“IS IT TRUE” JANUARY 31, 2020

We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUE” will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way?

IS IT TRUE that last nights “EVENING WITH THE COMMISSIONERS 2020” was a rousing financial success? …this political fundraising “GALA” was hosted by Democratic County Commissioners Ben Shoulders and Jeff Hatfield? …that over 300 Democrats, Independents and Republicans packed the downtown Veterans Memorial Coliseum?  …Commissioners Shoulders and Hatfield did a masterful job in co-hosting this event?  …we were taken aback when Commissioner Hatfield made complimentary remarks about Commissioner Shoulders and the entire audiences gave Mr. Shoulders and arousing standing ovation? … after last night event, it’s obvious that anyone considering running against Mr. Shoulders in the upcoming County Commissioner’s race will be taking on a well oiled political machine?

IS IT TRUE that former Evansville CVB Director of Sales Ashley Vezzoso-Schaefer has been recruited by French Lick Resort to lead sales efforts in Southern Indiana, Southern Illinois, Western Kentucky and all of Tennessee? …that Ashley Vezzoso-Schaefer was one of several CVB employees to recently resign after the CVB Board Of Director hired another out of town person to come in to run this struggling not-for-profit organization? ….we wish that Ashley Vezzoso-Schaefer’s success in her new position? …it looks like Evansville loss and French Licks Resort gain?

IS IT TRUE we are hearing that there is a long list of extremely talented and qualified retired and practicing attorneys who will be applying for the Vanderburgh County Superior Court Judge position?  …so far the names of two highly qualified people are showing interest in this most prestigious judgeship?  …they are the well known practicing attorney Tom Massey, Magistrate J August Straus, and Magistrate Gary Schutte?

IS IT TRUE yesterday the EVANSVILLE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS approved the following Not-For-Profit Grant Agreements for 2020: Evansville African-American Museum Foundation, Inc in the amount of $14,000. Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana, Inc in the amount of $4,500.00. Children’s Center for Dance Education, Inc. in the amount of $1,000.00 Evansville Philharmonic Orchestral Corporation in the amount of $5,500.00. The Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science, Inc in the amount of $10,000.00. Evansville Symphonic Band Incorporated in the amount of $4,500.00. Keep Evansville Beautiful, Inc in the amount of $3,000.00.  Louis J. Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville, Inc in the amount of $14,000.00.  Leadership Evansville, Incorporated in the amount of $5000.00. The Reitz Home Preservation Society Inc in the amount of $7,000.00. Southwestern Indiana Regional Council on Aging, Inc. d/b/a SWIRCA & More in the amount of $15,000.00.  United Neighborhoods of Evansville, Incorporated in the amount of $48,000.00. Vanderburgh County Humane Society, Inc. in the amount of $1,500.00. WNIN Tri-State Public Media, Inc in the amount of $3,000.00.  Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana, Inc in the amount of $9,500.00.  Metropolitan Evansville Chamber of Commerce Incorporated d/b/a The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana; of $11,000.00?

IS IT TRUE that the BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS recently give the approval to HOPE OF EVANSVILLE to spend $240,000 on the 101 East Tennessee street property?…we wonder why would the Mayor of Evansville give the BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS the authority to approve the Not-For-Profit Agreements grants and also award $240,000 to Rehab a dilapidated house located at 101 East Tennessee Street?  …members of the BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS are Marty Amsler-President, Bill Nix-Vice President, and Sharon Walker member?

IS IT TRUE we wonder if you would spend $251,000 of your own money to purchase and renovated a house located at 101 East Tennesse Street, Evansville? …people voting in our “READERS POLL” are saying “Hell No” by astounding numbers?

IS IT TRUE we wonder if the homes referenced in a Newsletter written by Nikki Walle the Director of Financial & Relational Development of HOPE OF EVANSVILLE were some of the overpriced and overbuilt “FRONT DOOR PRIDE” homes constructed in the Haynes Corner area when Jonathan Weinzapfel was Mayor?

IS IT TRUE we recall that some of the “FRONT DOOR PRIDE” homes were hard to sell because of the inflated sales price?  …if our memory serves us correctly most of the “FRONT DOOR PRIDE” homes located in the Haynes Corner area had to be leased in order to keep them from being vacant for a long period of time?

IS IT TRUE that the spokesperson for HOPE Of EVANSVILLE stated in the agency Newsletter that “in addition to the 101 Tennessee single-family rehabilitation project, grants have been secured to helped HOPE Of EVANSVILLE to secure $12 million of additional funds to build 60 units of affordable housing in the community and those 60 units include 30 single-family units and 30 in an apartment complex that will all be affordable”?

IS IT TRUE we hope that HOPE OF EVANSVILLE will hire the fine people at Habitat For Humanity of Evansville to build the 30 single-family units because they know how to build quality and affordable housing for the economically disadvantaged?

IS IT TRUE we got a kick out the public statement made by the Evansville DMD Director that the reason why the house located at 101 East Tennessee Street was selected to receive the $240,000 Rehab grants was that it was a historical home (built-in 1909)?  ..what he forgot to mention was that this home isn’t located in the Historic District?  …he also should have pointed out that HOPE OF EVANSVILLE already has a list of 58 similar dilapidated homes that they currently own throughout Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that HOPE OF EVANSVILLE is a not-for-profit Corporation? …according to their on-line Newsletter members of their current Board Of Directors are:  Paul Baumberger with Kemper CPA Group, Raymond Dudlo with Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC, Scott Edmond with Sperry Van Ness, Melissa Kahn with Edward Jones, Ruby McGlown with EHA, Michael McKim with Anchor Industries, Tom Moore with Vectren, Michael Pitts with Old National Bank, John Raisor with Fifth Third Bank, Jacqueline Wilson a Community Volunteer, Regecike Woodard a Community Volunteer?

IS IT TRUE according to a spokesperson for HOPE OF Evansville “through collaboration and hard work, HOPE of Evansville has gained traction to leverage federal funds and local resources in developing under-resourced communities of Evansville”?  …she also stated that “HOPE OF EVANSVILLE, together with the City of Evansville has been approved for a grant of $240,000 by the Board of Public Works. The existing structure at 101 East Tennessee will be rehabilitated to further add to the community development work being conducted by several nonprofits.”  …we wonder why the Evansville City Council didn’t approve this project instead of the Board Of Public Works?

IS IT TRUE  we are extremely disappointed that not one person serving on the 2020 Evansville City Council has made a request to the City Controller to give them a detailed financial accounting of the Evansville Thunderbolts for the last two years?

IS IT TRUE we would like to thank Ray Simmons, Director of Athletic Communications at USI for sending current sports happenings at that fine University?

IS IT TRUE when the people fear the Government we have Tyranny!  When the Government fears the people we have Liberty

Today’s “Readers Poll” question is: Would you spend $251,000 of your own money to purchase and renovated a house located at 101 East Tennesse Street?

If you would like to advertise on the CCO please contact us at City-County Observer@live.com

Footnote: City-County Observer Comment Policy. Be kind to people. No personal attacks or harassment will be tolerated and will be removed from our site.”

We understand that sometimes people don’t always agree and discussions may become a little heated.  The use of offensive language, insults against commenters will not be tolerated and will be removed from our site.

Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer or our advertisers.