President Pro Tem Long asks Sen. Kenley to begin budget hearings, include all lawmakers who didn’t “cut and run”

Indiana state senators will “go to work to salvage the 2011 session,” President Pro Tem David Long (R-Fort Wayne) said today.

Long this morning asked Sen. Luke Kenley (R-Noblesville), chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, to begin immediate hearings on a balanced two-year state budget.

“Lawmakers went into the session aware of the severe financial crunch felt by states due to the prolonged national recession. However, the work stoppage by Indiana House Democrats has made a difficult session nearly impossible and lacking the civility, decency and responsibility Hoosiers expect officials to display,” Long said. “Citizens have every right to ask, ‘How dare they?’ Legislators were elected to represent our constituents and to be here to voice their concerns. We respect our jobs and respect those who put us in them.”

Long said time was running out for Kenley and other senators to write a budget, conduct hearings, question state agencies and seek public testimony. He said he will ask other Senate committee chairs to work with both Senate caucuses and House Republicans to combine other pending legislation “where warranted and appropriate.”

“The people’s work must be done, so I’ve asked Senator Kenley to take up the budget bill beginning on Monday and to thoughtfully and respectfully include Senate Democrats and House Republicans in that process. We will listen and work with all lawmakers who didn’t cut and run.”

Kenley confirmed he will commence a series of state budget hearings starting next week.

“Responsible, accountable, honest budgeting is vital, especially when resources are so scarce,” Kenley said. “The transparent process constituents have come to expect takes time and effort on lawmakers’ part. Everyone must work together to make certain state government is as efficient and effective as possible. Hoosier families have been forced to make tough spending decisions these past few years. They know firsthand those decisions take time and are not made lightly. Government should be no different. We should not rush. We should get it right.”

Both Long and Kenley emphasized the Senate’s work has continued since the House Democrats’ walkout on Feb. 21.

“Citizens have testified and been heard on 56 different bills during 21 Senate committee hearings since House Democrats ran away to the state of Illinois,” Long said. “Jobs, education, health care, public safety and other matters important to the people of Indiana are being discussed and decided. I applaud senators of both parties and House Republicans for staying on the job – engaged in policy, not politics.”

IS IT TRUE that today an Indiana company with patents, products, customers, and an internationally recognized leading edge green energy technology is having discussions with INTEL INVESTMENTS of San Jose, CA?…that this company has been frustrated for sometime over the state of the Venture Capital industry in Indiana?…that this business made one of its first presentations in its search for capital right here in Evansville at Innovation Pointe more than two years ago?…that at that time this business was a candidate to be an Evansville business?…that if this business with a multi-billion potential ends up moving that both state and local leaders need to hang their heads in shame?…that there are some local investors and advisors that stand to do very well for having the vision to be a part of this business and the courage to take a risk during diminished economic times?

IS IT TRUE that City County Observer “MOLE 3” has just predicted that Dr. Dan Adams will be the top vote getter in the upcoming primary for City Council At Large race?…that the other at-large candidates seem very quiet in the campaigns?…that the primary is only 7 weeks away and that both parties have well contested primaries for the 3 nominations each that will be voted on?

IS IT TRUE that a highly regarded and politically powerful 2nd Ward resident and preacher shall soon announce that he will be supporting Patrick McBride in the Democratic primary race?

IS IT TRUE that voters expect people they elect to public office to bring home the “Political Bacon” to their area once they are elected? …..that we know of one who brings back more than “Political Bacon” to her Ward during the last 4 years as a member of Evansville City Council? …..that 4th Ward City Council Woman, Connie Robinson brought back the “whole political hog” to her Ward?

IS IT TRUE that 6th Ward City Council candidate, Al Lindsey lost another 11 of his political signs yesterday evening? ….that Mr. Lindsey should be glad that political signs can’t vote in the 6th Ward?…that there does not seem to be much outrage over the stealing and destroying of campaign signs?…that this blasé’ attitude toward theft is not a healthy one?…that contributions pay for these signs and that stealing a sign is pretty much the same thing as stealing a few bucks from the people who contribute the money to buy the signs?

IS IT TRUE the primary political season has officially has begun? ….that City County Observer “MOLE # 3” spotted a local political candidate walking through a local grave yard with a note pad?

