IS IT TRUE that we are beginning to hear reports of encouragement from one City Council member to another that it is time to “GO WITH THE FLOW” and get on board with ziplining the recommendation of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission to fund the Kunkel Group to move forward post haste in getting the public money committed to stick that first shovel in the ground at the corner of MLK and Walnut?…that this “friendly” advice started a couple of weeks before last Tuesday’s announcement of the ERC’s recommendation?…that it has even been said that the real driving force behind shoving this through quickly is local organized labor?…that local labor need not fear who is the eventual builder of the downtown Convention Hotel because the RFP had a provision in it that requires the builder to sign a Project Labor Agreement so the local trade unions will get all of this work no matter whether Kunkel, Prime, or some future entrant to the mix gets this deal?…that local labor won the day the RFP was written anyway so it would be best to do the right thing all around with the taxpayer’s money?

IS IT TRUE that digging a bit deeper into the expressed reservations of Sara Miller who cast a NO VOTE and making the details of her objections to going forward is a task worth doing before calling for a funding vote?…that we think that everyone from the CEO of the CVB right down to the lowest paid workers at The Centre understand that downtown Evansville needs this hotel to compete for conventions?…that most people also understand that the Ford Center will be fine without a hotel as Roberts Stadium was for over 50 years?…that if there is to be a prosperous and tasteful downtown Convention Hotel that he time to set that platform into place is right now?…that even if the determination is that Sara Miller is right and that this needs to start over that the prosperity of10 years from now is dependent on getting this right and that Ms. Miller has made some very valid points?

IS IT TRUE that City Councilman John Friend, CPA is the right person to head a discovery committee to prepare a recommendation for the City Council when this comes to a vote?…that releasing the Hunden findings are a key place to start this discovery?…that for the ERC, the DMD, and the Weinzapfel Administration to keep these findings secret is the financial equivalent of withholding evidence or obstruction justice?…that if those findings reflect well on the ERC decision and if Councilman Friend’s discovery create a glowing report that the funding proposal should sail through the City Council with a 9 – 0 vote and the shovel can hit the earth?…that if the Hunden findings and Councilman Friend’s discovery do not reflect well on the ERC recommendation that it is time to start the RFP process over again and that the Winnecke Administration is the group to do it?

IS IT TRUE that there is a wonderfully correct bumper sticker that was seen on this writer’s recent trip to the left coast that simply stated “California, ITS ALL TRUE”?…that it is good to be back even if it is 50 degrees colder?…that missing out on the ERC meeting this week after having written so much about valuation, the prospects for financing, and the convalescent home for pigeons actually stung a little?

IS IT TRUE that there has always been a little piece of this writer’s mind that hoped that the obstacles with the McCurdy would be overcome in spite of the clusteryouknowwhat that the project was but that now it is time to turn the page and get on about finding something that is both positive and achievable for that block?…that without regard to bought and paid for appraisals, Hunden findings, or opinions of the last days of the administration that this guy stands by the previous analysis that at the end of the day the market value (not to be confused with construction cost) of the downtown Convention Hotel as proposed is between $18M and $22M inclusive of everything?…that Fort Wayne understood this but Evansville does not seem to get it?…that when a financial incentive package is put together to relieve the builder/operator of any obligation higher than that we may actually have a project with a business model that will yield prosperity?…that this guy gives a big thumbs up to Sara Miller for taking the stand that she did and hopes to see a working business model come forth in the future?…that this is not about WHO, this financial reality is about HOW?

IS IT TRUE that Indiana’s best known technology entrepreneur Scott Jones of Cha Cha is reportedly continuing to raise a ruckus over the difficulty in reaching the tech centers of Boston and the Bay Area because there are no direct flights from Indianapolis to either of the tech and venture capital hotbeds?…that what Scott realizes that many others don’t is that direct access is one of the keys to accessing talent and capital which are really the only currencies of value in growing a technology based economy?…that the CCO hopes that Indianapolis heeds Scott’s call and does something about such flights and hope furthermore that Evansville will find a way to attract or maintain a commuter flight to Indianapolis that will allow the folks down here in the capital of Western Kentucky to leverage any direct flights that Indianapolis is able to put into place?…that there is no reason whatsoever for a trip to the west coast to consume and entire day and leave the traveler exhausted?…that the access to talent and capital have stifled Evansville for decades and will continue to do so unless this problem is solved?

