>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," BLOOMINGTON HAS HAD GRAND PLANS FOR THE TRADES DISTRICT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND HAS TURNED TO THE MILL TO DEVELOP THE AREA.

>> WE CAN REALLY BUILD SOME TREMENDOUS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR NOT JUST BLOOMINGTON, BUT THIS ENTIRE REGION.

>> THE CITY APPROVED $3 MILLION LAST WEEK FOR A TECH CENTER IN THE DISTRICT.

>>> IT'S THE WORLD'S GREATEST COLLEGE WEEKEND IN BLOOMINGTON, WITH MEN AND WOMEN COMPETING IN THE LITTLE 500 BICYCLE RACES.

>> IT'S SO MUCH FUN TO BE WITH THE TEAM AND THEN ACTUALLY GETTING TO RACE WITH THEM IS JUST INCREDIBLE.

>> THE TEAM THAT JUAN -- WON THE INAUGURAL WOMEN'S RACE IN 1988 WILL BE HONORED.

>>> AND WE SIT DOWN WITH THE THREE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES HOPING TO BE BLOOMINGTON'S NEXT MAYOR MADE OF NEXT MONTH'S PRIMARY.

WE WILL HAVE THESE STORIES PLUS NEWS FROM ACROSS THE STATE RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

WELL, IT'S BEEN ABOUT THREE WEEKS SINCE MORE THAN A DOZEN TORNADOES TOUCHED DOWN ACROSS THE STATE.

ONE THE MOST HARDEST HIT AREAS WAS IN SULLIVAN.

OUR LIZ DeSANTIS REVISITED THE COMMUNITY IN SOUTHWESTERN INDIANA TO SEE HOW THEY HAVE RESPONDED.

.

>> MORE THAN 200 BUILDINGS WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED BY THE EF3 TORNADO THAT STRUCK SULLIVAN COUNTY EARLIER THIS MONTH.

NOW THREE WEEKS LATER, VOLUNTEERS HAVE CLEARED MANY OF THESE BUILDINGS AWAY.

>> THROUGH THE BAD SITUATION THAT WE HAVE BEEN HANDED, THE CLEANUP HAS MADE IT LOOK LIKE A DIFFERENT PLACE.

EVERY DAY, IT'S JUST IMPROVED, I AM PROVED, AND IMPROVED.

>> SOME RESIDENTS ARE LOOKING AHEAD TO REBUILDING.

>> THEY ARE COMING HOME JUST AS SOON AS THEY CAN.

AS SOON AS THEY CAN GET HELP TO REBUILD, THEY WILL ALL BE BACK.

>> THE FEW HOMES LEFT IN THE AREA BELONG TO HOMEOWNERS STILL BATTLING WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR A PAYOUT.

WOLF SAYS HER INSURANCE COMPANY SAYS THERE WASN'T ENOUGH DAMAGE TO HER HOME.

>> THERE IS NO ROOF.

HE ASKED, ARE YOU SURE?

WELL, THERE'S A 26 BY 26-FOOT SKYLIGHT THAT WAS NOT THERE WHEN I WENT TO BED!

>> BUT A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN THE AREA WEREN'T SO LUCKY TO HAVE INSURANCE.

THE YODER BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION OF ODEN IS DONATING LABOR AND MATERIALS FOR A FEW THESE BLIND SIDED RESIDENTS.

>> IT WAS THREE OR FOUR DAYS AFTER THE STORM WENT THROUGH, THEY BUILT THE FIRST BUILDING.

>> THEY HAVE BUILT A COUPLE OF SHELTERS AND FINISHING UP FIRST HOUSE TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT IN THE AREA.

FEMA ASSISTANCE DISASTER TEAMS WILL GO DOOR-TO-DOOR TO SEVERAL COUNTIES THAT SUSTAINED DAMAGE, INCLUDING JOHNSON, MONROE, MORGAN, AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES TO HELP RESIDENTS APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M LIZ DeSANTIS.

