By Gitte Laasby, Post-Tribune staff writer
Supporters of the South Shore expansion had an elaborate plan to defend the project, which included a "rapid response system to combat opposition."
Now, at least two groups are wary of answering questions about it.
The Chicago South Shore Connections group, which was behind recent residential mailings, stated in a confidential request for proposals from public relations firms: "In addition to generating positive media coverage, the campaign must be prepared to combat any negative media or public opposition."
Bob Harper, a Porter County commissioner and vocal opponent of the extension, obtained the document under a public information request to the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority. Harper said he now believes several newspaper editorials against him were part of a coordinated effort.
"The issue is a debatable issue. There are two different sides. We should be able to debate it without attacking each other. We should also be able to debate with the full facts," Harper said.
Tim Sanders, executive director for the RDA, which contributed $130,000 to the public relations campaign by the Ice Miller company, said the intention was not to discourage public debate but to "educate people and gain support for the legislation."
"You don't squelch public debate. The RDA doesn't want to do that," Sanders said. "That wasn't the intention, and if it was, it didn't work very well."
Since Jan. 1, the Post-Tribune has published 64 letters about the South Shore extension, 44 against and 22 in support.
Sanders said the RDA did not intend to change people's minds or sell the project to people who didn't want it.
John Swanson, executive director of the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, said combatting negative publicity was not a critical factor in selecting a public relations firm.
"The Forum is relatively small-staffed and the Forum felt it was necessary to have that capability, but I don't think it was key to making the selection they did," Swanson said.
The Post-Tribune also contacted Northwest Indiana Forum Director Vince Galbiati and Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District spokesman John Parsons for comment. Both asked to get their questions in writing.
Afterward, John Parsons responded with, "We've been in since 3 a.m. again today (Thursday) because of the overnight single-digit temps. We will get back with you tomorrow with our response."
The documents reveal NICTD paid $45,000 to the Chicago South Shore Connections campaign.
Galbiati responded to multiple questions, including whether the Forum is considering legal action against Harper, in three sentences: "The allegations made by Commissioner Harper are completely false. I will (sic) happy to answer all of your remaining questions at a later time. The Forum at this point is reviewing its options."
After reading the released documents, Harper also criticized the Chicago South Shore Connections for not being more upfront with the fact that an income tax was supposed to pay for the extension.
"The public should have known all through the fall that they were planning on an income tax. All through this, they say, 'Don't talk about the tax, just talk about the benefits,' " Harper said. "They planned in April that NICTD was going to pass this tax. The whole plan got derailed, but that was their plan."