In a resounding vote on Tuesday, the Gary Common Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing potential plans by Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and the Indiana General Assembly to hold a special session and redistrict ahead of the 2030 census.
“The fact they’re trying to redistrict within a 10-year period is unacceptable, and they publicly have made this a political issue, that’s the problem,” Councilman Darren Washington said.
Though Tuesday marked the first time the resolution was introduced, the council suspended its rules to pass the resolution immediately, rather than the standard required three readings.
“This is an effort to cheat before the midterms. To stack the deck and redraw the lines in the middle of a decade is unacceptable,” Council President Lori Latham said. “We deserve to be represented. We deserve to have representation. We deserve not to be gerrymandered. We deserve to have our voices heard, and when we decide who we elect to represent us, should be allowed to represent us.”
Washington, who sponsored the resolution with Councilwoman Linda Barnes-Caldwell, emphasized that the opposition to the redistricting had less to do with the potential outcome, but more to do with it being called in an off-schedule year. He also pointed to the potential cost.
“This is an effort to cheat before the midterms. To stack the deck and redraw the lines in the middle of a decade is unacceptable. We deserve to be represented. We deserve to have representation. We deserve not to be gerrymandered.”
Lori Latham, Gary Common Council president
“I just wanted to emphasize the cost of this,” Washington said. “We just had to redistrict. How much is it going to cost the taxpayers as well? The governor stated it would be about $260,000 to call the [redistricting special session], and if they do it, they want to do it in November because that’s when they call the legislators back for reorganization day.”
In other matters, the council also discussed a rezoning at 5339 W. 15th Ave., at the corner of West 15th Avenue and Burr Street. Abdelkauim Yacoub, Fadi Hamod, and Rami Hamod of Buy-N-Save Inc. sought to rezone the vacant lot that currently rests at the corner from residential to business. A Buy-N-Save structure already sits next to the property.
According to their attorney, the group plans to build a 6,000-square-foot building on the lot. The new structure would house three separate businesses: a store selling food, beauty supplies, and clothing; a salon; and a shop specializing in mobile devices and phones.
Council members were critical of the proposal, noting that the petitioners had not provided visual schematics for the new structure and expressing disappointment that the old Buy-N-Save would remain as part of the new building.
“I assumed incorrectly that the old structure was going to be knocked down for construction,” said Washington.
“But we were informed at the committee hearing that the same structure would be there that we got a plethora of complaints about, and that next to it would be a new structure, next to the old structure. I have a concern with that.”
Washington pointed out that due to the many complaints he has received from residents in the district about the current structure, he would like to be provided with drawings of the potential new structure.
Councilman Kenneth Whisenton also voiced frustration.
“I don’t like it,” he said. “That building does not inspire anything new in the city. It’s more of the same. It’s the Gary of the past and we’re not there [any] more.”
Whisenton stated the petitioner would also need to show plans to improve the old structure to get his vote.
The Gary Plan Commission approved the rezoning at its public hearing on June 18.
