LETTER TO THE EDITOR BY LAURA BLACKBURN

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR BY LAURA BLACKBURN

It’s hard to resist the temptation to review the first two meetings of the “new” city council. You know – the 2016 edition of the Evansville City Council that was supposed to be devoid of rancor, confusion, and general disrespectful behavior toward one another and the public.

That’s what the gushing post campaign rhetoric predicted. As advertised, the newbies would happily fall in behind new “leaders” Mosby and Weaver, engage in a group hug and coordinate their praise of the administration. Well, that last part was largely a presumed promise, understood but not spoken out loud.

It doesn’t much matter whether they are Republican or Democrat because we have ushered in the enlightened era of “transpartisanship.” That’s a relatively new political term just now being used in this fine city to describe “those who claim allegiance to one political party but covertly serve another party strictly for convenience, power or personal gain.” A “transpartisan” serves only his/her own interests. He/she is out to get for himself/herself whatever he/she can. He/she is ruthless, and deception is his/her preferred tool.

Getting back to that first fateful City Council meeting, without focusing on the already well-reported actions and resulting divisiveness that has been forced upon this city. It seemed the council members might have each been given a script and told the plot of the production that was about to be performed on the big stage. But then two members were clearly not comfortable with the preordained story line and they voiced their displeasure in improvised terms. Adding to that element of surprise, the large and emotional audience demanded to inject themselves into the comedy turned tragedy. Chaos ensued. Some council members were outraged by the events, others were befuddled and others were quite simply startled into silence.

Perhaps part of the cause for confusion was the “orientation” session for the new council members that the mayor orchestrated before they were sworn in. A great, newsworthy photo op and surely just a helpful gesture (sarcasm noted). But some observers were left wondering why one branch of government was so brash and presumptive as to instruct another branch in how to do its job. Separation of powers and checks and balances seem to have finally been thrown out the Civic Center window.

As the premier performance played out, we got the impression that the mayor’s orientation also skipped the part about how every council member is supposed to make learned decisions that best serve the taxpayers, and each has a duty to participate. Despite all the repeated declarations of being in touch with “constituents, constituents, constituents,” this concept was altogether absent from the first council gathering.

It was just like community theatre if the amateur actors aren’t allowed to have that critical final dress rehearsal. Hopefully, that was prevented by the “new” attorney, who earned a well-deserved mulligan for his efforts to steer everyone in the room through the details of Robert’s Rules of Order during a live and lively event. Maybe he cautioned them against making decisions beforehand and merely announcing them in public. Surely he did.

The second meeting was only better by comparison and because the agenda contained less inflammatory matters. It looked like there had been some major league effort to demonstrate consensus and pre-coordinate the activity. The new president proclaimed even the most minor action as “great” with near giddiness. She reached occasionally for her big FC Tucker beverage container.

Then the feces hit the blade again. Once again it centered on preventing public comment. It was clear that efforts to get Councilwoman Robinson to do anything other than what she decides is best for the people of the Fourth Ward will fail miserably. Going along just to get along is not going to fly. Don’t bother handing her a script in advance.

It was pretty obvious that they had read the editorials in the daily newspaper. Councilman McGinn was more verbal, as he twirled his ink pen, occasionally glancing to his right, as if to make sure John Friend had not reappeared. His financial leadership will be interesting to observe.

Councilman Adams also had a newfound voice and exuberance for what is in the public’s best interest. Had he been more thoughtful and decisive as council president in 2015, he might have found himself sitting with people other than those he will be seeing on Monday nights going forward.

The newbies tried to interject themselves into the second meeting, with varying degrees of success. Councilwoman Hargis should be comfortable with the process, since she was seated front and center in the audience at most meetings last year. Council members Elpers, Brinkmeyer and Mercer made mild attempts to prove they weren’t “just along for the ride.” Even though he has been catapulted into leadership, Councilman Weaver still seemed to be perpetually annoyed.

It will get better, or not. A wise man once said, “Be careful what you ask for because you might get it.” If the first two meetings are any indication, things will get very entertaining when the “new” council moves from simple housekeeping matters and on to serious business. And this will take place with the over-riding influence of our new “transpartisanship” where Republican and Democrat labels are meaningless.

FOOTNOTE: This letter was posted without opinion, bias or editing.  Any response to this letter shall be posted without opinion, bias or editing.

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31 COMMENTS

  1. OK, we get it. We hear the dog whistle. Your side lost the election and you’re not happy with the consequences of that loss. Many people who get what has happened over the last few election cycles do not like what those cycles have allowed. Myself included, but I blame democrats like you who could not field a more appealing, capable, and electable candidate with the ability to get people like me, looking for something better, out and vote. Sorry, but those who recommend Gail to us because she would have been the first woman mayor in 200 years and made accusations that anyone who would not vote for her must surly be a mysoginist own the loss they won. I have always considered you an insightful and connected person when it comes to local politics, and your letter is truthful, but the negativity has passed good taste and constructive criticism. Put your talents to finding away to make positive change because to me you’re beginning to sound bitter and trite.

