https://progressiveindiana.net
As Indiana's legislative session ends, Reverends Alexander and Greene discuss major losses including SB 285 (criminalizing homelessness with Class C misdemeanor and $500 fine) and HB 1423 (IPS takeover by appointed board). They emphasize that homelessness is primarily a housing issue, not a criminal one, noting the largest homeless demographic in Indiana is Black women with children who work but can't afford rent. The hosts criticize the mean-spirited, punitive approach that jails people who can't post bail while spending money to house Chicago Bears but not homeless Hoosiers, and note the bill follows model legislation from conservative think tanks like Cicero Institute. On the IPS takeover, they explain the nine-member appointed board (three from IPS, three from charter board, three mayoral picks) transfers power from democratically-elected officials to privatization interests, with nothing in the bill about academic performance—it's about money and power. They warn this model threatens all public schools statewide through language in the bill, compare it to ALEC-style legislation, and promote a "funeral for IPS" event. Throughout, hosts stress these policies lack compassion, serve monied interests over people, and represent the state's loss of moral direction.
TOPICS DISCUSSED
3:57 - OPENING: LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDING
- At tail end of Indiana legislative session, headed to governor's desk
- "Way it looks, we're going to have a lot of losses" but hoping for some wins
- Inviting calls at 317-480-1310 to discuss bills
6:19 - SB 285: CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS
- Most disheartening bill, reflects "mean-spirited nature" of recent statehouse actions
- Makes being homeless a Class C misdemeanor with fine—not a solution when people are already financially struggling
- Homelessness is a housing issue, need services and compassion not punishment
8:02 - MODEL LEGISLATION FROM CICERO INSTITUTE
- SB 285 borrowed from other states, led by Cicero Institute think tank
- Part of pattern of conservative groups drafting legislation state-to-state
- Similar to ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) model
14:00 - HOUSING VS. PUNISHMENT APPROACH
- Need to focus on getting people housed, not criminalizing them
- Arresting homeless and jailing them costs money (housing and feeding in jail) while claiming no money for actual housing
- Creates cycle: misdemeanor record makes it harder to get job, apartment, stability
17:45 - FACE OF HOMELESSNESS IN INDIANA
- Largest homeless group in Indiana: Black women with children
- These are working mothers who don't make enough to keep up with rent
- People fall on hard times and get caught in struggle, not the stereotype of "strung out" or "don't want to work"
20:05 - MISPLACED PRIORITIES
- State has money to bring in Chicago Bears but punitive toward homeless Hoosiers
- "For certain projects, money ain't an issue. But for other things, we say we don't have money"
- Can find money quickly for some priorities but not for helping people in need
24:09 - CYCLE OF POVERTY AND INCARCERATION
- Jail system gets paid per inmate—is that the solution?
- After jail, person has criminal record hanging over them for employment and housing
- Makes it even harder to get on feet and pay bills
25:00 - STREETS TO HOME INITIATIVE
- Positive alternative providing actual housing and wraparound services
- Faith communities providing "moving kits" (plates, glasses, trash cans, basic needs)
- Service providers help with life skills (balancing checkbook, healthcare, etc.)
27:10 - KEEPING PEOPLE HOUSED LONG-TERM
- Goal is stability, not just getting someone in apartment for three months
- Need to address underlying issues (may have lost birth certificate, other documents needed for jobs)
- Service providers walk beside people through multiple steps to achieve lasting stability
32:01 - HB 1423: IPS TAKEOVER
- Elected IPS school board loses power to nine-member appointed board
- Trump said "DEI was gone, SNAP was gone"—well IPS is gone too in Indianapolis
- "Funeral for IPS" event tomorrow 4pm at Albertson's Mortuary, 5020 East 16th Street
33:25 - COMPOSITION AND IMPLICATIONS OF APPOINTED BOARD
- Three from IPS board, three from charter board, three mayoral appointees
- Moves from democratically-elected to appointed positions—"complete death of IPS as we know it"
- Nothing in HB 1423 about academic performance—it's about money, power, and privatization
35:34 - THREAT TO ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ALEC MODEL
- Language in bill affects all public schools including townships statewide
- Charter school movement started in New Orleans, brought to Indiana following ALEC-style pattern
- Conservative groups authoring bills that move state to state with similar language
38:05 - POWER DYNAMICS AND FINANCIAL INTERESTS OF APPOINTED BOARD
- What happens to remaining IPS board members not selected? Will they try to please mayor to get picked?
- Expiring referendum IPS needs—only appointed board can pursue it, not elected board. If they don't or it fails, "that's the death of IPS"
- Only three of nine are IPS people; six are charter/mayoral picks. If objective is closing schools, "this is a good way to get it done"
40:44 - GENTRIFICATION AND DEVELOPER INTERESTS
- Board must be in place by March 31st—community should reach out to mayor about selections
- Concern about "mayor friendly" appointments (city councilors, former mayor Bart Peterson) rather than genuine representation
- "I think it's really about dollars and gentrification of neighborhoods, selling property and developers getting property for low prices"
46:41 - HB 1033: JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ATTACKING BLACK INPUT
- Marion County already doesn't elect own judges—committee does
- Now replacing places where Black people give input with governor appointees
- "Our democracy is under attack across the board"
47:33 - SYSTEMIC ATTACK ON BLACK DEMOCRATIC POWER
- Don't elect judges—appointed group decides
- Trying to remove Black voices from judicial selection board
- IPS has elected board of all Black women, being replaced with mayor-appointed board
48:26 - BROADER PATTERN OF DISENFRANCHISEMENT
- Redistricting targeted Andre Carson and Frank Mrvan to dilute Black voting power
- "We are under attack. Our democracy is under attack"
- "These things are not even a coincidence"
49:01 - CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS TARGETS BLACK COMMUNITY
- 60% of homeless people in Indiana are Black
- Criminalizing homelessness means Black people getting fines and misdemeanors
- "Is it just a coincidence? The answer to that is no way"
49:34 - GOVERNOR BRAUN FOLLOWS TRUMP ON DEI
- Governor going along with president eliminating DEI
- Systemically attacking Black representation: criminalizing homelessness (60% Black), judicial appointments, IPS takeover
- Will appoint "two or three people of color" but "of our color, not of our kind"—token appointments to serve mayor's agenda
51:00 - WIN: EARLY VOTING BILL DEFEATED
- Bill to reduce early voting from 28 days to 16 days appears defeated
- Kudos to everyone who participated in that fight
- Still must be careful as "language can just jump in something" at last minute
55:35 - CLOSING THEMES
- Loss of compassion and moral direction in Indiana policy
- Serving monied interests over people in need
- Call for community resistance and attending IPS funeral event
