People may laugh at the excitement the City of Gary has at Popeye’s returning to the city after at least a decade, but for Mayor Eddie Melton, it’s the icing on the cake.
The Lousiana-style fast-food chicken purveyor left the 11th and Broadway location at least a decade ago, its sign mocking those who passed with its “We will return” message. With the building now demolished and brand new one coming to the newly christened Hatcher Boulevard, the new restaurant represents a symbol of Gary’s comeback, Melton told a packed Savannah Auditorium at Indiana University Northwest during a community forum the city held Tuesday evening.
“We’d like to thank the Aby Group, who came to Chris Harris and said, “We know Popeye’s did Gary dirty. They made a promise they did not keep,” Melton said to applause and laughter. “A lot of people are poking fun — ‘Why are you so happy about a Popeye’s?’ — but this is not about a Popeye’s, folks. It’s about accountability, and it’s about economic development and new jobs. Don’t let the things on social media drive the narrative for you.”
Melton was all smiles as he touted the city’s accomplishments big and small for this year, from paying down the city’s bills to implementing and resurrecting citywide programs that’re putting people back to work. Work B.I.G, for example, is a program in which the city partnered with the Center for Workforce Innovation and invested about $2 million to not only put people to work cleaning the city but learning a trade as well, he said.
“At $15 an hour, we received over 600 inquiries. Of 55 participants, there were 47 trainees and 25 employers, and we put 14 people in full-time employment. This is something we are very proud of,” Melton said, adding that the city also retooled and brought back the youth summer internship program.
City Engineer William Allen, the first city engineer the city’s had in years, said he’s spent a chunk of his time surveying the city’s lights and found out 900 of the 2,000 city-owned street lights weren’t working. But they will be by the end of the year.
“There are outdated power sources, and some of them are more than 20 years old,” Allen said. “We’ve also ordered a surplus so that when one gets taken out in accident, we can replace it right away.”
“Drivers, get your insurance, because we’re coming to get you for these poles,” Melton joked.
Another program for which Melton is particularly proud comes from the Gary Sanitary District: backflow preventers, he and GSD Head Ragen Hatcher said. All residents have to do is measure their basement floor drain and come to GSD Headquarters to grab a backflow preventer, which keeps sewage from coming back through the pipes.
“No one thinks about GSD until their basement floods,” Melton said. “When our sewers get full, the water finds a place to go.
After going through many updates from Police, Fire, and the millions of dollars in grants and economic development the city is starting to realize, Melton set himself up in one of the Savannah Center’s art galleries to chat one-on-one with residents who want to talk to him. The line was dozens long but worth the wait for them.
“This community forum is a masterclass in leadership,” said resident Latrice Farmer. “I came to the forum last year, and I’ve never seen a mayor so accommodating. He accomplished everything he said he was going to do.”
Vivian Woodson Hotchkins, meanwhile, wanted to chat with him about business.
“He answered every question,” she said. “I was born and raised here, and I grew up in the 80s and 90s, so I was here for the downfall. This come-up is so refreshing. It’s like waking up and every day is Christmas.”
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
