Rock the Vote & Remember your ID!

Just a reminder that today is THE day to vote in South Bend!

Various media outlets have in-depth coverage of where each of the candidates stand on the issues facing our community. I would urge everyone, if you haven't already, to read through the candidate positions to make an informed voting decision.

Today's vote is very important vote for anyone who supports an amendement to the Human Rights Ordinance. This well stated message arrived in my inbox this morning:

"I understand there are other issues for many people but, if anyone is interested in where the majority of candidates stand on the issue of the human rights ordinance, you can check out: http://www.sbequality.org/

Candidates who already voted on the issue the last time around have their comments recorded for public record and they are included on the website.

Also, all 3 of the Mayoral candidates have made their views clear as well. South Bend Equality does not officially endorse candates, however we do our best to give others the tools to make their own informed decisions.

If preventing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is important to you, please check out the South Bend Equality website to see where your candidates stand.

In the primary, one of our sponsors was defeated by only 30 votes and her seat will soon be filled by someone we doubt is supportive. Every vote counts.

In case you're not aware of it, the Christian Right in Indiana has taken an active role in trying to take over many key offices in South Bend. We can only stop this by voting." - Rhonda Redman

***REMEMBER a vaild photo ID is required to cast your vote!!***

If you don't know where your polling place is, check this out: http://www.indianavoters.com/PublicSite/Public/PublicLookupMain.aspx?Link=Polling

Body Count

Another person has been found dead in St. Joseph County. This is starting to seem like a daily occurrence... Here's the story so far from WSBT news:

(SBT24/7News) City police are on the scene at the Super 8 Motel, 2754 Lincoln Way East, where a body was found about 1 p.m. Monday.

Assistant Mishawaka Police Chief Mike Samp told The Tribune the death appears to be accidental and that the coroner was en route to the scene.

The body was found in brush near the parking lot of the motel, Samp said. Other details about the body, including the person’s sex and age, were not available.

City Council Delays Marquette School Landmark Status Vote

Vote delayed on landmark status for Marquette school in South Bend

JAMIE LOO Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- Common Council members said they were uncomfortable voting on historic landmarking for Marquette School because the school system equated their vote with possibly hurting schoolchildren.

The council still held a public hearing Monday night, but won't vote on the issue until Nov. 12, after the council takes a tour of Marquette with representatives from the Historic Preservation Commission of St. Joseph County and South Bend Community School Corp. at 6 p.m. Oct. 23.

Superintendent Robert Zimmerman told the council during its afternoon zoning and annexation committee meeting that the South Bend Community School Corp. board of trustees had already approved the bond issue for a new building, which includes three other projects. He said a petition drive on the bond issue is currently taking place and asked the council to let the public decide what they want.

"If you make the decision to grant historical status to this building, not only is this project dead but the projects we're hoping to renovate at Monroe, and also the projects that we've started for Washington and Clay," he said.

Although the building may be historic according to historic architects, Zimmerman said, the educational needs of what is best for children haven't been taken into account by HPC.

Zimmerman said the school system will not renovate the current building and that they'll build a new building "hopefully in that neighborhood." He said if that option is taken away, the school board would be forced to build a new school outside of the Marquette neighborhood. Zimmerman said the school has funding to create a Montessori program at the Marquette site, which will help "naturally integrate" the school by bringing in more Caucasian students to a predominantly minority school.

Council President Tim Rouse, D-at large, reminded the council members that their responsibility is only to decide whether the building is historically significant. Although the educational aspects are important, he said, it's not the council's role.

"I was somewhat put off by the way you approached it, like, 'Get out of the way, and let us do our job.' We (council) have a job to do too," Rouse said.

Council member Derek Dieter, D-1st, said he wanted to see hard numbers on renovation costs. The school system has used improved academic performance as a reason for a new school and Dieter said he would like to see academic results, such as ISTEP scores for students who moved from old buildings into new or renovated buildings.

Council member Randy Kelly, D-3rd, said the trustees have put the council's "backs against the wall" by threatening to leave the neighborhood if the council grants landmark status.

The council's night meeting and public hearing was packed with HPC officials, school corporation trustees and officials, and members of the public.

