6/27/2007
Media Contact:
Margie Smith-Simmons, 327.3690
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Mayor thanks Indy Chamber for support of crime fighting, fiscal package
INDIANAPOLIS –Mayor Bart Peterson thanked the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce for its endorsement of a comprehensive plan to aggressively fight drugs, gangs and illegal guns in Indianapolis, while also fixing some of the city's long-term fiscal problems that have dogged the city for three decades.
The Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce is the leading organization representing the voice of progress and improvement for the central Indiana business community. It represents nearly 4,000 members companies, representing more than 252,000 business professionals.
The Chamber released a resolution of support for the Mayor's proposal earlier today.
"There is an urgent need to change the fact that local municipalities have no solid fiscal foundations from which to address current community needs and confront future fiscal challenges," the resolution read. "In short, "quick fix" approaches can no longer be considered solutions. The Indianapolis community must focus its resources to find long-term creative solutions to its fiscal challenges."
The crime-fighting package, which Peterson unveiled the earlier today, includes hiring 100 new police officers – which including the 200 officers added from 2000 to 2003 and the 137 more patrol officers resulting from the police merger – would bring the number of officers patrolling the streets in 2008 to an all-time, record high.
It also would grow the city's crime-fighting capabilities and criminal justice system to match Indianapolis's stunning growth in the last 20 years.
"The Greater Indianapolis Chamber has been a proponent of fixing these long-standing challenges long before I became mayor, and their commitment to good government and progress has been steadfast," Peterson said. "I appreciate that they are standing with Indianapolis today as our city takes another progressive step toward more safety and more financial stability."
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