Northwest Indiana Comical Politics

Hammond City Government Corruption and Incompetence Unsurpassed

The following is quoted from today's (12/19/06) NWI Times Newspaper in a story about the 2% cap on rental properties.  The 2% cap on rental properties is to follow the 2% residential cap and a precursor to the 2% cap that is going to be placed as a limit on businesses.

The quote truly exemplifies the pitiful state of affairs that exist in the overall governing bodies of Hammond, led by the truly incompetent and likely corrupt Mayor and his minions.  Not to be left out, it also shows the complete bankruptcy, functionally and morally, of the Hammond School District.

"You're talking Naperville, Illinois, taxes," said Jaquez, who lives in Chicago's Hegewisch neighborhood. "I mean, I don't know what these people are getting for these high property taxes. I feel bad for the people that live in Hammond. They have, quite honestly, nothing to show for it. There are no great amnesties, there are no great restaurants, no huge shopping centers like you would see in these other towns that are paying high property taxes."

This quote not only reflects the feeling of an individual citizen it also recognizes the reality that incompetence and corruption is rife in Hammond Government and School Corporation.  It cannot be said any better by all the studies by consultants and lawyers who claim to "study" the problem.

It should also be noted that the property tax bill does NOT include the tens of millions of dollars coming in from gambling boat revenues and the State supported tax money coming in for the School District.  On top of all of that, there are Federal funds that come into Hammond as well (e.g., housing, bilingual education, Head Start) -- that are also in addition to the property taxes.

Hammond is not the only municipality in which this is occurring but it is the most sophisticated incompetent and criminal activity.  The same applies to the cities of Gary and East Chicago.  These three cities do uniquely incorporate a criminal/incompetency enterprise of unprecedented proportions.

There is only two ways to end this theft from the citizens.  The first is to hold fast to the complete 2% cap on property tax limits across the board.  This will end the free availability of the fuel (taxes) the have fanned this activity.  Second, vote the bums out.  There is not a single person in Hammond that has any claim of competency to keep their position, actually quite the opposite.  They have showen such incompetence that only a fool or a fellow leech could see any value in keeping these slugs and their appointees in office.

Joe Allegretti and McDermott, Sr

These two have been some of the biggest ethical abusers of public service in NWi.  Well beside the Pastrick family and the East Chicago Greek mafia (cappas and Panos).  Joe Allegratti was Dedelow's bagman.  It is amazing that the Democrats as voters and working people in Hammond will keep on taking this in the well let us say chin.

How dumb can they be?  All of these lawyers who could not make a living practicing law have been making a fortune at the public trough; under Mcdrmott, Sr. Dedelow, Jr. and now McDermott, Jr.  Nothing has changed except that McDermott, Sr. is doing a lot better financial.  It is good to see a newspaper delivery boy succeed as a grownup; even if it is a result of nepotism and theft.

The only possible savior for Hammond and NWI over the next five years is a new Democratic party or the rise of a successful Republican party in the City.  None of which do I believe is likely.  Therefore the middle class will go east and Lake County will start looking more and more like the south part of Chicago.

Higher Education

	2004-2005**	2005-2006**		2005-2006**		2005-2006
	Actual	Requested		Recommended		HB1001		FALL	In State	Funding		Difference
	Appropriation	Operating		Operating		Operating		FTE per	Hoosier	per       Hoosier		from
University	$	$ Funding		$ Funding		$ Funding		CAMPUS	FTE	FTE	Rank	Average
IU, Bloomington	$191,369,935	$205,084,957	7.17%	$195,251,210	2.03%	$195,251,210	1.99%	32,740	20,954	$9,318.27	3	$2,411.66
Purdue. W. Laf	$234,587,839	$254,656,916	8.56%	$240,172,228	2.38%	$240,172,228	2.33%	36,429	25,136	$9,554.91	2	$2,648.30
Ball State	$122,930,932	$135,875,543	10.53%	$124,874,106	1.58%	$125,904,106	2.38%	16,342	14,708	$8,560.36	4	$1,653.76
Indiana State	$77,843,886	$82,946,169	6.55%	$78,929,473	1.39%	$79,013,473	1.48%	9,159	7,968	$9,915.94	1	$3,009.33
Univ of S. Indiana	$33,013,832	$39,798,335	20.55%	$33,696,185	2.07%	$34,661,625	4.89%	6,846	6,298	$5,503.31	12	($1,403.29)
IUPUI	$86,452,657	$100,512,968	16.26%	$90,343,396	4.50%	$91,391,396	5.47%	15,098	14,041	$6,508.83	6	($397.78)
Purdue Calumet	$26,523,449	$28,174,704	6.23%	$26,547,810	0.09%	$26,680,810	0.59%	5,560	5,171	$5,159.90	14	($1,746.71)
Purdue N. Central	$10,245,798	$10,989,846	7.26%	$10,255,208	0.09%	$10,789,624	5.30%	2,096	2,075	$5,199.72	13	($1,706.89)
IUPU, Ft. Wayne	$33,009,643	$36,987,871	12.05%	$34,152,780	3.46%	$36,950,335	11.54%	6,628	6,495	$5,688.66	11	($1,217.95)
IU, Northwest	$17,146,348	$20,397,818	18.96%	$17,173,419	0.16%	$17,541,419	2.30%	3,025	2,874	$6,104.02	8	($802.59)
IU, Southeast	$19,156,421	$20,637,841	7.73%	$19,186,666	0.16%	$20,259,903	5.75%	3,703	3,407	$5,946.97	10	($959.64)
IU, Southbend	$22,551,314	$25,272,131	12.07%	$23,014,419	2.05%	$23,143,919	2.57%	4,205	3,869	$5,982.51	9	($924.10)
IU, Kokomo	$10,083,897	$11,329,263	12.35%	$10,099,818	0.16%	$10,258,818	1.73%	1,570	1,460	$7,026.11	5	$119.50
IU, East	$7,586,591	$8,245,395	8.68%	$7,598,569	0.16%	$7,820,575	3.08%	1,366	1,257	$6,223.01	7	($683.60)
										$96,692.50
									AVERAGE:	$6,906.61
*Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Student numbers from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education
**From State Budget Committee Report

Again the local politicians have betrayed NWI with their incompetence.  Compared to Fort Wayne, Hammond has just left $10 million on the table in higher education funding -- that is money that would come here to develop the economy and add to property value.  Higher education by itself could get NWI out of its property tax problems if we had politicians with a little on the ball and some notion that there is a need for education. 

Where was the Mayor of Hammond, McJunior?  Must have been too busy trying to lobby for $10 for some strange program that nobody cares about.  There is truly a load of complete incompetency with Junior Hammond Mayor.

Why was Pabey or King not lobbying for this huge amount of tax dollars?  Could it be that none of the Mayors could figue out a way to steal their fair share of the money?