Alicia Nagy said she could've moved to Granger after leaving historic Alexandria, Va., but chose to live in South Bend because it had a "sense of place" and valued history. Nagy, a Montessori teacher and a mother, said she was disappointed to hear that the school system wanted to raze Marquette. She said Montessori is taught all over the world and isn't about having the best buildings. "You don't need to have a state of the art building ... What you need to have is one of her (Mary Montessori) great lessons. The golden thread of history. And we as a community need to stop chopping up that golden thread," she said.

Cheryl Batteast, principal at Marquette, said she was fighting back tears as she told the council about the smell of mildew and mold in the building, and the dirt floor in the basement. She said "it's not a good place to learn," and that it's not fair to the students that most of the other schools have been updated. "Buildings are nice but they're not people," she said. "We should care more about children than a building."

Council member Charlotte Pfeifer, D-2nd, said it's sad that two elected bodies like the school trustees and council didn't communicate on this issue, for the best interests of the community. Pfeifer said she is "disappointed" and "disheartened" that the trustees boxed the council into a corner by deciding there has to be a new building."We should work together, instead of one group making a decision and then forcing the other group to have to either support it or not," she said.

Council member Karen White, D-at large, asked that the council and school trustees meet on a regular basis in the future to discuss issues that affect the entire community.

Staff writer Jamie Loo:jloo@sbtinfo.com
(574) 235-6337

Equality For All Citizens

Do you think it's time South Bend adopted an amendment that would protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination?

http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=NEWS

The poll is just down a little from the top on the right hand side of the page.

It's 2007, of course they should....

Indiana Voter Information

I came across this message this morning on a Yahoo group that I belong to. I thought it served as a good reminder, so I am posting it here as well...

October 9th is the deadline in Indiana to register to vote/change your address in order to vote in the November 6th general election.

To vote on November 6th, you must have lived in your precinct as ofOct. 6, and be or become 18 by Nov. 6. If you're not sure if you're registered to vote, call your local Election Board.

Council Meeting & Vote on Marquette School Decision

Marquette school landmark status set for Monday council meeting

Tribune Staff Report

SOUTH BEND — The South Bend Common Council will hold a public hearing and vote Monday on whether to declare Marquette Primary Center, 1905 College St., a historic landmark. The 71-year-old school is at the center of a battle between those who would like to preserve the building and those who want it torn down to build a new school.The South Bend Community Schools Corp. already has approved plans for a new $36 million building. A petition drive is under way on both sides of the case.

The issue will be discussed during the council's zoning and annexation committee meeting at 3:45 p.m. Monday in the council's informal meeting room on the fourth floor of the County-City Building. The council's 7 p.m. meeting, which will include a public hearing and the vote, will be in council chambers on the fourth floor of the County-City Building.

Battle under way over Marquette School

Battle under way over Marquette
Drives for signatures to determine whether new school will be constructed.

MICHAEL WANBAUGH , Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- A plea underneath the Hair Crafters sign along Lincoln Way East signifies the battle has begun. "Save Marquette School" it reads.

Across town at the Missionary Baptist Church on north Olive Street, an organizational meeting scheduled for Thursday also declares the battle is here. "I went to Marquette and I have children at Marquette," the Rev. Eugene Staples said, "and this neighborhood deserves a new school."

Construction of a new Marquette Primary Center on the city's northwest side is part of a $36 million facility plan already approved by trustees of the South Bend Community School Corp. The demolition of the existing 71-year-old building would likely follow the completion of a new facility.

A group interested in preserving the current Marquette filed a petition for remonstrance this past summer. It collected enough signatures to allow it to formally remonstrate against the plan. That remonstrance process began Monday. Each side has 30 days to collect valid signatures in favor of its cause.

Registered voters and real property owners within the school corporation's boundaries are eligible to sign and carry petitions. Signatures will be verified by both the St. Joseph County auditor and voter registration offices. The side with the most valid signatures wins.

"It is a very democratic, majority rule kind of process," said Tim Klusczinski, president of the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County. "Ultimately, it allows the public to determine which direction the bond issue should take, not simply the school board."

Staples plans to help organize and mobilize a group from his church interested in seeing a new Marquette built.

If those opposed to the bond issue win the remonstrance, the plan must be tabled and cannot be brought back in a like manner for at least a year. If those in favor of the plan win, school corporation personnel can move forward with financing.

While the financing package includes a major renovation for Monroe Primary and lesser renovations at Clay and Washington high schools, it is Marquette that is clearly the main focus of the remonstrance.

