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 Evansville, Indiana has always been accepting of a practice known as “political patronage” when it comes to jobs that are financed fully or partially by public dollars?…it has been so entrenched that a former Evansville Mayor whom we shall not name has been quoted as saying “I get all of the credit and they take all of the blame” to justify appointing his political supporters to jobs under his control?…”political patronage” came about at about the same time that the Tammany Hall shake down tactics in New York City were being used to drain the public coffers to enrich the politically connected?… the one thing that “political patronage“ staffing never seems to require is any expertise at all with respect to the job that one is being appointed to?  …”political patronage” staffing is a dangerous artifact of the past and has no reason to exist in the present?…the need for competence as opposed to loyalty will someday drive ‘political patronage” staffing from local government, but until then shenanigans like putting campaign managers and workers into well-paid positions that are out of their league will continue?

IS IT TRUE at 9:00 am today Evansville City Clerk Laura Brown Windhorst, 6th Ward City Councilman James Brinkmeyer, City Council Candidates Kaitlin Moore Morley, and Zac Heronemus are going to officially declare their intent to run in the 2019 City election?

IS IT TRUE that we are told that the At- Large City Councilmen Jonathan Weaver is still considering running for Mayor? …we are hearing that many people are encouraging him to run for Mayor?

IS IT TRUE that 2nd Ward City Councilwoman Missy Mosby wii announce that she will run for re-election in a couple of weeks? …that on January 14, 2019 Dr. D’Angelo S. Taylor will announce that he will be a City Council candidate in the 2nd Ward primary?

IS IT TRUE that Ben Trockman won’t be a candidate for the 1st Ward City Council seat? …Alex Burton is postured to announce that he will be a candidate for the City Council 4th Ward once Connie Robinson declares she’s retiring from politics?

IS IT TRUE that the State of Indiana is considering a whopping $2 per pack tax on cigarettes?…some may attribute this to some mental enlightenment in Indianapolis but other more astute people will see this for what it is which is a tax grab on Hoosiers who are addicted to smoking?…that the tobacco dependent State of Kentucky raised the taxes on cigarettes by 50 cents a pack last year and saw a measurable decrease in smoking across the river?…years and decades of ads targeting smokers across the river had little impact but 50 cents a pack got them to cut back?…economic penalties always seem to be the most impactful way to curb destructive behavior whether it is fastening seat belts, wearing a helmet while driving a motorcycle or cutting out the tobacco?…human nature is fearful of losing and losing 50 cents has motivated many Kentuckians to stop smoking in the Bluegrass State?…this will work in the Hoosier state too if the state legislature puts on their big boy pants and votes this tax in?

IS IT TRUE that after all of these years that started with the admonition by Evansville City Councilman Dr. Dan Adams at the downtown Evansville Rotary Club, Evansville is still one of the only medium sized cities in the nation not to have imposed a smoking ban indoors?…that was cowardice of the highest order and showed a government addiction to tax money from places where smokers gather?…several City Council members over the years have called upon the State of Indiana to bail them out from the albatross of a smoking ban and it has never happened?…perhaps this $2 tax will help?…high taxes on cigarettes have helped reduce smoking everywhere with or without bans and it is about time that Indiana joined the modern world?…both the Weinzapfel and Winnecke Administrations have hid from this like a child hides from a ghost?…the option to save ourselves has been squandered time and time again in the name of keeping the tax dollars flowing and the graveyards growing?

IS IT TRUE we wonder what the status of the multi-million dollars “Johnson Control Smart Meter” project that was started right after Mayor Winnecke  took office?

IS IT TRUE Its time that our City officials take a serious look at both the Veterans Memorial Coliseum and Mesker Amphitheater and see how we make them once again a major part of our social, cultural and entertainment offerings?

IS IT TRUE the most effective members of the Evansville City Council Finance Committee were John Friend, CPA and Curt John?

IS IT TRUE that Willy Taylor did an outstanding job when he served as a Vanderburgh County Councilmen? …James Raben is also doing a creditable job as a member of the Vanderburgh County Council?

IS IT TRUE that the most effective Vanderburgh City Tax Assessors were Jim Angermier and Cheryl Musgrave?

IS IT TRUE that Tom Ossenburg and Dave Mosby were very good County Commissioners? …That both Ben Shoulders and Cheryl Musgrave are making good decisions for the taxpayers of Vanderburgh County?

IS IT TRUE that Betty Knight Smith, Marsha Abell Barnhart and Shirley Cox did a great job in the Vanderburgh County Clerks office? …current County Clerk Carla Hayden is doing a bang up job?

