IS IT TRUE? December 8, 2011
IS IT TRUE that John Corzine former Governor of New Jersey and the beneficiary of several pre-election Air Force One visits in his re-election campaign now has a new quote attributed to him over the bankruptcy of the company he headed after being defeated by Chris Christie?…that his words now “I simply don’t know where the money is†when questioned about what happened with MF Global which is becoming a second round of Lehman Brothers meltdown?…that the CCO wonders just how many elected officials on all levels would have to utter the words, “I simply don’t know where the money is†if they were pressed to reveal what is going on with their budgets and stashes?
IS IT TRUE the rank and file political types from both parties are quietly talking among themselves concerning the Mayor Elect’s decision to openly push Vectren Executives as members of his transaction and swearing in team?…that one wonders why he would open embrace anybody as important members of his political team and advisors from Vectren since he should be aware of the negative opinions that the masses presently have towards this company? …now all eyes shall be focused on how many individuals from Vectren shall show up on his final campaign financial report?…that many of the Mayor Elect’s supporters are extremely disappointed that he didn’t take a strong public stance against the proposed fee increases sought by Vectren?…that maybe the finance report will shed light on why he didn’t?
IS IT TRUE that the selection for the new Evansville Chief of Police is all but over?… that all eyes are turning to whom shall be selected as the next Assistant Chief?…you can expect an interesting candidate to be selected that shall please many of the Rank and File?
IS IT TRUE it’s be reported that there a good pool of qualified candidates are vying to become the next Evansville Fire Chief?…that no one should be surprised to hear that a past Fire Chief shall be one of the two finalists for this position? …that you can rest assure that the present Evansville Fire Chief and his key people should begin to start packing his office to return to the ranks?…that we predict whoever is selected as the next Evansville Fire Chief the old way of back room political wheeling and dealing are over?…you should not be surprised to hear that the new Fire Chief shall make an extremely popular pick as his Assistant Fire Chief?
IS IT TRUE that the political star of Vanderburgh County Sheriff Eric Williams seems to have taken a tumble last night with some of the caucus votes going to Crooks instead of Skates?…that the reason given for this was because Sheriff Williams signed the “best friends for life†pact supporting Democrat City Councilwoman Connie Robinson’s endorsement of Mayor Elect Lloyd Winnecke?…that the 24 who chose Crooks may have been a majority for Mr. Skates if it had not been for the 23 who supported a party officer who supported a Republican….that all actions have consequences and Sheriff Williams will have a consequence along with the other 22 who pinky shook to support Councilwoman Robinson?
IS IT TRUE that the CCO now has it on good authority that there is no details commemorated in a bound folder that would be called a study by Hunden Strategic Partners?…that there is indeed a powerpoint presentation that said very little about one of the bidders and said very little that would be encouraging about the other bidder?…that maybe Sara Miller was on to something when she was deliberating on how to vote?
Attorney General Greg Zoeller joins 53 other attorneys general asking Congress to oppose legislation targeting consumers’ telephone privacy.
The “Mobile Informational Call Act of 2011†would amend the Communications Act of 1934 and allow for robo-calling to all cell phones, leaving consumers to foot the bill, Zoeller said. For example, debt collectors and other businesses could place automated “informational†calls to cell phones, impacting those who pay by the minute or have a limited number of minutes available.
In addition, since businesses frequently have the wrong contact information, consumers could be getting and paying for repeated robo-calls on their cell phones with respect to accounts that are not their own.
“This letter to Congress sends a very clear message that the consumers in America, represented by their attorneys general, do not want to allow robo-calls to their cell phones – period,†Zoeller said. We hope our representatives in Washington D.C. hear this message loud and clear. H.R. 3035 constitutes an assault on consumers’ privacy and does nothing to add protections, which is the stated purpose of the original Telephone Consumer Protection Act.â€
The attorneys general are asking members of Congress to reject U.S. House Resolution 3035. As chief protectors of consumer rights, many state attorneys general would not be able to enforce their more strict state laws against junk faxes, prerecorded calls or text messages.
This legislation would also narrow the definition of what constitutes an illegal “automatic telephone dialing system.” If passed, the new definition would only prohibit “random or sequential number generators†which means “targeted†calls would be permitted, Zoeller said.
Currently, federal law allows robo-calls to be placed to people who have given their explicit consent to receive them or in case of an emergency. If this federal legislation passes, the law will be expanded to allow businesses to robo-call any consumer who has provided their telephone number in the course of a transaction – regardless if a consumer asks not to be contacted.
