IS IT TRUE? Part Two May 26, 2011 Consolidation

IS IT TRUE that members of the Evansville City Council and the Vanderburgh County Commissioners are continuing with the effort to amend the consolidation plan into a document that both of them can support before moving forward to a referendum?…that the consolidation plan as it is will be soundly defeated and that serious changes will have to be made for there to be any hope of passage?…that a wise man once said that “when your horse is dead your only option is to dismount”?…that from an efficiency of government perspective that carving out large portions of a budget that are off limits to review is a fundamental mistake and sends messages of favoritism and cowardice to the populace being governed?

IS IT TRUE that the perfect example of making the fundamental mistake of granting broad exemptions to favored groups is the federal government’s approach to universal healthcare?…that what we have looming is not universal healthcare at all?…that when this political support group, that fancy restaurant, one of 500 separate unions, and the congress itself are exempted then the word universal does not apply?…that these exceptions and exemptions are the ammunition used by opponents of universal healthcare to discredit it as filled with favoritism?…that ignoring to review the largest components of the budgets of the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County sends the exact same message to opponents of consolidation?

IS IT TRUE that the concept of consolidation is an easy concept to grasp and that it is intuitively easy to understand how one governing body can waste less money than two or more governing bodies?…that even a first grader can grasp and support that concept?…that what is utterly befuddling is how a committee made up of intelligent people can spend countless hours and not find any efficiencies that can be leveraged for the financial benefit of both the residents of the city and the county?…that the City of Evansville has a budget per person of nearly $1,000 per year more than the City of Henderson does?…that both budgets are readily available on the websites of the respective city governments?…that simply looking for the differences in the budgets of the City of Evansville and other cities should easily identify opportunities for saving money?

IS IT TRUE that the residents of both the city and the county if given the opportunity to save $1,000 per person per year will overwhelmingly support consolidation?…that the total saved if just the City of Evansville were to use Henderson as a model would amount to $117 Million per year?…that for learned people to spend a year on a project and then have it followed by a review by elected officials and still have only token savings can only mean a couple of things?…that one thing that it could mean is that the people doing this are just plain dumb?…that knowing many of them that this is simply not the case, these are smart people?…that maybe these smart people and our elected officials are afraid to broach the subject of some sacred cows?…that the only way to find substantial savings that will get the support of the citizens of this county and city to support it is to examine the budgets of every sacred cow and to eliminate the ones that are not needed to provide essential services?…that failure to do this by carving out exemptions and exceptions will doom consolidation?…that if the architects of this plan and the elected officials that are trying to craft amendments move forward with something that shows no financial advantages for consolidating then consolidation will go down in flames and will be set back at least 10 years by cowardice?

IS IT TRUE that when businesses merge there is a simple three step process to a successful merger and eventual benefit?…that the first step is RIGHTSIZING, followed by RE-MARGINING, followed by GROWTH?…that business cannot afford to support sacred cows and governments that desire to merge can’t either?…that Jerry McGuire got it right when his only client looked him square in the eye and uttered the words “SHOW ME THE MONEY”?

City Council, County Commissioners, and Consolidation Committee, “SHOW US THE MONEY” and you will get our support.

IS IT TRUE? May 26, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the Democratic candidates for the City of Evansville offices will be meeting tonight at Democratic Party Headquarters in the old Welborn Hospital to discuss the current state of affairs within the local party?…that the current rift in the Democratic Party became public last year when the BOOTHGATE incident at the Fall Festival happened?…that the rift within the party was magnified during the primary when the Democratic Central Committee openly backed Troy Tornatta and several other members of Team Weinzapfel over the candidates that aligned themselves with Rick Davis?…that the post primary landscape has only two Democratic candidates that were visible members of Team Weinzapfel that have not made peace with the Davis Campaign?…that candidates Friend and Robinson attended the Davis victory celebration and have made peace?…that candidates Lindsey and Adams were in the Davis camp all along?…that candidates Riley and O’Daniel are new to the political scene and somehow managed to avoid taking sides in a visible way?…that candidates Missy Mosby and Jonathan Weaver are still solidly not at peace with Team Davis?…that sources tell us that a good fireworks show may be happening at the Democratic Headquarters tonight in an attempt to calm the long running feud within the party?