>>> THREE PEOPLE IN SULLIVAN AND TWO PEOPLE CAMPING IN McCORMICK'S CREEK STATE PARK DIED IN THE STORMS.

>>> MONROE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE SUSPENDED MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSING PLANS FOR A NEW COUNTY JAIL.

THE THREE COMMISSIONERS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO DO SO AFTER EXTENDED DISCUSSION DURING WEDNESDAY'S MEETING WITH THE COMMITTEE'S LACK OF PROGRESS AND ITS CONTENTIOUS NATURE.

COMMISSIONERS ALSO SAY THEY WANT TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT COURT PROCESSES BEFORE CONTINUING.

>> LET'S NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF AGREEMENT, BUT I THINK WE'RE STALLED.

>> THURSDAY OFFICIALS TOURED AN 85-ACRE TRACT OF LAND THE COUNTY PURCHASED 20 YEARS AGO, JUST SOUTH OF CATALENT OFF ROGERS STREET AS A POSSIBLE JAIL SITE.

>>> INDIANA LAWMAKERS WILL HAVE ABOUT 1.5 BILLION MORE DOLLARS TO WORK WITH IN THE NEW STATE BUDGET THAN THEY THOUGHT WHEN THEY BEGAN CRAFTING IT IN DECEMBER.

THAT'S DUE TO A ROSIER ECONOMIC GROWTH OUTLOOK, DRIVING UP REVENUES OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

>> IT ALWAYS MAKES OUR JOB HARDER WHEN THERE ARE MORE MONEY, BECAUSE THERE'S MORE PEOPLE ASKING.

WE ARE JUST FORTUNATE TO BE IN THAT POSITION.

>> THE TWO CHAMBERS STILL HAVE TO WORK OUT SOME KEY BUDGET DIFFERENCES.

EDUCATION AND SCHOOL VOUCHER SPENDING, WHETHER TO ACCELERATE TAX CUTS AND HOW TO PROVIDE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

LAWMAKERS HAVE UNTIL APRIL 29th TO FINISH THEIR WORK.

>>> DESPITE YEARS OF PROMISING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, BLOOMINGTON'S TRADES DISTRICT IS PRETTY MUCH VACANT, IT'S THE 12-ACRE OF THE CERTIFIED TECHNOLOGY PARK NORTH OF CITY HALL.

IT WAS CREATED IN 2005, HERE'S WHERE THE CITY'S PLANS FOR THE DISTRICT STAND.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE TRADES DISTRICT BUT PLANS FOR A TASUS EXPANSION AND ENVISAGE EXPANSION HAVE NEVER PANNED OUT.

THE CITY HAS INVESTED IN THE AREA.

THERE'S A NEW PARKING GARAGE, ROADS, SIDEWALKS, LANDSCAPING AND THE MILL.

THE STATE'S FASTEST GROWING COWORKING SPACE LAUNCHING AND ACCELERATING START-UPS SINCE 2018.

THE I CITY ASKED THE MANY I WILL TO LEAD THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRADES DISTRICT.

>> THEY LOOKED TO US AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS SUCCESSFULLY TAKEN AN INVESTMENT FROM THE CITY AND BUILT UPON IT AND TURNED IT INTO SOMETHING THAT'S DOING TO DEMONSTRATABLE GOOD IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE FIRST STEP WAS TO HIRE SOMEONE WHO HAS REAL ESTATE, START-UP, INVESTMENT, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BACKGROUND TO TAKE THE DISTRICT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

THE CITY ANNOUNCED IN FEBRUARY THAT FORMER BLOOMINGTON MAYOR JOHN FERNANDEZ WILL LEAD THE DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING OF THE TRADES DISTRICT.

FERNANDEZ IS THE FORMER U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> THERE'S JUST A LOT OF ACTIVITY THAT IF WE GET IT RIGHT, AND WE BRING THINGS TOGETHER RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, IT CAN CHANGE THE DIRECTION AND IT CAN REALLY BUILD SOME TREMENDOUS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR NOT JUST BLOOMINGTON, BUT THIS ENTIRE REGION.

