CollegeAvenueIndy.org was encouraged by an August 25th article in the IndyStar. The article begins by stating, "If Indianapolis voters approve a mass transit referendum in November, it will be without Mayor Joe Hogsett's encouragement." The article further states, "While Hogsett says he has been a consistent supporter of improving the transit system, he has declined to ask voters to push the "yes" button for a referendum to raise personal income taxes for an expansion. Instead, the mayor is urging voters to "educate" themselves and make their own choice." Mayor Hogsett is also quoted in the article as saying, ""Why have a referendum if the public is to be strong armed?" "The appropriate role of the elected officials should be to help and inform voters." While Mayor Hogsett deserves kudos for taking a politically unpopular stance against the Red Line, the IndyStar and "journalist" John Touhy deserve harsh rebuke. Despite a growing popular uprising against the Red Line that now includes key elected officials, the IndyStar continues to be a mouthpiece and cheerleader for the private development and business interests including the Indy Chamber. The article describes the Indy Chamber as "a fierce advocate of an upgraded bus system' and warns us that the Indy Chamber is preparing to roll out a publicity campaign to "urge voters" to pass the initiative in the Nov. 8 election. Let us now recall that this is the same Indy Chamber that represents local business leaders who flatly refused to subsidize 10% of the Red Line. In fact, local buinesses refused to pay one penny to subsidize the Red Line. As a result, IndyGo plans to create and run a charity to subsidize the Red Line (you can't make this stuff up). In the mean time, the very same Indy Chamber plans to pay for a local media blitz that is designed to manipulate local taxpayers into voting for an income tax hike to pay for the Red Line. The income tax hike would cost local taxpayers an extimated $130 per year each (whether they ride the bus or not) and it would translate into a perpetual $56 million per year handout to IndyGo. CollegeAvenueIndy speculates that it's cheaper for the Indy Chamber to pay for a little propaganda than it is to subsidize 10% of the Red Line costs year-after-year. Shamefully, the IndyStar article provides significantly more coverage for the Indy Chamber than it does for our elected officials and mayor, going so far as to quote Mark Fisher of the Indy Chamber who says the Indy Chamber officials were generally satisfied with Hogsett's position so far. [CollegeAvenueIndy.org can almost envision Mr. Fisher patting Mayor Hogsett on the head as he says this.] Publishing Fisher's quote certainly seems to offer insight into the IndyStar's allegiance to the Indy Chamber and local businesses at the expense of elected officials, local voters and tax payers. The bulk of the article provides a pulpit for the Indy Chamber to spew pro-Red Line propaganda. It includes the usual mantras that are designed to confuse the Red Line with improved mass transit. But the facts remain. IndyGo still plans to waste the first $100 million of taxpayer dollars building the Red Line along College Ave. According to the article, this is supposed to "spur development along the rapid bus routes" which is exactly what the Red Line is all about... real estate development. Now, here's the kicker. The IndyStar article informs us that "without the income tax hike, IndyGo could still build the Red Line, but the rest of the buses would continue running on the same schedules that most transit officials, lawmakers and passengers agree is insufficient now." Huh? What? Did we read that correctly? If the referendum doesn't pass, IndyGo will use public dollars build the Red Line anyway (instead of making needed improvements to the City's mass transit system). There you have it folks. IndyGo and the Indy Chamber don't care about improved mass transit. They care about real estate development along the lucrative College Avenue corridor and the IndyStar will say practically anything to help them get it. CollegeAvenueIndy.org thinks it's time to apply a little critical reasoning and then get out to vote "No" in November. Click the link below for full access to the IndyStar article. http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2016/08/24/hogsett-support-transit-tax-limited-stops-short-of-advocating-yes-vote/89107394/