IS IT TRUE? October 10, 2011 Special Afternoon Edition

IS IT TRUE that we would like to take this opportunity to provide an update on the young educated lady who had a spat with Vectren over the mistake that they made on her bill and then have with a friendly demeanor demanded that she pay for their mistake?…that she reports that there is no resolution?…that she has turned off her power and made her move to Chicago and is pleased to be in an apartment where all utilities are included?…that she reports that her attempts to contact them have resulted in being put on hold for 45 minutes and that she can’t take any longer than that during her lunch hour on a brand new job?…that she went online and checked the box asking for a call from Vectren and that the one time they called was during her work day so she could not answer?…that this system of correcting an error in favor of a ratepayer is not making a good impression on her either?…that not having enough people to deal with calls in 5 minutes either implies an insufficient staff or a very large number of dissatisfied customers working in the dispute resolution department of Vectren?

IS IT TRUE that while Vectren may not have time to assign someone answer the call of a young professional who may just get some bill relief from them that they have plenty of time and transportation to have face-to-face meetings with every member or candidate for the Evansville City Council that is willing to speak with them?…that even new division President and former Congressman Brad Ellsworth is on the task of communicating with these present and aspiring elected officials?…that the Evansville City Council will be voting to officially extend an invitation to Vectren to send its CEO Carl Chapman to speak before them on October 24th to explain their rate schedules, the latest request for an increase, and just life in Evansville in general?…that we hope that Vectren will accept this offer and will speak until each and every member of the City Council understands their business model?

IS IT TRUE that as we have previous reported Council Members John Friend and Connie Robinson and 6th Ward Democratic candidate Al Lindsey are not speaking with Vectren one-on-one preferring to gather their information in a public meeting rather than behind closed doors with a team of tutors?…that all three of these people have signed one of the petitions?…that we have confirmed that Democratic at-large candidates Connor O’Daniel and Jonathan Weaver have had one on one discussions with Vectren?…that Mr. O’Daniel reported learning much about the dense pack technology in his meeting and being treated with respect?…that there were several questions that he asked for which there were no answers offered and that he has not yet decided to sign any petition?…that Mr. Weaver has stated that he will be signing a petition but made no statement regarding his meeting with Vectren officials?…that Dr. H. Dan Adams has previously issued a paper on his position and that we do not have anything to report regarding Councilwoman Missy Mosby’s position?

IS IT TRUE that a very similar petition has been posted online by 2nd Ward Republican Candidate E. Lon Walters and that Republican Party Chairman Wayne Parke has signed it?…that 5th Ward Republican Candidate Brent Grafton while declining to sign a petition put forth by his opponent did publish a very informed position paper with some very pointed questions for Vectren to answer?…that Mr. Grafton has also declined opportunities for a private meeting with the Vectren team?…that we are not certain about other Council members or candidates but that we welcome their dialog and reports on their meetings with Vectren officials?

IS IT TRUE that we thought there had been enough private meetings behind closed doors in Evansville for non-security related issues to last a lifetime?

IS IT TRUE? October 10, 2011

IS IT TRUE that we are continually encouraged that many people in Evansville that vote in online polls seem to get it?…that just today there is a poll on the Courier website regarding what people think is behind the recent wave of violent crime in a small area of South Evansville?…that a clear majority of 54% attribute this mayhem to Gangs?…that another 24% also attribute it to Gangs but not to big city Gangs?…that adds up to 78% of the responses that have shown the good sense to recognize a Gang as a Gang?…that the other 22% think it is simply random violence?…that a life was taken by pumping three slugs into another human being at 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon in Evansville yesterday?…that this murder happened in broad daylight and within easy walking distance (3 blocks) of the Historic District, the Front Door Pride area, and the Art’s District?…that this happened less than 24 hours after some concerned citizens, deacons, and exemplary members of the Southside community had conducted an awareness walk to inform young people of the dangers of Gang violence?

IS IT TRUE that in this election season when our candidates are rightfully addressing the problems of jobs and meth that this immediate problem needs to be elevated on the candidates radar screens?…that lets dispense with the question of whether or not these activities are Gang related and just state the obvious that they are Gang related?…that drugs, prostitution, drive by shootings, murder, and a population in fear of witnessing are the symptoms of a Gang?…that whether such things are “big city” Gangs or “little city” Gangs is an irrelevant discussion as the Summer of 2011 in South Evansville is not appreciably different than what South Central Los Angeles or South Chicago has been experiencing for years?…that the only difference is the number of acres of turf being fought over?…that this needs very badly to be stopped before it expands and that the candidates for Mayor of Evansville need to address this?

