IS IT TRUE April 3, 2012

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The Mole #??

IS IT TRUE April 3, 2012

IS IT TRUE that Evansville is one of six finalists in the world for a contest sponsored by Google that awards a very cool Google earth video that can be used to promote the city to tourists, businesses, and attract goodwill in general?…that the entry involved making a small video of about a minute using images that are already out on the web and knitting these images together in a way that flows well?…that the surprise entry from Evansville was not done by, supported by, or initiated by the City of Evansville, GAGE, the Chamber of Commerce, the CVB, or any other group whose job it is to do such things?…that Evansville’s entry happened because a former resident who now lives in Chicago heard about the contest and just did it on their own?…that if Evansville wins you can bet that all of the political touchy feely types will be lining up and smiling for the camera trying to get some kudos for this persons initiative, talent and effort?…that it is by private efforts that Evansville or any other city seeking real tangible recognition will get it?

IS IT TRUE that the government of Vanderburgh County with Tom Shetler Jr. leading the charge is giving the order to all department heads to cut their budgets by 1.5%?…that while budget cutting is a noble effort and is probably necessary to balance the budget there are some things that are typically overlooked or intentionally taken off the chopping block?…that we wonder just how much of the Vanderburgh County budget is for gasoline or other petroleum based products that are dramatically higher this year than last?…the only way to save there is to drive less?…that we also wonder just how competitive the health insurance premiums are with private plans?…that finally we wonder where the sacred cows that will or have recently gotten increases are hiding as we are sure that where there are politicians, there are sacred cows?

IS IT TRUE that if Vanderburgh County’s department heads can cut 1.5% from the budget that would amount to over $2 Million in savings to the taxpayers?…that is way more savings than the CONSOLIDATION COMMITTEE was able to identify in their fruitless exercise last year?…that if the City of Evansville can find 1.5% that would amount to an additional $3.6 Million bringing the total savings to about $6 Million?…that this is something that is significant and it can be done without CONSOLIDATION?…that now that the fat is in the fire people are beginning to actually thing about how to save money?…that we would not be a bit surprised to learn that an overall figure of 10% could be pared from the joint City County budgets if a realists with courage were handed the task?…that failing to do so may send Evansville the way of Detroit, Stockton, or other cities bouncing on the bankruptcy trough?

IS IT TRUE that the talent laden but young Kentucky Wildcats put on a clinic last night is capturing the university’s 8th NCAA basketball championship?…that of the 20 starters in the final four, 3 were Hoosiers?…that if IU had been able and willing to recruit these three final four starters next door and put them on the floor with Zeller and Watford that the coveted trophy may just be in Bloomington this morning?…that when IU consistently can recruit Indiana born and raised talent the Hoosiers shall once again be an annual contender for the trophy that Coaches Branch McCracken and Bob Knight brought home a total of 5 times?

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8 COMMENTS

  1. The only “local” talent last night was Teague from Indianapolis. I guess you could consider Davis from Chicago, but that is a stretch (Chicago isn’t a big IU base). Most of those players wouldn’t be interested in IU as they would be forced to attend class and be progressing toward a degree at Indiana. I, for one, am not interested in the tradeoff.

    I would also agree that the savings from city-county consolidation study last year were anemic and half-hearted. This is a real problem, though. The biggest issue with the savings identified to date is that everyone is trying to steer away from the “sacred cows” as you state and not getting into the real meat of eliminating waste (inefficient labor/salaries/wages) from an unnecessary system of two governmental entitities where next to zero extra value is added and eliminating unnecessarily burdensome processes and controls (permits, approvals, etc.) from two entities that often conflict with each other or (at best) require “double duty” from economic development that isn’t worth the hassle.

    • We said Final Four. Kuric, a Louisville starter from Evansville and an Ohio State starter from Fort Wayne made 3 Hoosier starters in the Final Four.

      You have a good understanding of the quandary of paralysis in local government.

    • I agree with inefficient labor. Get rid of all County and City employees who shoe shop and run political wards while on the taxpayers’ dime! You know who you are!

  3. “If IU had been willing and able to recruit these three…”

    Kuric never wanted to play anywhere other than Louisville.

    Teague is a simpleton, at best. Talented or not, he is not a very smart kid and Crean recruits kids with good heads on their shoulders.

    Deshaun Thomas committed to OSU when he was a sophomore in high school, the same year that Sampson tanked IU’s program.

    Crean has comprised a 2012 recruiting class better than any Bobby ever put together. And, 4 of 5 are from Indiana!

    Apparently, those who write for the CCO are always the smartest people in the room.

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