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 that SB 552 might impact gaming revenues for Evansville? … the bill authorizes “Sports Wagering” at Riverboats, racinos, a Vigo County casino, and satellite facilities? …that this proposed legislation provides for the administration and conduct of sports wagering and the relocation of a Gary riverboat to Vigo County?  …this bill also allows live table games at racetracks in 2019?  …this bill passed the Senate by a 38-11 vote and has been referred to the House Of Representatives for discussion and a vote in the very near future?  …we predict that the discussion of this bill in the House Of Representatives will be extremely interesting?

IS IT TRUE if SB 552 passes there would be payoffs from the Vigo County license owner to the City of Evansville totaling $2.7 million over 3 years, and payoffs to West Baden Historical and Preservation and Maintenance Fund of $4.5 million over 3 years?  …we wonder why West Baden gets money from Vigo County than the City of Evansville ?

IS IT TRUE we will be watching the “Sports Wagering At Riverboats” legislation and other bills over the next few weeks, especially proposed bills about how to keep Water and Sewer and Utility costs reasonable?  …keeping Water and Sewer and Utility rates reasonable and affordable is a challenge and Evansville could certainly use some help from the State House?

IS IT TRUE last week U.S. Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) and U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) introduced the “Banning Lobbying and Safeguarding Trust (BLAST) Act”?  …Senator Mike Braun said; “Together we can end the revolving door of career politicians coming to Washington, spending time in Congress, then enriching themselves from their service to the American people.”   .. if this legislation is passed by Congress this bill will impose a permanent ban on members of Congress becoming lobbyists?  …we give Senators Mike Braun and Rick Scott fifty (50) cheers for doing something that will help “drain the swamp” in Washinton, DC?

IS IT TRUE we would like to personally thank former Indiana District 77 State Representative Gail Riecken for doing a phenomenal job as our Statehouse Editor?  …not only is she well respected but has major connections with the movers and shakers in Indy?

IS IT TRUE that the City-County Observer is proud that our former Editor and sometimes content contributor Joe Wallace has completed writing a book that had its origin in Evansville during his time at the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville?… Wallace has been kind enough to share his unedited manuscript with the CCO and we are startled at the relevance that it has in business and in life?…in the prologue he credits a meeting that was being scheduled by some members of the GAGE Board of Directors to “think outside the box” about a problem that needed a solution?… Mr. Wallace writes that from his mouth came the words, “what good is it to think outside the box if no one has the courage to live outside the box”?…this brief question should be applied to all of the legacies of problems that face the City of Evansville from sewers, to roads, to schools, to spending large sums of borrowed money on silliness?

IS IT TRUE that in spite of the summer of 2019 publication date, there are already advance orders for “Living Outside the Box” by Joe Wallace of over 1,000 copies including 100 by the City-County Observer?…we believe that Evansville will be a solid market for Wallace’s book as he was an important part of driving many thousand unique readers and several million page views per year to the City-County Observer?

IS IT TRUE that Joe’s book has lessons on having big impacts and not letting the dominant forces of business and government put you in a box?…the following excerpt comes from an early chapter where Wallace issues a call to action as opposed to a call to just talking?  …Joe has shared profiles of people who have made positive contributions to the human condition from the wheel to modern computers?  …the excerpt for today goes like this:  “The words “Living Outside the Box” always make an impact and I hope it will make one on the readers of this book.  As you will see, it is those who take actions that really change the world.  Words inspire, perspectives provoke thoughts but it is only through deliberate actions that progress is made to positively impact the human condition and thus change the world.”?

IS IT TRUE its been reported that Income inequality is creating a “deeply shocking” trend: Billionaires are not only growing wealthier and adding to their ranks, but the poorest half of the world is losing wealth at a time when the world’s economy is expanding?  …that research shows that economic climate is accruing outsized gains to billionaires, whose fortunes rose by 12 percent last year, while the poorest half of humanity — 3.8 billion people — saw their wealth decline by 11 percent? …with the benefits of the economic expansion shifting to the world’s richest people, billionaires are adding $2.5 billion in wealth each day? And every two days, a millionaire jumps into the ranks of the billionaire class?

Todays“Readers Poll” question is: Do you feel that the City of Evansville and West Baden/French Lick should receive the exact amount of money if the legislature approves “Sports Gaming”?

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FOOTNOTE:  Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer or our advertisers.