HREN
Here we go. This one is from John. He writes, each of the candidates has unique experiences they claim makes them the most qualified to lead our city. He notes your years on city council and asks, What was your number one accomplishment? And how did you make it happen?
SANDBERG
Number one accomplish on the city council. After 16 years of being on the council, there are a lot of things. But I think the thing I'm most proud of, is the two year study that myself and Krista Bohm and later Tim Mayer joined us on it was called the affordable living committee. And after two years of doing some research and talking to people and industry experts in working with low income families, we produced a report called Working hard falling behind and it was published in 2019. And it capitalized on a lot of issues that are important in this election and all across the country. Affordability, fordable, housing, the cost of transportation, the cost of childcare, the cost of food, all of those things are causing people in the community, especially those on limited incomes and low incomes, to really struggle in the community. And so I felt that that was a really good grassroots community led effort. That, again, is one of my proudest achievements.
HREN
Dave asks, the deputy mayor role has been different for different mayors. A consultant study recently suggested that Bloomington could benefit from two deputy mayors so his question is, what role would the deputy mayor play in your administration behind loyalty? What specific skill set or knowledge are you looking for in a deputy mayor, we're combining Cleo too, who will you name as deputy mayor?
SANDBERG
Well, that is not something that I am not prepared to, to decide at this point. Anyone who comes out of this primary, of course, is going to have to do some transition work. I think probably the most important issue for my deputy mayor would be not loyalty to me, but a public servant as I am. And someone who is committed to make sure that all the department heads that all the employees that are working for the city of Bloomington, are well prepared to do their jobs and do them with integrity. And, and we need to do some rebuilding at city hall. And with respect to personnel, we do have some morale issues, we do have some very sad departures. And so myself and my deputy mayor are going to need to do some team building within city hall to get that public service level up to where I'd like to see it.
HREN
Dave wants to know, can you please explain in specific detail how you would address the need to expand housing opportunities? So residents don't have to move out of Bloomington?
SANDBERG
Well, that's the big question. Right, the whole affordability question about housing, I have been very critical of the current unified development ordinance and thinking that we don't have the incentives balanced correctly for the type of housing that the community actually needs. We're seeing all of these multi-story high rise, apartment buildings coming up, and those are rental. And those are not, those are not going to be necessarily affordable rental, there'll be market. So I would like to work with some industry professionals, including real estate folks and people in the affordable housing industry, on how do we start developing the kind of housing that people are actually asking for. And those in my mind are like homes. It's not that they couldn't be rental homes, but they need to be houses, maybe townhomes maybe more of an emphasis on condos even. But that's the type of housing that we need to do better incentivizing with and I don't see that happening with the current level of our plan.
HREN
I'm summarizing this question from an email we received from Bloomington Black Lives Matter. The group is concerned about some of the statements you made in forums noted a candidate event, April 10, you stated the violent crime is being done by the big guys that are coming here from Indianapolis, Chicago, other places, selling stuff to the addicted that we're having a hard time with many of our unhoused population. BLM says the language is racially coded, and they want to know if you see that understand how language can have repercussions outside of their intention?
SANDBERG
I do understand the sensitivity of the Black Lives Matter individuals who are activists and well they should be - the comment was not intended to be racial in any way, shape or form. It was actually fact base. What I was referring to are called source cities. And this is information that I've received from our local law enforcement chief Mike Diekhoff. We've had many conversations about what's driving the violence in our community, what's driving the crime, and he made it very clear that the state police you know, even national level will say the source cities where the drugs are coming from, which is primarily the source of the violence, no racial implication at all intended in that comment - are the bigger cities to our north Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit, to a lesser degree, St. Louis, Louisville, but these are the cities where the individuals who are selling the drugs that are causing some of our major issues are coming from and so no disrespect intended to anyone who takes offense to any language like that. There have been other words that I use that they've taken offense to like civility. And I will stand by that because I, I operate in a very civil manner when I'm in the public. No matter who I'm addressing, I think it's important not to call people out not to call people names, but to deal with the issues to deal with the facts.
HREN
Michelle emails in, as a queer person of color, there was a lot of performative allyship that graces the lips of people in power, and pages of social media. So when we try to hold white leaders accountable for their unintentional to avert racism, we're met with defensiveness, tone policy, damaging gatekeeping? Can you address her concern?
SANDBERG
That's a mouthful. Could you say that again? Because I'm not quite sure I catch the meaning of that question.
HREN
So as a queer person of color, a lot of performative allyship that grace is the lips of people in power, social media, as well. But when they try to hold white leaders accountable, she's saying it's unintentional. To avert racism, they're met with defensiveness, or maybe a tone that's policing to damaging gatekeeping.
