
in your address. It's on my idea.

Speaker 5 (29:01):
Uh oh yeah, something didn't go right, and in the
active voter is exactly what it sounds like, somebody who
doesn't vote in every election. So clearly, if you are
an active voter, you shouldn't be.

Speaker 8 (29:16):
On this list.

Speaker 5 (29:18):
Maybe you've got a common name, so they've confused you
with somebody else. That can happen sometimes, but definitely if
you updated your address online such a long time ago,
that should have been registered. Now you're I want to
make clear you were able to vote right because your

(29:39):
address yes, okay, good, good, Because we have had some
situations where people's address on their ID has not matched
their voter registration address, and that does not matter you.
You know, you should keep your voter registration information updated.
But your ID is for identitydification purposes only, so that

(30:02):
it's there's no requirement that it has to match.

Speaker 4 (30:05):
So I want to encourage you to day.

Speaker 8 (30:09):
So when I go to book kay and I show
my answers my current address, that is the address that
when you know I'm my identity.

Speaker 3 (30:17):
No, your identity verifies your identity, and she was just
saying the address should have no bearing.

Speaker 2 (30:23):
It's that you are you? Is that correct, Julia?

Speaker 5 (30:26):
Right right? Your address does the address on your ID
does not have to match your voter registration address.

Speaker 8 (30:36):
Okay, okay, that's okay. So if you have now there
is about the whole inactivity.

Speaker 5 (30:42):
Yeah, no, no, you if they don't find you in
the poll book, tell them that you were listed inadvertently
as inactive, because that could happen that you will not
be pulled up when you show your ID. So if
that happens, say check the enact active list. I have
been mistakenly put on the inactive list. The other thing

(31:05):
you can do is call up your voter registration at
Indiana Voters dot I in dot gov, so you can
prove to them right there that you're on the list
and they can then understand that you know, they need
to look at the inactive file. But again, if you
have any.

Speaker 4 (31:23):
Problem, for a if they close to yeah, get call.

Speaker 5 (31:29):
Yeah, call eight sixty six hour vote. If anybody questions,
because again, your your ID address does not have to
match your voter registration address. And if anybody tells you
you have to vote a provisional ballot. They know I
want a regular ballot.

Speaker 3 (31:50):
Okay, okay, that number is is your friend? That number
one eight sixty six hour vote is your friend?

Speaker 2 (31:57):
Okay?

Speaker 5 (31:57):
Yeah? Eight six six eight six eight seven eight six eight.

Speaker 3 (32:02):
Three six eight seven eight six eight three indeed, yeah, yeah,
all right, thank you, Sherry, And that that is interesting,
you know, and that I'm glad you clarified that, Julia,
because a lot of people, you know, you update your
voter registration and if you moved or whatever, that's fine,
But if you have a valid state ID, your address

(32:23):
really is not going to determine whether or not you're
allowed to get that BALLID and go castor.

Speaker 5 (32:28):
The only time it comes into play is if you
are a new voter, and clearly the caller is not
a new voter. So some new voters who don't provide
a last for their social or a driver's license number
will be required to prove their residence, but they do
that by showing like a utility bill or a bank statement.

(32:52):
So again, if any poll worker tells you, oh, this
ID address doesn't matter your voter ID address, you tell
them state loss as that does not matter. And again
if they want to argue with you, call eight sixty
six six eight seven eight six eighty three.

Speaker 3 (33:13):
All right, eight six six our vote a joya, thank
you so so very much, and well we'll share this
throughout the rest of the show with listeners and keeping
our fingers crossed for a good, smooth, well attended primary
as you say, well attended today.

Speaker 2 (33:29):
Primary election halfway through. Yeah, yeah, despite the reign. So
thank you.

Speaker 3 (33:33):
I can't thank you enough for all of the you've
been coming on with us for the past several weeks
and we really really appreciate it. And we'll be looking
forward to talking to you again as we get closer
to November, because that's that's going to be a biggie.

Speaker 5 (33:47):
Oh, it's going to be huge.

Speaker 2 (33:48):
All right, Thank you, Juey. We always appreciate you.

Speaker 5 (33:53):
Thank you, Bye bye, bye bye.

Speaker 2 (33:54):
We'll be back with more right after this.

Speaker 9 (34:02):
Let's get back to the conversation. It's Community Connection with
Tita Cosby, brought to you by Child Advocates, a champion
for justice, opportunity and well being for children on Praise
Am thirteen ten ninety five point one FM.

Speaker 3 (34:17):
And we're back with Community Connection again, reminding everyone today
is primary election day in the state of Indiana. Six
am until six pm. Yeah, six am until six pm. Eric,
you say you like to vote on election Yes, I do, and.

Speaker 1 (34:33):
I did this morning. Oh the door, the line was
out the door.

Speaker 2 (34:37):
Oh my goodness.

Speaker 1 (34:38):
I came in and I'm thinking, okay, there may be
I don't know, five ten people turn around. There's way
more lined up outside and all of the voting. Uh,
don't call them machines anymore, do you. They call them
what computers? Yeah, apparatus. It was all in use. They
were all in use. It took a while, but I

(34:59):
was fine saying with that.

Speaker 2 (35:00):
Yeah, yeah, well again.

Speaker 3 (35:02):
Julia vaughn Our, voter education contributor, made a very good
point one eight six to six hour vote.

Speaker 2 (35:10):
Eight six six.

Speaker 3 (35:12):
Hour vote is the number if you experience any problems
today whatsoever. Some callers have been calling in with some
really interesting scenarios that, you know, not unusual on election day.

Speaker 1 (35:27):
Someone said yesterday that the Pike Township Library they went
there to vote was closed. What they said, the one
on Zionsville Road.

Speaker 2 (35:37):
The one on Zionsville Road is closed.

Speaker 1 (35:38):
That's what they said yesterday. When they went to vote yesterday,
they the signs were there and everything, but they couldn't
get in the one was there?

Speaker 2 (35:45):
Oh what time was it? Did they say?

Speaker 10 (35:47):
Oh?

Speaker 1 (35:47):
What was midday?

Speaker 4 (35:49):
Oh?

Speaker 1 (35:49):
Okay, So hopefully that's not the case today.

Speaker 2 (35:52):
Hopefully it's not the case today.

Speaker 1 (35:54):
No, not at all.

Speaker 2 (35:56):
Wow.

Speaker 3 (35:57):
Anyway, as we move on and we're going to continue
the you know again, the polls are open from six
a to six p. There are a number if you
vote here in Indianapolis and Marion County, a number of
places to vote. More than one hundred and fifty vote
centers are set up out there. All of them are
set up to be within a mile of anybody that
lives in the county. Yes, according to Julia von Our

(36:18):
Voter Education contributors, so if you are in line at
six o'clock, you are still allowed to vote. Stay in line,
if you are on line at six o'clock. If you
pull up at six oh three or six oh five,
take it back home.

Speaker 2 (36:33):
Not no voting, no voting. No, they will strictly enforce that.

Speaker 1 (36:38):
So please, I've seen that happen.

Speaker 10 (36:40):
I have to.

Speaker 2 (36:41):
I have too. I've been standing right there when that's happening.
It breaks your heart. But you know, folks meaning wanting
to do the same thing.

Speaker 3 (36:47):
In the meantime, some big topics were handled last night
at the full City County Council meeting this month. Here
with us now is Council President Maggie Lewis. President Lewis,
how are you doing today?

Speaker 10 (37:03):
That to do?

Speaker 11 (37:03):
I'm doing well? How are you?

Speaker 2 (37:05):
I'm doing well.

Speaker 3 (37:05):
You brought a couple of your colleagues along with us
with you for us to talk to you want to
let us know.

Speaker 11 (37:11):
Who you have with you, Yes, ma'am again, thank you
for the invitation.

Speaker 7 (37:16):
As I heard before, I want to continue to introduce
my colleagues to your audience. And so we have Assistant
Majority Leader Counselor Andy Nilson, and then also Counselor Renee Allen.
I'm not sure if they want to add in their
districts or not, Counselors.

Speaker 12 (37:33):
President Lewis, thank you for the opportunity to be here,
Miss Tina rather than Andy Nielsen District fourteen on the
east Side community of Irvington out to portions of the
far east Side.

Speaker 3 (37:43):
Oh, thank you, Okay east Side and Counselor Allen, Renee Allen,
how are you welcome back?

Speaker 2 (37:50):
Welcome back, Missie, welcome back. You're too well, guess what
you're east as well?

Speaker 13 (37:56):
Right?

Speaker 14 (37:57):
I mean, you got it right again, yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am.

Speaker 4 (38:00):
You make sure you said my name right again? Yes?

Speaker 5 (38:02):
I did.

Speaker 2 (38:03):
I'll say it all day.

Speaker 3 (38:09):
So last night, a problem that the city has been
dealing with for years. Apparently the council agreed to tighten
up the curfew. Can you explain what happened?

Speaker 7 (38:21):
Yes, I'm going to allow Counselor Allen to respond to that.
She served as the assistant chair of the Public Safety Committee.

Speaker 11 (38:29):
So Coundar Allen.

Speaker 13 (38:30):
Okay, Hi, Yes, miss Tana. I m p D came
forth with a proposal for new curfew that would that
goes into effect committee ly, which would take us to
the end of our past little past Labor.

