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IS IT TRUE September 4, 2013

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Mole #3 Nostradamus of Local Politics
Mole #3 Nostradamus of Local Politics

IS IT TRUE September 4, 2013

IS IT TRUE it has been 30 days since City Councilman John Friend, CPA first asked for a “grant application” from HCW to begin vetting whether or not they are the right partner and this is the right deal for the people of Evansville?…he has never stopped asking and his persistence came to a point of no return last week when he finally out of exasperation let Mayoral Attorney Ted Ziemer know that without a “grant application” with the components he published for the third time yesterday that he will hold this vote in committee for 30 days as is his right to do without a vote?…if Councilman Friend is as good as his word and a sufficient “grant application” is not in his hands the next opportunity for a vote will not be before October 9th but would most likely be held on Monday October 15, 2013?…Mr. Ziemer has pledged to do his best but that will take the cooperation of HCW who seems to be fundamentally opposed to releasing their tax returns and personal financial information?…the CCO would like to ask who among us would be willing to hand over our life’s tax returns and a net worth statement for a gift of $37.5 Million?…we doubt that very many people would turn down that offer?

IS IT TRUE the MOLE NATION is now beginning to hear rumblings that HCW may just tell the City of Evansville to drop dead if they do not get the City Council’s approval for this deal next Monday night?…if that is their attitude they would not have made good partners anyway?…if such an ultimatum is made either publicly or privately it is time to “just say no” after Mayor Winnecke has invested his time and our money in a deal that is just not right?…we have seen this pattern before in the sneaky deal with Earthcare Energy who is still current on their paltry monthly payments that are interest only?…the people of Evansville only lost $200,000 on that deal and that payback time on that little farce is coming to a head in just 6 short months?…Earthcare is keeping their end of that bargain for a reason and we shall likely learn what that reason is next February?…there may or may not be a hotel construction project going on at that time?

IS IT TRUE that a solicitation for donations of $10 or more was sent out by the “Friends of Mayor Winnecke” under the name of Susan Haynie at FC Tucker Realty?…Ms. Haynie is on the McClintock team at FC Tucker making her an employee of the First Lady of Evansville?…the solicitations were for 6 charities that have been advised by John Dunn that his charity will not be extended to them in the future because they have vocally supported the proposal to hand $37.5 Million tax dollars to the new kid in town, HCW that will be his competitor in the lodging market?…the charities are the Reitz Home, the African American Museum, the Willard Library, the Wesselman Nature Society, the Evansville Museum, and CMOE?…Mr. Dunn has also given fair warning that he will be severing ties with the Chamber of Commerce where Kathy Briscoe, of FC Tucker Emge Realtors where the First Lady of Evansville parks her real estate license serves as Chairperson of the Board?…that City Councilwoman Missy Mosby, who yesterday claimed to be completely unaware of Councilman Friend’s vetting requests is also on the payroll of FC Tucker Emge Realtors?

IS IT TRUE that John Dunn and Dunn Hospitality exist in a free society and are free to choose to support whatever charities they wish in whatever amounts they choose including ZERO?…all actions have consequences and charities that depend on the generosity of their donors need to be cognizant of the fact that “biting the hand that feeds them” through political activities is not the way to maintain a sustainable stable of patrons?…it is also not a way to keep a non-profit status as those special charities that are granted 501(c)3 status are forbidden from lobbying by law and are putting their legal status at risk by engaging the taking of political stands which unfortunately this hotel deal has become?…we encourage our readers to tune in to News25 this Thursday when Mr. Dunn will be a guest of Brad Byrd in a special segment where he will have his say in this matter for all to see?

EPD Activity REPORT: 9-3-2013

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EPD PATCH 2012

EPD Activity REPORT: 9-3-2013

Government Contact Info

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riecken_2012 (175x220)

I hope the contact information below may prove useful to you or someone you know. Please print this email or archive it for future reference.