In the letter, officials also pointed out that an increase in calls to mobile phones could present a hazard to drivers who may become distracted. A 2009 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that cell phone use was involved in 995 or 18 percent of fatalities in distraction-related crashes.
“The Telephone Consumer Protection Act is meant to protect consumers and this bill goes in the wrong direction by opening a pandora’s box – giving businesses carte blanche to make calls to personal cell phones regardless of consumers’ wishes of whether or not to get those calls,†Zoeller said.
The proposal is currently being considered in the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce – the first step in the legislative process. Zoeller joined other consumer advocates in November to provide testimony in opposition to the legislation during a hearing before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology in Washington, D.C..
Citizens can also voice their opinion on the proposal by contacting their representative or by voting on Popvox’s nonpartisan website https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr3035. Popvox will also forward consumers’ comments to members of Congress.
Those that signed the letter are from: Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
University of Evansville Professor Margaret McMullan directs $2,500 grant honoring all Indiana authors to local programs
The hometown libraries of the three Indiana authors who were recently awarded the 2011 Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award will each receive $2,500 grants this month. The Award, a program of The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation, and the subsequent grants seek to recognize the contributions of Indiana authors to the literary landscape in Indiana and across the nation.
National Author Winner Margaret McMullan named the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library as a recipient of $1,500 and the Willard Library’s Children’s Services Program as a recipient of $1,000.
Regional Author Winner Helen Frost named the Allen County Public Library in her hometown of Fort Wayne, IN, and Emerging Author Winner Micah Ling named the Franklin Branch of the Johnson County Public Library in Franklin, IN as grant recipients.
“I am so honored to be named as this year’s National Award recipient,†said McMullan. “I moved to Indiana about 21 years ago to teach at the University of Evansville, and I’ve grown to love this state, its people and its strong literary heritage. I feel privileged and humbled to be a part of all that this award celebrates, including the ongoing value of public libraries.â€
Public nominations of authors were submitted from across the state earlier this year and eligibility included any published writer who was born in Indiana or has lived in Indiana for at least five years. A ten-member, statewide Award Panel selected the winners in the three categories, which were announced last month.
Information about nominating an author for the 2012 Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award will be made available early next year. To learn more, contact The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation at (317) 275-4700 or visit www.indianaauthorsaward.org.
About The Glick Fund: Eugene and Marilyn Glick are two of the most generous philanthropists in Indiana. In addition to establishing the Indiana Authors Award with The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation, the Glick family has funded Indiana educational institutions, arts organizations, hospitals and the Pro-100 program, a leadership program for underprivileged youth. Recent grant recipients include the Indiana Historical Society Living History Center, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and the Glick Eye Institute at the Indiana University School of Medicine.
About the Library Foundation: The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation supports and enhances programs, services and facilities of The Indianapolis Public Library, and its partnerships in lifelong learning initiatives that benefit a diverse community. Through advocacy, fundraising and stewardship, the Library Foundation supports numerous Library initiatives to enhance patrons’ lives, including early literacy programs, homework assistance, workforce development and technologies, including a variety of online library resources. The Foundation works to support these initiatives, making educational opportunities available free of charge to all Library patrons.
About Margaret McMullan: McMullan currently teaches in the Department of Creative Writing at the University of Evansville where she is Professor and Melvin M. Peterson Endowed Chair in Literature and Writing. A recipient of a 2010 NEA Fellowship in literature and a 2010 Fulbright at the University of Pécs in Pécs, Hungary, McMullan is the author of six award-winning novels. Her novels include “In My Mother’s House,†a Pen/Faulkner nominee; “Cashay,†a Chicago Public Library 2009 Teen Book Selection; and “When I Crossed No-Bob,†a recipient of many honors and awards for young adult literature and parents’ choice awards. Her latest book, “Sources of Light,†is an American Library Association 2011 Best Book for Young Adults and a Chicago Public Library Teen Selection. McMullan’s work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Ploughshares, Southern Accents, TriQuarterly, Michigan Quarterly Review, The Greensboro Review, Other Voices, Boulevard, The Arkansas Review, The Montréal Review, National Geographic for Kids, The Southern California Anthology, Southern Accents and The Sun. http://margaretmcmullan.com
Two open houses are planned to showcase the new location for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation’s North High School – one on Wednesday, Dec. 21; and the second on Thursday, Dec. 29. Both will take place from 4-7 p.m., and are free and open to the public.
The open houses are in conjunction with North’s first boys’ and girls’ basketball games to be played in the new facility and will be self-guided tours of the facility. Admission to view the facility is free; however, game tickets will be $5.
