Tainted brand

A lot of ranting and raving about the imminent collapse of Gary. Some residents say just go ahead and let the "tainted brand" declare bankruptcy so it can be started over with a clean slate. Some say the property tax caps will be the death of the city, but Sen. Luke Kenley wonders about the millions in casino dollars that have already flowed through there. A lot of residents want the state to give Gary a bunch of breaks to allow the "economic development seeds" that have been planted to grow. Rep. Ed Soliday of Valparaiso gets it about right:

Gary must attract middle-class residents and businesses back to the city. That's done, he said, by lowering taxes, reducing crime and exhibiting "sterling financial management."

If Gary does that, it won't need so much help and money. If it doesn't, all the money in the world won't help. You'd think somebody there would have figured that out by now.