Issues and debates worth watching

Doug Ross at the Times asks "would we be better off forcing every property on a registry so we know where the brownfields are?" I paraphrased that quote so I could use the word "force"

I answer no, emphatically no, a brownfield is merely a way to force values down and is not easily defined. The solution to our lakeshore and Lake County's dilapidated real estate values is private investment, with little or no governmental oversight. Sorry, that doesn't ring well when we've all gotten so used to big brother telling us what to do ... but it's the truth ... if you want revitalization and investment you want big brother to stay out.

Before someone goes batty and goes after the RDA, the RDA is exactly what government should do. Form a group that has as little political involvement as possible, give them investment dollars to use to fix real big problems and then get them out as soon as possible once those dollars are invested. Oh the rage that comment will create ... I know and love it!

What do we really want to happen at Gary Airport? Do you have a solution or idea, or just negative pseudo racial attack comments? I think I'd like to see the RDA take over the asset, rename it Northwest Indiana International. Work to integrate the Southshore station, taxi service, rail service, bus service, and more corporate air service. Lay out a long term plan to develop a substantial commercial and industrial project around the airport, one that uses all these transportation hubs. Take the airport entirely off property taxes, helping the City of Gary find some additional monies under the tax caps.

More later I am perusing stories all over the region ...