IS IT TRUE that it will be quite interesting to learn whether tonight is a true healing event that results in the Democratic candidates mending fences or if Evansville will be treated to a Team Davis that has a couple of Republican candidates ideologically aligned with it RUNNING AGAINST a Republican team that is essentially a reincarnation of Team Weinzapfel cloaked in red?…that at least three of the ward based seats and one of the at large seats can take the high road and espouse confident independence?…that four independent thinkers on the Evansville City Council will be an asset to the community?

IS IT TRUE we want to thank Evansville-Henderson TV Channel 25 for the excellent follow up report concerning the major weed problems now confronting the once grand McCurdy Hotel on the Evansville riverfront? …the people of Evansville are tired of seeing, hearing and reading remarks made by several key Mayoral appointed spoke persons (Evansville DMD Department Head, Hotel Project Manager and Chairman of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission) about the McCurdy Hotel and the new Downtown Hotel? …it’s time for the Mayor of Evansville to call a press conference to address and explain why he announced years ago during the 2007 election that he believed these capital development projects where etched in economic stone? …that the citizens and voters of this community demand that the Mayor of Evansville stop having his media spin doctors talking on his behalf and step forward to explain the real the real status of both projects? …it would also be nice that DMD Director Tom Barnett, Hotel Project Manager, John Kish and Evansville Redevelopment Chairman, Bob Goldman would also be available at this news conference to answer questions from the media about their role in downtown Hotel and McCurdy projects?

IS IT TRUE that even though the City of Evansville cited the McCurdy for weeds and mowed the grass that it still looks disheveled?…that weed whacking the lot and leaving the piles of grass may get the property legal but that it still looks like the Edward Scissorhands Mansion?…that the Mayor’s beanstalk is still alive and well and being used by rats as a ladder to the upper floors?…that a half done job is a poorly done job and that the job needs to be finished?…that as efforts go the City of Evansville raised its grade from an F to an I (incomplete) with yesterday’s work?…that it is a good thing that the mowing crew from yesterday have a job with the City of Evansville because they would never be able to make a living in a private landscaping company?

IS IT TRUE that many City of Evansville Department heads are starting to pass their professional resumes not only to the public but also the private sector? …that “CCO Mole # 3” also realizes that it’s time for him to do similar? …chances are that he shall quickly land a new job with the State of Indiana? …we bet that the Mayor must wonder who is the “CCO Mole # 3”? …that maybe “CCO Mole # 3” just might just tell him on January 2, 2012 who he is and why he did what he did?

IS IT TRUE? May 25, 2011 Evening Bonus Edition

IS IT TRUE that the City of Evansville did their job and laid a weed enforcement citation and a mow order onto Centre City Properties LLC today?…that if they actually charged anything for the job they did then someone was overcharged?…that when the mowing was done the yard may comply with the weed ordinance but that it looks horrible?…that the beanstalk to the 2nd floor was not touched at all and that the clipping around the edges was ignored?…that we commend the attempt but cannot approve the job that this batch of workmen did?…that the rats and snakes will be back before nightfall if this is the end of the job?

IS IT TRUE that DMD Director Tom Barnett was on News 25 last night stating that he speaks with Centre City Properties LLC about the McCurdy project every couple of months?…that the City of Evansville has already given Centre City Properties LLC $1.403 Million and that CCP has not performed?…that anyone who is handing out a sack of money with $1.403 Million in it that will only call to check on it every couple of months is a pretty trusting individual and that lots of people would like to know where the LINE STARTS to get such a deal?…that if a bank handed someone $1.403 Million four years ago and that the loan was not performing that the bank or their collection lawyers would be calling daily and even visiting unannounced to check on their money?…that it is time to hold Centre City Properties LLC’s feet to the fire for more than just cutting the grass and leaving the windows open?…that CCP has been a non performing partner and should have this opportunity taken away from them so Evansville can get on about the business of finding a developer that can deliver?

