IS IT TRUE? December 8, 2010

IS IT TRUE that there are now 704 days remaining in the two years that the EPA had given the City of Evansville to present an acceptable solution to the Combined Sewer Overflow problem?…..that this plan is an expensive and complex endeavor that needs immediate attention to avoid the embarrassment and expense of another round of fines?

IS IT TRUE that it has now been 1,306 days since the announcement was made that the McCurdy Hotel was to be refurbished into luxury apartments?…that it has now been 1,161 days since the Evansville Redevelopment Commission at the request of Mayor Weinzapfel approved the spending of $603,000 to purchase the Parking Lot to give away.

IS IT TRUE that another $400,000 borrowed tax dollars are being thrown at the façade of the Alhambra Theatre, that anchors the abandoned complex at Haynies Corner?….that throwing $400,000 at a multi-million dollar project is basically the same as tossing that borrowed money into the river?….that there is no working theatre there now and there will not be one after the $400,000 cosmetic surgery job is complete?…that the City of Evansville should learn to do projects completely or not at all?…that this classic building has been an eyesore for at least 40 years and has have several other pots of borrowed government money spent on cosmetics but nothing on substance?….that the Alhambra could be and maybe even should be completely redone and made functional?….that facelifts, nose jobs, and other outside work are no substitute for a functional core with people or buildings?

IS IT TRUE that Roberts Stadium is under attacks from the City of Evansville to be demolished?… that the reason given for demolishing Roberts Stadium is because we can’t support two stadiums and the new Arena can’t handle the competition?….that there are 58 movie screens already operating in Vanderburgh County and another 18 within 10 miles of the Alhambra?…that makes 76 movie screens already newer, more state of the art, and successful than the Alhambra can ever hope to be?…that adding one more movie screen to the 76 screen mix will mean absolutely nothing?….that maybe the old Alhambra should be considered for a restaurant developed by a private entity with private money?….that if Roberts Stadium should be torn down to avoid paying for the maintenance then maybe the same should be considered for the Alhambra?…that for the wrecking ball to swing on Boeke Road but borrowed money thrown at a dilapidated neglected structure at the entrance to Goosetown is conflicted when coming from the same minds?

IS IT TRUE that a private effort to keep the park at 4th and Main a park is gaining traction?…that there is even some talk of some private seed money being made available to get the park into pristine condition?…that preserving a park at that location would be a project worthy of investment that pays the dividend of serenity to all of the 20,000 downtown workers (at least that is what the official number is) that can use it every day for reflection and relaxation?…that the cost to get the park into pristine condition may only be in the $100,000 range?….that the total annual maintenance of such a park will in all likelihood be less than $10,000 per year?….that if the City of Evansville can “find” $1.5 Million to tear down Roberts Stadium prematurely and appropriate $200,000 in matching funds to do a facelift on the Alhambra, then surely, surely, the money to make the park pristine and the $10,000 or less per year to mow the park and pick up the litter can be “found” as well?

IS IT TRUE that the City of Evansville could gain some respect if it would complete something, anything before getting distracted and starting something else?

IS IT TRUE that Channel 25 reported last night that only one of the three bidders for a Downtown Convention Hotel would talk with them?…that the opening of the bids is not scheduled yet?…that the one that talked ignored the bridges to the Centre and Arena and left the demolition of the Executive Inn in the hands of the City?…that we still wait anxiously for the solution to the Executive Inn Dilemma?

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