A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

FIRST RESPONDERS TURN THIER BACKS ON MAYOR  AND HIS WIFE AT PARADE

We were just informed that a large group (around 100 people) of Evansville “First Responders” and members of their families turned their backs on Mayor Winnecke and his wife Carol McClintock in a peaceful protest during the Westside Nut Club Fall Festival parade this afternoon.

We are told the reason why members of Evansville Police and Fire departments and members of their families  turned their backs on the Mayor during the parade was because they feel that he turned his back on them concerning the proposed 2017 City Employee Healthcare program adjustments during the current budget hearings.

Members of the Police and Fire Departments also told us they aren’t going to allow Financial Chairman and 1st Ward Councilman Dan McGinn (R) and 2nd Ward Council President Missy Mosby (D) to stop them from speaking at this coming City Council meeting on Monday.

They predict that Mondays nights Council meeting will be jam packed disgruntled Police and Fire members and supporters demanding that City Council leadership allow them to speak their minds concerning the problems of the proposed 2017 City Employee Healthcare program adjustments

This is a developing story.

EDITORS NOTE:  We were looking back in our achieves looking for old articles concerning city finances and came across this most interesting letter that Mayoral candidate Gail Riecken sent us.  We find this letter to be extremely appropriate in todays discussion concerning the 2017 City Budget short falls because of the poor spending decisions and practices of our current Mayor and  City Council.

We look forward to an open and lively discussion concerning Ms. Riecken  (visionary) concerns published on May 16, 2015 concerning the future Ivy Tech’s exclusion from the IU Medical  Center project and the city’s dependency on Riverboat revenue.

ATTACHED BELOW IS GAIL RECKONS MAY 16, 2016 LETTER TO THE EDITORL

Dear Voters

Because I continue to be genuinely grateful for the show of support from the Democrat voters on Primary Election Day, allow me to extend yet another heartfelt “thank you.” Your reaction to my candidacy continues to motivate me and underscore my commitment to serve this great city.

I am not alone in failing to understand Ivy Tech’s exclusion from the IU Med Center project. I am hearing from an increasing number of residents who find this decision to be illogical. The bigger question is, “How does spending $80 million to serve 400 students make sense?”

Discussion at the City Council meeting this past Monday was both substantive and enlightening. Allowing for a timely and open discussion of fund balances and transfer of funds between accounts can only help both city leaders and the public have a “hard time” understanding of the city’s true financial picture. It goes without saying that moving funds among accounts has been done by prior administrations.

However, recent State Board of Accounts audit reports and the lack of clarity over the city’s financial situation have served to shake the public’s trust. Public discussion of the reasons behind the need to move money between accounts and the timeframe will give taxpayers a better understanding and greater confidence.

My administration will be centered on transparency and openness, especially in the critical area of public finance.

The discussion Monday also served to underscore the city’s dependency on riverboat revenue, a scenario Democrat Mayor Frank McDonald warned against when he steered the city through the passage of the state’s riverboat legislation, the referendum and subsequent selection of the company to establish Indiana’s first riverboat casino business in Evansville.

We must look back to the admonishments made by responsible city leaders who feared a time when the casino could float away, leaving dwindling municipal accounts that had been bolstered by gaming revenue. With our riverboat casino now able to move to land, we need to review Mayor McDonald’s well-stated commitment to avoid reliance on riverboat money for operational expenses, even though the possibility of “floating away” is now ending.

As always, thanks to my volunteer team, which continues to work diligently. Their work in the field, on the phone and in planning for the many upcoming events is greatly appreciated. Neil Woods is a valuable asset and a great friend who is ensuring that my campaign will be represented at all Neighborhood Associatoin Meetings..

Evansville’s south side was roaring with music for most of the afternoon, as family and friends marched through the streets in Jackson’s honor.  However, they say Sunday’s march is just the beginning of a new movement.

Tri-State Organizations Show Off, Make Statements In Annual Fall Festival Parade

100 floats, and a plethora of organizations put on a show for the Tri-State .  However, some organizations say, their float made a statement.

