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IS IT TRUE December 2, 2014

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IS IT TRUE BREAKING NEWS!…the Mole Nation has confirmed that Jack Schriber will be announcing a run for an at-large seat on the Evansville City Council?…this writer has known Jack for years and is encouraged to learn of his candidacy?…Jack Schriber was instrumental in the excellence off the performing arts in the EVSC in his many years of service and keeps himself current on local, state and world affairs?…what we do not know is what party Jack will be running under but in this case party does not matter?…having a choice that comes from a position of excellence of performance and service is a positive choice that the people of Evansville will have the opportunity to consider?

IS IT TRUE the first two paragraphs are from the IIT from October 16, 2012 and are republished because one of our readers has alerted us that the minutes for the City Council meeting of October 15, 2012 have vanished from the official records that one can access online at the City of Evansville website?…if this is truly the case the is a clear violation of trust and furthermore is worthy of impeachment for any official involved in scrubbing public testimony about public spending?

IS IT TRUE that former Evansville City Controller Jenny Collins was back before the City Council last night to answer questions posed by the membership about just how the MIPS software program integration was botched, who was involved in it, and who knew that the books of the City of Evansville had not been balanced during all of 2011?…the most illuminating admission of Ms. Collins’s testimony was when she clearly stated after some fairly strong questioning that former Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel knew all about it?…she of course did not utter his name but she clearly testified that “her boss” knew about it?…the signature authorizing the $50,000 for consultants to dumb down the program and fix the botched integration came through the chain of command of the Public Works board headed by union boss Jack McNeely?…that at least we all know now and now it will be up to the City Council to decide what if anything should be done about it?

IS IT TRUE many of our readers who were watching were confused by the way Councilman Jonathan Weaver seemed to try to obstruct the investigation even overtly demanding that Councilman Dr. Dan Adams cease with the tough questions?…Councilman Adams response to Weaver was basically to tell him to shut his mouth in a slightly more civil way?…our readership has expressed the question of whether Mr. Weaver was elected by and is working for the people of Evansville or by former Mayor Weinzapfel and a consultant or two?…elected officials do need to be reminded on occasion that the voters put them into office as opposed to one or two puppet masters who encouraged them and helped them run their campaigns?…that Mr. Weaver has seemed pretty independent before last night but is by no means the only elected official in Evansville that seems determined to cover the tracks for cover-ups of the past?

IS IT TRUE while we are on a trip down memory lane, on Sunday the Desert Sun published the first installment of a feature they are calling “Gangsters in Paradise” about the sordid fact that lots of mobsters kept homes in the Coachella Valley?…it was a real surprise to this writer to recognize the car bomb incident in which Ray Ryan was killed in Evansville on the front page?…it was also a surprise to learn that the mob never “whacked” their victims in the Coachella Valley because they valued the beauty and tranquility too much for such dirty work?…the classic difference in these two places that I have called home was emphasized in the story with the quote attributed to a Chicago mobster named Califano “Ryan has got to go, but it can’t happen in the Coachella Valley, Evansville proves to be just the right location?”… Here is a link to the story for those who are interested into a first hand account of that curious murder from 1977?

http://www.desertsun.com/longform/life/entertainment/2014/11/30/palm-springs-gangsters-in-paradise/19040507/

IS IT TRUE economic reports are starting to show some positive data for the hotel business in general with both occupancy and rack rates increasing slightly?…the same is not true for conventions which continue to decline even with the overall economic improvements?…it seems as though Evansville is poised to bet the farm on a losing proposition yet again?…this time they have dragged the collective genius of the Old National Bank into the fracus by getting them to drop $14 million on the worthless naming rights for the Centre?…the City of Redding, CA where this writer visited last week had a problem convention center that was losing a million bucks a year on its hands and did something responsible and revolutionary?…Redding sold their white elephant to a Megachurch that calls itself Bethel?…the white elephant is now generating taxes for the city through the educational subsidiary of Bethel which spends over $4 million per year on travel for seminars?…we wonder with 30 “available” signs downtown already, why not sell The Centre, delay the hotel, and see if some Megachurch can do for Evansville what Bethel has done for Redding?