>> FERNANDEZ SAYS THE NEXT STEP IS FINALIZING PLANS AND BUILDING THE TECHNOLOGY CENTER, BUT THAT'S JUST THE START.

HE SAYS THEY NEED TO CAPITALIZE ON INVESTMENTS AND PROGRAMS AT NSWC CRANE, AND I.U.

AND OTHERS TO HELP CREATE MOMENTUM IN THE DISTRICT.

>> TENAND IT'S A BRIDGE FOR INVESTMENT TO BRING THE KIND OF CAPITAL WE NEED TO HELP SOME OF THESE EMERGING GROWTH COMPANIES GET MOVING AND ACCELERATING THEIR GROWTH.

>> AND START-UPS THEY MILL ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE GROWTH AND THE NEXT PHASE.

FOLIA C.E.O.

RAVI BHATT STARTED AT I.U., AND WENT TO CHICAGO, AND THEN MOVED BACK.

HE SAYS THE MILL HAS TAKEN HIS BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

>> THE ACCIDENTAL COLLISIONS ARE WHAT DRIVES A LOT OF ECOSYSTEMS FORWARD.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COLLABORATING WITH UNTIL YOU RUN INTO THEM.

>> LARGER BUSINESSES COLLABORATING WITH START-UPS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

>> AND IF WE GET A FEW COMPANIES LIKE THAT HERE LOCALLY, WHETHER THEY ARE TRANSPLANTS FROM ANOTHER MARKET OR WE GROW THEM FROM THE BOTTOM UP HERE IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE A TRANSFORMATIVE EFFECT THAT WILL HAVE RIPPLE EFFECTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

>> FERNANDEZ SAYS TO DO THAT, THE DISTRICT NEEDS TO BE A DESTINATION FOR THE COVETED 24 TO 30-YEAR-OLD DEMOGRAPHIC.

>> THEY DON'T WANT TO HANG OUT ON KIRKWOOD.

SORRY.

YOU KNOW?

THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT DO.

BUT WE GOT TO CREATE OUR OWN KIND OF UNIQUE COMMUNITY AROUND THE TRADES DISTRICT.

>> HE SAYS POST-COVID, HYBRID WORK IS HERE TO STAY AND NOW THERE'S A BIGGER PURPOSE FOR THE AREA THAN HAVING OFFICES FULL THE WORK STATIONS.

EAST SAYS THE MILL HAS RECRUITED 24 REMOTE WORKERS TO MOVE TO BLOOMINGTON WITHIN THE YEAR.

>> THIS BUILDING THAT WE'RE IN NOW WAS A FURNITURE FACTORY AND MAKING PHYSICAL GOODS WAS HOW ECONOMIES GOT BUILT.

NOW IT'S QUITE LITERALLY ON ONES AND ZEROS.

IT'S ALL THE SOFTWARE THAT YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.

>> AND HE SAYS YOU DON'T NEED A LARGE FOOTPRINT TO DO IT, JUST A BACKPACK.

>> YOU CAN QUITE LITERALLY HAVE A MULTIMILLION DOLLARS COMPANY RUN JUST FROM YOUR LAPTOP WITH REMOTE WORKERS HOPEFULLY.

HOPEFULLY HERE IN BLOOMINGTON.

>> HE SAYS THE PAYOFF IS HAVING THESE NEW FOLKS WITH NEW IDEAS AND NEW WAYS OF LOOKING AT THINGS AVAILABLE TO HELP BUILD THE NEW ECONOMY.

FERNANDEZ SAYS THAT'S HIS VISION OF THE TRADES DISTRICT.

>> PEOPLE WORKING, PEOPLE COLLABORATING, PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, ENJOYING THE SPACE.

I MEAN, WE'VE GOT TO GET ACTIVITY SO THAT IT CAN A COMMUNITY WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF ENERGY.

