Eighteen States Allow it but Indiana does not

This post is a direct response to several of our readers who have asked how an elected official can be recalled from office. Of course these requests are in response to the fact that the Democratic members of the Indiana House of Representatives need to leave the state to obstruct the House’s ability to conduct business.

Eighteen states have recall provisions according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Those states are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and interestingly Wisconsin. Indiana is not on the list.

As most of us know California’s Arnold Schwarzenegger became Governor as a result of a recall of Democratic Governor Gray Davis. Recalls are disruptive and expensive. We would like to reiterate our request to the Democratic contingency to make the short trip back to Indianapolis and get on with the business that you were elected to do. All of this talk of recall and discipline is not constructive and neither is the absence of a significant part of the Indiana House of Representatives.

Here is a link to a source about recall elections.

http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16581

IS IT TRUE? February 24, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the most cited reason for Roberts Stadium being on the list for demolition is the high cost of running the pumps that keeps the groundwater out of the floor of the building?…that most estimates of the cost to mothball Roberts Stadium include keeping the pumps on and paying nearly $400,000 per year to keep them running?…that the source of the water that made the designers of the remodeling of Roberts Stadium look pretty darn negligent is an aquifer?…that for the pumps to run all of the time and cost that much to run they must be pushing a lot of water somewhere?…that published estimates of the water removed to keep Roberts Stadium dry run to over 100,000 gallons per day?…that the question that is on our mind is “WHERE DOES THE WATER GO?”?

IS IT TRUE that the water could be getting pumped back into the aquifer so we can just pump it out again next week?…that would be a closed loop process?…that the water could also be getting pumped into the Evansville municipal sewer system?…that the sewer system of Evansville in that area is already overtaxed with the intersection of Boeke and Vogel a short distance away being one of the most foul smelling parts of town this side of Bee Slough?…that if this water is being pumped into the sewer it would be a terrible waste?…that aquifer water is often very good quality water?…that other cities use aquifer water as a source for public drinking water?…that a pennies worth of water placed in a plastic container and offered for sale often fetches a dollar or more?…that the aquifer under Roberts Stadium that is already tapped may just have the potential to be a cash cow to pay the bills to keep Roberts Stadium available for future events?

IS IT TRUE that Keep Evansville Beautiful is 100% privately funded and has been for 37+ years?….Keep Evansville Beautiful is the only Keep America Beautiful affiliate in the United States, out of more than 600, that receives no government funding?…that the City County Observer is glad to have been advised of this and is also pleased that Keep Evansville Beautiful is not beholding to the long arm of political mischief as many local non-profit entities are?…that we are equally as baffled as to why Evansville is the only place out of 600 in the country not to provide financial support to its local Keep America Beautiful affiliate?…that there has got to be a reason for this?

IS IT TRUE that we are profoundly disappointed in the members of the Indiana House of Representatives who have decided to hole up in a Champaign, Illinois hotel rather than doing their job and debating the “Right to Work” legislation on the floor of the statehouse?…that this act of obstruction is sending the wrong message to the children and the workforce of the entire state Indiana?…that these elected and paid to work officials have made their point and that it is time to get on the bus and get their keisters back to Indianapolis so they can do the job that they were elected to do?…that Gail Riecken a local member of the Indiana House sent out the following message?

“Yesterday we Democrats decided we had to leave the State and break from the House Legislative Session. There are radical, extreme bills that negatively affect Hoosier families and it seems this is all the Republicans want to discuss. We Democrats are together in Illinois, reviewing bills, answering communications and studying issues important to people in our districts.

What will encourage me to return to Indianapolis?
– When Republicans drop their radical agenda
– When Republicans concentrate on the important legislation like jobs and the budget, and
– When Republicans agree to real bipartisanship, listen to us, and negotiate compromises.

Then, I’ll be ready to return.”

IS IT TRUE that it is completely untrue that Mrs. Riecken or any of the other AWOL members of the Indiana House “HAD” to leave?…that they made the choice to leave because they thought they could not get their way?…that we were taught as children that this is not an acceptable way to behave and that as adults it is certainly no way to govern?

From: Bix Branson, President
EVSC Board of School Trustees

2/22/2011 For Immediate Release

The Board of School Trustees of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation will meet in executive session at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, February, 28, 2011, in the Superintendent’s Conference Room at the EVSC Administration Building, 1 SE 9th Street, Evansville, IN 47708, Evansville, IN. The session will be conducted according to Senate Enrolled Act 313, Section 1, I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1, as amended. The purpose of the meeting is for discussion of collective bargaining, (2)(A); initiation of litigation or litigation that is either pending or has been threatened specifically in writing, (2)(B); purchase or lease of property, (2)(D); and job performance evaluation of individual employees, (9). The regular public board meeting will follow at 5:30 p.m. in the Board Room of the EVSC Administration Building.