Don and his wife, Lori, will present a $25,000 check on behalf of Mattingly Charities to Evansville’s Highland Challenger Baseball League at Challenger Field Sunday at 1 p.m. 44News will air coverage of the event Sunday at 9 and 10 p.m.

The second annual “An Intimate Evening with Friends” is scheduled for Nov. 30 at the Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science located on Riverside Drive. Baseball Hall of Famer and four-time World Champion, Joe Torre, will be the special guest for the fundraising event. Last year’s guests included Albert Pujols and Toby Keith.

Individual general tickets cost $150 per person. Individual VIP reception tickets cost $300 per person. VIP ticket purchasers will have time to take pictures with Don, Torre, and The Warren Brothers in a private setting. Ticket purchases are availablehere through Nov. 16.

HELPING TRUMP ISN’T EASY

Making Sense by Michael Reagan

Donald Trump actually looked like a statesman in Mexico City Wednesday afternoon.

It didn’t matter what he and the president of Mexico talked about.

It didn’t even matter if they made a secret handshake deal to split the cost of building the great Wall of Trump.

For the first time in his long campaign, Trump actually looked presidential. The visual gravitas didn’t last long, though.

Six hours later in Arizona the old Trump was back, reading a speech from the teleprompter and throwing big slabs of U.S. Prime red meat to his hardcore fan base.

He erased all thoughts that he was headed to a kinder, gentler place on immigration, which, unfortunately, remains the signature issue of his campaign.

Not only did he promise to build his wall taller and deeper and stronger, and make Mexico pay for it, but he also promised to get tougher on illegal immigrants in every way.

That’s great. But Trump —- and his campaign —- still don’t get it.

He’s still pounding away at immigration when he should be talking about the economy, Obamacare and making the country safe.

His tough stand on immigration is what won him the Republican primary. It’s what keeps his hardcore base applauding and cheering for him at his rallies.

But he doesn’t have to pander to that base anymore.

He also doesn’t need to be boosting Fox’s ratings every night by appearing with his soulmates Greta, Bill and Sean.

He doesn’t need to please the conservative Fox audience anymore, either, who tune in to see everyone beat up on Hillary. They’re already in his bag of votes.

How hard is this? Trump needs to address all those people out there who are not part of his base —- people who aren’t Republicans but who dislike Hillary enough to vote for him because of issues like the economy or trust.

Speaking to a black audience this weekend and pointing out how the Democrat Party has failed blacks for 50 years is the right idea.

He has to do more of that. Next, I’d like to see him shaking hands at a corner taco stand in L.A. After that, he should show up on CNN and even PBS, if they’ll have him.

He needs to eat away at Hillary’s base. And that means talking about the economy, jobs and lying Hillary’s personal failings, which are huge.

Trump’s campaign staff had a good week.

But calling Hillary a bigot because she takes the black vote for granted was a total waste of time. It’s not going to win Trump votes in November.

When I tried to tell the Trump team that in a tweet this week, the response I got from a campaign operative in Trump Tower was, “Oh, are you on the Hillary Clinton payroll?

That’s the common response from Trumpsters and the campaign’s brain trust. If you say anything critical they say, “You must be on Hillary’s payroll.”

They don’t want my advice, but everything I’ve said about Trump’s campaign has been proven to be true.

I told them not to hire Paul Manafort to run the campaign. But they did —- and then had to fire him.

I told them long ago Trump had to soften his approach to Latinos —- and eventually he did. I think.

I refuse to be a Trump enabler. I’ve decided to be a consultant to him via Twitter or my columns.

But when I criticize Trump’s campaign I get grief from his followers and his campaign people for being a Hillary lover.

When I told my father in 1980 to fire Paul Manafort and the rest of his campaign team because I could see they were losing the Iowa caucuses to George H.W. Bush, did that mean I was a supporter of Jimmy Carter?

No.

There are too many major differences between Trump and my father to count. But one difference is that my father had the sense to listen to me when I gave him good advice.