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Dear Editor:
Two news items breaking within hours this week disclose much about the inability of Carmel’s progressive establishment to govern.
The city’s former equity manager has filed a federal discrimination case in federal court citing alleged violations of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. The U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a “right to sue” letter in the matter.
In the suit, the plaintiff, Timothy Knight, named mayor James Brainard, administration director James Crider and human resources manager Lisa Hartz and quotes the former human resources director as telling him “a culture of anti-African American racial discrimination exists within the rank and file of the city of Carmel.”
A few hours prior to that story breaking, the city announced it was moving the sculptural “Morning Sun” metallic monstrosity from Range Line Road and Executive Drive to Lowe’s Way adjacent to Lowe’s Home Improvement Center.
Carmel’s Morning Sun roundabout sculpture is widely regarded as not representative of the appearance of the morning sun to the average citizen. (Photo by Pubey the Potato / Google)
The $209,200 sculpture – whose artist had advertised it on his website for $100,000 – will cost an additional $50,000 to move. When asked to pony up the $50,000, the Carmel Public Art Advisory Committee told the mayor, “No.”
They told His Honor its unanimous decision was based in part on the strong, negative public reaction to the eyesore and saw no need to spend additional taxpayer dollars on that turkey.
“The committee suggests the city sell the piece or relocate using private funds.”
Just two more examples of incompetent leadership in a city that, since 2011, increased its population 27 percent as local government spending grew 100 percent and local government tax receipts grew 97 percent, growing debt to $1.5 billion.
Bill Shaffer
Carmel
If you water & sewer debt & CRC debt the total debt is over $2B. Does anyone really think the current candidates for Mayor can handle it? Based on their education level and performance in the real world I seriously doubt it.