School officials want to replace the 71-year-old building with a new one on the north end of the existing lot. Last week the school corporation was awarded a federal grant to create a Montessori program at Marquette.

School trustees contend that a new building provides the best option for implementing the Montessori component. "I think it's definitely to our advantage that we have now received the grant," said school board President Dawn Jones.

Klusczinski's role in the remonstrance is as a taxpayer. But as president of the Historic Preservation Commission, he is also leading the effort to have historic landmark status bestowed on Marquette.

The South Bend Common Council is expected to vote on that status next Monday night.

If Marquette is declared a landmark, demolition would no longer be an option for the school corporation. Furthermore, any proposed exterior changes would need to go before the Historic Preservation Commission. "Landmarking would not prevent them from updating the building's (mechanicals), adding an addition or completely changing the inside of the building," Klusczinski said.

Community Involvement Opportunities?

I would like to compile a comprehensive reference list and calendar of events for opportunities and other ways South Bend citizens can become more involved with making a difference in the community.

If anyone has information about such things as community forums, educational seminars & classes, political happenings, volunteer opportunities, city meetings or events, environmental actions (ie: public space clean-ups), social events, clubs/groups/organizations, etc., then please either post in the comments section or send by email to: brokensouthbend@comcast.net

NNN Regional Safety/Crime Prevention Meeting

The Near Northwest Neighborhood monthly Regional Safety/Crime Prevention Meeting will be held tomorrow night, Thursday, October 4th at 6:00 p.m.

The meeting is held at the Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc. office at 1007 Portage Avenue, South Bend, IN 46616. If you need further information or directions to their office, please call (574) 232-9182.

Meetings are facilitated in part by an officer from the SBPD, who will share recent area crime data information, etc. This month's meeting will include a presentation by South Bend Animal Control representatives on the topic of Nuisance Animals and how to protect yourself from them.

Speed Limit Schizophrenia

On Friday, after posting my previous blog entry, I went directly to the phone hoping to get answers about the lack of school zone speed limit signs on Bergan Street. The Street Department's division of Traffic & Lighting seemed like the logical place to call. But when I did, I was told that I needed to contact the City's Engineering department because speed limit signs are now handled by a private contractor.

A private contractor?? Maybe this explains a few things about the schizophrenia of South Bend's speed limit signs. There's an abundance of places in the city that have no posted speed limit signs but also don't fit into neatly into the "Residential areas = 30 mph" rule of thumb. On the other hand, there's also places such as Portage Avenue where speed limit signs seem to sprout up every few feet indicating a DIFFERENT speed each time. In all fairness, I'm sure the private contractor isn't responsible for setting the actual speed limits. But it was nice to finally have a place to direct my mph angst, if only for a moment.

(While we are on the subject, here's a joke for you, "Does anyone know what the drivers behind you do when you actually follow the 20 mph speed limit posted on much of Portage?" To find out the answer, just try it sometime and the hilarity of their comments, gestures and dangerous driving antics are sure to ensue.)

On with the subject at hand... I called the Division of Engineering office and was routed to a woman by the name of Marsha Qualls. I explained to Ms. Qualls that no speed limit signs exist in or near the Marquette School zone, which she was surprised to hear. I also told her that because the Portage Avenue traffic detour is now routed onto Bergan Street and through the school zone, that children (alone and with no crossing guard) are having trouble trying to cross the street as cars speed by.

Ms. Qualls informed me that she would inspect the area herself that afternoon and see about getting a few "20 mph When Children are Present" signs put up in the area. I also asked her about the possibility of posting a police officer in the area while the kids come and go from school. She assured me that she would put the request in to the police department.

Now, I realize the request for getting a sign put up (especially when it then routes to a private contractor) can take time to process. But as of this morning, I have yet to see any officer monitoring car speeds in the detour near the school. I would think the officer safeguard could have been requested Friday (as promised), arranged over the weekend and implemented on Monday morning.

Am I being unrealistic considering this issue concerns child safety? I have lived here over 6 years and I can remember for at least the first 3 years (when the school zone wasn't part of a major road detour) an officer sat nearby faithfully both in the morning and afternoon. I would think this would simply take the right phone call, from the right person, to the right person to have this happen again, immediately. If anyone out there is or knows who that right person in, please, put in the good word, won't ya?

