IS IT TRUE that there was a ribbon cutting at a new hotel in the City of Evansville last night?…that the old private label hotel adjacent to the area where the old Evansville Airport terminal building that auctioned off for a song last year has finally found an owner that knows how to succeed in the hospitality business?…that Dunn Hospitality unveiled their newly refurbished Hampton Inn last night with a grand opening reception that was second to none?…that the rooms in this Hampton Inn are furnished and sized in a way that would cost over $200 per night in Chicago with HD flat screen televisions, deep mattresses, and modern décor?…that this total refurbishment was completed in just under a year?…that it has been widely publicized in the current campaign for Mayor of Evansville that refurbishment is more expensive and takes longer than building new?

IS IT TRUE that when private investors with experience and capital decide on a project as Dunn Hospitality did on this Hampton Inn that actions happen fast, on budget, and that the long term success of the venture is greatly enhanced?…that if the cast of elected and appointed officials that have blundered through the all too familiar litany of problems in getting real traction for a downtown Convention Hotel would have used the same analytical and marketing skills that Dunn Hospitality employs that the people of Evansville would be better off for it?…that the City County Observer wishes to congratulate the Dunn Hospitality Group for seeing an opportunity and going for it?…that this new Hampton Inn will be a big plus for the beautification of our North 41 Corridor?

IS IT TRUE that if Lloyd Winnecke becomes Mayor of Evansville that his opponent Rick Davis seems to be training for a bright future as a stand-up comic?…that in Wednesday night’s debate that Davis earned the CCO Johnnie Cochran Award for his catchy quip “THE STATUS QUO HAS GOT TO GO”?…that at yesterday’s Chamber breakfast the funny one liners just kept rolling off of the lips of Davis when he opened his monologue with a trilogy that would make Johnny Carson chuckle in his grave?…that in the space of a minute Davis cracked a joke about how he is a Democratic Union Supporter and that he knows just how much the chamber loves such things and followed it up by a self deprecating barrage about never owning a business and driving an American made pickup truck?…that aside from the real issues which merit continuous analysis, the CCO is pleased to see the candidates mixing it up in ways that are entertaining?…that adding a little humor has always been a good way to get people to listen to a message?

IS IT TRUE that we all know that the economy is bad and that rather than look to official government statistics or listen to politicians we suggest that the American people look at what businesses are doing to attract customers?…that just yesterday amid the hoopla of another round of stimulus like actions that mega retailer WALMART has instituted a LAYAWAY PLAN like the days of old before people had plastic money in their pockets?…that WALMART is well known for razor thin margins and creating financial success in what many people call the real America?…that WALMART’s new layaway plan is design to draw Christmas shoppers who are buying selected items over $15 that exceed a total of $50.00 per total transaction?…that when WALMART starts a LAYAWAY PLAN you know the economy is bad?

IS IT TRUE tonight we will all be given the opportunity to hear what President Obama will be proposing to do in an effort to jump start the job engine of the United States?…that all of the major papers are reporting that the “quick fix” will consist of tax cuts, extending the social security withholding tax cuts through 2012, spending more money on construction, and extending unemployment benefits for the long term unemployed?…that this group of actions pretty much just extend the government assistance that has been in place through 2010 and 2011 into 2012?…that if these actions did not jumpstart hiring in the last two years that extending these programs another year will have little effect on hiring either?

IS IT TRUE that according to the Kauffman Foundation that all net new job growth comes from businesses that are less than 5 years old?…that this being the case that any program that the government is pondering that does not directly incent or inspire entrepreneurship is targeting a lesser job creator than startup and emerging companies are?…that the first big stimulus is now somewhat discredited for not achieving its goals with respect to unemployment?…that many of the factories that were directly subsidized such as the solar company in Fremont, CA that filed for bankruptcy this week were incented or directly paid by the government to do the wrong thing at the wrong time?…that Solyndra received $535 Million from the stimulus to build a factory to make products that had no market and were not technically ready even if there was a market?…that the battery companies that received federal stimulus money to build factories prematurely to make products for which markets do not exist are already facing financial challenges?…that the government attempting to force solutions that the free market will not accept is a waste of money and is demoralizing in the long run?…that much less money directed toward research may have actually resulted in something good?

IS IT TRUE that some private investment dollars and some American jobs can be saved if the Justice Department will stop harassing the Gibson Guitar Company and Boeing?…that the message that is being sent by singling out these two business is that they should just take their factories that employ between them many thousands of American workers and move to another country?…that in the case of Gibson the “illegal” wood that they were attacked over is used in every guitar factory there is anywhere including some other American companies?…that if the necks of the guitars were assembled in India where the wood comes from that it would be okay to import the necks for assembly into Les Pauls?…that the Justice Department is putting Gibson into a position that the only way to obey the law is to export a full assembly line to India and lay off the American workers that are doing this job now?…that this is a travesty that should never ever occur?

