IS IT TRUE: Part 2 August 29, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the gasoline prices in Evansville last weekend went particularly out of sight when compared with what was being charged in Kentucky?…that Evansville gas magically jumped up in price by roughly 30 cents per gallon to $3.79 in the middle of last week?…that just across the bridge in Henderson the price on Saturday was as always which is 10 cents less that it is in Evansville?…that a longer trip into the Commonwealth of Kentucky yielded an even greater differential?…that in Madisonville, KY and points south that the price of gas was only $3.49 on Saturday?…that either the people of Evansville got hosed by the stations because the Frog Follies was in town or we have another case of being fast to respond to upward price pressure but very slow to respond to dropping commodity prices?

IS IT TRUE that one or our readers has supplied us with a response they received from Indiana Senator Jim Tomes to a recent inquiry about how the state government may be able to represent the people of Indiana regarding the excessive pricing of electricity by Vectren?…that the text of that response is as follows?

“Your thoughts and opinions are an important part of the legislative process and I respect your comments. I understand your feelings very well. During the last legislative session (which was my first session), the lobbyist for Vectren came into my office to make introductions. I spoke very direct to them. I explained that I understand their situation with federal government mandates that imposes more cost on them to comply with more emission controls. However, I pointed out that my first concern is the ratepayers and the folks who are struggling, deciding whether to pay their electric bills or buy groceries. There is a lot more to all of this than what was in the newspaper article. I will always do my best to keep the citizens’ interest first in line. If I may ever be of assistance to you, please feel free to contact me. Sincerely, Jim Tomes State Senator 200 West Washington Street Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 232-9489 senator.tomes@iga.in.gov”

IS IT TRUE that as long as big business pays people to go into the offices of our legislatures and our legislators receive them, governmental will continue to defer to big business?…that Vectren is but one of many companies that employs lobbyists to pester elected officials to do what they want them to when it comes to a rate increase?…that most private businesses that employ lobbyist actually have to compete in free markets?…that the free market for electricity in SW Indiana does not exist?…that the former USSR was about as free of a market as we have here when it comes to electricity?…monopolies that are granted by the state would make Karl Marx proud but have no business engaging in advertising or lobbying?…that all of those dollars spent on billboards, advertising, sponsorships, and LOBBYING are really paid for by the ratepayers money?…that government granted monopolies seem to act very much like governments and that is something that we already have enough of?

IS IT TRUE that the only local elected official that seems willing to even question Vectren on behalf of the people of SW Indiana is State Representative Gail Riecken who is currently doing speeches at civic meetings to advise citizens of their rights when it comes to questioning their utility bills?

IS IT TRUE that we are cautiously relieved about how the hurricane was handled as it made its way up the Atlantic coast?…that it seems as though the advanced planning and warnings along with evacuations were handled about as good as they could have been?…that the Mayor of New York City, Mr. Michael Bloomberg did a particularly masterful job of constant communication as did New Jersey Governor Chris Christie?…that Mayor Bloomberg was particularly animated when speaking about the two idiots who paddled out into the New York harbor in kayaks?…that these fools of course capsized and were saved by a first responder boat that risked their own lives to save these fools bacon?…that both of these idiots were cited legally for their kayak ride?

IS IT TRUE that the east coast and parts near are not out of the woods yet?…that there is a dam in New York state that is weakened and is teetering on breach?…that this takes our memory back to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina where the breach of a levy started that whole mess that made our country look inadequate in responding to a natural disaster?…that with up to date and adequate infrastructure that the aftermath of Katrina would have been much less disastrous?…that if this dam in New York breaks even though it is in a lightly populated area that it could have some rather nasty repercussions?…that it seems as though the entire nation including Evansville is inadequate when it comes to maintenance of infrastructure or even parks?…that the same mentality that smiles and bobs its head approvingly at the prospect of spending $18 Million on 8 ballfields when the other 50+ ballfields are not even being mowed is pretty much a throwaway mentality?…that such ways of doing business do not work in Evansville nor do they work anywhere else?

IS IT TRUE that yesterday’s IS IT TRUE regarding the question of what is a “Mainstream Democrat” got us quite a few responses?…that it is pretty universal among the readers of the City County Observer that the one thing that Evansville “Mainstream Democrats” really do not have a grasp of is what a “Mainstream Democrat” is?…that there are plenty of registered democrats in Evansville and its surrounding cities that would be classified as RIGHT WING REPUBLICANS if they were given a questionnaire?…that the old saying of “to thine own self be true”, doesn’t seem to be followed within local “Mainstream Democrats”?

IS IT TRUE that the Mole Nation (meaning more than 5 moles) is telling us that some devout “Mainstream Democrats” are planning a fund raising event for the Republican candidate for Mayor of Evansville?…that we wonder if this event if it is actually held will be sanctioned by or attended by any of Evansville’s “Mainstream Republicans”?…that this place gets more interesting every day?

