Jan
18
Chicago Pollutes NWI Air
Filed Under Chicago, IDEM, Lake County, Northwest Indiana, Porter County, air quality, environment | Leave a Comment
An IDEM official says that Chicago is polluting Northwest Indiana air.
Writes the Post-Tribune’s Gitte Laasby:
When Lake and Porter counties have ozone problems on hot days, don’t blame the region’s heavy lakeshore industries. Indiana’s top environmental official suggests you look toward Chicago instead.
“The No. 1 contributor (to ozone problems in Lake and Porter counties) is Chicago,” Indiana Department of Environmental Management Commissioner Tom Easterly said in a recent Portage appearance.
Not so fast, an Illinois public heath expert counters. …
It makes sense that the wind blowing from the west would carry away pollution created in Illinois into Northwest Indiana. But, I still wouldn’t give Indiana’s heavy industries free reign to pump out more pollution just because Chicago is contributing to our air quality problems.
Dec
24
Is South Shore Expansion Worth Expense?
Filed Under Bob Harper, Porter County, South Shore Line | Leave a Comment
A Porter County Commissioner asks if expanding the South Shore into Porter County is worth the cost that taxpayers will have to pay.
Writes Teresa Auch of the Post-Tribune:
The estimated cost for expansions to the South Shore commuter rail is $500 million.
Porter County averages 750 to 800 riders a day.
Those numbers don’t add up for Porter County Commissioner Bob Harper, who said the expansion is not worth the money to taxpayers.
“Maybe another 740 (riders) will use it, but it’s a half a billion dollars,” Harper said.
Dec
23
Merry Christmas Porter Co! Lake Co.’s New Tax Will Cost You $1 Million
Filed Under COIT, Income Tax, Lake County, Lake County Council, Porter County, Will Smith Jr, corruption, politics, property tax crisis, tax revolt, taxes | Leave a Comment
Lake County’s soon-to-be approved 1% income tax — masterminded by convicted tax felon Will Smith, Jr. who was called an “asset” for getting the Lake County Council to support the imposition of a new tax burden behind closed doors away from public comment — will cost Porter County $1 million, reports the Northwest Indiana Times.
Merry Christmas, Porter County, from the Lake County Council!
Meanwhile, Will Smith, Jr. prepares to go away to the slammer for his own tax woes when he is sentenced by a federal judge in January.
Too bad he won’t be able to get work-release so he can continue to “serve” on the Lake County Council — the law probably isn’t crystal clear on that issue.
Reports Bill Dolan in the Northwest Indiana Times:
Lake County Councilman Will Smith, D-Gary, underwent a humiliating public trial and was found guilty three months ago of filing a false federal income tax form.
Critics say those circumstances — and the Lake County Council’s refusal of public input before adopting the measure — cast a pall over the county income tax that appears poised to become reality.
Smith and like-minded council members met outside public view to maneuver a fractious council — within a brief window of opportunity — into a series of votes that seem likely to conclude Friday with enactment of a 1 percent county income tax.
At that time, the Lake County Council is expected to override a veto of the tax cast by Lake County commissioners last week.
Sources within county government claim council members who supported the tax timed the only public discussion to take place late enough in the year so the move would not influence the election of big city mayors supporting the tax. The timing also satisfies a Dec. 31 deadline to avoid a state-mandated freeze of property tax increases.