 Dec. 21: North Boys vs. Mt Vernon. Junior Varsity game begins at 6 p.m.; Varsity at 7:30 p.m.
 Dec. 29: North Girls vs. North Posey. Junior Varsity game begins at 6 p.m.; Varsity at 7:30 p.m.
The campus of North High School and Junior High School is located at 15325 Highway 41 North. Entrance to the school can be gained through its main entrance off Baseline Road. Parking for the open houses and games will be located at the north and northeast ends of the building.
The high school entrance is located on the far north end of the building.
Time 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Subject MBE/WBE UTILIZATION BOARD
Location 318
Recurrence Occurs the second Thursday of every 1 month effective 12/8/2011 until 12/8/2011 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
DEBRA SPALDING @ 4961
Categories ROOM 318
Time 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Subject BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Location 301
Recurrence Occurs every Thursday effective 12/1/2011 until 12/29/2011 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
Sharon Evans @ 4982
Categories ROOM 301
Time 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Subject ITAC
Location 318
Recurrence Occurs the second Thursday of every 1 month effective 12/8/2011 until 12/8/2011 from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Reminder 15 minutes
GARY HECK @ 2468
Categories ROOM 318
Time 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Subject AREA PLAN COMMISSION
Location 301
Recurrence Occurs the second Thursday of every 1 month effective 12/8/2011 until 12/8/2011 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
KATHIE @ 5228
Categories ROOM 301
IS IT TRUE? December 8, 2011
IS IT TRUE that the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party caucus that was held last night at the C. K. Newsome Center, was won by Crooks by a vote of 24-21?…that only 45 precinct committeemen & vice committeemen showed up to vote for this important position?…that there are more than 130 precincts in Vanderburgh County?…that if the vice committeemen had showed up too that the voter turnout was only 17%?…that is slightly worse than the turnout for the general election held on November 8th?…that it is one thing for the beer swilling masses to choose to sit home on their swollen backsides and abdicate their right to vote?…that it is quite another when people who are selected to serve in a position of power and authority by a political party just blow off a caucus?…that if one wonders why the people of Evansville are indifferent and disenfranchised that one must only look to the leadership of the Democrat Party?
IS IT TRUE that at least one member of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission seems to have awaken from the Group Coma that this cast of appointed officials seems to have been in for the last several years?…that Sara Miller whose day job is spent as a Senior Commercial Loan Officer with Old National Bank has actually started asking the kinds of questions that should have been asked for four years now?…that after floating those questions, digesting whatever Hunden Strategic Partners told the ERC, and looking over the long term prospects of the two proposals that Ms. Miller voted NO on entering negotiations with either of the respondents?…that maybe Ms. Miller has seen the light and merits some consideration for a continued appointment in the Winnecke Administration?…that the ERC needs desperately to explain themselves and what it is about the invisible study that Hunden Strategic Partners produced?…that even thought the ERC Chairman Mr. Bob Goldman says that Hunden said that the Kunkel proposal was the quickest proposal to move forward with that does not mean that either proposal received a hearty endorsement?…that maybe this was a choice between two proposals that were very weak?…that one will only know that when the City County Observer publishes the work of Hunden for all to see?
IS IT TRUE that EB5 financing is one of the most preferred forms of forming a financing plan for real estate ventures in the State of California right now?…that maybe Evansville is 30 years behind this important trend in attracting talent and money too?…that Mr. John Kish, who came to Evansville as the Arena Project Manager but of lately seems to be the acting Chancellor of all things to hard for the Weinzapfel Administration to handle has stated that all of the problems that have prevented attracting an experience developer from the hospitality industry are still in place?…that the incentive package is not enough to attract an experienced developer like White Lodging that did the Fort Wayne downtown Convention Hotel?…that we wonder if the Weinzapfel Administration learns from experiencing failure like the McCurdy and the hotel?…that if there had been an understanding or even a willingness to listen with regard to that valuation and the pro forma of this project that there would be a hotel in place now and the CEO of the Convention and Visitors Bureau would not be stating that Evansville is in no position to even compete for conventions?…that the cost to The Centre and the community has far exceeded the extra incentives that would have brought an experienced developer to town 4 years ago?…that the Weinzapfel Administration has been penny wise and pound stupid and that the taxpayers of Evansville and Vanderburgh County are suffering because of it?…that we hope that the Winnecke Administration will learn from the failures of the Weinzapfel Administration?