>> AND BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL VOTED LAST WEEK IN FAVOR OF APPROPRIATING MORE THAN $3 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TECH CENTER IN THE CITY'S DOWNTOWN TRADES DISTRICT.

>> THE WORLD'S GREATEST COLLEGE WEEKEND IS UPON US AGAIN WITH THE ANNUAL LITTLE 500 BICYCLE RACES AT ARMSTRONG STADIUM TAKING CENTER STAGE.

VIDEOGRAPHER AMY BUSHMAN PUT TOGETHER THIS STORY ON SOME OF THE COMPETITORS.

>> LITTLE 5 IS A FUNDRAISER FOR STUDENTS HELPING STUDENTS THIS YEAR AND IT'S JUST A REALLY AWESOME BIKE RACE THAT EVERYBODY GETS SUPER EXCITED ABOUT.

>> I HONESTLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT LITTLE 5 WAS, AND I'M FROM INDIANA.

I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL FRESHMAN YEAR.

IT'S SO COOL TO SEE EVERYONE GET TOGETHER, GREEK LIFE, NON-GREEK LIFE TO GET TOGETHER AND HAVE FUN FOR A WHOLE WEEK.

COME SUPPORT THE RIDERS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD FOR A FUEL YEAR.

IT'S JUST A GREAT TIME.

>> MY FAVORITE PART, IS GETTING TO BE PART OF A TEAM SPORT AGAIN.

I MET MY CLOSEST FRIENDS WITHIN MY HOUSE AND BE PART OF A REALLY COOL ALUMNI NETWORK THAT HAS REALLY COOL LEGACY TO UPHOLD.

>> IT'S A LOT OF ROAD RIDING IN THE FALL AND TRACK RIDING IN THE SPRING.

ROLLERS IN THE WINTER.

SO IT'S BEEN REALLY NICE TO HAVE, LIKE, A GROUP OF PEOPLE TO DO THAT WITH.

IT MAKES IT SO MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE AND SO MUCH FUN.

WE SPEND SO MANY HOURS ON THE BIKE EVERY WEEK.

YEAH.

I HAVE A GREAT TIME.

>> SOME DAYS YOU JUST REALLY DON'T WANT TO COME, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU NEVER REGRET COMING TO WORK OUT.

WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR OUR COACHES.

THEY'VE PUT IN SO MUCH TIME WITH US, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THEM.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR MY TEAM AND GETTING TO KNOW THEM.

WE WILL DEFINITELY MISS THEM THEY YEAR.

>> IT'S SO MUCH FUN TO BE WITH THE TEAM AND GETTING TO RACE WITH THEM IS JUST INCREDIBLE.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," WE SIT DOWN WITH BLOOMINGTON'S THREE DEMOCRATIC MAYORAL CANDIDATES TO TALK WITH THE FARMERS MARKET, THEIR VIEWS ON DEPUTY MAYOR AND MORE.

THESE STORIES COMING UP RIGHT HERE ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

WE RECEIVED MORE THAN 100 QUESTIONS FROM VIEWERS FOR THE CANDIDATES AT LAST WEEK'S BLOOMINGTON DEMOCRATIC MAYORAL DEBATE ON WTIU.

OBVIOUSLY WE COULDN'T GET TO ALL OF THEM.

SO WE HAD EACH OF THE THREE CANDIDATES IN FOR A SIT-DOWN INTERVIEWS THIS WEEK TO ANSWER MORE OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

WE ASKED THE CANDIDATES THE SAME QUESTIONS ALONG WITH SOME QUESTIONS THAT WERE TAILORED TO SPECIFIC CANDIDATES.

THE FULL INTERVIEWS ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR ELECTIONS PAGE AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HERE'S SOME OF THE WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.

THE DEPUTY MAYOR ROLE HAS BEEN DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT MAYORS.

A CONSULTANT'S STUDY RECENTLY SUGGESTED THAT BLOOMINGTON COULD BENEFIT FROM TWO DEPUTY MAYORS.