Speaker 14 (38:46):
Day, which is one hundred and twenty days.

Speaker 13 (38:49):
During the committee meeting, I did try to proactively, I
guess because I m p D based their.

Speaker 14 (39:00):
Their decisions for the curfew based off of last summer.

Speaker 13 (39:03):
I'm doing the fourth of July, how we had a
horrific Fourth of July celebration day, and so moving it
forward what I tried to do and steady doing it
one hundred and twenty days.

Speaker 14 (39:15):
I tried to do an amendment for sixty.

Speaker 13 (39:18):
Days because a lot of what IMPD presented, which they
based off what was going around going on in other
states about you know, street takeovers and different things that
was happening, which it has not happened here in Indianapolis.
But that amendment that I tried to push for sixty

(39:38):
days because my understanding of it is we can't force
something for you know, being proactive. Now, I want to
be clear about something. I do believe that accountability does
need to happen. Parents need to be responsible for their
kids and knowing where their kids are at, you know,
even just being a child and a mother at.

Speaker 14 (39:59):
The same t time. But also with the curfew.

Speaker 13 (40:04):
One of my stances being which I voted against the
proposal ninety nine last night. If it's about violence, which
I made a public statement about that, if it's about
the violence and the guns that are in our you know,
that are in the hands of our youth and young adults,
then this isn't an issue for the state. Because what

(40:24):
happened was when the state, when you no longer had
to have a permit to carry guns, I think that
forced a lot of guns to be put into our communities,
not that we never had a problem, but now everybody.

Speaker 14 (40:41):
Can go and get a gun.

Speaker 13 (40:43):
And I remember at an event that I was at,
and I remember listening to a fourteen year old girl
present and she said, all I gotta do is go
on social media and I can have a gun in
thirty minutes. And so to me, that speaks the volume.

Speaker 14 (41:00):
And so with the curfew. While I understand that it's.

Speaker 13 (41:03):
A tool for children and and accountability for parents, but
at the same time, our kids is looking for something
to do.

Speaker 14 (41:13):
And I have and previously reached.

Speaker 13 (41:16):
Out to certain businesses to see if they can hold
a team night. I do know, like even in my
own district last fall, when it was an issue around
you know, giving the kids something to do, some you know,
some of the grassroots organizations took their own money and
invested back into our community and let the kids hang

(41:36):
out all night. And so it's thinking about that prevention
piece and study. This is not an intervention, but this
is a prevention piece where we need to make sure
that we are identifying, you know, to be able to
put these resources back into our children, because sometimes it
may not be the resources, it may just be a
matter of giving these kids something something to do.

Speaker 3 (42:00):
Yeah, yeah, And some of the criticism of stricter curfew
laws and stricter curfew rules has been you need more
resources these kids. These kids need more places to go
and more resources as opposed to more punitive actions being
set up for them to have to to abide by.

Speaker 14 (42:22):
Exactly.

Speaker 13 (42:23):
And so one of the challenges that are well, I'm
not going to say challenges, So one of the comments
that were made and what you know and what is
challenged to us as counselors is making sure why we're
getting ready for budget season, like let's put this into
our budget to make sure that we're giving you know,

(42:43):
our young adults something to do.

Speaker 14 (42:46):
And then another aspect.

Speaker 13 (42:47):
Of this is I'm trying to build an ecosystem where
we can identify who is actually doing prevention work around
cv I and who's actually doing inntion because a lot
of people, a lot of organizations can say that they're
actually doing the work, but not necessarily.

Speaker 14 (43:06):
Meeting those point targets.

Speaker 13 (43:08):
And I already hosts did one meeting with a group
of organizations, and I would be having another one in
the next couple of weeks.

Speaker 14 (43:17):
And Madam President Lewis.

Speaker 13 (43:20):
She attended the first one, and I've been buyed a
counselor Nilsen to the next meeting.

Speaker 14 (43:27):
Because I want us all for me, you know.

Speaker 13 (43:30):
I think the ecosystem is going to be very important,
not only from a resource standpoint in us being counselors,
but for me. I want to make sure that we're
bringing our parents along too, because I just don't look
at it as one responsibility. Because when this happened last summer,
with the with the shooting happening downtown, I didn't we

(43:53):
got the everybody was blaming and the counselors, boy.

Speaker 14 (43:55):
We did get a lot of blame like what are
they're doing? And it was like we're doing something. But
I don't think it just should be put all on us.

Speaker 13 (44:05):
I don't think it's an imp D responsibility.

Speaker 14 (44:09):
But it's connecting the dots.

Speaker 13 (44:10):
I think it's the parent's responsibility, imp D responsibility, and
it's our responsibility. And I think if we make those connections,
we can be able to see a change in our communities.

Speaker 2 (44:22):
So what are the changes?

Speaker 3 (44:23):
What are the temporary changes that'll get us through the
summer that, yeah, what are the changes.

Speaker 2 (44:30):
The times?

Speaker 3 (44:32):
Well, let me ask you this, okay, Yeah, let me
ask you this. This is what I have, and tell
me if I'm correct or not. The new Times under
fifteen youngsters must be home by eleven pm every day.
Teens aged fifteen to seventeen hav an eleven pm curfew
on weeknights, with extensions until one am on Saturday Sunday mornings.

(44:54):
Increased IMPD patrols beginning areas like downtown, with violators taken
to the juvenile detention center. Parents cannot pick them up.
And the exceptions. The exceptions to this, this new temporary
change is there are exceptions for work, school, sanctioned events,
religious activities, and emergencies. Does that encapsulate Did I miss

(45:16):
anything or is there more?

Speaker 15 (45:19):
No?

Speaker 14 (45:20):
You did not miss anything.

Speaker 13 (45:22):
No, there's no sanctions or anything with the parents. I mean,
if they're with their parents, they're going to be fine.

Speaker 3 (45:29):
So they they're not going to be Yeah, it's not
a criminal offense. It's an infraction, and they are taken
to an area where their parents have to pick them up.

Speaker 14 (45:40):
It's going to be a correction center, yes, ma'am.

Speaker 2 (45:42):
Okay, okay, okay.

Speaker 7 (45:45):
So the goal is not to lock our teenagers up.
It's to reconnect them with their loved ones, their family members,
their guardian whomever. But again, I just want to stress
that this is another.

Speaker 11 (45:57):
Tool and a tool kit to assist with some of
the trending that we've seen happening in our community.

Speaker 3 (46:05):
Okay, okay, Well, I also heard saw that there was
a pause request on the part of the Council unanimously
requesting a moratorium on new data center rezoning until May
of twenty twenty seven, or until new rezoning regulations are adopted. However,
the project Metroblocks has been approved.

Speaker 2 (46:25):
Is that correct?

Speaker 7 (46:27):
That's correct. So there's two issues. I'm going to see
the countor Allen and to assist the Majority Leader. Feel
free to jump in here if I miss anything. So
the first issue is around the special resolution Proposal number
one fifty eight. It was a special resolution urgent the
Metropolitan Development Commission we often call MDC to limit data

(46:50):
center's approvals and to take the necessary steps.

Speaker 11 (46:53):
To keep them at bay for a while.

Speaker 7 (46:58):
And Majority Leader Evans and Counselor Hearts spoke to this
last night. Traditionally, special resolutions are just that to celebrate,
to urge someone a different body to do something.

Speaker 11 (47:12):
We last night we celebrated.

Speaker 7 (47:15):
Hope Academy for the twentieth anniversary, we celebrated mental health awareness.

Speaker 11 (47:22):
We also did a.

Speaker 7 (47:25):
Special resolution condemning all forms of violence in the political space.
And so special resolutions are typically again to urge a
group to do something or to celebrate something. So this ordinance,
we support it, but it's not an ordinance, it's not
a law. It's not something that we can force by law.

(47:47):
Under the law, the NBC is the only group that
are authorized to change any type of zoning policies that
limit our regulate development in the city and the County
of Annapolis and Marian County.

Speaker 11 (48:03):
So we did that, but we did a special solution.

Speaker 7 (48:06):
But again, I think it's important that folks understand that
this special resolution cannot be enforced by law. And so
I'll pause there in case you have a question or comment,
if anybody want to add anything regarding that special resolution.

Speaker 3 (48:21):
Yeah, any yeah, and by all means, is either of
the counselors would like to weigh in, that's fine, Yeah,
so I'm going to take their pauses, okay, but again, well, yeah,
we have a we have a okay, go ahead. We
have a caller that has a question but go ahead
and make your other point, President Lewis, and then we'll

(48:41):
go back to your lines, okay.

Speaker 7 (48:43):
And then the second piece was around the ability to
call down the proposal specifically, and Martin del Bright, with
that you just mentioned under Indiana law and I and
I did pull the code just so that I do
not get this wrong. Under Indiana law specifically, I see
thirty six seven Dash four Dash six zero eight, the

(49:03):
authority to call down any public hearing zoning is up
to the district councilor whose district proposal is located in.
So there was this there's some misinformation out there that I,
as the president of the city County Council or the
majority of my colleagues, had the ability to override the
decision of MDC or override the decision by the district

(49:27):
councilor counselor Gibson, and that is just not accurate. We
either had multiple attorneys look into this, and so last
night that motion was made and it was ruled out
of order.