IS IT TRUE that Mole #168 tells us that the City of Evansville is about to issue a purchase order for a Cisco Systems 7613 switch that will be a necessary part of the hardware required to enable wireless communication to occur inside the new Evansville Arena?…that this device is going to cost in the neighborhood of $500,000?…that just two weeks ago during the Friend-Quisition that John Kish, Arena project manager stood before the Evansville City Council and clearly stated that the cellular service for the Arena would be done at no cost to the Evansville taxpayers?…the he cited Louisville’s much publicized $2 Million faux pas as precedent for all of the cost being paid for by private parties?…that our column on May 10, 2011 included the following verbatim?

“IS IT TRUE that Mr. Kish responded to the question that originated from the City County Observer regarding cell phone service in the Arena?…that Mr. Kish said that the City of Louisville did not have to pay for the $2M oversight at YUM Center and that the City of Evansville will not have to pay for the cellular solution in the Arena?…that Kish said all of this will be private money?…that we will not forget what was said regarding this FREE SOLUTION?”

IS IT TRUE it has been 15 days and it is now time to remember what was said?…Mr. Kish that all of this approximately $500,000 partial solution to the bandwidth problem in the Arena being paid for by outside sources?…that if you were telling the truth that night that it is time to prove it and let us all know just what private companies are picking up this tab and how they are justifying this expenditure to their shareholders?…that Mr. Kish artfully and correctly stated that when the arena started there was no 3G and now there is 4G and that new technology must be accommodated?….that we agree with Mr. Kish but that we want reassurances that either the Arena budget will cover these costs or that outside private dollars will do so?

Evansville Water and Sewer Utility Takes Steps to
Save Millions and Provide More Efficient Operations

(EVANSVILLE, IN) – May 25, 2011 – The Evansville Water and Sewer Utility (EWSU) Board approved a project development agreement (PDA) yesterday with Johnson Controls, Inc. which is expected to create operational efficiencies and save the City of Evansville millions of dollars. Under the terms of the PDA, Johnson Controls will lead an overall effort to pursue energy, water, network infrastructure, and operational improvements; and will work in concert with Energy Systems Group on these efforts. “The goals of this project are to reduce costs while offering improved services to citizens and ratepayers, and to meet the City’s commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel.

The PDA calls for upgrades to the water and wastewater plants and an assessment of automated meter reading (AMR) devices that send meter readings electronically to the EWSU. The AMR system could lead to the creation of a wireless communication network that may also provide benefits to the Police Department, Fire Department, Building Commission, Department of Metropolitan Development, and other City and County departments. Such projects are expected to produce more than $3 million in savings and new revenue streams. The EWSU will evaluate the results of the assessment in collaboration with the City/County Computer Services Department. The City then expects to enter into a performance-based contract to execute projects deemed most beneficial to the City of Evansville.

“Performance-based contracting offers a unique approach to funding capital improvement projects by using a portion of the energy savings expected to result from a capital improvement project to pay for the project itself – without rate increases,” added Weinzapfel. This self-funded program, projected to be completed almost entirely with local workforce, has the potential to create jobs for the area, improve services to utility ratepayers, improve working environments for City employees, reduce CO2 emissions from EWSU facilities, and provide a wireless network for several City and County departments.

About Johnson Controls: Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. The company’s 142,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Johnson Controls’ commitment to sustainability dates back to its roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through its growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2011, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #1 company in its annual “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/.

Johnson Controls Contact: Angela Adams, Angela.S.Adams@jci.com, (414) 524-5210

About Energy Systems Group: Energy Systems Group (ESG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vectren Corporation (NYSE: VVC), is an award-winning energy services company that specializes in delivering sustainable energy solutions which allow building owners to maximize their energy efficiency and operational performance, while reducing their carbon footprint. Through its core business of performance contracting, ESG provides customers with innovative energy efficiency, technology, and long-term financing solutions for modernization of their facilities and energy infrastructure. To learn more about ESG, visit www.energysystemsgroup.com.