SANDBERG
Well, and again, I try very hard to keep my tone very, very even. I know we are in very politically explosive environments these days pertaining to race pertaining to marginalized individuals. So I try very hard to keep my cool when I'm discussing these things. I certainly have individuals in my family who are LGBTQ plus, I have a very up close and personal issue with that. And so I think when anyone characterizes me as because I'm a white person, or maybe even an older white person, that I am not in tune that I am not in touch, or that I get defensive, I would just disagree disagree with that. I don't take offense. I want to try to stay fact base, I want to try to stay above board in my advocacy, I'm a feminist, right? My early years and activism were all about the late 60s, early 70s. And when we were fighting for all kinds of rights, civil rights, women's rights. And as such, I've been an ally for other people who are also feeling like they need to have their voices heard and are not getting a fair shake in our democracy. And so I have great respect for all individuals who are really struggling with voter rights and with LGBTQ plus rights. And obviously, the policing issue has come to great national attention as well as it should. And no, I am not at all defensive about individuals who are using their voices to come forward and say, hey, you know, treat us with the respect that we deserve. Because I've been there myself as a female fighting for my own rice.
HREN
Kathy writes in what's your vision for the future of the Bloomington farmers market, having multiple markets doesn't have the same community feel, never felt the city handled all the disruption in a very positive manner? Do you see a path to continue the markets in a good way for Bloomington?
SANDBERG
I do. I was there for the past two Saturdays, and it really does make me sad that the downtown Farmers Market has seemed to lost a lot of its luster. It's been diminished in many respects. I don't think it's because we have markets elsewhere. I think that's a good thing. I think having the one at the Woolery, I think having them in multiple locations is actually healthy, and maybe allows more people from other parts of the city to to take advantage of our great farmers markets. But the one downtown does need help. And as mayor, one of the things I want to look at is how can we recruit more vendors back to that market? How do we make it more fun? How do we make it more of a destination point that people will resume that pride that was such a gem such a jewel of our community for so many years, so it can be restored and I will agree that the way things were handled when things started to explode in the farmers market were probably not as ideal as they could have been. But that was then this is now we start with where we are and we rebuild the vitality the farmers market. We can probably do that in a lot of ways we might make parking free on Saturdays, we might want to reduce the vendors fees take to kind of bring some competition back. There are a number of things that I'm pretty sure we can do to make that destination feel safe, feel secure and feel once again that welcoming. We want everybody to come to our market and feel comfortable.
HREN
Rob wants to know how you would support the fire department. He says our firefighters need raises the police continue to get all the support, but the fire department is forgotten about what are you willing to do?
SANDBERG
Well, I haven't forgotten about the fire department. I'm very much involved with them right now. It was the Bloomington Police Department that came to us first. And when I say us, the city council, that was not really that was kind of unprecedented that they would come directly to the council and say we're we're not getting anywhere with our collective bargaining. We're having a real hard time with this administration. So typically, the city council didn't get involved with any of that until of course, the collective agreements were were made, and we just signed off on them. Now we're hearing the same complaints from the fire department that we heard from the police about three or four years ago. So I actually have a ride along scheduled next week, I actually get to ride with one of the most one of the battalions and meet more directly with them. I have had a few breakfast meetings with some of the firefighters. They are coming to us as council members. And we do want to look at them and be very fair because just like the police, we're going to be losing them to other communities. We already have Ellettsville use their local income tax dollars to increase their their firefighters salaries to the tune of 10,000. So we're losing some of our Bloomington firefighters to them. So kudos to Ellettsville. But Bloomington has to step up as well. We do need to pay our safety officers a competitive wage, we need to take a look at their working conditions. And that's something that I'm doing now. As a city council member and as mayor, I will do more and it's not police and fire. It's our Public Works individuals as well. So we got to pay attention to the people who provide the services that the people of Bloomington pay their taxes for.
HREN
The city has formed 501-C3 nonprofit organizations to manage the Trades District, Waldron and Buskirk, some others to move initiatives - to move the burden off of some of the city officials. Administration also wanted to use the same mechanism to expand and manage the convention center. Do you agree with that method?
