Four Democrats representing Indianapolis’ far east side were eager to share updates about their districts during a town hall Aug. 25.
There’s the city’s 2026 budget, which is in the process of being vetted by city-county councilors. Construction has started on the 24-mile Blue Line. And every councilor got $1 million to spend on a parks or infrastructure project.
“We have a lot of great things that are taking place on the east side,” Councilor Rena Allen said.
Allen was joined by Ali Brown, Andy Nielsen and Keith Graves. They answered eastsiders’ questions during the town hall at Grassy Creek Park. But dozens of people who attended the event were also interested in other things.
Is the City-County Council going to redraw local districts? What is the city doing about homelessness? And why aren’t there more affordable child care options?
Brown: No plans to redistrict
Indiana Republicans are considering redrawing congressional maps after a push from President Donald Trump’s administration. At the town hall, councilors were asked about possible mid-cycle redistricting in Indianapolis.
“We will not be doing anything to change redistricting or anything like that, because we believe in fair play,” said Brown, who serves as vice president of the council.
The council went through redistricting in 2022.
Brown went on to say the city does not have the power to stop the state from making changes to Indianapolis.
“Tomorrow if they woke up and said, ‘Indianapolis is being too rowdy. No more. There’s 25 councilors, give them nine,’ they can snap their fingers and that’s it,” Brown said.
Republican Gov. Mike Braun said in July that he’s open to intervening in Indianapolis if the city doesn’t “make a change” to address violence.
Brown said councilors often hear from frustrated residents who say they’re not doing enough to push back against state lawmakers.
“We’re doing everything we can,” Brown said. “And I know it sounds like BS and it sounds like lip service. But if we cause too many problems, they will take us away when we do something they don’t like.”
Solving homelessness
One resident brought up their concern about the possibility of the National Guard coming to Indianapolis to address crime and homelessness.
Nielsen said the city’s homelessness response is not meeting demand.
“But in Indianapolis, it is in our grasp to show that evidence-based approaches to solving homelessness actually do work,” he said.
Nielsen referenced the $10 million introduced in the 2026 budget set aside for homelessness prevention. Some of that money will go toward the city’s Streets to Home Indy initiative to end homelessness, but it’s unclear how much.
Nielsen also acknowledged homelessness is not just a public safety issue and said other departments need to work together.
“We have to be more intentional and work with the Statehouse and show them that we can be governor of the city,” he said. “We know what we’re doing.”
How councilors work with state leaders
As councilors continued to reference the power imbalance between the city and state, one resident asked how the city works with state leaders.
“We are working in pockets where we’re creating relationships across the state enterprise to kind of have some partnership,” Graves said, “but it is challenging.”
He talked about his time as chair of the council’s Education Committee and building a relationship with the state’s secretary of education. But he also mentioned state leaders watering down a tenants’ rights bill.
Nielsen emphasized the need for collaboration between state leaders, city-county councilors and community members.
“When there are issues like the threats to the Blue Line, or big infrastructure investment going away, or criminalization of homelessness, it’s important to bring the local officials,” he said. “We’re going to be the ones ultimately dealing with it, bringing in the community and have those conversations and say, ‘Hey, this is the real impact.”
Affordable child care
The councilors were also asked what the city is doing to address the high cost of child care and access to after-school programs.
Brown acknowledged the high prices of child care, but said there’s not much the city can do. She said councilors can support community organizations such as nonprofits and community centers by writing grant letters so they can expand programs.
“I can’t say we’re going to put money over here and open this and we’re going to do this for after-school programs,” she said. “That money is not there. We’re just hoping that we’re able to continue to offer the services that we have.”
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Mirror Indy reporter Darian Benson covers east Indianapolis. Contact her at 317-397-7262 or darian.benson@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X @HelloImDarian or on Bluesky @darianbenson.bsky.social.
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