The Sunday Post — Nov 23, 2025: Holiday Toy Drive, Knoll Ridge Action, and SmartIndy Updates
- Michael-Paul Hart
- 50 minutes ago
- 4 min read
A weekly report from Councilor Michael-Paul Hart — Building the Smartest City in America.
Volume 1, Issue 3
Your Weekly Look at Progress Across Indianapolis
This week was a mix of neighborhood problem-solving, criminal justice planning, and listening sessions with community leaders. On top of that, we are getting ready for a big SmartIndy Holiday Toy Drive, and I need your help to make it a success.
As a Councilor, I see my job as simple. Listen closely, tell the truth, and keep pushing Indianapolis toward being the smartest city in America, one decision and one neighborhood at a time.
Below are this week’s highlights, starting with an important invitation.
Holiday Toy Drive – You Are Invited
On Wednesday, December 17, 2025 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM, SmartIndy is hosting a Holiday Toy Drive at The Alchemist, 1660 Bellefontaine Street, Indianapolis.Â
We are collecting: (Bring to the event on the 17th or send us a message with your donation)
New toys
New kids clothing
Personal hygiene items
All donations will support Firefly Family Alliance, an organization that walks alongside families and children in tough situations.
How to take part:
RSVP for the event:https://www.smartindy.org/event-details/holiday-toy-drive
Shop the Amazon list if you cannot attend in person https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/337LEVKLJLGV9/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex
I would love to see you there, meet you in person, and introduce you to other neighbors who care about building a smarter, kinder city.
Knoll Ridge Pop-Up – Standing With Tenants
This week SmartIndy hosted a pop-up event at Knoll Ridge Apartments to help residents understand their rights and how to get real action from the City.
I spent the afternoon meeting neighbors, hearing about unsafe conditions, and walking through the long list of things that have not been fixed. The common theme was clear:
Poor management
Serious maintenance problems
Very little accountability
What struck me most is how many people truly love where they live. They work nearby at places like Pepsi on Post, their kids go to local schools, and they appreciate being near Meijer, Marshalls, and Eastside jobs. They want to stay. They simply want decent, safe housing.
At the table we shared practical tools residents can start using right away:
Mayor’s Action Center
Marion County Public Health Department
Legal Aid and tenant support resources
Our goal is to help neighbors build a clear, consistent record with these agencies so we can push the property into compliance and raise the standard for the entire corridor.
This is what a smart city looks like in practice. People know their rights, are organized, and have their local government's support.
Criminal Justice Planning Council
I also presented at the Marion County Criminal Justice Planning Council (CJPC). If you want to see where public safety leaders are intended to come together and talk about public safety, data, and budgets in Marion County, this is a meeting worth watching. In this video I present SmartIndy Public Safety Roundtable information to the Council.
You can find more information and meeting details here:https://indianapolis.granicus.com/boards/w/f4a1ea9c05a8da69/vacancies
The CJPC brings together leaders from law enforcement, the courts, and city agencies. Its mission is to:
Identify needs and problems in our criminal justice system
Study and forecast both short-term and long-term challenges
Make recommendations to the City-County Council
Provide financial and data insights before and during the budget process
My focus in this conversation was on smart, responsible use of data. We should be using modern tools to improve safety, reduce repeat offenses, and spend tax dollars wisely, while still protecting civil liberties. That balance is central to the SmartIndy vision and to how I try to lead for the county.
Breakfast With Outreach Indiana
I was invited by Andrew Neal to join a breakfast at Outreach Indiana, an organization that
empowers youth experiencing homelessness.
Many young people who are technically homeless are not always visible. They may be:
Sleeping on a friend’s couch because home is unsafe
Trying to hold down a job as a single parent while struggling to afford rent
Moving from place to place just to get through the week
Outreach does more than offer a roof. They focus on relationships and stability so young people know they are seen, known, and valued. From there, staff help them build a path toward education, employment, and long-term housing.
You can learn more about their work here:https://www.outreachindiana.org/
If we want Indianapolis to be the smartest city in America, we have to be serious about the young people who are falling through the cracks. Groups like Outreach are key partners in that work.
Far East Side Community Council – Planning for the Future
Finally, I joined the Far East Side Community Council for their planning kickoff event, which is
part of a broader quality-of-life effort. District 20 is in the southern portion of this plan, including Washington Square Mall.
Read more here:https://fareastsideqol.substack.com/
This council formed because residents felt they did not have a voice in what was happening around them.
I attended to listen first, then to connect with neighbors and partners who care about the same things: better housing, safer streets, and thoughtful redevelopment.
As we talk about Washington Square Mall and the Eastside more broadly, these resident-led councils will help guide decisions so we do not just build for people, we build with them.
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Thank you for reading and for supporting common‑sense leadership. Together, and with the community driving accountability, we are turning bold ideas into real‑world results.
Accountability, Transparency and Local Leadership
See you next week with more updates from the Neighborhood.
