IS IT TRUE? July 16, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the question has been bantered about for the past few days about just who owns Aztar?…that there has even been a rumor put forth that Mayor Weinzapfel’s old nemesis William Yung III may be the money behind some of the proposals being put together in response to the RFP to build a new Convention Hotel where the ROCK PILE is?…that there has even been speculation that Mr. Yung may be doing this to have a full blown monopoly on hotel rooms in downtown Evansville?…that the only way for that to have any legs is for Mr. Yung and his company Columbia Sussex to still own the Aztar Complex?…that we then embarked upon a mission to find out just exactly who owns Aztar?

IS IT TRUE that our search led us to a company that is named Tropicana Entertainment Inc. that is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada?…that this business also owns casino complexes in Louisiana, New Jersey, Nevada, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Aruba?…that on March 31, 2011 that Tropicana Entertainment Inc. filed a Form 10-Q with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission which is a quarterly report required under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934?…that Tropicana Entertainment Inc. is a Delaware corporation with its federal employer ID # 27-0540158?…that TEI was formed on May 11, 2009 to essentially acquire and consolidate the operations of a host of businesses that were the subjects of litigation?…that buried in one of those business was Evansville’s Casino Aztar?…that Carl C. Icahn, Chairman of our Board of Directors, became the beneficial owner of approximately 47.5% of the Company’s Common Stock. Subsequent to March 8, 2010, Mr. Icahn increased his ownership and on November 15, 2010, affiliates of Carl C. Icahn became the beneficial owners of approximately 51.5% of the Company’s Common Stock?

IS IT TRUE that this 10-Q is a very detailed document that we have scanned for the names William Yung III and Columbia Sussex?…that neither name showed up in the 10-Q?…that we therefore conclude that Mr. Yung no longer holds a controlling interest in Evansville’s Casino Aztar?…that the name of the man who does own a controlling interest in the Aztar Complex is none other than that legendary financier and sometimes corporate raider Carl Celian Icahn?…that as of March 31, 2011, funds managed by Carl Icahn at Icahn Capital Management were valued at $6.24 billion?

IS IT TRUE that this is the kind of person that we should welcome to Evansville?…that if Mr. Icahn were to take an interest in Evansville’s potential as a incubator of commercial success that our much publicized vacuum of venture capital could be solved immediately?…that while it is fun and games for some people to demonize the rich that it is only the rich and super rich that have the capacity to put together the kind of investment funds needed to fuel the dreams and successes of entrepreneurs?…that this is one area of our economy where the judgment of governments is neither wanted nor needed?

IS IT TRUE that the rumor mongering about Mr. William Yung III being the money behind some proposal to build a hotel does indeed have some very small probability for truth?…that Mr. Yung and Columbia Sussex do indeed own and operate a large portfolio of hotel properties of the 3-Star and above type?…that they are familiar with the Evansville market and are only headquartered about 3 hours away?…that stranger things have happened in this whole Executive Inn Dilemma?…that we shall all know the sources of the funding IF and only IF our esteemed Evansville Redevelopment Commission and our Evansville City Council puts together a competent VETTING procedure and a team of people that actually have the ability to follow that procedure without letting politics corrupt the VETTING PROCESS?

A link to the entire 10-Q of Tropicana Entertainment Inc.

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1476246/000104746911004644/a2203844z10-q.htm

Hiatus Inspired Declaration of Emergency

Three days after walking off of the job at the Rock Pile that was the Executive Inn, Klenck Construction has been hired by Mayor Weinzapfel and the City of Evansville to finish the job. Both parties anticipate that a contract agreement can be reached on Monday and approved at the next meeting of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission on Tuesday. The certainty that the full taxing authority of the City of Evansville is backing the forthcoming contract was enough to get Klenck to agree to return to the Rock Pile. It is estimated that he remainder of the removal of the rubble will take about 3 weeks of work.

Take That: July 15, 2011

IN RESPONSE TO: Big Rock Emergency Warning

“Myself, I think the CCO is doing a great service to the community, it’s needed and welcomed by most thinking people to have the CCO around keeping the pot stirred up, and apparently the city council has at lest one member who has the same sentiment. I do wish someone from the ERC would speak up, but I doubt that will ever happen, they would seem to be part of the same “Ole Boys Club” that has plagued our city for a great number of years.” Blanger

“It’s time for picketing of the Civic Center demanding transparency, end to cronyism and back-door deals, proper vetting procedures, etc… etc…” Big Pappa

“if a large unmoving but unsightly pile of rocks is an emergency, what about the landslides along the river in Newburgh?” Henry

“So, you seem to know lots of things about how government works. What are your thoughts on patronage and nepotism? Both of those things influence votes.” Mister Bill

“Keep up the good news CCO, your format seems to have a viability that soon2b cannot grasp, but the proof is in the pudding, and the Numbers show CCO is doing something right.” Crash larue