IS IT TRUE that we the Civic Center Mole Club is telling the CCO that the present City of Evansville Controller, Jenny Collins may be transferred to a position with the Evansville Water/Sewer department very soon? … that if this happens we wonder if this is a new position, what is the base salary, what are the job responsibilities, whether or not this position was properly advertised and how many people applied for this position?…that these are the same questions that we have been asking regarding the hiring of Tonda Pauley, Linda Durham’s Chief of Staff during her reign as the Knight Township Trustee was selected for a job with the City of Evansville at the garage?
Is There An “Option C†for Roberts Stadium?
By: Richard Poorer
Since the construction of the new Ford Center in downtown Evansville, citizens and politicians alike have debated about what best to do with the old Roberts Stadium. Proposals boil down to those in Camp A, who believe the Stadium should be torn down in favor of some other project and those in Camp B, who believe the Stadium should be saved and incorporated into some other public scheme.
In Camp A are those who want to see the property turned into a park or a set of sports fields. In Camp B, the propositions range from raising the floor of the stadium to solve flooding issues while incorporating the facility into some type of swimming center, basketball courts, tennis courts, or mid-sized venue.
Both of these main arguments fail to acknowledge the 800 lb. gorilla in the room – namely the logical solution to the problem: Option C. On the one hand, Camp A acknowledges the need to offset the cost of demolition with the revenue generated from the new project (which will also cost the taxpayers money to construct and maintain), and in some circular feat of logic uses this cost as the justification for the demolition itself. On the other hand, Camp B insists that revenues from some other use can effectively raise the floor, keep the parking lot paved, the roof leak-proof, the facilities clean, etc.
The fact is, even if the economy was not on the skids, no scheme could be guaranteed to be financially successful. Any imagined scenario has a large measure of risk to the taxpayer that their dollars wouldn’t simply be flushed down a perennial black hole of unnecessary spending on something no one will actually use. The authorization of more spending on a Roberts Stadium project for either Option A or B is also taking a risk that cronyism will rear its ugly head, and the job will simply go to he who has the most pull, not the best resume.
The only argument I have yet to hear espoused in any real detail is the free market solution – namely selling the old Stadium along with the land upon which it sits to a private entity in an open auction. This not only solves the problem of demolition cost, but also the political problem of deciding what purpose the property should serve. In this solution, the free market would decide the best use of the land and facilities through that old, dusty, arcane principle we used to know as “capitalism.â€
According to some estimates, Roberts Stadium and the property on which it sits could be worth as much as $25 million. Finding buyers at that level for that Stadium would certainly be difficult, but $10 million? $15 million? Who knows? It’s possible. Even selling the Stadium for $1 is certainly preferable to spending $1.25 million on demolition or $500,000 on raising the floor and god knows how much more turning it into something the public may or may not use. And let’s not forget the government’s propensity to grossly underestimate the cost of just about every project it undertakes.
To invoke an example, let’s say I buy a shiny new automobile, let’s say it’s a Ford. It has more space, better gas mileage, better reliability, updated looks…the works. It cost me a pretty penny, but barring any serious unforeseen problems, I should begin to see my initial investment offset in, oh, about a generation or so. Now I have a problem of what to do with my old car. Sure it leaks a little, might need new floor panels, and isn’t the prettiest thing in the world, but it’s got new tires, is paid for, and with a little work, it will still make a good car for someone.
The fact is, besides my shiny new Ford, I also have several other vehicles for different purposes, so I don’t really need the other car. The question is, is it economical for me to follow Option A and pay someone to come melt it down into a huge chunk of steel I could then hopefully sell for scrap, or should I take Option B and plow more money into that old car to fix it up even though I don’t need it?
No one in their right mind would limit their options in this scenario to A or B. Anyone with common sense can see that there is a clear Option C, which is to sell the car “as-is†and get as much for it as you can without investing more money in it you may never recoup. Even parting the vehicle out yourself is certainly preferable to melting it down, and considering the lack of any practical advantages over your new car, it makes no sense to keep it and watch it just rot away either.
The fact of the matter is, no one in Evansville seems to want to admit that perhaps government solutions aren’t always the best solutions. They don’t “create†jobs or do anything that doesn’t eventually come out of the pockets of taxpayers. Someone always pays! No one wants to take the logical stretch necessary to see that things like an innkeeper’s tax “on visitors to our fair city,†which is the method proposed for paying for the razing of Roberts, is really a tax on the innkeeper! No one wants to admit that any taxes on the customers of a business is a tax on the potential profits of the business itself!
The only solution that will not cost taxpayers a dime is the one that involves selling Roberts Stadium, getting it off the books, and using the revenue generated to either fix something else like the sewers, or give the money back to taxpayers in the form of a tax holiday. It’s the only solution that makes logical sense…Option C.
