You may find it interesting that IDI received a City "Community Crime Prevention Grant" to the tune of $100,000 to run from April 1, 2010, through March 31, 2011. Insulting to all neighborhood groups, they received this grant in the "Neighborhood" category. The grant is available on the City's new contract database and is contract number 7683.
The grant/contract says:
The primary goal of the IDI bike and walking patrol is to decrease the number of crimes from levels recorded in previous years. In 2010, we will strive to continue to reduce Downtown crime to fewer than 2,000 crimes. We rely on IMPD and FBI crime statistics which we regularly review and analyze in order to proactively allocate patrol hours to address and mitigate emerging trends.
Talk about duplicating services. If downtown crime can be reduced by a greater police presence, then why isn't IMPD allocating their resources accordingly? Especially when it is City money being spent by IDI.
The latest tax return for IDI on guidestar.org, is for 2008. It reports $1.8 million in revenue, 68% of which was from public sources, and expenses of $2.4 million, while sitting on assets nearing $6 million. Perhaps more interesting is that they reported 17 employees, among which they list the top 5 paid. Among these 5 is President Zahn, and 4 Vice Presidents. Talk about a top heavy organization ! No telling how many other VPs are among the remaining 12 employees.
Zahn pulled down $200,000 in reportable compensation plus $18,132 in 'other compensation' in 2008. VP Julia Watson received $104,480 plus $13,277 -- VP Fred Laughlin got $89,500 plus $3,440 -- VP Terry Sweeney was paid $85,883 plus $11,222 -- and VP Molly Williams received $84,900 plus $11,403.
The City should not be helping to fund IDI - especially since they are duplicating services provided by the City itself. IDI should be forced to sink or swim on its own hook. If it truly is a benefit to downtown businesses, then it would survive without the government dole.
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