IS IT TRUE? December 3, 2011

IS IT TRUE that on Tuesday December 6th, 2011 at 8:30 am on the 3rd floor of the Civic Center that the Evansville Redevelopment Commission has finally put it on their schedule to take up the issues of the downtown Convention Hotel and the McCurdy debacle in a public meeting?…that the downtown Hotel Project is being accorded a vote in the meeting under the heading of, “11-ERC-99 – Resolution Concerning the Downtown Hotel Project”?…that this really sound official and that it could even hint that some decision is about to be announced?…that this resolution should be available for public discussion and for discussion by the Evansville City Council if there is any decision regarding TAXPAYER DOLLARS being pondered?…that any decision that comes without the full and unqualified recommendation of Hunden Strategic Partners with public disclosure of the Hunden report will be irresponsible and should be reversed by the Winnecke Administration?…that if a choice is made and a contract is let that the only acceptable way for this to happen is for a full VETTING study including the finances, the pro-forma, and the construction cost analysis accompanies the contract?

IS IT TRUE that the McCurdy debacle only merits and update and that no resolution is on the table at this time?…that the McCurdy Hotel continues to sit there with its tattered awnings flapping in the breeze, its established pigeon and bat colonies intact, and its real estate taxes unpaid?…that those who would argue that another extension should be granted to City Centre Properties LLC because they are still one signature away after 4 failed extensions fail to realize that any other interested parties are frozen out by the contract that keeps being extended?…that if the contract is terminated and if City Centre Properties LLC goes on with securing the financing that they can always come back to the table if and we do mean if they ever secure the money?…that washing them out does not mean throwing them out?…that it is time for this decrepit and tarnished contract to be terminated and for the McCurdy saga to start anew?

IS IT TRUE that the other notable things on the ERC agenda are all spend, spend, and more spend resolutions?…that there are six resolutions being voted on all of which are to authorize spending for one thing or another?…that all of the spending is in either the downtown or the Art’s District?…that it sometimes seems like the only parts of Evansville that are acknowledged as part of Evansville are the downtown and the Art’s District?…that if these things were so darn pressing that the Weinzapfel Administration and this ERC have had 7 years and 11 months to have done them so shoving all of this through in the last minute looks like either last minute gluttony or deeds ignored for 7 years?…that these kind of actions for whatever reason do not reflect well on the outgoing administration?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer is planning on having at least one representative at the ERC meeting next week but that it shall not be Mr. Joe Wallace who will be back in California again on Tuesday?…that he wishes Evansville good weather for the week, good judgment with respect to these issues, and will be recording the Thursday segment of Les Shively Show on WGBF 1280 am prior to departing?

IS IT TRUE? December 2, 2011

IS IT TRUE that there are actions that are expected and appropriate in the last days of any administration and that enjoying the last 30 days in power without the burden of dealing with big financial decisions is a perfect way for the Weinzapfel Administration to wind down?…that just yesterday Mayor Weinzapfel enjoyed the beautiful December day assisting with the planting of some Canadian Red Cherry Trees that were a gift to the City of Evansville from the Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee?…that Mayor Weinzapfel truly has been an advocate for beautification projects on the riverfront and that this activity is a great way for him to have spent yesterday?

IS IT TRUE that tribute parties by political friends is also a nice activity for outgoing member of any administration especially during the holidays?…that Old National Bank president Bob Jones hosted a going away party for Mayor Weinzapfel at the Evansville Country Club recently that was attended by Niel Ellerbrook and Ron Christian of Vectren, Ron Romain, Wayne Henning, elected officials Joe Kiefer, Marsha Abell, John Friend, and Missy Mosby, Judge and Rose Young, Alan Braun of Industrial Contractors, Mayor Elect Lloyd Winnecke and his wife Carol McLintock, Ed Hafer, Kathy Kleindorfer, Sara Miller and James Sandgren of ONB, along with other local luminaries and consultants who wished to give Mayor Weinzapfel a memorable farewell?…that parties like these are time well spent for an administration that is nearing its last day?

IS IT TRUE that we are sure that there will be more parties coming for Mayor Weinzapfel that may be hosted by his department heads, his staff, or even the Evansville City Council?…that we encourage lots of parties for the month of December?

IS IT TRUE that every hour spent planting trees, visiting schools, watching Christmas Parades, or attending parties is an hour that is not available to be used advocating for spending every available dollar in the coffers of the City of Evansville?…that the City County Observer wishes Mayor Weinzapfel well in the future and hopes that he enjoys his last 29 days in office without burdening himself with any pressure to sign a deal for a new downtown Convention Hotel or to jam through any special goodies for the McCurdy project, the Art’s District, or Front Door Pride?…that these programs are all in as good of shape as they can be (not to be confused with acceptable) to hand over to the Winnecke Administration?

