Northwest Indiana Discussion

Flush with victory at recently bringing the McDermott administration to heel, and with many now wondering aloud how Hammond and the region of northwest Indiana survived this long without him, the time has come for a standard by which to measure his fame:

Toby Tyler - Ten weeks with a circus. Walt Disney Productions (1960)

MOVIE SYNOPSIS - In 1910, the arrival of Col. Sam Castle's Great American Circus captures the interest of young orphan Toby Tyler, who sneaks away from his uncle Daniel and aunt Olive's farm in order to watch the circus parade. Having only a penny, Toby must sample the show's many delights from afar, but attracts the attention of shyster concessionaire Harry Tupper, who seduces him with tales of the excitement of working for the circus. When Toby returns home, Daniel excoriates him for failing to feed the hogs, which stampeded and ruined the crops. Although Olive tries to calm Daniel, he tells Toby that he is nothing but a burden to them. Crushed, Toby runs away that night and finds Harry, who welcomes him aboard as his assistant. As the circus group packs to leave, Toby's dinner of one banana is stolen by chimpanzee Mr. Stubbs.

On his first day of work, Toby dutifully sells candy, but is distracted by the acts such as dancing elephants and trapeze artists. Afterward, Harry "generously" allows him to keep one-third of his tips, but works the boy unremittingly. When Toby sets down a candy tray near Mr. Stubbs's cage, the animal eats the whole tray, soon falling ill. Toby brings him to Sam, who gives him castor oil and sends him to sleep with Toby, and a hesitant Ben allows the chimp atop the wagon as they travel that night. In the morning, a breakdown causes a delay, and to make up for lost time, they must parade directly through town before setting up their tents.

The town is in the midst of a Fourth of July celebration, and the firecrackers frighten Mr. Stubbs, who jumps on the horses, causing them to rear, and the wagon to tumble over. The monkeys are loosed on the town, and although most are soon rounded up, Toby finds Mr. Stubbs in the sheriff's office, wreaking havoc by waving and randomly firing the lawman's pistol while the prisoners cower in fear. When a sharpshooter offers to kill the chimp, Toby runs into the office, approaching Mr. Stubbs gently until he can disarm him. Although Castle first fires Ben in a rage for allowing the chimp to topple the wagon, the publicity from Toby's brave rescue doubles the circus' profits, prompting Castle to demand that Toby and Mr. Stubbs travel on the wagon together from now on...

Later on, Mr. Stubbs, empties Toby's pouch of coins while the boy sleeps, and in the morning Toby berates his friend...On the day of Toby's premiere as bareback horse rider, the performers present him with a new costume, and Jeanette kisses Toby for luck. Toby ties up Mr. Stubbs, but the chimp breaks free and finds Olive's most recent letter in Harry's coat pocket. Toby has no time to read it before his performance, during which Ben and Castle hold their breath, but the boy is a huge hit. Afterward, he races backstage to read the letter and immediately packs to leave, not knowing that Mr. Stubbs is following him. When Harry discovers that the boy has disappeared, he trails him in a car, announcing in town that a boy has run away with a valuable chimp.

Meanwhile, Mr. Stubbs finds Toby in the nearby woods and the two proceed along together, but when a hunter happens upon them, Mr. Stubbs runs up in a tree, where the hunter mistakes him for quail and shoots him. Harry arrives to find Toby sobbing over the prone body of his friend, and after informing the boy that the accident was his fault, Harry brings him back to the camp. Toby runs straight to Castle to explain what has happened, and is shocked and pleased to find his aunt and uncle there looking for him. They apologize to Toby and embrace him, while outside, Ben, who has learned about the hidden letters, dumps Harry into a barrel. That night, Toby is sad at the loss of Mr. Stubbs until Sam reveals that the hunter has brought the chimp back, grazed but unharmed by the bullet. Toby and Mr. Stubbs hug joyfully. Toby then performs one last show as Olive and Daniel beam with pride, during which Mr. Stubbs makes a surprise appearance by jumping on Toby's back. The act is a huge success, and provokes Castle to declare "M. Stubbs" the new star of the show.

[color=#BF0000]Has Mayor McDErmott Selectively enforced Sex Registration and Residency laws placing Hammonites at risk?

Has Mayor McDermott Selectively enforced Sex Registration and Residency laws placing Hammond residents and their children at risk?

Has Hammond's Mayor Thomas McDermott turned a blind eye and allowed sex offenders to reside in a politico pal's hotel with out enforcement of the state statute or has someone in his administration been asleep at the wheel?

The Preacher in his first show in his new time slot, brought to the attention of the public, Hammond's Mayor Thomas McDermott has again slighted the residents of Hammond by selectively enforcing Sex Offender Residency requirements. The McDermott's has began to enforce the residency restrictions (1000 feet from a park, school, etc) for a dozen or so individuals living at the LaSalle Hotel. It has been now discovered, after approval of a charter school in the area, that sex offenders at this location have been allowed to live for years in a residence which is less than a 1000 feet from a bike path.

The McDermott Administration and the responsible Department Heads have turned their back on a community for years, apparently allowing convicted sex offenders to reside in this locations in violation of the law. Why this new found interest? The pending construction of a charter school, no other reason. I am sure you would want to know that the LaSalle Hotel is owned by an individual who McDermott appointed to a board. Is this again special privileged for people of the McDermott political army at the cost of the residents of Hammond's personal safety?

