IS IT TRUE that the townhall debate at Harrison High School yesterday was quite valuable to tell us what our young people are interested in seeing from government?…that their questions were probably not too different from what their parents and grandparents are concerned about?…that the topics of concern among young people are JOBS, PUBLIC SAFETY, METH, PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT, and of course CONSOLIDATION and ROBERTS STADIUM?…that the audience was respectful of the debate and the candidates were too?…that this is a bunch of kids that could make a difference in Evansville’s future if they have a reason to make a life here?

IS IT TRUE that during discussions about the economy that the unemployment rate was brought up by Democratic candidate for Mayor of Evansville Rick Davis?…that he quoted the unemployment rate at 7.3% which as official government statistics go may really be the “official” number right now?…that the “official” number does not count people who are underemployed?…that an underemployed person may be a banker with an MBA who was laid off from a job that paid about $100,000 per year but is now selling hot dogs at Ellis Park and earning roughly the minimum wage?…that such a person is simply considered to be “employed”?…that the “official” unemployment rate does not include people working part time who really want a full time job?

IS IT TRUE that the Gallup organization that tracks these statistics nationwide reported in July 2011 that the underemployment rate is still at a staggering 18.0%?…that neither of these numbers includes people who have used all of their unemployment benefits and are not eligible for an extension?…that neither of these reporting mechanisms includes people who have basically given up the search for a job?…that these figures do not include people who by their own choice do odd jobs for cash?…that in times like these that the “official” unemployment number has little meaning?…that when all of the officially unemployed people use all of their benefits that the “official” rate will drop to zero and thousands of smiling politicians will take credit for solving this problem while 20% of the population still has no job?…that some statistics are designed to lie while telling the truth?…that SNEGAL is alive and well in governments all over America?

IS IT TRUE that Rick Davis also threw out a number for people who are unemployed of 13,700 people in the Evansville metro area?…that the Courier and Press jumped on Davis and called him out for being inaccurate because this assertion does not conform to the official Indiana Department of Workforce Development numbers?…that we wonder if the Courier and Press reporter is fully aware that the “official” Metropolitan Statistical Area of Evansville, Indiana includes several counties in Kentucky?…that we are quite sure that the Indiana Workforce Development office does not tabulate any of its data from Kentucky?…that it is highly probable that candidate Davis had his numbers correct and that the Courier and Press needs a lesson in exactly what the Evansville MSA is?…that it is every reporters dream to catch a politician in a mistake but that this mistake was not made by Mr. Davis it was made by the Courier and Press?

IS IT TRUE that Mr. Davis and Mr. Winnecke will probably make some mistakes and will be justifiably called out for them?…that there may have even been a mistake or two yesterday?…that what was painted as a mistake yesterday really was not one?…that we in the media need to keep it real when we choose to delve into statistics and geography?

IS IT TRUE: Part 2 August 25, 2011

IS IT TRUE that it seems as though the VETTING PROCESS for the downtown Convention Hotel is going to slip its unpublished schedule by at least a week?…that yesterday was supposed to have been the day of face to face vetting for the second responder?…that yesterday’s meeting has been rescheduled for next week?…that the City County Observer will maintain its silence on the merits of the proposals themselves including expressing any opinions with regard to the analysis that we posted yesterday that was sent to a large number of local officials yesterday by Prime Lodging?…that for those readers that are interested we have made this analysis available to you at the following link?…that we would welcome a comparison analysis of the two proposals by the Kunkel Group and would publish any analysis that they choose to provide us with without edit, opinion, or bias?

https://city-countyobserver.com/2011/08/24/prime-lodging-provides-officials-with-comparative-analysis/

IS IT TRUE that an examination of the 2009 campaign contributions to the “Weinzapfel for Mayor” effort lists a contribution from London Witte in the amount of $9,000?…that contribution along with the $8,500 that they contributed to Mayor Weinzapfel’s campaign in 2010 brings the two year total to $17,500?…that London Witte was the financial consultant on the Ford Center proposals?…that we do not have records of either the amount that London Witte was paid to advise the City of Evansville on the Ford Center project nor has the amount that is being paid for the VETTING PROCESS been disclosed by the ERC?

IS IT TRUE that Steve Jobs has resigned from Apple due to his health?…that Jobs along with his childhood pal Steve Wozniak started Apple in a garage in Cupertino, CA?…that through continuous innovation and implementing vision that Steve Jobs saw what is now the second highest valued business in America at $350 Billion spring from his parents garage?…that the headquarters of Apple Computer is still at 1 Infinite Loop in Cupertino, CA, the town where it was founded on April Fool’s Day of 1976?…that there was much Angel and Venture money in the early years used to get Apple going?…that Apple’s board dispensed with Jobs for a time in the mid 80’s but eventually found that without vision and passion that corporate structure in a creative industry was incapable of prospering?…that Steve was invited back to Apple and that his triumphant return has been marked by vision, creativity, and financial success?…that Apple employs nearly 50,000 people and has been named the most admired company in America for 3 years running?