Copyright 2014 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

LETTER TO CITY COUNCIL FROM LOCAL LABORERS UNION #561 PRESIDENT BARRY RUSSELL

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THE LETTER ATTACHED BELOW  WAS SENT BY LABORERS’ INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA LOCAL #561 PRESIDENT  BARRY  RUSSELL.  ITS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT BARRY RUSSELL IS A MEMBER OF THE EVANSVILLE  WATER AND SEWER UTILITIES BOARD.  MEETING MINUTES SHOW  THAT BOARD  MEMBER  BARRY RUSSELL VOTED FOR THE JOHNSON CONTROL “SMART METER PROJECT”.  

PLEASE NOTE THAT MR. RUSSELL STATED IN HIS LETTER THAT HE LIVED JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.  Comment about Mr. Russell living in Newburgh was taken down by Editor because information was incorrect.

ABOUT  HALF  OF WORKERS WHO INSTALLED THE  “SMART METERS” IN EVANSVILLE WORKED FOR HYDROMAX, INC AND THE REMAINING WORKERS WERE FROM LOCAL PLUMBING AND STREAM FITTERS UNION # 136.

November 20, 2014

To all members of the Evansville City Council:

I am writing to express to you my extreme displeasure with Ordinance G 2014-30. Although the City Council may mistakenly believe that this ordinance is “in the best interest of the citizens of Evansville”, as a long-time resident and board member, vehemently disagree. As you are aware, Ordinance G 2014-30 will require that:

All persons serving on any boards, committees, comnzissions, funds, corporations, board of  directors, authorities, associations, or any other governing or advisory bodies shall be residents of the City of Evansville, Indiana.

Regardless of the narrow definition as provided in the above-referenced ordinance, I have always and will continue to proudly identify myself as a resident of Evansville. I was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in 1957 and grew up in the North Park area of Evansville. I attended Stringtown School and graduated from Central High School. Although I freely concede that my home of over 32 years is located just outside of the city limits, I believe it is worth noting that my Indiana driver’s license lists my city of residence as Evansville.

What should be of far greater significance to the members of this Council and the residents of Evansville is the dedication and capabilities of the individuals giving of their time to serve their community on these civic boards. Over the last 30 years I have supported and volunteered on numerous projects to benefit the City of Evansville. During that time I have also performed construction work on water lines, sewer lines, and storm sewer lines. I have worked on the construction of Water and Sewer Treatment Plants in Evansville and the surrounding areas. In addition, I continue to pay my water and sewer bills to the Evansville Water Utility. I also understand that the Evansville Water and Sewer Board serve not only the City of Evansville, but the surrounding areas as well. As a customer and as an interested stakeholder I firmly believe that eligibility for service on these boards should remain unchanged.

Over the years I have faithfully served on the Utility Board with dedication and a sincere commitment to the citizens of Evansville. Never before has my mailing address been a source of concern regarding my abilities to perform my duties on this Board and I am very confused as to why the Council now believes it to be a hindrance to such a degree as to disqualify me from eligibility to continue my service on this Board. Sincerely,

Barry Russell

President Business Manager Laborers’Local 561

LABORERS’ INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA, LOCAL UNION #561

THIS LETTER WAS POSTED BY CCO WITHOUT OPINON,  BIAS OR EDITING.

VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES

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SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.
DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.
Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday, November 26, 2014

William Simpson, Jr.      Criminal Confinement-Level 3 Felony
Intimidation-Level 5 Felony
Domestic Battery-Level 6 Felony
Strangulation-Level 6 Felony
Interference with Reporting a Crime-Class A Misdemeanor

Stacy R. Goldman            Theft-Level 6 Felony
Criminal Trespass-Class A Misdemeanor
Battery-Class B Misdemeanor
Battery-Class B Misdemeanor

Mickey S. Coleman         Dealing in a Synthetic Drug or Synthetic Drug Lookalike Substance-
Level 6 Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement-Level 6 Felony

Pierre K. Johnston           Criminal Trespass-Level 6 Felony
Battery-Class B Misdemeanor

