MAYOR EDDIE MELTON at the podium during the Gary Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Mayor Eddie D. Melton presented plans for his First 100 Days as the featured guest speaker during the Gary Chamber of Commerce’s first membership luncheon of the year at Marquette Park Pavilion in Gary, Ind. on January 8, 2024.
The Melton Administration’s First 100-Day Plan is based on feedback received from citizens throughout the campaign and during community meetings led by transition committee chairs. The action items were fine-tuned after Melton attended the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University in early December, where he gained additional tools and training to set strategic priorities and build an effective city hall organization through the first 100 days in office.
“As I stand here on the eighth day of my administration, I can sincerely say that we are excited about what is ahead,” Melton said. “One big takeaway from the training at Harvard with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, we must tackle the big issues in digestible portions, 100 days at a time.”
Melton announced that he hopes to create momentum in his first few months for larger initiatives and to gain traction for long-term success.
“We aren’t going to solve any major issue in the first 100 days,” Melton said. “But we can start chiseling away at it and start building small wins that we can report back to the citizens and eventually they will start to see and feel the progress.”
“Leading Gary to Greatness: The First 100 Days of the Melton Administration” features action items intended to improve government, infrastructure, environmental and parks, downtown redevelopment, public safety, economic development, education, public health, housing and arts and tourism.
“We are off to a strong start,” Melton said. “We are going to let our 100-day plan and our mission, vision and values guide us.”
Melton credited a collaboration with the outgoing city administration, who helped orient the incoming cabinet to their departments and the status of the city in advance. Also, Gary Common Council members have been meeting with the Melton administration to share their perspectives. Melton also received pro-bono services and support from several companies during the transition period in the development of the plan.
Mayor Melton’s plan to position Gary for greatness encompasses nine areas of focus in the first 100 days.
Greater Government – In the First 100 Days Plan establishing a Greater Government is one of the first steps with a focus on Financial Stability through contract renegotiations, tighter financial controls, building a cost savings plan to operate the city within the available budget, and creating an effective and beneficial investment strategy for the remaining American Rescue Plan funds. Introducing a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to enhance service efficiency, setting performance standards for all departments. Forming an ethics reform commission to foster ethical excellence and compliance among city entities. Committing to procurement savings objectives for 2024 by streamlining purchases and boosting efficiency.
Public Infrastructure – The city is rolling out a comprehensive plan to improve its infrastructure, including streetlights, traffic lights, road surfaces, and sidewalks. This multi-year effort aims to enhance safety and convenience. Additionally, collaborative working sessions with key stakeholders are in the works to address and demolish dangerous vacant structures, ensuring the city’s overall well-being.
Environmental & Parks – The city is taking significant steps to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors by Establishing an Environmental and Sustainability Advisory Council to promote inter-agency collaboration on environmental planning; Evaluating Parks Department operations to enhance programming and create a welcoming environment; Developing a plan to address flooding and cleanup at Gleason Golf Course; Forging a strategic partnership with IDEM and local law enforcement to combat illegal dumping; and Realignment of agencies under the Department of Public Works to prioritize city cleanliness, vegetation management, code enforcement, and addressing abandoned structures in line with the Indiana Unsafe Building Act.
Public Safety – The city will make strides in public safety by launching a community-oriented policing strategy to build partnerships and enhance trust between law enforcement and the community; tasking police and fire chiefs with crafting a recruitment and retention plan to boost morale and increase the number of public safety professionals; collaborating with stakeholders to enhance animal care and control services; and forming a Community Violence and Intervention Commission to delve into the health-related causes of violence in Gary.
Public Health – The city is focusing on public health with these initiatives collaborating with local and state healthcare authorities to tackle infant and maternal mortality rates in Gary; setting up an “AARP Age Friendly Advisory Council” to cater to the needs of senior citizens, including healthcare, transportation, and housing. Finally, launching a mobile mental health crisis response initiative to provide timely support to those in need.
Economic development & Redevelopment – Significant steps are planned in economic development and redevelopment:
• Ensuring the security and assessing the Genesis Convention Center while collaborating with the community and business partners to plan its future use.
• Collaborating with local, county, and state officials to address gentrification and protect residents from housing displacement.
• Initiating the state grant application process for READI 2.0 to kickstart downtown development.
• Launching a Downtown and Broadway Planning Summit to engage residents and stakeholders in implementing SB 434 and Broadway corridor development.
• Tasking Community Development, Redevelopment, and Economic Development with creating a 10-year Neighborhood Stabilization Plan.
• Reviewing the building permit process to streamline it for commercial and housing development partners.
• Establishing the “Mayor’s Small Business Advisory Council” to develop initiatives supporting small business growth and recruitment in Gary.
Education – Gary will make strides in education, with a new Mayoral appointment to the Gary School Board and the establishment of the Mayor’s Education and Workforce Development Roundtable. These initiatives aim to enhance the quality of education for all children in Gary. Additionally, the city is directing federal funding towards expanding youth employment opportunities and enriching afterschool and summer programs for youth and young adults, fostering their personal and educational growth.
Housing – Another priority for the city is to take action in the housing sector, creating a “Homeless Task Force” to tackle the rising homeless population issue. Additionally, local developers are being enlisted to focus on reviving existing neighborhoods and constructing new homes, aiming to improve housing conditions within the city.
Arts, Culture & Tourism – Planning focused on arts, culture, and tourism with include several key initiatives. First, an Arts Commission is being established to infuse art into the city’s culture and bring revenue-generating arts and entertainment programs to different neighborhoods. Additionally, the Gary Historic Preservation Commission is being re-established to safeguard and preserve historic buildings and districts citywide. Furthermore, there are plans to introduce regular citywide arts and entertainment events and installations, particularly in vital redevelopment areas like “The Downtown District,” to stimulate interest and foot traffic, promoting the city’s cultural and economic growth.