IS IT TRUE that Rick Davis was an outstanding Vanderburgh County Treasurer?  …that Susan Kirk is doing a great job in that office?

IS IT TRUE that Eric Williams, Brad Ellsworth and Jim DeGroote were outstanding Vanderburgh County Sheriffs? …that current Sheriff Dave Wedding is doing a great job?

Todays“Readers Poll” question is: Who was the most effective President of the Evansville City Council?

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IN SUPPORT OF DRAG QUEEN READING HOUR

BY WALLACE PAYNTER

The Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library is joining other libraries around the nation, creating new and innovative programs that encourage reading.

The newest upcoming program, Drag Queen Reading Hour, is being created to promote diversity and to encourage student reading. The program is not a mandatory program that students have to attend. It is a program at a library where parents can choose to bring their kids.

There are many other reading programs which have adults dressed in costume, most recently the Santa reading hour.

As I read the details of the opposition’s petition, it focuses on sex and sexuality. It misses the mark … children’s story hour doesn’t discuss sex and sexuality. It’s a performer reading a book and doing crafts or activities … and letting the kids know that we are all different in some way and that’s okay.

I believe City Council member Justin Elpers has important issues to work on that impact city government. This isn’t one of them. Parents who support this program will take their kids to it. The publicity he has given this event will have the reverse effect …. I believe the event will be standing room only because of the publicity he has given the event.

My thanks to the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library for promoting diverse events that promote reading.

Click on this link to sign the petition in support of this program: https://www.change.org/p/evansville-vanderburgh-public-library-we-support-drag-queen-story-hour-at-evpl-d5d8c91b-a77c-40dd-a5e2-6cf8899f5766

Wally Paynter, President

Tri-State Alliance

TSAGL.org

Facebook.com/TriStateAlliance

They say 70 percent favor the tax and 29 percent were against it. They say fewer people smoking means less money the state has to spend on smoking-related illness and health issues.

Raise it for Health chairman Brian Hannon says, “I mean this is an evidence-based solution. We’re not just promoting a cigarette tax to promote a cigarette tax. We know it drives down smoking rates, we know it keeps kids away from tobacco, and we know it raises significant new revenue that we can dedicate to other urgent public health programs.”

A bill regarding this proposal is expected to be introduced during this year’s legislative session.

Opponents are worried any kind of tax is a tough sell for voters.

Here in Southwestern Indiana supporters of the proposed hate crimes legislation say they’re optimistic the bill will pass this session.

Indiana state representative Ryan Hatfield co-sponsored one of the three hate crime bill considered in this year’s General Assembly, and House Bill 1093 seems to be getting the most traction.

Different groups in Evansville say it’s not the perfect hate crimes Bill, but agree it’s a step in the right direction.

Indiana is one of five states in the U.S. Without a hate crimes law, but legislators and groups in the Hoosier state are pushing to change that.

“I do think that is an embarrassment. So every time there is a Swastika that is put on a temple, or our local temple had someone shoot a bullet through one of the windows. That is something that could be considered that this happens locally, and it happens in Indiana,” says Tri-State Alliance President Wally Paynter.

A bias crimes bill authored by Representative Gregory Steuerwald, and co-sponsored by Indiana Representatives Wendy Mcnamara and Ryan Hatfield doesn’t include any specific group.

“We didn’t want anyone to be excluded. This includes every identity that exists now and in the future,” says Rep. Hatfield.

Hatfield says this is the only Bill that can pass the legislative session.

“This Bill includes everybody. Its the most comprehensive, strongest language that the legislature has before it, and I think that it will pass. I hope that it will pass, and I am a proud co-author of it.”

“I do believe this is the best hate crimes Bill that can pass the General Assembly and I do hope our local delegation will support this Bill,” says Paynter.

Different groups in Evansville say House Bill 1093 is a start in protecting groups in Indiana.

“Once we drill down into that and we see that then perhaps we can support him in this effort, and I believe that Representative Hatfield has it in his heart to make sure that everybody is considered in this Bill regardless of their race, creed, color, or sexual orientation,” says Evansville NAACP President Reverend Gerald Arnold.

“I believe that we are included, and I do believe that it is an effective Bill that would be a good first step in passing a hate crimes Bill in Indiana,” says Paynter.

House Bill 1093 would instruct judges to aggravate a sentence when they find bias in a crime which would prolong a sentence.

Hatfield says this Bill would ensure the state doesn’t have to amend the Bill each year to add different groups.

LINK TO THE FOOD INSPECTION REPORT FOR VANDERBURGH COUNTY

Food Inspection Reports 1-10-19