Hey Locals,

Public comment took center-stage at last week's City Council meeting, where Council reps and attendees sparred over what is (and isn't) allowed to be talked about. We break down what to know – and what's happening elsewhere to help citizens get civically engaged – in this week's Above the Fold.

In Briefs, a Fort Wayne man detained by ICE was featured in a recent exposé by the IndyStar, detailing inhumane conditions at the north-central Indiana Miami Correctional Facility. Plus, what's next now that IDEM has officially approved Google's diesel generators without any pollution protections? We also have more uplifting updates about Fort Wayne's food scene.

In our Local Spotlight, we feature a city-led workshop series designed to help residents get more involved, and we have fun ways to celebrate Earth Day in our To Do List, from thrifting and recycling used fashions to going off the grid with a local winery!

Don't forget: In April, we’re partnering with the Shops at The Sanctuary in Columbia City to bring all paid subscribers a BOGO coffee drink at their new cafe and reading room, 1892 Coffee & Books.

Now, let’s get started.

NOTE: Links to Journal Gazette articles are marked(*) and may be behind a paywall.

Let's talk about public comment at City Council.

What's allowed? What's not? And how can citizens be heard?

What's happening?

During public comment at last week's City Council meeting, President Marty Bender raised some eyebrows for telling attendees* to “not include any commercial or political speech topics” in their comments. Bender told WANE 15 his goal is “to limit public comment to things concerning the council directly.” He also said this rule has been in place “for years." But some citizens are questioning the rule's vagueness – and why political speech wouldn't be allowed at a city meeting.

You might remember: So far in 2026, City Council’s public comment section has garnered significant attention. 

• In January, Bender drew ire for axing public comment from a council meeting without advanced notice, leading some to express displeasure at not being able to share concerns about the Google data center.
• Following this, Council adjusted its schedule, moving public comment to the first and third meetings of every month, allowing people to voice concerns on matters before they’re voted on.

So... how can citizens effectively share concerns with local government? What constitutes political speech? And what is – and isn't – allowed during Council's public comment section?

We break it down in this week's Above the Fold newsletter on Thursday – available to paid subscribers only.

• A Fort Wayne man detained by ICE was featured in a recent IndyStar exposé, citing "a moral and ethical catastrophe" at the north-central Indiana Miami Correctional Facility. Congressman André Carson conducted an oversight visit to the facility, following two deaths in custody since February: Lorth Sim, 59, on Feb. 16 and Tuan Van Bui, 55, on April 1. Now, he's calling for an end to housing detainees there, citing poor living conditions, irregular meals, and inadequate medical care. Carson said a functional intercom system could have prevented at least one death, after personnel dismissed screams of pain as “joking around.” He also spoke with a Fort Wayne man at the facility whose story disputed the Trump administration's claim to be detaining only immigrants with criminal records. He said he had no criminal history, but was still detained by ICE in the parking lot of Fort Wayne's Amazon facility where he worked after coming to the United States from Haiti, according to the IndyStar. Olive Rusk of Fuerza Unida in Fort Wayne was featured in another story on the topic by WFYI Indianapolis.
• The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) approved Google's controversial request to increase the backup diesel generators at its Fort Wayne data center to 179 with no pollution controls. Google says the generators are only for “emergencies” to compensate for potential utility power failures, and IDEM limits non-emergency operations, such as maintenance and testing, to 100 hours per year. However, a grassroots group of concerned citizens contends that IDEM and local leadership are defending the interests of mega corporations over local citizens, noting: "Google voluntarily agreed to not exceed a limit of 250 tons/year of NOx (nitrogen oxides) pollution, however, basic calculations show that the generators easily exceed those limits well within the 100 hours of time they have been allowed to operate by the EPA." Citizens are circulating a petition to local leadership and asking IDEM to hold Google to higher standards by requiring them to upgrade to Tier 4F generators that reduce exhaust and soot emissions by 90%. "Google, one of the top global mega corporations whose value currently sits at $3.8 trillion dollars, refuses to install the best available technology and retrofit their equipment with pollution controls," they say.
• Henry’s Restaurant has new owners with connections to Casa restaurants. Kelly Steele, who bought the business with her partner TJ, is the granddaughter of Jimmy D’Angelo of Casa D’Angelo and Casa restaurants, the sister of Jimmy Sullivan of Laycoff’s Tavern, and great-niece of both Bill Lebrato of Broadway Joe’s Tavern and Jimmy Rossi of the 412 Club. Steele has worked as a hostess, waitress, and bartender at her family’s restaurants, and her son Max is following in her footsteps. John Freistroffer, whose father Henry Freistroffer opened Henry’s, had a list of requirements for the new owners to maintain the legacy of the restaurant. Old staples will remain on the menu, including catfish bites and the Henry burger. Updates include the return of live music and new TVs for streaming sports and events. In the future, the Steeles may introduce some family recipes and bring back the popular "raw bar" Friday night seafood menu.
• The JG Editorial Board says Indiana's progress reducing pedestrian deaths should "convince state and federal lawmakers to increase funding for traffic-safety construction and maintenance." In the past 15 years, Indiana has reduced its pedestrian deaths by 11% – more than twice the national average. The board attributes this to strategic funding and planning around a "Safe Systems" approach for state and local roadways. However, Public Works says Fort Wayne will have less money to invest in its infrastructure this year due to Gov. Mike Braun's property tax cuts (SEA1), which costed the city about $25M in revenue. The JG* says: "State and federal governments must develop policies to address the dangers of rising vehicle size and weight, and ensure state leaders get on board with funding projects that prioritize traffic and pedestrian safety."
• The JG did a deep dive on the role of Allen County's 20 townships* – all of which have trustees and board members up for reelection this year. Advocates say townships are the smallest form of government in Indiana, originally created to support farmers when their crops didn’t come in, and they still primarily serve people who have fallen on "rough times." Learn more about the roles and key issues facing them here.*

