The Sunday Post - April 19, 2026: Datacenter Questions, Washington Square, and a Major OPHS Wake-Up Call
- Michael-Paul Hart
- 4 hours ago
- 5 min read
A weekly report from Councilor Michael-Paul Hart — Building the Smartest City in America.
Volume 2, Issue 16
A Major Audit Raises Major Questions
This week, one of the most important documents I pushed for was the new audit of the Office of Public Health and Safety.
OPHS has grown fast. Its operating budget increased from about $19.3 million in 2020 to nearly $33.8 million in 2026, which is a 75% increase. The audit also found weaknesses in oversight, documentation, vendor compliance, and performance tracking.
That should matter to every resident.
Indianapolis cannot become the Smartest City in America if city government grows without clear standards, measurable outcomes, and real transparency. Smart government is not just about launching programs. It is about proving results.
This issue is especially important to me because back in 2022, I authored a resolution requiring departments to report spending and performance information back to the City-County Council. The goal was straightforward: if government is going to spend public dollars, it should be able to clearly explain what those dollars are doing. https://www.indy.gov/api/v1/indy_proposal_document?id=17703&name=PROP22-058&type=1&content_type=application%2Fpdf
To this day, we still have too much speculative reporting and not enough standard practice.
That has to improve.
As one of the City leaders helping press for a more accountable Indianapolis, I believe the public deserves more than broad descriptions and good intentions. Residents deserve evidence, discipline, and a government that treats performance measurement as a basic responsibility, not an optional exercise.
A Practical Public Safety Tool for the Summer
This week, the City-County Council’s committee advanced a proposal to implement temporary public safety curfew hours for 120 days, if approved by the full Council on May 4.
Here is what that means in plain terms.
Current curfew: Kids under 15 must be off the streets by 11:00 PM every night. Teens ages 15 to 17 must be off the streets by 11:00 PM on school nights and by 1:00 AM on Friday and Saturday nights.
Proposed 120-day public safety curfew: Kids under 15 would have to be off the streets by 9:00 PM every night. Teens ages 15 to 17 would have to be off the streets by 9:00 PM on Sunday through Thursday and by 11:00 PM on Friday and Saturday. This would last for 120 days.
Not because it solves juvenile crime by itself, but because it is one practical tool the city can use while broader solutions are still being developed.
It is also important to be honest about what this is and what it is not. At worst, this is generally a citation issue. City leaders have described a parental pickup process, not a jail-first approach. The intent is to reduce the number of unsupervised juveniles out late at night and, in doing so, reduce the opportunity for violence and victimization.
Last year, after the violence surrounding the Fourth of July, our city saw once again what can happen when conditions are ignored and risk is allowed to build.
I understand the argument that curfew hours alone will not reduce youth crime. I agree with that. But I also believe Indianapolis is capable of doing more than one thing at a time. A 120-day public safety curfew can exist alongside outreach, intervention, programming, and stronger family support.
Walking the Pennsy and Answering Questions on the Data Center
This week, I spent time walking the Pennsy Trail with neighbors and Mirror Indy to talk through what I know about the potential Eastside data center and answer questions directly.
At this point, not much has changed since I wrote about it last week. But I still believe there is value in showing up, listening, and helping residents understand what is actually in front of us.
I also want to remind everyone that this is not a rezoning case. It is a use variance case. That matters because it means there are limits to what can be done procedurally through the City-County Council. Residents deserve to know that plainly.
Even in a limited process, questions still matter.
That is why I want to encourage people to continue reaching out to me. If you want to meet for coffee, walk the Pennsy, talk by phone, or connect on Zoom, I am happy to make time. My goal is to help residents get clear answers, stay informed, and remain professional as this process moves forward.
That is part of what leadership should look like.
If we want to build the Smartest City in America, then we need serious community dialogue even when the process is constrained. We need facts, calm discussion, and a willingness to engage directly instead of just reacting from a distance.
Washington Square Mall: Community Input Matters
Washington Square Mall remains one of the most important redevelopment opportunities on the Eastside, and I am continuing to help lead the planning effort to move this work forward.
Alongside Schmidt Associates and neighborhood partners, we are organizing a community input session on April 27 at 6:00 PMÂ at the Warren Administration Building.
This meeting matters.
The purpose is not to show up with a finished answer. The purpose is to explain why this planning work is being done, what kind of redevelopment framework is being assembled, and why community input is essential before any serious vision takes shape.
Residents will have multiple ways to participate, including discussion, written feedback, and other input methods designed to capture what people want and need from a space as important as Washington Square.
As one of the City leaders helping move this effort forward, I want the process to be open, serious, and useful. Redevelopment should not be something that happens to a community. It should be shaped with the community.
If Indy is going to become the Smartest City in America, then that has to include smarter
redevelopment, better public engagement, and clearer long-term thinking about places that have sat in uncertainty for too long.
Washington Square deserves that kind of effort.
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Thank you for reading Indianapolis City Council Updates 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.