SANDBERG
Not particularly I have more questions than answers about that. This was something that was I think, pushed through toward the end of this, you know, last year of this mayor's term. I did oppose it when it came up with the convention center expansion. And so I very much voted along with the County Council, the commissioners that the CIB model was the more appropriate way to move and move fast we need to move on this convention center. The the standoff has been I think, very counterproductive. With respect to the formation. I was hoping that we could get two more City Council appointments on that board to have a little bit more fair representation between you know who's going to manage this 501-C3 with regard to the Hopewell, which I agree needs some additional help. That's a big deal. I disagreed with the Waldron in the Buskirk, I think those are public assets that I think the city needs to hang on to. Those are part of our brand the arts and I want to make sure that there are people making decisions about those two venues that know the arts know the arts community and will do a fair job in managing that vital asset trades district. My understanding now is probably less of a focus, because John Fernandez, of course, is now in charge along with Pat East. And that seems to be the direction they're in good hands. They know what to do to develop out that Trades District. But yeah, I'd love to see a little bit more hands off the arts, maybe more of a focus on the real estate and how the Hopewell neighborhood is going to develop.
HREN
Anne wants to know what you think about the traffic closure of the 500 block of East Kirkwood Avenue ruling and the restaurants using the public streets for six months of the year to possible detriment of other types of businesses?
SANDBERG
That was a very robust discussion. We just had it. I did vote in favor of expanding for this particular summer season. I think we are still in a post COVID era even though it seems to be in the rearview mirror the worst of it anyway. And I think maybe one more summer would be a nice gift to the restaurants who certainly can benefit from that. But I'm very well aware that there are winners here and losers here. And some of the losers of course, are the people that really can't expand out into the streets like the retail shops, the offices above the some of the churches in the downtown have certainly complained about it. So I'm not sure I'm in favor of a permanent closure of it. I think it was a good mechanism. For the COVID era, but we might want to make sure that Kirkwood is a street that is usable by all users. And I mean that across the board, I think we are getting a little bit too restrictive and making everything all about bikes, maybe making everything all about pedestrians. But still, emergency vehicles need to have access the stores who need their loading and loadouts for their their merchandise. We don't want to close streets willy nilly without thinking about the unintended consequences, who wins and who loses.
HREN
Donald writes in about some low hanging quality of life issues that he'd like to see the next mayor tackle so stances on banning app based scooters and bikes, banning off highway gas engines like leaf blowers and lawn mores and then requiring porous parking lot surfaces. Three things there.
SANDBERG
Okay. Now the question again, at the start start over what's what is his basic premise as to quality of life issues?
HREN
Quality of life? Yeah. Correct. And his first one is banning app based scooters.
SANDBERG
I think with regard to our Climate Action Plan, and our concern about those gas powered, anything that's gas powered, I do think we need to take a hard look at that and see how difficult it might be to transition people away from the gas blowers maybe into the more electric, I think that is definitely something we should look at and not be hypocritical about. If we do want to want to reduce our carbon footprint, that might be a way and it's also not just the gas, it's the noise. I know a lot of people are complaining about the noxious fumes and the noise and could maybe short of a ban, could we maybe just limit the time that they're in use until they can maybe be phased out in lieu of, of other equipment that's less less damaging to the climate. With respect to scooters, I'm on the record, I'm not a fan. I think we need to be much, much harder on the scooter companies themselves and hold them more responsible for the ADA compliance issues that we're really struggling with. I'm very, very big on making sure our streets or sidewalks, our intersections are usable for all ages, all abilities, all disabilities. And so the scooters have caused a major issue on our sidewalks that I'm not sure the current administration's plan is going to necessarily eliminate all of that. And so I would definitely take a look at what do we do to make sure that our sidewalks are not blocked and people who have you know, disabilities are really struggling? In our downtown and elsewhere. It's all over the city. So what was the one in the middle of the requiring porous parking lots surfaces? Well, again, that is ideal with regard to impervious surfaces. I'm a little bit sad about the loss of our green spaces, which are of course, better than any kind of surface. Impervious surfaces are not perfect with respect to you know, being able to do snow removal and all that kind of, of issue with anything you do that's in the positive column, there's always going to be a negative that you have to look at. But yes, we definitely need to be mindful of that with regard to flooding issues. So impervious surfaces, obviously good way to go there.
HREN
Colby, his question for you is why won't the city of Bloomington let new companies and new jobs come to the city? So perhaps you can just expand on that talk about what you've done on council and what you would do as mayor to help bring more jobs to the city?
SANDBERG
And what? That we're not letting companies come to the city? I would first of all, disagree with the basic question, because I am very much in favor of the efforts that the Chamber of Commerce makes on behalf of advocacy for their small business community. I'm very much in favor of the BEDC, that is their job. That is their mission to recruit new businesses into the community, we want that we certainly encourage more jobs that are paying better wages. So I am not opposed to new business coming to Bloomington at all. The Fullerton parcel that we recently said was not appropriate for a jail site is because that is reserved for a major employment attractor that is in zone to someone big like a Cook or was that's property that's more suitable for that kind of a big, basic sector employer to come in. So to the extent that we have the tools at the city level, we have very few I mean, we have tax abatements. We can certainly incentivize through the unified development ordinance but I am certainly not opposed to any new businesses coming to town and we want to maintain the businesses that we already have. So it is a recruiting and retention effort that the city of Bloomington needs to partner with all of are small business and large business community.