Who ever McDermott's has given the responsibility to follow up on Sex Offender's residency requirement apparently have been sleeping for the last 6 years of his Administration. The LaSalle Hotel has been for a number of years a place where Sex offenders have landed after being released from jail. All this time McDermott's Administration has placed that community at risk by his inaction!

Localized enforcement of a state law because of a pet project?
Why have Hammond residents in this community been neglected?
Why is this statute now being enforced in Downtown Hammond and not city wide?
This statue should be enforced city wide, not just for a pet project!

If you look at the web site for the location of sex offenders, many are with in a 1000 feet of a school or public park. This selective enforcement can and will open Hammond to litigation on this recent selective enforcement by the McDermott Administration. What about those sex offenders that are residing within a 1000 feet of other Hammond Parks, Schools?
Why is McDermott doing only a localized enforcement?

Who ever in Hammond City Government that has been sleeping at the wheel should be investigated and held accountable for not doing their job.

McDermott has been very busy, maybe too busy. McDermott is the Democratic Chairman for Lake County and Hammond's. One thing that is very clear, crystal clear, Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. is ultimately responsible for his Department's heads inaction. This inaction has placed Hammonites and their children at risk! It is apparent McDermott has been too busy running the Lake County Party and governor and making the phone calls on behalf of his Capo's who are growing grass in their back yards to effectively run Hammond.

Six years? Please note at the bottom that the following date the Sex Offender Residency Restriction act was passed in 2006. The recent Pollard decision by the Indiana Supreme Court clarifying it was handed down June 30, 2009, three months ago.

IC 35-42-4-11
Sex offender residency restrictions

Sec. 11. (a) As used in this section, and except as provided in subsection (d), "offender against children" means a person required to register as a sex or violent offender under IC 11-8-8 who has been:
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(1) found to be a sexually violent predator under IC 35-38-1-7.5; or
(2) convicted of one (1) or more of the following offenses:
(A) Child molesting (IC 35-42-4-3).
(B) Child exploitation (IC 35-42-4-4(b)).
(C) Child solicitation (IC 35-42-4-6).
(D) Child seduction (IC 35-42-4-7).
(E) Kidnapping (IC 35-42-3-2), if the victim is less than eighteen (18) years of age and the person is not the child's parent or guardian.
(F) Attempt to commit or conspiracy to commit an offense listed in clauses (A) through (E).
(G) An offense in another jurisdiction that is substantially similar to an offense described in clauses (A) through (F).
A person is an offender against children by operation of law if the person meets the conditions described in subdivision (1) or (2) at any time.
(b) As used in this section, "reside" means to spend more than three (3) nights in:
(1) a residence; or
(2) if the person does not reside in a residence, a particular location;
in any thirty (30) day period.
(c) An offender against children who knowingly or intentionally:
(1) resides within one thousand (1,000) feet of:
(A) school property, not including property of an institution providing post-secondary education;
(B) a youth program center; or
(C) a public park; or
(2) establishes a residence within one (1) mile of the residence of the victim of the offender's sex offense;
commits a sex offender residency offense, a Class D felony.

(d) This subsection does not apply to an offender against children who has two (2) or more unrelated convictions for an offense described in subsection (a). A person who is an offender against children may petition the court to consider whether the person should no longer be considered an offender against children. The person may file a petition under this subsection not earlier than ten (10) years after the person is released from incarceration, probation, or parole, whichever occurs last. A person may file a petition under this subsection not more than one (1) time per year. A court may dismiss a petition filed under this subsection or conduct a hearing to determine if the person should no longer be considered an offender against children. If the court conducts a hearing, the court shall appoint two (2) psychologists or psychiatrists who have expertise in criminal behavioral disorders to evaluate the person and testify at the hearing. After conducting the hearing and considering the testimony of the two (2) psychologists or psychiatrists, the court shall determine whether the person should no longer be considered an offender against children. If a court finds that the person should no
longer be considered an offender against children, the court shall send notice to the department of correction that the person is no longer considered an offender against children.

As added by P.L.6-2006, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.140-2006, SEC.32 and P.L.173-2006, SEC.32; P.L.216-2007, SEC.47.

Actually INDIANA SHERIFFS' SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY has been in existence since Jan 1, 2003, 6 years, and in fact dates back to 2001. McDermott's Department heads that deal with this subject matter show know better than most, these individuals are statistically repeat offenders. They should have been tracking them all along, sure it was not required until

July 1, 2006 is when the law went into effect, so are you saying MCDermott appointments should not have been following up on this concern when they knew of it and knew of the repeat probability of the offenders.


Community Placement

How is the public notified when a sex offender moves into the neighborhood?
Community law enforcement officials are notified whenever a sex offender is moving into their area and all sex offenders are required to register with local law enforcement within seven (7) days of release from prison; sexually violent predators are required to register within 72 hours of release. Also, neighborhood associations are free to request information from their local law enforcement agencies about any registered sex offenders moving into the neighborhood (IC 11-8-2-12.4).

Are there any other restrictions for where sex offenders may live?
Yes. Offenders whose crimes are against children are not allowed to live or reside within 1,000 feet of school property, public parks, or youth program center (IC 35-42-4-11).



http://www.insor.org/insasoweb/general/zacharysLaw.jsp

Anti-sex-offender zoning laws challenged http://www.stateline.org/live/details/s ... tId=163253