IS IT TRUE that the on again off again demolition of the Executive Inn and its parking garage seems to be off again?…that just the other day among much fanfare the old abandoned house on the edge of the property had a few bites taken out of it by a backhoe only to have the backhoes hunger abated for “undisclosed reasons”?…that there are always unknown things that can come up in the middle of any project but that usually happens when the project is really rolling?…that if there were physical findings that these findings would be no problem to disclose?…that there has been three years now to do core samples, material samples, etc. so there really should not be any surprises of a “getting the job done” nature?…that if something was overlooked that it really would not be the first time?

IS IT TRUE that we wonder if there is a snag in the closing of the details of the contract to go forward?…that it is mid March and that the date for the contract to have been signed was to have been mid February?…that we respectfully request that the contract between the City of Evansville and Woodruff Hospitality be released to the media for distribution to the public?…that releasing that document with signatures would sooth the concerns that last minute wavering may have our much needed Downtown Convention Hotel in jeopardy again?

IS IT TRUE that the Indiana legislative calendar for 2011 runs from January 5th to April 29th?…that is a period of only 112 days and that 70 of those days have passed?…that the Indiana Democratic delegation has willfully obstructed 28 of those 70 days by refusing to go to work and do their jobs?…that the language of the Pied Piper Pat Bauer as having the intention of staying out indefinitely has made he and his group of starry eyed followers subject to being considered to be Illinois residents in the eyes of Illinois tax law?…that Indiana laws look upon indefinite residents the same way?…that for elected official of the State of Indiana to allow themselves to be considered to be residents of other states for tax purposes should be grounds for dismissal?

Come March 28th the Free Ride is Over for Times Readers

A Letter from the Publisher and Chairman

Dear New York Times Reader,

Today marks a significant transition for The New York Times as we introduce digital subscriptions. It’s an important step that we hope you will see as an investment in The Times, one that will strengthen our ability to provide high-quality journalism to readers around the world and on any platform. The change will primarily affect those who are heavy consumers of the content on our Web site and on mobile applications.

This change comes in two stages. Today, we are rolling out digital subscriptions to our readers in Canada, which will enable us to fine-tune the customer experience before our global launch. On March 28, we will begin offering digital subscriptions in the U.S. and the rest of the world.

If you are a home delivery subscriber of The New York Times, you will continue to have full and free access to our news, information, opinion and the rest of our rich offerings on your computer, smartphone and tablet. International Herald Tribune subscribers will also receive free access to NYTimes.com.

If you are not a home delivery subscriber, you will have free access up to a defined reading limit. If you exceed that limit, you will be asked to become a digital subscriber.

This is how it will work, and what it means for you:

On NYTimes.com, you can view 20 articles each month at no charge (including slide shows, videos and other features). After 20 articles, we will ask you to become a digital subscriber, with full access to our site.

On our smartphone and tablet apps, the Top News section will remain free of charge. For access to all other sections within the apps, we will ask you to become a digital subscriber.

The Times is offering three digital subscription packages that allow you to choose from a variety of devices (computer, smartphone, tablet). More information about these plans is available at nytimes.com/access.

Again, all New York Times home delivery subscribers will receive free access to NYTimes.com and to all content on our apps. If you are a home delivery subscriber, go to homedelivery.nytimes.com to sign up for free access.

Readers who come to Times articles through links from search, blogs and social media like Facebook and Twitter will be able to read those articles, even if they have reached their monthly reading limit. For some search engines, users will have a daily limit of free links to Times articles.

The home page at NYTimes.com and all section fronts will remain free to browse for all users at all times.
For more information, go to nytimes.com/digitalfaq.

Thank you for reading The New York Times, in all its forms.

Sincerely,

Arthur Sulzberger Jr.
Publisher, The New York Times
Chairman, The New York Times Company

IS IT TRUE that 89 political signs of 6th Ward City Council candidate Al Lindsey have either been stolen or destroyed? ….that candidate Lindsey is posting a $500 reward to anyone who turn in those responsible for tearing down or stealing his signs?….that when the people who stole these campaign signs that were bought and paid for with contributions are prosecuted and convicted the person who provides the information leading to that convicted will receive a whooping $500 check from Mr. Lindsey? ….we wonder why 2nd Ward City Council candidate Patrick McBride isn’t offering a similar reward as signs of his have gone missing as well?

