IS IT TRUE AUGUST 31, 2015

1. CCO: please print the 2012 Annual Report which shows the Arena bonds with a S & P AA Rating.

   If true, that is what we like to refer to as ‘checkmate’.

   • http://www.municipalbonds.com/bonds/moodys_report/23806/

     Here’s the affirmation of the double A bond rating done in 2013. It can’t be upgraded when it’s clearly being affirmed. The 2012 annual report contains an introductory letter that states the arena bonds were graded a double A. That report does not seem to be available online.

2. I don’t know if anything had been posted about this, but the COO lost an early supporter earlier in the year. Proud American Pat Pittman passed in May. I hadn’t realized his passing until I saw one of his properties listed up for auction.

   I remember Mr. Pittman’s banner ads when the COO was a weekly.

   Mr. Pittman, you will be missed.

3. If the City of Evansville’s goal is to purchase a property for demolition, using taxpayer funds, whether local or federal, why would the city sell a tax lien on that property? Would that action not just drive up the final sale cost?

   • I think they have to by law.

   • Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA)
     Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP)

     HOW TO SPEND $3.92 BILLION:
     STABILIZING NEIGHBORHOODS BY ADDRESSING
     FORECLOSED AND ABANDONED PROPERTIES
     Alan Mallach

     http://www.njslom.org/NSP-FUNDS-DiscussionPapers_Mallach_10_08_final.pdf

     * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

     [Principle 4. Develop multiple acquisition strategies to reflect different property ownerships and
     conditions.
     Current market conditions demand that anyone acquiring properties, particularly those in foreclosure, be a sav
     –
     vy purchaser and obtain a price that truly provides for public
     benefit rather than bailing out owners or lenders.
     9
     While most public acquisitions are at fair market value, Sec. 2301(d)1 of HERA specifically provides that:
     Any purchase of a foreclosed upon home or residential property under this section shall be
     at a dis
     –
     count from the current market appraised value of the home or property,
     taking into account its current
     condition,
     10
     and such discount shall ensure that purchasers are paying below
     -market value for the
     home or property.
     The buyer, whether a public agency or a nonprofit entity acting as a sub-recipient of NSP funds, must be pre
     –
     pared to document that it paid less than what would be considered fair mark
     et value. In many areas where
     prices are still moving downward, a price that may be considered a discount from the mark
     et value today may
     no longer be a discount six months later. The NSP regulations provide guidance on the minimum discount
     that will be required for individual properties and for each city
     ’s overall acquisition portfolio.
     Many cities, as well as the CDCs that are likely to be NSP sub-recipients, have only limited experience in land
     acquisition. Acquiring mortgages or foreclosed properties may involve negotiating with sophisticated entities
     with access to experienced professionals. The need to comply with the discount requirement of the act adds
     a further complication. As a result, any state, city, or county planning to use NSP funds to acquire property
     needs to assemble a strong negotiating team, including:
     An experienced appraiser with a solid understanding of the market factors affecting properties in the
     •
     neighborhoods where acquisitions are planned;
     8
     This issue is discussed further below under Principle 8, dealing with property disposition.
     9
     In this paper, as a shorthand, we have used the term “lender” to refer to the entity that holds the mortgage or is pursuing the
     foreclosure and ultimately taking title. In reality, as is well known, because of the complex structure of many of the mortgages being
     foreclosed — particularly subprime mortgages — the entity is lik
     ely to be a third party acting on behalf of the investors that hold a pool
     of mortgages, rather than the initial lender, who is likely to be long out of the picture by the time foreclosure takes place.
     10
     This language would seem to imply appraisals do not take the current condition of the property into account, which is not usually
     the case. A responsible appraiser will adjust his appraisal on the basis of the condition of the property
     .]

