IS IT TRUE? March 11, 2011
IS IT TRUE that early this morning northern Japan was struck by an earthquake that has been recorded as an 8.9 on the Richter scale?…that this is the largest earthquake in the history of Japan and the 7th largest since magnitudes have begun to be recorded?…that the human casualties at this point appear to be a very small fraction of what a smaller quake in Haiti caused last year?…that the minimization of casualties is due to good building codes and compliance?…that good and appropriate building codes and equal enforcement are good public policy?…that four nuclear plants seem to have detected and responded as designed?…that there is no better combination than good public policy, compliance, and a great early warning system to minimize the cost in human lives to natural disaster?
IS IT TRUE that Chester Downs has raised the red flag over the blighted condition of yet another City of Evansville park?…that this time it is the Vann-Pollack park in the 2nd Ward?…that Mr. Downs described the all too familiar scenario of vandalism, alcohol, gang brawling, drugs, and discarded condoms along with dysfunctional infrastructure to describe the Vann-Pollack park?…that Evansville Parks and Recreation Director Schall and 2nd Ward City Councilwoman Missy Mosby seem to be jumping on the bandwagon to try to reclaim this park that like the rest of the City of Evansville parks have crumbled from neglect during the last several years?…that it is refreshing to see elected and appointed public officials come to the realization of the state of our parks and get on about the business of trying to reclaim them?…that it warms our heart to see citizens like Mr. Downs muster the courage to come forward and sound the alarm to stop Evansville’s slide to a Detroit style meltdown?…that Mr. Downs, Dr. Neil Troost, and responsive public officials are the front line of defense in stopping further degradation?
IS IT TRUE that whoever set or enabled policies that allowed our parks to get into the dilapidated shape that strikes fear into the hearts of 12 year olds and their parents should never ever be considered fit to govern again?…that Councilwoman Mosby and Director Schall have been part of the team that has been driving this bus for several years now?…that they seem to have seen the light and are spending lots of effort to fix these problems?…that they both deserve a thank you for their recognition of these deplorable conditions and encouragement to follow through with the corrective deeds they now seem dedicated to?…that the City County Observer is proud to have been a part of the group that has sounded the trumpet on the advanced state of decay of the Evansville City Parks?
IS IT TRUE that some political types are trying to make a major issue of an e-mail sent out by City Councilman Don Walker? ….that City Councilman Walker sent an e-mail he received from a friend and forward it to others without reading it?….that we think these political types should focus on the real issues of the primary campaign and stop the stupid political name calling games?
IS IT TRUE that the Republican frontrunner to become the party’s candidate for Mayor of Evansville has publically stated that his administration would have a new Fire Chief? ….we wonder what the position of the two (2) Democratic Mayoral candidates concerning the identity of the future Fire Chief of Evansville?
IS IT TRUE that a direct report to Mayor Weinzapfel was overheard recently boasting that the north knight annexation was settled and that North Knight will soon be part of the City of Evansville with all of the privileges and obligations that go with it?…that this is not the first time that this particular direct report to the Mayor has been overheard making grandiose claims?…that this person’s track record for accuracy when boasting is about the same as flipping a coin?
would these elected officials be quite so interested in our parks if it were not an election year? and is it true that Missy Mosby’s plan to make Vann park safer is adding 3 security lights? Is it true that she has been talking about this for weeks now but no action has been noted? How long does it take Vectren to hang a dusk to dawn light on a power pole?
and why are we in the second year of needing a new liner at Lorraine pool with no apparent work being accomplished in over a year? Why is the facility being allowed to deteriorate daily. Are they taking their cue from the McCurdy building?
It seems, that the planning for all of our Community’s Goals should use an Election cycle timetable as a key strategy.
if they can drag this out past the election, it’ll still be an issue in 4 years
This election cycle may suck for new paving since the sitting mayor is a lame duck. Boy it’s getting bumpy out there, huh?
Election years play a big part but our job as citizens is to keep the momentum going after elections are held. Our complacency has also been part of the problem. And although interesting, writing on these news sites is not directly working to solve community or political problems. When was the last time we have attended and spoken at council and commissioner meetings?
I’ve attended many meetings in the last couple of years and my feeling is that most of the issues are decided well in advance of the meetings, I’d like to see the office holders hold more town hall meetings in their districts and the Mayor revive the radio callin shows from the Russell Lloyd era.
My opinion is that no one should “just forward an email without reading it first” especially if that email contains overt racist content, or content that may be interpretted as offensive to one or more ethnic groups. That a representative of municipal government would transmit such potentially offensive content knowingly is bad. That he would forward such offensive content “without reading it first” may indicate he acts on the council without first reading the content of what he’s acting on. Right? Either way, bad, bad, bad.
I agree Soon2B! If you can’t be bothered to read what you are sent in an email that you send out to others how can you be bothered to read the ordinances that your voting on. I don’t know Don Walker but I know this: I won’t be voting for anyone that doesn’t respect people and their differences. We are all connected in this world and we have to respect everyone.