“Whining to the CCO about “negativity” only tells us that the complainer is deeply committed to supporting the corrupt agenda of the Democratic Party. Furthermore, they demand that the CCO follow the lead of the Courier by ignoring Whineyzappel’s one million dollar campaign fund, and all of the under-the-table deals he has made with corrupt businesses.
All of this amounts to an acceleration in the implosion of Evansville as a decent place to live. So if you would prefer to shove your head in the sand and permanently keep it there, be my freaking guest, but don’ be surprised in what you see when you come back up for air!” Dr. John Not the Night Tripper

IN REPSONSE TO: Evansville’s Catch 22: What a Non-Difference a Year Has Made

“nice to read a common sense article about the new hotel rather than some of the garbage and comments that were written last week.” Paul Elpers

“The more things change the more they remain the same.” Don Counts

“The most underwater thing that has ever been built downtown is the new Arena. If the city put up a for sale sign on that $127M and counting investment of public dollars, it would be sold at a minimum of a $100 Million loss. Compared to the Arena the hotel at 50% underwater is a steal. I seriously do not believe that any project in downtown Evansville is worth the construction cost to make it happen in the free market.” TheDonald

The University of Southern Indiana’s Alumni Association invites alumni, employees, students, and friends of USI to USI Night with the Otters Saturday, July 30, at Bosse Field.

Evansville’s Frontier League baseball team the Evansville Otters will play the River City Rascals at 6:35 p.m. that evening. The USI Alumni Association will have a picnic from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Left Field Tent with hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, and soda.

Tickets are $13 for adults and $6.50 for children ages 6 to 8. Children under 5 years old will be admitted free. The cost includes a reserved seat ticket and picnic.

Click here to reserve your USI night with the Otters tickets. Reservations are required by Monday, July 25. Pick up reserved tickets on July 30 at the USI table located at Bosse Field’s left gate entrance.

If you need disability-related accommodations contact Nancy Johnson at 812/464-1924.

Evansville, IN – Interested in checking out the latest electronic gadgets without a sales pitch? On Monday, July 18th from 3:00 to 8:30 pm, Best Buy will be at Central Library with a variety of devices, like laptops, smartphones, digital cameras, eReaders, and more. Customers are invited to stop by the Browning Events Room to explore products and ask questions. Whether you’re thinking of purchasing a new device or already have one and need tips on operating it, Gizmos & Gadgets will help guide you through the many hi-tech options available today.

For more information about this program, customers may call 428-8246.

Click Here to download the Safety Board Minutes from 7/13/2011

8% annual spending increases and maintenance practices questioned

In a letter secured by the City County Observer through anonymous sources, City Councilman John Friend questions Chief Information Officer Matt Arvay regarding the overall information technology solutions implemented by the City of Evansville. In his letter Councilman Friend not only questions the decisions to choose specific hardware suppliers but lets him know that the service levels within the Civic Center are a source of complaints. All of this comes on the heels of a week where the Evansville region was cited for poor internet speed in a “Competitive Realities” report released by the Southwest Indiana Coalition for Economic Development. In that study Evansville was ranked as 368th out of 370 metro areas nationwide for speed of internet connection.

Councilman Friend’s letter which is included below furthermore advised CIO Arvay that the upcoming budget hearings will be difficult and that every economy will be explored. Friend specifically questions the planning process, the no-bid contracts practices, the investments in the arena and what budget should cover them, the failure to release plans, and the minimal use of customer satisfaction surveys.

The entire letter from Councilman Friend to Mr. Arvay is below.

Matt,

I have been surveying our service levels in the civic center and other locations and have discovered the following problems and concerns. We have been dedicating millions of dollars each and every year at a compounded rate of over 8% growth in your department. This rate of growth can not continue under the budget constraints at will be upon us. We will have to do more with less. For instances, as we previously discussed concerning Cisco Switches, USI dropped
Cisco and chose Junnifer, saving $1,000,000. And please don’t tell me, we are installing a Cisco 7613 switch in the Arena. As you know, this technology can provide connectivity for the entire City of Evansville.

Questions that have been asked around at the civic center and by local companies are;

1. Why does this department not involve other departments or the technology advice committee in the planning process?

2. Just how many contracts and for how much money total does the city pay to the private company that runs most of the computer department through BPW, the arena, the water utility and other departments?

3. Why was the private company given a new multi-million dollar contract bythe city and county without going out for bid? In this economy a better price could have possibly been negotiated and at the least a review of the private company’s financial statements during the bid process could have verified that only an acceptable profit was being made from these contracts (and possibly explain the new luxury vehicles, estate and airplane of the owner). Wouldn’t it also have been good to allow local companies to try for this instead of just giving it to an out of town company for whatever reason?

4. Why is the yearly plan (if there is such a thing) for this department not shared with the other departments and why do the departments not have a say in this plan?

5. Why is the long term plan (if there is such a thing) for this department not shared with the other departments and why do the departments not have a say in this plan?