Speaker 3 (49:39):
So unless he called it down, nobody can call it down, correct,
not even the president.

Speaker 7 (49:44):
So you had not to do so, no, no, no,
And so and I've had that conversation with several members
of the council. Again, even as the president of the
City County Council, I do not have that type of authority.
And Howard just to uh call down a proposal, this
is state statue that I am obligated to follow.

Speaker 3 (50:07):
Okay, so a little bit off the topic here, But
any any update on the shooting of his house?

Speaker 10 (50:16):
No?

Speaker 11 (50:16):
Uh, I don't have any updates on that.

Speaker 15 (50:19):
Uh.

Speaker 11 (50:19):
Yeah, I know it's an ongoing investigation.

Speaker 13 (50:22):
Uh.

Speaker 7 (50:22):
He is back to serve in the community, He's been
at council meetings, his son is safe, and and that's
pretty much all the information that I do have at
this point.

Speaker 3 (50:32):
At this moment, we have a We have a listener
that has a question. Sonia, go ahead, do you have
a question?

Speaker 8 (50:37):
Yeah, thanks for taking the call. The d have a
past for the for the young adult the curfew. How
is that going to effect Yeah? How is that going
to affect the young adult bosus? Because I recalled maybe
maybe two sessions ago at the state level, stay lowered
the age of the young adults that are that are

(50:58):
able to get a work from it and work.

Speaker 4 (51:01):
How is this this.

Speaker 10 (51:03):
Sting the.

Speaker 2 (51:08):
Okay?

Speaker 3 (51:08):
Yeah, but you know what that's that's a good question.
We we kind of answered it earlier. But but go ahead,
counselor uh, President Lewis, go ahead.

Speaker 11 (51:16):
I'm sorry, Count Allen. Did you want to jump in
the curfew?

Speaker 8 (51:19):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (51:19):
Or counselor Allen who Yeah, the curfew the exceptions that
are with the stricter rules. There are exceptions, correct, There are, yes,
there are exceptions to the rule.

Speaker 13 (51:29):
If they're out with their parents, you know they're gonna
you know, be with their parents. If they coming from
work there, you know, those laws to still will be
in a fact, it's just it's just kind of enforcing
that kids won't just be out just to be out.

Speaker 14 (51:47):
Parents need to know where their children are at.

Speaker 2 (51:50):
So, counselor Allen, the caller, I do believe she was saying, in.

Speaker 3 (51:53):
Light of the legislation or the whatever or that that
lowered the age for children to be would go to
work and if they are working, even if they are
fourteen and at work, if they are working and can
prove that they are out there working or coming home
from work, then they are excluded from the stricter curfew violations, correct,

(52:13):
regardless of their barely here.

Speaker 7 (52:16):
Well, I think with the yes that is correct, miscorrect Okay.
And then also I will add miss Tina that our
local laws, our local ordinance cannot supersede the State of Indiana.

Speaker 11 (52:30):
So the state issues that they've they've created the age
range for those permits.

Speaker 7 (52:36):
Nothing that we do as a member of the in
and out of the City County Council can supersede any
laws that have been put in place by the State
of Indiana. So again, as long as they have that permit,
they're able to move about freely and have that parent
with them, they'll be just fine.

Speaker 3 (52:53):
So it has nothing to do with the lawmakers lowering
that age. As long as they have the permit, it
doesn't matter.

Speaker 11 (52:57):
Correct, Yes, okay, are issue by the state.

Speaker 2 (53:01):
Does that answer your question, Sonya?

Speaker 8 (53:04):
Yes, Well, they have to show or work committed that
that physical they have to carry that only the time.

Speaker 2 (53:12):
But here here's the thing.

Speaker 7 (53:13):
As long as they're they're moving freely not creating any issues,
there's no reason for someone to just ask them for
their permit. So they're not gonna if As long as
they are obeyion laws and doing what they need to do,
there's no reason for an officer just to randomly stop
your child. Unless again, maybe they're doing something that is suspicious,

(53:33):
but again, they should be just fine as long as
they're going to work and on their way home.

Speaker 8 (53:39):
Does that let me give a specific specific scenarity being
in some of these young adults or so they are
underage in the evening, they have a pack with other
young adults walking together, being safe going to the bus stop,
at least three to four of it. Sometimes young like

(53:59):
adults urge targets when they travel in groups. So the
scenario is, you know, these are yeng adults. You know,
they're they're not over the age of sixteen, they have
working permit, they're on public transportation sometimes in the not
not just so safe areas. They're walking together. So should
they all be carrying their work their their their work

(54:22):
permit just in case?

Speaker 10 (54:26):
Yeah?

Speaker 7 (54:27):
Yeah, I would say keep their permit and their IDs
with them at all times.

Speaker 2 (54:31):
Yeah, or copy of the permit, you know, any copy
of it, yep, because.

Speaker 11 (54:35):
I'm not sure that copy of their ID at all times.

Speaker 2 (54:38):
Yeah, thank you, Okay, thank you. And that's a good question.

Speaker 3 (54:43):
That's a good question because there's an exception to every rule, uh,
you know, for for the most part, and the fact
that curfew violations are going to be even stricter and enforced. There,
the enforcement is going to be stricter coming up temporarily.
Now what let me ask a question. Was it counselor
Allen or councilor Nielsen? I don't remember which one. But
at the end of the temporary period, what happens the

(55:09):
temporary restrictions?

Speaker 2 (55:10):
What happens.

Speaker 14 (55:12):
We go ahead, Madam President.

Speaker 7 (55:17):
Sorry, I'm here in law calls, so I'm trying to
make sure everything and I apologize for tripping over you all. No,
not so this issue will continue to come before the
City County Council. So when it expires again, they'll come
back to Counsel Allen's committee and continue this conversation.

Speaker 3 (55:37):
And as far as the data centers, what what's the
next step there and what should people be watching for
and paying attention to.

Speaker 7 (55:45):
So the City of Annapolis, this issue has been like
on our radar and lots of conversations have been taking place.
There's been community conversations about how to move forward with
data centers in our community. And so the Metropolitan Development DMD,
I'm sorry, will come before the City County Council with

(56:07):
some recommendations on how do we score data centers, how
do we engage the community in these conversations, And so
we'll have something, We'll have a proposal for the members
of the city County Council to respond to and have
conversations again about how do we score data centers, how
do we move forward, do we want them in a

(56:28):
specific area, do they meet that criteria or not? And
so again we are looking to hear from the City
of Minneapolis Department of Metropolitan Development regarding some type of
proposal for us to respond to.

Speaker 11 (56:41):
So I expect that in the next month and a half.

Speaker 3 (56:44):
Our So, so the request for a pause does not
mean that there necessarily is a pause in place just yet.

Speaker 11 (56:52):
Yeah, So, I mean he's urging.

Speaker 7 (56:53):
Them to do so. But okay, yeah, that's what that
special resolution did.

Speaker 11 (56:57):
It urged them to put things on hold. Yeah, it was.
It's to urge them to put things on.

Speaker 7 (57:04):
Hold until there's like a policy in place. And I'm
saying today that the City of Indanapolis has already started
that process of creating some some some guidelines for us
to respond to regarding data centers in our community.

Speaker 3 (57:19):
So it's good news all around, but disappointing news for
those in Martindale Brightwood that we're hoping perhaps the metro
blocks UH project would would be halted.

Speaker 7 (57:30):
Yes, yes, yeah, so yeah, so that again there was
after that zoning. So there here's the thing that the
individuals that live and reside and work in Martindale Brightwood,
they did show up in a big way at the
NPT meetings, right, and so their voices were heard. However,
that committee did decide to move forward and and and

(57:56):
that was their decision. And again the district councilor opted
not to call down and proposal. So we did pass
into law last night. I'm not sure if if our
assistant Majority leader want to add anything else regarding data centers,
because he too is in the process of entertaining a
center in his district.

Speaker 1 (58:19):
Thank you, President Lewis. Yeah.

Speaker 12 (58:20):
So we have over here on the east Side at
the location the old Ford visiting on site right off
of Shadelin Avenue in English, dealing with a a DC
excuse me, a DC blocks proposal. So this is a
this is a rapidly changing issue, and I think our
communities are really hearing that. That's why these regulations and

(58:42):
guardrails and getting this right. As the President outlined are
really important. We should be treating these developments with an
on a level playing field, but right now we do
not have a way of dealing with that. And I
can tell you firsthand that it's very challenging as a
district counts player wanting to be able to provide your

(59:02):
constituents with answers and responses and and you know, seeing
the challenge of being able to do so in the
current and the current legal and regulatory environment in our city.

Speaker 3 (59:13):
Yeah, indeed, well we'll pin that for now and certainly
get back to it. I'm sure it's going to come
up again as well to curfew and a number of
other another of other a number of other issues. So
anything that we did not get to that you wanted
to add, President Lewis, Hello, okay, hello, Hello.

Speaker 2 (59:35):
Okay, yeah, hello, I'm the gremlins. I'm telling you, I'm
just our first caller.

Speaker 3 (59:43):
Our first guest had to she said she had to
call fourteen times to get in and so I don't know,
maybe it's the rain, maybe that the equipment doesn't like
the rain, but no, I was just asking before we
we wrap up, was there anything that we did not
get to that of significance that that you wanted to share.
Are we good?