City County Observer leads the charge in forcing much needed action

The City County Observer was just made aware that the McCurdy Hotel is having its grass mowed for the first time this year as we write? Just yesterday one of our Moles reported that there were two fat and well fed snakes that were sunning themselves in the $603,000 parking lot that they call home?

The snakes were attracted to this downtown location mainly because of the close proximity to their favorite outdoor restaurant on the grounds of the McCurdy that has been serving up plump rats for a minimal effort for a couple of months now. Mole #7 has reported that the family of snakes who were the first family to move to the McCurdy were heard hissing and cursing as they scurried away at the first sounds of a lawn mower? The snakes were heading south into the Historic District in search of a new rat infested weed patch to establish a residence.

The rats that originally drew the snakes to the building were seen frantically climbing the Mayor’s beanstalk to the second floor and squeaked their intention to compete with their flying cousins the pigeons for food? That devilish Mole #666 called in to report that a crocodile was also seen vacating the building for his preferred domain of the Ohio River where he can dine on the Pigeon Creek Piranha? There has been no other reported sighting of the crocodile though so we think that true to form that Mole #666 is lying to us again?

In all seriousness, the City County Observer is pleased to see the mowing crew on the task and is even more proud of the fact that we called attention to this neglected eyesore. We advocate for good public policy and this is at least a one day example of good public policy? We hope that the member of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission whose office looks out of the ONB building at the McCurdy will feel safe walking in heels in front of the nice mowed lawn that may no longer be the home to rats, mice, and snakes.

IS IT TRUE? PART 2 May 25, 2011 FBI Crime Statistics for Evansville

IS IT TRUE that the FBI released the preliminary crime statistics for 2010 yesterday?…that the United States of America has defied past times of economic challenge and has seen the violent crime rates drop by 5.5% and property crimes drop by 2.8%?…that the City of Evansville has once again performed in an opposite manner with respect to the nation in a key “quality of life” metric?…that the crime for the City of Evansville rose during 2010 seeing a whopping 14.1% increase in violent crime and a 3.1% increase in property crime?…that the devil is in the details and the details are as follows?

IS IT TRUE that murders in Evansville grew from 3 to 5 last year that is a statistically staggering 67% increase?…that murder in Evansville has been and continues to be something that is counted on one’s fingers as opposed to the hairs on one’s head?…that going from 3 to 5 sounds bad statistically but that if 2011 only brings 3 murders again then our leaders will be crowing about the 40% decrease?…that is it good to live in a place where murder is statistically insignificant?…that the City of Gary, IN had 50 murders last year to statistically lead the nation in that infamous statistic and that the rust belt economic basket case of Flint, MI with a population smaller than Evansville has recorded 53 murders?…that if you are to be murdered in Evansville it will probably be by someone who knows you as opposed to a random killing?…that Evansville’s biggest death related crime is the crime of suicide that we indeed do lead the country in statistically for cities over 100,000?…that the crime of suicide is a form of murder that somehow does not find its way into the statistics of murder because the perpetrator cannot be prosecuted?

IS IT TRUE that the crime of rape increased by 5% from 60 to 63 crimes in Evansville in 2010?…that our rape rate calculates to 54 rapes per 100,000 people?…that some cities that are way worse than Evansville for murder are less prone to committing rape?…that Fort Wayne that nearly doubles Evansville for murder is exceeded by Evansville in the rape rate by 42%?…that even Detroit with a rape rate of 45 per 100,000 is lower than Evansville for this heinous crime?…that the rape rate in Evansville needs some serious attention and that we do have a large enough number of rapes to be statistically significant?

IS IT TRUE that the crime of robbery increased by 5.1% in the City of Evansville to a rate of 122 crimes per 100,000 people?…that Fort Wayne’s robbery rate is exactly 122 as well?…that this rate of 122 is about triple the robbery rate in the safest cities in America but a fraction of the robbery rate for some of the more violent urban centers like St. Louis that has nearly 600 robberies per 100,000 people and is right there statistically with Detroit, Chicago, and Flint?

