IS IT TRUE? July 7, 2011
IS IT TRUE that for the fifth day in a row the trailing calculation for time online using the 3rd party measurements of Alexa.com and trafficestimate.com has the City County Observer slightly ahead of the Courier & Press?…that we continue to be pleased but also feel somewhat like the Milan High School Indians when they took the lead on larger and heavily favored Muncie Central to take the Indiana state basketball championship?…that we do not anticipate any movie deals coming our way but do relish the underdog role?
IS IT TRUE that yet another idea has come forth that may rescue the old Greyhound Bus Station?…that the group called Indiana Landmarks is hoping to place an office in the classic art deco building because of its perceived historical importance?…that the key to this rescue will lie in the local financial support that can be mustered to refurbish the building and then pay for the operational costs after the building is up to snuff?…that there will be room for other tenants in the building and that if a permanent outdoor market set up is established (like Owensboro is currently building) adjacent to the Greyhound Station that there may just be some commercial success in the block’s future?…that we must emphasize that this is a non-profit that is basically saying “Evansville, if you fix this building we will rent an office in it from youâ€?…that this is not a white knight with deep pockets bailing out an old downtown building?…that this is a good organization that is offering Evansville a chance and a vision to actually do something that has been talked about for 5 years now?…that if we as a community do not get behind this effort and make it happen that it is time to tear the building down?…that the same administration that is counting the seconds to tear down Roberts Stadium has been holding a rabbit’s foot about the Greyhound for 5 years now?…that here is our chance Evansville, do we want the bus station repaired or not?…that we are supportive of any and all efforts that step forward to raise some money for this?…that Evansville may COUNT THE CITY COUNTY OBSERVER IN WITH FREE ADVERTISING TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT?
IS IT TRUE that the dust clouds are still rising over the final solution and dissolution that the 4 year effort to get a downtown Convention Hotel culminated in yesterday?…that four years ago when a proud Mayor Weinzapfel announced that Browning would be building a 4-Star hotel to replace the Executive Inn everyone was a little star struck that this could be possible?…that the project has been all downhill from there and that today the four year effort has degraded to the point that TAXPAYER DOLLARS are being committed to clean up the 10 foot pile of rubble and there is no contract in place?…that the new RFP was published alongside sheriff sale notices and other public bid contract opportunities like patching holes and painting outbuildings?…that yesterday was a TAIL BETWEEN THE LEGS DAY for the dog called the City of Evansville?
IS IT TRUE that the biggest question that is still nagging the CCO and many of our readers is how perfectly competent people can turn into mush when they find themselves appointed to government commissions or even elected to public office?…that we wonder why none of the financially savvy members of the Evansville City Council raised a red flag to the VETTING issue?…that we suspect that the red flag was raised but that the warnings were net heeded?…that we equally wonder how bankers and accountants on the Evansville Redevelopment Commission would casually ignore everything that they do in their professional lives about VETTING when they enter the Civic Center?…that whatever circumstances that cause well trained and well intentioned people to cast both professional and common sense aside when placed into positions of stewardship over public dollars MUST BE ELIMINATED?…that an uncompromising VETTING PROCESS that is adopted by both the ERC and the Evansville City Council would be a positive step forward to correct this cognitive dissonance that seems to afflict our elected and appointed leaders?
IS IT TRUE that the most disturbing question from a reader is “how many other things are as messed up as the hotel project and the McCurdy that are just not yet understood yetâ€?…that is a question that begs for answers?…that it is time for the CONE OF INCOMPETENCE to be removed from the Civic Center roof?
“IS IT TRUE that the biggest question that is still nagging the CCO and many of our readers is how perfectly competent people can turn into mush when they find themselves appointed to government commissions or even elected to public office?…that we wonder why none of the financially savvy members of the Evansville City Council raised a red flag to the VETTING issue”
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It’s relatively easy to figure out…..