IS IT TRUE? Part 2: February 23, 2011 Get Evansville Beautiful

UPDATE IS IT TRUE that we have gotten a few messages that Keep Evansville Beautiful is working quietly with Dr. Troost and others and seems to be joining the effort?…that we welcome and applaud this news?…that we look forward to promoting and praising any and all efforts that Keep Evansville Beautiful is taking on to Get Evansville Beautiful again?

IS IT TRUE that Dr. Neil Troost and his crusade to return our parks to respectability from the unkempt mess that they have become is gaining momentum?…that a private effort to preserve and re-establish the downtown park at 4th and Main is gaining support?…that another private effort is also in the works?…that candidate for Mayor Rick Davis has proposed a program that will create 50 summer jobs specifically to help reclaim the beauty of Evansville parks?…that there is an exemplary plan for Garvin Park that has been tabled for seven years now over lack of interest and funding from the City of Evansville that may just be at the right time to come out of hibernation?… that all of this positive energy from the private sector and from candidates for office is positively uplifting?

IS IT TRUE that with all of the interest in restoring the parks to their former beauty that we would expect that the organization known as “Keep Evansville Beautiful” would be jumping on the bandwagon to help or even lead?… that the silence of the so called “Keep Evansville Beautiful” is sort of confusing to many people who have already signed up?…that Keep Evansville Beautiful receives a significant amount of public funding?…that if Evansville’s parks were beautiful as they once were that Dr. Troost’s daughter would not have found that needle and he would not be involved in an effort to “Make Evansville Beautiful”?…that maybe “Keep Evansville Beautiful” needs to change its name to “Get Evansville Beautiful”?

IS IT TRUE that if something that is beautiful is not kept that way that the word KEEP needs to be changed because it supports the status quo and calls something beautiful that is not even acceptable?…that the status quo with Evansville’s parks are neither beautiful nor acceptable?…that this organization and many others including the City of Evansville Parks and Recreation Department need to take off the rose colored glasses, roll up their sleeves, and do the things that their founding missions say?…that is right now to first “GET EVANSVILLE BEAUTIFUL”, and when that is done to get back to the business of keeping it that way?

IS IT TRUE? February 23, 2011

IS IT TRUE that it has been reported that some yard signs expressing support for Patrick McBride’s campaign for the Democratic nomination for 2nd Ward City Councilman have been taken from people’s yards like a thief in the night?…that it is actually a crime to “steal” campaign yard signs?…that the City County Observer is quite familiar with Evansville City Councilwoman Missy Mosby, Mr. McBride’s primary opponent?…that we know Missy to be a tough but honest competitor who would not ever steal or condone the stealing of yard signs?…that we encourage honest dialog, clear expression of differences, and fairness in all of the campaigns?…that we hope never to read the following excerpt from Seattle to be published in Evansville?

“The 43-year-old man suspected of swiping the signs was not arrested at the time, but he is expected to face charges of removing or defacing political advertising, a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or 90 days in jail for each count.”

Let’s keep it clean folks.

IS IT TRUE that perhaps something much worse than swiping a yard sign or two is being carried out against Fred Cook who has filed for the Democratic nomination for City Council from the 4th Ward?…that Mr. Cook who is also affectionately known as “the Mayor of Goosetown” has had a formal complaint made that alleges that he is not eligible to run for office?…that this complaint has been filed by one Anthony Bushrod?…that Fred Cook did a dumb thing and committed a crime at the age of 17?…that he did his time and has gone on to live an honorable life free of crime?…that the charge was expunged from his record in Vigo County, Indiana?…that the spirit of the Indiana code which governs such things would make Mr. Cook eligible to run?…that the entire basis for the complaint is that the word “expungement” is not explicitly in the code?…that Mr. Cook should be given every consideration to be allowed to run as he has been reformed, cares about his Ward and the people in it, and has voluntarily thrown his hat into the ring?