IS IT TRUE that the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) has passed a resolution encouraging the 2012 legislative session to pass the Right to Work initiative?…that like it or not Right to Work seems to be the wave of the future so the only question is how many years behind the 8-ball Indiana will be?…that rather than fight a tide it is much easier and more productive to learn to surf?…that there will be many studies with self fulfilling conclusions?…that the studies that are snapshots of this very year will conclude that Right to Work is not such a great thing?…that studies that go back 30+ years and compare the growth and lifestyle changes will make Right to Work look better?…that a real simple non-scientific metric would be to just compare any Midwestern state to Alabama, Mississippi or Georgia?…that today at least in Indiana’s case our unemployment is lower and wages are similar (except SW Indiana of course)?…that over the course of the last 30 years the Right to Work states have made dramatic progress growing from agrarian economies to modern economies and they have done this at the expense of the Rust Belt?…that understanding this and making an informed decision without the benefit of adrenaline or prejudice will be one of the most important outcomes of the 2012 legislative session?

IS IT TRUE that yet another politician has been caught in a pay for sex scandal?…that this time it is former member of the State House of Representatives Brian Hasler who represented Evansville for 8 years that is accused of offering money for sex?…that some of the actions that elected officials from President Clinton down to Representative Hasler get caught in would make one think that they have no sense of justice or appropriateness at all?…that it is not a crime to give away sex so the thing that really gets these rascals in trouble is turning a hook-up into a transaction?…that at least the Alpha President was not ever accused of paying?…that it must be his charming personality?

IS IT TRUE that there is finally healthy dissension within the ranks of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission?…that ONB Commercial Loan VP Sara Miller voted no on the basis that she has seen nothing to lead her to believe that either of the proposals to build a downtown Convention Hotel will lead to a profitable business?…that it took courage for her to say this and that her vote needs to be taken seriously by the Evansville City Council as they decide whether or not to fund the ERC recommendation?…that the absolute worst thing that could happen would be to get a hotel to the 90% completion point and see the developer run out of cash or to finish the hotel and find it in bankruptcy during the first year of operation?…that is why Ms. Miller is finding her way and looking out for the taxpayer’s interest?…that bankrupt and inoperable hotels of the type and size being considered are available all over the country right now for less than $5 Million?…that going forward without explicit endorsement of the construction plan and the business plan by a competent entity which the ERC is clearly not puts at least $8 Million taxpayer dollars in harm’s way and paves the way for the new hotel to join the McCurdy on the roles of abandoned structures in Evansville?…that the people of Evansville are counting on City Councilman John Friend to use his CPA to do a deep examination of the reasons for Ms. Miller’s NO VOTE and to explain this clearly to the City Council whenever they deliberate on funding this recommendation?

IS IT TRUE? December 8, 2011

IS IT TRUE that John Corzine former Governor of New Jersey and the beneficiary of several pre-election Air Force One visits in his re-election campaign now has a new quote attributed to him over the bankruptcy of the company he headed after being defeated by Chris Christie?…that his words now “I simply don’t know where the money is” when questioned about what happened with MF Global which is becoming a second round of Lehman Brothers meltdown?…that the CCO wonders just how many elected officials on all levels would have to utter the words, “I simply don’t know where the money is” if they were pressed to reveal what is going on with their budgets and stashes?

IS IT TRUE the rank and file political types from both parties are quietly talking among themselves concerning the Mayor Elect’s decision to openly push Vectren Executives as members of his transaction and swearing in team?…that one wonders why he would open embrace anybody as important members of his political team and advisors from Vectren since he should be aware of the negative opinions that the masses presently have towards this company? …now all eyes shall be focused on how many individuals from Vectren shall show up on his final campaign financial report?…that many of the Mayor Elect’s supporters are extremely disappointed that he didn’t take a strong public stance against the proposed fee increases sought by Vectren?…that maybe the finance report will shed light on why he didn’t?

IS IT TRUE that the selection for the new Evansville Chief of Police is all but over?… that all eyes are turning to whom shall be selected as the next Assistant Chief?…you can expect an interesting candidate to be selected that shall please many of the Rank and File?

IS IT TRUE it’s be reported that there a good pool of qualified candidates are vying to become the next Evansville Fire Chief?…that no one should be surprised to hear that a past Fire Chief shall be one of the two finalists for this position? …that you can rest assure that the present Evansville Fire Chief and his key people should begin to start packing his office to return to the ranks?…that we predict whoever is selected as the next Evansville Fire Chief the old way of back room political wheeling and dealing are over?…you should not be surprised to hear that the new Fire Chief shall make an extremely popular pick as his Assistant Fire Chief?