IS IT TRUE that with a few notable exceptions that the Democratic contingency of the Indiana House of Representatives are still holed up in an Urbana, Illinois motel refusing to subject themselves to the toil of the jobs that they aggressively campaigned to serve in?…that many of these people have served the public in an elected capacity for much of their adult lives?…that there are many distinguished political careers including Evansville’s own Gail Riecken who are diminishing their life’s work to follow their newfound Pied Piper House minority leader Patrick Bauer?…that blindly following a career politician that clearly has an axe to grind with Governor Daniels will be the end of the political careers of many good public servants with a lifetime of positive service and goodwill?…that some of the rants coming from the more vocal members of the Urbanana Republic Democrats are beginning to resemble the musings of Charlie Sheen?…that following that Sheenius Pat Bauer is poor judgment?…that the Statehouse of Indiana is where the laws of Indiana are made by elected representatives?…that one does not necessarily have to like ones job but one does have to do ones job?…that the job of these wayward Democrats is in Indianapolis and that the City County Observer encourages and admonishes these supposed public servants to break rank with the Pied Piper and get back to doing all of the people’s business?

IS IT TRUE that the consolidation committee met before the combined governing bodies of the Evansville City Council and the Vanderburgh County Commissioners this week?…that some members of the elected group seemed to be well prepared for the meeting and others seemed to have pulled a healthcare bill move and never read the proposal?…that the elected officials seemed bifurcated (the word of the week) in the sense that County Commissioner Winnecke and all of those sitting south of him seemed knowledgeable with respect to the proposal and those sitting to the north of President Winnecke seemed as though they had never seen it before?…that those SOW (South of Winnecke) had notes and questions on their copies and were engaged in the discussions while those NOW (North of Winnecke) sat there making minimal or no contribution to the meeting?…that Evansville can’t afford to follow Washington’s example of passing something without reading it and finding out afterward how it works?…that the City County Observer would like to thank those elected officials who took the time to prepare for the meeting and articulately engaged the committee in intelligent discussion?

IS IT TRUE that insofar as the consolidation committee’s proposal is concerned that the most learned scholar on the benefits and problem issues with the consolidation proposal is Vanderburgh County Surveyor Bill Jeffers?…that Mr. Jeffers has published many competent articles on the details of consolidation and has commanded the respect of a wide audience with his competent writing?…that Evansville and Vanderburgh County would benefit greatly from more elected officials with the initiative, diligence, and cognitive ability that Mr. Jeffers has demonstrated in his analyses?

IS IT TRUE that the boil advisory is finally lifted and that the inconveniences associated with boiling or buying water are over after three days?…that this little escapade exposed yet another shortcoming in either the infrastructure or the processes followed by the City of Evansville?…that we may never really know what happened?…that it could have been human error that should have been caught by automation and testing or it could have been yet another aging piece of infrastructure that failed?…that like all problems this one exposes some low hanging fruit when it comes to making some much needed improvements?…that Evansville should be able to test its own water?…that a process should be in place to greatly reduce the probability of human error?…that if it really was a creaky old valve failure that we are in for some more interruptions because the City of Evansville water treatment facility is full of creaky old valves?

IS IT TRUE that we are pleased and proud the team of reporters from News 25 led by Brad Byrd have stayed after the state of dilapidation at the Vann-Pollack park?…that some people believe that a picture is worth a thousand words so we have included a link to the News 25 story that comes with a 2 minute video of the Vann-Pollack park just to emphasize the advanced state of disrepair of this park?…that you may view the story on the following link?

http://www.news25.us/global/story.asp?s=14268556

IS IT TRUE that the Vann-Pollack park and the Evansville Water Department have something in common?…that the managers of both the park and the water department report to the same Bossman?…that Bossman could take this opportunity to direct any and all financial reparations that should be due to the people who rely on a working and safe municipal water system to repair the Vann-Pollack park?…that given the cost of bottled water for a customer base of 200,000 people, the three days that their health could have been compromised from drinking municipal sources, that a round number of roughly $1 Million would approximate the damages incurred by the customers of the water department?…that given the advanced state of dilapidation and decay that is evident at the Vann-Pollack park and in the other Evansville City Parks that $1 Million would go a long way to repairing, repaving, painting over cuss words, and repairing bathrooms?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer strongly suggests that the City of Evansville make a reparation payment of $1 Million on behalf of the customers of the Evansville Water Department dedicated to start a fund to reclaim the park system that has been allowed by the City of Evansville to degrade to inner city conditions?…that we call upon the candidates for Mayor of Evansville and the Evansville City Council to come forward with solutions to use that money wisely in a tangible and accountable way to visibly do something good to aid in the recovery of our city?

