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On Monday, June 24th, 2024, the South Bend Common Council faced a crucial vote on "Resolution 24-20," a reconfirming resolution aimed at extending an existing designation period without altering the current abatement to assist a project that brought in $41,000,000.00 in private investment into the City of South Bend. The vote, for some reason, steeped in controversy, concluded with the South Bend Common Council rejecting Resolution 24-20 by a 6-2 margin (with one Councilmember having an excused absence.) Despite the petitioner, Commerce Center Development LLC (David Matthews), presenting compelling evidence with 14 precedents of similar extensions granted by the City of South Bend over the past six years, the South Bend Common Council disregarded both this historical consistency and a flood of public support. Over 140 letters and numerous hours of in-person testimony fervently supported the passage of Resolution 24-20, yet the South Bend Common Council inexplicably voted against the overwhelming will of the people it vowed to serve.
To understand this perplexing decision, one must look closer at South Bend's 4th District Councilman, Troy Warner, and the web of conflicts surrounding him and his personal connection to Resolution 24-20. Notably, Troy Warner is not just a Councilman; he also holds influential positions as the Vice President of the Redevelopment Commission and the Chairperson of the Community Investment Committee. These roles place him at the heart of decision-making processes directly affecting Resolution 24-20. Compounding the intrigue, the Redevelopment Commission, under Councilman Troy Warner's vice presidency, is embroiled in a $7.5 million lawsuit against David Matthews.
Moreover, Councilman Troy Warner and David Matthews have a fraught political history. During the 2019 Democratic primary, Matthews challenged Councilman Warner, receiving a significant share of the vote and narrowly losing. With less than a majority, Councilman Warner's position was precarious, making him vulnerable to future challenges. The conflict of interest is glaring: Councilman Warner, a political adversary of Matthews, stands to benefit personally and politically from Matthews' financial and reputational downfall.
What if Matthews decides to run for office again in 2027? It appears Councilman Warner's strategic maneuvers, veiled under the guise of council decision-making, could be aimed at preemptively crippling a formidable opponent. By leveraging his position within the Redevelopment Commission to spearhead a lawsuit against Matthews, Councilman Warner could be orchestrating a calculated campaign to bankrupt Matthews' project and, potentially, his political ambitions. Such actions raise serious questions about the integrity and motivations underlying the South Bend Common Council's vote against resolution 24-20. The dissonance between public will and Council actions, particularly those influenced by Councilman Warner, is a stark testament to the power plays undermining transparent governance in South Bend.
Two words that have defined the interplay of relationships for centuries are “money” and “politics.” The phrase “voting with your dollar” seems insufficient when scrutinizing the actions of South Bend Mayor James Mueller. In 2023, Mayor Mueller’s financial clout came into full view: he allotted $41,064 to City Clerk Bianca Tirado, $37,000 to the Indiana Democratic Party, $1,750 to Canneth Lee, and $750 to Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers. His influence did not end there but extended through contributions facilitated by his confidant, Indiana State Senator David Niezgodski, to several South Bend Common Council members and City Officials, including:
South Bend Mayor James Mueller: $12,500.00
Sharon McBride - South Bend City Council President: $2,000.00
Rachel Tomas Morgan - South Bend City Councilwoman: $2,000.00
Shelia Niezgodski - South Bend City Council Vice President: $1,000.00
Canneth Lee - South Bend City Councilman: $1,000.00
Karen White - South Bend City Councilwoman: $1,000.00
Troy Warner - South Bend City Councilman: $500.00
Bianca Tirado - South Bend City Clerk: $850.00
It's worth noting that Councilman Troy Warner served as an "event sponsor" for Indiana State Senator David Niezgodski, who is married to Sheila Niezgodski, Vice President of the South Bend Common Council. While South Bend Common Councilman Troy Warner is fundraising for Niezgodski's spouse, Warner’s fundraising efforts could be impacting Niezgodski's decisions on the council.
When the Mayor’s Chief Legal Officer is dispatched to ensure compliance, essentially demanding the South Bend Common Council vote no on Resolution 24-20, it is clear these monetary contributions are the strings that control their actions. To see Councilman Troy Warner among the recipients, even with a lesser contribution, lays bare a troubling picture: an elected official undermining the community he has pledged to serve. Councilman Warner's alignment with Mueller’s agenda represents a stark conflict of interests and a betrayal of public trust.
Moreover, the $41,064 given to South Bend City Clerk Bianca Tirado by South Bend Mayor James Mueller is particularly noteworthy. This investment seems aimed at shielding the administration from public scrutiny. Instances of "technical difficulties" conveniently prevent live streaming during moments of heightened public interest are disturbingly frequent. Such as Monday, June 24th's meeting, where "technical difficulties" again resulted in the meeting not being streamed to Michiana Access TV or Social Media Live streams for the public to watch in real-time on their televisions, computers, and smart devices. This feels like an obvious attempt by the administration to hide the overwhelming support that David Matthews had for Resolution 24-20 on June 24th. South Bend City Clerk Bianca Tirado’s consistent 'oversight' in recognizing public speakers during virtual meetings when dissent loomed further emphasizes this misuse of power. These actions stifle civic engagement, effectively silencing the people. Mayor Mueller’s orchestration through financial leverage blatantly disrupts democratic processes, prompting rigorous scrutiny, accountability, and reform.
Throughout extended discussions, dissenting Council members criticized David Matthews' availability for City and neighborhood events, portraying his character in a negative light. Given the current context, it becomes clear why Matthews hesitated to attend these gatherings and possibly received legal advice to abstain, particularly amidst ongoing litigation.
Watch Velvet Canada's reply to the Common Council on Monday night. It's ironic that, despite Councilmembers criticizing David Matthews for not being available to meet, South Bend Mayor James Mueller was the one who declined to meet with David Matthews and Velvet Canada.
In a further intriguing development, Councilman Troy Warner conducted two public hearings on Resolution 24-20. The initial hearing took place on June 10, 2024, at 4:00 PM, followed by a second hearing on June 24, 2024, at 3:00 PM. With no new information from the petitioners, the public anticipated the meeting to resume from where it halted on June 10, 2024. This action appeared to be yet another instance of Councilman Warner and the City of South Bend maneuvering their authority and bypassing established norms to suit their personal objectives.
Lastly, conjecture from many residents. Several residents posed the following question to Redress: Will South Bend's 4th District Councilman Troy Warner and Mayor James Mueller allow $41,000,000.00 of private investment to collapse, residences to empty, and a grocery store to close due to not granting an extension that was previously given to 14 other developments? Residents suggest that Mayor James Mueller and Councilman Troy Warner may have investors ready to purchase the project at a bargain when David Matthews is compelled to sell his brainchild at a fraction of his initial investment. At the core, residents speculate that Mayor James Mueller and Councilman Troy Warner aim to undermine David Matthews, only to step in at the eleventh hour and "save the day" with a prearranged solution.