Op-Ed: State Rep. Ed DeLaney: ‘Hands Off Indianapolis’

INDIANAPOLIS - State Representative Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) represents Indiana House District 86, which encompasses parts of Pike Township and Washington Township in Indianapolis. What follows is an op-ed written by DeLaney, discussing his views on state overreach that could potentially affect his district and the Greater Indianapolis area.

It’s time for state lawmakers to take their hands off of Indianapolis. 

The largest city in Indiana has been subject to state overreach once again this legislative session. 

The city is being pressured to cut funding for vital public transit, allow the Attorney General to intervene in local prosecutions, minimize community influence over policing and allow the state to control the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. 

These proposals come from the party that constantly fears government overreach and claims to have pro-business values. 

As the Indy Chamber of Commerce emphasized in a recent letter, every single one of the proposals could stunt the city’s sustained economic growth and further harm the people who call Indianapolis home. 

“Efforts at the Statehouse to stifle local priorities – in public safety, transit, housing and more – will stall growth by diminishing the contributions of residents who feel isolated from jobs, unsafe in their neighborhoods, limited by housing and transportation options.” 

Business leaders understand that in order to thrive, a city needs to reflect the interests of its community. Many Republican lawmakers are meddling in issues they may not understand and do not need to address in the first place. 

Indiana continues to rank among the worst at both retaining and gaining highly educated people. This comes as no surprise, as Republican supermajority policies place unwarranted burdens on young people, people of color, women and working people. Hoosiers are forced to seek a better livelihood elsewhere in states that protect their rights and make positive investments in communities. 

Indianapolis is experiencing a population growth that is five times faster than the combined 80 non-Indy metro counties. The city’s economic success is our state’s success, with Indianapolis accumulating a net of more than $500 per person in taxes that will be used to benefit cities outside of Marion County.  

Seeing as their focus is more on local government anyway some Republican lawmakers could always run for city council instead. Notably, some of them already served there and may be attempting to “appeal” their losses.