    • Ouch.
      He’s right Laura.
      There has to be some accountability among the “we got screwed again” loud and cynical voices.
      (Who lost again, and this time, rejected by 62% of the voters).

    • Did somebody make you read it? I think she made some good points, and it looks like we’re in for four bad years. The Icemen are gone to Owensboro, with a good deal for them. Alcoa is laying off 600 people and Vigo Coal is laying off 60. They need to get their heads on straight and take care of business.

      • (You know, you’re naked right Pork Chop?)
        Alcoa is a national and international company,
        and BOTH of those companies operate outside of the City of Evansville.
        It’s hard to take your comments seriously….

        • I don’t expect the locals to keep Alcoa from laying people off. They are going to have to try to cope with the effects of the loss of that many good paying jobs. They need to get out and start looking for decent jobs for the area, or get set for more people with educations and skills to leave. “Brain drain” prevention needs to be “Job #1.”

      • Did somebody make you read my response? I read LKB’s letter because I do find value in what Laura has to say but that does not mean must agree with her or keep my fingers off the keyboard? . The icemen loss is just collateral damage from a poor idea of building an arena that

        With ALCOA leaving I just lost about a third of my income. The impact is much larger than 600 people who will mostly get early retirement, absorbed into the other rolling mill side, or for most they will find another job. I can do nothing about their heads but I can take care of mine. No one is going to fill the gap ALCOA left except me with the help of others, and I have already made great strides in accomplishing that.

        As I said, LKB’s letter is correct, but it’s no longer resolving anything. Let’s hope in four years we have better choices.

        • ‘an arena that … was unnecessary, poorly sited and lacking in public support.’ — There, I finished that sentence for you.

          You didn’t mention those 600 people’s financial contribution to Warrick County and the attendant hit to the tax base, often to those least deserving of more misery, down the line. A blanket statement alleging that you losing â…“ of your income is having a greater impact than 600 people losing good paying jobs is hard to reconcile.

          We won’t have better choices in 4 years unless people in power know they’re being watched and their deeds and misdeeds publicized. If it’s done with a cynical tone, well, they’ve earned it.

        • Thanks for the help. I did mention the impact to the 600 employees and that the loss will be absorbed. The mention of my loss was intended to show that there is an effect to companies like mine that is seldom mentioned or considered in these events. When Obama changed the bankruptcy laws to aid the UAW, companies like mine sere unable to recoup their losses and failed. I remember scores of action notices where shops had year after year of new machines to up to the time GM went down to auction. The owners, stakeholders, and employees lost but seldom did one hear or know about them. I will try in my haste to finish my sentences so you can finish reading what I write. I know you’re just spellbound by the things I say and so deprived when I fail to

          • Geez! “were” not “sere.” “auction” not “action. Strike the first “to” in “to up to”

            I would be the first to contribute a dollar to the CCO towards the purchase edit and delete buttons for their web site. Face Book has ruined the market for thumbs up buttons, but I am sure some would make use of a finger button. I would ask that no portion of my dollar would be used for that purchase.

    • Indianaenoch, I am still trying to figure out who picks the candidates. I can’t find the Democrat party. I used to be a more positive person until I saw the inner working of government. I thought about trying to be more positive in changing the system but decided the best way to make real change is negativity that bites. Constructive criticism is not what it is all cracked up to be. Too many people are already going that route and getting nowhere. I volunteered to help and was termed the “volunteer from hell”. I think it is working for me. Don’t take my word for it – look at the Federal SIGTARP site.

      • You are working in real time on current issues and dealing with those responsible. You are not referencing the last election or how our problems are because the wrong person won or people got what they asked for. While there is some truth to that, enough is enough.

        Constructive criticism is all it’s cracked up to be, but some people do not respond to it. If it always worked there would be no prisons.

        You aren’t the volunteer from hell, where you volunteered was hell. But your antagonist like the place they are at.

        However, I did not intend to imply that LKB’s contributions are not helpful. I just feel that she needs to own that her choices and the zombie democrat party helped create what the machine she is raging against.

  2. Good letter. Just the kind of construtive criticism the council needs to hear.

    ‘… and others were quite simply startled into silence’. — LKB
    This could refer to those cowed councilors or the public. Either way it doesn’t bode well for Evansville.

    • I didn’t see anything constructive.
      It was entertaining to read. Fun blow by blow, I acknowledge.
      But LKB’s letter today is cynical and resentful, not constructive.

      • One more GLARING thing that is TOTALLY wrong with this letter.
        Again! LKB finds some need to compliment CONNIE ROBINSON for her stand against the establishment.
        What is with this LKB “thing” for not holding Connie Robinson accountable for her GOP endorsement?
        What is that?
        and
        WHO IS MORE RESPONSIBLE among the Democrats for electing Republican Lloyd Winnecke,
        ……OTHER THAN Democratic City Councilwoman Connie Robinson?
        Who?

        • In fairness, that is the one thing I would have tried to wring out before submitting the letter. It could possibly be explained by her friendship with Connie Robinson. Loyalty to friends is good. C. Rob did help launch Winnecke out da bank. Again, it’s her letter and her friend and I have to respect that.