IS IT TRUE that hardcore Gang members are not doing these things because they can’t get a job?…that what has been happening in South Evansville’s Summer of 2011 is their job?…that when the economy is bad and good kids with positive potential can’t find jobs that a Gang can start to look like a job to many people who would otherwise be productive members of society?…that a rotten economy is a contributor to keeping many parents looking the other way while the jobs of distribution and collection are being done by people who really would prefer to work in a regular job?…that our candidates should probably add a few other drugs to their list to make war on like cocaine and its derivatives like crack?…that we highly doubt that there is much meth behind this Gang activity?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer supports and honors the efforts of the Evansville Police Department and encourages this City Administration and the next to do whatever is necessary to protect the citizens of Evansville?…that sometimes that may mean training, sometimes that may mean equipment, but that sometimes that may mean bringing in experienced backup?…that Mayor Frank Rizzo of Philadelphia actually resorted to using a tank and dropping bombs from helicopters to eradicate an entire block of crack houses back in the early 80’s?…that similar actions have been taken in bigger cities with long term Gang issues?…that if Evansville does not want to be faced with forming an army to handle this that something needs to be done and quickly?…that our current elected representatives who represent the 4th Ward and are at-large need to make their cases known?…that the bordering 2nd and 3rd Wards need to be very sensitive as they are merely blocks from this?…that this outbreak of violence in South Evansville and ending it is of more importance than having current elected officials issue statements about who would make the best Mayor?…that we hope it is not too late for a question about Gang violence to find its way into the next debate?

IS IT TRUE that the letter to the editor from the “Sewers Before Stadium” advocate Andrew Smith that was published simultaneously yesterday by the City County Observer and the Courier and Press had very different reactions in the two publications?…that both publications had the exact same letter without any edit or bias?…that this letter started a litany of 49 comments that were sometimes a bit nasty but eventually elevated the dialog on the CCO but drew only 14 comments from the regulars on the Courier?…that one of the most insightful comments on Mr. Smith however came from the Courier?…that Mr. Smith was given some due credit for some promethean insights that seem to slip many people’s minds?…that Mr. Smith was one of the first people to visibly question the manner in which the McCurdy parking lot was purchased by the Evansville Redevelopment Commission and was the first on record to call out the Weinzapfel Administration for poor or no planning with respect to the downtown Convention Hotel?…that Mr. Smith was right on the heels of the City County Observer’s efforts to expose the secret meetings to take away the Homestead Tax Credit that was held in Mayor Weinzapfel’s office?

IS IT TRUE that Mr. Smith did get the ultimate compliment and I paraphrase “he may have been negative but he was right and he was honest”?…that when people like Andrew Smith are willing to establish businesses in Evansville, can find venture capital in Evansville, and be engaged in local government that Evansville may move forward?…that until then it seems as though the “machine” is still in charge?

IS IT TRUE that Mole #56 tells us that someone was pulled off of the Democratic float at the Fall Festival by the Evansville Police Department and was handcuffed?…that this person was then sitting on the sidewalk?…that Mole #56 did not know the identity of this person or why they were riding on the float?…that the City County Observer was taken off of the distribution list for the EPD Activity Reports for three days last week when this occurred so we can’t check it with records that we have?…that Sunday the reports magically started coming to us again?

IS IT TRUE that Mole #44 tells us that there may be legal action initiated with respect to the fact that Klenck Construction has not been paid the $315,000 that they are owed for demolition work completed on the Executive Inn and its parking tower?…that we recall that the City of Evansville that owns the land on which that work was done has consistently asserted that they have no responsibility legal responsibility to pay for the work and that Klenck’s only course for relief is to collect from the business that hired them to do the work?…that it was mentioned in an ERC meeting in early August that Klenck would be paid and that the about face became apparent when project manager John Kish stated before the Evansville City Council that even though this is City of Evansville property and that the property has been improved that the terms of a private contract being satisfied are the only way that Klenck Construction will be paid?

IS IT TRUE that Mole #44 also advises us that the gathering of facts and the follow up questions with regard to the VETTING process conducted by Hunden Strategic Partners is nearing completion?…that there are only 5 more scheduled meetings of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission during 2011 and that will constitute the last 5 meetings under the Weinzapfel Administration?…that this hotel can has been kicked down the road enough already and that the most appropriate action right now may just be to seal the Hunden VETTING report until January and to let the next Mayor of Evansville’s Administration and a newly appointed ERC carry this ball to its conclusion?…that shoving a decision in favor of either bidder through at the final hour of the Weinzapfel Administration will not pass the smell test at this stage of the process?

IS IT TRUE that SNEGAL has finally been officially notified of being published in the Urban Dictionary?…that the official definition is “Sneaky but Legal”?…that the word is already in use in certain circles in Evansville but will certainly catch on across the country as Evansville does not have the market cornered of SNEGAL activities?

IS IT TRUE that the New York Times reported Sunday in an article on the national economy that the United States still enjoys advantages that no other country, including China, does?…that these advantages are the world’s best venture-capital network, a well-established rule of law, a culture that celebrates risk taking, an unmatched appeal to immigrants?…that as Evansville goes with respect to that list of advantages all we can really claim a part of is to be subject to the well-established rule of law as we clearly do not have a venture capital network, we do not celebrate risk taking, and large blocks of immigrants seem to be flocking to other places by choice?