IS IT TRUE that nearly all of the Democratic members of the Indiana House of Representative have followed the lead of their comrades from Wisconsin and refused to show up for a vote regarding whether or not Indiana will become a “Right to Work” state?…that like it or not it is their job to show up for work each day and to cast their vote in the way that best serves the people of their district?…that playing hooky from school can get you suspended and even have a truant officer to come looking for you?…that willfully refusing to show up for your job usually results in losing your job?…that for senior elected officials to refuse to go to work because they are expecting to have an outcome that they do not prefer sends a message if irresponsibility to our children and to the workforce of this state?…that going to work when things are tough and doing what is expected is what leaders do?…that we as taxpayers expect our elected officials to be leaders and to show up for work?…that if a NO vote is what these officials believe is right then they should not only vote NO they should be vocal about it?…that refusing to vote is not what made America a great country?…that the City County Observer has not endorsed or opposed the bill regarding “Right to Work”?…that is our elected representatives job and we expect them to do it?…that a wise person once said “you don’t have to like your job, but you do have to do it”?…Just Do It!!

Winnecke and Abell Reverse Two Years of Regressive Policy: Will the City Council Follow this Lead

By: Joe Wallace

In a much anticipated move the Vanderburgh County Commissioners passed a comprehensive smokefree workplace ordinance that will become effective this summer. Even though only a small number of businesses are effected this move sends a message to the City of Evansville and the surrounding area that this time the governance of unincorporated Vanderburgh County is choosing public health, lifestyle, and economic development over the fears of losing a small amount of business to businesses that cling to the outdated paradigm that having a smoking section is required to run a thriving restaurant or bar.

Speaker after speaker came to the lectern to plea with the three commissioners to pass this ordinance with accounts of friends and relatives who have suffered and died from the effects of both smoking and second hand smoke. At the end, each commissioner had their say and the ordinance passed by a margin of 2 – 1 with Commissioners Marsha Abell and President Lloyd Winnecke enthusiastically supporting the measure and Commissioner Stephen Melcher casting the lone dissenting vote.

Melcher citing full knowledge and acceptance of both the scientific evidence that that was presented and the economic development advantages that a smokefree workplace ordinance bring cited keeping the playing field level as his reason for voting no. This is the same reason given two years ago when then Commissioner Troy Tornatta and Melcher overrode Commissioner Winnecke’s vote making Vanderburgh County one of the first Census MSA’s in American to reverse such an ordinance.

Commissioners Winnecke and Abell both cited the attractiveness of the community to the much sought after educated young professionals and the universally accepted public health issues as reasons for their affirmative votes. Commissioner Winnecke stated furthermore that from a business perspective that taking actions that over the long run will make health insurance premiums drop, lost time work incidents decrease, and promote public health is the right thing to do to make Vanderburgh County a more attractive place for business to move and grow.

Will the City of Evansville Finally Follow?

In 2010 the Evansville City Council deadlocked on a less restrictive resolution sponsored by Councilmen Dr. H. Dan Adams and Dan McGinn. The resolution was also supported by Councilwomen Wendy Bredhold and Connie Robinson who made an impassioned statement that “she is her brother’s keeper” in casting the tying vote. A tie goes to the status quo so no action was taken.

5th Ward Councilman John Friend is now on record in support of a comprehensive smokefree workplace ordinance much like the one that Vanderburgh County passed tonight. Councilman Friend’s pivotal vote can tip the majority in 2011 if the resolution is re-introduced. His Republican opponent for the 5th Ward seat local entrepreneur Brent Grafton is on record as supporting a smokefree workplace ordinance but has not stated that he would only vote for it if there are no exceptions as Councilman Friend has emphatically stated.

The Aztar Question

Casinos in general have not been supportive of laws that protect their workers from second hand smoke citing anticipated lost revenue from competition. Indiana governments are sensitive to the perceptions of gambling houses because government derives substantial revenue from taxes paid from wagering. Most studies conclude that there is a short term drop followed by a quick return to previous levels but most of those studies are not in locations isolated from easily accessible competition.

Evansville’s Aztar would be somewhat isolated from other options for gamblers due to the geographic distance to other casinos that would offer smoking areas. The closest casinos that would allow smoking if Aztar embraced worker protection laws would be 3.5 hours west to St. Louis, 5 hours south to Tunica, MS, 8 hours north to Detroit, and 2 hours east to New Albany.

Davis Proposes Creation of 50 Summer Jobs to Make our Evansville Parks Beautiful

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Evansville Parks Department would receive an infusion of at least $150,000 and an additional summer workforce of about 50 school-aged summer workers under a proposal by current Democratic Party mayoral candidate Rick Davis.

