IS IT TRUE MARCH 29, 2018

We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUE” will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way?

IS IT TRUE that Echo Housing is finally starting to attempt to shed some light on the workings of the organization?…that newly appointed acting head of the organization Chris Metz has been appearing on the TV cameras with Evansville DMD Director Kelly Coures explaining that the alleged criminal activity at Echo will not impact the programs delivered to the people who depend on Echo Housing for a place to live?…its also obvious that no one will be losing a roof over their head as the Evansville City Council delays paying any funds to Echo until the police investigation and forensic audit is completed?… The City Council is doing exactly the right thing by holding back on the funding of ECHO Housing until the police investigation and forensic audit are completed?

IS IT TRUE the last thing that should not be done by City Council is to fund an expansion of a dysfunctional (ECHO Housing) organization that is not on top of where some the money has been going?…another thing that needs to be a part of the police investigation and the forensic audit is that everyone associated with Echo Housing should be cleared of wrongdoing?…that anyone who is accused that is eventually convicted or plea bargains regarding the alleged theft of taxpayer dollars should be gone?

IS IT TRUE we wonder why the management of Echo Housing isn’t releasing the names of the Board of Directors, this is just unfathomable? …the bottom line is that the Board Of Directors is responsible for the losses associated with failing to provide fiduciary oversight and keeping their names to the public is not acceptable?

IS IT TRUE we have been contacted by several readers asking us what is the educational and professional background that qualifies one to be hired as the Executive Director of ECHO Housing?  …this seems like a very reasonable question and should be answered by the Chairmen of the Board of ECHO Housing Corporation?  …while he is providing us the answer to this question we would like for him to tell us who appoints members to serve on the ECHO board and for how long?

IS IT TRUE that the City-County Observer has been made aware that there are numerous aquifers in greater Evansville that could be tapped to feed the new water treatment plant?…doing so would get the residents of Evansville out of the business of drinking from the polluted Ohio River?…this is a developing story and the powers that be would be well served to consider groundwater sources for future use as opposed to continuing to lap from the most polluted river in America?

IS IT TRUE that the City of Evansville has moved forward with a property lien against the owner of the former McCurdy Hotel for a water bill of nearly $1.5 Million?…this is for the water and sewer charge for the 93 apartments for roughly one year?…this water bill amounts to $1,344 per apartment per month for the first year of operation and the apartments aren’t full of residents yet?…adding in another $878 per month to service the debt and other operating expenses like maintenance, management, electricity, taxes, etc. and it becomes obvious that the break even for any single apartment is going to be at least $2,500 per month?

IS IT TRUE when using an 85% occupancy assumption the reality is that the McCurdy Apartments are going to need to charge around $3,000 per month to be a profitable enterprise?…there is no market for $3,000 per month apartments of these sizes in downtown Evansville?…given these truths one can only reach the conclusion that the McCurdy has been killed by government for the second time since former Mayor Weinzapfel marched the residents (senior citizens) of the place up the street to make way for a campaign supporter from Indianapolis to purchase the building?…that idiocy costs the City of Evansville taxpayers about $1.4 million?…if something isn’t done concerning the current water and sewer bill issue it may be the death knell of this historical building?

IS IT TRUE that the City of Fishers, Ind has renewed a $240,000-per-year legal services contract with Jennifer Messer, who will again work from Washington, D.C.
…Jennifer Messer is the wife of Congressmen Luke Messer, R Shelbyville and serves as the city’s general legal counsel with a focus on development?  … this is the eighth year she has been hired by the City of Fishers.

IS IT TRUE that the hiring of the wife of Congressmen Luke Messer, R Shelbyville caused controversy last year when it was revealed she no longer lived in Indiana and was performing her job from the D.C. area, where she resides with her husband, U.S. Rep. Luke Messer, R-Shelbyville, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate?

IS IT TRUE that United States candidate Mike Braun has publically stated that if elected he shall do the following things?  …Mr. Braun pledges if elected he will vote to enact strict term limits; pass a lifetime lobbying ban for members of Congress; eliminate the Congressional pension; make Congress follow the same laws as everyone else and ban pork barrel spending?  …as of today, we haven’t heard a word from Mr. Brauns opponents what they pledge to do if they are elected to the United States Senate?

IS IT TRUE that our current “Readers Poll” is stating in large numbers that the current ECHO Housing Board Of Director must go?  …with the taxpayers donating around $500,000 to help funds the activities of ECHO it would make good sense that at least one Council member should be appointed to this board?

Todays “Readers Poll” question is: Do you feel that the current ECHO Housing board members were not good stewards of the public trust and should be immediately replaced?

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