          • B….Accurate, well stated, and an important acknowledgement….

            LKB’s words and opinions of the Winnecke administration and Council are tainted by this omission of Connie Robinson’s setting the example of abandoning the Democratic Party and it’s Candidate for Mayor Davis…..every time LKB discusses this.
            ………………….
            “Democratic Connie Robinson, gonna support Democrat Rick Davis for Mayor in the general election?” (NO.)
            “Right. Gonna sit this one out then?” (NO I am not.)
            “Not gonna support the Democrat?” (NO.)
            “You mean, you’re gonna endorse the Republican for Mayor?
            “Endorse the Republican? You’re gonna do that Ms. Robinson?”
            “YES. YES, I AM. Fourth Ward Democratic City Councilwoman Connie Robinson endorses Republican Candidate for Mayor Lloyd Winnecke. ”
            ………………..

            It’s called a conflict of interest, LKB demanding accountability……when LKB WILL NOT DEMAND THE SAME ACCOUNTABILITY.
            It is damning.

        • If you criticize Councilwoman Robinson you’re an irredeemable racist. Seriously. That’s the not even subtle implication anytime anybody dares to do such a thing.

          It’s no wonder folks are timid about speaking truth to that type of power.

      • Anytime someone publicizes interesting stuff from those meetings that the public is generally unaware of I consider it constructive. Just writing a literate letter to a public forum is constructive in my opinion. Laura is one who has not been ‘startled into silence’. If anything she has been startled into action and we need more like her. Or … we can take whatever the administration says without question. We can watch in silence as a scripted council goes through the motions in public before voting on something already decided in private if we so choose. She chooses not to and we should be thankful for that. Nobody has to agree with her, nobody has to read her letters. As an old Tammany Hall boss said, ‘politics ain’t beanbag’. And as Lord Acton said, ‘act’. (No, he said that little thing about absolute power…).

        Evansville needs citizen oversight of the city council now more than ever. When a council acts like this one has so far it probably doesn’t like the publicity. That is good. Maybe they do like it, wouldn’t blame them if they did, there’s not much anyone can do about it while bracing for the next big ticket item. When an administration has absolute power it bears watching and comment. A measure of cynicism is one of the filters such an administration should be viewed through. The way politics has long been practiced in Evansville breeds cynicism in those interested enough to watch and smart enough to understand. I’d forgive her the bit of constructive cynicism that crept into her letter and, in any event, it is her letter. And I second it.

        • Bandana:
          Right. Agree 100%. LKB stands up and says what she thinks, and that has to be appreciated and respected.
          A lot of people disagree with her.
          A lot of people question her logic and her failing to also hold her own to the same accountability she demands of others.
          But LKB does deserve respect for standing to state her opinion.

          • Thank you, DB! I simply don’t see the point in beating a horse that died over four years ago. Yes, Connie was wrong to do what she did in supporting Winnecke over Rick Davis, and we had a dysfunctional CC during his first term. Connie did what she thought was in the best interest of her constituents. I won’t continue to “beat up” on her for doing that That was then and this is now.
            I have stood up to “my own” when I disagree. I didn’t support the “Good Neighbor Ordinance” no matter how much I like and respect SBR, and I argued long and hard against it.
            The bottom line is that there is potential for CC to do better than it has thus far. I hope that those who do have the potential to do a good job to stiffen their backbones and act in the public interest.

          • Bandana was right though. LKB, you should have stripped the praise for Connie Robinson from your letter. Criticize the dysfunction while praising it’s cause? C’mon.

            The cause of the dysfunction in the Democratic Party of Evansville, the source of the “but she is my friend (or he is my friend), and so I am going to ignore the principles on which we swore to serve, abandon any thought of maintaining a unified Democratic Party, and I am gonna do what I want”……..is all tied to that Ms. Robinson decision to endorse the Republican Candidate for Mayor. It licensed dysfunction among all Democrats.

            “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.”….or in other words…All Democrats decided….”If Connie Robinson will do it, then all bets are off.”

            Leave it in the past? Ok. Perhaps.
            But leave the Connie Robinson praise in your letter ON THIS SUBJECT? Get real.

  3. The main point that concerns me with the way the new CC is conducting business is the lack of public input. This is not what the voters wanted, and we have four years to deal with it. If you recall, I wrote a rather scathing critique of the last CC at one point, too.
    The year has not started out well for the unicorns and fairy dust crowd. We are in trouble if the City Council doesn’t wake up and put the public interest ahead of their own, at least once in a while.

  4. The best part of Blackburn’s letter is where she implies Robinson is there to get what she can for the 4th Ward and not to serve the rest of the city residents. She does know Robinson well, it appears.

      • Be detrimental to everything outside the 4th ward? Interesting take on the role of an elected servant you have there, Alice.

    • That positive post is worthless without the negative side. I volunteer to be the Negative and I am just a important! Without me your Positive is “nothing”!!! Yes – you get all the glory and the red label but someone has to be grounded and provide a basis for everything positive!@!

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