Speaker 11 (59:59):
Yeah, Two things, if you don't mind.

Speaker 7 (01:00:01):
One, I again, I encourage the community to continue to
show up at these committee hearings. Their voice really does matter,
and we want to hear from the community, and so
I encourage them they could continue to do that. But
then the second thing, well, actually I got three. The
second thing is we did that special resolution that again
condemns all forms of violence. Right, we can disagree without

(01:00:26):
being disagreeable, and so I encourage folks to continue to
engage in the conversation. But again, let's be respectful to
each other. Again, we can disagree without being disagreeable. And
then the last thing, and our system majority leader may
want to chime in on this, it's we're getting close
to budget season. The budget is going to be introduced
in August. Again, these are your these are your dollars, right,

(01:00:50):
and so I want to encourage folks to pay attention
really with the things that are happening federally, that this
is your opportunity to either truly die into what happens
with your taxpayer dollars.

Speaker 11 (01:01:02):
And so in August, that budget.

Speaker 7 (01:01:04):
Is going to be introduced in October, we're going to
we're going to hopefully pass that budget. We continue to
talk about infrastructure when I when I come on here,
and so there's operation.

Speaker 2 (01:01:16):
I didn't mention today.

Speaker 11 (01:01:18):
I know, I'm impressed. I'm impressed. I imagine you got
a full legit.

Speaker 10 (01:01:23):
We have the.

Speaker 7 (01:01:24):
Opportunity to really do something big and really deal with
infrastructure in our community. And so again I want to
encourage folks to to to tune in email. Do you
want to add anything before we go regarding budget?

Speaker 11 (01:01:40):
So Nielsen has been.

Speaker 7 (01:01:42):
Our our budget guru over the last year and a half,
and so again I do want to toss it to
him if you want to add anything regarding the dollars
incent of the community.

Speaker 12 (01:01:51):
Yeah, thank you, President Lewis.

Speaker 4 (01:01:53):
Yeah.

Speaker 12 (01:01:53):
You know, miss Tina Eric, I'd love to be able
to opportunity to join you again in the future. We
can maybe do some budget deep dives, talk about what's
going on and on and all of the sudden's moving.

Speaker 1 (01:02:01):
You know.

Speaker 12 (01:02:01):
The budget is as the President said, you know, we
consider it in August, but we're always working on it.

Speaker 1 (01:02:08):
We're always working out So.

Speaker 12 (01:02:09):
What you saw last night were some of those initial
pieces that are starting to drop that are part of
the budget process, that are doing really important things.

Speaker 8 (01:02:17):
But yeah, we'd love the.

Speaker 12 (01:02:18):
Opportunity in the future to walk through that even more
and make sure listeners and neighbors understand what's going on
with their with their taxpayer dollars.

Speaker 3 (01:02:25):
All right, well, I appreciate it, and I know you
will keep us posted. Counselor Nielsen, Counselor Allen, and President Lewis,
thank you all so much for being with us. We're
just a little bit over, but that's okay. I thank you,
Thank you all so much, and we'll talk to you
again soon.

Speaker 2 (01:02:46):
We'll be back.

Speaker 3 (01:02:51):
And we're back with Community Connection heading into our second hour.

Speaker 2 (01:02:54):
Actually, we're in there. We're there now.

Speaker 3 (01:02:58):
Three one seven fight zero thirteen ten three one seven
four eight zero thirteen ten. Lines are open on this
primary election day. The polls are open on this primary
election day until six o'clock. We are more than halfway there.
Go to end if you're here in Indianapolis and Marion County, Indie.

(01:03:19):
Dot votes dot gov Indie, dot votes dot gov to
find a vote center near you if you don't already
have one or don't already know one. If you want
to vote, where you normally vote, go there too. But
vote participation for early voting, participation for early voting was
being reported at noon on one of the local channels

(01:03:39):
as being up or having been up by more than
forty percent. That's early voting was up by more than
forty percent. Julia von Our voter education contributor, mentioned voting
was up. Early voting was up. Today is going to
be the determining factor. I guess the rain doesn't help,
But then again, maybe it does help.

Speaker 2 (01:03:57):
Maybe maybe it does.

Speaker 3 (01:03:58):
People are determined to get to where they need to be,
and that is voting at a voting place today.

Speaker 2 (01:04:04):
I sent out about six this morning. I don't know
how many text messages reminded. Yes, including my own children.

Speaker 14 (01:04:12):
I sent them.

Speaker 2 (01:04:13):
That's reminding them. They they they're a lot.

Speaker 3 (01:04:16):
More interested, both of them are. Both of them are
really a lot more interested.

Speaker 2 (01:04:20):
And I'm glad.

Speaker 3 (01:04:21):
I'm glad they're a lot more engaged. They run things
back and forth and we talk about the issues.

Speaker 2 (01:04:28):
And I listen.

Speaker 3 (01:04:29):
I mean, because it's interesting what they key in on
as opposed to what's important.

Speaker 1 (01:04:34):
Yeah, theirtive can be quite interesting. It is, that's the
thing they want to know.

Speaker 2 (01:04:39):
They do that they do.

Speaker 3 (01:04:41):
And somebody was saying I had a friend that was
saying that she was she was disappointed in young people
being uninformed. I said, don't be disappointed. They're informed on everything.
They want to bet they are informed. But what we
can help with, perhap app sometimes is helping to reorganize the.

Speaker 2 (01:05:03):
Priorities exactly, kind of gently guy, gently.

Speaker 3 (01:05:06):
Yeah, the loving nudge that you must want to look
at this over this, or maybe this.

Speaker 1 (01:05:11):
This over that's all in addition to this, in addition
to so.

Speaker 2 (01:05:16):
I don't think it's a matter of being uninformed.

Speaker 3 (01:05:18):
I think it's just a matter of priorities, and we
can't relate to certain priorities.

Speaker 1 (01:05:23):
You're right, And the information is vast for them. They
can get it from all over the place, whereas we
couldn't do that one time. No, they've got so many
outlets to get information from.

Speaker 3 (01:05:32):
I used to have to go to we all had
to go to our grandmother's every day after school, and
we'd ask her something, you know, like trying to get
our homework done so we could go out and play.

Speaker 2 (01:05:41):
Look it up. Look it up. She did, and she
had the you know, the Encyclopedia of Britannica. That whole
that whole set.

Speaker 3 (01:05:49):
I'm not dating myself, but remember they had the it
was like ten or twenty books up at the top
rack and she had the rack and everything she had
she did.

Speaker 2 (01:05:58):
And then at the bottom there was.

Speaker 3 (01:06:00):
Atlas Road Atlas and an unabridged dictionary and something else,
and she was, you're not gonna learn nothing with me
standing here telling you all the time.

Speaker 1 (01:06:10):
So you all had no excuse. It was all there.
You could just so all the information was there.

Speaker 2 (01:06:15):
I didn't want to go look for it.

Speaker 3 (01:06:16):
Just tell me so I can get out of here.
But no, but that and that was fine, you know,
I but and it's not that different. It's just that
the vehicle, I guess, the.

Speaker 14 (01:06:31):
You know what you use is that?

Speaker 1 (01:06:33):
You know, that's what have changed.

Speaker 3 (01:06:34):
Yeah, instead of picking up a book, you have automatic electronics.

Speaker 1 (01:06:37):
Exactly. It's right your fingertips. That's hey, we don't want
to forget this too, uh, you know.

Speaker 2 (01:06:42):
Okay.

Speaker 1 (01:06:43):
Celebration of Choirs Clu's Memorial Hall. Oh yeah, get your
tickets now at Clues Memorial Hall, Box Alle. It's open Wednesday,
ten am to four. You can also go to dj
Gino dot.

Speaker 3 (01:06:59):
Net I'm gonna care him down the hallway. He's today,
I have not what is today Tuesday? Within the next
two to three days, I will because he comes in
at least once, sometimes.

Speaker 2 (01:07:08):
Twice a week. Oh that's true to record and so
and you don't you can't miss him, No, you can't
hear You can hear him. You can can hear him
three floors away. You can hear him. You know down there,
he's up there there he is.

Speaker 15 (01:07:21):
So.

Speaker 2 (01:07:22):
In fact, he was walking down the hall one time
and I said, g you know, he said, how'd you
know it was me?

Speaker 4 (01:07:28):
How I come on?

Speaker 2 (01:07:30):
So so he popped in and we were talking. But
but yeah, that that celebration of choirs is going.

Speaker 1 (01:07:37):
To be huge, certainly is and man is he is.

Speaker 2 (01:07:41):
He put together a production.

Speaker 1 (01:07:43):
Ricky Dillard special guest, Vincent Bohannan and s O V
Chicago Mass Choir, also local five local choirs Reverend Carl
Wiggins over at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, James Andrews
Total New Beginnings, Mondo Hall, New Direction Church, Cherry Garrison

(01:08:03):
from the Eastern Star, and Bryce and Robinson from Light
of the World. All the local choirs taking part.

Speaker 2 (01:08:10):
In that if you can't get something out of that, you.

Speaker 1 (01:08:14):
And Ricky Dillard, you will get a workout, said him
in concerts. That's a good idea. Man. He's he's usually
in a soup that he's still moving around. I mean
he he is, he's got the energy he does.

