Good evening.

Um, I call to start the ethics committee meeting.

It is Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

It is 5 30 p.m.

And I will have my colleagues introduce themselves starting on the left.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I am Michael Paul Hart, representing District 20.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Josh Bain, District 21.

Good evening, uh Frank Mascarry, District 19, Southeast Side.

Thank you.

And I'm Chair McCormick, District 16 on the west side.

Okay.

And then we've got our our final member coming in here.

Making an entrance.

Yes.

Making his entrance.

Paul Anna, District 22.

Thank you, Counselor.

Uh, we have one item on our agenda this evening, proposal number 145, 2026, which amends section 151-11-32 of the code to remove the home address from the council disclosure statement.

Uh my colleagues will see on their statement it is stricken through.

Uh we are removing only items, we're not adding things adding anything else.

So in section 150 section one, section 151, 11-32, ethics disclosure item C number one, the name cancels out as residence address, so it's the name and business addresses of the counselor is what will remain.

And I will open it up to my colleagues for any questions or comments.

Counselor Mascari.

Thank you, Ms.

Chairman.

Um, I've read through this.

I I really can't support it.

I I am in a retail environment and people know where I'm at.

I have people weekly come into my my environment at store.

And I try to rectify some of their problems.

Um what happened to Ron Gibson is terrible, but I'm I'm not gonna hide in this low level political position that I'm in.

So I I'm not gonna support this.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Come on, Councilor Bay.

Thank you, madam chair.

Uh I certainly don't view this proposal as hiding at all.

Um there are many, many different ways to get a hold of a district counselor.

In my six years, no one has ever come and knocked on my door to ask me for something.

Generally they'll call, text or email, or send a Facebook message or a direct message on X.

Um, certainly no one just comes to my address and like files a complaint that way.

Uh this is simply a result of the current political climate that we're in, which I think is very unfortunate.

Speak of someone who has received the death threats, the um swatting threats, pipe bomb threats, had the calls with IMPD, and then immediately after I get off film with IMPD, have to call my wife, tell her um unfortunately they're telling me you should probably work from the basement today and stay away from the windows.

That's a weird place to be.

And that's what this proposal is about.

Thank you, madam chair.

Uh you know, as Councillor Bain noted, um, this is really a response to the political climate that we find ourselves in.

I appreciate Councillor Mascary's point as well.

And it's just one of those things where uh here in Indianapolis we're experiencing something that maybe we haven't experienced much of, uh, that other uh places around the country have.

And so, you know, I think this is a good first step.

Um what is put into ordinance can always be taken out or amended in the future.

Uh but to me this is worthwhile.

I appreciate those who have worked on this uh to see how this protects uh folks, hopefully.

And uh, you know, should additional concerns be made, uh, or Councilor Mascarri, if uh you know there's something in the future that uh you identify as maybe a different solution or avenue.

I think it'd be something worth entertaining, but I think as it is today, it's important to respond to the current uh environment that exists.

And uh with the counselor Gibson, um I don't think there's any question uh that this environment has existed now in Indianapolis.

Yeah, uh yeah, madam chair.

I'd say, you know, when I read this proposal, you know, what immediately came to mind to me is that there are multiple other locations that our address is still listed, and I'll save from listing all of them just so you know people have to go find the channel to go through.