Of course, you can always contact my Statehouse office for assistance with any problem or concern you may have regarding Indiana state government. My contact information is found at the bottom of this email.

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Zoeller helps launch anti-smurfing public awareness campaign

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Greg Zoeller
Greg Zoeller

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Zoeller helps launch anti-smurfing public awareness campaign

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller helped unveil a statewide public awareness campaign today to send a warning to those who buy certain medicines for the purpose of making meth.

 

Zoeller joined representatives from the Indiana Pharmacists Alliance, the Indiana Retailers Council, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), local prosecutors, Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke and other leaders to kick off the initiative in Evansville. The Indiana State Police recently determined Vanderburgh County leads the state for the number of meth labs found so far this year.

 

“Law enforcement, prosecutors and our Legislature have all worked hard to crackdown on the use and manufacturing of methamphetamine, and the fact is, more must be done” Zoeller said. “This public awareness campaign warms Hoosiers about that purchasing pseudoephedrine for the purposes of either making meth or selling it to a meth cook is a crime. This joint initiative shows that state leaders are willing to join forces with the manufacturers of over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines to remind all Hoosiers: if you’re purchasing these items for a meth cook, you are breaking the law and you will be arrested.”
The voluntary educational campaign aims to increase public awareness about the criminal enterprise known as “smurfing” — the practice of purchasing cold and allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine (PSE) to sell to methamphetamine cooks.

 

The anti-smurfing campaign informs consumers through signage displayed at the point of sale that smurfing is a criminal offense and an integral part of the meth production process. As a result, the simple act of buying certain cold or allergy product for a stranger can fuel Indiana’s meth problem.
The public-private partnership was developed by CHPA, a national association representing the makers of over-the-counter medicines, and is carried out by Indiana retailers on a voluntary basis. CHPA tested anti-smurfing posters to ensure that they communicate impactful messaging without deterring legitimate consumers.

 

“In launching the Anti-Smurfing campaign, Indiana is joining a growing list of states who are dedicated to finding innovative solutions to address the illegal sale of pseudoephedrine,” said Scott Melville, president and chief executive officer of CHPA. “With the Anti-Smurfing Campaign, leaders on both sides of the aisle are putting aside their differences and taking meaningful action against smurfing. We commend Attorney General Zoeller, the Indiana Pharmacy Alliance, the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, the Indiana State Medical Association and the Indiana Retail Council for taking the lead on this important campaign. We hope that more states will join this effort in the coming weeks.”

 

“Our role as prosecutors is to serve and protect the community. The fight against methamphetamine dealers is a top priority for Indiana prosecutors. The scourge of meth continues to hit our rural communities especially hard. Buying ingredients for a meth dealer is a serious criminal matter and one which we take very seriously,” said Jennifer Thuma of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council.

 

The Indiana Pharmacy Alliance and the Indiana Retailers Council have already begun distributing anti-smurfing signage to retailers across the state. For more information on the campaign, please visit Meth-KnowTheConsequences.Org.

Body Cameras for Cops Well Worth the Expense

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Posted without opinion, bias or edited.

billy bolin

By: Brad Linzy

As the recent George Madison incident, which generated national news [1], has indicated something is seriously amiss in the guidelines and procedures of the Evansville Police Department.

In a recently email obtained by the CCO, Chief Billy Bolin of the EPD acknowledged the existence of  body cameras purchased by the EPD, reportedly through the use of drug seizure money, currently gathering dust in their original boxes in storage.

“The problem is the cameras that were purchased,” Bolin said in the email, “were very cheap and do not work well.  They have scan disk cards that can be removed and edited by the officer, rather than an internal storage that can be downloaded.”

Obviously, any effective body camera procedure would need to include tamper-proof cameras. Through a FOIA request, the available body camera evidence of the Madison incident was released to the public, but only shows the latter portion of the incident after Madison was already handcuffed. The allegations of intimidation and threats with a Taser, which allegedly came earlier, were not shown.