Speaker 3 (01:08:27):
And I tell you what, it's a tennis shoes are
you know that's the happening thing. I saw so many
prom pictures on Facebook, some family and friends that have
sent me prom pictures and guess what tennis shoes Chucks specifically, Yeah, Chuck's.

Speaker 1 (01:08:42):
I've seen that. I've seen quite a few of that.
That must be the new thing, you think I must be. Yeah,
but you know, I remember this is gonna date me.

Speaker 10 (01:08:50):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (01:08:51):
There was a guy named Phil Collins, you know, an
artists studio, and against all odds, he I don't know
if he's the guy that started it, but I remember
him doing something with the Academy Awards, Oscars or something.
He had a TuS on in tennis shoes. He was
on stage in tennis shoes. That was the first time
I'd ever seen that. Maybe I don't know if he

(01:09:11):
started it, but it was something that sort of followed
for a while pushed it along.

Speaker 3 (01:09:15):
Yeah, exactly, great, great, Hey back to what we kind
of breaking news that we were talking about right off
the top of the show, Indiana Black Expo and Circle
City Classic. By the way, the lines are open for
the rest of the show, remainder of the show. Lines
are open for whatever may be on your mind on
this primary election day. Three one seven four eight zero

(01:09:36):
thirteen ten. Three one seven four eight zero thirteen ten.

Speaker 2 (01:09:39):
But it looks like big.

Speaker 3 (01:09:40):
Changes are on the way. And here is the press
release I'm going to read from it. Indiana Black Expo
announces strategic evolution of Circle City Classic. A new football
showcase debuts in twenty twenty six. That's in a couple
of months. HBCU basketball invitationtional plan for twenty twenty seven,

(01:10:02):
So twenty twenty six and twenty twenty seven.

Speaker 5 (01:10:05):
So here we go.

Speaker 3 (01:10:06):
Indiana Black Expo IBE today announced a strategic evolution of
the organization, reinforcing its long term sustainability while continuing to
invest in the community it serves. As engagement trends, fundraising models,
and corporate partnerships continue to shift, IB is adopting more
strategics approaches to its signature events The Circle City Classic

(01:10:30):
and Summer Celebration have been the organization's primary fundraisers. Okay,
this is just the history of supporting and funding IBS
around youth and family programming. This pivot that they are
about to do aims to protect and strengthen those revenue
streams while ensuring the events remain relevant, sustainable, and aligned.

Speaker 2 (01:10:51):
With today's audience. So here is the news.

Speaker 3 (01:10:55):
Beginning in twenty twenty six, IBE will pivot from the
trade additional Circle City Classic football game to a reimagined
high school football showcase designed to reduce costs, increase flexibility,
and remain rooted in the organization's founding mission.

Speaker 2 (01:11:16):
Of community impact.

Speaker 3 (01:11:18):
Now, the twenty twenty six showcase will feature two girls
high school flag football matchups Arsenal Technical High School versus
Christmas Addicts High School and Ben Davis High School versus
Lawrence North High School. So it looks like it'll be
IPS versus some of the districts. Yeah, IPS, and then
the districts because you got Wayne and Lawrence right, and

(01:11:41):
then you've got Techs.

Speaker 2 (01:11:43):
Which are both ivs. So I get that.

Speaker 3 (01:11:46):
Two premiere boys high school football matchups Pike High School
versus Warren Central and then you got Ben Davis versus
Lawrence North High School.

Speaker 1 (01:11:56):
Okay.

Speaker 3 (01:11:56):
All games will be hosted at Lucas Oil and the
tradition of Circle City Classic activities of the past. Signature
Classic traditions will include the Battle of the Bands featuring
Talladega University Miles College, The Circle City Classic Education Day
and College Fair. Oh wait minute, Battle of the Bands
featuring Talladega University and Miles College, The Circle City Classic

(01:12:20):
Education Day and College Fair, the Miss Circle City Classic Coronation,
Circle City Classic Talent Day, Circle City Classic Coaches Luncheon,
Circle City Classic Parade, and the Fall Fest Community Event.
Again IBE explains, this evolution is both strategic and necessary,

(01:12:41):
said Alice Watson, CEO of Indiana Black Expo. The Circle
City Classic has long been a cornerstone fundraiser, supporting scholarships
and fueling our year round programming. This pivot allows us
to reduce costs while preserving what matters most our commitment
to community, our founder's vision, our ability to create meaningful
opportunities for future generations. At the same time, we are
re energizing the experience for longtime supporters and introducing it

(01:13:06):
to a new audience.

Speaker 1 (01:13:08):
I'm glad you read that because when you just see
the headline. I just saw just the headline. All no
I thought was all man, what's happening? Bad news is
what I thought. But no, sounds pretty.

Speaker 2 (01:13:18):
Good, well looking at it. Yeah, and it says looking ahead.

Speaker 3 (01:13:22):
They're going to expand their HBCU engagement next year twenty
twenty seven with the Basketball Invitational featuring men's and women's
teams from MIAK and SWACK conferences. The teams and venues
will be announced in the coming days. We're excited to
bring the energy of HBCU basketball to Indianapolis, and we
are in negotiations with two premier HBCU teams that represent excellence.

Speaker 1 (01:13:48):
That's good. Yeah, sports is still going to be a part.

Speaker 3 (01:13:51):
Of the tradition and strong alumni pride shift enables us
to greater and yeah, yeah, yeah prioritizer basketball definitely is
going to be cheaper to bring here than football.

Speaker 1 (01:14:02):
Oh, it certainly will.

Speaker 2 (01:14:03):
Yeah, because you bring.

Speaker 3 (01:14:04):
A football team, you got the band, you got WHOA,
you got a lot of people. Basketball what the most
you can have is twelve to thirteen, maybe fourteen fifteen
at the most. So you're yeah, you're not. It's very
much less expensive. But I got to tell you, and
you know how you get in these conversations and folks like, well,
this is what happened, this is what needs to happen

(01:14:26):
to Expo, and this is what Circle City Classic needs
to be. And if they really want, you know, instead
of bringing these colleges that nobody knows or interested in,
why don't we just make it a high school event
and take it out to the fairground, save money at
the at the stadium. And so a lot of these
ideas have been talked about, dare I say, Eric for years, just.

Speaker 2 (01:14:46):
In different forms, a different format.

Speaker 3 (01:14:48):
You've heard them too, We've all heard them because the
model with the high stepping, high flying HBCU football tradition,
it just priced itself out of the market.

Speaker 2 (01:15:02):
I mean, it was just unsustainable. And that's understood. It is,
that's understood.

Speaker 3 (01:15:07):
But so a Circle City Classic, it looks like it's
going to be all local and football, high school football,
including a girls flag football game starting this year.

Speaker 2 (01:15:21):
So what do you guys, what do y'all think about that?

Speaker 3 (01:15:23):
I'm just curious do you think that'll that'll have the
staying power of the traditional HBCU, the college tradition that
that was, you know that was founded with Circle City Classic,
or do you think they're you know, what do you
think the interest will be a lot of the big
draw in addition to having some of the premier black

(01:15:46):
high school, black high school black college football teams and
bands was the draw of being able to be in
the Dome.

Speaker 2 (01:15:53):
Yeah, Dome stadium that was. That was a big part
of it.

Speaker 3 (01:15:58):
And it looks like that is going to continue for
now except for with high school teams. So I'm trying
to figure how that will differ from there's some there's
some high school anyway, it'll be interesting and we'll, you know,
we'll we'll wait for EXBO to put it up on
its feed and get it going and explain.

Speaker 2 (01:16:18):
But it'd be curious to hear now everybody see this is.

Speaker 3 (01:16:22):
The thing people, you know, I'm just wondering what everybody's
got an opinion until now that a decision has made.

Speaker 2 (01:16:30):
What do y'all think?

Speaker 1 (01:16:30):
What do you think?

Speaker 2 (01:16:31):
What do you think about that? I mean, good move,
bad move, doesn't matter.

Speaker 3 (01:16:38):
Yeah, should they try to do something to keep it
the same or what I think the sustainability of the
old model clearly was showing that it just could not
It couldn't hold.

Speaker 1 (01:16:49):
Up expensive You think could it have been the corporate sponsors.

Speaker 3 (01:16:55):
I think is a combination of all of the above.
Certainly the corporate sponsorship. Certainly attendance had fallen off drastically.
Part of that is that the the attractions, the bands,
and the schools that were coming weren't as attractive as
they have been in the past. I mean, come on,
we haven't had a Tennessee State or Grambling, you know,

(01:17:19):
Southern we haven't had any of those, Howard, Tennessee State.
All of the schools that have been here that used
to come here on the regular haven't had those in years,
that's true, and they were expensive to bring, but they
also drew in a lot of crowds because, believe it
or not, there's a lot of alumni bases here in

(01:17:40):
Indianapolis from those schools.

Speaker 2 (01:17:43):
Tennessee State I think has the highest.

Speaker 3 (01:17:44):
And then the last time I was taught, I think
Tennessee State had the largest number, the largest alumni base
here in and around Indianapolis. And I think Howard University
was second, and then the others Southern, Grambling and and
and they were all pretty much around the Semen. But

(01:18:06):
you know Florida and the sonic boom. You know the
boom wasn't that yes, Flora anyway, So yeah, three one seven,
four eight zero thirteen ten three one seven for eight
zero thirteen ten. If you have an opinion on that,
let us know. I think it's a it's a a

(01:18:27):
brave move by Indiana Black. I think it's very brave, brave,
and I think that it was a move I think
that they had to make.

