Editing Indianapolis (section)

===Contemporary era===
[[File:Indy Central Canal.jpg|thumb|Downtown Indianapolis skyline from [[Canal and White River State Park]] in 2008]]
While campaigning in the city in 1968, [[Robert F. Kennedy]] delivered one of the most lauded [[Robert F. Kennedy's speech on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.|speeches]] in 20th century American history, following the assassination of [[Martin Luther King Jr.]]<ref>{{cite news|author=Morning Edition|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89365887|title=Robert Kennedy: Delivering News of King's Death |publisher=NPR|access-date=July 1, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Higgins|first=Will|date=April 2, 2015|title=April 4, 1968: How RFK saved Indianapolis|url=http://www.indystar.com/story/life/2015/04/02/april-rfk-saved-indianapolis/70817218/|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|access-date=March 26, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Top 100 American Speeches of the 20th Century|url=http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/dl/free/007256296x/77464/top100_only.html|access-date=August 1, 2016}}</ref> As in most U.S. cities during the [[civil rights movement]], the city experienced strained race relations, including [[1969 Indianapolis riots|1969 riots]]. A 1971 federal court decision forcing [[Indianapolis Public Schools]] to implement [[desegregation busing]] proved controversial.<ref>{{cite news|first=Shaina|last=Cavazos|date=August 17, 2016|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/08/indianapolis-school-districts/496145/|title=Racial Bias and the Crumbling of a City|work=The Atlantic|access-date=September 22, 2016}}</ref>

During the mayoral administration of [[Richard Lugar]] (1968–1976), the city and county governments consolidated. Known as [[Unigov]] (a [[portmanteau]] of "unified" and "government"), the [[city-county consolidation]] removed bureaucratic redundancies, captured increasingly [[suburbanization|suburbanizing]] tax revenue, and created a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[political machine]] that dominated local politics until the early 2000s.<ref name="politics">{{cite news |last=Bradner |first=Eric |date=August 29, 2010 |title=Indiana Democrats, African-Americans saw diminishing returns in 'Unigov' |url=http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&subsectionID=303&articleID=55914 |work=Evansville Courier & Press |access-date=March 26, 2016 |archive-date=April 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408151900/http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&subsectionID=303&articleID=55914 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor1-last=Bodenhamer |editor1-first=David |editor2-last=Barrows |editor2-first=Robert |title=The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |year=1994 |publisher=Indiana University Press |location=Bloomington & Indianapolis |page=1356}}</ref> Effective January 1, 1970, Unigov expanded the city's land area by more than {{convert|300|sqmi|km2}} and increased its population by some 250,000 people.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Not stated--> |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/312244277 |url-access=subscription |title=Unigov's 1st Test Is Due |date=May 25, 1971 |work=The Indianapolis News |access-date=July 3, 2023 |page=41 |via=Newspapers.com |quote=It meant the city's jurisdiction grew overnight from one that covered 82 square miles and just over 500,000 residents to one with 400 square miles and more than 750,000 people.}}</ref> It was the first major city-county consolidation to occur in the U.S. without a [[referendum]] since the creation of the [[City of Greater New York]] in 1898.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Creation of Unigov |encyclopedia=Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |orig-date=1994 |year=2021 |last1=Blomquist |first1=William A. |last2=Vanderstel |first2=David G. |publisher=Indianapolis Public Library |url=https://indyencyclopedia.org/unigov-creation-of-1967-1971/ |access-date=July 2, 2023}}</ref> Lugar is credited with initiating downtown revitalization efforts, overseeing the building of [[Market Square Arena]], renovations to [[Indianapolis City Market]], and the formation of [[Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Richard G. Lugar |encyclopedia=Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |date=April 2021 |last=Frantz |first=Edward O. |publisher=Indianapolis Public Library |url=https://indyencyclopedia.org/richard-g-lugar/ |access-date=July 2, 2023}}</ref>

Amid the changes in government and growth, the city pursued an aggressive economic development strategy to raise the city's stature as a [[sports tourism]] destination, known as the Indianapolis Project.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor1-last=Bodenhamer |editor1-first=David |editor2-last=Barrows |editor2-first=Robert |title=The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |year=1994 |publisher=Indiana University Press |location=Bloomington & Indianapolis |pages=803–804}}</ref> During the administration of the city's longest-serving mayor, [[William Hudnut]] (1976–1992), millions of dollars were invested into sports venues and public relations campaigns. The strategy was successful in landing the [[U.S. Olympic Festival]] in 1982, securing the [[Baltimore Colts relocation to Indianapolis|relocation of the Baltimore Colts]] in 1984, and hosting the [[1987 Pan American Games]].<ref name="Naptown"/>

Beginning in 1992, the mayoral administration of [[Stephen Goldsmith]] introduced a number of [[austerity]] measures to address budget shortfalls through [[privatization]] and greater reliance on [[public–private partnership]]s. Major downtown revitalization projects continued through the 1990s, including the openings of [[Circle Centre Mall]], [[Victory Field]], and [[Gainbridge Fieldhouse]], as well as ongoing redevelopment of the [[Canal and White River State Park]] area.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Stephen L. Goldsmith Administration |encyclopedia=Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |orig-date=1994 |year=2021 |last1=Blomquist |first1=William A. |last2=Stitt |first2=Scott |publisher=Indianapolis Public Library |url=https://indyencyclopedia.org/administration-of-stephen-l-goldsmith/ |access-date=July 2, 2023}}</ref>