Clearly this is a failure of what SHOULD be standard procedure, where all officers are required to wear and use body cameras for all interactions with the public. No such procedure currently exists, according to Bolin.

The technology is now advanced enough and cheap enough that there is little excuse in this day and age for not requiring body cameras as standard issue and procedure for police departments. This small change in policy could have hugely beneficial consequences for the EPD and the community.

The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Department has already announced it will be requiring Deputies to wear body cameras to avert incidents and provide unbiased evidence. [2]

A recent 12-month-long study by Police Foundation found that wearing cameras was associated with dramatic reductions in use-of-force and complaints against officers. The authors conclude: “The findings suggest more than a 50% reduction in the total number of incidents of use-of-force compared to control-conditions and nearly ten times more citizens’ complaints in the 12-months prior to the experiment.” [3]

These are truly staggering results – the kinds of results that are, dare I say it, revolutionary!

According to Evansville City Councilman John Friend, the newer, tamper-proof body cameras may cost the city in excess of $1000 each, but the cost could be partially offset if the old cameras still in boxes can be returned for credit. There are over 200 officers in the EPD, which would bring the total expense for the cameras to $200,000 plus disregarding any credit for the old cameras. The cost of one litigation against an errant officer could easily exceed that amount, making this one public expense well worth looking into.

Sources:

1: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/08/22/does-cops-body-cam-video-help-exonerate-officer-who-off-duty-firefighter-claims-held-taser-inches-from-his-face-after-a-wave/

2: http://www.wdrb.com/story/23313246/sw-ind-sheriff-deputies-will-use-body-cameras

3: http://www.policefoundation.org/content/body-worn-camera

IS IT TRUE “Friends of Mayor Winnecke” Sends out Solicitation after Dunn Pulls Support for charities that support Hotel Subsidy

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The following solicitation for donations of $10 and up was distributed today by a group of six charities that vocally advocated for the giving away of $37.5 Million to HCW to build a convention in downtown Evansville.

The Hunden Study that was commissioned by and paid for by the Office of the Mayor explicitly states that 70% of the business that a new 253 room hotel will attract will come from cannibalizing the existing hotels.

Response to Dunn's Withdrawal

The “Mole Awards” Committee selects Mary Hart as a “Mole Award” winner for 2013

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Ron Cosby, Chairman of the Board of the City-County Observer, announced Pigeon Township Trustee Mary Hart as a 2013 “Mole Awards” winner after meeting with the “Mole Awards” Committee early in the week. The committee selected Mary for the award because of her many years of dedication to the Pigeon Township Trustee position and to those that benefit from the serves offered by her offices. Mary’s passion, undying commitment, open door policy, and her kindhearted approach the those she serves testifies to the beneficial impact that a well run trustee’s office can have on any community. Mary has held many leadership positions throughout the Democratic Party over the years, and was recently re-elected to be president of the Indiana Trustees Association for the eighth consecutive year. If every Trustee’s office in the state of Indiana were run similar to Mary Hart’s it is likely that the mainstream media and state officials would never consider doing away with the Trustee’s Offices state-wide.

 

We are pleased to announce that Vanderburgh County Commissioner Stephen Melcher has graciously accepted our invitation to present Mrs. Hart her award at our annual luncheon. Mary is the sixth person selected this year for the prestigious “Mole Award.” She joins the Honorable Judges Brett Niemeier and Wayne Trockman as well as Indiana Senator Vaneta Becker. Matthew Burkhart of Newburgh and Ben Trockman of Evansville have also been selected as recipients for 2013.