4. NEWS FLASH: On page 5 is a footnote on the the U S Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit-Planintiff-Appellee, Louise Milan’s Response Brief I got from a Public Domain site for the Milan EPD Swat Team raid case which I find extremely interesting. A footnote on bottom of page 5 of this document states that EPD Chief Billy Bolin on June 28, 2012 (a week after the raid on Louise Milan’s home) changed the address of Anthony Milan Jr from the EPD records system. I believe in Law School they refer to this kind of activity as “Obstruction of Justice” or “Falsifications of Official Documentation”

   The entry on the EPD RMS report that states: “Anthony Jr. as residing at Louise’s residence; however, it was entered by Chief Bolin on June 28, 2012, a week after the raid. [DE 80-10, Bolin Dep. at pgs. 44-48; DE 80- 22, Anthony Milan Jr. RMS report] It was corrected six weeks later to list his true address on Ravenswood Drive in Evansville, Indiana. [DE 80-22, Anthony Milan Jr. RMS report]”.

   I tried to link the entire 36 page Response Brief to the CCO but had no success in doing so. I shall resend the entire link to the City County Observer tonight and ask if they will post it on my behalf in tomorrows IS IT TRUE. I really think the general public should know what this entire report says.

   Also attached is an apology letter sent to Louise Milan by Evansville Chief of Police Billy Bolin concerning this issue. Please compare the statements concerning Anthony Milan Jr address Bolin made in his apology letter to Ms Milan and the comments made page 5 in the “Response Brief I hope to post in the CCO tomorrow. Attached is the link of the apology letter I got from a past CCO Feature article they posted recently.

   https://city-countyobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Untitled1.pdf

   I hear now that the Winnecke Administration is considering appealing this case to the United States Supreme Court. I wonder how much money the taxpayers of this City will have to pay for the Mayor to parition the U S Supreme Court to consider hearing this case? My lawyer friends tell me there is no good reason why the Mayor should think about sending this Case to the U S Supreme Court because their request will be turned down.

   But, maybe the true reason is Ms Milan will be delayed in her request for justice and of course after the November election. These people are BAD.

   • Is it true or not that Brinkerhoff-Riley and John Friend requested that Bolin step down as Chief? Obviously, they must of known something. If this information is correct then Bolin would be guilty of Obstruction of Justice and not only step down but be subject to prosecution. These people must certainly lack character and are in deed BAD.

   • Bolin is a corrupt republican thug.

     • Unfortunately, you are dead on about Bolin and the people beyond him . ..THEY ARE BAD PEOPLE!!!!

   • I believe that Chief Bolin also misled the Court about his whereabouts when the raid took place. He claimed he wasn’t there. It looks like he may be looking at two counts of obstruction.

     • Perjury???

5. J. Kirk McGill (2014) A TRUE AMERICAN HERO

   Department of Defense – Defense Contract Audit Agency DCAA McGill was the auditor-in-charge of a 2013 audit of the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) conducted on behalf of the Office of the Inspector General of the National Science Foundation (NSF). The audit concluded that NEON and the NSF had conspired to evade the prohibition against payment of certain costs to Government grantees including lobbying, Christmas parties, luxury foreign travel, and alcohol. The audit was later overruled by top DCAA management. McGill reported the improper overruling of the audit, which violated Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards, to the Office of the Inspector General, United States Department of Defense and DCAA’s Internal Review Directorate. Neither watchdog took any action to address McGill’s concerns, despite being notified as early as January 2014 of the problem. McGill then reported the findings and the alleged cover up to Senator Charles E. Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary; Senator Rand Paul (R-KY); Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Chair of the Subcommittee on Financial and Contracting Oversight, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; and Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX), Chair of the House Science and Technology Committee. Senators Paul and Grassley jointly inquired into the matter and substantiated the allegations and began a formal Congressional investigation into not only NEON and the NSF – but the entire Federal Government’s use of “management fees” for nonprofits. An investigation into the NSF, NEON, and DCAA is underway by Senators Grassley and Paul, and the other members of Congress contacted by McGill are thought to also be pursuing the matter. While the media has not yet publically named McGill, he is widely known to be the whistleblower in Government circles as he has made no attempt to conceal his identity. He has, however, refused to comment to the media upon the matter beyond the information in the public record due to the restrictions of 18 U.S.C. § 1905—making him one of the few modern Federal whistleblowers to stay at his post and continue to follow his employer’s policies and Federal nondisclosure laws despite facing retaliation.

