Weekly wrap - Monday, April 13, 2009 » Opinion » Kokomo Tribune; Kokomo, Indiana

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April 13, 2009

Weekly wrap - Monday, April 13, 2009

Anonymous The Kokomo Tribune Mon Apr 13, 2009, 12:48 AM EDT

Excerpts of recent editorials from Indiana newspapers:

On Wrigley Field:

Surely, he didn’t really mean it. There’s just no way that Carlos Zambrano, the Chicago Cubs ace pitcher, could really want the city of Chicago to replace Wrigley Field.

Zambrano made the comments as he sat in the visitors’ clubhouse at the Yankees’ $1.5 billion stadium before an exhibition game Saturday.

“You come into a ballpark like this and see great things,” he said. “You wish that Chicago’d build a new stadium for the Cubs.”

Heaven forbid.

There is no better place in the world to watch a baseball game than the Friendly Confines. Built in 1914 and home to the Cubs since 1916, Wrigley is the second oldest major league stadium, trailing only Boston’s Fenway Park, which was built in 1912.

Just walking into the place, you can feel the magic. Sitting there in the stands, you can almost hear the voices of the generations of Cub fans who have turned out to watch a game.

Certainly, the old ballpark might need some tweaking here and there. Some of the facilities could certainly use an update.

But build a new ballpark? Why on earth would anyone want to do that?

– Pharos-Tribune, Logansport

On foreclosure help:

Of all the homeowners with mortgages in Anderson, about 11.4 percent go into foreclosure, unable to make their monthly payments. Without people inside the homes, they can go neglected and turn into community blights.

In Kokomo, the foreclosure rate is 11.5 percent.

Somewhere in between is Alexandria and Elwood.

Both cities have wisely applied for Neighborhood Stabilization Program grants that would allow them to demolish or rehabilitate blighted homes.

This doesn’t end the foreclosure crisis, but the grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development allow cities and towns to maintain pride.

For about $2 million, Elwood would demolish 26 properties. With about $2.6 million, Alexandria plans to tear down 34 homes. Some homes could be renovated.

In no way do these grants address the anguish facing victims of foreclosure. Nor should they be viewed as sweeping the problems out of these cities.

But the marketability of our towns is vital to their survival. Residents should be compassionate to the plight of foreclosed homeowners, but they should be grateful that these local officials see the need for property values to stay the same and the quality of life to improve.

– The Herald Bulletin, Anderson

On public access bill:

Senate Bill 232, which would protect the rights of Hoosiers to know what their government is up to and that would punish those who would intentionally thwart those rights, appears headed toward the trash bin.

That’s because state Rep. John Bartlett, D-Indianapolis, has indicated he will not call the proposal for a hearing in the Government and Regulatory Reform Committee that he chairs.

Senate Bill 232, written by a bipartisan group of lawmakers concerns public access to government and includes the ability for a judge to levy a civil fine against a government official who deliberately violates either the Indiana Open Door Law or Indiana Access to Public Records Act. It passed in the Senate and appeared to be headed toward approval in the House. Not so now.

We contend the measure would serve the interests of Hoosiers and their access to public records and governmental meetings and other valuable information. It deserves “yes” votes from our state representatives and senators. Of course, Bartlett would first have to give the bill a chance in his committee.

– The Tribune, Seymour

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Opinion

White shouldn’t return to office
The issue: The conviction of Indiana’s secretary of state.

Our view: Charlie White’s ouster from office should be permanent.

February 9, 2012
Editorial - Feb. 8, 2012: Grand success for Indianapolis
The issue: The Super Bowl.

Our view: Indianapolis left a great impression on thousands of visitors.

February 8, 2012
Letters to the Editor: Feb. 8, 2012
As Hoosiers celebrate the conclusion of a truly remarkable Super Bowl experience, there is even more good news that should fill us with pride. More Indiana students are graduating from high school than ever before.

February 8, 2012
Which religions will we include?
The Indiana Senate last week approved a bill that would allow public schools to teach creationism, as long as they include theories from multiple religions.

February 6, 2012 1 Photo
If you say so
In an opinion piece we published Thursday, state Rep. Mike Karickhoff announced why he voted against “right-to-work” legislation. His reason: The community told him to.

February 5, 2012
Cheers and jeers - Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012
Karickhoff acted ‘cowardly’

The Rev. Robin Wentworth Mayer and Horst G. Mayer of Kokomo send the Jeer for state Rep. Mike Karickhoff’s silence during the “right-to-work” debate:

“Mr. Karickhoff, for someone who’s new to office, you’ve certainly learned the art of talking out of both sides of your mouth.

February 3, 2012
Let’s drug test our lawmakers
Perhaps it’s appropriate that a measure passed by the Indiana House this week would ask not only welfare recipients but Indiana lawmakers to consent to a drug test.

February 3, 2012
Editorial - Feb. 2, 2012: Peru delivers a message
The issue: Peru’s collection of $20,000 last year from property owners who failed to keep their yards mowed.

Our view: Aggressive enforcement can help a city’s finances, but the benefits go beyond dollars and cents.

February 2, 2012
Karickhoff: Reason behind my ‘right-to-work’ vote
There is no doubt the “right-to-work” debate has brought mixed emotions, not only to our state but District 30 as well. There were only a handful of House Republicans who did not vote in support of this legislation. Let me explain why I felt it was necessary for me to vote in opposition to right to work.

February 2, 2012
Heinig: ‘Right-to-work’ law to arouse continued resistance
I wouldn’t call Gov. Mitch Daniels a charismatic leader, but he does possess some leadership skills. If he didn’t, he couldn’t have brought us this far along the happy trail to his economic Valhalla.

February 2, 2012
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