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Jordan Smith

@jordanaccidentally.bsky.social

210 followers 59 following 48 posts

Journalist at The Indianapolis Star. Purdue graduate. Purdue Exponent alum. “If the accident will.” Find my latest stories here: https://www.indystar.com/staff/7132859001/jordan-smith/

www.indystar.com

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Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · 5d

Over the next 24 hours, the CEO of Indy's largest homeless shelter will sit outside on a bench downtown and livestream conversations with past or current homeless guests and others.

(I'm told he'll at least use the bathroom indoors.)

Worth tuning in: www.youtube.com/live/nmqBoxF...

Conversations On A Bench

YouTube video by Wheeler Mission

www.youtube.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · 8d

After Indy passed its 2026 city budget Monday night, here are the biggest winners and losers from months of debate:

www.indystar.com/story/news/l...

Indy passed its 2026 city budget. Here are the biggest winners and losers

As new state policies force belt-tightening among Indianapolis leaders, here are the causes that won and lost in the 2026 budget that passed Oct. 6.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · 19d

A new report shows how downtown Indianapolis has changed over the past year. Here are five takeaways from the data that explain the evolution of the capital city's core:

The evolution of downtown Indianapolis in 2025, explained in 5 data takeaways

A new report shows how the growth of downtown's residential population, changing perceptions of safety and major events are shaping the city's core.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · 21d

For IndyStar's Meet the Staff column, I wrote about why I do journalism, my favorite Kurt Vonnegut quote and my old self-given nickname in high school -- "J-Buckets" -- among other miscellany:

Meet IndyStar Indianapolis City Hall Reporter Jordan Smith

Meet IndyStar journalists who bring you the news from around Central Indiana. Up this week is Jordan Smith.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · Sep 12

The beloved chain Wawa wants to build a store in east Indianapolis. But the city could block it for being too car-centric.

The latest on that debate:

Wawa wants a store in east Indianapolis. The city could block it for being too car-centric

The convenience store chain Wawa's expansion into Indiana has hit a snag on Indy's east side because of a design that the city deems too car-centric.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · Sep 10

Where Indy Republicans and Democrats agree: AES rate hike must be stopped

www.indystar.com/story/news/l...

Indianapolis councilors make bipartisan push against AES Indiana electricity rate hike

Top council Republicans and a self-identified Democratic socialist are backing a push to disavow AES Indiana's proposed 13% residential rate hikes.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · Aug 28

While Indy Democrats rejected some fines for youth curfew violations, there's still a path under state law for the city to force parents and guardians to pay thousands.

Here's how:

Indy leaders shot down proposed fines for curfew violations. Why parents could still have to pay

While Indianapolis Democrats have rejected some fines for youth curfew violations, state law still allows the city to force parents to pay thousands.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · Aug 26

A council proposal would remove the 50-year Marion County residency requirement in place for most city workers to boost hiring and retention. But top city leaders are raising the alarm in opposition.

Will track today's 5:30 meeting on this proposal:

Should city workers have to live in Indy? New policy could make hiring easier, but drain tax base

An Indianapolis City-County Council proposal would end a requirement for city employees to live in Marion County. Top city leaders say it's a bad idea.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · Aug 21

Breaking: IndyGo just approved fare hikes over 50%, its first fare increase in over 15 years. Story below with all the details:

IndyGo approves first fare hike in over 15 years. How much riding the bus will cost in 2026

Bus fares will increase by more than 50% starting next year. Could the higher prices push more people away from riding the bus?

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · Aug 18

Find out about the fates a few lots near major corridors in Indy that are currently either vacant or dotted with abandoned buildings:

Boarded-up buildings, vacant lots in Indy to be replaced with affordable housing. Here's where

At multiple sites near downtown Indianapolis, vacant lots and boarded-up buildings will be replaced with hundreds of affordable housing units.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · Aug 15

Breaking this afternoon: Indianapolis has officially reversed course and will not close the Fountain Square homeless camp until social workers offer permanent housing to all the residents.

Find the reasoning here:

Indy reverses course on Fountain Square homeless camp, will house residents before shutdown

With the decision to keep the camp open until remaining residents are housed, Indy leaders are reversing course after weeks of sharp outcry.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · Aug 13

Did the Fountain Square homeless encampment actually close Monday? Here's why you'll likely still see people living there in the coming days:

A Fountain Square homeless camp was ordered to close. Here's why some people are still there

City leaders have softened their stance after ordering a Fountain Square homeless camp to close Aug. 11. Here's what to know.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · Aug 11

Marion County's top public health agency praised Gov. Mike Braun for backing health care with a $500,000 ad campaign this spring. Then state lawmakers and Braun cut millions in funding.

What happened?

