IBLC members serve as panelists for Administrators of Color - Preparing for the Future Conference

Yesterday (Sept. 9), multiple members of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) participated as panelists for the Embracing Your Power: Black Educators Forging Paths in Leadership panel. The panel was part of the Administrators of Color – Preparing for the Future Conference, hosted by the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents.

IBLC members who served as panelists include IBLC Chair State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), State Rep. John Bartlett (D-Indianapolis), State Sen. Andrea Hunley (D-Indianapolis), Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis), State Sen. Lonnie Randolph (D-East Chicago), State Rep. Robin Shackleford (D-Indianapolis) and State Rep. Vernon G. Smith (D-Gary).

Below are statements from members of the IBLC regarding the panel:  

“The education of Hoosier students directly impacts the future of our state,” Harris said. “It is crucial that we center the needs of students and teachers so they are given every opportunity to succeed.

“Various issues have placed an undue burden on our educational system. As a legislator, I relish opportunities like yesterday to speak directly with leaders in the education community, and I hope that by working together, we can address the faults and improve our state’s education.”

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak about the ongoing challenges faced by teachers and administrative staff,” Bartlett said. “We need to better serve our education community, but to do that, we need to make our voices heard in the Statehouse. Remember that the Statehouse is the People’s House.”

“Yesterday’s Administrators of Color Panel felt like a family reunion in the truest sense,” Hunley said. “It was a privilege to stand alongside mentors who have shaped my journey and who I’ve had the honor to serve with throughout the years. These are not just colleagues; they are champions for our children and our communities. 

“As someone who has taught for seven years and served as a public school administrator for 10, I carry an unwavering respect for those who dedicate themselves to the noble cause of public education. Our panel didn’t just reflect on the challenges; we dug into what’s most urgent as we approach the 2025 budget session: protecting public school funding. We owe it to our students, educators and communities to ensure the resources they need are not just maintained but expanded. This work is deeply personal to me, and I stand ready to fight for the future of our schools.” 

“It was an incredible event that brought together legislators, administrators and educators of color to build a common agenda,” Porter said. “I’m grateful I was included in yesterday’s discussion since I heard directly from administrators before the 2025 budget session. We spend half of our budget on public education, and we need to use that funding to support our students no matter their tax bracket.”

“Yesterday’s education panel was an excellent opportunity for educators to engage directly with legislators and share their concerns and insights,” Shackleford said. “I’m grateful to have been a part of such a meaningful discussion and driving force that continues to support our Hoosier students. Following the event, educators are more motivated than ever to deepen their understanding of advocacy and amplify their voices further.”

“I’ve been on the Education Committee for a long time and an educator for even longer,” said Smith. “During my tenure, I’ve seen taxpayer dollars diverted from public schools and multiple failed attempts at reform. It’s no secret that our majority-minority schools have suffered the most from failed reform. At yesterday’s panel, I told our educators to mobilize and advocate for change. Specifically, we must call for equitable school funding during the next budget. I hope the rest of the public will do the same.”

Bartlett comments on ICGTF report in the wake of tragic Lawrence triple homicide

Earlier this month, the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force released their report for the first quarter of 2024. The report shows that 102 firearms were seized, along with 5,638 grams of Fentanyl, and 2,819 grams of Methamphetamine. The ICGTF was established in 2021 to disrupt the cycle of violence and curb the flow of firearms throughout Central Indiana. This report was released just days before last Friday’s triple homicide in Lawrence that took the lives of 19-year-olds Aaliyah Wortman and Londyn Coleman, along with 27-year-old Spencer Lawson. 

State Rep. John Bartlett (D-Indianapolis), co-author of the 2021 bill that established the ICGTF, released the following statement:  

“Last Friday, our community lost three young souls to gun violence. My heart breaks for the families of the two 19-year-old women, Aaliyah Wortman and Londyn Coleman, and 27-year-old Spencer Lawson. This unspeakable act is just the latest in a tragic trend that plagues our city, our state, and our nation. 

“Getting guns used for crime out of the hands of violent people is essential to preventing these tragedies from happening. I am proud to have played a role in the creation of the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force that has already taken 102 firearms off the streets just this year.

“On top of that, the task force has also seized 5,638 grams of Fentanyl and 2,819 grams of Methamphetamine, both dangerous drugs responsible for so much death, addiction, and suffering in Indiana. 

“No amount of thoughts and prayers will bring back the three young individuals lost in Friday’s triple homicide, or ease the pain of anyone grieving a loved one lost to gun violence. The best thing we can do to honor those we have lost is try our best to prevent these tragedies from happening in the future.” 

OP-ED: Consumers should not be on the hook for the mistakes of utility ocmpanies

Let us describe an issue with a business operating in our community. They provide a service that you pay for monthly. A few months ago, they upgraded their interface system which made the service more expensive. Since that change, customers have experienced issues such as their monthly bills withdrawn ten times from their bank account, and waiting months for the refund. Other customers have been told they have missed several payments, despite the money being withdrawn from their bank accounts. On top of that, more customers have seen random charges or unexplained increases up to 3 times the amount with no explanation.

Why don’t consumers just switch companies or stop using the service? Here is the kicker: This service is something that everyone needs to survive, and this company is the only one allowed to sell it here. Sounds crazy? We just described the situation with our Indianapolis electric company, Applied Energy Services Corporation, or AES Indiana.

If a company makes a mistake and charges customers multiple times or an amount higher than agreed upon with no explanation, that should not go unanswered. There is no excuse for money to be unfairly taken from someone’s bank account due to a faulty system and held for weeks. At most, there should be a 48-hour deadline for utility companies to issue refunds to consumers when they are overcharged due to a company mistake. The fact that AES wants to up their rates in part to cover the cost of a system “upgrade” this flawed is astounding.

Utility companies in Indiana operate by a different set of rules than any other industry. Instead of being subject to the natural rules of the free market that say overpriced, poor service will be bad for business, utilities are a regulated monopoly. This means, no matter how terrible you are treated by AES, the only alternative is to go without power, which is obviously not a viable option. It is up to lawmakers to protect the wallets and the wellbeing of residents in Indiana.

A member of the Indiana Black Leadership Caucus (IBLC) proposed several measures this session that would stabilize utility bills so families could keep more of their hard-earned money. One of these measures was the effort by State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) that would put a one-year freeze on the ability of utility companies to request a rate increase and charge punitive reconnection fees. Last year, all of Indiana’s major utility companies, including AES, asked the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to allow them to raise rates on their customers.

Another amendment proposed by Rep. Pryor would have eliminated punitive, predatory reconnection fees for a year so Hoosiers could catch their breath and AES could figure out their system failure. For those struggling to make ends meet, getting slapped with a $250 fine to turn their lights back on in the dead of winter, or possibly even their heat, means that another necessity must be sacrificed. What should these people be expected to give up? Food? Medication?

Both of these amendments were struck down on procedural grounds. Housing affordability was a priority agenda item for both the House Democratic Caucus and the IBLC. This legislature has enacted policies year after year that benefit utility companies and their shareholders at the expense of consumers. It is high time for the General Assembly to act in the best interest of our constituents, not corporations.