IS IT TRUE that being selected as a “Promise Zone” puts Evansville on a list of 20 places across the country from Appalachia, to the Choctaw Reservation, to the most impoverished areas of big cites, that have been identified as “20 of the highest poverty urban, rural, and tribal communities across America?…while this designation is an opportunity to move toward positive change it is not in any way an endorsement for the status quo in Evansville?…being identified as on the same level as the worst parts of cities like Atlanta, Philadelphia, Camden, and Los Angeles is absolutely not a badge of honor?

IS IT TRUE this designation as a “Promise Zone” is an indictment of what 50 years of crony capitalism under the thumb of the machine has done to Evansville, Indiana? …this is a wake up call and an offer of outside help to fix the things that a legacy of leadership has failed to do?

IS IT TRUE we urge you to open the attached link so you can read the details of yet another “Pie In the Sky” governmental give away program to help local leaders put people back to work?  …the last paragraph of this link says it all?

http://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/initiatives/promise-zones

IS IT TRUE that once again Mayor Winnecke is dealt another unexpected financial blow?  …the mainstream media reported that the Streetscape portion of the IU Downtown Medical School is over budget by 20% which is part of the overall Medical School Bond?

IS IT TRUE that the Mayor Winnecke should be getting accustomed  to capital project being over budget considering that his North Mains Street project was originally touted at $13 million and now it’s $18 million?

IS IT TRUE he now has convinced the apparent financially challenged City Council leadership that the  $5 million dollar cost overrun for the North Main project was to be expected? …can anyone help us to convince the City Council leadership that a 40% increase of a public works project is unacceptable?

IS IT TRUE that the original downtown Hotel budget went over budget by $14 million dollars?  … right after that information was made public, we began to hear the phase, “Value Engineering”  which is code for a cheapened down the Hotel project?  … consequently “Value Engineering” mean”, no roof-top lounge, no in-door swinging pool,  no central air conditioning, no 10 story structure,  no apartment facility which our medical students could had utilized for housing.?  …we can’t wait to see how the Mayor is going to make “Value Engineering”  adjustments to  the new Downtown Medical School?

FOOTNOTES: Our next “IS IT TRUE” will be posted on this coming Friday.

Todays READERS POLL question is: If the election for Governor was held today who would you vote for?

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This photograph of the Kresge store at Fourth and Main was taken just before it opened on November 5, 1948. It was known as “Store No. 556” in the national dime-store chain, which founded its first store in 1899. When the Evansville store opened, a local newspaper reported that the “ultra-modern” building, constructed with Indiana limestone, would employ 150 workers. Besides the bargains it offered, one of Kresge’s most popular features was its lunch counter, which accommodated up to 68 diners at a time. Kresge’s closed on December 31, 1968; in later years, it was occupied by Stratman’s Pharmacy.

FOOTNOTES: We want to thank Patricia Sides, Archivist of Willard Library for contributing this picture that shall increase people’s awareness and appreciation of Evansville’s rich history. If you have any historical pictures of Vanderburgh County or Evansville please contact please contact Patricia Sides, Archivist Willard Library at 812) 425-4309, ext. 114 or e-mail her at www.willard.lib.in.us.