IS IT TRUE it was just peachy to hear Mayor Winnecke exuding confidence that the downtown convention hotel will get it’s collective act together and will be built this time?…this whole confidence thing from elected officials on what is now the fifth rendition of hotel/motel is getting to the point of hilarity?…the reality on the state of the downtown convention hotel project is that it has been in the realm of delusion, deception, and dreamland for so long that no officially involved party has any credibility at all?…that in spite of all of the delusional musings of the powers that be the City County Observer does wish them well and hope they can make something happen on the fifth try, which is the second go around with HCW of Branson, Missouri whose words have been about as accurate as the character Robin Williams played in “Jacob the Liar”?

IS IT TRUE what was portrayed to the people of Evansville as a “4-Star hotel with no taxpayer incentives, if only we build an arena” by former Mayor Weinzapfel has morphed into a borderline between a 2-3 Star hotel that will be stick built instead of using construction techniques that allow for expansion upward?…to remove all doubt, we wish to remind our readers that a stick built structure is a typical freeway off ramp hotel that are prevalent on the east side and rent out for $80 a day across most of America?…the next barrier that the powers that be will run into will be reconstructing the pro-forma to reflect the lower rate that this kind of property will command?…that new pro-forma will be showing a 60% occupancy rate at $80 per day that will translate into a price to revenue ratio of 8.6 based on a $36 Million cost and 240 rooms?…it is curious that while similar hotels were recently built in Owensboro for a reported cost of $100,000 per room but over here in Evansville the cost is $150,000 per room?…one would think that such a hotel could be built for $24,000,000 which is about what it will be worth when it is finished?…another question begging for an answer is whether or not that $36 Million price target includes the $1.6 Million already spent on the previous design and the $110,000 paid to Hunden to regurgitate the opinion that Mayor Winnecke told them to regurgitate?

IS IT TRUE the other thing that came through loud and clear in Monday night’s City Council meeting is that there is not and never has been an executed franchise agreement between Hilton International and HCW?…there have been documents and some money change hands but the deal was never sealed as multiple mainstream media outlets reported as coming from both HCW and Mayor Winnecke?…we hope that all of our readers remember that the CCO has consistently called this claim out as being false while others danced the dance without asking any questions?…this whole sordid series of events is so similar to the flim-flam bait and switch routine the the powers that be fell for when Earthcare Energy came to town, that it really makes the City of Evansville look like a bunch of rubes?

IS IT TRUE that former Evansville Redevelopment Commissioner Jay Carter will be facing a judge to receive his sentence for 7 counts of laundering money for drug dealers tomorrow?…it is possible under the law that Carter will get more time than he would have for dealing drugs instead of laundering drug money?…we hope to see justice done and would err on the side of leniency for this otherwise gentle man who chose the wrong path?…Mr. Carter has been found guilty and should pay a price but not as much of a price as a drug dealer?

IS IT TRUE in a bizarre move, the Evansville City Council has stripped Councilman Jonathan Weaver of three board seats that he has been serving on?…this is a step that is not taken often and was in all likelihood structured to send Mr. Weaver a message about his aggressive demeaning behavior toward other council members?…he does retain two board seats on parks and recreation and law enforcement?…Weaver has been embattled in his public service career as both the County Assessor and as a City Councilman exhibiting both brilliance and aggression?…his style is apparently wearing thin on his fellow council members?

IS IT TRUE the news that Indiana Governor Mike Pence is starting an official state news agency took lots of people by surprise as it has not ever been a task of any state to report the news?…the responsibility of the state and federal government with respect to news is to protect the freedom of the press so that truth is reported and not to decide which truths to report?…one constant among dictatorial regimes is a state owned and/or controlled press for the purpose of deceiving the general public?…while some private publications are openly biased, they are at the mercy of the free markets to keep publishing?…for Indiana to have an official news source paid for by taxpayer dollars ranks right up there with Pravda and other ministers of propaganda?

Please take time and vote in todays “Readers Poll”
Copyright 2015 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.