While I was on the phone with Ms. Qualls I also raised the issue that our street allows parking on one side and because of it, the detoured traffic is constantly being backed up at peak times of day. Not mention that many in the neighborhood have resorted to parking on the lawns because they are afraid of having their cars hit. She said that the question of banning the street parking during this time was discussed and decided against. The inconvenience for neighbors would be unnecessary and "they" also figured having the cars parked on the street would help force traffic to slow down. Yes, this is really what she said played into their decision.

In a way, I suppose it explains why they didn't bother with any new signs. BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY EACH CITIZEN'S CAR ON BERGAN STREET WILL ACT AS A SPEED LIMITING DEVICE.

What can I say other than... you're welcome South Bend! I'm so glad that I can help and I'll be sure to send my repair bills to the City's Engineering office, if and when it gets hit by someone speeding by.

Now, if only we could get one of these signs......

...but they probably only put those up in places where it would be true.

Coming in Second Place Doesn't Make Us a Winner...

...Part One the Portage Avenue Construction Detour chronicles

If you have driven north on Portage Avenue lately hoping to make your way to Cleveland Road, then you should have stopped by my house and said hello. Why is that you might ask?

Here's why...

Because Portage Avenue, being a main north-south artery of the city - busy enough to warrant a brand spankin' new roundabout - now detours directly onto Bergan Street where my house is located.

Mind you our humble, very narrow, two lane residential street, that allows parking on one side of it and also contains 3 blocks of a School Zone (Marquette School) with no posted speed limit signs, did not complain at all that it wasn't completely the first choice as the detour route.


(Look closely at this picture and notice how people in the neighborhood are now parking on their lawns because they are so scared of having their vehicles hit by cars speeding by. And, this house is within feet of the school!)

Originally, the northbound traffic was routed onto Bergan, up 2 blocks through the School Zone, then turned right onto Johnson Street which dead end's at Lathrop, from which the detour continues up onto Bendix. Then suddenly it all changed.

What prompted the change? As far as I can figure, since the scene at the one-story apartment slum (located on the corner where Johnson and Lathrop streets meet) is filled with dirt lawns, broken down cars, drunken skanks, random drug dealer loitering and public intoxication arrests just waiting to happen - I'm guessing city officials or maybe just citizens unfamiliar with the usual suspects of that particular corner, got scared of being stopped there. (I'll try to get a photo posted of this outstanding property that I have dubbed "the perfect example of code enforcement's inability to make any difference in our neighborhood" later today.) And so the route was changed.

The new solution? Keep people on Bergan Street up a few more blocks and then safely route them to Lathrop. And why not?

Until this happened...

... Bergan Street seemed like a fairly decent place (unless you looked closely and discovered that there are no less than seven vacant and/or abandoned houses (and that number isn't made up!) just within the detour portion and that's not counting the 5 others that are up for sale. Keep in mind folks that is all within 4 or 5 blocks!

Well, you might say, the detour had to go SOMEWHERE. My answer is yes, I suppose it did, but couldn't the city have at least posted a few speed limit signs in the School Zone or maybe put a police officer there in the morning/afternoon to make people slow down while kids are walking to/from school? How about the novel idea of AT LEAST a crossing guard at this corner of the school's property? Are any of these things too much to ask?

Here is the morning view of the traffic from the bus-stop directly facing Marquette School field on the corner of Bergan and Brookfield Streets. Now that it's barely light outside at morning school time, the children have even less of a chance that cars will see them.

(It's not only cars, but we also have trucks and semi-trucks coming through as well.....)

Notice the lack of a crossing guard? Not many parents are actually walking their children to this school in the morning. The kids (even small kids- like 2nd graders!) walk there and across this major traffic detour ALONE.... but, that's another story.

This corner is a bus-stop for neighborhood kids that go to other elementary schools, because even though they live across the street or within blocks of Marquette, the school has such a poor reputation, their parents won't send them there. Again, a story for another day....

I suppose that's enough for now! I'm off to call the Street & Traffic departments to ask why there's no speed limit signs in the neighborhood School Zone/Construction Detour area.

The 'Broken Heart' of South Bend, IN

Welcome to our new blog, The 'Broken Heart' of South Bend, Indiana - A Declaration of Community Outrage & Grassroots Action


South Bend, Indiana (located in St. Joseph County, on the northern border of the state) "tries" to work with what it's got to make our city livable. However, I think there are quite a few people and organizations, including business leaders, elected officials, city departments and county government agencies that can work a whole lot harder!