Speaker 2 (01:18:38):
Yeah, to weigh everything, you have to weigh everything. I
think it was a move they had to make to
keep it or to keep something like that here in
the community for the community to look forward to.

Speaker 3 (01:18:48):
So they pulled out all the stops to keep something going,
you know, and November you know what, do you call
it an October tradition or soil still soil? Yeah, yeah,
still be at Lucas Oil. And again it'll feature our
local high schools. Now they're the HBCU that's gone, that

(01:19:09):
will be gone. But again it's the community aspect that
they're looking to preserve with creating local interests with the
girls flag football, with the boys' high school football teams
from you know, both here in the city and out
in the districts the townships, so that you know, that'll

(01:19:30):
probably and it's certainly here's the thing. People that are local,
know the kids that are local, that would probably fill
up the stadium to go see the kids play in
a classic like this. So I'm sure that was part
of the or that is part of the calculus. But
there's a whole lot of things that go into it,
a whole lot of things. And then again coming up

(01:19:52):
in twenty twenty seven, HBCU continuing the association with HBCUs
with a basketball Classic.

Speaker 2 (01:20:00):
Which you know, sounds nice, it sounds good. So there
we go. Uh three, one, seven, four, eight, zero, thirteen ten.
That's big, y'all. That that's some pretty big news. That
is huge.

Speaker 3 (01:20:13):
And again it goes to some of these these back doors,
side side bar conversations that folks have been having for years.

Speaker 2 (01:20:21):
I mean, we have to admit it.

Speaker 3 (01:20:23):
People have been people have been talking about how it
can be improved, or what's going on, or can we
have this or can we have that for classic and
for summer celebration as well. For years it has been
so you know, Alice and the gang there have have
reorganized and we'll see where it goes.

Speaker 2 (01:20:40):
But hey, we laid it out for you. That's that's news.
That's what's going to happen.

Speaker 3 (01:20:44):
So U three one seven four eight zero thirteen ten
three one seven four eight zero thirteen ten estella, go ahead.

Speaker 5 (01:20:51):
How are you hi, Tina?

Speaker 15 (01:20:53):
How are you?

Speaker 2 (01:20:54):
I'm well?

Speaker 4 (01:20:55):
Thank you good, Thank you for having an excellent show
as always.

Speaker 2 (01:20:59):
Oh, thank you.

Speaker 15 (01:21:01):
I have a concern here.

Speaker 9 (01:21:03):
I have a friend.

Speaker 15 (01:21:05):
Won't give her age, but she is a senior and
her social Security check this past weekend was four hundred
dollars short. So she called the Social Security office.

Speaker 10 (01:21:21):
And was finally able to get through on Monday morning,
and they told her they were going to look into
it because she deserved to have that money. So I
told her to check her bank account every day to
see if they had put that amount in there, and
as of today, it has not been received. Then she

(01:21:46):
was sharing this information with her neighbor across the hallway
from her, and he said he did not get a
check at all, nor did his brother get his. So
I gave her Carson's local number and his DC number,

(01:22:08):
and so she called and shared that with the ANDRE
staff and they are sending her some paperwork to fill
out and get back to his office. So I wonder
if this is happening to other people. I don't get
my check until the second Wednesday, so that's a week

(01:22:31):
from tomorrow.

Speaker 16 (01:22:33):
But we need to keep an.

Speaker 5 (01:22:34):
Eye on this.

Speaker 2 (01:22:36):
So have you had any problems with getting your check?

Speaker 10 (01:22:39):
I have not had any problems getting my dollar amount.
What has been happening to me is I have been
getting my check earlier and my husband is the same day,
the second Wednesday. Then they started by giving get to

(01:23:00):
me on the second Wednesday, and then at one point
I got it like a week early. So I was
wondering why my account balance was that amount and I
should not have my social Security check in it's not
the second Wednesday, and so I've been tracking.

Speaker 9 (01:23:18):
It since then.

Speaker 10 (01:23:20):
And this has been going on for about maybe a year.

Speaker 2 (01:23:25):
Well mind, well, have you called Social Security and ask
about that?

Speaker 10 (01:23:30):
No, I have them called because the dollar amount is correct.
Now they do. They have been giving it to me
on the second Wednesday, so we're back on schedule. So
but I keep an eye on it. And I told
my friend to write down the conversation she had with

(01:23:53):
the person at Social Security, so that could be her
paper trail, and I said, put down the date, the time.

Speaker 15 (01:24:01):
They're in a mess and everything.

Speaker 2 (01:24:04):
So they're in a mess.

Speaker 3 (01:24:07):
It's so sad to say they are in Social Security
the irs. I mean, my tax return was hijacked by
identity thieves and they told me I had to give
them two years, six hundred and twenty five days for
something that normally would take one hundred and twenty. They said,
I have to allow six hundred and twenty five days

(01:24:29):
for them to process my paper return that I had
to file as a result of So I'm like, you
are kidding. So that's backing up my twenty twenty five
filing in return and then you know, So what I'm
saying is when Elon Musk went in and started doing
all of that mess and cutting with the chainsaw, what

(01:24:49):
have you, so much expertise and knowledge went by the wayside,
and too many things are a mess.

Speaker 10 (01:24:55):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:24:55):
I wonder when you said that four hundred dollars short,
I wonder if if the person may have been due
for a cost of living increase and they got that
backwards or something.

Speaker 2 (01:25:05):
I don't know, I mean, it could be anything. I sympathize.
I just don't.

Speaker 3 (01:25:10):
I mean, the only thing I can say is just
to stay on top of You did the right thing
in getting a hold of Andre Carson and others, and
you just have to stay on top of it. But
the federal government and all of its agencies are woefully understaffed,
and I feel badly for the people who are left behind,
who are still trying to do the work, because I

(01:25:31):
can honestly say when I have called on things, they
could not have.

Speaker 2 (01:25:35):
Been nicer, but they they simply are. They're under manned.

Speaker 10 (01:25:40):
And well, I'm not a friend from church. Her husband
night about three or four months ago, and so she
had to do all the Social Security paperwork, you know
how that goes. And when she went in, she said
there were twenty plus people sitting out in the lobby

(01:26:00):
waiting to be served and there were only three people working.

Speaker 11 (01:26:06):
Yeah.

Speaker 10 (01:26:07):
Yeah, And I know that that went back to all
of that ridiculous cutting, you know.

Speaker 2 (01:26:13):
But I think it's all a direct result of that.
I hate to say it, Yeah, but.

Speaker 10 (01:26:18):
These people had better understand that God is in charge
and you do not deal with the least of them
like that. That is against God's principles.

Speaker 2 (01:26:31):
Well, I tell you what, yeah, it is, and but
who my goodness, Uh, yeah, you know what I.

Speaker 4 (01:26:40):
Called it earlier.

Speaker 10 (01:26:41):
You had a business schedule, so I told Eric that
I would call back about this time. But I wanted
and I'm anxious to see if other people are having
that same problem, if theirs was cut or not received
or what.

Speaker 2 (01:26:55):
Yeah, well they're very well could be, but I hope not.

Speaker 3 (01:26:59):
I I just I just hope that that it all
gets because we don't want anybody not having their money.

Speaker 2 (01:27:05):
That's yeah.

Speaker 10 (01:27:07):
But I want to share that with you so you
could get it out there so people will be apprized
of what's going on.

Speaker 2 (01:27:14):
All right, Well, thank you, Stella, and stay on it.
I'm glad. It sounds like you're doing all of the
right things, all of the right things.

Speaker 8 (01:27:21):
Thank you for what you're doing.

Speaker 2 (01:27:22):
Thank you indeed, and we'll yeah, Eric, that is that's
that's frightening.

Speaker 15 (01:27:26):
It is.

Speaker 2 (01:27:27):
I I would I hate to hear that.

Speaker 1 (01:27:30):
And where is Elon And he's fine, oh yeah, colecting
his money's counting and laughing and counting his money.

Speaker 3 (01:27:38):
But that's why elections matter. Elections have consequences. Had had
Trump not been elected, Elon Musk would not have been
able to take a wrecking ball to the federal government.
And you take a wrecking ball to the federal government,
too many innocent people get hurt, just like Estella's friend.

Speaker 2 (01:27:59):
And and you know, even even Estella not hurt, it's
getting paid early, so that's not her. But it's still unnerving.

Speaker 3 (01:28:07):
Because that's not the way it's supposed to be. It's
supposed to be uninterrupted like clothwork. So you know that
something's not quite right there. But she is at least
getting her money. But elections have consequences. The primaries are today.
As Julia Von said earlier, this is where the work
is done. The primary is where the work is done.
So if you haven't voted yet.

Speaker 2 (01:28:27):
You got until six o'clock to do so go out
there and vote. Vote, vote, vote vote. But we'll be back.
We got several calls to get to and we will
get to them right after this break.

Speaker 9 (01:28:40):
Let's get back to the conversation. It's Community Connection with
Tina Cosby, brought to you by Child Advocates, a champion
for justice, opportunity and well being for children on trays
Am thirteen ten ninety five point one FM.