   • Press, that is a great article for me to read on this slow news-day. We need more whistle-blowers at all levels of government. He is a hero not to get discouraged and pursue it all the way to the top level. I will look that one up. Thanks for the article.

   • The National Ecological Observatory Network

     2014 Form 990 filing

     http://990s.foundationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/204/204510571/204510571_201409_990.pdf?_ga=1.168672609.1336695012.1441042420

6. Boy . .Boy . .Boy . . Winnie’s nose keeps on growing and growing. Our own local messiah. Over three years and eight months and over spending of MILLION AND MILLION and NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT but now concerning the Downtown Convention Motel we have LESS FOR MORE $$$$$. The water ratepayers have to pay for those monkeys that busted their water meters and our messiah could not even get his OWN party at the state level to do what was only the right thing to do and that is match the cost of the Med School but now we (12k per household income less than Indy) have to subsidize by 72%. He has the nerve to even that credit for the Expressway cloverleaf ( in planning for over 15 years). PITIFUL, PITIFUL, PITIFUL.

   • +!! He doesn’t have anything to claim as a real accomplishment that will benefit the voters. He is only interested in enriching his cronies.

     • Oh come now! The Greyhound bus stop has been refabbed!

       Amazon is looking into moving a distribution center there.

       Or is it Costco or Whole foods

       Ooooops I’m sorry forgot that every spring Winnecke goes out and picks up a few trash bags and pop cans along with all the deluded/compromised Dems in town who pretend he’s some kind of progress hero.

       Oh yeah he does make the rounds to all the churches and slaps a few backs there. That puts a lot money into the 4th Ward!

       Then there is all the convention business that is being projected that Sysco Foods wants to move into downtown!

       And don’t forget he returns Paul Green’s, and Jack McNeely’s texts almost immediately!

       AAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   • Not sure why he’d want to claim the “upgrade” of the Lloyd “Expressway” – Highway 41 interchange as an accomplishment. It’s just another INDOT clusterf**k. Egress and entry ramps too tight (diameter). Failed to eliminate or overpass the railroad tracks immediately noth of the overpass. Failed to integrate the Virginia Street intersection into the project.
     Wonder how long before INDOT begins an improvement/upgrade project?

7. In regards to the bond rating, after reviewing the last audited financial statement as posted on the State Board of Accounts website can not find any disclosures of the commitment to the City’s employees health care after retirement. According to the report which has not been released to the public the city’s obligation is $234,000,000. Wonder if the bond underwriters knew of this obligation and for that matter the Bernie Maydoff style of accounting Russ pulled at the end of 2014, our bond rating may have been adversely effected. MAYBE THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR NAMES MAYBE ASSOCIATED WITH MISLEADING FINANCIAL INFORMATION GIVEN TO THE INVESTING PUBLIC!!!!!! If this is the case, they will be held culpable together with old Russ.

8. Poor little guy’s got that generous A bond rating written all over his face. Couldn’t be any plainer if he’d have opted for the Pinocchio module before his swearing in. Maybe Wayne will ride in to clear up the confusion he tried to sow. Maybe not. Maybe he’s going to give his credibility another day or two to heal.

   http://s26.postimg.org/6x2iipbll/ABondo.jpg

9. I wondered about the legality of the gun sale deal when I first read about it, but figured EPD should know it if what they planned was illegal. I guess Bungling Bolin overlooked another law, like he did in the treatment of Mrs. Milan and her granddaughter and when Bryan Underwood witnessed his own son commit a crime against Michael Flemming and didn’t even file a report of it, much less arrest the assailant. How long are we supposed to put up with Bungling Billy turning EPD into an unfunny version of the Keystone Kops?? It seems that Little LLord LLoyd thinks we deserve the incompetent that serves at his pleasure. I guess our mayor is easy to pleasure.