WHAT ROLE WILL THE DEPUTY MAYOR PLAY IN YOUR ADMINISTRATION BEYOND LOYALTY, WHAT SPECIFIC SKILL CELT OR KNOWLEDGE -- SKILL SET OR KNOWLEDGE ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN A DEPUTY MAYOR.

AND THEN ONE MORE, CLEO WANTS TO KNOW WHO WILL YOU NAME AS DEPUTY MAYOR.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHO I WILL NAME AS DEPUTY MAYOR.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT ASSEMBLING THE RIGHT PIECES.

I KNOW THAT -- I KNOW THAT I'M A BIG PICTURE PERSON.

RIGHT?

SO I HAVE TO FIND MY -- MY YING TO MY YANG.

I NEED SOMEONE THAT'S DETAIL-ORIENTED, THAT -- THAT CAN LOOK AT MY BIG PICTURE IDEAS AND SAY, OKAY, DON WE NEED TO PARE THESE DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

I'M LOOKING FOR A TASK MASTER THAT WILL NOT ONLY HELP -- HELP ME KEEP MY STAFF ON POINT, BUT ALSO KEEP ME ON POINT.

THE DEPUTY MAYOR -- THE JOB THAT I HAD, ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WOULD REPORT TO ME, AND I THINK WE'LL CONTINUE THAT ON.

>> WELL, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I AM PREPARED TO DECIDE AT THIS POINT.

ANYONE WHO COMES OUT OF THIS PRIMARY, OF COURSE, IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME TRANSITION WORK.

I THINK PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR MY DEPUTY MAYOR WOULD BE NOT LOYALTY TO ME, BUT A PUBLIC SERVANT, AS I AM.

AND SOMEONE WHO IS COMMITTED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, THAT ALL THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE WORKING FOR THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON ARE WELL PREPARED TO DO THEIR JOBS AND DO THEM WITH INTEGRITY AND WE NEED TO DO SOME REBUILDING IN CITY HALL AND WITH RESPECT TO PERSONNEL.

WE DO HAVE SOME MORALE ISSUES.

WE DO HAVE SOME VERY SAD DEPARTURES.

AND SO MYSELF AND MY DEPUTY MAYOR ARE GOING TO NEED TO DO SOME TEAM BUILDING WITHIN CITY HALL TO GET THAT PUBLIC SERVICE LEVEL UP TO WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT?

>> YOU KNOW, A DISTRIBUTED LEADERSHIP MODEL HAS ALWAYS BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

I HAD A CLEAR LEADERSHIP TEAM AT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.

THE SAME IS TRUE AT THE CENTER FOR RURAL ENGAGEMENT.

WHAT THAT DOES IS IT ESTABLISHES A SYSTEM WHERE NOT EVERY DECISION DATE-TO-DAY NEEDS TO BE MADE -- DAY-TO-DAY NEEDS TO BE MADE BY THE C.E.O.

OR THE MAYOR, WHATEVER THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE IS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY DEPUTY MAYORS I WILL HAVE.

WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT I ALWAYS BALANCE MY LEADERSHIP TEAM WITH MY OWN GIFTS.

I DON'T WANT PEOPLE THAT EXCEL IN THE SAME THINGS THAT I EXCEL IN.

IT IS ACTUALLY NECESSARY TO BALANCE OUR TEAM.

AND THIS LOYALTY POINT IS REALLY INTERESTING, BECAUSE WHAT I LOOK FOR MOST IN A LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBER IS SOMEBODY WHO WILL BE REALLY BLUNTLY HONEST WITH ME.

I DON'T WANT A YES PERSON.

I WANT SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO DISCERN WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING AND REALLY HAVE THE COURAGE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, KERRY, I THINK WE MIGHT BE HELDED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION HERE.

-- WE MIGHT BE HEADED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION HERE.

OR WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT'S NOT WORKING IN THESE WAYS.

CAN WE CHANGE IT?

THAT'S THE MOST CRITICAL THING THAT A TEAM MEMBER CAN BRING TO ME.

