We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUEâ€Â 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?
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IS IT TRUE that there is no greater ambassador of goodwill than a homegrown, non-partisan community newspaper? Â …that local newspapers can serve as a “Community Watchdog” by sounding the alarm when the citizen’s rights are being violated? …we realize that a community can have no greater ambassador of goodwill than one that keeps its citizens informed about their accomplishments and triumphs?
IS IT TRUE that for many years this column has served the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County as the place to go to learn things that are going on in local government that other media is reluctant to cover?…much good has come from things
posted in “IS IT TRUE” and the comment section has, for the most part, made the City-County Observer the go-to place for open constructive dialog?
IS IT TRUE that for many years the City-County Observer has addressed the gap in the value of buildings in downtown Evansville and the cost to refurbish or establish new office space?…the building that the CCO has treated as the poster child for never having a chance at being refurbished is the former Old National Bank building at 420 Main Street?…after many years of irrational hope for a white knight to come along and squander $25 million to bring the old building up to modern standards, the realization of value has finally happened?…that almost two years ago the ONB 420 building was demolished to make a place for a new but smaller development? …the lot that once housed the 420 Bank Building is currently vacant and unsightly and is being used for storage of City Of Evansville water and sewer construction materials? …that dreams die hard and delusions die harder?
IS IT TRUE that it has been rumored that a city-created downtown organization recently announced they are going to spearhead an effort to install multi-color track lighting underneath several highway overpasses welcoming people to Evansville? Â … that is also rumored that this worthy community beautification project may now have to be aborted because the money for this project is needed (several hundred of thousands of dollars) to make expensive repairs on the elevators located at Invocation Point (home office of EREP)? Â …that we hope that this is just a rumor and the beautification lighting project can proceed as planned?
IS IT TRUE that the citizens of Evansville hope that Mayor Stephanie Terry will figure out a creative way to pay down Evansville’s current one (1) billion dollars plus bond indebtedness?
IS IT TRUE that the taxpayers are hoping that Mayor Stephanie Terry will give them an honest financial assessment on how Evansville will pay the originally projected $400 million cost to build a new Sewer Treatment Plant on the banks of the mighty Ohio?
IS IT TRUE that a miracle just happened at the EVANSVILLE  WATER AND SEWER Board meeting today?  …that the CEO OF THE EVANSVILLE WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY announced that the new SEWER TREATMENT PLANT has been reduced to $265 million dollars?  …that the originally projected cost of building a new Sewer Treatment Plant on the banks of the mighty Ohio was $400 million dollars?
IS IT TRUE that we feel that the citizens of Evansville know that Mayor Stephanie Terry understands that she is employed by the taxpayers and not the other way around?
IS IT TRUE that we are told that many local taxpayers hope that Mayor Stephanie Terry will be involved in the future planning of the proposed EREP multi-million dollar riverfront project?
IS IT TRUE that for over 20 years the EPA has allowed the City of Evansville to pussyfoot around with the serious lead contamination issues in Jacobsville and also several other economic disadvantage areas of Evansville?…the real tragedy is that lead poisoning can be treated, but any damage caused by contaminated lead cannot be reversed?
IS IT TRUE that we find it intriguing when a career politician masterfully tries to convince the economically disadvantaged that they understand and feel their despair, grief, and economic plight? Â …that the career politician also tries to convince the economic downtrodden that he understands how personal suffering is caused by wage disparities while he enjoys extensive social and financial perks for being a long-term elected public official?
IS IT TRUE that we strongly recommend that individuals, families, businesses, and schools be extra cautious about hosting or attending any large gatherings indoors this coming Holidays? Â …we urge you to please remember that the COVID-19 virus is making a quiet comeback and could be extremely dangerous if you’re a senior citizen that has serious underlying health issues?
IS IT TRUE that Kalah Hirsch, Records Specialist, and Asst. IDACS Coordinator for the Evansville Police Department is doing a credible job in providing us with the daily EPD Activity Report in a timely manner.
