Indiana

Ask, But You May Not Receive

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

In case any of you ever wondered what happened to the idea of a debate between Amos Brown and me over government consolidation and it’s impact on the African-American community, here’s the e-mail response my friend Amos recently gave tax activist Melyssa Donaghy…

I?m in receipt of your e-mails concerning a recent op-ed in the Indianapolis Recorder where WRTV/Channel 6 commentator Abdul Hakim-Shabazz hoped for an opportunity to have a debate with me on the issue of government consolidation.

As you may know, historically, the issue of government consolidation in Indianapolis/Marion County has had a very negative connotation in the African-American community. The UniGov debate in 1969-1970 evoked very strong negative reactions among African-Americans. By and large the community then did not support it. And as you may know the citizens of Indianapolis weren?t given an opportunity to vote then on consolidation.

Unlike the original UniGov, the government consolidation plans this time will take the right to vote for government officials and the government of their choice away from individuals. This is far more radical than the original UniGov 1969-70 proposals.

I agree with my friend Mr. Shabazz that this issue is worthy of public debate.

>Any ?debate? should be about bringing to the African-American community, the community I serve, the actual decision makers who are pushing this scheme that will take the right to vote away from the community I serve; that will deny the community I serve their right to have the government of their choosing; that will make it harder for the community I serve, in the worst economy since World War II, to get emergency assistance within the 72 hours required under Indiana law.

I appreciate your efforts and passion at organizing a ?debate? between myself and Mr. Shabazz. Even though Mr. Shabazz?s op-ed was in the Recorder, you?ve written me in my capacity as an employee of WTLC Radio.
>As a full time employee of the radio station, there are policies and procedures that I must adhere to as their employee. Those policies preclude me from appearing at a public forum, outside of the radio station?s programming, that would have me as an advocate on behalf of a particular issue of public importance, including an issue that may appear on a public ballot, which the issue of the consolidation of local government will.

I thank you for your passion on behalf of the people of Indianapolis and Indiana.

Although, I still think we could have worked something out, a debate would have been fun, informative and a great way to raise money for charity.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on February 21, 2009 (boomark / email).