HREN
Victoria wants to know some of the nicest neighborhoods in Bloomington evolved within a racist, classist, Bloomington. So what would you do to diversify these neighborhoods? Make it available to more people while preserving its quality?
SANDBERG
Well, again, the basic question there, I would have a disagreement with, I know this issue, you're talking about the days of redlining and racist policies. Those no longer exist here in the city of Bloomington, I can say that with great authority. The whole issue about densifying the core neighborhoods, which I oppose very, very loudly, had nothing to do with wanting to keep those communities exclusive. It was to protect those houses that I think are under threat. These are neighborhoods that are already dense, they're already diverse. And I didn't see that, you know, changing our rules to allow duplexing was going to do anything at all, to either make those homes more affordable, or more accessible. So the basic question, I think I have to I'm not dismissing it out of hand. I know that that was certainly an issue. Most cities in the United States had very racist policies with regard to real estate. And, gladly we are I think beyond those times, and if there are relics of that I'm certainly not seeing that Bloomington is a welcoming place. Those neighborhoods who opposed up zonings are welcoming neighbors. There's nothing exclusive about that, in my experience.
HREN
All right. Casey wants to know how you would handle the drug crisis without punitive action for those suffering from addiction. Will you plan on any drug decriminalization efforts?
SANDBERG
Well, drug decriminalization, I don't know that that is in the hands of the city of Bloomington. I mean, that's a that's a federal issue, right as to what are crimes and what what kinds of drugs are the dangerous narcotics, what they may be referring to are decriminalizing the use of some of the drugs that are lesser damaging, such as marijuana with respect to again, and I've mentioned those source cities where some of the more damaging narcotics are coming from, they are damaging, I mean, we're talking about the synthetic meth. That's now being made very cheaply by the cartels. We're talking about an uptick in heroin. We're talking about, you know, cocaine is not maybe the drug of choice so much now, but that certainly has been an issue and of course, the opioid crisis, we're getting opioid settlement money because of the damaging drug that that is. So I am not, I am not for decriminalizing those dangerous drugs, because I think they are causing some real serious problems with addictions in our community. These are things that I would like to address locally, by having better mental health services, better addiction services, better recovery services, because my goal would be to get the people off the stuff. There's a market for it. And in with respect to other drugs that are coming here from the source cities, there's the party drugs that the we have a campus in the middle of our city. So there's a market for these drugs and with the market for these drugs come to the people who are here to sell them, which is also increasing. And unfortunately, and I'm hearing this, again, from our law enforcement officials, that's causing an uptick, uptick in the in the in the gun violence that we're seeing in the community, you know, as we were just having our WTIU debate, there was another shooting happening that evening, that very evening, another shooting, we don't know what the origin of that is still under investigation. But, you know, there have been far too many of those drive bys that we suspect are probably drug related or somehow connected to crime that's coming to our community from outside of the community because there is a market for these dangerous narcotics.
HREN
Alright, last question. Nisi emails in what would you do as mayor to deal with the deer problem?
SANDBERG
The deer problem? That's a good question, of course, my colleague Dave, Rollo, and beforehand when Andy ruff was on the council, we struggled very mightily with the deer taskforce. And of course, that had to do with the biodiversity of Griffy in the understory there. And so that was controversial that I did support the ability to do culling there. And now that is not going to take care of the urban deer problem in the neighborhood. Those deer do not belong in an urban environment, it's not good for their health. It's not good for the health of the community. And so my position is we need to take a look at what's available. Now my understanding is there are methods of birth control that are actually could be quite effective. And I would be for that because as you know, there's not we're not allowed to have any kind of cull in a city, no gun fire. And so that's not an effective means but I'm also in support of having a wildlife management team. And I know that our Animal Care and Control is talking to us about that, to kind of take the lead in that to see what we might do to we don't want to eliminate deer altogether. But we definitely want their populations to be under controlled where people can garden in their backyards. People are not going to be affected by a deer tick or any diseases, Lyme disease. It is a public health issue in my mind, and it is a nuisance for many, many people I know. So we do need to do something and it might cost some money and we may need to allocate some for that effort. But I do think deer population has gotten to a point where we need to take some action.
HREN
Thank you so much for coming in today. I know you're busy, but really appreciate you answering these questions from our listeners and viewers. Thank you.
SANDBERG
Thank you. My pleasure.
