Chyung on forced annexation of Griffith Township

INDIANAPOLIS—State Rep. Chris Chyung (D-Dyer) released a statement today in response to his vote on Senate Bill 365 to allow the people of Griffith to be transferred to an adjacent township. The newly amended bill would automatically incorporate Griffith into North Township on January 1, 2022:

“It is always difficult to be one of the only votes to buck your own political party, but I had no regrets after casting a yes vote for SB 365. I stand in solidarity with my constituents and 98 percent of the town of Griffith who voted to end this saga. After exhausting considerable time, energy and resources on this matter, Griffith must move on.

“Representative Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso), Senator Rick Niemeyer (R-Lowell) and I have all spent many hours dealing with this issue and I thank them for their work. Thank you to all of the constituents who showed up at our township board meetings. I am so grateful that you are paying attention to and engaging in the political process. And to North, Calumet, St. John and Ross Townships, thank you for the time you've spent trying to work towards a solution.

“However, let us be frank: this law won't solve the big challenges Northwest Indiana faces. Everyone in the Region knows that developing Northwest Indiana will take a bolder vision and an occasional bitter pill. Between razing dilapidated buildings, fighting for fair school funding and attracting high wage, future-oriented jobs; the fight to carry Northwest Indiana into the future will be a long one.

“Let the passage of this bill mark the end of petty political tribalism, which has plagued Lake County for so long, leading us to be a weakened version of what we can truly become.”

The bill passed with a vote of 64-30.