IS IT TRUE? March 14, 2011

IS IT TRUE that Dr. Talitha Washington, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Evansville has made a very strong request for the “REAL” study on the issue of diversity within the Evansville Police Department to be released?…that the “REAL” study was paid for with tax dollars should be released so the public can see the results complete with personal interviews conducted (names omitted when appropriate) in the investigation about diversity issues?…that the City County Observer appreciates and supports Dr. Washington’s call for transparency and full public disclosure of what the situation is so the City of Evansville can get on about seeking real solutions to any problems that have been uncovered?…that calling a cancer a cut and stitching it up does not cure the cancer?

IS IT TRUE that the Evansville Police Department held a public forum at the C. K. Newsome Center on Thursday night as part of their on-going diversity initiative?…that the Evansville Courier reported that approximately $86,000 has been spent on this diversity initiative?…that part of this diversity initiative was an anonymous survey, conducted via surveymonkey for Woodard & Associates, from the members of the Evansville Police Department?…that the results of this survey were not included or mentioned in Thursday’s forum?…that the results of this survey are as protected as the National Archives?…that many members of the EPD were very revealing about the inner workings of the department in this survey?…that several ranking members of the EPD have had private conversations with Dr. Woodard about THE problem within the leadership of the EPD?…that Dr. Woodard has privately acknowledged that he is well aware of this PROBLEM/person?…that we would like to see the unedited results of this publicly funded survey?…that we hope Dr. Woodard has the best interests of the African American community in mind and not merely the paycheck he is receiving from the City of Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that a weekend at Howard University will not do a darn thing about deeply ingrained racism?…that a weekend at Howard is the equivalent of calling a cancer a cut and stitching it up before proclaiming it to be cured?…that the “REAL” study needs to be released before a REAL SOLUTION can be designed?

IS IT TRUE that the project narrative of the Vision 1505 project sponsored by the Evansville Housing Authority shines a bit more light on the project and raises even more questions?…that Vision 1505 is the taxpayer funded refurbishment of the not economically feasible to refurbish safe house at a cost of $240,000 per small apartment?…that similar apartments are available all over Evansville in the FREE MARKET for less than $30,000 per unit?…that this expenditure is a complete squandering of at least $6 Million of taxpayer’s money?…that the same common good could be accomplished for at least $6 Million less than the City of Evansville is choosing to spend to do this?

IS IT TRUE that in addition to the Evansville Housing Authority and Aurora Inc. that the project narrative identifies a new partner named ADVANTIX DEVELOPMENT CORP?…that the official address of ADVANTIX according to the Indiana Secretary of State is 500 Court Street, Evansville, IN?…that this is the same address as the Evansville Housing Authority?…that the registered agent with the State of Indiana is one Mildred A. Motley, the Executive Director of the Evansville Housing Authority who was recently notified that her contract was not being renewed?…that the principals of ADVANTIX of record are Ms. Motley, Danny Spindler, Jerry Clark is the President, and Charles Asher is the Secretary?…that this line up looks very familiar as they are all members of the Board of Directors of the Evansville Housing Authority?…that the project narrative says that the EHA will own 51% and that ADVANTIX will own 49% of the Vision 1505 assets?…that as co-developers EHA will develop 75% of the project and ADVANTIX will develop 25%?…that this really begs for a detail explanation of just how the $7.67 Million of public money will be distributed for the only $1.0 Million free market value that it will create?