1. It’s not their money they are spending.
2. They are waiting for direction from the people who appointed them (don’t want to step on anyone’s toes)
3. They are just a rubber stamp to pay back political favors. (directed by a higher power)
4. They were appointed….there isn’t any ramifications for poor/bad judgement.
5. No oversight by anyone who can be held accountable. ( No elected official on the board)
It goes on and on….Vetting? What’s that?
blanger,
a) Agree with point # 3. The rubber stamp is evidenced by the overwhelming number of times the vote on an issue is unanimous (5-0). Clearly, when no one ever objects, this Commission is purely put on as a ‘dog and pony show’. The minions have already been instructed how to vote by the puppeteer;
b) Please add point # 6: They operate in anonymity. I urge readers to call Harding & Shymanski (re: Greg Elpers), Old National Bank (re: Sarah Miller) and Goldman’s Pawn Shop (and ask for Bob), and tell these businesses you are not happy with the way these people have behaved ! You never see a news article in either the CCO or the CP which “names names”, and making the public aware of the living, breathing, people who are mismanaging the affairs of our community will in and of itself draw more accountability. I believe the current ERC slate + John Kish should resign by 4:00 PM today, and give others a chance to do much better for our City.
Joe
You turn a mean phrase and I have a deep respect for your intellect, but, to this reader, “incompetence” is hardly the cause of these heretofore unexplained inconsistencies.
“Machiavellianism” is a more likely diagnosis. Machiavellian leadership; having its’ influence on otherwise moral and competent appointees.
Machiavellianism: Being called “Machiavellian†is never praise. In popular usage, it refers to a someone who is sneaky, conniving, deceitful, and untrustworthy. A Machiavellian person is often thought to be indifferent to ethical and moral considerations in the same way that a sociopath is incapable of sympathy or compassion. Sometimes the Machiavellian is imagined to be someone who actually prefers double-dealing, back-stabbing methods to any others.
This would solve the conundrum of why or how, otherwise brilliant competent people commit profoundly stupid, or irresponsible actions.
Savvy?
Wow bubbageek, I am in awe that you seem to have found the perfect word for the situation that I needed “the cone of incompetence” to describe.
I looked it up and not only found the definition but found a test for people to use to find their own Mach level. By the way my score was a 46 on a scale of 100 which is low mach. I do not know how that effects what I will choose for lunch today but it was an interesting read. Here is a link for the curious.
http://www.salon.com/books/it/1999/09/13/machtest
Mr. Wallace, here is more on the cone of incompetence:
http://jpgmag.com/photos/2855026
Prime example of how screwed up our job market is (and pay scale):
Take a look at this ONB posting. (https://oldnational.hodesiq.com/job_detail.asp?JobID=2533057)
Now, ask yourself where abouts this job falls on the corporate ladder… Then ask yourself reading the requirements, doesn’t this job require MORE brains and experience than every ERC member has recently demonstrated, than every city/county councilperson has demonstrated, and/or than even the mayor himself has demonstrated?
The posting doesn’t mention compensation level, would you expect it higher or lower than the mayoral salary?
That particular job will probably pay similar to what the Mayor’s salary is in Evansville. It may actually be a little lower. In other locations this position would pay between 50% and 100% more than it will in Evansville. It does sound like a good job though. I hope a talented home grown professional is hired and makes a life here.
Food tasting, sounds like a good job, too.
But being an underpaid, overworked food taster, during a Cholera epidemic – in context – doesn’t look so good. Especially the long term prospects.
Machiavellian, Sociopath,—Hummmmm, I think I have a definitive explanation of the Weinzapfel Administration now,– Thanks Bubba!
bubba you got em all im not sure which one is the most dishonest ,but the people of evansville did get flim flammed
It doesn’t appear the ERC could sucessfully run a lemonade stand during a heatwave.
There should be statute in place that states the public must be warned in advance every time a bond attorney is scheduled to appear in front of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission or the Evansville Common Council!
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