William P Decker             Theft of a Firearm-Level 6 Felony
Carrying a Handgun Without a Permit-Class A Misdemeanor
Possession of Paraphernalia-A Class A Misdemeanor
Possession of Marijuana-A Class B Misdemeanor

Jay A. Oldfield                  Dealing in a Synthetic Drug or Synthetic Drug Lookalike Substance-
Level 6 Felony

For further information on the cases listed above, or any pending case, please contact Kyle Phernetton at 812.435.5688 or via e-mail at kphernetton@vanderburghgov.org

Under Indiana law, all criminal defendants are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

Several arrest made after juveniles go “Car Hopping” in west side neighborhood

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SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.
DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.

Evansville Police arrested 5 juveniles after officers received reports of people getting into cars in the area of Helfrich Park School.

Officers were called the area around 4:45 Sunday morning and stopped 3 of the suspects. The other two suspects were located later in the day.
During the investigation, officers determined the group had been walking around several residential streets and getting into unlocked cars. This activity is referred to as “car hopping’. The group had taken electronics from at least two of the cars. The owners were located and the items were returned to them.
Officers also determined the group had gotten into a storage shed at the Thornton’s at 813 N. St Joe and stolen a bunch of cups.
The suspects ages range between 14 and 17. All have been referred to juvenile court on charges of burglary, theft, and theft from vehicles.

EPD Activity Report December 1, 2014

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SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.
DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.

EPD ACTIVITY REPORT

Study group: Eliminate Personal Property Tax For Small Business

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By Lesley Weidenbener
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS – About half of all Indiana companies would stop paying property taxes on the value of their equipment under a recommendation a legislative study committee made Wednesday.

The group’s chairman – Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Buck Creek – said those firms might be required to pay a modest fee to help make up revenue lost to local governments. However, the latter was not among the 18 recommendations approved by the Commission on Business Personal Property and Business Taxation.

Hershman called the commission’s recommendations “aspirational” and said the group’s final report will serve as a “guidance document” the legislature could implement over time.

But the Republican, who chairs the Senate Tax & Fiscal Policy Committee, said he’d like to move forward with the small business property tax cut when lawmakers reconvene in January. The proposal would exempt taxpayers that have less than $20,000 in equipment.

Under a law passed earlier this year, counties have the option of eliminating the tax for those companies. But the personal property tax commission voted Wednesday to recommend that the change become mandatory for taxes paid in 2017.

Most of the 147,000 companies that would be affected pay less than $50 per year, said Kevin Brinegar, president of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and a member of the commission. But he said they often spend much more to have their equipment assessed and tax returns prepared.

He called the proposal a “common sense recommendation.”

Still, the change would not come without costs to local governments and schools that rely on the revenue.

According to a fiscal analysis prepared by the Legislative Services Agency, the tax cut would save Hoosier small businesses about $13.5 million a year. But because of the way the change would shift tax burdens to other property owners – and move some of those taxpayers up to constitutional limits on their bills – local governments would lose less than that. LSA estimates the total be about $6.8 million per year, with cities, towns and schools hit hardest.

The commission did not propose specific ways to help local governments weather the cuts. But it did approve a general recommendation that called for continued discussions about ways to “mitigate any lost revenues realized by local units” of government.

Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett, a member of the commission, said his city has been hit hard by other property tax changes and would likely suffer losses under the new proposal. Still, he voted for the commission recommendations, in part because they call for additional conversations about new revenue sources.

“I just want to make sure we continue to keep that in front of us,” Bennett said.

After the meeting, Hershman said he would consider legislation that imposed a $25 or $50 fee on companies that are freed from paying property taxes on business equipment. He said that would be easier and cheaper for the firms because they would not need to pay for professional help to assess their equipment and prepare their returns. And he said it would relieve administrative burdens for local governments that have to process the returns as well.

It “would probably be a win-win for everyone involved,” Hershman said. But “we didn’t adopt that as a recommendation because we still have some due diligence and research to do it on that.”