IS IT TRUE that people seem to be coming out of the woodwork offering their services to the incoming Winnecke Administration?…that the latest to surface as the CCO predicted is former Evansville Mayor Russ Lloyd Jr. who has submitted his name for consideration as the City Controller?…that such a job is right in line with his skill set and that candidates like Russ Lloyd are a bright spot forming for the Winnecke Administration?…that lines are also forming in hopes of being appointed to the Vanderburgh County Commissioner’s seat that Mayor Elect Winnecke will be vacating?…that there are even people asking about the Vanderburgh County Council seat that is rumored to be vacated if Joe Kiefer gets his Christmas wish of moving into a Commissioners place?…that the CCO truly hopes that 2012 will be the start of something good and that all of this jockeying for positions is not just shuffling the chairs on the deck of the Titanic?

IS IT TRUE that to the surprise of many City of Evansville employees the lady who was second in command to Knight Township Trustee Linda Durham has been hired by the City of Evansville?…that many insiders are buzzing about this last minute hire with people coming down both against and in favor of this person?…that a recent call to the City Garage was answered by this lady?

IS IT TRUE? December 2, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the readers of the City County Observer have voted by a 25 to 1 margin to express the opinion that the Evansville Redevelopment Commission and the Weinzapfel Administration should formally end the agreement with City Centre Properties LLC for the refurbishment of the McCurdy Hotel?…that this does not mean that our readers want the clock to run out with no action?…that it certainly does not mean that our readers have any tolerance for another 30 day extension to kick this particular decision to the Winnecke Administration to unwind?…that this clearly means that what the readers of the CCO are looking for is for the Evansville Redevelopment Commission and the Weinzapfel Administration to take their medicine and start the process to unwind this stinking deal and to eat the costs associated with a project that was devoid of VETTING, SANITY, and FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT?…that this is the opportunity to BE THE ERC THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN and do what is right for the people of Evansville instead of a politically connected crony?… that the political donation train will certainly come to a stop but putting an end to this fiasco is the right thing to do?

IS IT TRUE that the 8th District Democrat Committee has decided to forgo the risk associated with a primary and to decide their nominee for the House of Representatives by caucus?…that the CCO christens this action and others like it as “THE RICK DAVIS EFFECT”?…that the Rick Davis effect is defined as what Democratic Party leaders do when faced with the proposition that someone who the Central Committee does not support will most likely win a primary that the Central Committee simply decides not to have a primary?…that is circumvents the will of the people?…that if the “RICK DAVIS EFFECT” was understood last year that there would have been no primary in Vanderburgh County?…that if the “RICK DAVIS EFFECT” had been understood that the OLD BOYS NETWORK of Vanderburgh County would have gotten together in a smoke filled room and anointed Troy Tornatta as the official Democrat candidate for Mayor of Evansville in 2011?…that it is a sin and a shame when the Democrat Central Committee thinks that registered Democrats are too stupid to make a competent choice for the party’s nomination for any office?…that caucuses are assembled for the very reason of keeping the so thought “brain dead” huddled masses from choosing a candidate?…that among other things that are dysfunctional the Democrat Party of SW Indiana clearly believes that their membership is incapable of making a decision that the PARTY BOSSES approve of?

IS IT TRUE that one of the positive attributes of a primary is to let the people VET the candidates?…that if there is one lesson that SW Indiana and especially the City of Evansville should have learned by now is that the people appointed by Democrats in power don’t know as much about VETTING as the Russians knew about democracy prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall?…that if one of the three candidates has a real problem that will throw the election like a BIMBO ERUPTION or DRUNKEN DRIVING, or even A SHOPLIFTING ARREST that the knucklehead Party Bosses have just hidden it until next summer?…that the Republican candidate will find any Herman Cain moments that this band of three may have?…that if the Democratic Central Committee wanted to anoint the Republican nominee for the 8th District Congressional seat that discarding the possibility of a primary is the perfect way to guarantee a Republican Victory?…that the Democrat organization in SW Indiana is disintegrating right before our eyes?…that yes they control the Evansville City Council but so what?…that ruling over the Evansville City Council has become a position akin to being “LORD OF THE FLIES”?… that this just amplifies the status of laughing stock of the State of Indiana that seems to be enjoyed by the Democrats of SW Indiana?