Is it true that we have a member of the City Council so clueless that he fowards racist emails with out reading them? Is it true that this wasn’t just a random incident and that he has had a history of fowarding emails like this in the past? Is it true that he has been sloppy enough to send these same racist emails to multiple elected officials? Is it true that he has fowarded emails supporting the birther attacks on the President? Is it true that he has fowarded emails attacking immigration? YES, it is true, many people have received emails from Don Walker. Evansville has serious problems facing it and we need serious people to to meet those problems head on. This is 2011 we don’t need people with antiquated, racist views claiming to stand for the people. Views like this have no place in any political arena in this day in age. It calls into question serious doubts about Don Walker’s judgement and his ability to be a fair advocate for the people of the 3rd Ward. Mr. Walker is running to represent one of the most ethinicaly diverse wards in the city. Does he propose to represent only the white and christian voters of the 3rd ward? I find Mr.Walker’s behavior reprehensible and not becoming of someone we want representing us on the City Council and I am sure the voters of the 3rd ward will soon agree.
I agree that the voters in the 3rd Ward will speak out and it will be against the kind of politics that have been running this city for many years. The kind of politics where a candidate can’t run on their own merits but have to try to smear the candidate that they are running against. Don Walker has proven himself to be a man of integrity and honesty and is in no way a racist, good luck in your smear campaign I hope the voters can see through it and vote a good man back into office to try to straighten up the mess that Wienzapfel and his cronies have left us.
Mr. Walker has always come across as a puppet of Mayor Weinzapfel when I have attended city council meetings. I don’t know the truth of the accusations that are presented above by Jim. The forwarding email situation is dumb no matter where anyone stands. How does one find out the true character of a candidate such as Mr. Walker? I don’tknow his age but some times that is a factor in one’s judgment and opinions. I don’t live in the third ward but at this point see no reason at all to vote for Mr. Walker if I did live there. I think we need a new face.
I think its wrong for you to say another candidate is trying to smear Mr. Walker without evidence that any candidate has put forth these claims. The merits should be is this the kind of person that we want on the city council. A man of integrity doesn’t send out hate speech calling into question the head of his own party’s right to serve in office. If Mr. Walker feels that strongly about it then he is obviously running on the wrong ticket and should sign up for the Tea Party. What has been seen are the emails he has sent out to various elected officials of a racist and hateful nature. I myself have received several of Mr. Walker’s emails and was shocked and offended by them and requested him to never contact me again. I for one want to know about the kind of person that I will be voting on come this fall. There is no place for anyone with racist views to serve on the City Council of the city of Evansville.
I don’t always agree with Don Walker on the issues but this is ridiculous to smear a man over a forwarded e-mail. He definitely needs to be more careful but to condemn him without asking his explanation seems a bit premature and over the top. We need more civility in government and this certainly doesn’t help.
Conor, I dont think its a smear when its true. I mean you can say its not germane to the topic but he did send them out, countless people saw them. It speaks to the character of the person running for office though. We all know how annoying forwards are and most of us are guilty of it, but its generally always something we feel passionate about it. I find it troubling that a candidate for elected office would be so clueless as to send out something, anything that could be construed as racist. The offered up opinon of maybe he didnt read what he was sending isn’t helpful either. It just means hes not hateful but is just clearly to stupid to know the difference. I don’t live in the 3rd either but I am a resident of this city and feel any one that represents us should be someone we have reason to belive isnt racist or dodering. I think this is something that is cause enough for Walker to consider dropping out of the race. We don’t need a issue like this distracting us from whats important and you can disagree on how this story has developed but its out there now and it is what it is.
Who forwards an email without reading it? Did he forward it to a select few or all of his contacts?
It’s obvious that he lied about not reading the email. It doesn’t make any sense that someone would forward something without taking a look at it first and deciding that it would be worthwhile to share it with others.
Plus how many racist emails do you get in your inbox? The sender would have to have known that he would appreciate a racist joke or whatever it was.
Well from the email I saw he fowarded it to Bob Deig, Alberta Matlock (at her city email account) Dennis Avery, Paul Bitz and many others of note. There was about 20 names on it all of a political nature, so I doubt it was his entire contact list. I have spoken to several people that received his emails and they all said they had immediately deleted them and/or asked him to never send them such trash again. Thankfully there are some people who don’t sink to this kind of trash and divisive behavior.
It strikes me as odd that an elected official, who relies on the votes of citizens in the ultimate career based on a popularity contest; would forward emails without reading them. Having worked in politics a little, I would say it isn’t so much “odd” as it is nearly unheard of.
It seems a more likely scenario here is that Mr. Walker agrees with the Islamophobic message of this email, and feels he can gain votes by winking and nodding to the bigoted wing of his base, by forwarding it. I’ve been out of the state for a little while, but I keep tabs on what goes on, while I’m away, and I’ve yet to hear him denounce the content of this email. Have you?
Look, are there more important issues, of course, but does that mean that this doesn’t matter? Is the person who wrote this article convinced that our elected officials can only concentrate on one thing at a time? It seems like it wouldn’t take that long to respond to a question by saying “Of course I don’t think there is a serious threat of Sharia Law taking over our country”, if that was a sentiment he wished to convey. Then again, maybe that isn’t the message he wants to convey.
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