[[Bart Peterson]] took office in 2000, the first Democrat elected to the post since [[John J. Barton]]'s [[1963 Indianapolis mayoral election|1963 election]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Schneider |first=Mary Beth |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/107860017 |url-access=subscription |title=Peterson leads a party revival |date=November 3, 1999 |work=The Indianapolis Star |access-date=July 2, 2023 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |quote=For the first time since 1963, and for the first time since Uni-Gov was created in 1969, the voters of Marion County elected a Democrat — Bart Peterson — to be mayor.}}</ref> The Peterson administration focused on [[education reform]] and promoting the arts. In 2001, the mayor's office became the first in the U.S. to authorize [[Charter schools in the United States|charter schools]]. [[Indianapolis Cultural Districts]] were designated in 2003, followed by the groundbreaking of the [[Indianapolis Cultural Trail]] in 2007. Further consolidation of city and county units of government resulted in the establishment of the [[Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department]] in 2007. Later that year, [[Greg Ballard]] succeeded Peterson in a political upset.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Bart Peterson Administration |encyclopedia=Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |date=March 2021 |last=Frantz |first=Edward O. |publisher=Indianapolis Public Library |url=https://indyencyclopedia.org/bart-peterson-administration/ |access-date=July 2, 2023}}</ref>

The Ballard administration oversaw the lease of the city's parking meters and the sale of the city's water and wastewater utilities with proceeds financing street repairs. Ballard pursued several environmental sustainability efforts, including establishing an office of sustainability, installing {{convert|200|mi|km}} of bike lanes and trails, and spearheading a controversial deal to start an electric [[carsharing]] program.<ref>{{cite news |last=Colombo |first=Hayleigh |date=December 23, 2015 |url=https://www.ibj.com/articles/56391-a-legacy-shaped-by-deals |title=Ballard: A legacy shaped by deals |work=Indianapolis Business Journal |access-date=July 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Gregory Ballard Administration |encyclopedia=Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |date=April 2021 |last=Frantz |first=Edward O. |publisher=Indianapolis Public Library |url=https://indyencyclopedia.org/gregory-ballard-administration/ |access-date=July 2, 2023}}</ref> Two of the city's largest capital projects, the [[Indianapolis International Airport]]'s new terminal and [[Lucas Oil Stadium]], were completed in 2008.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Indianapolis International Airport |encyclopedia=Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |date=July 2021 |last1=Marlette |first1=Jerry |last2=Opsahl |first2=Sam |last3=Van Allen |first3=Elizabeth J. |publisher=Indianapolis Public Library |url=https://indyencyclopedia.org/indianapolis-international-airport/ |access-date=July 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Lucas Oil Stadium |encyclopedia=Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |date=July 2021 |last=Blair |first=Lyndsey D. |publisher=Indianapolis Public Library |url=https://indyencyclopedia.org/lucas-oil-stadium/ |access-date=July 2, 2023}}</ref> In 2012, construction began on a $2&nbsp;billion tunnel system designed to reduce sewage overflows into the city's waterways.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=DigIndy |encyclopedia=Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |date=July 2021 |last1=Fischer |first1=Jessica Erin |last2=Van Allen |first2=Elizabeth J. |publisher=Indianapolis Public Library |url=https://indyencyclopedia.org/digindy/ |access-date=July 2, 2023}}</ref>

Since 2016, the administration of [[Joe Hogsett]] has focused on addressing a rise in gun violence and the city's racial disparities. In recent years, significant capital and operational investments have been made in public safety, criminal justice, and public transit. The city also established rental assistance and [[food security]] programs. In 2020, the [[George Floyd protests in Indiana]] prompted a series of local [[Police reform in the United States|police reforms]] and renewed efforts to bolster social services for mental health treatment and homelessness.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Joseph H. Hogsett Administration |encyclopedia=Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |date=April 2021 |last=Lyons Davis |first=Katherine |publisher=Indianapolis Public Library |url=https://indyencyclopedia.org/joseph-h-hogsett-administration/ |access-date=July 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department |encyclopedia=Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |orig-date=1994 |year=2021 |last1=Doherty |first1=William |last2=Fischer |first2=Jessica Erin |publisher=Indianapolis Public Library |url=https://indyencyclopedia.org/indianapolis-metropolitan-police-department-impd/ |access-date=July 2, 2023}}</ref> In 2021, [[Indianapolis FedEx shooting|a mass shooting]] occurred at a [[FedEx]] facility on the city's southwest side, killing nine (including the gunman) and injuring seven others.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/16/us/indianapolis-shooting-fedex-facility/index.html |title=Police ID gunman who killed 8 people at an Indianapolis FedEx facility as 19-year-old former employee |publisher=CNN |last=Spells |first=Alta |date=April 17, 2021 |access-date=October 22, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/shootings-crime-indianapolis-indiana-e92ad3117c56357b3b2c71a2903e68a8 |title=FBI says it interviewed FedEx mass shooter last year |publisher=Associated Press |date=April 16, 2021 |access-date=October 22, 2023}}</ref>