Northwest Indiana Discussion

Consider: Representatives of this group were recently on WJOB RADIO where they professed that their ilk were unconcerned, indeed oblivious, to the disparate property tax schedules of Indiana and Illinois. That tax considerations were not a concern of their generation in deciding their domicile. That if the SouthShore extension was not publicly subsidized and the suburbs expanded, why they would rather just live in Illinois nothwithstanding being subject to increasing taxation.

Emerging Leaders? Really. More like emerging followers.

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Emerging Leaders Network to rally for South Shore extension

11 hours ago • Times Staff

HOBART | U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky will be keynote speaker at a free forum Monday to promote the extension of the South Shore commuter railroad.

"Laying Tracks for the Future" is set from 6 to 8 p.m. at Avalon Manor, 3550 E. U.S. 30, Hobart.

The event is sponsored by the recently created Emerging Leaders Network, which is joining the call for action on the long-talked about expansion of the South Shore Line.

The Emerging Leaders Network, a coalition of groups of young Northwest Indiana professionals, identified expanding the South Shore as priority at its first meeting.

On Monday, those people and the public can get the facts on where the effort now stands.

A study commissioned by South Shore operator Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District shows the proposed 8-mile extension to Dyer would attract 5,600 riders daily.

Riders on the existing South Shore commuter railroad bring about $237.5 million in wages back to Northwest Indiana annually from well-paying jobs in Chicago's Loop, according to the same study. With the extension and other improvements planned for the existing South Shore system, that figure would increase by about $147.3 million.

Visclosky, D-Merrillville, currently is rallying local communities to support the South Shore extension by putting up a share of their receipts from Lake County's new county economic development income tax.

This rairoad thing is plain bull. I have a Hammond Times. Yes Hammond Times from 1964. The headline reads "South Shore to Lowell a sure thing". They have goofed around with this project for year after year. We still haven't a direct plan. I wonder what they have spent on this project with so planning that was never used and how many consultants got moola for their fantastic work.

If ya dont like it, turn it off.

Hey Spunky,

Given that shootings are now almost as common as baseball fields and illiterate municipal workers in your hometown of Hammond, Indiana (isn't the City of Hammond your employer as well?), don't you think your time would be better spent attending neighborhood crime watch meetings and handing out fliers at same than listening to the bumbling boobs on WDEM-1230?

Sparks must have found out that it's not going to be an electric train but diesel. Has the Hammond council voted yet on earmarking income tax for ssex? Hammond is B-R-O-K-E! The joke of a budget is held together by robbing Peter to pay Paul and now they want to rob Paul to pay Peter Visclosky. With finances so unsound, voting to spend on this drunk, double-vision is insane. I wouldn't be surprised then when they vote to do so and follow McDermott's signals.

No. To hear the Mayor and city council tell it, Hammond hasnt even been contacted to weigh-in with Visclosky. My guess is the congressman is taking Hammond and McDermott for granted. And Pete is probably right, as it is likely there would be hell to pay should Dems cross him on this. To say nothing of retaliation Randy Palmateer is prepared to dole out. The overall sense seems one of fiscal-political frustration at being cornered politically and simultaneously jack-rolled by the state legislature.

But I thought all Lake County Democrats were wily political streetfighters who toyed with the downstate rubes. At least that's what their sycophants have been telling them for decades.

And to think a union gorilla just a rung or two up the evolutionary ladder from the Oracle pulls the puppet strings of the mighty mayor of Hammond!

Somebody better tell the low information listeners to WDEM radio that Pete Visclosky and the Union officials that are all for this project are not "Down State Repulicans". LOL

That's impressive indeed. There wasn't even room to list "driving while intoxicated", "exploiting political connections to avoid charges for same", and "pulling a gun on a police officer". I can't boast any of those lofty accomplishments.

With a resume like that, you wonder why the guy is stuck in a craphole like NWI, but didn't he ride the coattails of an uncle who was involved in both LC union and political affairs? You have some pretty impressive credentials with which you have done nothing. Must be a Lake County thing. One step outside the borders of LC and you all are inconsequential apes.

Emerging leaders or idiots? As posed, the question implies one or the other, but tell me why it can't be both? Heck, this is northwest Indiana, which makes it a lock to be both. Examples abound. Look no further than the name Palmateer which was brought up in this thread. If all you knew was that sparks idolizes the guy, that's all you'd need to know.

Writes Rich James of the love-in at Avalon:

"The newly created Emerging Leaders Network, young professionals from across Northwest Indiana, is providing a fresh voice in the face of old, tired opposition."

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Again, that tax considerations are not a concern of their generation in deciding their domicile discloses a serious deficiency in their critical faculty. Recall that these wunderkinds added, that if the SouthShore extension was not publicly subsidized and the suburbs expanded, why, they would rather just live in Illinois nothwithstanding being subject to increasing taxation.

It's about judgment and their capacity for it. One can only wonder at what is emerging other than the pseudo reality of their public relations. In terms of assessing fact, risk and efficient use of funds, they are woefully unpersuasive, let alone promising beacons of the future.

Emerging Leaders? These are the absurdly pampered New Dumb who expect to remain swathed and insulated from the realities of life in postmodern America, especially greater chicago metro. To hear James trot out these cheeky post-adolescents, as up and coming, borders on parody. Oh, they're coming alright, in about 20 years, at least those that survive the competition that strips them of unearned privilege and insulation.