IS IT TRUE that the crime of aggravated assault increased in the City of Evansville by 21% to a rate of 246 per 100,000 people?…that the Hoosier City of Fort Wayne has an assault rate of only 121 per 100,000 or less than half that of Evansville?…that in this category the City of Evansville is only slightly better than Louisville, but much better than the crime ridden centers like Detroit and St. Louis that have rates of over 1,000 per 100,000?…that America’s safest cities have aggravated assault rates of less than 100 per 100,000?…that this category is also one in which the City of Evansville is in need of improvement?

IS IT TRUE that it is not so much the raw numbers in the City of Evansville that are disturbing as the trend toward more criminal activity?…that from a big picture perspective that Evansville is going the wrong direction but with the exception of a half dozen or so census tracts is a safe place to live?…that we encourage the CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE to take on the responsibility to help our excellent police department to reverse this trend so that soon we can be listed among the safest cities in America where we should be?…that the words “I DIDN’T SEE NOTHING” are the criminals best friend and have no place in a city with self respect?

IS IT TRUE that the FBI crime stats are available at the following website?

http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2011/may/crimes_052311/crime_052311

IS IT TRUE? May 25, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the McCurdy Hotel has now been officially cited by the City of Evansville for weeds?…that a local TV report last night DMD Director Tom Barnett is finally holding the should be Indianapolis developer’s feet to the fire to clean this rat’s nest and to either perform or get off the pot with the construction project to make the McCurdy a home to people instead of pigeons, rats, and bats?…that the City County Observer is pleased to see that some semblance of pressure is finally being put on the Mayor’s chosen developer to perform?…that we are also proud and pleased to have taken the lead role in calling this weed cultivating, non tax-paying, political contribution making, organization out for non-performance?…that it is also gratifying to the CCO to see the City of Evansville step up to the plate for once?…that we will be diligent in keeping the pressure on the City to force action from this developer?

IS IT TRUE that the FBI released the preliminary crime statistics for 2010 yesterday?…that the United States of America has defied past times of economic challenge and has seen the violent crime rates drop by 5.5% and property crimes drop by 2.8%?…that the City of Evansville has once again performed in an opposite manner with respect to the nation in a key “quality of life” metric?…that the crime for the City of Evansville rose during 2010 seeing a whopping 14.1% increase in violent crime and a 3.1% increase in property crime?…that of course the immediate local response was denial and statements that this is not an apples for apples comparison?…that this is the typical response here in River City and that the sooner that this area comes to grips with its problems and acknowledges them that the sooner the problems can begin the repair process?…that the FBI hires the best and brightest that the nation has to offer, maintains a complete forensics lab, and has a division dedicated to statistics?…that the FBI is all about protocol, order, and apples to apples comparisons?

IS IT TRUE that if the FBI releases a study backed up with statistics that shows that Ann Arbor is safer than Evansville, which is safer than Fort Wayne, that is safer than Flint, MI that you can take those numbers to the bank?…that somewhere in Gary, IN that regained its title of the “murder capital of America” last year there is a Mayor, a Chamber of Commerce leader, or a head of a CVB whining about the “unfair” statistics?…that denial has not helped Gary with a chart topping murder rate of 56.8 murders per 100,000 population a full 13 times Evansville’s rate become a better place to be?…that as the real crime centers of the country go that Evansville is still setting at or near the national averages and that most of the city is statistically safe?…that we do have a half dozen or so census tracts that are statistically very much like Detroit, Gary, Flint, or St. Louis in the crime department?…that we equally have one census tract in unincorporated Vanderburgh County that is safer than 96% of the country?

IS IT TRUE that the FBI regional press release commended the South for having the biggest drop in violent crime at 7.5 percent, followed by the Midwest with a 5.9 percent drop, the West at 5.8 percent and the Northeast coming in at only 0.4 percent?…that in the FBI report that murder, rape, robbery, and assault all dropped from 2009 – 2010?…that in the City of Evansville that every one of these categories of crime plus property crimes and larceny increased from between 3% to a high of 67%?