Marion County health leaders praised Braun with $500k in ads. Then the state cut funding

Marion County's top public health agency praised Gov. Mike Braun for backing health care with an ad campaign this spring. Then the state cut millions.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · Aug 4

What Trump's attack on 'Housing First' means for Indy's effort to end chronic homelessness

What Trump's attack on 'Housing First' means for Indy's effort to end chronic homelessness

A new program to end chronic homelessness in Indianapolis comes with a steep price tag, as Trump aims to undercut the "Housing First" approach.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · Jul 25

BREAKING: Indianapolis will shut down the Fountain Square homeless camp by next month after a spate of negative press and months of mounting concerns from neighbors.

Also included: a deep dive into how the situation progressed to this point.

Link:
www.indystar.com/story/news/l...

'Nowhere else to go': Indy to shut down Fountain Square homeless camp after months of debate

Ahead of a new program that will change how the city deals with homelessness, officials caved to mounting pressure and shut down a Fountain Square camp.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · Jul 23

Overall homelessness in Indy is above 1,800 people for just the third time since 2010, a new count shows, with some of the most vulnerable groups like children increasing.

But veteran homelessness has fallen drastically in the last decade. Here's how:

Indy homelessness keeps rising in 2025 — but not for veterans. 4 takeaways from new data

Homelessness in Indy climbed closer to the highest levels recorded in the past 15 years, new data shows. But one group is bucking that trend.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · Jul 18

In a 2024 survey, just over half of people said they feel safe downtown most of the time.

Here's how Downtown Indy workers doing cleanup and safety patrols, funded by a new downtown tax, are trying to fix that:

Who are the people in yellow and red shirts downtown? How a new tax funds cleanup, safety patrols

A new tax that launched this year is funding dozens of workers doing cleanup and safety patrols downtown. They hope everyone follows their mantra: "See something, say something."

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · Jul 9

Just southwest of downtown, archaeologists have found more than 1,100 graves in Indianapolis' first cemetery.

Read more about what the 19th century artifacts they're revealing with high-tech analysis reveal about who may be buried there.

'Tell those stories': What Greenlawn Cemetery excavation is revealing amid Henry Street expansion

Amid the excavation of part of the city's first cemetery, an archaeology firm has found more than 1,100 graves filled with 19th century artifacts.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · Jul 8

An ATM planned in a majority-Black neighborhood has gone from a PR win for a major Indianapolis bank to a source of criticism over its history of overlooking Black borrowers.

'Legacy of disinvestment': ATM near Black church ignites debate over Indianapolis bank's lending history

An ATM planned in a majority-Black neighborhood has gone from a PR win for a major Indianapolis bank to a source of criticism over its lending history.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · Jun 7

Purdue plans for a 28-acre wedge of land in downtown Indy — roughly the size of that on which Lucas Oil Stadium and its south parking lot sit — to host 16 new buildings for up to 15,000 students.

See the plans:

See Purdue's 50-year plan to transform downtown Indianapolis campus with high-rises

Purdue plans for a 28-acre wedge of land — roughly the size of that on which Lucas Oil Stadium and its south parking lot sit — to host 16 new buildings.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · Jun 4

SPARK, the pop-up park on Monument Circle, has taken over a roadway in downtown Indy for the third straight year. In a city grappling with how to make its streets more pedestrian-friendly, what would it take for something like SPARK to become year-round?

I explore in today's piece:

SPARK on the Circle returns to downtown Indy. Could it become a year-round fixture?

The popularity of SPARK on the Circle has led some to call for the pop-up park to function year-round. Cold weather and cars present challenges.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · Jun 3

Love this column from Oklahoma City's mayor about how, after OKC lost a bid for a major employer to Indianapolis in the 1990s, the city's officials stole Indy's downtown revitalization strategy. Now the two cities will meet in the NBA Finals.

I'm the OKC mayor. Copying Indy's sports strategy brought us to the NBA Finals. | Opinion

Decades before the Pacers-Thunder series, Oklahoma City suffered a crushing business loss to Indianapolis. OKC rebuilt itself in Indy's image.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · May 15

IndyGo fares could increase by the start of 2026. With a vote scheduled for August, here's everything to know.

IndyGo bus fares could rise for the first time since 2009. Here's what to know

IndyGo wants to increase its typical fare by 57%, a change that would take effect Jan. 1, 2026, if approved.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · May 9

As Indianapolis looks to expand the Monon Trail, some homeowners are objecting that the proposed land grab would swallow portions of their backyards.

As Indianapolis expands the Monon Trail, homeowners say land grab would swallow backyards

As Indianapolis seeks to widen the Monon Trail, some homeowners fear the city could use eminent domain to buy swaths of their backyards.

www.indystar.com

Jordan Smith @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social · May 7

Does construction ever actually end?

Here are 8 projects Indianapolis expects to finish in 2025, including a major one-way to two-way road conversion and four cycling trails.

Here are 8 Indianapolis roads and bike trails under construction that will open in 2025

Here are four roadways and four bicycle trails the city expects to complete in 2025, including major greenway connections to neighboring counties.

www.indystar.com