10. To Gail Riecken and the CCO—

    Shame on the both of you for making statements about the City Bond ratings that are not correct and/or grossly misleading. For the various bonds issued for the City, there has been no bond downgrades by Standard & Poor. NONE!

    I repeat None!

    Wayne Parke

    • To Wayne Parke

      Shame on you for REPEATEDLY coming on the City-County Observer making unsubstantiated and grossly misleading statements and NEVER responding to questions to prove you are not misreporting our outright lying on your “drive by” posts.

      You NEVER respond for polite requests for clarification and proof!

      I repeat NEVER!

      • You never use your real name. Why is that?
        Check the Newspaper tomorrow because I think you will find a detail explanation on the Bond situation.

        It does not require detail to state the fact that the various Bonds that have been issued for Evansville have not been downgraded. It is a simple fact.

        Wayne Parke

        • Wow, how do you know what the CP is going to print 24 hous before . . it is now official, Santa Lloyd has this paper in his hip pocket.

        • Hey, Wayne . .Cat got your tongue about the Obstruction of Justice issue surrounding your Boy, Billy. Pitiful!!!

11. In spite of all the thrashing among the posters in here today, it is heartening to know that Gail Riecken in her Mayoral Campaign won’t fall prey to the small minority of voters who advocate abandoning all of the progress being made downtown. Ms. Riecken is strong enough to know to continue to make downtown development a central part of her campaign.

    • Maybe Ms. Riecken is smart enough to know that the majority of the people of this city don’t live downtown.

      • Ms. Riecken is a major supporter and leader for the continuing progress and new and ongoing downtown development initiatives.

        • Since you seem to speak for her, did she say she’s all for spending 20 + million of public money for a 5 story hotel with an outdoor pool when the money was glommed on false pretenses, strike that—lies, by an obessessed, inept and crooked administration? When the city council let little Llord Winnecke have that 20 million it was for a whole different deal, 10 floors, indoor pool, etc. I guess when you’re a conman’s mark like that little clown is sooner or later some of their skills rub off. Evansville continues to pay the price for his ineptitude and will do so into the distant future. Did Mrs. Riecken say she thinks that very odd siting of the medical school is a good idea or is she just going with it because there is nothing she can do about it? Old, rotting downtown is where it will be thanks to Winnecke and Shoulder’s machinations, despite obviously better and cheaper locations.

          Let’s not forget that when Llord got caught swinging with your Homestead Tax Credit he said it wasn’t his finest hour in public service. I think he’s outdone himself. Don’t forget him parking that bulldozer on the empty wine bottle lot to try to make the people think something was going on when it wasn’t. Actually it was, the hotel was being downsized by half with the public ‘contribution’ remaining the same. Absolutely unbelievable.

          Regardless of what Parke would have you believe, Llordie has hurt Evansville and its bond rating. He must be cashiered in November. Then you can continue your goofy left-handed fake praise for Gail Riecken as she tries to right the ship.

          Still waiting for Wayne to up a listing of Winnecke’s accomplishments. In fact there are none.

          • Bandana! Holy cow! You jump through hoops, do the song and dance and twirl your cane all the while trying to distract the sight of that man behind the curtain! You jump up and down every time the subject of Ms. Riecken’s support for downtown development comes up. What gives? Candidate Riecken supports every single one of the downtown initiatives including the public support for the same. These are the facts, and they are undisputed. It is important. More power to Riecken.

            Maybe the color will be different for Riecken than what Winnecke wants, but Riecken is ALL IN for downtown. You’re selling something B, not sure what, but I can’t figure where your desperation comes from every, single, time, this, comes, up.

          • Don Becker❢❢ My goodness gracious❢,

            The only time it ‘comes up’ is when you bring it up. By doing so you underscore the lack of accomplishments of your candidate. In any event, the schoolyard tactic of ‘she did it too’ didn’t work there and doesn’t work here. You are a Winnecke functionary/apologist and that is to be expected, you must scramble to prop up a weak candidate.