IS IT TRUE that crossing party lines is a healthy exercise in the electoral process?…that rather than “Mainstream Anything” what this city, state and nation really needs are people who think before they vote and have the capacity to make decisions based on something more than sound bites and appealing physical features?…that for once the City County Observer hopes that the Evansville City Council will have balance and cognitive thinking ability so that our next mayor is made better by the City Council as opposed to just telling them what to do?

IS IT TRUE: PART 2 August 28, 2011 “A Brick has an IQ of ZERO”

IS IT TRUE that the team of professionals lead by Mr. Mike Alley that took on the Herculean task of trying to rescue Integra Bank should be thanked and admired for their efforts even though Integra ultimately was taken over by the FDIC?…that this team could have taken the path of least resistance as humans routinely do and just found other jobs or even gone to the beach 2 years ago when this challenge crossed their paths?…that taking the easy road and never taking risks are par for the course in the Midwest and are among the biggest contributors to brain drain, shrinking population, and abandoned neighborhoods?…that for taking on this task, disrupting their own lives to pursue a noble but difficult effort, and for sticking it out until the end that the City County Observer salutes this fine group of professionals and wishes them well in the future?…that we hope their future is right here in Evansville as the value added and lessons learned from the Integra experience may have made them one of the best teams to handle future financial calamities available?…that one only improves by taking on the difficult or impossible task as opposed to sitting comfortably at the helm of a ship in a safe harbor?

IS IT TRUE that it seems as though that Evansville and every village in driving distance has been opening new and beautiful centers that are dedicated to entrepreneurship and training?…that has been over $100 Million invested in bricks, steel, and mortar over the last several years in hopes that these carefully placed inanimate objects will somehow become the catalyst through which economic transformation will occur?…that bricks, mortar, steel, wood, and other things like that have never ever transformed anything?…that once upon a time in Arizona a city called Lake Havasu they reconstructed the London Bridge in the desert in hopes of becoming a tourist attraction?…that they even built English Pubs and invested in places that sold fish and chips?..that Havasu City after all of these years is still not London and that it was the lake that attracted visitors before the London Bridge and after the London Bridge?…that on my last visit the Pub was closed and the fish and chips place was selling snow cones but the lake was still beautiful and the wave runners were still great fun?…that the stones of London Bridge were a flash in the pan?

IS IT TRUE that there are places in America that are consistently churning out entrepreneurs and the companies that they found that transform places and the way that we live?…that most (no all) of these places have active and vital sources of venture capital?…that all of these places have atmospheres that encourage risk taking and even reward failure when that failure was from taking on a monumental task?…that most entrepreneurial success in such places always seems to start in a garage or a dorm room as Apple, HP, Dell, Google, Facebook, and LinkedIn all did?…that each and every entrepreneurial business that has transformed the way people live has been about the spirit of the dreams of these entrepreneurs and their willingness and ability to “go for it”?…that the vital ingredients to such success are not bricks, mortar, or even a cool décor?…that critical business infrastructure like internet speed, availability of professional talent, access to capital, and a desirable lifestyle are what matters?…that all bricks have the same IQ and that is zero?

IS IT TRUE that one can reproduce Harvard University brick by brick and stone by stone on the banks of the Ohio River and it will do absolutely nothing unless the people, the intellectual curiosity, and the atmosphere can be reproduced?…that unless the professors, the staff, the “je ne sais quoi”, and the students that make Harvard what it is can be attracted that the bricks and stones will do nothing but look pretty and grow moss?…that bricks and stones are more expensive than talent?…that one can only wonder what could happen in a place like Evansville if several hundred million dollars were committed to doing what really matters in the economic transformational process?

IS IT TRUE that those persons who wish to attend this political action committee fundraiser are asked to respond directly to Lauren Jones, the wife of City ofthe Evansville City Attorney, at the Jones law firm? …that the City Attorney’s law firm has received rental income from the City of Evansville for the last 7 plus years? IS IT TRUE that none of the funds raised by this political event to be held on September 8th will go to Democratic Mayoral candidate Rick Davis’campaign? …we are interested for Mr. Jones to give us a legal opinion on what constitutes one being considered a “Mainstream Democrat”?

IS IT TRUE if Rick Davis is elected Mayor of Evansville, attorney David Jones’ days of doing legal work for the City of Evansville will be over? …that Mr. David Jones’ newly organized political group (“Main Stream Democrats”) will prove to be a major boost to the Davis for Mayor campaign because the majority of City employees, Fire Fighters and Police officers hold the City of Evansville Attorney in low regard?

