• A post from a spouse of a co-owner of BRICS went viral in Indy groups this week, leading many to call to boycott the shop.
• The Broad Ripple business quickly distanced itself from the pro-ICE views but stopped short of posting their own stance.
• Now, the owners are working through the aftermath.

A Broad Ripple ice cream shop found itself under fire on social media this week after one its owners posted in support of Immigration Customs and Enforcement, prompting many to pledge to stop supporting the business.

The social media ordeal in which the store BRICS found itself raises the question of whether small businesses should publicly take sides on political and civil issues and how much a business owner’s politics should dictate whether one supports the business or not.

In a lengthy interview Jan. 30 with the IndyStar, the BRICS owners said the post on the personal Facebook page of the spouse of a minority owner did not represent the sentiment of BRICS ownership. However, they say, they will not release a statement against ICE, either, preferring to remain political neutral to operate as a safe third space for people on all sides of the debate.

“We feel very differently from what was posted,” said David Vonnegut-Gabovitch, the majority owner of BRICS. “But our concern was that if our statement says we feel totally the opposite, then everybody on the other side starts going the other way.”

Is ICE in Indianapolis? What to know about rumors

That was not enough for Jen Colson Estes, a Meridian-Kessler resident, who first called out the shop on social media for a Facebook post she saw made by Jenny DuBow, spouse of BRICS co-owner David DuBow. As ICE enforcement in the country has ramped up, Colson Estes posted on her personal Facebook page that she would not visit the ice cream shop because of the post.

Trash was not picked up Jan. 26-27 because of the winter storm that hit Indianapolis the weekend before. To catch up, the city chose to forgo the usual one-day rolling delay and returned to the regular collection schedule beginning Wednesday, Jan. 28.

The Department of Public Works said that if you missed trash pick-up on Jan. 26-Jan. 27, you are able to leave extra bagged trash out.

“For residents who had solid waste pickup canceled earlier this week, Monday and Tuesday, they are welcome to leave additional bagged trash that won’t fit in their cart at curbside next week,” Kyle Bloyd, chief communications officer for the Department of Public Works, told IndyStar. “Both haulers, Indy DPW and LRS (Lakeshore Recycling Systems), will collect the additional bags on Monday and Tuesday.”

So, if necessary, Indianapolis residents can place bagged trash next to their trash bins for pick up collection on Feb. 2, and Feb. 3.

The revised schedule applies to DPW and Lakeshore Recycling Systems customers throughout Indianapolis.

Did your trash get picked up? You can find what day your trash is picked up on the city’s website at indy.gov/activity/trash-pickup. If you have questions, you can contact the Department of Public Works from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 317-327-4000.

Winter storm: 3 deaths reported in Indy; travel watch extended

Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.

INDIANAPOLIS — Six Indiana State Police trooper vehicles in the Indianapolis district have been hit in just the last five days, all while responding to other crashes on icy roads.

WATCH FULL STORY BELOW

ISP sergeant calls it ‘heartbreaking’ as ‘selfish’ drivers hit trooper vehicles

The incidents come as troopers have investigated more than 600 crashes in the last five days in the Indianapolis district, according to ISP Sergeant John Perrine.

The ISP vehicles were hit while the troopers were on the side of the interstate responding to another crash.

“It’s heartbreaking. It’s selfish drivers. People that drive with themselves in mind, not anyone else. They make poor decisions. They get in a hurry,” Perrine said. “Well, we’re very thankful and fortunate that none of them have suffered any serious injuries.”

The dangerous conditions persist as INDOT crews face challenges with traditional winter weather response methods. On Thursday, plow truck drivers are emptying salt from their trucks at their Indianapolis substation because the extreme cold temperatures make salt ineffective.

“We’re still seeing really cold temperatures, subzero overnight almost every night, so we can’t use salt when that happens. Anytime it’s under 15 degrees, our salt really isn’t effective. We’re dropping it, but it’s not activating,” said Jordan Yaney, public relations director for INDOT’s East Central District.

PROVIDED

High-speed crashes on icy roads have been on the rise in recent days.

“People are getting hurt, and that’s really a scary time for us,” Perrine said.

The North Split area has been particularly problematic, with drivers getting stuck in snow buildup when trying to navigate between lanes or exit ramps.

“What we were seeing is a lot of people sliding off and getting stuck because if you miss that exit by just a second, or you’re in the left lane and need to exit all the way over onto the right and you get caught in that buildup of snow, it’s really hard to get out of it—especially if you’re in a smaller car like a sedan,” Yaney said.

PROVIDED

INDOT crews plan to address the snow accumulation by pushing it over walls where they can safely do so as part of their cleanup response. However, there aren’t many places to put snow in the area, as crews typically push snow off mainline roads to shoulders, gores, and merge points during winter events.

As temperatures remain below freezing, Perrine warns drivers to be prepared for re-freezing and to slow down. He says the extended winter weather has been particularly challenging.

PROVIDED

“It’s probably the longest snow event that I can remember in my 23-year career,” Perrine said. “We’re just really tired of responding to the crashes of careless drivers.”

INDOT crews continue working long 12 and even 16-hour shifts to clear every lane from white line to white line, but with bitter cold holding on, slick spots will remain.

__