Davis, the current Vanderburgh County Treasurer, told a Town Hall audience at McCollough Library on Thursday night that an additional 50 high school and college-aged students would comprise a Community Service Corps under the umbrella of the Evansville Parks Department. The students would be paid minimum wage for 40 hours per week and be charged with cleaning and improving the parks and cemeteries during a 10-week summer period.

Davis was in attendance at a recent Evansville Parks Board meeting and was dismayed as Neil Troost, an Evansville physician whose daughter was stuck with a hypodermic needle while playing in a sandbox at Sunset Park, delivered a damning PowerPoint presentation to the Parks Board describing the poor state of Evansville’s parks. Davis said it was clearly evident from Troost’s presentation that the Parks Department is severely underfunded and undermanned and in need of immediate attention.

The summer workforce would be responsible for cleaning and beautifying our parks and removing graffiti from parks department facilities.

“The citizens of Evansville deserve to let their children play in a taxpayer-funded park without worrying for their safety or being exposed to profanity that has been spray-painted on children’s playground equipment,” said Davis, 41, who is the Vanderburgh County Treasurer. Davis said he would also like to see the Community Service Corps tackle beautifying improvements at city-owned cemeteries, too.

“During the summer months — during the growing season — our parks department personnel are busy keeping the grass cut so that we may enjoy our parks,” said Davis. “The addition of the Community Service Corps would help ensure our families have a beautiful, safe, and enjoyable green space to take advantage of.”

Members of the Community Service Corps would be between the ages of 16 and 20, said Davis.

Davis, who has held seven Town Hall meetings, said quality of life issues such as improvements in the Parks Department have been important topics brought up by members of the general public.

The next scheduled Town Hall meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 24, from 6-7 p.m. at Oaklyn Library, located at 3001 Oaklyn Drive. To learn more about Rick Davis and his campaign, please feel free to visit www.PickRickDavis.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT RICK DAVIS FOR MAYOR CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN BILL DENTON AT 499-6312.

The Importance of Parks and Recreation…A Better life!

By: Linda Koelling, Vice Mayor of Foster City, CA

We all know the importance of leisure time and recreation in our lives, yet, when times are tough it seems the first things we look to cut in any city budget is in the area of Parks and Recreation. Although recreation means something different to each individual, on the community level the meaning of recreation is focused toward the attainment of an ideal, toward contributions in one form or another to a better way of life. It can then be said that recreation provides for the improvement of society and therefore is essential in our lives. We only have to look around us in Foster City and realize the quality of services that our Parks and Recreation Department provides through its exciting programs and exceptionally maintained parks. When looking at our budget one will see that Parks and Recreation carves a large piece of the budget because our city sees the essential value in leisure activities.

You may have noticed that I have labeled Parks and Recreation as an essential service. I believe that in the midst of vast changes in our communities and the need for regenerating our society because of the economic issues we are all facing, it is important that we have recreational opportunities in place for personal needs, social interaction, creativity and inspiration. Parks and Recreational facilities provide a welcome retreat for the entire family.

As the warm summer months approach, residents should look at the various opportunities that will be available through our Parks and Recreation department. There are opportunities to simply strolling through neighborhood parks such as Leo Ryan Park, walk the new track at Catamaran Park or participate in a structured activity like the Family Overnighter at Boothbay Park. Whether it’s the Levee Pedway or neighborhood park structures, our parks system provides something for all ages and interests. Foster City Parks make life better by making this community a desirable place in which to live and work now and in the future and capturing the serenity and awe of nature.

You can enjoy what the Foster City park system has to offer and discover how it can make your life better. Parks may enhance the quality of life by offering a safe outdoor space for play, or maybe it’s the beauty and quietness of being in nature that makes you feel alive. It could be the healthy movement of exercise at your own pace or spending time with family. You might just discover the simple free time of fun and ability to relax in positive spaces. The parks may also serve as gathering places for socializing and learning; a common ground that connects you and neighbors.

You will recognize the value of Parks and Recreation as they will forever enrich our lives in the neighborhoods and communities in which we live. I encourage you to live the promise that parks make life better and there is no better city than Foster City that exemplifies the many ways that Parks and Recreation positively affect our lives

San Jose Estimate is $40 Million to serve 1 million customers

Like the electric grid, many of today’s water utilities are still using 19th century technologies. That’s attracting a rising number of entrepreneurs to what is one of clean tech’s newest and perhaps most critical sectors.

Some observers see a looming crisis as consumption of the planet’s limited fresh-water resources continues to rise. Sensor networks and other electronics could be leveraged to rebuild an aging and inefficient infrastructure while accelerating the move to seawater and waste water reclamation, they say.
But even the most optimistic experts admit it will take tough new policies and significantly higher prices to drive any progress toward a modern water system. Even with such changes, growth in electronics for water utilities is likely limited to the low-single-digit growth of the utilities themselves.

