what the world needs now...fewer parks and more bars

Al E. Polin Park is a little half acre park just a few blocks north of downtown Indianapolis. It has playground equipment designed for kids 6 and under, and grass to run on and roll around on. Because the park is small, and because it doesn't have a basketball court, the older kids who play more aggressively go to another, bigger park nearby. This has allowed Polin Park to become something of a safe haven for the many single moms and their smaller children who live in this poor, predominately black neighborhood. Well, I should say, this used to be a safe haven. The playground equipment has been dismantled and the announcement has been made that this little spot of greenery in downtown Indy will be turned into a parking lot. Why in the world would somebody want to take a treasure like Polin Park and destroy it?
Well, it just so happens that the park is adjacent to the Julia M. Carson Government Center, which houses the Center Township Trustee's office. It also houses the campaign headquarters for Rep. Julia M. Carson (D), Indiana, a proud member of both the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus. According to Carl Drummer, the Center Township Trustee, the decision has been made, with the blessing of Rep. Carson, to open a full service bar/restaurant in the Carson Government Center, and they will need additional parking for that bar. Mr. Drummer told The Indianapolis Star that the new bar, which he will be the landlord of, will be "a place where African-American professionals can go after work and relax and network and and enjoy one another's company." The people in the neighborhood who used to play in the park will just have to find somewhere else to play, because the new bar needs parking spaces.
I'm a fairly inquisitive guy, and when I read this story, several questions came immediately to mind. Such as:
1. Is it legal to put a bar in a government office? I truly don't know the answer, but I'm curious.
2. Assuming that it is legal, is it a good idea to put a bar in a government office? Is it a smart thing to do? I don't think so, but I invite other opinions.
3. What new duties will the Township Trustee have as the landlord of the bar? Will it detract from his constitutional duties as the trustee?
4. What about the money angle? If the bar doesn't succeed, are the taxpayers of Center Township on the hook at all? Does the Trustee get additional compensation?
5. BIG QUESTION--Who in the world thinks that it's a good idea for local government to turn a park into a parking lot for a bar?
6. BIG QUESTION II-- I thought liberals were real big on the environment? How does that square with turning a park into a parking lot?
7. LAST BIG QUESTION--Carl Drummer says that the bar is for African-American business professionals. Does that mean that white folks aren't allowed? What should be the reaction to Mr. Drummer's exclusionary attitude? What would the reaction be if Indy's white mayor announced that a new bar was being built at the City-County Building for white Indianapolis professionals?
I am going to be very interested to see how this whole incident plays out. See the link below for the full story.
www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060807/NEWS01/608070402