>> WHAT'S YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE THE BLOOMINGTON FARMers' MARKET, HAVING MULTIPLE MARKETS DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME COMMUNITY FEEL.

SHE FEELS THAT THE CITY DIDN'T HANDLE ALL THE DISRUPTION IN A VERY POSITIVE MANNER PREVIOUSLY.

DO YOU SEE A PATH TO COMBINE THE MARKETS IN A GOOD WAY FOR BLOOMINGTON?

>> I DON'T THINK -- I DON'T THINK THEY NEED TO BE COMBINED, BUT I DO THINK THEY ALL NEED TO BE EMBRACED.

AND WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.

IT -- YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES A PROBLEM BECOMES AN OPPORTUNITY.

AND I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT ALL THE -- ALL THE FARMER'S MARKETS THAT ARE NOW OUT THERE.

AND EACH ONE HAS ITS OWN CHARACTER, AND EACH ONE IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CHARACTER -- THEY'RE ALL BLOOMINGTON.

THEY'RE ALL -- THEY'RE ALL CREATIONS OF BLOOMINGTONIANS, RIGHT?

THEY JUST -- THEY JUST HAVE DIFFERENT FEELS.

SO IF WE CAN GET TO A PLACE WHERE -- WHERE THERE ARE SOME COLLABORATION AND RESPECT FOR ALL, I THINK WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

WE CAN -- MY GOSH, WE COULD BE THIS COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE COME INTO, REGIONALLY TO GO TO ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT FARMER'S MARKETS.

>> I DO.

I WAS THERE FOR THE PAST TWO SATURDAYS AND IT REALLY DOES MAKE ME SAD THAT THE DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET TO HAVE LOST A LOT OF ITS LUSTER.

IT'S BEEN DIMINISHED IN MANY RESPECTS.

I DON'T THINK IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE MARKETS ELSEWHERE.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING.

I THINK HAVING THE ONE AT THE WOOLERY, I THINK HAVING THEM IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS IS ACTUALLY HEALTHY AND MAYBE ALLOWS MORE PEOPLE FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR GREAT FARMER'S MARKET.

BUT THE ONE DOWNTOWN DOES NEED HELP.

AS MAYOR, ONE THE THINGS I WANT TO LOOK AT IS HOW CAN WE RECRUIT MORE VENDORS BACK TO THAT MARKET?

HOW DO WE MAKE IT MORE FUN?

HOW DO WE MAKE IT MORE OF A DESTINATION POINT THAT PEOPLE WILL ENJOY.

THAT THAT WAS A GEM OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR SO MANY YEARS.

SO IT CAN BE RESTORED AND I WILL AGREE THAT THE WAY THINGS WERE HANDLED WHEN THINGS STARTED TO EXPLODE IN THE FARMERS' MARKET WERE NOT AS IDEAL AS THEY COULD HAVE BEEN.

THAT WAS THEN AND THIS IS NOW.

WE START WITH WHERE WE ARE AND WE REBUILD THE VITALITY OF THE FARMER'S MARKET.

WE CAN PROBABLY DO THAT IN A LOT OF WAYS.

WE MIGHT MAKE PARKING FREE ON SATURDAYS.

WE MIGHT WANT TO REDUCE THE VENDORS' FEES TO BRING SOME COMPETITION BACK.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT I'M PRETTY SURE WE CAN DO TO MAKE THAT DESTINATION FEEL SAFE, FEEL SECURE AND FEEL ONCE AGAIN THAT WELCOMING.

WE WANT EVERYBODY TO COME TO OUR MARKET AND FEEL COMFORTABLE.

>> I -- I MISSED THE VIBRANCY OF THE BLOOMINGTON CITY FARMERS' MARKET AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT GET THAT VIBRANCY BACK.

I DO SEE SOME BENEFITS IN HAVING MULTIPLE MARKETS.