San Jose Water Co., one of the 10 largest in the country and more automated than most, has all 1 million of its customers metered. But the 225,000 meters it uses are all mechanical devices that must be read in person.
“It would be nice to have automated meters, but right now the cost is prohibitive; we’ve estimated $40 million for our system,” said Tom Victorine, director of operations for the utility, which employs just 324 people and supplies 50 billion gallons of water a year.

Victorine estimates Moore’s Law will put smart meters within San Jose Water’s budget within 10 years.

Moore’s Law is named after Intel founder Gordon Moore who postulated that every two years the number of transistors that can be put into a given space doubles while the price halves making the performance to price ratio increase by a factor of four every two years.

From Electronic Engineering Times

IS IT TRUE? February 22, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the Evansville City Council shall be asked to consider shifting Parks funding from Community Youth Sports programs to maintenance?….that this that this resolution was created by 1st Ward City Councilman Dan McGinn ….that City Council attorney John Hamilton is making legal and binding adjustment to this document? ….that it is time for the private sector step up and help with the funding of these worthy Youth Sports and Youth Leadership programs in Evansville? …..”that government shouldn’t do for people or groups for what they should do for themselves”?

IS IT TRUE that the appearance and functionality of any cities parks are one of the “vital signs” that visitors or site selectors look at to evaluate the civic health of a city?…that back in the 70’s when New York City had let Central Park be taken over by gangs and it became dangerous that New York was thought to be that way throughout the city?…that back when the Central Park jogger was being savaged and tourists were fearful of walks in the park that New York was losing tourist dollars and business hand over fist?…that only when Central Park was taken back from weeds and thugs did New York real estate recover?…that only when Central Park became safe and clean did Times Square come back to become a vibrant place full of life as opposed to prostitutes and drug dealers?…that back in the 70’s when New York was a dysfunctional mess that the Evansville park system was quite nice?…that New York was brought back to life when a series of strong Mayors were elected who drove out crime and insisted upon civic cleanliness and a pristine Central Park and other New York parks.

IS IT TRUE that world renowned landscape architect Fredrick Law Olmsted designed New York’s Central Park, Stanford University, and the entire park system of the City of Louisville?…that in his book “A Journey Through Texas” written in 1857 that Fredrick Law Olmsted referred to Evansville as the only city of note on the Ohio River in the State of Indiana?…that a student of Frederick Law Olmsted designed Evansville’s Garvin Park and did the layout of a park system in Evansville that is based on Olmsted’s theory of public park design?…that Central Park was brought back from the brink of ruin and that the park system of the City of Evansville can be too?…that proper budget allocation, civic involvement, and a big dose of pride of community can do for Evansville what it did for New York City?

IS IT REALLY TRUE that it’s really time that the Parks Department Administrators and the politically appointed Board members (who receives $3,000 a year for serving on the Board) finally become good stewards of the public trust by becoming pro-active in the obvious maintenance issues in our city and County parks?

IS IT TRUE that the City of Evansville Redevelopment Commission will hold a public meeting at 8:30 a.m. in room 307 at the Civic Center on March 1, 2011? ….the reason for this meeting is for the appointed board members of this Commission to consider new appropriations of $2.8 Million dollars for Downtown TIF projects? ….that the Chairman of the Redevelopment Commission should re-advertise this public notice by breaking down what Downtown TIF projects they are planning to launch and the cost breakdown of each project? ….it would be also nice if the Redevelopment Commission Chairmen would send a copy of this information to each and every City Council Members so they can give their input concerning the above appropriations for new Downtown TIF projects?

IS IT TRUE that we are interested in how several new houses were started in the Front Door Pride area after the bond issue to cover the cost was postponed last fall?… that we believe that a full disclosure needs to be made with respect to how each and every one of these $2.8 Million will be spent?

IS IT TRUE CCO “MOLE #3” would like to congratulate 2nd Ward City Councilwoman, Missy Mosby and her challenger Patrick McBride for doing an excellent job in their first e-debate in the Community Observer? ….”MOLE 3″ thinks both candidates did a creditable job?….MOLE #3 predicts this race is too close to call but at this time Missy Mosby has the edge in this campaign?….”MOLE #3″ says that this primary battle between Missy and Patrick will be an old fashion political barn burner?…that we would like to see more issues on which these two candidates have differing opinions?