Speaker 3 (01:28:56):
And we're back with Community Connection on this primary election day.
And thank you Reverend Alexander for calling in to report
that Fishback Creek Elementary School right up there at eighty
sixth and Lafayette Road voting site. So far four hundred
and thirty five have voted.

Speaker 2 (01:29:11):
This was about he called about twenty thirty minutes ago. Good,
good numbers. And you have another report just called in.

Speaker 1 (01:29:17):
Got another Zionsville Road. The library there in Pike Township
is open. It is packed and you can vote there
if you vote that area.

Speaker 9 (01:29:25):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:29:26):
I also got a report from a text message from
a friend that said that they went and voted there
over the weekend and it was wide open.

Speaker 1 (01:29:33):
So yeah, well it was open, but it's oh wide open.

Speaker 2 (01:29:36):
It did basically that there was no issue. Okay, it's open.

Speaker 1 (01:29:39):
Well it is open today as well and voting is
happening and it is packed.

Speaker 3 (01:29:43):
Alright, alrighty, So again until six pm vote dot Indy
dot gov. If you're in Indianapolis, Indiana voters dot i
in dot gov. If you live outside of Indianapolis and
Marion County, we are vote Center County.

Speaker 2 (01:29:57):
So we can vote wherever.

Speaker 3 (01:29:59):
Still got lots of time, but you have to be
in line by five point fifty nine by six o'clock.

Speaker 2 (01:30:05):
You have to be in line by six oh one.
You're out of luck.

Speaker 1 (01:30:07):
Don't let the rain stop.

Speaker 2 (01:30:08):
Don't let the rain stop.

Speaker 3 (01:30:09):
You get on out there, hey, soldier on, you know,
push through, push through. Rain's going to be here till midnight,
so you may as well go ahead and go on
out there. Uh, let's go back to the phone lines
as promised. Let's see we have a trainy, go ahead, trainy.

Speaker 5 (01:30:23):
How are you?

Speaker 15 (01:30:26):
Uh?

Speaker 2 (01:30:26):
Trainy online?

Speaker 5 (01:30:27):
Three?

Speaker 2 (01:30:27):
Go ahead?

Speaker 11 (01:30:27):
How are you hi?

Speaker 4 (01:30:29):
All?

Speaker 17 (01:30:29):
Can't you hear me?

Speaker 2 (01:30:30):
Yes? I can hear you?

Speaker 5 (01:30:31):
Hello?

Speaker 2 (01:30:32):
Yes? Can you hear us? Can you hear us?

Speaker 11 (01:30:34):
Yeah?

Speaker 17 (01:30:34):
Uh huh. I wanted to say we my husband and
I early voted, so we got that out of the way.
We did it on the day when the day was nice.
But the reason why I'm calling to day is I
love what they're doing for Circus Fitty Classic. That gives
the kids something to do to keep mouth trouble for
a little while, and I think it's the best thing.
And look at the money savings that they will have

(01:30:56):
because they wouldn't have to pay to for transportation or
food for.

Speaker 5 (01:31:01):
These kids because they're local.

Speaker 17 (01:31:03):
So I think it's it's going to be a good thing.

Speaker 3 (01:31:05):
Okay, all righty well, thank you very much. That's that's
that's one opinion. And you know, I'm sure that that's
what thank you, thank you, Treeane. I'm sure that's what
Indiana Black Expo organizers, including Alice Watson, we're hoping would
be the reaction.

Speaker 2 (01:31:18):
But let's keep it.

Speaker 3 (01:31:19):
Three one seven for zero thirteen ten, three one seven
for zero thirteen ten. Marcus, you have a you have
a comment about on ibe Hi.

Speaker 14 (01:31:26):
How are you good?

Speaker 16 (01:31:28):
How are you doing?

Speaker 2 (01:31:29):
I'm doing well, Thank you good.

Speaker 15 (01:31:31):
You know.

Speaker 5 (01:31:32):
I hate to be a testimist and throw a wet
blanket on the idea. I think it's great.

Speaker 16 (01:31:39):
I believe in supporting children one and I agree with
what you said.

Speaker 1 (01:31:44):
It gives them something to do.

Speaker 14 (01:31:46):
But the Circle City Classic.

Speaker 16 (01:31:48):
Was really a national event that brought people in from
all over a lot of different places, and you hit
the nail on the head. It was about the keys
and the bands that they brought in. And I just
don't think that their idea is going to fill a
stadium at all.

Speaker 4 (01:32:09):
They can have that at a high school.

Speaker 3 (01:32:12):
Yeah, well, and you know the point being is that
they can certainly try and they're looking to fill that
space on the calendar and uh, the activity that you know,
the community at large would would get together for. And
so this is this is a compromise to to try
to keep something out there and keep it going.

Speaker 2 (01:32:32):
But I understand what you're saying.

Speaker 3 (01:32:33):
You know, maybe there's not a whole stadium full of
Ben Davis or Pike High school football fans, but making
it local, uh, you know, that'll fill up the stadium.
Even when they have class football, the stadium is never full.
The stadium is never full class So that might be
a goal of you know, on no teams. Maybe they
move it to Gamebridge. You well know, they can't move

(01:32:54):
Gamebridge as a basketball so I don't think.

Speaker 5 (01:32:56):
They can fill up game Bridge either.

Speaker 2 (01:32:59):
Maybe the Gabrie.

Speaker 3 (01:33:00):
Although they convert these these they convert these these events
centers into a lot of different things.

Speaker 2 (01:33:05):
I mean, uh, uh, Lucas Oil was a swimming pool.

Speaker 14 (01:33:09):
Yeah, so that's true.

Speaker 3 (01:33:11):
Yeah, So anyway, I I don't know, but I I
get your point and I understand your concern. And I'm
sure there are pros and cons to to to all
of it. And uh, certainly that's that's what's gonna come
about pros and cons, and we'll see how when they
get it up on its feed and and host it
in October or late September, I don't remember where.

Speaker 2 (01:33:32):
I think it's October. But when they get it going,
we'll see how how it turns out. We'll see what
the reaction, right yep.

Speaker 16 (01:33:38):
One quick last comment. I just think they need to
go back to the drawing board and redo ideas for
the actual college football teams for Circle City classes.

Speaker 10 (01:33:52):
Thank you?

Speaker 2 (01:33:53):
All right, well, thank you.

Speaker 1 (01:33:55):
I appreciate that submit ideas from the community. Can do that.

Speaker 3 (01:33:59):
Maybe they could, Yeah, suggestion box, community community suggestion box.
The thing of it is, I think if there was
the money, possibilities would be endless. The problem is, where
are you going to shake a green tree to make
all these things happen? Because, you know, the funding, sponsorships,
everybody's getting squeezed just a little bit along the way,

(01:34:20):
you know, because there's so many branches to this tree.
You know, corporations have to you know, they want to
return on their investments. You know, if they're going to
put their name on something, they want the ROI well,
what am I going to get out of it?

Speaker 2 (01:34:31):
Why am I just getting you know, Pete.

Speaker 3 (01:34:33):
The days of corporations and companies giving to a certain
cause just because it's the right thing to do are
long gone. And so the fight for those corporate sponsorships
and that corporate dollar is intense, and it's very, very difficult,
and there's some winners and losers, and so you have
to adjust as you go in terms of the reality,

(01:34:54):
in terms of the landscape that's out there, and it's
just not always easy. And so may be his idea
is correct, and that we have a community suggestion box.

Speaker 1 (01:35:04):
I don't know, maybe an.

Speaker 3 (01:35:06):
Idea of some way, but I would say the core,
the foundational driver is revenue.

Speaker 2 (01:35:13):
It's the money.

Speaker 1 (01:35:14):
Once they get it going, maybe I'm sure they'll tweak
it as they go. I don't realize. Let's try this,
let's not do this, maybe this will work. Maybe be
open to suggestions.

Speaker 3 (01:35:23):
Even then, maybe somebody will make a big donation to
I couldn't bring it all back.

Speaker 2 (01:35:27):
And they can get fam you, they can get it,
you know old Rattler's role.

Speaker 3 (01:35:31):
I mean they can get because I guarantee you, if
you have unlimited funding, you can.

Speaker 2 (01:35:35):
It opens up, It gives you more choices.

Speaker 1 (01:35:37):
Oh, it certainly.

Speaker 3 (01:35:38):
Does it gives you funding and money get you know,
money doesn't was that they say money doesn't buy happiness,
But here's a lot of things I had, my my
my daughter, my kid's godmother said yeah, but you can
rent the h out of it.

Speaker 2 (01:35:52):
So doesn't buy happiness, but you can rent it.

Speaker 4 (01:35:56):
Uh so.

Speaker 2 (01:35:57):
But but what I'm saying is limitted funding.

Speaker 3 (01:36:01):
Say, for instance, they've got some huge somebody gives them
a huge endowment, and you can spend whatever you want
to spend.

Speaker 2 (01:36:07):
The price would be no offense.

Speaker 1 (01:36:08):
It would be invited all that you want to be
a part of it, and whatever you.

Speaker 3 (01:36:12):
Want, So you want, so part of that suggestion box
should be how to generate and raise funds, sustainable funds exactly,
because that's that's.