IS IT TRUE that one thing that President Obama could propose tonight that may have a positive effect on American business would be to tell Attorney General Eric Holder to take an 18 month vacation and to stop attacking American business to appease labor?…that we need for the Justice Department to worry about things like meth and leave guitar makers and aviation manufacturers alone?…that maybe the best proposal would be to just stop doing anything because the things that have been done do not seem to go according to plan?

IS IT TRUE that Evansville could and should learn a lesson from the failures of the federal government?…that local support of entrepreneurship and emerging business will have a bigger impact than building temples to sport or whale hunting?

IS IT TRUE? PART 2 September 8, 2011 Tech Transfer Programs

IS IT TRUE that Republican candidate for Mayor of Evansville Lloyd Winnecke spoke about the importance of the technology transfer agreement and entrepreneurship many times in last night’s debate?…that in terms of truly transforming an economy from what Evansville is to an economy of the future that is based on intellectual property, tech transfer does have that potential?…that companies that design solutions based on invention and innovation are in a much better position to stay profitable in the United States and have the margins to pay favorable wages to their entire work force?…that jobs that are based on brainpower instead of brawn seldom get caught up in a “race to the bottom” because they out innovate the competition?

IS IT TRUE that Apple was started in a garage in Cupertino, CA and is still headquartered after 35 years at One Infinite Loop in Cupertino, CA just 3 miles from the garage where it started?…that a company that is only 10% of the financial, engineering, and marketing success of an Apple would totally transform the wage base, the tax base, and even the quality of life of Evansville, Indiana if we could just grow such a place?…that yes, this writer just used the word GROW and not the word ATTRACT or BUY to describe how an Apple headquarters happens for any community?…that inside the extensive patent portfolio of the Federal Lab Consortium which is the goldmine that candidate Winnecke is speaking of there are protected pieces of intellectual property that really and truly have the potential to transform the Evansville economy if and only if the Evansville business community rises to the challenge to identify and commercialize these patents?

IS IT TRUE that there are really only four things that are needed to make this technology transfer agreement work for Evansville?…that these things in order are BRAINS, MONEY, AMBITION, and TIME?…that without some very high powered brainpower in the areas of engineering, business, and marketing that no opportunities within this patent portfolio will be identified?…that even if all of the brainpower is in place and directed that if there is NO EQUITY CAPITAL available that the potential will not be able to be tapped?…that if Evansville businesses and entrepreneurs do not have the drive and ambition to pursue such wealth building opportunities that throwing BRAINS and CAPITAL at this will be a waste?…that given the combination of BRAINS, MONEY, and AMBITION that there will be some failures but that in the long run Evansville will see prosperity from a tech transfer program because it is a numbers game that is destined for eventual success?…that putting the BRAINS and MONEY in place to investigate these opportunities will be the basis for any future success with technology transfer?

IS IT TRUE that the laser was patented in the early 1960’s, used in military applications through the 70’s, and finally found its way into high volume commercial products in the 90’s?…that laser diodes that had a 99% failure rate and cost many thousands of dollars in the 70’s are now commodities that are routinely produced by the millions for commercial products that nearly everyone owns?…that the realization of mass commercial acceptance and the profits that came with it was a 30 year cycle from first invention to mass commercialization?…that while this piece of Mr. Winnecke’s plan may not solve this week’s problems that in the long run it may be the catalyst that Evansville can leverage to become a nationally relevant city that is the envy of other cities?…that the State of Maryland tech transfer program (Tedco) that the GAGE deal with Crane was patterned after has been cited as responsible for the creation of 60,000 jobs in Maryland in a ten year period?…that these jobs have been cited as averaging $80,000 per year?…that this is the kind of transformation that we can all benefit from?

IS IT TRUE that if done correctly the Technology Transfer Agreement that GAGE has could even be used to attract educated professionals with BRAINS, MONEY, and AMBITION?…that in September of 2008 when this agreement was signed that it was one of only a handful of such agreements in the entire nation and the only one spanning three state borders?…that we wonder just what has become of that potential since the agreement was signed?

IS IT TRUE that both candidates for Mayor of Evansville came to last night’s debate well prepared to address the questions at hand?…that the majority of the questions that are of interest to the people of Evansville are predictable and that both of the candidates had obviously spent time practicing their lines?…that the format flowed well and that the absence of a peanut gallery of loud support for either candidate was a good way to keep viewers attention on the debate and off of the antics that sometimes come from a crowd?

