IS IT TRUE? November 30, 2011

IS IT TRUE that today is the last day for City Centre Properties LLC to pay their taxes on the McCurdy Hotel before the agreement that the Evansville Redevelopment Commission extended for 30 days expires?…that the terms of the deal that the ERC offered was that the full financing had to be in place and the taxes had to be kept current?…that the tax part is already violated as the taxes were due on November 10th?…that we expect that if the financing had closed that we would have heard about it by now?…that the CCO will be shocked and amazed if City Centre Properties LLC actually pays their taxes and closes on the financing today?…that it is time to fish or cut bait on this project and that if the ERC has any business acumen whatsoever that next Tuesday they will be officially terminating this agreement and leaving this problem that the Weinzapfel Administration created for the Winnecke Administration to solve?

IS IT TRUE that the same business ineptness that led to the McCurdy debacle is what has the downtown Convention Hotel in a VETTING induced holding pattern?…that there has been sufficient time to VET the finances of Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal since the VETTING process began in August?…that to date no VETTING report has been released to the media regarding the two proposals?…that once again, the only reasonable course of action is for the Weinzapfel Administration to STAND ASIDE AND LET THE WINNECKE ADMINISTRATION clean the mess that they have made?…that we have waited for over 3 years for this celebrated project to start so we can wait a couple of more months?…that there is no reason whatsoever for the Weinzapfel Administration to tie a albatross around the neck of the Winnecke Administration in its last month in power?

IS IT TRUE that as we read and write the printing presses at the Federal Reserve Bank are being run at full speed to flood Europe with US Currency for the purpose of propping up the Euro which has been described as “about to collapse” for a couple of days now?…that there will be two effects to this attempt to save the Euro by printing dollars?…that the stock market has already started to rise based on the news of this action and that is the evening meal of watermelon that will make us all feel good when we look at our 401k statements?…that everyone knows that a meal of watermelon tastes great but will not keep you full for long?…that the other thing that will happen by flooding other countries with cheap dollars will be inflation here at home?…that we can all expect to see an increase in prices on food and energy due to our devalued currency?…that this penalty unlike the watermelon that accompanies it will be lasting?…that the actions of the federal government toward the US dollar are reminiscent of the late 70’s under the Carter Administration?…that President Carter was even lampooned on Saturday Night Live for runaway inflation and a Pollyannaish speech in which he was parodied as saying “inflation is your friend, soon we will all be millionaires”?…that indeed we may?…that it won’t mean anything if a tank of gas is $500, your electric bill is $5,000 per month, and a happy meal is $35?

IS IT TRUE that downtown Detroit is getting a Whole Foods Market?…that the population of downtown Detroit is reported to be just over 73,000?…that Whole Foods was given an incentive of $4.7 Million to build the store?…that the incentive was required because the demographics of downtown Detroit do not justify the investment?

IS IT TRUE that in the midst of the break neck last minute ratification of spending resolution after spending resolution at Monday night’s meeting of the Evansville City Council that something progressive actually happened?…that the City of Evansville passed a resolution that ads sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of things that cannot be discriminated against?…that as the story goes this progressive move came to Evansville about 20 years after it should have but it came none-the-less?…that non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity was seen as good for business long ago in locations that developed creative clusters and needed educated and creative people to prosper?…that all we have been hearing for the last several years is that young educated professionals and the creative class are the key to economic development?…that the places attract such people do indeed seem to have better economic fortunes across all skill groups?…that “brain drain” has been and continues to be an albatross around the neck of Evansville for at least 5 decades?…that educated young professionals who are not in need of such protection from discrimination do not tolerate or often choose to live in places that discriminate and that this resolution will help in the attraction of such people?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer would like to thank and congratulate our City Council for adopting this non-discrimination resolution?…that it is this kind of thought and action that are needed to at least set the stage to not be seen by outsiders as Neanderthals?…that it is encouraging to see the same City Council that just two years ago rejected a stronger smoking ordinance to actually do something progressive?…that we didn’t think that our 8 – 1 Democrat majority even had the potential to pass something that is seen as progressive?…that it is widely expected that next year will be the year that a smoking ban will finally come to Evansville roughly 30 years after it was passed in leading edge cities?…that it is better late than never?…that as a smoking gay friend was told yesterday “the same progressive mindset that passes non-discrimination laws is the mind that will ban your addiction, you can’t have it both ways, congratulations and put those cigarettes away”?

