IS IT TRUE that Mayor Winnecke made a disappointing presentation to City Council about the status of the proposed downtown Hotel last night? …it was obvious that the Mayor was totally out of his comfort zone talking about complex financial issues concerning his presently failed downtown Hotel project?  …we are pleased that he confirmed what the City County Observer has been saying for a while about the City, HCW and Hilton Corporation not having a legally signed franchised agreement between them
IS IT TRUE that it appears that City Council Democrats have grown weary of 2nd Ward City Councilwoman Missy Mosby and At-Large City Councilman Jonathan Weaver’s continued attacks on them? ….that the duo has over the last three years attacked publicly John Friend, Connie Robinson, Conor O’Daniel, Dan Adams, Al Lindsey and Stephanie Brinkerhoff-Riley?  ….that in supporting the Republican Mayor’s spending habits, the two have locked political horns with their fellow members while voting for the $5 million dollar Earthcare Energy loan, supporting  the original $38.5 million hotel bond, advocating the original $44 million Johnson Control contract, taking to the airwaves for a $10 million dog park and challenging the trimming of the City’s last three bloated budgets and an unproven Shotspotter? …that at last night’s City Council meeting Councilman Weaver was stripped of his three board appointments and replaced by other members? ….that Councilman Weaver and Councilwoman Mosby’s inability to work with Council members has led to their ousting from any and all positions of authority for City Council?  … that both should start preparing explanations for why they are wholly ineffective in garnering votes for their projects and why they warrant re-election?
IS IT TRUE we hear that the Republicans are working hard to find someone to run against the extremely popular and powerful 4th Ward City Councilwoman Connie Robinson?…many democratic party mover and shakers hope that this happens?  …if the Republicans succeed in finding someone to run against Mrs. Robinson you can expect the 4th Ward to have a massive turnout in support of Connie Robinson?…if this happens one can expect that Gail Riecken and Democratic At-large City Council candidates campaigns will benefit greatly?
IS IT TRUE Mayor Winnecke stood before the Evansville City Council last night to advise them that he and his team have been working with HCW and Old National to downgrade and downsize the proposed convention hotel to a five story wrap around style with only 240 rooms?…the target for the new cost will be $36 Million with $7.5 Million coming from the City of Evansville and the remainder coming from ONB’s naming rights scheme and from HCW?…it is assumed that the other $12.5 Million originally committed by the City Council will go for infrastructure to support the hotel?…even the rooftop martini bar is going to remain but the apartments and the parking garage are not?…the reality is that the only need for a parking garage in the first place was for security?…with the recent shootings on the back 40 it is hard to imagine getting anyone to sign up to attend a convention in Evansville no matter what gets built?…when the next paragraph is obsolete, there may be hope for conventions?…until then it is a pipe dream?
IS IT TRUE that the Courier and Press ran a story last weekend that concluded that “an entire generation has been lost on Evansville’s South Side”?…while it is fulfilling to see the problems of South Evansville get some exposure in the mainstream media that calls out the serious problems with guns, drugs, and violence, it is also important to note that the crimes are being committed by a small percentage of the population?…by and large there are many more hardworking, God-fearing, and law abiding people living on the South Side than there are thugs and criminals?…the real problem is that the thug and criminal element has become so thoroughly entrenched that they control the streets and the law abiding citizens with fear and intimidation?…living in one’s own home in fear that a stronger, faster, armed group of individuals is one of the worse situations that a citizen of this country can endure?…fear of retribution is the reason that the good people of the South Side will not cooperate with the Evansville Police Department in identifying the criminals who are spraying bullets and shaking down residents?…fear is the root of the typical response to an inquiry into a crime with the much too familiar words, “I didn’t see nothing”?…the situation is both the South Side and the Southeast Side is unacceptable if Evansville is ever going to be seen as an attractive place to live?…only when the residents overcome their fears and cooperate with the EPD to rid the streets of habitual criminals will this once great part of Evansville return to tranquility?
IS IT TRUE that according to the last published audited financial statements from the State Board of Accounts indicated that the Evansville Redevelopment Authority owned the City of Evansville approximately $2,000,000 of taxpayer money? …that the ERC is not subject to audit by the State Board of Accounts because it is an independent agency and the five members of the board are appointed by the Mayor and City Council? …that the DMD Director needs concentrate his money finding efforts on the existence of those missing funds so ERC, via DMD, can refund the taxpayers the $2 million dollars of missing city funds?
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