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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The City of South Bend has been under intense scrutiny from Black Lives Matter South Bend and The South Bend Tribune for the firing of former Assistant Director of Business Development, Antonius Northern. While BLM has claimed the termination was racist, Northern’s termination letter obtained by REAL News Michiana shows he was not only “sharing information about pricing for City contracts with businesses that were planning to bid,” he was also fired for bringing weapons, including a gun, into government offices.
“The two separate and documented instances of bringing weapons, including a handgun in
one instance, into the County-City Building… reflect your lack of good judgment.” Northern’s termination letter reads.
Northern had worked at the City of South Bend since 2018, holding positions such as Economic Engagement Specialist, Inclusion Project Manager and Assistant Director of Business Development. His entire termination letter can be read below.
MISLEADING TRIBUNE STORY
An article by South Bend Tribune Reporter Jordan Smith claims to have the same termination letter obtained by RNM, however, Smith does not mention the weapons violations in his story. Instead, Smith focuses on statements from BLM and Northern, claiming his termination was racist and that his disclosure of bidding information and pricing to friends and family was standard practice.
CASHING IN ON MINORITY PROGRAMS
In 2021, the City passed an ordinance that would all but force the municipality to award at least 6% of its contracts to companies owned by minorities or women. Northern was tasked with implementing much of the “minority priority” contracting issues even before the passing of the ordinance, and appears to have also shared bidding information with family members and BLM activists who were looking to cash in.
A public records request by RNM shows Kennedy Expressline received tens of thousands of dollars in contracts from the City for lawn maintenance and transportation services under the advice and leadership of Antonius Northern. Kennedy Expressline is owned by Marcus Northern, a relative of Antonius’. Those contracts and bidding processes can be viewed below, along with a grading scale for a business “mentor” program where Antonius served as an advisor while Kennedy Expressline worked to get a $20,000 contract.
According to the January 8th, 2024, article in the South Bend Tribune, “The accusation of sharing pricing refers to a minor project to install rubber speed humps and signage on city streets. Because the contract is worth under $50,000, Northern was engaged in informal talks with three Black business owners to help them make bids to the city’s Board of Public Works last year.”
One of the folks involved in that process was BLM South Bend leader Kat Redding. Redding is the owner of Legacy Consulting & Renovation. According to Indiana Secretary of State records, Redding created the business in February of 2022 — around the same time Northern was promoted to his Assistant Director of Business Development position.
The City fired Northern in December of last year. BLM has since attempted to intimidate City officials with press releases, press conferences and demonstrations.
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Why is the City hiring felons in the first place? Over 100 cases in Indiana against these two Northerns.