6. Why has only 1 satisfaction survey been conducted to grade the private company’s performance? The previous company ACS did them annually.

7. Why is the budget for the computer department not broken out in the overall city budget that is published on the city’s website? Is it hidden in another department budget so that it can’t be monitored to verify that what is spent was what was planned?

In summary, the users of our IT have NOT be pleased with the overall service levels and procedural issues. For example, we have a down situation, MRC doesn’t come in on Sunday evening to resolve the problem, but, resolves on Monday mornings; thus, the service to our citizens and personnel efficiencies are obviously impacted.

As you know, our budget hearings are coming quickly and this will be addressed.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks, John

IS IT TRUE that just as the City County Observer has been reporting for two weeks now it appears as though there will be two and only two bidders on the RPF that was issued by the Evansville Redevelopment Commission to build a new downtown Convention Hotel where the two ROCK PILES are currently sitting behind the new Arena in Downtown Evansville?…that one company that is planning to bid is the Kunkel Group and that the other is an newly formed business called Prime Lodging and is headed by Chris Verville who like Kunkel was peripherally involved with Woodruff Hospitality LLC?…that just as the CCO predicted, no business that is not already familiar with the project has come forward with any intention to respond to the RFP?

IS IT TRUE that the former American General a wholly owned subsidiary of AIG that was acquired by a private equity group and renamed Springleaf has quietly had a layoff?…that 65 Evansville based employees have been let go during the last couple of days?…that we hope to see these employees find new jobs very soon?…that the newly attracted SS&C that is readying the 3rd floor of the Innovation Pointe Building for occupancy may be a great place for these people to submit applications?…that as we recall, the press releases from GAGE and Mayor Weinzapfel boasted that SS&C would be hiring up to 500 people in the next few years?…that this is an opportunity for them to get a head start on that hiring and prove the optimistic press releases to be correct?

IS IT TRUE that in the Competitive Realities study that was released by the Southwest Indiana Coalition for Economic Development last week that one of the areas in which Evansville was chided for being short on was in dollars to spend on marketing this region to the outside world?…that the words used were something along the line of dreadfully under the budgets that comparable cities have for that task?…that this writer has some experience with such budgets?…that the marketing budget that the Coalition has to tell the world what this region has to offer is less than one-tenth (10%) of what some other comparable places spend on that most important task?…that SCROUNGER BUDGETS in the economic development field when compared to competing cities have been the norm here for years and it shows?…that the public budget will have to provide unemployment, training, interview coaching, etc. to the unfortunate 65 people that the former AIG laid off this week will exceed the budget for marketing this area to the world by many times?…that we are once again penny wise and pound foolish?

IS IT TRUE that the City of Los Angeles has been considering spending $300 Million of public money to assist in constructing a $1 Billion football stadium to attract an NFL franchise to town?…that Los Angeles has not had a team in well over 10 years and that the economy of the city has not missed a beat from the absence?…that both the Raiders (now from Oakland) and the Rams (now from St. Louis) both tried to shake the City of Los Angeles down for money back in the 90’s?…that both were unsuccessful and ended up following through on their threat to leave town?…that both Oakland and St. Louis have had some very public money troubles for caving in to these shake down techniques and “buying” teams?…that the City of Los Angeles after learning of the travails of Hamilton County, Ohio has put their plans on hold for a later date?

IS IT TRUE as was pointed out in the City County Observer this week that subsidizing professional sports stadiums with public money is reverse redistribution of income?…that doing what some cities do by heavily subsidizing temples to sports do is simply taking money from productive middle class taxpayers and giving it to ballplayers and team owners?…taking from those who work and giving to those who play ball for a living would have the founders of the United States turning over in their graves?

No Date of Commitment to Respond included in Letter

The City of Evansville Department of Metropolitan Development responded to the Freedom of Information Act request filed by the City County Observer on behalf of Evansville City Councilman John Friend in a matter of hours. The response letter does not commit to a specific date by which the requested information will be made available was not a part of the letter. The requirement for compliance with the FOIA laws is 20 business days which will be Thursday August 11th. The full text of the letter is as follows:

July 14, 2011

Joe Wallace, Editor
City County Observer
218 Rosemarie Court
Evansville IN 47715

Re: Public Records Request

Dear Mr. Wallace:

The Department of Metropolitan Development received your written request on 7/14/2011 requesting access to and copies of any contracts, agreements, and correspondence between Old National Bank and the Evansville Redevelopment Commission/City of Evansville Pertaining to the insurance advice, policies, or discussion for the new Evansville Arena.

This response to your written request is made pursuant to Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act, I.C.5-14-3 et seq. The Department may have records that are responsive to your request and is in the process of retrieving and reviewing the necessary files. A response will be provided to advise you of the Department’s findings. Pursuant to I.C.5-14-3-8, a fee for copying any records in response to your request may be charged by the Department and payment of such costs must be made prior to releasing copies of public records.

Sincerely,

Shannon Begeman
Keeper of the Records