Here we go. This one is from John. He writes, each of the candidates has unique experiences they claim makes them the most qualified to lead our city. He notes your years on city council and asks, What was your number one accomplishment? And how did you make it happen?
SANDBERG
Number one accomplish on the city council. After 16 years of being on the council, there are a lot of things. But I think the thing I'm most proud of, is the two year study that myself and Krista Bohm and later Tim Mayer joined us on it was called the affordable living committee. And after two years of doing some research and talking to people and industry experts in working with low income families, we produced a report called Working hard falling behind and it was published in 2019. And it capitalized on a lot of issues that are important in this election and all across the country. Affordability, fordable, housing, the cost of transportation, the cost of childcare, the cost of food, all of those things are causing people in the community, especially those on limited incomes and low incomes, to really struggle in the community. And so I felt that that was a really good grassroots community led effort. That, again, is one of my proudest achievements.
HREN
Dave asks, the deputy mayor role has been different for different mayors. A consultant study recently suggested that Bloomington could benefit from two deputy mayors so his question is, what role would the deputy mayor play in your administration behind loyalty? What specific skill set or knowledge are you looking for in a deputy mayor, we're combining Cleo too, who will you name as deputy mayor?
SANDBERG
Well, that is not something that I am not prepared to, to decide at this point. Anyone who comes out of this primary, of course, is going to have to do some transition work. I think probably the most important issue for my deputy mayor would be not loyalty to me, but a public servant as I am. And someone who is committed to make sure that all the department heads that all the employees that are working for the city of Bloomington, are well prepared to do their jobs and do them with integrity. And, and we need to do some rebuilding at city hall. And with respect to personnel, we do have some morale issues, we do have some very sad departures. And so myself and my deputy mayor are going to need to do some team building within city hall to get that public service level up to where I'd like to see it.
HREN
Dave wants to know, can you please explain in specific detail how you would address the need to expand housing opportunities? So residents don't have to move out of Bloomington?
SANDBERG
Well, that's the big question. Right, the whole affordability question about housing, I have been very critical of the current unified development ordinance and thinking that we don't have the incentives balanced correctly for the type of housing that the community actually needs. We're seeing all of these multi-story high rise, apartment buildings coming up, and those are rental. And those are not, those are not going to be necessarily affordable rental, there'll be market. So I would like to work with some industry professionals, including real estate folks and people in the affordable housing industry, on how do we start developing the kind of housing that people are actually asking for. And those in my mind are like homes. It's not that they couldn't be rental homes, but they need to be houses, maybe townhomes maybe more of an emphasis on condos even. But that's the type of housing that we need to do better incentivizing with and I don't see that happening with the current level of our plan.
HREN
I'm summarizing this question from an email we received from Bloomington Black Lives Matter. The group is concerned about some of the statements you made in forums noted a candidate event, April 10, you stated the violent crime is being done by the big guys that are coming here from Indianapolis, Chicago, other places, selling stuff to the addicted that we're having a hard time with many of our unhoused population. BLM says the language is racially coded, and they want to know if you see that understand how language can have repercussions outside of their intention?
SANDBERG
I do understand the sensitivity of the Black Lives Matter individuals who are activists and well they should be - the comment was not intended to be racial in any way, shape or form. It was actually fact base. What I was referring to are called source cities. And this is information that I've received from our local law enforcement chief Mike Diekhoff. We've had many conversations about what's driving the violence in our community, what's driving the crime, and he made it very clear that the state police you know, even national level will say the source cities where the drugs are coming from, which is primarily the source of the violence, no racial implication at all intended in that comment - are the bigger cities to our north Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit, to a lesser degree, St. Louis, Louisville, but these are the cities where the individuals who are selling the drugs that are causing some of our major issues are coming from and so no disrespect intended to anyone who takes offense to any language like that. There have been other words that I use that they've taken offense to like civility. And I will stand by that because I, I operate in a very civil manner when I'm in the public. No matter who I'm addressing, I think it's important not to call people out not to call people names, but to deal with the issues to deal with the facts.
HREN
Michelle emails in, as a queer person of color, there was a lot of performative allyship that graces the lips of people in power, and pages of social media. So when we try to hold white leaders accountable for their unintentional to avert racism, we're met with defensiveness, tone policy, damaging gatekeeping? Can you address her concern?
SANDBERG
That's a mouthful. Could you say that again? Because I'm not quite sure I catch the meaning of that question.
HREN
So as a queer person of color, a lot of performative allyship that grace is the lips of people in power, social media, as well. But when they try to hold white leaders accountable, she's saying it's unintentional. To avert racism, they're met with defensiveness, or maybe a tone that's policing to damaging gatekeeping.
