House

Sorry I have been away but the wife and I are buying a home and should be closing early this month. At that time the main offices will be relocating!

The Greatest Story

Cracking Down on Illegal Apartments

Hammond Cracks Down on Illegal Apartments

I applaud the efforts being made by the city to crack down on illegal apartments in the city.  I agree with Jim Callahan, Hammond’s Building Commissioner, that it helps stabilize the city.  Hopefully the city will keep on this issue bettering the city one block at a time.

McDermott up to his Old Tricks

McDermott Calls Arrest of Ally ‘dirtiest trick’

You have to love when the mayor of your city calls out the county sheriff, county police chief, and county prosecutor because a couple of his buddies were growing only “…five tiny pot plants…in their backyard” and your mayor thinks they are playing politics.

Whatever the case may be, it is clear that when the Mayor of Hammond is challenged or a close and “very, very powerful, very, very political” friends gets in trouble the Mayor is always quick to leave a nasty voice mail.  You would have thought he would have learned the first time.

It’s time for mature in leadership in Hammond.

Is Crime up in Hammond or are more McDermott Supporters Needed?

Official:  Cuts don’t threaten patrols

“If I had my way, we’d hire 50 officers right now,” McDermott said. “We’ve been given an almost impossible task.”

Does Mayor McDermott’s quote subtly tell us that crime is on the rise in Hammond?  I am guessing you just don’t want to hire 50 more police officers for the heck of it.  Mr. Mayor, please explain.

And why is Edison Community Crime Watch leader Janet Venecz being quoted here?  Does it have anything to do with the fact that she is going to run for councilwoman in the 4th district against Republican Councilwoman Kim Poland?  If we are going to quote crime watch people I would think calling up a board member would be a better idea.  (Board Members are listed here)

A Little of their own Medicine

“Un-American” Attacks can’t Derail Health Care Debate

“These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views — but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades.”

It’s amazing but when liberals want to protest something it’s okay, in fact it’s patriotic.  Liberals like Nacny Pelosi are the biggest hypocrites in the world.  They simply cannot take criticism.  They expect us to bow before them and accept the fact that they want total control of our lives.  Who are we to even speak up?

For them however it’s okay to protest things like the war while our troops are fighting for freedom or at the grave sites of soldiers killed in the line of duty.

People have finally had enough of the liberal/socialist agenda and are finally fighting back – which is the AMERICAN WAY.  It’s not just Republicans but Democrats and Independents fighting back to protect their freedoms.  That my friends is the AMERICAN WAY.

Tax Revenues Lowest Since 1932 – Time to Cut Taxes

Federal Tax Revenues Plummeting

Simple solution – lower taxes and tax revenues go up.  Why?

More money in people’s pockets = spending, investing, job creation

I highly recommend The End of Prosperity by Arthur Laffer, Stephen Moore, and Peter Tanous for a great explanation of how lower taxes would boost prosperity for all and how higher taxes ends prosperity for everyone.

Feel Sorry for Me! We Should Have Been Taxed!

Watching this press conference really makes me sad.  Nothing but pointing fingers and blaming everyone else but his own administration.  Also sounds like he’s running for governor.

2009 – 2010 Budget Press Conference from City of Hammond on Vimeo.

Hammond Officials Avoid Real Government Reform

Mayor McDermott Proposes Ordinance Which will Trim Budget Shortfall by Almost $2 million

Let me be clear, layoffs of police and firemen should only happen as a last resort.  Public Safety is the most important job a city has and when that is compromised then the city is in serious danger.  In today’s Times article, Hammond Seeks to Avoid Police, Fire Layoffs, two resolutions are on the table to possibly avoid laying off police and fire.  By offering an early retirement package, as many as 10 police and 9 firefighters would leave their respective forces according to Hammond officials.  In the budget crunch that faces the city this is a good first step, saving $1.6 million.  But then what?

The Hammond City Council is also proposing using casino revenues to avoid losing any more police and fire.  You better believe that Hammond officials will propose using casino revenue to fill the entire budget gap thus avoiding real government reform.  The city estimates a total budget gap of $13 million although the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance claims only $7.8 million needs to be cut from this years operating budget.  According to the Post-Tribune, $7 million needs to be cut this year with $13 million needing to be cut next year. No matter what the budget deficit is, it’s big and putting a band-aid (casino revenue) on the problem is not doing anyone any good.

For more information and what Hammond should be doing visit Renew Hammond.

Hammond’s Budget Woes – Comments Please

Hammond Braces for Budget Ax

HAMMOND | Police officers, firefighters and other city employees may find themselves in the unemployment line, if what city officials say is a $13 million budget shortfall becomes a reality.

Calling the situation “dire,” Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said the city was prepared to deal with a shortfall between $4 million and $5 million, due to property tax caps. He said the city received word from the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance last week that property tax collections are expected to be down and the city should prepare itself for an additional $7 million in cuts.

“We could live with $4 million. I wasn’t scared of that,” McDermott said. “There’s no way to make ($13 million) up without reducing personnel.”

Ed Lomeli, president of the city’s firefighters union and a 20-year department veteran, said if the cuts McDermott is proposing come to fruition, the city’s residents would feel it.

“The professionalism will stay the same, but the quality of care will (be reduced). That’s something the public will have to deal with,” Lomeli said. “If you’re in North Hammond and the only ambulance available is in Hessville, (service) will be delayed. The quality of care will be impacted.”

Lomeli said the city should look at using a variety of user fees or redirect casino dollars to save jobs and maintain services, something City Councilman Al Salinas, also a city employee, said he favors. Salinas said in addition to using casino dollars, he’s interested in possibly selling or leasing the Lost Marsh Golf Course.

McDermott said he’s against using casino revenues because the cuts likely will be permanent and using gaming funds would indefinitely reroute those dollars from other projects.

Any layoffs, McDermott said, will be based on seniority, affecting many of the workers hired under his administration. McDermott said he’s open to offering early retirement initiatives to curb the number of jobs lost, but that directive would need to come from the City Council.

Councilwoman Kim Poland said she would consider anything that would save jobs.

“I want to explore every option we have available. I hate the thought of laying anyone off,” Poland said. “It’s a staggering amount of money, and it will be painful.”

Salinas said he has heard that layoffs could be coming as soon as October. McDermott would not comment on a time frame.