Northwest Indiana Discussion

In the Times this morning, there was an article about Jim Callahan, the City Code Enforcement head. According to the article, he was inspecting a rental property in the 1100 block of Summer Street last Wednesday, when a tenant THREW him down a flight of stairs. I sure hope Mr. Callahan is OK, and the jerk who threw him down a flight of stairs goes to jail for a very long time.
No matter if you agree with Code Enforcement or not, violence is not the answer.

For a short while, this place was a candy store called "Sugar Shack". This property is on the south end of the very troubled 6100 block of Harrison. Next door to this building is a storefront Hispanic Church. Across the street from this building is a couple of properties on the demo list for the city. The city has already torn down 2 houses a few doors down from this building. As much as I absolutely hate to see any buildings torn down, a good bit of this area needs to be bulldozed.

I do not condone physical violence, but their are a number of people in key positions with in McDermott's Administration who flaunt their authority. I heard a court case, on tape. The behavior of the city representitive was abusive.

Code Enforcement has had substantial problems, some documented in the papers. Was this such a case? Did someone over extending their authority? Did someone not treat people with the dignity and respect they are due?

I hope Mr. Callahan was not seriouslly hurt.

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/hammond/article_ace52f79-6929-5d98-bffd-0a97d97db260.html

Two homes side by side just a half block south of the South Shore. Weeds that appear to be two foot tall hav e overtaken both lawns. Talking to neighbors, they have given up calling in on this. Code enforcement apparently cites other properties on the block when they are called.

Looks like a street sweeper hasn't been down this block in some time.

Tom again why are city services not equal across the city?

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Now, McDermott supporters wouldn't be attempting to burry this thread?



The problem here is this property seems well, let’s be kind, simply neglected; gaping hole in the side, roof collapsing, wall caving in, there are children who live and play in this area. Are some homeless living in this property?

Now this property is just east of Downtown Hammond, and Calumet Avenue. This is a mix of residential and industrial properties; poor zoning at best and a very poor, economically challenged section of Hammond.

Now I will give young Tom, the zoning problem existed before his tenure, but their is absolutely no excuse for this building not to have been leveled by the city. $1,300,000 baseball fields not in this neighborhood! Why? No political returns.

That and a mayoral credit card in which 80% of Tom's expenditures did not have receipts. Some say it was over $100,000 in credit card expenditures. And this is why Hammond has its problems!

Is anyone asking about how the city is accounting for the Concert Cash which is being raked in at the Pavilion? Is this to be another Parking fiasco ala Festival of the Lakes? BTW, Young Lendi, finally came up with an odd ball number for Festival parking revenue.

In fact, little to no services in this neighborhood, why, well they don't vote.



Tom, are you doing all you can do for our children?

Tom....

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That's under the Calumet Ave bridge right? No wonder. Yet it's been there like that for decades. I wonder if certain politicos use a site like that for temporary storage of questionable artifacts or something. LMAO

Talking with neighbors, they said this property has been like this for over three years. Apparently Callahan was out recently on this property talking with the owner.

Three years neighbors have had to deal with this.

Apparently this is a new twist on College Bound; brining families to Hammond.

Wow!

You can't make your neighbors landscape to your tastes. How is this McDermott's fault?

The above quote found in the Mark Kiesling article, You Can't say you weren't warned about the cuts, Hammond Times Wed, September 7th, 2011.

And by the way, Cuts in the Hammond Budget will come this November, just after the election. Serious and painful budget cuts.


http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/mark-kiesling/article_e4ba4b49-3c54-5a79-9e20-7f95ea4cf202.html

Karent, are you saying you wouldn't have a problem with this type of landscaping for your next door neighbor?

This is not landscape, those are weeds in front of that house.

Neighbors stated they have been complaining for years about this property being mis kept.

A neighbor of mine had plants growing in the alley, very well kept and good looking, Code Enforcement came along and cited them for growing weeds in the alley.

This is one of Tom's one two punches! This is another Tom McDermott's community revitilization projects, taking lemons and making lemon aid. What's wrong with this picture?

The 4x8 sign prominently display's Tom's name and College Bound brining familes into Hammond. Rehabbing a property to make it attractive, so that a family might want to move into Hammond.

Well take a look at the building next door, although it apears to be nicely painted, it looks like something is wrong structurally with the front porch, it appears to be near falling down, steps with no handrails.

And if this is not enough to encourage you to sign on the dotted line, the picture below of Triangle Park, just down the street certainly makes this more of an attractive purchase!




Just down the block is Triangle Park. Now this certainly can give those two $1,300,000 baseball fields a run for their money. Looks like the Hammond Parks Department has done everything they can to bring this park up to standards.

Does this park look a little neglected?

If you walk thru this spacious park, you simply don't have enough digits to count all the crack bags laying on the ground.

Now the question asked, why is a baseball field in Tom's neighborhood so well cared for and this park so neglected?

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Hey jcmchuck how about an update on this last picture. Seems your picture caused them to upgrade the playground equipment.

Nice to see you find time to follow my stupid threads between your chasing fire trucks. Nice try pal!

Hey upgrades? Are you talking about the playground in the background? Wasn't that a purchase from one of Tom's preferred contractors and installed over 5 years ago? Was that $3,000 worth of playground equipment installed for $25,000?

The picture is WYSIWYG. Triangle Park is the Hammond Parks Department Showcase. I see bus loads of kids being dropped off to play with t he crack bags on the ground.

This area in the pictures are approximately Harrison & Conkey.

This appear to have gone the way of no city services. Maybe Tom is relying on College Bound as a way that families might move into this neighborhood.

Apparently it is not working. This excess neglect is simply allowed to continue by the McDermott administration. This neglect actually drives families away from a neighborhood. Others who live in the neighborhood hope the city would assure basic area maintenance is performed, like grass cutting, repair of fasade.

See, their is this principal regarding gentrification, improving a neighborhood, fix the broken window, paint the peeling & chip gutter. Cut the friggin grass... these things make change in a neighborhood. This appears to have been negelcted for most of the summer.

College Bound is making a difference. You can see it in these pictures!

But Parts of Calumet Avenue are showing promise! Is that because it's alleged this is where Tom and associates own property in a blind trust?

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