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Indy Democrats strategize ways to defeat state Senate Republican nemesis Aaron Freeman – Indianapolis Business Journal

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Indy Democrats strategize ways to defeat state Senate Republican nemesis Aaron Freeman – Indianapolis Business Journal


Indianapolis City-County Councilor Jesse Brown, who represents portions of the near east-side, leads a strategy session aimed at finding ways to defeat Republican state Sen. Aaron Freeman. (IBJ photo/Taylor Wooten)

Some Indianapolis Democrats are looking for a candidate, raising money and strategizing other ways to defeat a Republican state senator who has been a frequent thorn in their sides.

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Aaron Freeman, a Senate Republican and former Indianapolis city-county councilor, has become known for frequent legislation that seeks to derail policies and plans implemented by Democrat-controlled city-county government in Indianapolis and its public transit agency, IndyGo.

Now a group of Democrats are seeking to unseat the south-side attorney as he tries to secure a third term. He faces no opposition in the May 7 Republican primary and no Democrat has yet filed to run in the primary. 

About 40 people assembled Thursday night at Futuro, a pizza shop off of Washington Street, for a strategy session to help find a candidate that the Marion County Democratic Party could put on the ballot by the November election.

“We’re going to unseat Aaron Freeman,” newly-elected Indianapolis City-County Councilor Jesse Brown told the crowd. “And I promise you we have the power to do that regardless of the money that he’s got.”

In addition to defeating the two-term senator, the group said they also want to stop his pending legislation that would bar IndyGo from moving ahead with plans to establish bus-only lanes on Washington Street for the planned Blue Line.

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Part of the plan is to hound Republican state senators with letters in support of dedicated bus lanes for the Blue Line, which IndyGo has said would be jeopardized by Freeman’s legislation because it would endanger the project’s federal funding.

The group of Democrats also expressed frustration over Freeman’s efforts to undo what they see as other street-safety focused measures. Freeman has tried to undo the city’s turn-on-red ban at certain downtown intersections, though he agreed to a compromise this week that would put those efforts on hold for a year while the impact of the city’s policy is studied.

Freeman told IBJ in a text that he was unaware of the push to unseat him.

“God bless them. I will not be bullied, intimidated and will never back down from fighting for what I believe in,” Freeman wrote.

Freeman’s ability to raise campaign funds and his strongly Republican district in southeastern Marion County and northern Johnson County likely will make him a difficult target.

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Freeman had over $174,000 cash on hand at the end of 2023, and he easily won his first two races for state Senate. In 2020 Freeman defeated Democrat Belinda Freeman by a decisive 18 percentage points. Four years prior, he beat Democrat Sara Wiley by 20 percentage points.

Tara Wolf, a Republican supporter of the south-side senator, told IBJ in an email that Freeman is open to feedback when she has concerns. “I think Senator Freeman represents our district well and is a wonderful advocate for his constituents,” Wolf wrote. “I would expect him to advocate and focus and what is best for our district and its future.”

Brown, the new city-county councilor, points to his own success in unseating the former city-county council vice president Zach Adamson in last year’s Democratic primary as providing a road map for how to defeat Freeman.

Brown, a self-described Democratic Socialist, noted that he wasn’t able to secure major endorsements or outspend his opponent. But he said he believes he was able to win by motivating voters and that the same motivation could be used to defeat Freeman if voters know his policy positions.

Brown has launched a campaign fundraising web page against Freeman, called “Freedom from Freeman.” It had raised had raised $3,220 for the cause by Thursday evening.

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Former mayoral candidate Clif Marsiglio is joining Brown in his effort. Marsiglio ultimately endorsed an opponent in his race to become the Democratic nominee for mayor of Indianapolis last year, but he used the platform to build support for causes like pedestrian and cyclist safety.

Freeman has gained the ire of some in the pedestrian and cycling movement by calling one Indianapolis pedestrian-related policies “astronomically dumb.”

Brown said he has committed to knocking on 1,000 doors in Senate District 32—which includes portions of Franklin Township, Beech Grove and Greenwood—for any qualified candidate seeking to challenge Freeman. At the event Thursday, he and Marsiglio spent over an hour outlining the fight ahead and answering questions from attendees about the push.

The pair also worked to recruit potential candidates, volunteers, canvassers and volunteer organizers. Sixty-four people had signed an online form to help the campaign as of Thursday night.

Brown told the group that multiple people at Thursday’s gathering had expressed a willingness to run for the Senate seat.

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Drake, Freeman’s 2020 opponent, was floated as a potential challenger to Freeman but denied interest in running in an interview with IBJ.

“I’m not saying never, it’s just not right now. And Indianapolis deserves public transportation, full stop,” Drake told IBJ.

Tina Ahlgren, a teacher that worked on a previous campaign with Brown, gave a rallying cry to the newly-formed group Thursday.

“Jesse said our goal here is to punch back, right? But I want to be clear: we can win this. We absolutely can win this.”