IS IT TRUE that the political star of Vanderburgh County Sheriff Eric Williams seems to have taken a tumble last night with some of the caucus votes going to Crooks instead of Skates?…that the reason given for this was because Sheriff Williams signed the “best friends for life” pact supporting Democrat City Councilwoman Connie Robinson’s endorsement of Mayor Elect Lloyd Winnecke?…that the 24 who chose Crooks may have been a majority for Mr. Skates if it had not been for the 23 who supported a party officer who supported a Republican….that all actions have consequences and Sheriff Williams will have a consequence along with the other 22 who pinky shook to support Councilwoman Robinson?

IS IT TRUE that the CCO now has it on good authority that there is no details commemorated in a bound folder that would be called a study by Hunden Strategic Partners?…that there is indeed a powerpoint presentation that said very little about one of the bidders and said very little that would be encouraging about the other bidder?…that maybe Sara Miller was on to something when she was deliberating on how to vote?

IS IT TRUE that the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party caucus that was held last night at the C. K. Newsome Center, was won by Crooks by a vote of 24-21?…that only 45 precinct committeemen & vice committeemen showed up to vote for this important position?…that there are more than 130 precincts in Vanderburgh County?…that if the vice committeemen had showed up too that the voter turnout was only 17%?…that is slightly worse than the turnout for the general election held on November 8th?…that it is one thing for the beer swilling masses to choose to sit home on their swollen backsides and abdicate their right to vote?…that it is quite another when people who are selected to serve in a position of power and authority by a political party just blow off a caucus?…that if one wonders why the people of Evansville are indifferent and disenfranchised that one must only look to the leadership of the Democrat Party?

IS IT TRUE that at least one member of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission seems to have awaken from the Group Coma that this cast of appointed officials seems to have been in for the last several years?…that Sara Miller whose day job is spent as a Senior Commercial Loan Officer with Old National Bank has actually started asking the kinds of questions that should have been asked for four years now?…that after floating those questions, digesting whatever Hunden Strategic Partners told the ERC, and looking over the long term prospects of the two proposals that Ms. Miller voted NO on entering negotiations with either of the respondents?…that maybe Ms. Miller has seen the light and merits some consideration for a continued appointment in the Winnecke Administration?…that the ERC needs desperately to explain themselves and what it is about the invisible study that Hunden Strategic Partners produced?…that even thought the ERC Chairman Mr. Bob Goldman says that Hunden said that the Kunkel proposal was the quickest proposal to move forward with that does not mean that either proposal received a hearty endorsement?…that maybe this was a choice between two proposals that were very weak?…that one will only know that when the City County Observer publishes the work of Hunden for all to see?

IS IT TRUE that EB5 financing is one of the most preferred forms of forming a financing plan for real estate ventures in the State of California right now?…that maybe Evansville is 30 years behind this important trend in attracting talent and money too?…that Mr. John Kish, who came to Evansville as the Arena Project Manager but of lately seems to be the acting Chancellor of all things to hard for the Weinzapfel Administration to handle has stated that all of the problems that have prevented attracting an experience developer from the hospitality industry are still in place?…that the incentive package is not enough to attract an experienced developer like White Lodging that did the Fort Wayne downtown Convention Hotel?…that we wonder if the Weinzapfel Administration learns from experiencing failure like the McCurdy and the hotel?…that if there had been an understanding or even a willingness to listen with regard to that valuation and the pro forma of this project that there would be a hotel in place now and the CEO of the Convention and Visitors Bureau would not be stating that Evansville is in no position to even compete for conventions?…that the cost to The Centre and the community has far exceeded the extra incentives that would have brought an experienced developer to town 4 years ago?…that the Weinzapfel Administration has been penny wise and pound stupid and that the taxpayers of Evansville and Vanderburgh County are suffering because of it?…that we hope that the Winnecke Administration will learn from the failures of the Weinzapfel Administration?

IS IT TRUE that we the Civic Center Mole Club is telling the CCO that the present City of Evansville Controller, Jenny Collins may be transferred to a position with the Evansville Water/Sewer department very soon? … that if this happens we wonder if this is a new position, what is the base salary, what are the job responsibilities, whether or not this position was properly advertised and how many people applied for this position?…that these are the same questions that we have been asking regarding the hiring of Tonda Pauley, Linda Durham’s Chief of Staff during her reign as the Knight Township Trustee was selected for a job with the City of Evansville at the garage?