SANDBERG
Well, and again, I try very hard to keep my tone very, very even. I know we are in very politically explosive environments these days pertaining to race pertaining to marginalized individuals. So I try very hard to keep my cool when I'm discussing these things. I certainly have individuals in my family who are LGBTQ plus, I have a very up close and personal issue with that. And so I think when anyone characterizes me as because I'm a white person, or maybe even an older white person, that I am not in tune that I am not in touch, or that I get defensive, I would just disagree disagree with that. I don't take offense. I want to try to stay fact base, I want to try to stay above board in my advocacy, I'm a feminist, right? My early years and activism were all about the late 60s, early 70s. And when we were fighting for all kinds of rights, civil rights, women's rights. And as such, I've been an ally for other people who are also feeling like they need to have their voices heard and are not getting a fair shake in our democracy. And so I have great respect for all individuals who are really struggling with voter rights and with LGBTQ plus rights. And obviously, the policing issue has come to great national attention as well as it should. And no, I am not at all defensive about individuals who are using their voices to come forward and say, hey, you know, treat us with the respect that we deserve. Because I've been there myself as a female fighting for my own rice.
HREN
Kathy writes in what's your vision for the future of the Bloomington farmers market, having multiple markets doesn't have the same community feel, never felt the city handled all the disruption in a very positive manner? Do you see a path to continue the markets in a good way for Bloomington?
SANDBERG
I do. I was there for the past two Saturdays, and it really does make me sad that the downtown Farmers Market has seemed to lost a lot of its luster. It's been diminished in many respects. I don't think it's because we have markets elsewhere. I think that's a good thing. I think having the one at the Woolery, I think having them in multiple locations is actually healthy, and maybe allows more people from other parts of the city to to take advantage of our great farmers markets. But the one downtown does need help. And as mayor, one of the things I want to look at is how can we recruit more vendors back to that market? How do we make it more fun? How do we make it more of a destination point that people will resume that pride that was such a gem such a jewel of our community for so many years, so it can be restored and I will agree that the way things were handled when things started to explode in the farmers market were probably not as ideal as they could have been. But that was then this is now we start with where we are and we rebuild the vitality the farmers market. We can probably do that in a lot of ways we might make parking free on Saturdays, we might want to reduce the vendors fees take to kind of bring some competition back. There are a number of things that I'm pretty sure we can do to make that destination feel safe, feel secure and feel once again that welcoming. We want everybody to come to our market and feel comfortable.
HREN
Rob wants to know how you would support the fire department. He says our firefighters need raises the police continue to get all the support, but the fire department is forgotten about what are you willing to do?
SANDBERG
Well, I haven't forgotten about the fire department. I'm very much involved with them right now. It was the Bloomington Police Department that came to us first. And when I say us, the city council, that was not really that was kind of unprecedented that they would come directly to the council and say we're we're not getting anywhere with our collective bargaining. We're having a real hard time with this administration. So typically, the city council didn't get involved with any of that until of course, the collective agreements were were made, and we just signed off on them. Now we're hearing the same complaints from the fire department that we heard from the police about three or four years ago. So I actually have a ride along scheduled next week, I actually get to ride with one of the most one of the battalions and meet more directly with them. I have had a few breakfast meetings with some of the firefighters. They are coming to us as council members. And we do want to look at them and be very fair because just like the police, we're going to be losing them to other communities. We already have Ellettsville use their local income tax dollars to increase their their firefighters salaries to the tune of 10,000. So we're losing some of our Bloomington firefighters to them. So kudos to Ellettsville. But Bloomington has to step up as well. We do need to pay our safety officers a competitive wage, we need to take a look at their working conditions. And that's something that I'm doing now. As a city council member and as mayor, I will do more and it's not police and fire. It's our Public Works individuals as well. So we got to pay attention to the people who provide the services that the people of Bloomington pay their taxes for.
HREN
The city has formed 501-C3 nonprofit organizations to manage the Trades District, Waldron and Buskirk, some others to move initiatives - to move the burden off of some of the city officials. Administration also wanted to use the same mechanism to expand and manage the convention center. Do you agree with that method?