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Indianapolis, IN

New stores in Indianapolis include indoor kid’s playground, cafe

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New stores in Indianapolis include indoor kid’s playground, cafe


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May came and went, and with it, we saw the closest Indianapolis 500 finish in history, the 150th anniversary of Eli Lilly and a contested primary election day.

There’s also been some movement in retail news ahead of the summer shopping season. On the north side, a new women’s clothing store opened while a piercing studio set up shop in Speedway. Meanwhile, an indoor children’s play place opened on the near north side.

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Read on for four spots that recently opened and one in Broad Ripple that said farewell.

Openings

Monkee’s

8659 River Crossing Blvd., monkeesofindianapolis.com, opened in March

Monkee’s of Indianapolis, a high-end women’s clothing store, opened recently on the north side in the Shops at River Crossing near the Fashion Mall. The brand Monkee’s started in the South three decades ago and has since grown to nearly 70 locations. In Indianapolis, Missy Llewellyn and Whitney Schmitt started the franchise to bring the clothing brand to the Circle City.

The Nest Play Cafe

515 E 22nd St Suite 101, indynestplaycafe.com, opened early May

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The Nest Play Cafe opened at the corner of Central Avenue and 22nd Street, offering an indoor space for parents and caregivers to bring their children to play. Caregivers can book 90-minute play sessions for $15 per child over the age of one. Tickets for additional siblings run $10. The cafe sells coffee and snacks, too.

Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to noon. Closed Tuesdays.

Forget Me Not Piercing Studio

5324 W. 16th St., jessflowerspiercings.square.site, opened May 27

A new piercing studio opened in Speedway at the end of May just days after the Indianapolis 500. Forget Me Not Piercing offers traditional lobe, helix and conch piercings along with nostril and septum piercings. Artist Jess Flowers opened the one-woman shop on 16th Street.

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Open Sunday and Thursday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Black Orchid Barbers Fountain Square

1201 Prospect St. Suite 100, blackorchidbarbers.com, opened in May

Black Orchid, a local barbershop known for its sharp haircuts with a side of humor, opened its Fountain Square spot, marking the company’s seventh brick-and-mortar location. Walk-ins are welcome but Black Orchid recommends grabbing a time slot online for your preferred service.

Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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Closures

Vitality IV Bar

6302 Guilford Ave., vitalityivbar.com

An IV-wellness spot in Broad Ripple shut its doors last month. Vitality IV Bar was located next to the Thieves cocktail lounge, formerly the Broad Ripple Starbucks location, before it went out of business.

Vitality IV still operates an Indianapolis-area location on Mass Ave downtown at 749 Massachusetts Ave where customers can book a variety of infusions with vitamins.

See a store opening or closing near you? Contact IndyStar reporter Alysa Guffey at alysa.guffey@indystar.com.

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Indianapolis artist merges forgiveness, healing and protecting water

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Indianapolis artist merges forgiveness, healing and protecting water


Carolyn Springer added streaks of light blue with her brush to the canvas. The streaks, representing light reflected through water, crossed over names written in chalk.

Forty-one names comprised the 11th layer of Springer’s “The Forgiving Sea VI,” an interactive painting that invites people to wr



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Garfield Park Conservatory will combine nature and crafts in June

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Garfield Park Conservatory will combine nature and crafts in June


Elizabeth Gabriel, Mirror Indy

(MIRROR INDY) — The Garfield Park Conservatory will host multiple family-friendly events throughout June. The events include plant shows, kid’s story time and Dollar Menu Night, which allows residents to harvest and eat veggies from a community garden.

Events at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 2505 Conservatory Drive, range in price and some require advance registration.

The Indianapolis Bonsai Club will have displays and answer questions about a variety of bonsai. Vendors will have items for purchase.  

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🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 6, 1-5 p.m. June 7
🎟️ $7 per person, $15 per family (maximum of two adults per family)

Preschoolers ages 2-5 can participate in nature-themed storytime and crafts. 

🗓️ 10-11 a.m. June 9 
🎟️ $6 per child

Residents of all ages can harvest and eat veggies from Blakes’ Garden. Advance registration is preferred. 

🗓️ 6-7 p.m. June 10
🎟️ $1 per person

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Focused on ages 2-8, participants will listen to a nature-themed story and explore Blakes’ Garden. Attendees will relocate to a classroom if there’s inclement weather. 

🗓️ 10 a.m. June 12 
🎟️ Free

Up to 15 neighbors ages 10 and up will learn to ferment kimchi. Registration is required. 

🗓️ 1-2 p.m. June 13 
🎟️ $15 per person

Kids ages 2-5 can plant and harvest crops in the Children’s Garden. Registration is required.  

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🗓️ 11 a.m. to noon June 24
🎟️ $6 per child

The Indiana Insectivores will display tropical and native Indiana predator plants. Plants will also be available for purchase. Those who attend the plant show will also have free entry to the Predatory Plants Presentation 1-2 p.m. June 27.

🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 27, 1-5 p.m. June 28
🎟️ $7 per person, $15 per family (maximum of two adults per family)

Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.

Mirror Indy reporter Elizabeth Gabriel covers the south side of Marion County. Contact her at elizabeth.gabriel@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X at @_elizabethgabs.

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