“IS IT TRUE” JANUARY 8, 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 Ellen Horan has just resigned as the Executive Director of GAGE to take a job in Texas?  …we wouldn’t be surprised if this “E For Everyone” group will pay big bucks to hire an out town agency to find an out-of-towner to replace Ms. Horan?

IS IT TRUE that yesterday’s political endorsement by Democrat Vanderburgh County Commissioner Jeff Hatfield of Republican County Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave has shocked the “donkey nation”? …they say that that timing is everything?  …today at high noon at the Civic Center Commissioner Musgrave will officially announce her intention to seek re-election?

IS IT TRUE that a group calling itself “FOR EVANSVILLE” is in the process of putting together a publication on the State of Evansville that is called “THE STATE OF E”?…the report is expected to be a fair and honest look at the state of things in the City of Evansville and will be a snapshot of how life is for the citizens of Evansville at the end of a given year?

IS IT TRUE the first full report is expected to be coming out soon for the year 2019?…in the meantime, there is a 4-page brief that shows some of the realities of living in Evansville?…the CCO has reviewed this brief and is encouraged by the candid nature of the things exposed as opportunities to make things better in Evansville?…this brief does not sugar coat anything shows verifiable statistics that are seldom seen anywhere but in the City-County Observer?

IS IT TRUE an honest feedback publication that is designed to get people’s attention with truth is a welcome addition to what can sometimes seem like a downtown is perfect and so is everything else echo chamber?…we see this as a publication that may have some positive impact if the chicken fat dancers can admit to some of the non-flattering facts and start fixing things instead of denying them?

IS IT TRUE the above-mentioned brief flatly calls out the performance of our 3^rd graders since a full 21% of them failed the pass an age-appropriate reading test?…they also point out that this 21% is 4 times less likely than other children to graduate from high school?…it is also pointed out that cases of children being neglected have risen by 43% since 2008 and that is a damning statistic on the parenting skills of the adults who created that statistic?

IS IT TRUE it is also pointed out that Evansville has a 20% higher rate for death from drug overdoses than the State of Indiana and that 40% of the families in Evansville are living paycheck to paycheck?…that number sounds disastrous but this is a place where Evansville is doing better than the nation as it has been published that less than half of the people of the nation have $500 in savings for emergencies?…that is a statistic that is predominantly influenced by personal decisions as opposed to the economy which is at a better place than it has been for over 50 years?

IS IT TRUE that the brief does not address crime statistics that have defied the national trends of reducing crime and have increased over the last 10 years?…there was a bright spot on murder in 2019 with a documented murder rate of “only” 10 per 100,000?…a couple of years ago that was 20 but even at 10 Evansville ranks as a very violent city on par with places like Miami and Houston but well higher than Los Angeles and New York City?

IS IT TRUE we are intrigued to see what the full report will choose to include in the State of E Report and how different this report will be compared to past State of the City reports given by mayors at the Rotary Club?…we are pleased to be joined in pointing out areas for improvement that leads to better public policy?

IS IT TRUE it’s been alleged that an individual with some local political connections are quietly buying up dilapidated and distressed properties in the North Main Street area?  ….we wonder if they know something more about the future development plans for this area than the average joe?

IS IT TRUE that the newly appointed President/CEO of the ECVB first order of business is to show supporters of this not-for-profit board that “E Is For Everyone”?  …that the best-known secret in Vanderburgh County is that the ECVB doesn’t have one minority employed within the agency or serving on their Board of Directors?

IS IT TRUE we predict that the next Chairman of the Board Of Directors of the ECVB will be Joey Kiefer?

IS IT TRUE we are told by reliable sources that business tycoon Ron Geary will be in town in a couple of weeks to meet with a group of local well-heeled business people to discuss the possibilities of a multi-million venture capital opportunity in Evansville/Vanderburgh County? …we also told that former Governor Jay Y Brown of Kentucky is looking at this potential investment? …we are pleased to hear if Mr. Geary decides to move forward with this mega capital venture he will not be asking for any local governmental handouts?  …that “Government shouldn’t do for Ron Geary and is a group of investors  for what they can do for themselves”

IS IT TRUE that Mayor Winnecke left the door wide open for a fourth (4th) term during his recent weekly cabinet meeting?

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