IS IT TRUE last night Mayor Winnecke told 1,000 plus members of CAJE that he votes no to a direct $2 million into the Affordable Hosing Trust Fund before the submission  of 2016 budget?  …it looks like the Mayors priority is to give hundred of thousands of dollars to select Downtown, Westside and North Main business owners for Facade Grants, spend $3 million dollars on a carousel for Mesker Zoo and a dog park rather than provide housing for the disadvantage of this community?

IS IT TRUE we want to thanks At Large City Councilman and Finance Chairman Coner O’Daniel for agreeing to amend the current City Municipal Code 3.35 which deals with the Affordable housing Trust Fund issue?  …that Councilman O’Daniel also wants to give structure and give definition to identify those funding sources which could be used in making this most reasonable request by CAJE for affordable housing opportunities for the disadvantage of this community a reality?  …we would like to give three cheers to Councilman O’Daniel for standing up for the disadvantage of this community?

IS IT TRUE if members of CAJE want to get a real idea about one of the Mayors worthless spending projects please drive downtown and look at the $130,000 mural  painted on a building behind McDonalds?

IS IT TRUE that the State Board of Accounts reported in the 2013 audited financial statements that the City is owed approximately $2,00,000 from the Evansville Redevelopment Authority?ERA is city sponsored organization and all of its members appointed by the Mayor?  … the Winnecke Administration paid a BIG CITY law firm to issue a statement that the SBOA findings were incorrect and the Evansville Redevelopment Authority do not owe the City the money?.

IS IT TRUE that the General Fund pays all of the police, firefighters and day to day expenses to run the city?  … the amount budgeted to do similar in 2015 is $84 million or $230,000 each and every day of the week?

IS IT TRUE that an independent source gave us some information about the spending habits at the Evansville Police Department?   …we were told that the Evansville Police Department spent $1,800 on a mural and nearly $6,000 on promotional stickers and buttons and magnets?   … it look like the EPD needs to prioritize their spending and invest in a life-saving drugs like Narcan?

IS IT TRUE that 1st Ward City Councilman Dan McGinn was the Zoo Director during the Weinzapfel administration and was in charge of building the Amazonian project that went over budget costing the taxpayers many thousands of dollars.  …we also hear that the Amazonian has become a major financial drain of the City budget since it was built?

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IS IT TRUE seven (7) Vanderburgh County Judges will hear the residency ordinance oral arguments on April 23, 2015 involving the Winnecke Administration and City Council?….the Honorable Judge Margaret Lloyd recused herself due to her brother Russ being an active employee for the Winnecke Administration in the position of City Controller?….that the Honorable Senior Judge Carl Heldt will take her place? …. that the Honorable Judge Leslie Shively, who ran unopposed for a Superior Court position in 2014, was previously appointed to the position effective March 31, 2013 is doing an outstanding job? …it has been brought to our attention that Judge Shively has donated substantial funds to Lloyd Winnecke’s campaign both as a judge and a private citizen? …that documents show that Judge Shively before taking office in what is to be a nonpartisan position as judge, donated to Winnecke personally and through his law practice? …since becoming a judge, Shively has donated to Winnecke personally and through his Committee to Elect Judge Shively? …we respectfully question if Judge Shively should also recuse himself from hearing oral arguments in the residency case, as he is overt supporter of the Winnecke Administration? …we want the people of Evansville to have not only receive an actual fair and impartial process on this issue, but also the appearance of one?….the standard for judges is to act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence of independence, integrity and impartiality, and to avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety? …there are no other judges who have donated personally to Winnecke. …we hope the Honorable Judge Leslie Shively will give thought to the issue of this potential conflict of interest given his track record of striving for, and apparently achieving, judicial excellence since taking the bench?

IS IT TRUE there is now no law prohibiting local governments from adopting wage based regulations at the local level? …if the City of Evansville adopt a new prevailing wage ordinance similar to the States new law we could save between 20% to 25% on the Hotel and Medical projects?

IS IT TRUE we checked the Indiana Secretary of State web site and notice the Winnecke administration apparently didn’t file a UCC (Uniformed Commercial Code) document with the State? … this means that any assets inside of Earthcare, Inc. was NOT used to secure the $200,000 loan to the city?

IS IT TRUE Fourth Ward City Councilwoman Constance Robinson had what she referred to as a work emergency and failed to participate in the question and answer session with her opponent David Ballard on Tri-State Voices?….although it appears the 20 year incumbent is taking her opponent seriously, we question the seriousness of Mr. Ballard as an opponent?…. Mr. Ballard has stated and distributed information that he is a probation officer with the Juvenile Court, but this is not the case?….Mr. Ballard is a contract employee that works 10-15 hours a week doing intake for the actual probation officers?…his job entails filling out a questionnaire with new probationers for the real probation officers to use in overseeing the juvenile? …Mr. Ballard stated if elected he would work full-time as a City Councilperson, and we now understand why?….the $19,000 that the position pays would be a dramatic increase in pay for the young man?….people running for office are tasked with making decisions as to how tax payer dollars are spent and honesty is an essential quality?…we question the honesty of Mr. Ballard’s resume?…we also question what appears to a be a moving stance of Mr. Ballard on ShotSpotter?…in his interview with Tri-State Voices, he spoke in favor of the measure, however in his interview with the Courier & Press he changed his tune?…perhaps Mr. Ballard, who has been away from Evansville since he was 18 and just returned in late 2013, is having his positions told to him by someone who actually knows the Fourth Ward?

IS IT TRUE that our property taxes have been raised for 2014 (payable in 2015)?….one should take a look at their property tax bill that they received last week to confirm?….for those who have their taxes escrowed and do not receive a bill, a visit to the Vanderburgh County Assessor’s website (vanderburghassessor.org) will provide the information?….the tax rate for 2013 (payable 2014) was 3.2938?….the tax rate for 2014 (payable 2015) was 3.3955?…. City Controller Russ Lloyd stated during the budget hearings in August of 2014 that the tax rate would not be higher but property values would increase thereby creating a higher assessment?…for many people this have proven to be untrue?…..the opposite has happened?….property values have been largely the same, so the tax was increased?….for some the property value went up and the tax rate?….we are curious to know the amount lost to the City and County based on property tax caps?….during the consolidation fight, the number floating around was that the majority of residents in the County had not hit their cap?….we would like to know what the percentage is now?

IS IT TRUE Courier & Press Editor Tim Ethridge used his Sunday column once again to criticize City Council member for asking questions about deficit spending and whether the Administration had a spending plan?….Ethridge actually applauded the fact the City may not be filling open positions and lamented the fact that personnel is the biggest expense?…he wrote in rebuking City Councilwoman Stephanie Brinkerhoff-Riley for questioning whether the City was in a defacto hiring freeze, “It’s not a pleasant choice, but if someone seeking a permit has to wait another three minutes because you’re leaving a position dark to save money, that is not a terrible trade-off.?”….we wonder if Mr. Ethridge bothered to ask any questions himself before lauding the lack of hiring?….we wonder if Mr. Etheridge is aware the Building Commission is three positions short currently?…the silly, little department that responds to complaints about dangerous structures, trash and weeds and also tracks the thousands of empty commercial and residential structures is lacking an Assistant Director, a Projects Manager and Community Liaison position?… Mr. Ethridge may recall the position created for Rose Young that was supposed to help businesses cut through the red tape of getting approval for investment and development?….could it be that the position was never necessary?….do businesses wanting to invest in their property suffer without this position that has been empty for nearly six months?…does an Assistant Director have no job duties?….are there no projects to manage?

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