Speaker 2 (01:36:21):
At the core.

Speaker 3 (01:36:22):
So three one seven four eight zero thirteen ten three
one seven for eight zero thirteen ten.

Speaker 2 (01:36:27):
Pierre, go ahead. How are you? Oh, good afternoon, Tina,
Good afternoon.

Speaker 6 (01:36:33):
First time in twenty years I'm not on the ballot.

Speaker 2 (01:36:37):
How does it feel?

Speaker 3 (01:36:39):
How does it on this primary election day that you
are not standing outside of a polling place asking for
people's votes?

Speaker 2 (01:36:45):
What do you What does it feel like?

Speaker 6 (01:36:46):
Well, let me tell you Pierre was never going to
do that in the first place.

Speaker 2 (01:36:49):
Oh you never did that, okay, Oh no, I never
did that because.

Speaker 6 (01:36:53):
You know, when you run against Sondra Carson, you know,
you know what it is.

Speaker 2 (01:36:58):
It's not easy.

Speaker 17 (01:37:01):
You know.

Speaker 6 (01:37:01):
I always always ran to raise issues. You know, he's
about the office and how they count boats down there
that you know they need after having Ryan Meres on yesterday,
they need to keep an eye on Katie.

Speaker 4 (01:37:15):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (01:37:15):
But you know, I was surprised at what he said
on the radio, but.

Speaker 2 (01:37:21):
He said he said it.

Speaker 13 (01:37:24):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (01:37:25):
But I was calling in just to talk about the
Circle City Classic And you plan to have any of
them on? Or will they come on and explain what's
going on with these classics all over the country because
you know a lot of classics are in trouble. Florida
cancels some of their classics. Uh, these things are expensive

(01:37:46):
to put on it. People don't understand how much it
cost to bring Grambling or Florida State or.

Speaker 2 (01:37:56):
You know, Florida. I think, mam you Uh yeah, a
lot of people.

Speaker 6 (01:38:05):
Don't understand how much of cough. Now these kids got
in I L deals and you know, are they playing on?

Speaker 4 (01:38:11):
Uh?

Speaker 6 (01:38:12):
Could you get them on the show and have them
actually explain.

Speaker 3 (01:38:16):
Yeah, yes, I'm sure that that is in the making
as soon as they are available to do so.

Speaker 9 (01:38:22):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:38:23):
Yeah, but I mean I don't think they can speak
on behalf of others.

Speaker 3 (01:38:26):
They may be able to point to one or two
as an example, but as far as speaking on behalf
of where the financing is is problematic for the other classics.

Speaker 2 (01:38:36):
The other football classics, because I mean, what is.

Speaker 3 (01:38:38):
The uh the one after the Southern after the Southern
Grambling UH Classic at the day after Thanksgiving every year,
the BYU.

Speaker 2 (01:38:46):
Classic, the BYO Classic. Yeah, that is that's that's the
that's the mothership right there.

Speaker 6 (01:38:52):
And trying to do one.

Speaker 3 (01:38:55):
Yeah, and there's has been you know, there's has been
one that has sustained and stood the two as the time.
But even even with that one, there are some financial cutbacks.

Speaker 2 (01:39:05):
Yeah right, Well, well, thank you.

Speaker 6 (01:39:08):
I hope you can get them on.

Speaker 3 (01:39:10):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:39:11):
So you already voted today, No.

Speaker 6 (01:39:14):
You know, I voted the first day of early voting.
Remember I called in the show.

Speaker 2 (01:39:20):
Oh that's right. I have a hard time keeping track
of who did what.

Speaker 3 (01:39:23):
Yeah, the first day of early voting, you know, and
vote again, well, yeah, Pierre, then you'd have to then
we'd have to be talking to you if you voted twice,
if you were able to do it twice, election fraud. Yeah,
oh my goodness, Chicago. Yeah, sweet home Chicago.

Speaker 6 (01:39:47):
Yeah, thanks for taking my call.

Speaker 2 (01:39:49):
All righty, thank you, Pierre, appreciate it.

Speaker 3 (01:39:51):
So, but yeah, I'm sure that, uh, there's no doubt
about it that Alice and Indiana Black Expo and and
the like they be in here and and we'll be
happy to explain. But the fact that they're able to
salvage something and repackage it, uh, to keep that activity

(01:40:11):
and to keep it in the community is commendable.

Speaker 5 (01:40:16):
It is.

Speaker 1 (01:40:17):
I mean, that's they're trying to do something, you know,
to keep to keep it going and trying to keep
I would hope they'd be open to ideas from the community,
to suggestions try this, maybe this, or how about this?
Have you thought of this? And maybe they have reached
out to other other areas and ask well, how did
you do your uh event? What what could we do
to make hours better? Something?

Speaker 3 (01:40:39):
But you know, it's kind of like you know, when
somebody makes it and I won't say unreasonable request, but
unrealistic request, Well, this is what they ought to do,
and this is what they ought to do, not understanding,
and the question always gets back to, Okay, which green
tree do we shape to go.

Speaker 2 (01:40:54):
To get to do that?

Speaker 1 (01:40:55):
Then it's.

Speaker 3 (01:40:57):
And so I think, you know, more more helpful is
you know, here's a revenue stream that we haven't explored,
or here's one way that we could possibly get some
sustained dollars flowing in or whatever.

Speaker 2 (01:41:10):
I think those would be more helpful.

Speaker 3 (01:41:12):
Those ideas would be a lot more helpful than just
they ought to do this, and they ought to do that,
and we ought to go back.

Speaker 2 (01:41:17):
To the let's get it back to the way it
used to be.

Speaker 1 (01:41:19):
Well, yeah, it was less expensive when it first started
a long time ago.

Speaker 3 (01:41:24):
And the other thing is that that I don't think
people understand these bands are in high demand.

Speaker 2 (01:41:30):
They are specially Yeah in Europe, Yeah they are, that's true.

Speaker 3 (01:41:34):
And other places that have such an appreciation for it,
that have bottomless pockets, they'll pay. And so not only
are they they expensive, you have to get on their calendar.
And I remember I was talking to somebody over at
ib and about getting I think it was either Grambling
or fam You I can't. I think it was FAM

(01:41:56):
and they said they're booked three to five years in advance.

Speaker 2 (01:41:59):
I see a five years, You read a five years
in advance.

Speaker 3 (01:42:02):
So we and and if we want to reserve them
for here, we have to have our money in and
so therefore their money or deposit would be tied up
for that amount of time until it's time for until
Indianapolis would cycle up and it would be Indianapolis's turn. Now,
that was several years ago when I was talking to

(01:42:23):
some folks about how that goes. And Uh, that was
just some insider information that that these the really really
popular bands, you know, the ones you see on TV
and everywhere. They are in high demand and they get
top dollars.

Speaker 1 (01:42:36):
So most people don't know that. Oh and before we go,
I got a phone call hope I can get this right, Uh,
listener who said that their Social Security check also was
earlier with more money. They said that there have been
a change at the Social Security Office headquarters where they
have to do it the bank. It said when they
receive it right away, whereas it used to hold them,

(01:42:57):
they now to give it to you as soon as
they get it.

Speaker 2 (01:42:59):
They got to kick back.

Speaker 1 (01:43:00):
You got to kick it back right now.

Speaker 3 (01:43:02):
So folks that are used to getting it on the second, third,
or fourth or whatever, they're like, like a stella said,
their eyes are wide open.

Speaker 2 (01:43:09):
Where does this extra money come from?

Speaker 1 (01:43:11):
Exactly? So that's why they have to kick it out
right now. As soon as they get it.

Speaker 2 (01:43:14):
Well, let's hope they get the amounts correct.

Speaker 1 (01:43:16):
Does make that correct?

Speaker 2 (01:43:17):
Yeah?

Speaker 1 (01:43:17):
You no undercut.

Speaker 3 (01:43:19):
I don't think anybody will complain about getting paid early,
but just just get paid.

Speaker 1 (01:43:22):
Right the right, make it consistent.

Speaker 2 (01:43:25):
Indeed.

Speaker 3 (01:43:26):
Indeed, all right, Well that's all the time we have
for right now. All I can say is get out
there and go vote. You got until six o'clock. Until
six o'clock is going on three three more hours roughly,
be in line, be in line before six o'clock so
that you can make sure you get into vote today.
Vote dot Indy dot gov to find out all of
the voting locations, the vote centers Indiana voters dot i

(01:43:48):
in dot gov for outside of Marion County. Please make
sure you get out there and vote, because guess what,
elections have consequences, don't they?

Speaker 2 (01:43:57):
Yeah, they do, they do.

Speaker 3 (01:43:59):
We're gonna have a election wrap up and a full
lot of other things coming up tomorrow and the day
after that, and probably the day after that.

Speaker 2 (01:44:06):
Until then though, we got to get out of here.
That's all the time. We have our website Praisindi dot com.
Willimore Jr. On the radio is up next for Eric
and myself. Have a good one

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Community Connection - May 5 2026 - Tina Cosby with Julia Vaughn, Maggier Lewis, Andy Nielsen and Rena (renee) Allen

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Community Connection - May 5 2026 - Tina Cosby with Julia Vaughn, Maggier Lewis, Andy Nielsen and Rena (renee) Allen