SANDBERG
Not particularly I have more questions than answers about that. This was something that was I think, pushed through toward the end of this, you know, last year of this mayor's term. I did oppose it when it came up with the convention center expansion. And so I very much voted along with the County Council, the commissioners that the CIB model was the more appropriate way to move and move fast we need to move on this convention center. The the standoff has been I think, very counterproductive. With respect to the formation. I was hoping that we could get two more City Council appointments on that board to have a little bit more fair representation between you know who's going to manage this 501-C3 with regard to the Hopewell, which I agree needs some additional help. That's a big deal. I disagreed with the Waldron in the Buskirk, I think those are public assets that I think the city needs to hang on to. Those are part of our brand the arts and I want to make sure that there are people making decisions about those two venues that know the arts know the arts community and will do a fair job in managing that vital asset trades district. My understanding now is probably less of a focus, because John Fernandez, of course, is now in charge along with Pat East. And that seems to be the direction they're in good hands. They know what to do to develop out that Trades District. But yeah, I'd love to see a little bit more hands off the arts, maybe more of a focus on the real estate and how the Hopewell neighborhood is going to develop.
HREN
Anne wants to know what you think about the traffic closure of the 500 block of East Kirkwood Avenue ruling and the restaurants using the public streets for six months of the year to possible detriment of other types of businesses?
SANDBERG
That was a very robust discussion. We just had it. I did vote in favor of expanding for this particular summer season. I think we are still in a post COVID era even though it seems to be in the rearview mirror the worst of it anyway. And I think maybe one more summer would be a nice gift to the restaurants who certainly can benefit from that. But I'm very well aware that there are winners here and losers here. And some of the losers of course, are the people that really can't expand out into the streets like the retail shops, the offices above the some of the churches in the downtown have certainly complained about it. So I'm not sure I'm in favor of a permanent closure of it. I think it was a good mechanism. For the COVID era, but we might want to make sure that Kirkwood is a street that is usable by all users. And I mean that across the board, I think we are getting a little bit too restrictive and making everything all about bikes, maybe making everything all about pedestrians. But still, emergency vehicles need to have access the stores who need their loading and loadouts for their their merchandise. We don't want to close streets willy nilly without thinking about the unintended consequences, who wins and who loses.
HREN
Donald writes in about some low hanging quality of life issues that he'd like to see the next mayor tackle so stances on banning app based scooters and bikes, banning off highway gas engines like leaf blowers and lawn mores and then requiring porous parking lot surfaces. Three things there.
SANDBERG
Okay. Now the question again, at the start start over what's what is his basic premise as to quality of life issues?
HREN
Quality of life? Yeah. Correct. And his first one is banning app based scooters.
SANDBERG
I think with regard to our Climate Action Plan, and our concern about those gas powered, anything that's gas powered, I do think we need to take a hard look at that and see how difficult it might be to transition people away from the gas blowers maybe into the more electric, I think that is definitely something we should look at and not be hypocritical about. If we do want to want to reduce our carbon footprint, that might be a way and it's also not just the gas, it's the noise. I know a lot of people are complaining about the noxious fumes and the noise and could maybe short of a ban, could we maybe just limit the time that they're in use until they can maybe be phased out in lieu of, of other equipment that's less less damaging to the climate. With respect to scooters, I'm on the record, I'm not a fan. I think we need to be much, much harder on the scooter companies themselves and hold them more responsible for the ADA compliance issues that we're really struggling with. I'm very, very big on making sure our streets or sidewalks, our intersections are usable for all ages, all abilities, all disabilities. And so the scooters have caused a major issue on our sidewalks that I'm not sure the current administration's plan is going to necessarily eliminate all of that. And so I would definitely take a look at what do we do to make sure that our sidewalks are not blocked and people who have you know, disabilities are really struggling? In our downtown and elsewhere. It's all over the city. So what was the one in the middle of the requiring porous parking lots surfaces? Well, again, that is ideal with regard to impervious surfaces. I'm a little bit sad about the loss of our green spaces, which are of course, better than any kind of surface. Impervious surfaces are not perfect with respect to you know, being able to do snow removal and all that kind of, of issue with anything you do that's in the positive column, there's always going to be a negative that you have to look at. But yes, we definitely need to be mindful of that with regard to flooding issues. So impervious surfaces, obviously good way to go there.
HREN
Colby, his question for you is why won't the city of Bloomington let new companies and new jobs come to the city? So perhaps you can just expand on that talk about what you've done on council and what you would do as mayor to help bring more jobs to the city?
SANDBERG
And what? That we're not letting companies come to the city? I would first of all, disagree with the basic question, because I am very much in favor of the efforts that the Chamber of Commerce makes on behalf of advocacy for their small business community. I'm very much in favor of the BEDC, that is their job. That is their mission to recruit new businesses into the community, we want that we certainly encourage more jobs that are paying better wages. So I am not opposed to new business coming to Bloomington at all. The Fullerton parcel that we recently said was not appropriate for a jail site is because that is reserved for a major employment attractor that is in zone to someone big like a Cook or was that's property that's more suitable for that kind of a big, basic sector employer to come in. So to the extent that we have the tools at the city level, we have very few I mean, we have tax abatements. We can certainly incentivize through the unified development ordinance but I am certainly not opposed to any new businesses coming to town and we want to maintain the businesses that we already have. So it is a recruiting and retention effort that the city of Bloomington needs to partner with all of are small business and large business community.
