City rallies behind Indy’s blind ‘Broom Guy’

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — For more than 60 years, the “Broom Guy,” Jim Richter, has been a staple of Indianapolis streets.

The 78-year-old blind Indianapolis man says he was recently told to leave the Nora post office and could no longer sell his brooms there, or any other postal branch in the city.

“They didn’t really give me a reason,” Richter said. “They just said they had one complaint, and I guess they play by the one strike and you’re out rule. But, when I tried to figure out who the complaint came from and address it from that issue, they just told me, ‘We don’t have to tell you anything, you just get off of our property.’”

People from across central Indiana have since come out in support of the city’s iconic “Broom Guy” — even Gov. Mike Pence.

“I think people all across Indiana have been moved by Jim’s example,” Pence said.

The governor and First Lady Karen Pence stopped to visit Richter on Tuesday morning.

“This is a great, hardworking Hoosier who’s been out here providing a great product,” Pence added. “We are going to buy a broom or two off of you this morning. But, Jim, I also want to let you know that I’m reaching out to the post master general and we’re going to see if we can find some accommodation to get you back to that Nora branch.”

In addition to selling at post offices, over the years Richter has also set up shop outside supportive Indy businesses.

24-Hour News 8 caught up with him Tuesday at the BP gas station at 71st Street and College Avenue.

Coming up this Saturday morning on WISH-TV Daybreak, Dick Wolfsie spends some time with the “Broom Guy” and finds out why his products have stood the test of time.