Free civic engagement workshops (with free dinner) are underway.

Neighborhood Planner Réna Bradley shares details.

What's happening?

In recent months, we've seen an increase in the number of citizens showing up at public meetings, like City Council, seeking to share concerns and ideas with elected officials. So when we heard the City of Fort Wayne's Department of Neighborhoods in Community Development was launching a series of Power Lab Workshops to provide citizens with tools and information to get more engaged in civic life, we couldn't resist the opportunity to sign up for a few sessions ourselves and learn more about the effort. 

Our reporter Chrystel Lopez sat down with Neighborhood Planner Réna Bradley for a quick Q&A about these meetings, which include free meals for attendees. The next one, "Owning the Mic: Public Speaking Essentials" with Chad Chenowith, is April 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the ACPL's Main Branch, Meeting Room A. (Free RSVP required.) See additional workshops, and register here.

Learn more in our full Q&A here.

• Make plans: to celebrate Earth Day with Daylily Estates, ACRES Land Trust, and EcoFest at Earth, Wine & Fire – an off-grid wine tasting event with locally sourced snacks on April 29, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. ($20)
• Thrift: at Summit City Vintage Fest on The Landing April 18, noon-6 p.m., featuring 25 vintage clothing vendors, coffee for purchase from Fairfax Coffee Co and adult beverages from Night Train.
• Read: about Fort Wayne native Alice Hamilton, one of the nation's first female physicians and a champion of worker safety.
• Shop: Record Store Day at Welcome Back Records on April 18, featuring RSD exclusive merch and vinyl releases.
• Party: at Draft Taproom's third annual Block Party on April 18, 2-6 p.m. The event includes vintage and craft vendors, a free clothing swap, food/drink specials and live music by Los Galaxy at 6 p.m. for all ages, open until 10 p.m.
• Get tickets: for the Philharmonic’s Bridgerton-inspired Strings & Sweets concert on April 18, 3-4:30 p.m., featuring reimagined pop favorites in the signature classical style of the Netflix series with cakes, cookies, and tea – all for $65/ticket.
• Explore: the FWMOA’s exhibit on Art Deco fashion and the urban lifestyle of the jazz age, featuring dresses, accessories, and more from the collection of Don Orban, April 18-July 5.
• Sip & shop: at 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒔 𝒚 𝑴𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒐 at Charlie’s Place on April 19, noon-5 p.m., featuring a Latina market by 𝐂𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐬 with vendors, food, música, pictures and more.

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Have a great week, Locals!

-Your Editor, Kara Hackett

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