AND SO I WOULD WANT TO HEAR FROM THOSE OTHER MARKETS HOW SUCCESSFUL THEY ARE AND HOW MUCH THEY -- YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH FOCUS ON THE BLOOMINGTON CITY MARKET MIGHT IMPACT THEM.

I DO, HOWEVER, THINK THAT IT WAS A REAL MISSED OPPORTUNITY.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS ONE THING, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND DEFEND THE -- THE -- WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE MARKET.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC MEETING THAT WAS HAD -- PEOPLE JUST DIDN'T FEEL HEARD.

AND THAT IS -- IT'S A SHAME.

SO I KNOW IT'S A LEGALLY ENTRENCHED ISSUE, BUT IT'S A COMMUNITY TREASURE.

IT SHOULD BE A PLACE THAT EVERYBODY FEELS SAFE AND IF -- IF FREEDOM OF SPEECH HAS TO HAPPEN IN THAT WAY, I THINK THE CITY CAN TAKE EQUAL ACTIONS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE FEELING SAFE, LGBTQIA PLUS PEOPLE ARE FEELING SAFE AT THE MARKET.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE WHO SEEK CHANGE AND SEE YOU AS A CONTINUATION OF THE HAMILTON ADMINISTRATION?

>> WOW.

YOU KNOW, ME AND JOHN ARE DIFFERENT PEOPLE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THE FACT THAT A LOT OF GOOD HAS BEEN DONE, AND I'M NOT WILLING TO THROW AWAY ALL THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT THE HAMILTON ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE.

I JUST WANT TO BUILD ON TOP OF THAT.

I'VE GOT MY OWN IDEAS, BUT I CAN ONLY DO THOSE IDEAS BECAUSE THE FOUNDATION HAS ALREADY BEEN LAID.

LIKE, WE HAVE A LOT OF BUILDINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE, A LOT OF IDEAS THAT WE HAVE PUT FORWARD OVER THE LAST -- AND WE HAD TO.

THINGS HAD TO BE ACED ADJUSTED, WHETHER THEY WERE THE FIRE TRUCKS OR THE WAY WE DID POLICING, RIGHT?

I THINK THIS NEXT CHAPTER IS MORE ABOUT THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY.

I THINK WE HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT CREATING PLACE.

A SENSE OF PLACE FOR ALL.

BECAUSE I THINK -- AND CONTINUE ON WITH THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE MADE WITH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU KNOW, WITH MORE HOUSING AND THINNED COO OF -- THOSE KIND OF -- THOSE KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES, BUT I THINK WE REALLY, REALLY HAVE TO FOCUS ON WHO WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD, AND THAT'S -- THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT, I'M SUMMARIZING THIS QUESTION FROM AN EMAIL WE RECEIVED FROM BLOOMINGTON BLACK LIVES MATTER.

THE GROUP IS CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE STATEMENTS YOU MADE IN FORUMS, NOTED A CANDIDATE EVENT APRIL 10th, YOU STATED THE VIOLENT CRIME IS BEING DONE BY THE BIG GUYS THAT ARE COMING HERE FROM INDIANAPOLIS, CHICAGO, OTHER PLACES.

SELLING STUFF TO THE ADDICTED THAT WE'RE HAVING A HARD TIME WITH MANY OF OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION.

SO B.L.M.

SAYS THE LANGUAGE IS RACIALLY CODED AND THEY WANT TO KNOW IF YOU SEE THAT, UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE CAN HAVE REPERCUSSIONS OUTSIDE OF THEIR INTENTION.

>> I DO UNDERSTAND THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THE SENSITIVITY OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ACTIVISTS AND WHILE THEY SHOULD BE, THE COMMENT WAS NOT INTENDED TO BE RACIAL IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM.

IT WAS ACTUALLY FACT-BASED.

WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO ARE CALLED SOURCE CITIES.

THIS IS INFORMATION THAT I RECEIVED FROM OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT'S DRIVING THE VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHAT'S DRIVING THE CRIME.

