Pressure mounts but Hogsett says he won't resign

Axios

a day ago

Mayor Joe Hogsett says he won't resign, despite increasing calls for him to do so.
Why it matters: Some local leaders say mounting criticism of his handling of sexual harassment allegations made by former campaign and city staffers against former chief of staff Thomas Cook — plus new questions about Hogsett's own behavior — are impacting the mayor's ability to do his job.
What he's saying:"We still have so much important work to do to ensure the confidentiality and the safety of every employee," Hogsett told Axios on Tuesday afternoon.
"My focus and that of my administration for the remainder of this term will also be on the promises that we made to the residents of the city of Indianapolis to create economic and social vitality and growth for the people of Indianapolis."
Driving the news: Local faith and philanthropy leaders asked that Hogsett not attend a press conference Tuesday for a new initiative to address chronic homelessness.
In a statement, the mayor's office told reporters the event was postponed "in light of recent events, in order to keep the focus on supporting our unhoused neighbors."
The day before, one of Cook's accusers, Lauren Roberts, was forcibly removed from a City-County Council meeting by sheriff's deputies for not following a two-minute rule for public comment.
What they're saying: David Greene Sr., pastor at Purpose of Life Ministries and a member of the Mayor's Leadership Council on Homelessness, told Axios that Hogsett was asked not to attend.
"We're not trying to politicize our homeless brothers and sisters," Greene said. "This initiative is really about trying to house the unhoused.
"I understand why he'd want a group of people standing around him with high integrity and ethics," Greene added. "We didn't want to be used that way."
Greene, who also serves as president of the Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis, described himself as a Democrat who voted for Hogsett in the past.
He said if the mayor indeed sent inappropriate texts, then "morally, ethically … he needs to resign."
"He's not going to fix a culture he himself created."
Zoom in: Three City-County Councilors — Jesse Brown, Andy Nielsen and Josh Bain — have now called for Hogsett's resignation.
A fourth, Crista Carlino, said she is "deeply considering it" after the IndyStar published late-night text messages about poetry and boyfriends Hogsett sent to Roberts and Caroline Ellert, the other woman who has publicly accused Cook of harassment.
These exchanges with Hogsett were shared during the City-County Council's investigation into Hogsett's handling of accusations against Cook, but were left out of the final report.
Council President Vop Osili does not think Hogsett needs to resign, but called the messages "odd."
The latest: Bain said Tuesday that calling for resignation is not something he does lightly.
"But the weight of these failures — ethical, personal and professional — demands accountability," he wrote in a statement. "Immediate change in leadership would be right for Indianapolis."
The other side: Hogsett told Axios that he did develop a "casual, conversational" style of communicating with those he worked closely with, but did not mean to make anyone uncomfortable.
"In retrospect, I now can see how my words could have been taken out of context," he said.
"I think that one of the lessons that I've learned in this process is that it is easy to fall prey to a more casual conversation style with those you work closely with."
Hogsett said he did not ask for anything to be omitted from the report and he's committed to providing a safe, harassment-free work environment.
What's next: The City-County Council's administration and finance committee will hold a public comment session next week for Roberts, Ellert and others to share their experience.