IS IT TRUE that the good folks at local TV Channel 14 are providing the masses with up-to-date and accurate local news, weather, and sports? Â …that we also wish our good friends at TV Channel 14 a Happy 70th Anniversary?
IS IT TRUE we ask our “Prayer Warriors” to continue to pray for our good friend, city councilman, and community leader Ron Beane who is receiving treatment for cancer?
Today’s “Readers Poll†question is:  HOW DO YOU RATE THE JOB THAT MEMBERS OF THE CURRENT EVANSVILLE CITY COUNCIL ARE DOING?
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Please take time and read our articles entitled “STATEHOUSE FILES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, READERS POLL, BIRTHDAYS, HOT JOB, EDUCATION, and LOCAL SPORTSâ€.
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IS IT TRUE that we have been told by several people in the know that the “TERRY FOR MAYOR” transition team has been selected and moving forward in an extremely cautious manner?
IS IT TRUE that we are glad to hear that the transition is moving forward cautiously because it is a well-known fact that Evansville has serious financial challenges and should that be addressed cautiously?
IS IT TRUE we’re hearing that there may be a little pushback concerning a FORENSIC AUDIT?
IS IT TRHE that we are told by several well-regarded business people that the rumor Evansville has over a Billion dollars in bonds indebtedness may be sport on? … that they are also concerned about how many hundreds of millions of dollars will it cost to finish the massive water and sewer project throughout Evansville and build the new multi-million dollar Sewer Treatment Plant and how we are going to get the money to pay for it?
IS IT TRUE that the City is also facing many millions of dollars worth of financial obligations regarding sidewalks and street repairs, upgrading of our city parks, City Department equipment upgrades, and finding an affordable employee Healthcare plan to name a few additional financial challenges for the incoming Mayor to address?
IS IT TRUE that local governments face structural challenges in their finances because their spending obligations often far outstrip their revenues?
IS IT TRUE that local governments are faced with a serious financial crisis due to the accumulation of long-term debts?
IS IT TRUE that as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, local governments across the country face the formidable task of committing resources to rising healthcare needs while maintaining services their communities expect, including schools, parks, and libraries?
IS IT TRUE that the only ways that local government can pay for its mounting debt is to make severe budget cuts, raise property taxes, or borrow money from local banks?
IS IT TRUE that when local governments struggle, states also pay a price because of lost jobs, reduced tax collections, and diminished services?
IS IT TRUE that during the last City Council meeting (the week after the city election) every current Council member went on public record to oppose the proposed Center Point Energy rate increase?  …that during the recent City election, not one current member of the Evansville Council publicly opposed the proposed Center Point Energy rate increase? …that this type of political posturing is what is commonly known as  “Political Vacillation”?
IS IT TRUE that members of our current City Council recently approved a 9 million dollar loan to update the Ford Center by using the naming rights of city streets as collateral to purchase “Lease/Rental Revenue Bonds” from a local bank? Â We wonder how many city streets have been sold and how much money the City has collected from the sale of the naming rights of our city streets? Â Many people feel that the above method to get the money to finance a 9 million dollar loan to make renovations at the Ford Center using the naming of streets as collateral is not only questionable but downright embarrassing.
IS IT TRUE that it is incumbent upon us to remind our City and County officials that
Revenue Bonds are rated based on the revenue they generate to make principal and interest payments and based on any assets pledged to secure the bonds? …that Corporations are judged on their ability to generate earnings, while a state or local municipality may also issue a
general obligation bond, which is backed by the taxing power of the municipality.
IS IT TRUE that it is seldom that the federal government does something that accomplishes exactly what it was meant to at the price that was advertised?…it is also true that most government programs exist perpetually even after they have accomplished what was intended?…there are even laws on the books that should have been canceled or rescinded years ago for obsolescence?…one local community in their zeal to be like the federal government still has a law on the books forbidding the riding of a stud bull in front of a church on Sunday morning?
IS IT TRUE that our “Readers Poll†is non-scientific but trendy?  …our current “Readers Poll†question is:  HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT MAYOR ELECT STEPHANIE TERRY IS GOING TO DO?
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