IS IT TRUE that for Gary, Flint, Camden, or a few other lawless cities to put out brochures and parrot nonsensical slogans like “spend your summer vacation in the murder capital of the nation” or the more serious ones like “move to Gary, it’s a great place to raise kids” or even “we have a great quality of life here in Flint”, are as much a form of denial as the people in Evansville who do not acknowledge that we have a serious problem with meth and that there is no crime downtown?…that when compared with the three cities above that Evansville is still quite safe?…that Evansville is however going the wrong direction and the slide to Gary style crime statistics is a slippery slope?…that the time to face those demons and drive a stake into the vampires heart is right now and not 5 years from now when we will be joining the Garys and Flints of the world at our present rates of change?

IS IT TRUE that our Part 2 of IS IT TRUE today will deal with the details of the City of Evansville’s crime statistics?

“Beatles Stories”, “Nowhere Boy” and “Parting Ways” will be shown at the festival

Louisville, KY (May 17, 2011) – “Beatles Stories” is a fascinating 75-minute documentary that follows Director Seth Swirsky as he conducts interviews with 55 famous (and not-so famous) people who share their unique and intimate encounters with one or all of the Fab Four during their heyday and beyond. Following its world premiere in Paris, France at the 2011 European Independent Film Festival, and its North American Premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival, the film will be shown at this year’s WHAS-11 Abbey Road on the River in Louisville on Thursday, May 27th at 11:00pm, on Friday, May 28th at 11:00am and at 6:00pm, on Saturday, May 28th at 11:00am, and on Sunday, May 29th at 2:00pm. A Q&A session with the Swirsky will be held on Saturday, May 28th at 12:45pm.

During his five year labor of love journey to document “Beatles Stories,” Swirsky traveled from Los Angeles to New York to London to Liverpool to conduct more than 100 interviews (only 55 made the cut) with rock and pop legends (Brian Wilson, Graham Nash, Art Garfunkel, Smokey Robinson), actors (Sir Ben Kingsley, Jon Voight), media personalities, Beatles intimates, and even a former First Daughter. Many of the recollections are compelling. Graham Nash talks about his invitation to the TV broadcast of the Beatle’s new song, “All You Need is Love” and being a part of a magical, star studded experience. George Harrison’s first girlfriend, from before he was in the band, talks about how sweet George was as a 14 year old. Henry Winkler recounts a random meeting with Paul McCartney on a New York street where the Beatle was as happy to meet “The Fonz” as Winkler was to meet him. With this documentary Swirsky gives the viewer the chance to be a fly on the wall from those magical days gone by. This is a must-see film for anyone who loves the Beatles, or for anyone who wished they could have been there in the swinging 60’s, living the life that so few got to experience.

Abbey Road on the River festival goers can also see a screening of the 98-minute award-winning documentary film “Nowhere Boy,” a chronicle that captures and conveys the crucial formative years of John Lennon. The film depicts the events and personal circumstances that led to the formation of the Beatles, and the underlying family currents that shaped and molded the creative and inspirational qualities of John Lennon. With a script and perspectives drawn from a variety of impeccable sources and its authenticity endorsed by those who knew John Lennon best, it is the first film to allow admirers to — in the words of one of Lennon’s last and most personal songs — understand the little child inside the man. The film was released in 2009 and directed by Sam Taylor-Wood, and will be shown on Friday, May 27th at 2:00pm and 8:00pm, on Saturday, May 28th at 1:00pm and 5:00pm, and Sunday, May 29th at 4:00pm.

“Parting Ways: An Unauthorized Story of Life After the Beatles,” is an award-winning look at the lives of the Fab Four after their breakup, and chronicles how each member went on to become front men for other bands, film producers, and actors. The 51-minute film, which was released in 2010, will be shown on Friday, May 27th at 4:00pm and 10:00pm, on Saturday, May 28th at 1:00pm and 7:00pm, and on Sunday, May 29th at 6:00pm.

