SHOCKER! Angie’s List Kills Their Indy Expansion Deal! Blames Indiana’s Religious Freedom Law
Source: Getty
In a stunning Saturday announcement, the proposed deal where the City of Indianapolis would lend Indianapolis-based Angie’s List $18 million to expand its headquarters and increase hundreds of Indianapolis jobs has been put on hold because of the growing concern about Indiana’s new Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The Indianapolis City-County Council was scheduled to approve the deal this Monday, in what was shaping up to be a close, contentious vote with many Democrats and Republicans in favor and many opposed. Angie’s List dropped the bombshell in a Saturday statement saying the company was pulling their proposed campus expansion project on Indianapolis’ Near East Side from City-County Council consideration because of the passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. “We are putting the ‘Ford Building Project’ on hold until we fully understand the implications of the freedom restoration act on our employees, both current and future,” said Angie’s List CEO Bill Oesterle. “Angie’s List is open to all and discriminates against none and we are hugely disappointed in what this bill represents,” Oesterle added. Angie’s List was expected to break ground on the project pending City-County Council approval. But sources tell Afternoons with Amos’ Amos Brown that the vote would’ve been close and there was a chance the plan would’ve been defeated. According to Angie’s List officials, they will start reviewing alternatives for headquarters expansion immediately. Reaction to the Angie’s List bombshell was swift. Democratic mayoral candidate Joe Hogsett was quick to react:
https://twitter.com/HogsettForIndy/status/581848177810251776
While Mayor Ballard didn’t directly respond to the Angie’s List bombshell, the Mayor addressed thousands gathered at the Statehouse Saturday expressing their concern and anger over the new law and the signal it sends the nation and world that Indianapolis is a NOT welcoming city. Meanwhile Republican mayoral candidate Chuck Brewer, in response to a question from Afternoons with Amos, publicly said for the first time where he stands on the issue:
https://twitter.com/IndyChuckBrewer/status/581877941379944448
Meanwhile Republican State Sen. Brant Hershman, who represents rurl areas of Boone, Clinton, White, Tippecanoe, Carroll and Jasper Counties, showed his anger at Angie List’s decision and by extension those in Indianapolis who are protesting the new law this way:
Other companies expressing strong concern about the new, controversial Indiana law include Apple, the NCAA, USA Track and Field, the NFL, Tech companies like Yelp and Salesforce. President Barack Obama’s Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Friday, “The signing of this bill doesn’t seem like it’s a step in the direction of equality and justice and liberty for all Americans. And again, that’s not just the view of the administration; I know that’s the view of the Republican mayor of Indianapolis and a whole host of non-profit and private sector companies who have legitimate concerns about the impact of this legislation.” Even an acclaimed Broadway star spoke out about the law. Audra McDonald a six time Tony Award winner, in such musicals as Raising in the Sun, Carousel, Ragtime, Porgy and Bess and many more. She’s scheduled to appear in Bloomington, April 7th. But, rather than boycotting Indiana, she’s taking a stand to fight the new law:
https://twitter.com/AudraEqualityMc/status/581219023599349761
Afternoons with Amos will have more coverage this week on this developing story that could cause serious economy consequences for Indianapolis and our community.