            I’d urge the voters to go to Gail Riecken’s campaign site (http://gailrieckenformayor.com/) to see what she thinks. They can read her positions and divine for themselves just what the level of her support for these expensive downtown projects is.

          • Wait a minute. I am on record as for Riecken. The cross debacle was the straw that broke the camel’s back, I have said that every time I have stated my vote is for Riecken. I have also said that downtown development is a major priority every time, and Ms. Riecken’s wisdom in continuing to support those downtown initiatives is what brings me to vote for her.

            So Bandana. Somebody here is highly insecure!!! Why so defensive on Ms. Riecken’s broad support for to continue the progress being made in downtown Evansville development? Why Bandana?

            You are trying to sell that Ms. Riecken doesn’t support downtown developmental initiatives B. Her disagreement w/ Winnecke is perhaps tactical at times – totally understandable in professional circles – but Ms. Riecken is ALL IN in her support for downtown development. ALL IN.

          • Gee Don, all that ‘broad support’ you say Mrs. Riecken shows for the downtown money dump should be evident somewhere on her web site, don’t you think? I think you mis-characterize the level of her support for those projects and I think you do it because you are here on behalf of Lloyd Winnecke.

            I missed where you said you are ‘on record’ as supporting Gail Riecken but don’t doubt you wrote it. I just can’t find it. The crux of most of your comments is a tortured attempt to spin up a false equivalency between Llord and Mrs. Riecken or a piece of information that you think might cast our current local government in a good light, ie: your 9a.m. today. ☛ https://city-countyobserver.com/it-it-true-august-31-2015/.

          • C’mon now Bandana. You’re comments are aspirational, not accurate. Ms. Riecken is on record since the beginning of her Mayoral campaign that she supports the continuing public/private partnerships and the progress being achieved in downtown Evansville. That record is undisputed.
            You’re trying to promote an inaccurate narrative Bandana. You want to run away from the record of Riecken’s support for downtown. Why? You are highly insecure about that public record. My narrative is that downtown is important. I am transparent about that. Your false narrative that Ms. Riecken doesn’t support downtown Evansville initiatives? Somebody here is insecure…and you win no kudos for YOUR transparency.

          • My comments are perfectly accurate. All you folks have is a shaky attempt to equate Winnecke with the much more accomplished Gail Riecken. You try to hang your hat on any policy intersection that you can find. You leave the important nuances out. It will not work. I am not trying to run from anything. On the other hand, you seem to be trying to distance yourself from your candidate and I don’t blame you.

            When you write an outright lie like ‘Your false narrative that Ms. Riecken doesn’t support downtown Evansville initiatives?’ do you think putting a question mark at the end absolves you of your misdeed? Do you think that by writing that it makes it so, makes it ‘my narrative’? I didn’t say that. You said it and keep flogging it because you sure can’t point to any accomplishments by Winnecke. Your attempts to sound even-handed might fool some. Good luck with it.

            You keep writing that ‘someone here is insecure’. You are right about that but It sure isn’t me. I don’t blame you for being ashamed of your candidate. He is a conman’s mark. I’d try to qualify my positions and hide behind Gail Riecken too if I were you.

          • Bandana, you are highly vulnerable to pushing the false narrative. Ms Riecken is on record as a major supporter of the public/private initiatives to continue downtown’s development progress. (Cause it’s the right thing to do.)
            You say no, and THAT is B.S.
            All that you’re writing here is distraction, akin to your dance and twirling your cane.
            This horse is dead B. Even Ms. Riecken would correct you.

          • No Becker, I didn’t say anything like you say I said. Your mischaracterization of the level of Mrs. Riecken’s support for those projects, as constituted, is incessant. I’m going to have to cut you loose now, you have abandoned the truth, much like your boy Winnecke. You speak for Gail Riecken quite a bit though you’ve been hired to speak for the indefensible Llord Winnecke. You have now taken it into troll territory.

            A paid hack like yourself should tread lightly with the lies. Maybe you’ll learn by your next ‘job’.

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