IS IT TRUE that a real true to life liberal “Mainstream Democrat” is Pro Choice?… a real true to life liberal “Mainstream Democrat” would never pass up an opportunity to enact a comprehensive smoking ban?…a real true to life liberal “Mainstream Democrat” supports expanding the powers of government?… a real true to life liberal “Mainstream Democrat” is on board with the redistribution of wealth and earnings?… a real true to life liberal “Mainstream Democrat” would even consider holding closed door meetings to concoct schemes to subvert the will of the people?… a real true to life liberal “Mainstream Democrat” would never use SNEGAL but clever tactics to circumvent the referendum process for a massive public spending project?…that this list could take up the whole column?

IS IT TRUE that given the voting record and stated positions on national issues of the supposed “Mainstream Democrats” that this fundraiser is referring to, that we wonder if the organizers of this event would recognize a real “Mainstream Democrat” if one was sitting in their living room?…that while Evansville has been “RULED” by people who are members of the Democratic Party for nearly all of the last 60 years, it is obvious by examining the ideological tenants of the National Democratic Party that the registered Democrats that have “RULED” Evansville have not really embraced the ideology of the Democratic Party at all?

IS IT TRUE that in the context of this fundraiser that the term “Mainstream Democrat” simply means registered Democrats running for office who are loyal to the Weinzapfel administration.

IS IT TRUE the all eyes of the alleged “non-stream” Democrats are on 1st Ward City Councilmen Dan McGinn’s call for Mr. Jones to make public all the monies he and his Associates have receive from all sources for doing legal work for the City of Evansville this year and last year? …that Councilman McGinn has asked the City Controller provide him with this information for almost a year now? …that we hear Councilman McGinn will be meeting with the Evansville City Controller this week to get answers on his questions about the total legal income Mr. Jones and his Associates have received from City controlled boards, insurance liabilities fund, par-legal expenses for work done for the City of Evansville “Housing Court”, water and Sewer funds, etc.? …we hope that Councilman McGinn will keep his word by making public all the legal expense information with respect to Mr. Jones and his Associates on behalf of the City of Evansville for 2010 and 2011?

Click on Invitation to Enlarge and see just who the so called “mainstream democrats” are.

IS IT TRUE: Part 2 August 27, 2011

IS IT TRUE that Mole #7 tells us that VenuWorks has hired a relative of University of Evansville athletic director John Stanley?…that this relative will be relocating back to Evansville from Florida to work for VenuWorks?…that attracting an educated professional to Evansville is a good thing but that VenuWorks hiring a relative of one of their biggest tenants makes one go hmmmmm?…that we wish this person good fortune and success but wish that there were less things happening with nearly everything the City of Evansville touches that make one go hmmmmm?

IS IT TRUE sometime in September the Evansville Redevelopment Commission will have to start coming to grips with the reality of the financial situation with the McCurdy Hotel?…that the contract between the ERC and Centre City Properties is not extended nor has it been rescinded?…that some would describe the state of the agreement, the ERC, and CCP as in “limbo” or parked in purgatory?…that sooner or later push will come to shove and a decision will need to be made?…that the meltdown scenario that could be accelerated by rescinding the agreement will not be pretty?…that we bet this can will be kicked down the road perpetually unless of course Centre City Properties decides to just punt?

IS IT TRUE that the meltdown scenario at the McCurdy is one in which the financing to proceed with all of the refurbishment work is never secured and that CCP decides to hand the keys to the property over to the first mortgage holder 5th 3rd Bank?…that banks in general do not wish to own real estate?…that in such an event that 5th 3rd will most likely liquidate the McCurdy Hotel for whatever the market will bear?…that unless the market would bear an amount that has net proceeds in excess of $1,663,862 that the City of Evansville will lose all of their investment of $1,403,000 and will not have anything at all to show for it?…that this scenario is a driving factor in not wanting to rescind the agreement with CCP as was done with Woodruff Hospitality LLC when they were unable to find financing in a timely manner?

IS IT TRUE that it has now been 1,581 days since the announcement was made on May 14, 2007 that the McCurdy Hotel was to be refurbished into luxury apartments?…that it has now been 1,434 days since the Evansville Redevelopment Commission at the request of Mayor Weinzapfel approved the spending of $603,000 to purchase the parking lot?…that City Centre Properties and Scott Kosene the developers of the McCurdy project are both listed as contributors to the Weinzapfel for Mayor committee for 2010?

IS IT TRUE that in a short 71 days we will all know whether it will be Lloyd Winnecke or Rick Davis who will become the Mayor that will assume responsibility for executing the decisions that are playing out right now?…that that there are 124 days remaining in the Weinzapfel Administration?

IS IT TRUE that there are now 428 days remaining in the two years that the EPA had given the City of Evansville to present an acceptable solution to the Combined Sewer Overflow problem?…..that this plan is an expensive and complex endeavor that needs immediate attention to avoid the embarrassment and expense of another round of fines?