IS IT TRUE that both candidates seem to get it that jobs is the #1 concern of most people in Evansville and even across the country?…that both candidates have published economic plans that can be read in full on their campaign websites?…that while both plans have their good points that neither has a “rabbit out of the hat” quick fix to the problems like unemployment and underemployment?…that the same goes for the problem of “sinking skills pays sinking wages” that is affecting manufacturing based economies in cities all across the country but particularly in the Midwest?…that both candidates seem to understand that business as usual in the Civic Center has worn out whatever welcome that it ever had and that local government must become transparent and sensitive to the will of the people?…that the “one liner of the night” award goes to Rick Davis for his opening remark quip of “THE STATUS QUO HAS GOT TO GO”?…that in much of the detail of the dialog of the debate although they chose different words to say it that both candidates seem to understand that it is time for big changes in Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that both candidates agree that the first role of local government is to provide for PUBLIC SAFETY?…that there is agreement that the City of Evansville could do a better job of implementing diversity initiatives?…that both candidates agree that seeking efficiency in government is preferable to raising taxes?…that both candidates want the Ford Center to succeed?…that both candidates would like to see Roberts Stadium become some kind of success without competing with the Ford Center?…that both candidates think that whatever happens at Roberts Stadium must be financially responsible…that these kinds of questions are pretty easy to spend two minutes answering without offending anyone?…that no sane candidate would have disagreed with either of them on these questions?

IS IT TRUE that when the question of how to deal with meth labs was raised that we learned for the first time that both candidates support the ever louder call to support a statewide law requiring that pseudoephedrine based medicines be put on a list of prescription medicines?…that Mr. Davis has supported this all along?…that in the case of Mr. Winnecke that this is a new position?…that the CCO agrees with this position and would like to congratulate Mr. Winnecke on thinking this through and reaching what is an unfortunate but logical conclusion?…that flexibility and a willingness to think and change is a good trait in both candidates and everyday people?

IS IT TRUE that it was learned in Louisville yesterday that another former Evansville business is now a Louisville business and that MONEY IS WHY THEY MOVED?…that Agent 511, a technology based business that had its first “out of the garage” home in downtown Evansville’s Innovation Pointe in 2007 – 2009 is now prospering in Louisville and was in attendance at yesterday’s meeting of the Louisville Venture Connection group of Angel Investors and Venture Capitalists?…that makes 3 companies that could have been and should have been growing and creating jobs in Evansville if local equity investment dollars had been available that have found investment dollars in Louisville?

IS IT TRUE that more details regarding the role of capital and brains in the role of job growth as it applies to both candidates economic plans will be the subject of IS IT TRUE PART 2?

IS IT TRUE? PART 2 September 7, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the consolidation committee as was expected adjourned last night?…that now the 30 day countdown starts during which both the Evansville City Council and the Vanderburgh County Commissioners will have to pass identical proposals to send this plan to a voter referendum?…that about the only good thing that can be said about this plan is that the voters get to make the choice?…that there are at least five members of the Evansville City Council who are expressing reservations about this plan?…that their frustrations with the shallowness of the touted details of any tangible cost savings are shared by many?…that even people who support the idea of consolidation are scratching their heads in disbelief at how the consolidation committee has dodged proposing anything of substance?…that they even worded the proposal in a way that the biggest opportunities for saving can’t even be touched for 10 years?…that the consolidation committee acted more like a POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE formed by government employees to advocate for government employees that as a merger committee whose job was to identify cost savings from efficiency enhancements?

IS IT TRUE that at least one member of the Vanderburgh County Commissioners, that being Commissioner Stephen Melcher is on record as opposing this without having threshold rejection?…that the plan does not have threshold rejection so count Commissioner Melchers vote as a great big NO?…that as County Commissioner and Republican candidate for Mayor of Evansville Lloyd Winnecke has been supportive of consolidation that it looks like this really will come down to what Commissioner Marsha Abell chooses?…that the CCO predicts that neither Commissioner Abell or Commissioner Winnecke will ever win a county wide race if they vote for this particular consolidation plan?…that annexation by ballot is not the way to go about such things AND that punting all of the real work to 10 years down the road is no way to write a consolidation plan?…that it is time to start over?

IS IT TRUE that Louisville is home to the #1 ranked boutique hotel in America and has been for 2 years running?…that 21C Museum Place has ranked at the top of Conde’ Noste’ Magazines list for two years in a row?…that 21C Museum Place has a three month waiting list for its nearly $300 per night rooms?…that 21 C Museum Place is now being franchised across the United States?…that 21C Boutique Hotels was started with LOUISVILLE MONEY from the Brown-Forman family?…that this same family recently purchased the entire block of abandoned buildings right next to the YUM Center for $4.8 Million with intention to refurbish the classic Cast Iron Facade Buildings for an additional $40 Million?…that two of these family members use the word “CHARITY” to describe their decision to invest $44.8 Million in their downtown?…that we wonder if anyone of significant means in Evansville is paying attention?

IS IT TRUE that outside money seldom invests in places that will not invest in themselves?…that the sooner that Evansville investors step up with cash to put into Evansville projects and form Angel or Venture groups to invest in Evansville companies that the sooner outside money may warm up to Evansville?…that until then we can always pick up litter, paint over graffiti, blow smoke about our attractiveness up our own backsides, and hold our lucky rabbit’s foot while wishing upon a star that a white knight from afar will rescue us from our plight?…that this is the year to put some real change of leadership into place and next year is the year to hold our new leaders feet to the fire so that the old ways do not take over again?