IS IT TRUE that there is a very simple way for the Vectren Corporation to diffuse the petitions that are circulating asking first for the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission to hold all hearings in the affected areas and to refuse rate increases until our neighboring utilities catch up to Vectren’s rates?…that this simple solution is for Vectren’s corporate officers and directors to SIGN THE PETITION?…that this simple act would not serve to cause any harm to Vectren or their shareholders and would go a long way toward establishing credibility among the regular everyday people who have signed the petitions?…that a good time to do that and to be on camera doing so would be at the meeting of the Evansville City Council that we hope that they will agree to speak before?

IS IT TRUE that the “Occupy Evansville” group is having an organizational meeting tomorrow night at the Four Freedoms Monument at 6:00 PM?…that the number of times that the “like” button has been clicked on the two webpages is now over 1,300?…that like the groups across the country this group just seems to think that whatever we have is not serving us well?…that as long as this stays the domain of healthy discontent with a spirit to change that favor will cast a glance their way?…that maybe a token of goodness like cleaning a park or two by “Occupy Evansville” would go even further toward making a positive impression on the many people who are watching curiously?

IS IT TRUE that in a short 30 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 83 days remaining in the Weinzapfel Administration?

IS IT TRUE that there are now 385 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?

IS IT TRUE? October 9, 2011

IS IT TRUE that former Republican candidate for Evansville City Council and the champion of the “Sewers Before Stadium” campaign has endorsed Democratic candidate Rick Davis for Mayor of Evansville?…that in his endorsement letter to the City County Observer and the Courier Press that Smith did not discuss the proposals of either Mr. Davis or his opponent Republican Lloyd Winnecke?…that what Mr. Smith discussed was instead the once in a generation presence of a candidate for Mayor of Evansville that is not part of the “machine” politics that he gives credit for the 50 year decline of the City of Evansville?…that there has been much written and said this year regarding the “machine” that supposedly has run Evansville for most of our lifetimes?…that the most common name for the “machine” is the good old boys network?…that Mr. Smith is clear in his letter that he likes Mr. Winnecke but that taking that once in a generation opportunity to break the machine makes his endorsement the right thing for him to do?

IS IT TRUE that Mr. Smith has reason to want to see the “machine” removed from power?…that in his run for Evansville City Council when he extolled the people of Evansville to his battle cry of “Sewers Before Stadium”, he most certainly ran into the obstructive capacity of powerful people in both parties who very badly wanted “Stadium Before Sewers”?…that Mr. Smith never ever said that an Arena was a bad thing to do?…that he simply advocated for Evansville making the conscious choice to repair the sewers which are under EPA court order to be done before maxing out the City of Evansville’s credit card to build a stadium?…that if one is living in a home that is in need of a complete plumbing repair job for the toilets to work yet one chooses to spend that money on an expensive toy that most people would consider that to be poor judgment?…that “Sewers Before Stadium” was prudent, it was necessary, it was logical, and it was the right thing to do?…that there was indeed a bi-partisan group of powerful community leaders assembled to advocate for “Stadium Before Sewers” and by-golly that is what we are doing?

IS IT TRUE that of all of the things that has been done in Evansville in recent history that the Arena Committee worked with precision and efficiency?…that they were successful in having all of the public meetings to provide cover for the decision to proceed, hiring a consulting firm to sanction the Arena as a “need”, construct pro-formas that eliminated the need for a referendum, and placing the Arena downtown?…that if such an effort of capable people was directed at stopping brain drain, attracting outside investment that results in job creation, or helping existing businesses to expand that Evansville could probably have both the Arena and repair the sewers in a timely manner?…that going downtown last night made it abundantly clear that the sewers are in terrible condition?…that between Kentucky Avenue and the Museum on Southlane Drive that is one of the Gateways to the City of Evansville, the kind of stench that was present last night is becoming more and more commonplace?…that often the smell is annoying but not enough to make one gag?…that last night was just awful and that we hope that today’s last couple of miles of the Evansville Half Marathon are not fouled by the same conditions?

IS IT TRUE that Evansville does often seem to be run by some invisible force that pushes for things that do not serve the people of Evansville well?…that doing the same things over and over and expecting different results is the commonly accepted definition of insanity?…that if there is indeed a “machine” in Evansville that is quietly controlling the events that shape our lives that this machine most certainly has the face of a Democrat and the heart of a control freak?

IS IT TRUE that there is something very wrong with the governance of the City of Evansville and it has been that way for a very long time?…that the wrongs are not always the doings of elected officials?…that Mr. Smith is correct in his assertion that the “machine” must go?…that the City County Observer would like to encourage both candidates for Mayor of Evansville and all of the candidates for Evansville City Council to do as Apple’s Steve Jobs said and to “THINK DIFFERENTLY”?…that to think differently is only the first step?…that we have seen “Thinking Outside the Box” before?…that it is having the courage to “Live Outside the Box” is where Evansville comes up short?…that the BOX referred to in those expressions is the MACHINE?…that Thinking and Living Outside of the Box whether you are in Evansville or any other town is the difference in growing an Apple and losing a Whirlpool?