The commission also recommended Wednesday that the legislature:

Postpone changes – again – in the way agricultural land is assessed for taxation. The recommendation says that the state should use the same base assessments for farmland in 2015 as it did this year and should use so-called soil productivity figures that have been used since 2011. Otherwise, taxes on farmers are expected to increase. The committee said the state should also look for alternative ways to assessing agricultural property.
Consolidate several existing local income tax rates into a single rate that could be used in part to reduce property tax rates and pay for debt and special projects.
Remove the requirement that local governments use local income taxes in part to reduce property taxes in order to have permission to use those rates to fund public safety.
Change a sales tax exemption for manufacturing and agricultural production so that companies don’t have to pay the tax if the product is used directly in the overall production process. Currently it must be used in the direct production of a product to qualify.
Lesley Weidenbener is executive editor of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

Commentary: Ferguson And False Hopes

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By Dan Carpenter
TheStatehouseFile.com

From a progressive political standpoint, the only thing worse than the non-indictment of Officer Darren Wilson might have been an indictment of same.

I’ve never cared for the hanging of mountainous social implications on a single, complicated, variously perceived incident, whether it be the Trayvon Martin killing, the Mike Tyson rape, the O.J. Simpson atrocity or a black-white fight in a school cafeteria in Louisiana that reaches CNN and the Rev. Al Sharpton. With Ferguson as well, I assumed neither that I knew enough about what actually happened nor that the behavior of the participants and response of the authorities were representative of history or system.

But alas. Because Ferguson became a laboratory test for critics of racism on the one hand and for apologists for police on the other, the outcome of the grand jury review had to be somebody’s vindication.

For my particular camp, which sees racism, classism, ghettoization, job-stripping and police militarization as American realities so deep-rooted as to be the opposite of headline material, official sanction against a cop who shot and killed an unarmed African-American youth would have sent a dangerously false signal that the system is just and responsive and blind to color and wealth.

Blacks and liberals would indulge in fist-pumping celebration – with the obligatory cautions about the larger issues – as young black males and their white and Latino economic peers continued to file into the world’s most populous penal apparatus.

Realities: Police, heavily influenced by military backgrounds and post-9/11 glorification of their profession, look upon young males in poor neighborhoods and nightclub districts with the jaundiced eyes of occupiers. With jail as the social control solution of choice and guns available to every knucklehead who wants one, a cop proceeds with one hand on the cuffs and the other on his weapon.

The guys he confronts, meanwhile, don’t help themselves a whole lot. Hard up for decent jobs, beset by alcoholism and drug addiction, taught violence all their lives from their house to the White House, young American males are to a wide degree a real mess. That shared failure, from family to society to self, doesn’t merit a death sentence for an unarmed 18-year-old in Ferguson, Missouri. But nor would a trial and conviction of the shooter – both long shots – have given the mess so much as a mop stroke.

Prosecutors generally can get an indictment from a grand jury if they are committed to such a result going in. Grand juries function as political cover. When I worked as a reporter in Milwaukee years ago, the district attorney went even further in dealing with a spate of controversial police shootings of young blacks: He had the coroner do inquests. After an unbroken series of “no crime” rulings, with predictable (and often justified) uproar, the coroner protested against being made to play the heavy. It also was learned that in some cases the publicly-exonerated cops were disciplined – in secret – by the police chief for their trigger-happiness.

Let’s play charades, in short. The “justice system” is responsible for maintaining and legitimizing a social order that ultimately serves power. Power of the people – power from the bottom – rises to attain justice from time to time. It may draw enough fuel from the Michael Brown episode to bring some reforms to a grotesquely racially-imbalanced police force in Ferguson, and perhaps nationally to move penal racism to the front burner for a while. Or, it may just prompt a backlash analogous to that which election of a black president provoked.

Is Ferguson big enough to bear progressive hopes? There are many Fergusons; perhaps, together, they are. For the people of all those Fergusons, and especially their young men, this Thanksgiving is a time for prayer, reflection and resolution.

Dan Carpenter is a freelance writer, a contributor to The Indianapolis Business Journal and the author of “Indiana Out Loud.”

