IS IT TRUE? January 27, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the Indiana House of Representatives smokefree workplace bill is getting so full of loopholes and exception that it in no way resembles a bill that will actually change anything in a substantial way?…that our state legislature is once again proving first that rural areas and urban areas have dramatically differing mindsets and second that the state legislature just does not seem to have the courage to push this forward in a meaningful way?…that worker’s rights, if they are indeed rights should not be subject to the whims of a cash hungry political body?…that smokefree work place laws should apply to all workers and not just to the ones whose employers are essentially paying the state or certain cities off with “special” taxes from “special” relationships?

IS IT TRUE that Indiana’s urban areas such as Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, and South Bend compete with other urban areas in the country for economic opportunities?…that economic opportunities translates into JOBS in political terminology?…that by consciously letting the fear of losing the sale of a hamburger to a small village that the City Council of Evansville sends the message of insignificance and irrelevance to the outside world?…that urban areas like Evansville need to focus on being competitive with the places that we actually should be competing with and stop worrying about losing business to the “Greasy Spoon Diner” in Monkey’s Eyebrow, Kentucky?…that abdicating the responsibility to set good public policy that protects public health, makes this a more attractive place to young professionals, and elevates Evansville’s ability to compete with peer cities is no longer acceptable?…that this year is the time for the Evansville City Council to follow the lead of the Vanderburgh County Commissioners and pass a comprehensive smokefree workplace ordinance?…that the old saying “lead, follow, or get out of the way” will ring loud and clear in the City of Evansville elections of 2011?

IS IT TRUE that the University of Evansville Purple Aces delivered another unexpected win last night against the rival Indiana State University Sycamores?…that Coach Marty is finally finding his groove and is on a realistic path to a winning season?…that it would make an interesting challenge to see which venue draws the most spectators?…that the last Aces game in Roberts Stadium may just draw more people than the first Aces game in the new Evansville Arena?

IS IT TRUE that the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau has finally seated a new board of directors?…that the choices are young, energetic, and to a very large extent homegrown?…that this young, energetic, and homegrown is the right combination of talents to run the ECVB?…that they need to convene very quickly to get on about the business of hiring an Executive Director to replace Marilee Fowler?…that these folks better stay away from the Opus One?…that we would suggest Opus Two for next years party?…that Opus Two is a local term for the Two Buck Chuck sold at Trader Joe’s?

IS IT TRUE that there is another group in town called the Evansville Sports Corporation that is out shopping the town as a place to hold competitions?…that the Evansville Sports Corporation was recently featured in an article posted on the NCAA website as trying to attract a Division 2 Sports Festival that would have a need for 800 hotel rooms?…that the ECVB and the Evansville Sports Corporation need to start coordinating efforts on projects like this?…that the City County Observer is very curious about a supposedly independent group that is promoting Evansville as a sports destination and would welcome the opportunity to publish and entity profile?…that the official address on the State of Indiana website for the Evansville Sports Corporation is ONE VECTREN SQUARE, Evansville, IN?

IS IT TRUE that it has now been 1,357 days since the announcement was made on May 14, 2007 that the McCurdy Hotel was to be refurbished into luxury apartments?…that it has now been 1,211 days since the Evansville Redevelopment Commission at the request of Mayor Weinzapfel approved the spending of $603,000 to purchase the parking lot?

IS IT TRUE that there are now 653 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?