WHAS-11 Abbey Road on the River, a five day music festival celebrating the greatest rock band of all time, will be held at the Belvedere and Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky from May 26th to May 30th. Tickets for the world’s largest Beatles tribute festival are currently on sale at www.abbeyroadontheriver.com, and discounted tickets are available at 44 Kroger stores in the Louisville area and at The Louisville Visitor Center, located at 301 S. 4th Street. Families who want to take advantage of a money saving incentive need to purchase tickets in advance to receive free admission for one 21 and under guest with each regular ticketholder.

WHAS11 Abbey Road on the River, named a Top 10 event for 2011 by The Kentucky Travel Industry Association and the Southeast Tourism Society, is sponsored by The Galt House Hotel & Suites, the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau, 107.7 SFR Classic Rock, The Courier-Journal and www.courier-journal.com, with additional support from Gretsch Guitar, Republic Bank, and MillerCoors.

IS IT TRUE? Part 2 May 24, 2011

IS IT TRUE that on May 23 at just before noon the City County Observer set a monthly record for pageviews?…that with 8 days left in the month of May that this record will exceed the previous record by roughly 30% by the end of the month?…that we wish to thank our readers for helping us grow?…that some of our new readers are coming to us from posts that have been placed on national forums with links to the CCO story about the Gallup survey that anointed Evansville as the “obesity capital of America”…that we made the right decision to release that story 2 weeks ahead of everyone else and that sometime being on the leading edge pays off?…that “moderation is the key to mediocrity” and that we have no interest in either?

IS IT TRUE that one of our readers has astutely pointed out that the McCurdy Hotel with all of its native pasture allowed to grow to heights above 3 feet is very likely to develop a colony of RATS to accompany the pigeons (SKY RATS) and bats (SKY MICE) in their continuing occupation of the formerly gracious hotel?…that rats, pigeons, and mice are all indicators of filth and are pretty much unwelcome outside of animal science laboratories?…that the only song of love written for a rat was “Ben” by Michael Jackson?

IS IT TRUE that in a police report from May 23, 2011 there is a complaint that the crew that is doing the curb cuts to reverse the street directions in downtown Evansville peppered a parked car with concrete debris with the high powered saw that is used to cut concrete?…that according to the police reports the crew contained no witnesses to the alleged peppering of the parked car?…that the report states that the damage to the parked car is consistent with what a good peppering from a concrete saw would do?…that the number of accidents, crimes, and incidents that have no witnesses in Evansville is just astounding?…that the often used words from non-witnesses of “I didn’t see nothing” are as much a part of the problem as the bad deeds are?…that for a police department to be more effective a cooperative citizenry is necessary?

IS IT TRUE that some of the candidates for the Evansville City Council are keeping their faces in the public for the summer and others are not?…that being lackadaisical about campaigning when ones opponent is keeping the pedal to the metal is a sure fire way to dig ones political grave?…that continuous visibility is the best way to keep the support base that was built in the hard fought primaries?

IS IT TRUE that the homeowner’s association in the Evansville Historic District has been wanting classy signs to identify the Historic District for several years now?…that the homeowner’s association is paying for half of the costs of the signs and that the City of Evansville is picking up the other half?…that the agreement to do this was easy and that the DMD staff gets high marks for cooperative assistance?…that now that it is time to pay that he Controller’s office of the City of Evansville is not only slow to pay but that they are throwing up road blocks because the bidding process that is followed for giant construction projects like the Arena was not followed?…that getting $10,000 or so of street signs should not be subject to the same bidding rules as the seats in the Arena?…that getting multiple bids from government designated preferred suppliers for a small neighborhood project is counterproductive and raises costs to ridiculous levels?…that the neighborhood association may have gotten the project done for less than their own half of the costs if they just did it instead of bringing local government into the mix?…that the Controller’s office is also blaming their new but slower computer system for the delay?…that new computers should be faster not slower?…that they probably had such a slow bid process to buy the computers that they got last year’s computers at next year’s price?