IS IT TRUE that a citizen advisory board made up of volunteers for each park should be appointed to identify needs in the entire park system?…that volunteerism must be made easy and FREE as it should have always been?…that the neighborhood residents should be the stewards of the parks and that the City of Evansville Parks Department should serve a new BOSSMAN, “THE PEOPLE OF EVANSVILLE”?

Report is Disturbing but Necessary to Improve Relations

Woodard and Associates was hired by the Evansville Police Department to do an assessment of the community with respect to becoming better able to provide police protection to Evansville’s African American and Latino communities. The City County Observer came out in support of Dr. Talitha Washington of the University of Evansville in her demand to release the entire study to the public as opposed to the cliff notes version that was released last week. Fortunately the EPD has provided this study as we and Dr. Washington demanded. The link below is to an unedited version of the final draft of that study. We encourage all to read the study and to reflect on its contents. We also encourage everyone to realize that the moments described that we wish never happened only reflect the deeds of some individual officers and not the entire department.

In the spirit of transparency and disclosure we truly hope that this study will lead to enlightenment and positive actions to enhance the harmony of Evansville as a place where we can all live together and prosper.

EPD Community_Assessment

Here are four of the seven files that we were supplied by the City of Evansville in response to our Freedom of Information Act Request regarding the FREE $51 Million deal with Johnson Controls. There are three more files that will have to be reduced in size to post that we will gladly supply to anyone who emails a request for them to jjw0729@aol.com

Johnson Controls Financial Analysis Overview

Presentation (1)

EWSURFQPerformance_Contracting_Final (1)

Performance_Contracting_Project_Development_Agreement (1)

Operating at Capacity at Lower Rates is not Necessarily Good for Business

Today’s New York Times examines the negative effect that social coupon sites like Groupon are having on retail establishments. In example after example the author entrepreneur Jay Goltz presents numbers that actually favor the prospects of a business that rejects the mass coupon model that Groupon has successfully thrust onto the American business scene. The training of consumers to expect discounts and coupons on everything is changing the way that one has to do business. Mr. Goltz discusses both product and service businesses and concludes that both are negatively impacted by excessive percentages of their business being derived from social coupon site. Enjoy the article and good luck with your business.

http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/is-groupon-ruining-retailing/

IS IT TRUE that yet another boil advisory has been issued to all families and businesses that use the water from the Evansville Waterworks for human consumption?…that it hasn’t been long since the City of Evansville took over managing the municipal water facility from a private contractor to save money?…that in his last State of the City address that Mayor Weinzapfel boasted about that very action in the following manner?

“Last year, we decided to bring the management of the Water and Sewer Utility in-house, eliminates private management, and return control and accountability to the City. This move will not only save $14 million over the next five years, but it will allow us to put those savings to work to reduce combined sewer overflows.”

IS IT TRUE that when the municipal water supply is interrupted due to microbes, river breaches, low levels (4 weeks last summer), or a good old fashioned Bee Slough Cocktail, that the public has to spend money that was not budgeted or intended for buying water that was already paid to the order of Evansville Waterworks?…that roughly 200,000 people depend on an uninterrupted flow of healthy drinking water from the City of Evansville?…that a human being is recommended to drink 64 ounces of water per day?..that means that the people who depend on Evansville for water consume 12.8 Million ounces of water per day?…that means that replacing that municipal water with bottled water would require about 45,000 cases of water per day?…that the cost to replace just the lost drinking water is about $250,000 per day when the municipal sources can’t be consumed?…that does not include industrial uses, restaurants, day care centers, or any bathing?…that given the number of “boil advisory” days that Evansville has that the City of Evansville’s newfound $14 Million over 5 years just doesn’t seem like much?

IS IT TRUE that boasting about accountability brings with it the actual call for accountability?…that in all fairness every man, woman, and child in the City of Evansville water district should be paid or credited at least $1.25 per day for every day that a boil advisory is in effect?…that the only winners here are the stores that sell water and of course Vectren who will sell some more 188% overpriced electricity to the people who choose to boil instead of buy?…that one more group benefits and that is the gas stations and the oil companies who benefit from people making that extra trip to buy drinking water?…that by the end of the day Wednesday that the direct out of pocket expenses for water by all of the people and businesses served by the City of Evansville is approaching $1 Million just for this occurrence?…that when you add in the inconvenience of driving, cleaning soft drink machines, throwing out ice, and having PR people generate carefully worded press releases that the cost is much higher than that?…that it is appropriate for the City of Evansville to credit each and every customer whatever their costs were due to the interruption of their deserved good clean water?