IS IT TRUE that the 1985 Apple Super Bowl party outside Stanford Stadium was a blast and this writer’s opportunity to party with Steve and Woz?…that we and our nation shall miss the vision, innovation and the fearless entrepreneurial spirit of Steven Jobs?…that if President Obama or any other politician at any level really was serious about learning what wealth creation and job creation is all about that Steve Jobs would be much more valuable that the CEO of GE?

IS IT TRUE that in after hours trading yesterday that the value of Apple dropped by $10 Billion on the news that Jobs was retiring?…that 35 years ago in the town of Cupertino two irreverent and clever guys set out to make a toy for themselves?…that this toy is the machine that changed the world?…that the infrastructure, the capital, the talent, the markets, and the lifestyle that Steve and Woz needed to make Apple happen was in place in Cupertino in 1976?…that Apple is a homegrown corporate headquarters that is less than 5 miles from the garage in which it was started?…that if and only if all of these things are available can a wonderful story like this play out in an American medium sized city?

IS IT TRUE that both Steve and Woz were Wayseers before the Wayseers know it?

IS IT TRUE that the subject of the value and competitiveness of the Evansville Regional Airport comes up from time to time with respect to our regions attractiveness to businesses with customers that are further away than a reasonable drive?…that would include just about any business other than locally owned in-person service businesses?…that everyone seems to agree that an airport with competitive pricing and a reasonable flight schedule would be a good thing for business and tourism?…that it is business followed by tourism that will either lead this region out of the recession or not?…that a study was released today regarding the competitiveness of the nation’s 100 largest airports?…that Evansville did not make the list of the 100 largest airports so a good goal would be to use the statistics reported and see what it will take to actually get our EVV onto the list of the largest 100 airports?

IS IT TRUE that the there seems to be two indicators of non-competitiveness in airports from the perspective of good pricing?…that one of those is being a hub airport that is dominated by a single carrier in what could be called a “localized monopoly”?…that very large airports that are localized monopolies like Houston’s Bush Airport, Cincinnati, Washington Dulles, and Dallas-Fort Worth all made the most expensive list with average fares that exceed $430 per flight?…that the average of all of the largest 100 is $356 so that $430 and up amounts to a 21% premium to feed the monopoly?…that Houston Bush at $477 is a 34% premium to the average and a full 169% ahead of the small Atlantic City Airport that won the award for least expensive flights of the largest 100 airports?

IS IT TRUE that the other indicator of non-competitiveness is exemplified by the #2 most expensive Huntsville, AL airport?…that the kiss of death for Huntsville is that it is a small market with no economy carrier like Southwest Airlines and is an easy drive to two big airports (Nashville and Birmingham) that offer very competitive fares?…that the situation at Huntsville describes the situation right here in Evansville?…that the article went on to state that a traveler could usually save $100 by driving for 2 hours, get more convenient flights, etc. etc. etc.?…that the Huntsville airport’s dilemma’s in establishing competitiveness sound very much like EVV’s challenges?…that it would be interesting to see the numbers for EVV and get a feel for exactly where we would be if we were in the largest 100?

IS IT TRUE that Huntsville, AL went after the Volkswagen plant that eventually chose Chattanooga with a vengeance?…that Huntsville officials consider their non-competitive airport as a factor that lead to Chattanooga being chosen over Huntsville?…that Evansville has felt that sting before when Mead Johnson Nutritionals chose Chicago for their headquarters over Evansville where they have had a substantial operation for about a century?…that EVV officials know these things and that the important piece of information that we wish to convey is to the people of Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer encourages people and businesses here to use the Evansville Airport (EVV) whenever possible even if the fare is a little higher and it means having a three hour layover instead of a one hour layover?…that if you think things are a little higher and more challenging now, imagine life without an airport?…that without a local airport with commercial service that we may actually lose existing jobs and future opportunities?…that when you think about it, paying an extra $100 to support EVV as opposed to driving 6 hours and paying more for parking is not even a great economic decision?…that we do understand if you are a family of 5 or if there is a 20 hour layover that money and convenience dictates your decision?…that we stand by our encouragement to use EVV and believe that a $100 or even in some cases a $200 premium is WORTH IT?