IS IT TRUE that there are those among us who are trying to minimize the relevance of the recent study that examined the effectiveness of consolidated government that concluded that Louisville did not increase economic development or make government more efficient by consolidation?…that to minimize the conclusion of an actual study and to dismiss real studies from other places is as they say NONSENSE?…that the results from Louisville and the lessons learned from Louisville’s mistakes in consolidation are where the opportunities to do a better job here will be found?…that to stick ones head in the Vanderburgh County mud and fail to look 100 miles to the east for guidance is the very definition of NONSENSE?…that Louisville sold its consolidation plan to its citizens very much on the basis of efficiency of government and economic development?…that the Evansville supporters are using the exact same sales pitch?…that to do substantially the same thing the Louisville did and to expect different results in NONSENSE?…that if Evansville and Vanderburgh are to consolidate that it should be on the basis of real and tangible efficiencies and on real and tangible evidence that the SALES PITCH makes sense?…that to go forward with a “trust the government” sales pitch and minimal tangible reason is NONSENSE?…that failing to even acknowledge the results of others as relevant is the kind of NONSENSE that has lead Evansville down a path of shrinking population, dropping incomes, brain drain, litter, and lack of opportunities?…that thinking that doing the same things as we have been for 50 years with different lines drawn on a map is also NONSENSE?

IS IT TRUE that by taking progressive actions, crafting a consolidation plan that is significantly accretive to both the city and county from day one, and selling that plan on its merits as opposed to the theory of consolidation is INTELLIGENT?…that to avoid such intelligence is NONSENSE?

IS IT TRUE that last night’s meeting of the Evansville City Council devolved into a lame duck spending approval festival of what may be epic proportion?…that one spending proposal after another was put up by Tom Barnett the Director of Metropolitan Development for projects of all sizes?…that there was a $100,000 deal for Mike Martin to do a refurbishment on the Euclid Apartments, a $250,000 deal to do roof work at the Old Post Office, mention of another $1 Million that ”may” be required at the Old Post Office if a certain but unnamed “federal” tenant decides to come in?…that the $1 Million could come from the Evansville Redevelopment Commission but the City Council has to approve it so “CHOP CHOP” let’s get this all authorized before power is transferred to the Winnecke Administration and hopefully someone will be watching the cash register?

IS IT TRUE that the there were three members of the City Council, namely Councilmen John and Watts along with Councilwoman Mosby that took turns making the motion, seconding it, and calling for votes faster that anyone could possibly write?…that countless spending and refinancing resolutions were jammed through along with a liquor license and a name change for a street with military precision?…that it all flew right through with 8 – 0 approvals?…that Councilman John Friend, CPA who often asks the tough financial question was across the street WHERE THE REST OF THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE BEEN at the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission was having a hearing about a Vectren fee increase?…that it really seemed as though the rule of the night was spend it all now while oversight is across the street and four weeks before we are out of power was how last night was?…that it will be interesting to get a copy of the minutes and add up just how much last minute spending was jammed through?

IS IT TRUE that if these guys want to hurry up and do something productive that the CCO suggests that they do some last minute clean up of the RUBBLE PILE at 600 E. Franklin that is still both an eyesore and a health hazard?…that would take work and has little opportunity for crony deals so it falls under the category of something that can be left for the Winnecke Administration?

IS IT TRUE that as consolidation is a hot local topic of the next year that it merits looking at what is going on in the European Union right now?…that there is legitimate concern that the currency known as the Euro could come under serious pressure?…that there are serious discussions going on with respect to consolidation of the finances of the European Union for the purpose of saving the currency, stabilizing the debt markets, and bailing out the most egregious offenders (Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and maybe others) of time honored financial management?…that what is going on in Europe right now is an example of the strong and responsible bailing out the weak and irresponsible with little of no consequence for the irresponsible?…that is not all that different than what is being contemplated right here in Evansville and Vanderburgh County?

IS IT TRUE that another example of what can happen when the federal government steps into the business world is playing itself out with President Obama’s favorite car, the Chevy Volt?…that sales are slower than expected and that there are allegedly problems with the battery packs?…that expecting people to pony up for a $40,000 car that only has commuting range during a recession is not a wise business decision?…that prematurely releasing a vehicle that develops battery problems that could have been tested for also reeks of government in the boardroom syndrome?