IS IT TRUE that the deal between Whirlpool and the City of Evansville to develop a tech park near the airport and to tear down the old blue building while remediating the environmental concerns has been vanquished?…that an Evansville based construction company has pursued and secured a deal with Whirlpool to do something with that tired old piece of property?…that we are quite curious to learn the details about who is doing what and exactly what the benefits to Evansville and SW Indiana will be from this most unexpected development?

IS IT TRUE that the first consolidation hearing before both the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County government was last night at the Civic Center?…that the architects of the plan that dominated the lectern were Chairperson Becky Kasha, Ed Hafer, and the Reverend Adrian Brooks?…that the committee itself did not even produce a plan on which they all agreed upon or voted to support?

IS IT TRUE that Reverend Brooks was adamant at times that the number of elected positions recommended for the Common Council (11) was not sufficient to assure adequate minority representation?…that Reverend Brooks expressed support for council level representation of the African American, Hispanic, and the Gay and Lesbian communities?…that he is correct by virtue of pure demographics that eleven seats only eight of which are ward based would guarantee any special interest group representation in a free election?…that it is typically agreed upon that the make-up of elected bodies of governance function better if these bodies of governance reflect the demographics of the governed?

IS IT TRUE that there was much discussion and even some ridicule at the fact that the lines for proposed voting districts were drawn from the 2000 census as opposed to the 2010 census?…that the “proposed wards” were drawn first to preserve the 6 current city wards and then to give 2 additional seats to the presently unincorporated areas?…that in 2000 that the unincorporated areas made up 30% of the population but were proposed to have only 25% of the geographically designated representation on the Common Council?…that in the 2010 census that the unincorporated county now contains 35% of Vanderburgh County’s population making the proposed ward borders unfair and obsolete?…that for fair and equal representation with 8 wards that roughly 22,000 people would need to be living in each ward?…that if 8 is the number that will be settled on that THREE of these wards will be predominantly based in the currently unincorporated county?…that at the present rates of shrinking by the City of Evansville and growth in Vanderburgh County that by the next census the split may be 4 – 4?…that preserving the 6 Wards of the City of Evansville resulted in clear and deliberate over-representation by the City of Evansville and under-representation by the county?…that plays right into one of the biggest concerns that has been expressed by people of the county?

IS IT TRUE that term limits along with many other widely desirable features according to Becky Kasha were “not even considered” as she said over and over again and also proclaimed that Evansville has not had any dynasties?…that the facts are not so clear with respect to dynasties?…that the facts with respect to the Office of the Mayor in most people’s lives are 52 YEARS, 13 ADMINISTRATIONS, and 4 LAST NAMES?…that history books typically have some last name before the term dynasty?…that while Evansville has not had a lifetime Mayor it has certainly been prone to keeping politics in the family from the Mayor’s office to the City Council, to the make-up of the payroll of the City of Evansville through much of the last 52 years?

IS IT TRUE that Evansville City Council President B. J. Watts uttered the old cliché’ “IF IT AIN’T BROKE DON’T FIX IT”?…that if the truth is told that the City of Evansville is “broke” both figuratively and literally?…that to utter that tired old cliché’ on a day that we were advised to boil our water before consumption, a parent’s letter was published about violence and dilapidation in the parks, and a MORNING SHOOTING occurred just 7 blocks from the Civic Center is just testament to the legacy of obliviousness on the part of City of Evansville governance?…that yes President Watts, the City of Evansville is “broke” and it is in dire need of some “fixin”?…that observing the unanswered questions, the ignored features, the discomfort with the strength that has been granted to the Mayor, and the disagreement on even minor details among the consolidation committee that this plan is not in any shape to do the needed repairs?…that if this effort is to have even a shred of probability to pass it will need to be revisited if not from scratch, close to it?

IS IT TRUE that there was some humor at last night’s meeting?…that Becky Kasha got a few laughs when she and the committee “trusted the voters to do their own term limiting”?…that tax and finance committee chairman architect Ed Hafer got a few chuckles when he said that “one should never ask an architect to help in saving money”?…that the Reverend Adrian Brooks gets the Johnny Cochran “If the glove don’t fit you must acquit” award for clever rhymes for his admonishment to the City Council and the County Commissioners to “allay the fear of the constituency with you creativity”?…that the Reverend Brooks sent a very clear and correct message that more creativity is needed for this to be acceptable and that he did it in a most creative way?