With current budget crunches, police department cash flow problems, loss of funding for neighborhood revitalization programs, employee lay-offs, etc., the people who run our city have more work than ever on their plates. Now is the perfect time for us, as concerned citizens, to hang out some community "dirty laundry" that either goes (or will go), unknown, unnoticed, unfixed, unenforced/under-enforced or just plain swept under the rug - for everyone to see.

What will happen with these problems and issues is any one's guess. But a wise person once told me, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" and I've never forgotten it.


What will you find at this blog??

South Bend citizens who want to make their voices, photos, videos, concerns, outrages and actions about/in and around our "21st Century City" heard. We will try to verify when possible that issues raised on this blog are legitimate. Please keep in mind that since many matters are centralized to certain areas and neighborhoods, we hope contributors, readers and commenter's will help us sort fact from fiction. There's always more than one side to a story and we invite everyone to share their feedback and opinions. Updates, actions, solutions and resolutions to problems are encouraged and appreciated. If you feel more comfortable and for the sake of personal safety in some instances, anonymous submissions and commenting will be allowed.

For a perfect example of a community blog that helps get citizen concerns publicized and addressed, I encourage everyone to check out this blog, The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park in Chicago.


What won't you find at this blog??

You will not always find perfectly crafted sentences or grammatically correct sentiments. Thankfully we do have a spell check that we will attempt to remember to use. We will also not always be "playing nice" - face it, somethings in city life aren't kind or pretty. After all, putting hanging flower baskets up on light posts doesn't make it any safer to walk city streets after dark.


Why start this blog??

A few things come to mind....

We are tired of sitting by and idly watching our neighborhood fall into decay. We are tired of watching the "For Sale" signs go up and the houses sit vacant and unattended to for months. "For Sale" inevitably turns into "For Rent" because no one wants to buy a house in this area anymore. "For Rent" inevitably becomes occupied and quickly turns into a new hot spot for code violations, drinking, fighting, children & toddlers with no supervision, oh, and don't let me forget - open-air drug dealing!

We are tired of sitting in our living room and watching car after car speed down our residential street (in a School Zone nonetheless) at 40? 45? 50? mph, while children play on the sidewalks within arm's reach. I know it will shock all of you to also know these speeding cars include Police Vehicles. Our street also allows parking on one side of it, which compounds the problem and makes leaving your vehicle out in front of your own house a crap shoot. Hmmm... park my car vs. having it smashed in the rear to bits by someone (most likely by the abundance of uninsured drivers in the neighborhood) who will most likely then drive off. Believe me when I say that I am speaking from experience on that one folks.

Then, there is that special and most recent event that holds a special place in our hearts called the "Portage Avenue Detour". City officials have been gracious enough to have chosen our narrow, SCHOOL ZONE (Bergan Street)- with no posted speed limit signs!!- as the detour off of Portage Road from now until NOVEMBER while they build the MUCH NEEDED Roundabouts. Unable to help myself, I must comment on how much more entertaining and enjoyable participating in funeral processions will be once the roundabout is completed directly outside of the city's 2 oldest and largest cemeteries! (I fear roundabouts in St. Joe County are a whole 'nother blog unto themselves.) But, back to the topic of our street becoming a detour route.... You can only imagine how much I love taking my son out to the bus stop at peak traffic time, especially now that it's barely light outside in the mornings. Maybe the city should have issued all the neighborhood school children safety orange reflective vests to wear outside while the detour is in effect.

Let's not even go (for now) into the plethora of murders and other violent crimes that seem to be spiraling out of control lately. Or, the fact that Elkhart County's Meth Labs seem to all be relocating to SJC....

So there you have it! A brief preview of the reasons for starting this blog and that was just off the top of my head. Now it's your turn...


Let's get started!

First, send me your issues, problems, topics, rants, photos, videos, and more (related to South Bend) to brokensouthbend@comcast.net

Second, forward a link to The 'Broken Heart' of South Bend, IN to anyone you know of living here in St. Joesph County. We need to get the word out about this new citizen forum!

Third, check back often to read about our topics and get involved by posting your own thoughts and comments.


Thanks in advance to all my readers and in the immortal words of the king of all neighborhoods, "Won't you be my neighbor?"