HREN
Victoria wants to know some of the nicest neighborhoods in Bloomington evolved within a racist, classist, Bloomington. So what would you do to diversify these neighborhoods? Make it available to more people while preserving its quality?
SANDBERG
Well, again, the basic question there, I would have a disagreement with, I know this issue, you're talking about the days of redlining and racist policies. Those no longer exist here in the city of Bloomington, I can say that with great authority. The whole issue about densifying the core neighborhoods, which I oppose very, very loudly, had nothing to do with wanting to keep those communities exclusive. It was to protect those houses that I think are under threat. These are neighborhoods that are already dense, they're already diverse. And I didn't see that, you know, changing our rules to allow duplexing was going to do anything at all, to either make those homes more affordable, or more accessible. So the basic question, I think I have to I'm not dismissing it out of hand. I know that that was certainly an issue. Most cities in the United States had very racist policies with regard to real estate. And, gladly we are I think beyond those times, and if there are relics of that I'm certainly not seeing that Bloomington is a welcoming place. Those neighborhoods who opposed up zonings are welcoming neighbors. There's nothing exclusive about that, in my experience.
HREN
All right. Casey wants to know how you would handle the drug crisis without punitive action for those suffering from addiction. Will you plan on any drug decriminalization efforts?
SANDBERG
Well, drug decriminalization, I don't know that that is in the hands of the city of Bloomington. I mean, that's a that's a federal issue, right as to what are crimes and what what kinds of drugs are the dangerous narcotics, what they may be referring to are decriminalizing the use of some of the drugs that are lesser damaging, such as marijuana with respect to again, and I've mentioned those source cities where some of the more damaging narcotics are coming from, they are damaging, I mean, we're talking about the synthetic meth. That's now being made very cheaply by the cartels. We're talking about an uptick in heroin. We're talking about, you know, cocaine is not maybe the drug of choice so much now, but that certainly has been an issue and of course, the opioid crisis, we're getting opioid settlement money because of the damaging drug that that is. So I am not, I am not for decriminalizing those dangerous drugs, because I think they are causing some real serious problems with addictions in our community. These are things that I would like to address locally, by having better mental health services, better addiction services, better recovery services, because my goal would be to get the people off the stuff. There's a market for it. And in with respect to other drugs that are coming here from the source cities, there's the party drugs that the we have a campus in the middle of our city. So there's a market for these drugs and with the market for these drugs come to the people who are here to sell them, which is also increasing. And unfortunately, and I'm hearing this, again, from our law enforcement officials, that's causing an uptick, uptick in the in the in the gun violence that we're seeing in the community, you know, as we were just having our WTIU debate, there was another shooting happening that evening, that very evening, another shooting, we don't know what the origin of that is still under investigation. But, you know, there have been far too many of those drive bys that we suspect are probably drug related or somehow connected to crime that's coming to our community from outside of the community because there is a market for these dangerous narcotics.
HREN
Alright, last question. Nisi emails in what would you do as mayor to deal with the deer problem?
SANDBERG
The deer problem? That's a good question, of course, my colleague Dave, Rollo, and beforehand when Andy ruff was on the council, we struggled very mightily with the deer taskforce. And of course, that had to do with the biodiversity of Griffy in the understory there. And so that was controversial that I did support the ability to do culling there. And now that is not going to take care of the urban deer problem in the neighborhood. Those deer do not belong in an urban environment, it's not good for their health. It's not good for the health of the community. And so my position is we need to take a look at what's available. Now my understanding is there are methods of birth control that are actually could be quite effective. And I would be for that because as you know, there's not we're not allowed to have any kind of cull in a city, no gun fire. And so that's not an effective means but I'm also in support of having a wildlife management team. And I know that our Animal Care and Control is talking to us about that, to kind of take the lead in that to see what we might do to we don't want to eliminate deer altogether. But we definitely want their populations to be under controlled where people can garden in their backyards. People are not going to be affected by a deer tick or any diseases, Lyme disease. It is a public health issue in my mind, and it is a nuisance for many, many people I know. So we do need to do something and it might cost some money and we may need to allocate some for that effort. But I do think deer population has gotten to a point where we need to take some action.
HREN
Thank you so much for coming in today. I know you're busy, but really appreciate you answering these questions from our listeners and viewers. Thank you.
SANDBERG
Thank you. My pleasure.
