Good afternoon. This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, February 10th, 2021.

Later in the program, we have an update on a bipartisan police reform bill that recently passed through the state House of Representatives. Several weeks ago, WFHB talked to Robin Shackleford, state representative and chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus. We will feature excerpts from that interview.

Also coming up in the next half hour, Better Beware, your weekly consumer-watchdog segment brought to you by Richard Fish.

But first, your local news brief:

The Kohr Administration building, a late art-deco limestone landmark on Rogers and Second street, will receive an historic designation from the City of Bloomington, after the City Council voted in favor of the designation last week. Along with the parking garage, it is the only building that will definitely be spared demolition, as IU Health Bloomington Hospital is set to move to the east side in about a year.

And citing major structural issues with the building that most recently housed the Player’s Pub, the City Council voted against giving it an historic designation. The council’s decision potentially opens the building up to the specter of demolition. And in more demolition news, Brownstone Terrace, a student oriented 232 bedroom apartment complex on 14th Street and Dunn Street will be demolished, and replaced with a new apartment complex, to be called, “The Standard.” The new complex, which required some zoning exceptions, will have over 1,000 bedrooms.

In an email to Bloomington politicians and members of the media, Peter Dorfman, a representative of the group called, “Stop Bloomington Upzoning,” characterized the Indiana State Senate’s recent vote against legislation guaranteeing tenant and landlord rights as a measure which would hasten so-called upzoning in Bloomington. Upzoning is the disparaging term, which the group uses to describe new zoning laws changes. Those changes would allow duplex and triplex construction in central neighborhoods which now mostly consist of single family houses. Bloomington City Council Member Matt Flaherty responded to the email, stating,

“Thank you for sharing your views. I know you have strong feelings about development policy and rental properties. Respectfully, I believe your email is factually inaccurate. While I also dislike the state bill and the intrusion on home rule, I believe your following statements are incorrect.”

Flaherty went on to extensively address those statements. Council Member Isabel Piedmont Smith, responded as well, saying that she agreed with Representative Flaherty’s assessment. Both Council Members are in favor of the Zoning Changes, which they say will spur the development of a desperately needed additional local housing supply. Dorfman, later responded to the email, stating, “Matt's right; my initial reading was wrong.”

2021 Annual Public Safety Report

Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton hosted the 2021 Annual Public Safety Report for the year of 2020, on February 9th. Police Chief Michael Diekhoff gave a report for the Bloomington Police Department, which currently contains ninety-two sworn Personnel.

Diekhoff stated, due to COVID-19, overtime costs were also down by almost $200,000, in 2020. He reported a decrease in all categories of crimes against persons, except homicides.

Deikhoff described an increase in reported burglaries, from approximately 350 to 390. He stated, locally, gun use in crimes saw a 52 percent increase.

Deikhoff reported an approximately 15 percent decrease in aggravated assaults. He reported a major increase of client interactions for the Police Social Worker. He spoke of plans to expand the Social Worker program.

Director of Community and Family Resources Beverly Calender-Anderson spoke about support provided to unhoused re...