Animal Welfare and Good Governance

Friends,

I wanted to quickly send a note in advance of tonight’s Community Affairs Committee meeting.

Though I have always been an animal lover, animal welfare was not a campaign priority of mine when I ran for office.

However, constituents came to me expressing concern that my predecessor had been a voice for the animals, and they asked me to take up this cause in order to ensure that animal rights did not suffer thanks to my election to the Indianapolis Marion County City-County Council. So I’ve made it my business to frequently meet with Indianapolis Animal Care Services employees, volunteers, board members, and leaders. I’ve toured the IACS shelter twice, I attended the Howl and Whine fundraiser this last year, and I have done my very best to hear out all concerns.

At the behest of these constituents and advocates, I wrote an email in August imploring the city to increase the budget for IACS and end the abhorrent practices and conditions at the city’s shelter.

I have met with Interim Director Kelly Diamond and think she is a good person who genuinely wants to run an effective and efficient agency.

Unfortunately, I have received dozens of passionate, well-thought-out emails from board members, volunteers, veterinarians, employees, and animal rights activists who do not share my faith in Ms. Diamond.

I have been asked in no uncertain terms to vote NO on any measure that would appoint Kelly Diamond to permanently lead IACS. When I reached out to Ms. Diamond nine days ago asking to talk over the situation, my message was left without a response. 

I remain convinced that the severe problems at IACS - which involve both policy decisions and more importantly a lack of appropriate budget - flow from Mayor Joe Hogsett, not from Kelly Diamond.

Unfortunately, despite my repeated calls for the Mayor to resign and allow a more competent manager to take over governing the city, he has chosen not to do so.

As I’m unable to vote against Mayor Hogsett in order to protect the animals of Indianapolis and the volunteers and staff members who care for them, I must do the best I can.

I will honor the clear request of my constituents: I will be voting no on Director Diamond’s confirmation, and I will be continuing to advocate for massive changes at IACS.

I do not serve on the Community Affairs Committee, so I will not have a vote this evening. However, rest assured that I am committed to voting down the proposal if it passes out of committee and goes to the full Council for a vote.

None of my friendships, personal feelings, or political connections are more important to me than doing the right thing and holding the powerful accountable. I thank all of the many people who have reached out to me for their feedback and advocacy. As always, I stand with the people.

In love and solidarity,
Jesse