AND HE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE STATE POLICE, YOU KNOW, EVEN NATIONAL LEVEL WILL SAY THE SOURCE CITIES WHERE THE DRUGS ARE COMING FROM, WHICH IS PRIMARILY THE SOURCE OF THE VIOLENCE, NO RACIAL IMPLICATION AT ALL INTENDED IN THAT COMMENT ARE THE BIGGER CITIES OUR NORTH, CHICAGO, INDIANAPOLIS, DETROIT.

TO A LESSER DEGREE, St. LOUIS, LOUISVILLE, BUT THESE ARE THE CITIES WHERE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SELLING THE DRUGS THAT ARE CAUSING SOME OF OUR MAJOR ISSUES ARE COMING FROM.

AND SO NO DISRESPECT INTENDED TO ANYONE WHO TAKES OFFENSE TO ANY LANGUAGE LIKE THAT.

THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER WORDS THAT I USED THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN OFFENSE TO, LIKE CIVILITY.

AND I WILL STAND BY THAT, BECAUSE I -- I OPERATE IN A VERY CIVIL MANNER WHEN I'M IN THE PUBLIC, NO MATTER WHO I'M ADDRESSING.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT NOT TO CALL PEOPLE OUT, NOT TO CALL PEOPLE NAMES BUT TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES.

DEAL WITH THE FACTS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE RECEIVED A HANDFUL OF QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE.

THEY SHARE THAT I.U.

RECENTLY SETTLED A LAWSUIT IN WHICH YOU WERE SUED FOR WORKPLACE BULLYING AND THERE HAVE BEEN HIGH LEVEL OF STAFF TURNOVER AT THE CENTER FOR RURAL ENGAGEMENT UNDER YOUR DIRECTION.

SO CAN YOU SPEAK TO YOUR ABILITY TO CREATE A HEALTHY WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR CITY EMPLOYEES?

>> YES, FIRST, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THAT IS NOT FACTUAL.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHILE I CANNOT SPEAK ABOUT SPECIFIC H.R.

ISSUES, I HAVE NEVER BEEN SUED FOR WORKPLACE BULLYING OR ANYTHING OF THE SORT.

AND, YOU KNOW, IN A TIME WHEN LOTS OF -- LOTS OF ORGANIZATIONS ARE EXPERIENCING TURNOVER, THE C.R.E.

ACTUALLY HAS NOT ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED ANY HIGHER TURNOVER THAN IS TYPICAL.

AND THE FOLKS THAT DID LEAVE, ACTUALLY, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF AN EXCEPTION TO THIS.

THEY LEFT FOR PROMOTIONS.

THEY GOT BETTER JOBS.

I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE TEAMS THAT I HAVE LED.

I HAVE LOTS OF VERY LONG TENURED COLLEAGUES.

I'VE ONLY BEEN AT THE C.R.E.

FOR FIVE YEARS BUT MUCH OF THAT STAFF HAS BEEN THERE THE WHOLE TIME.

AND, IN FACT, MY LONGEST TENURED EMPLOYEE AT HABITAT CAME TO WORK AT C.R.E.

WITH ME.

I HAVE WORKED WITH PEOPLE FOR TENS OF YEARS STRAIGHT, AND -- AND HAVE BUILT REALLY STRONG LEADERSHIP ENVIRONMENTS.

AND IT IS TRUE THAT -- THAT I AM A HIGH IMPACT LEADER THAT DEVELOPS LEADERSHIP TEAMS AND -- AND THAT I HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR -- FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY STAFF, AND I'M ALSO A LEADER THAT HAS MY STAFF'S BACK ALL THE TIME.

>> YOU CAN WATCH THE FULL CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS ON OUR ELECTION PAGE, WTIUNEWS.ORG.

OF THE INDIANA PRIMARY ELECTION IS ON MAY 2nd BUT YOU CAN VOTE EARLY AT THE ELECTIONS OPERATIONS SITE ON SOUTH WALNUT STREET THROUGH MAY 1st.

THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AS WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: