Subsidized housing does not mean substandard housing

Following an investigation by his team, Attorney General Todd Rokita has obtained legal commitments from the Indianapolis Housing Agency (IHA) to rectify miserable living conditions at the Lugar Tower Apartments and to extend new protections to tenants. 

The problems stem from the IHA’s alleged mismanagement of the 17-story, 250-unit apartment building in Downtown Indianapolis, which serves elderly and disabled residents.

“Just like private companies, public agencies must meet their obligations to Hoosiers,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Our team works tirelessly to ensure our laws are followed. This is one more instance in which we were honored to serve that mission.”

At least 40 tenants filed complaints earlier this year which detailed deteriorating conditions at the property. A lack of building security at the property has attracted criminal activity, including assaults and robberies. Squatters have inhabited vacant units and common areas of the property.

The building at times has also lacked hot water service, working elevators and even secure locking devices on residents’ doors.

Other problems have included fecal matter in common stairwells and rampant pest infestations.

Attorney General Rokita’s Homeowner Protection Unit (HPU) responded to tenants’ complaints — communicating with IHA, inspecting the building, interviewing residents and engaging with other stakeholders to ensure issues were remedied.

The IHA agreed to address the issues as part of an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) that Attorney General Rokita’s office filed with the Marion County Superior Court.

Attorney General Rokita commended IHA Chief Executive Officer Marcia Lewis for taking the residents’ concerns seriously and working constructively with his team to implement solutions.

Already, crews have cleaned common areas, fixed doors and locks, installed new water heaters and repaired elevators. Management also has increased on-site security.

“What happened at Lugar Tower Apartments was the culmination of years of neglect and mismanagement,” Attorney General Rokita said. “That should anger anyone who cares about fairness and justice. Subsidized housing does not mean substandard housing. Our office will not hesitate to hold any landlord accountable that seeks to deny tenants equal protection of our laws.”

The AVC requires IHA to agree to a two-year compliance period in which they must maintain a licensed broker company as property manager of the building, maintain a reasonable security presence, allow access for future inspections and submit quarterly compliance reports to the Attorney General.

The AVC also includes an agreement that IHA will follow the Indiana landlord-tenant statutes and local health and housing codes.  

Attorney General Rokita thanked his HPU team for their work in this matter — including Investigator Molly Jefford; Deputy Attorney General and Assistant Section Chief Timothy Weber; and Deputy Attorney General and Section Chief Chase Haller.

The HPU’s mission is to protect the rights of all individuals involved in the housing market — including tenants, homeowners, and aspiring homeowners — by investigating and redressing deceptive acts in connection with mortgage lending and violations of relevant state and federal laws.

WASHINGTON — Senator Mike Braun released the following statement on indictment former President Donald Trump in Georgia.

“Another week, another attempt by President Biden and his party’s prosecutors to put their leading political rival behind bars and interfere with the 2024 presidential election. President Biden’s weaponization of the justice system will cause irreversible damage to our nation and divide us further.” – Senator Mike Braun

IEDC Chief Strategy Officer Ann Lathrop appointed to join Rosenberg on Governor’s Cabinet

INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Eric J. Holcomb today named David Rosenberg, Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) chief operating officer and chief of staff, as the state’s Secretary of Commerce effective immediately. Ann Lathrop, IEDC’s chief strategy officer, will continue to lead the agency’s integrated business development strategy while assuming more of the agency’s strategy-focused responsibilities. Lathrop will join Rosenberg on Gov. Holcomb’s cabinet.

“David has been instrumental in guiding the IEDC team over the last two years, and I am confident in his ability to continue to lead the strong team and Indiana’s extraordinary economic momentum,” said Gov. Holcomb. “Under Ann’s leadership of the IEDC’s business development team, Indiana has pivoted its focus to attracting the economy of the future. I am thrilled to have both David and Ann join my cabinet, and I know their leadership will help solidify more wins that will provide opportunities to Hoosiers for decades to come.”

Rosenberg, who joined the IEDC in August 2021, began his career as deputy chief of staff and director of enterprise development for former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. He also previously served as operations officer for Indianapolis Public Schools and vice president of operations for Market Street Group. As chief operating officer and chief of staff for the IEDC, Rosenberg oversaw the agency’s operations, cultural and young professional development team, as well as several strategic IEDC initiatives, including the Indiana Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI), and the LEAP Innovation and Research District in Boone County.

“I’m incredibly humbled and grateful to Governor Holcomb for the opportunity to lead the IEDC and serve Hoosiers as Indiana’s next secretary of commerce,” Rosenberg said. “Over the last two years, we’ve executed against a strategic vision that enables businesses and talent to be successful in Indiana while setting new committed capital investment records and unprecedented investments in communities throughout the state. Our focus on the economy of the future will impact generations as we ensure Indiana continues competing to win.”

Rosenberg serves as a board member for BSA’s Crossroads of America Council, Visit Indy and KIPP Indy Public Schools. He has been recognized as one of Indiana’s 250 most influential leaders and a Forty Under 40 leader by the Indianapolis Business Journal. He and his wife, Ali, reside in Zionsville with their children, Will and Lily.

Lathrop joined the IEDC in November 2021 with more than 30 years of combined experience in business development, sales, finance and brand management. She began her career as an auditor for KPMG and went on to serve as deputy mayor for the city of Indianapolis before transitioning to city controller. Most recently, she served as Crowe’s first chief marketing officer, where she led marketing and brand strategy and realigned the Inside Sales team deployment. As chief strategy officer of the IEDC, Ann oversees Indiana’s integrated approach to business development aligning external engagement, workforce, business development, foreign direct investment, federal engagement, government-to-government relations, defense, foreign policy and trade to meet the speed and needs of the market.

“Our future-focused economic strategy has produced historic results, created quality careers for Hoosiers, modernized and professionalized our economic tools and built a highly motivated, highly engaged team that truly loves the work and service they deliver,” said Lathrop. “I am thankful for the opportunity to serve alongside David on Gov. Holcomb’s cabinet and continue this incredible work with the IEDC team.”