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 we have been told at tonights Evansville City Council meeting that Alex Burton (D) will be elected President, Zachary Heronemus (D) will be selected Vice President and Republican Ron Beane will be elected Finance Chairmen of the 2020 City Council?  …we are also told that the other two newly elected City Council members Ben Trockman (D) and Kaitin Moore Morley (D) will be appointed by President Burton to head city influential boards?

IS IT TRUE that Senate Bill No. 73 authored by State Senator James Tomes of Wadesvile could eliminate the option for concerned Hoosiers to anonymously report potential environmental violations to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management?   ..that currently, IDEM gives users the option to omit personal information like name, address and other contact information when submitting a tip online, over the phone and by mail?  …this anonymous reporting procedure would change if the bill is passed?  …if this bill passes it would force IDEM to program their site to not allow the submission of a report to the department unless the name and address form fields are filled in, and allow IDEM to reveal the reporting person’s name and address to the subjects of the complaint?

IS IT TRUE that the bill, authored by State Senator Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville, would prohibit health maintenance organizations or other health insurance providers from modifying an individual’s coverage on a drug during the plan year?  …we give five (5) cheers to State Senator. Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville for pushing common-sense legislation for the common good of her constituents?

IS IT TRUE over the years the City-County Observer has strived to serve as a “Community Watchdog” by sounding the alarm when our citizen’s rights are in danger of being violated by our elected or appointed officials?

IS IT TRUE we realize that a community can have no greater ambassador of goodwill than one which keeps its citizens informed about the accomplishments, failures, and triumphs of individuals, the business community, church and community groups, educational institutions and elected and appointed officials?

IS IT TRUE that for more than 17 years this column has served the citizens 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 and has, for the most part, made the City-County Observer the go-to place for open constructive dialog?

IS IT TRUE that the primary focus of this publication was built upon the foundation of providing our readers with contemporary information in order to enhance their quality of life? …our mission is to provide vital information concerning social, entertainment, political and educational articles for your reading pleasure?  …over the years we strived to inform our readers about important issues that help shape their lives?

IS IT TRUE that it has been reported that after 5 years Evansville war against blight is just getting started?…ten years ago, former Director of Evansville DMD Tom Barnett gave the CCO a tour of some of the worst blighted areas in Evansville and it looked pretty darn bad?… Barnett told us that there were over 10,000 homes in Evansville that needed more than $100,000 in work to be habitable?…he also told us something we already knew and that was those homes would only sell for $50,000 after having $100,000 in work?…that means this work will never get done and that the 10,000 homes really just needed to be demolished?…at $5,000 each to demolish those homes the cost to do this would amount to $50 million?…that is why after 5 years the job is still just getting started?…only rising housing prices will put these efforts into private hands and that is a long way into the future if at all?

IS IT TRUE we feel that over the years this publication has served the taxpayers of this region well and we are proud to have done so?…as a reminder, one of the earliest breaking stories that the CCO profiled was when a former Mayor and his associates conspired secretly to eliminate the Homestead Tax Credit?…the CCO was alerted to this by one of our most trusted MOLES and we exposed this SENEGAL meeting and the amount of money that the taxpayers of Vanderburgh County were about to be fleeced out of?…that number was $5 million per year when the CCO’s exposure of this sneaky dirty trick saved the taxpayers of Evansville?

IS IT TRUE over the years the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility Department has earned a reputation of being the mecca for political patronage and pork-barrel politics? …we still wonder if the members of the Board Of Directors receive either $3,000 or $5,000 for server on this board?  …we also wonder if any members of this board are eligible to receive city-paid health insurance?

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