IS IT TRUE December 1, 2014

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IS IT TRUE E-cigarettes contain 10 times the level of cancer-causing agents as regular tobacco, Japanese scientists said Thursday, the latest blow to an invention once heralded as less harmful than smoking?…the electronic devices — increasingly popular around the world, particularly among young people — function by heating flavoured liquid, which often contains nicotine, into a vapour that is inhaled, much like traditional cigarettes but without the smoke?…Researchers commissioned by Japan’s Health Ministry found carcinogens such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in vapour produced by several types of e-cigarette liquid, a health ministry official told AFP?…we are sure that this will not get the attention of the Evansville City Council which has not yet joined the decade known as the 1990’s when it comes to protecting the public from the health issues associated with public smoking?

IS IT TRUE the City County Observer is sad to learn that one of the most honest, transparent, courageous and brilliant City Council members in recent history has announced she will not be seeking a second term?…this is of course Stephanie Brinkerhoff-Riley who has exhibited analytical ability beyond most elected officials nationwide in exposing the Earthcare Energy LLC debacle?…she also pulled the mask off the bad guys in a public way during the prolonged 2012 City of Evansville Audit joke?…there are very few people who cannot be replaced and we are certain that replacing the pragmatic, selfless, public servant who is not interested in a second term will be a formidable task?

IS IT TRUE several members of the Mole Nation have advised us that the old Victorian house at 1112 Parrett sold for $15,000 or nearly $200,000 less than the dunderheads at Evansville Brownfields paid for it?…we also hear that there are other undisclosed concessions that may make the effective selling price less than ZERO?…with leaders that make deals like this, it is no wonder the City of Evansville’s bond rating is trending negative jeopardizing affordable critical infrastructure projects of the future?

IS IT TRUE tomorrow is the day that some construction equipment is supposed to be placed on the empty lot that should have been a hotel 5 years ago if our former Mayor had spoken the truth?…we repeat that the people of Evansville as donors to this effort have a right to all of the financial information associated with this project?…as enthusiastic as the Winnecke Administration has been to send out a press release every time any remote positive thing happens, one would think that full financial disclosure of a fully funded project would merit some PR?…until we see a press release announcing the sale of $20 million in bonds, a deposit of $14 million from Old National Bank, for the naming rights deal of the Centre and the details of the balance from HCW, we will not believe this is real?…anyone can park a backhoe on a lot and proclaim it to be under construction?…until the financial details are released and verified we will assume all actions to be unfounded fluff?

IS IT TRUE we have been advised by several moles that they have seen an iPhone video and heard an audio of one City Council member trashing several other City Council members including Connie Robinson?…we humbly request that the person who has this video please send it to us so we can expose this rift in the Council?…until we see it,  we shall not disclose who is allegedly on camera trashing their fellow council members?

Copyright 2014 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Evansville woman stabbed during Saturday night altercation

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SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ. DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.

Evansville Police were called to a local hospital after a patient arrived with a knife wound to her face.
Officers spoke with 21year old Destinee Howard about her injury and learned she had been in an altercation in the 1000 block of S. Kerth. The incident happened around 7:30pm. After speaking briefly with investigators, Howard declined to cooperate and signed a “no prosecution” form.
Howard’s injuries were non-life threatening.

Multiple arrests following early morning brawl at Walnut/Kentucky gas station

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SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ. DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.

 

Evansville Police officers trying to break up a fight between several women found themselves the target of the aggression.
At 3:30 Sunday morning, officers saw 4 women fighting on the Marathon gas station lot at walnut and Kentucky. When officers tried to stop the fight, one of the females (L’Sheila Lewis) assaulted an officer. She then fled on foot. Officers caught her after a short foot chase. She then assaulted another officer. She has taken into custody after a brief struggle.
All four women were arrested.
Kapriece Dillard 20 Disorderly Conduct
Mandie Jones 21 Disorderly Conduct
Alysha McElroy 26 Disorderly Conduct

L’Sheila Lewis 25 Battery on Law Enforcement, Resisting. Law Enforcement, Disorderly Conduct.

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