IS IT TRUE that the Bank of America is floating another FEE BASED trial balloon that is sure to send customers blood pressure higher that their last trial balloon of a $5 FEE per month to have a debit card did?…that this time B of A is floating the idea of collecting a FEE from people who are not generating big chunks of revenue from other banking activities?…that once again it seems as though the Bank of America is aiming its FEE guns at regular people who simply use a checking account to pay their bills?…that this new FEE even has a name and that the name is “ESSENTIALS” implying that customers will be FEE’D to pieces for something that is well, essential?…that right now this $9 per month FEE is being piloted in Arizona, Georgia, and Massachusetts?…that there are other FEES being considered for other states that go as high as $25 per month?…that the only way to avoid these FEES will be to give the Bank of America money in other ways?…that the other BIG BANKS including J. P. Morgan consumer banking chief Todd Maclin told investors Tuesday the bank would like to be able to charge more than its current average of $10 to $12 a month, but “in this environment I am not going to rock that boat.”?…that every CEO of every business in America would like to pull a stunt like this too?…that FEEing people to death is a short sighted tactic and that we expect that the BIG BANKS that try this will be backed down by market forces yet again?

IS IT TRUE that the Vanderburgh County Council didn’t directly include funds in their 2012 Budget so they can join the City of Evansville to pay for a much needed Information Technology Assessment Audit? …we are pleased that the City of Evansville directly put funds for this Audit in their 2012 Budget? ….we join 5th Ward City Councilmen and Budget Chairmen, John Friend-CPA call for this City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County funded department begin to do a long overdue and detailed financial assessment of this little known but important publically funded department? …we now are awaiting to see if the past Budget Chairmen and newly elected President of the Vanderburgh County Council, James Raben shall put the money on the table so this extremely important Assessment Audit can begin?

IS IT TRUE that friend of the City County Observer and owner of the Time Out Lounge K. C. Chesser saw the recently passed smoking ban in the City of Evansville as an opportunity instead of a death sentence?…that the Time Out that is known for its classic rock sounds and as a gathering place for the fun loving crowd of people who are too old for teeny bopping and too young to stop dancing went ahead and banned smoking itself in advance of the April 1st deadline?…that Mr. Chesser reports that business has increased?…that result is contrary to the expectations of many naysayers in the bar owning fraternity of Evansville?…that we truly hope that business gets better for all Evansville businesses as a result of this public health related action?…that it seems as though people have been going to the Time Out Lounge for something other than a place to smoke?…that atmosphere wins over smoking every time?

IS IT TRUE that the Indiana Senate has gutted the statewide smoking ban under consideration the same way that they did last year?…that if Hoosiers want to know why much of the country thinks that Indiana is backwards they need look no further than this castrated bill that emerged from the Indiana Senate?…that come April 1st, Evansville will be leading the state in having a smoking ordinance with the fewest exemptions?…that is if and we do mean if our City Council doesn’t blink every time some one-man-band comes before them to beg for an exemption?

IS IT TRUE? February 29, 2012

IS IT TRUE that on Sunday, the City County Observer published a letter from Bob Warren, the Executive Director of the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau to the Roberts Stadium Committee advocating for a half price set of ball fields relative to the $18 Million “Taj Majal of Ball” that our previous Opus One loving CVB board of directors pushed hard for back in the days when borrowing to the max on every cash stream available was in vogue?…that of all of the things that we have learned about Mr. Warren that we have come to admire a good sense of value and a practical way of planning are at the top of the list?…that we have had such a good set of experiences with Mr. Warren in one on one meetings that we expect that “winging it” is just not a part of his character?…that what we would appreciate from Mr. Warren with respect to his Ball Majal resurrection letter is a line item of estimates for just what his proposed $8M – $10M proposal would be buying?

IS IT TRUE that the last round of gilded ball fields included lots of extras thrown to the City of Evansville that really were not considered by many to be an appropriate use of the hotel tax money like demolishing Roberts stadium and adding infrastructure improvements to the city’s assets under management?…that when all of the hidden gifts to the previous administration were stripped out of the Gilded Fields maybe the last proposal was really only an $8 Million project after all?…that the real questions regarding a little league sports park are THE COST and THE LOCATION?…that even the CCO accepts Mr. Warren’s realistic estimates of 30,000 to 40,000 visitors per year that is in line with similar parks in similar cities?…that we appreciate Warren’s considered honesty as opposed to the hype that we were subjected to previously?…that MILLION DOLLAR BALL FIELDS are still excessively priced when compared to what is spent elsewhere?…that there is still a large outpouring of citizen opposition to this location for a sports park?

IS IT TRUE that there is one more thing that makes us leery of investing any money at all in a sports park?…that the City of Evansville’s Parks and Recreation Department though new leadership is in place has still not proven that it can get through the summer without seeing existing parks turn into garbage filled jungles?…that when the City of Evansville has proven that it can mow the acres that it has, then and only then should we consider any project that would expand the maintenance responsibilities of the City of Evansville?…that this same argument goes for the last week of the Weinzapfel Administration’s announcement of the so called Centennial Park down by the abandoned Greyhound Bus station?

IS IT TRUE that we encourage Bob Warren to keep his chin up and his thinking cap on?…that last year when Mr. Warren was touting what Evansville already has as a great tourism draw that we were encouraged and even fawning over his words?…that this spring should be spent getting what we already have into worthy condition so Mr. Warren can work his magic with his new promotions budget to get some heads into these empty beds?…that the days of Gilded Ball Fields and a new Downtown Convention Hotel may come someday when the City of Evansville gets its act together enough to attract investors but this is not that day or even that year?…that we thank Mr. Warren for his proposal but encourage him to get on about the business of doing the best that he can with what he has to work with?