The immigration situation in Cass County and specifically Logansport, Indiana is no longer a local problem, it is becoming a national one. So much so that it has caught the eyes of national media outlets, who are all asking the same question, “What is going on in Logansport, Indiana?” The citizens who live in the community are feeling it’s effects while it seems that those in charge are indifferent or ignorant of them despite supposedly residing in the districts that they represent.
At the Logansport City Council meeting on 10/14, the room was packed with concerned citizens and as the floor was opened for public comment. Citizens voiced their frustrations over the city’s response to the growing immigration influx, and were primarily met with dismissal or sarcasm from city council members, including remarks to a particularly offensive comparison of local residents to “Acting like Haitians,” the council’s behavior struck a nerve with the community.
The most explosive moment of the night occurred when Dave Morris compared citizens’ behavior to “acting like Haitians,” stating before, “…none of you look like Haitians… but you’re acting like them.” a remark that many deemed offensive and racist. This comment set off a firestorm of anger and further confirmed the public’s view that the council was not only out of touch with their concerns but also actively disrespecting them. “That’s completely uncalled for,” one resident shouted, demanding the council member’s resignation on the spot. The disrespect on display left many in the crowd shaking their heads in disbelief, and the council’s refusal to apologize only added fuel to the fire.
Throughout the meeting, residents voiced complaints about the dismissive attitudes of their elected officials. "You’re supposed to be listening to us, not looking down on us,” one attendee said. Another added, “We’re being treated like we don’t matter, like our concerns are just noise.” Despite the obvious anger and frustration from the community, the city council often responded with a defensive tone, brushing aside concerns with comments that left the crowd feeling further disrespected. One speaker commented, “It feels like you’re more concerned with keeping control than actually fixing the problem.”
Rather than engaging meaningfully with the public, council members appeared more interested in protecting their positions. Dave Kitchell, the city’s former Mayor, suggested the appointment of a nonpartisan city manager to handle the crisis, a proposal that received loud applause from the crowd. Yet, this suggestion was met with indifference from the council, with one member dismissing the idea out of hand. The tension between Kitchell and current Mayor, Chris Martin was even further fueled during a dicey exchange asking the former Mayor what he should do followed by Mayor Martin condescendingly and forcefully asking Kitchell if he was finished. The exchange led to Kitchell stating that he would be passing around a letter demanding Mayor Martin’s resignation, leading Martin stating that it was only the opinion of a few that he should have to do that, while the eruption of cheers from the room indicating otherwise.
Citizens also felt disrespected by the council’s refusal to take responsibility for the ongoing issues in the community. Many noted that the council seemed more focused on shifting blame than taking action. “We elected you to solve problems, not pass them off to us,” said one resident. This sentiment was echoed throughout the night as attendees voiced their frustration with the council’s evasive responses. “We’ve been dealing with these issues for months, and all you do is ask us what to do,” one citizen said. “You’re the leaders, act like it.”
The council’s lack of transparency was another point of contention, after accusations of the city shutting down public comment options on the city’s website, leaving them in the dark about what steps, if any, were being taken to address the situation. “You’ve cut off our ability to communicate with you, and now you sit here pretending like we don’t know what we’re talking about,” one attendee remarked. The city’s failure to provide clear information about the impact of the immigration influx left many feeling ignored and disrespected.
As tensions grew, the council’s responses became increasingly defensive, further alienating the public. The citizens were there because they care about the community, but all they were getting from the Mayor and City council was disrespect and avoidance.
The disrespect shown by the city council throughout the meeting was not only evident in their words but also in their body language and tone. Attendees noted how council members rolled their eyes and sighed during public comments, signaling a clear lack of interest in the concerns being raised.
The mayor and council are at a critical crossroads, with their leadership now under scrutiny. To move forward, the city must adopt a transparent and proactive approach. Immediate solutions include establishing clear communication channels, expanding resources for public services, and implementing cultural integration programs. The leadership of Logansport needs to reexamine their approach towards the public during public forums. Throughout the session, numerous citizens stated their concerns about this issue and the leaderships active dismissal of the problems or ignorance of them is leading to unnecessary tensions that could be alleviated with action from the City’s leadership. The path forward depends on whether the city’s leaders will listen and act on the community’s needs. Most citizens of Logansport feel that something is amiss and when the officials in charge are telling them that there is nothing wrong, that they are invalidated in how they feel, or that they cannot do anything about it—It leads to citizens losing faith in their elected officials.
Transparency and communication are the only way forward for Logansport’s leadership. Citizens want clear, honest answers, not evasions or dismissive remarks. For too long, they’ve felt left in the dark about the city’s plans to manage the immigration influx and its impact on resources, safety, and daily life. By reopening lines of communication—whether through public forums, accessible online platforms, or direct engagement—city officials can rebuild trust. Transparency is essential to ensure that residents’ concerns are addressed and that real, actionable solutions are put in place.
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