IS IT TRUE? August 2, 2011

IS IT TRUE that “CCO MOLE #3” wonders why the present Financial and Budget Chairman of the Evansville City Council hasn’t been invited to attend the State of Indiana Pre-Audit or the Audit Exit conferences that details all audits of fact and deficiencies of the financial activities of the city that was discussed? …that we hear that some of the Indiana State Audit reports could be an interesting read?

IS IT TRUE that the most powerful political person during budget review time is the Budget Chairman?…that from this position one can control what comes up for a vote and when?…that as long as any Mayor has the budget chairman in his pocket that the SNEGAL OLIGARGHY can keep on rolling?…that when a Mayor no longer commands the BUDGET CHAIRMAN that the party is over for the pseudo-dictatorship?

IS IT TRUE that the net worth of Integra Bank before last Friday was more than $100 Million in the red?…that when the chips were counted that Integra’s holding company had less than $1 Million in cash in its own checking account?…that this is a sad tale?…that the purchaser of the assets of Integra, Old National Bank seems to be practicing the art of brutal honesty in announcing that the expenses will be cut by 75%?…that in reality that could scale to as high as 300 educated professionals losing their jobs in Evansville?…that the loss of this many educated professionals as citizens of Evansville may offset as much as 10 years of gains in that category by the traditional methods of growth and attraction?…that we are really concerned that our region will experience a large negative offset in the percent of the population with bachelor’s degrees due to the failure of Integra?…that many branches will be shuttered in the small towns around Evansville as well?

IS IT TRUE that the downtown Evansville real estate market will be heavily impacted by the euthanasia of Integra?…that the building that we all recognize as the Integra Building will be looking for a new owner?…that some of the offices in this Class A building is under lease but that much of it was occupied by Integra?…that based on the asking price for the Mason’s Lodge ($150,000), the failure of the Jackson House and the old Farmer’s Daughter to even draw bids at auction, and the continuing saga of the McCurdy Hotel, that the asking price for the Integra Building may be lower than a high end house in Lake Ridge Crossing in Newburgh?

IS IT TRUE that if the Arena has any coattail effect on real estate values that now would be the time for it to step forward and show them?…that the demise of Integra will open up a number of spaces in the 3rd Street parking garage that were previously used by Integra employees?…that if the Arena had any spillover effect on real estate that out-of-towners would already be entering the market?…that if the empty assertion that Arena’s drive up real estate prices were true that the Masonic Lodge should have been snapped up at a couple of million dollars or more?…that the ONB tower on Main should be filling up at a rate of $20+ per square foot per year?…that there should not be any empty storefronts in our rather small downtown?…that the people of Evansville were sold a PIG IN A POKE on that myth too?

IS IT TRUE that in the midst of all of this economic malaise that the Mayor of Evansville is proudly announcing the consolidation of the city and county building commissions as a major cost saver?…that sure it will save on a few light bulbs, a salary or two, and some letterhead, but the tangible savings will be minimal?…that this is a silly thing to take on in the last days in office?…that if this was such a good idea it should have been done 7 years ago?…that this move is mostly to distract the main stream media from the debacles presided over by the appointed Evansville Redevelopment Commission?…that if the Mayor wants to show leadership and save money he should find a solution to the costly abandonment of the McCurdy Hotel?