For Immediate Release
January 5, 2013
Councilwoman Brinkerhoff Riley Not Joining Mayor on Trip to Europe
Third Ward City Councilwoman Stephanie Brinkerhoff Riley announced today that she would not be included in the Winnecke Administration led group of Evansville residents visiting Amsterdam and Germany later this spring. Although there are funds included in the 2013 City Council Travel Budget for two (2) members of City Council to attend the five (5) day event organized by Carol McClintock and Ambassador Travel, Brinkerhoff Riley does not believe it to be an appropriate use of the money.
“When I considered whether this trip was worthy of public funds, I asked some questions and looked at the historical data. These trips, whether traveling or hosting, have been nice in terms of public relations, but they have not stimulated economic development. Maybe that’s too much to ask, but in these economic times, if we aren’t going to sign a trade deal, the people attending should pay their own way†stated Brinkerhoff Riley.
Acknowledging that the Mayor and his wife have stated that they are not using public funds for their own travel, Brinkerhoff Riley encouraged others going to do the same noting that “There’s nothing wrong with going- it just needs to be paid for with private funds.â€
The first-term Councilwoman went on to say that she was not fundamentally opposed to publically-funded travel, stating “I think we should use those funds to look at economic development in the region and to pay for travel related to training.â€
Good old common-sense and professionalism we should be able to expect from all our representatives, not just Ms. Brinkerhoff-Riley. Keep telling it like it should be Mx. B-R!
Mr Lindsay is not going ….. A buck says beaver and messy both go shaking the money tree
Taken down by Editor because remarks were to personal and insulting.
I knew BJ wasn’t going to be happy with that comment on here.
Ms. Riley is making some correct decisions as far as I’m concerned. This is a no-brainer for most common sensed, principled people, but it’s nice to see we have at least one of these types on the Council. It’s like a glimmer of light under the door of a dark, padded room.
It doesn’t really matter what stage the economy is in: It’s never OK to use the taxpayers’ money to take a vacation. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re the President of the United States (whose net worth is more than 11 million dollars) or you’re a city council person in Bugtussle (net worth: 73 cents). If you’re going on a vacation you should pay for it with your own hard-earned money, no matter who you are.
BTW, while I was taking my early morning walk today I saw Ms. McKlintock (pardon my spelling if I erred) and a few other folks picking up litter. It’s nice to know that there are people in this town who will do the right thing at times when there is almost no one around to see them do their good deed.
Our last mayor was well-known for only being in public when there were large groups of people. Otherwise he was AWOL.
Yes, I agree that Carol McClintock and her litter patrol volunteers deserve high praise especially considering their effort was launched a year ago during the coldest part of the year, carried through our hottest ever summer without interruption, and continues today in the bitter cold. That shows sincerity rather than photo opportunity.
My family participates every month in the “CLEAN EVANSVILLE INITIATIVE”. The Mayor and his wife is there every month, regardless of the weather. Additionally, there are a few City Council members there almost every month. This is done not for the media reasons, but because they want to be there. It would be nice to see other Council members there, taking pride in the city. And before you say it, I did not vote for the Mayor, for the reason I live in the county. My family does it simply because it encourages our 5 year old grandson to participate in civic pride.
if she doesn’t think this is an appropriate use of city funds, and it isn’t, why doesn’t she and Little Al and Doc sponsor a resolution to remove said funds from the budget? Then anyone who wants to go can, on their own nickle
Political posturing.
ALL OF THEM.
Makes me sick.
Winnecke presents a budget to the City Council for a taxpayer-funded vacation. The City Council approved the budget. And now all of them – ALL OF THEM – are saying they oppose it and aren’t going but they send out press releases or press hounds to tell people they disapprove of it in order to make themselves look better.
SICKENING.
stephanie voted against the budget, so how can you say she approved it.
Lindsey, Brinkerhoff Riley, and Dan Adams all three voted against the 2013 budget. Get your facts straight before ranting and raving.
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