 

Indiana Senator Vaneta Becker was selected for her good public policy, seemingly endless committee work, and her many activities within the community. Judge Niemeier was selected for his work with Evansville’s youth and for his affiliation with the Alternative School. Judge Trockman has been selected for his fair public policy as well as for his work with Vanderburgh County’s first Drug Treatment Court and Matthew Burkhart and Ben Trockman have both been selected as a result of their work in reforming laws and standards of operation. Matthew Burkhart successfully lobbied for reform of Indiana’s child labor laws in respect to children under the age of 14 being able to umpire and referee sporting events, while Ben Trockman’s work has encouraged airline companies to re-examine their policies and standards of operation for the physically challenged wishing to travel.

 

This year’s “Mole Awards” Ceremony will be held on October 14 at 12 p.m. in the Walnut Room at the Tropicana Hotel. This year’s event marks the sixth annual ceremony to honor those promoting good public policy and commitment to the community. Invitation to the ceremony is by reservation only and this years event is shaping up to be another sold out affair. To place a reservation or with any other inquiries please contact Mollie Darke-Schreiver at (812) 760-4233 or reach her by email at mdarke07@yahoo.com.

“Live for Today” by the Grass Roots: The Theme Song for the “No Vetting” Cabaret Club

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Missy Mosby Asserts she has never heard of Vetting Effort, Gets Sharp Rebuke from Friend

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Councilwoman Missy Mosby
Councilwoman Missy Mosby

Mosby’s email to John Friend

>>> Missy Mosby 09/03/13 5:23 AM >>>
John,

This is the first I am hearing of this and am concerned for not all Council Members are being included in these discussions. If this is what you need to allow us to vote on September 9th, then let’s move forward.

What’s your availability on Thursday to meet?

Hope you have a great day!

Missy Mosby
FC Tucker Emge Realtors

Councilman Friend’s Response

Missy,

I have been working on this for well over a month. Requests have been given numerous times. This has been my due diligence efforts together with Dr. Adams, assisted at times with Connie (Robinson). Oh, by the way, your comment in the public about the only thing I have NOT received is tax returns, is outright BS…I have spoken with Stan Wheeler, remember our rep on the ERC (Evansville Redevelopment Commission) asking if this information was given or obtained by the ERC, and, of course, his answer was NO. So, as it always seems, this City appears to have habits of not vetting, evidenced by Browning, Woodruff, Earthcare, and to some degree Kunkle. Regardless of what this Mayor is proclaiming, the TIF will be stretched to near capacity with this deal. [I refer you to the budget]. As I recall, this same thing happened with Earthcare, remember the thing you voted for without proper information and when I asked this Mayor to hold for only two weeks, his reply “will it really matter” is what I received. So, I told him my answer, no information, no vote, simple.

This project is extremely important to this community and it is very expensive. We have gone from $8 million, 220 rooms and NO DEBT to 253 rooms with $44 million in debt obligation [my grandchildren for 25 years will be paying as a result of our decision] of additional debt, [FYI – The total debt of this City in 2000 was 135 million and now is $380 million before we vote on the largest utility hike in it’s history] no not 37.5, they forgot to tell the public about the Interest During Construction, bond council costs, underwriting, those sort of things, just an oversight I am sure.

So, if there is a delay on the vote, don’t get on my backside. They have had this demand for some time, and as it always seems, this council is blamed. My question is when are we going to start receiving from this administration, what by LAW we are entitled to receive, without having a million strings attached, remember the term DELIBERATIVE which seems to pop up from time to time. So, in conclusion, you have your way of due diligence and I have mine and if I don’t receive the data, well, where is the fire??

Have a great day!

John

THE EVANSVILLE LOCAL PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT BOND BANK

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SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 AT 1:00 P.M.

Room 307

CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX

One N.W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard

Evansville, Indiana

 

 

 

The Board of Directors of The Evansville Local Public Improvement Bond Bank will meet to conduct such business as may properly come before it on

September 5, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. in Room 307 of the Civic Center Complex,    One N.W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Evansville, Indiana.

 

For further information, contact Russell G. Lloyd Jr., City Controller,       Room 300, Civic Center Complex, One N.W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Evansville, Indiana  47708-1833; Telephone:  (812) 436-4919.

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