Maybe there's something that could have been done with that, too. I think there are other things that could've been done. City greenways official Ray Irvin defends the project. He says the Build Indiana funds are seed money for a larger public-private project that will emphasize Broad Ripple's standing as an arts community. But the questions surrounding the turtle sculpture underscore a long-simmering controversy over Build Indiana.
Local legislators decide who gets the money, leading to charges that it's pure political pork.
And once it's dealt out, there's no specific oversight on the actual spending. He said little attention is given to details of Build Indiana projects. But State Rep. Pat Bauer, chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, said Build Indiana projects do help the public, not just legislators. They don't call them pork when they're in their district. They call them steak.