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IS IT TRUE PART 2: November 23, 2010 (The Musgrave Doctrine)

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Cheryl Musgrave

IS IT TRUE PART 2: November 23, 2010

IS IT TRUE that the first words out of Cheryl Musgrave’s mouth at the Evansville City Council meeting last night were words of support and praise for Tom Barnett’s presentation and his goals of repairing the dilapidated parts of the City of Evansville?…that to a large extent, Musgrave’s biggest critiques of Mr. Barnett’s presentation were about how it was long on ideals and short on details?…that Ms. Musgrave pointed out accurately that the Evansville Historic District was transformed from a neighborhood at risk to a lively and functional residential area without a TIF District or a Redevelopment area designation?….that her assessment of what made the Historic District thrive was all done with private investment without the tools available to government imposed upon the district?….that Musgrave and Barnett both seem to recognize the BILLION DOLLAR problem for what it is, have similar visions for what should happen, but differ on the means to a common end?

IS IT TRUE that Cheryl Musgrave is for less government, less external control, and more private investment?….that Barnett freely acknowledges that government does not have the resources to even scratch the surface of the BILLION DOLLAR problem and is in complete agreement with Musgrave that PRIVATE INVESTMENT is the only potential solution to the BILLION DOLLAR ALBATROSS around the City of Evansville’s neck?…that both Musgrave and Barnett live in very nice homes that happen to be located in the proposed Art’s District TIF?….that both would benefit greatly in enhanced lifestyle, enhanced security, and financially if the BILLION DOLLAR ALBATROSS were slain?

IS IT TRUE that Cheryl Musgrave proposed a smaller government, lower tax, and more family friendly approach to slaying the BILLION DOLLAR ALBATROSS? …that Cheryl called on the City of Evansville to form and disclose more details about the plan for the Art’s District TIF?….that Musgrave suggested designating the area as a ”County Option Income Tax” Free Zone?….that making such a declaration would encourage businesses and residents to choose that location to live and work?…..that Musgrave suggested that all permit fees be waived for projects in the area?…..that Ms. Musgrave suggested that publishing an acquisition list of homes that “may” be taken by the City of Evansville through the power of condemnation hurts the properties ability to get loans to make improvements?….that Cheryl pointed out that the schools that serve this particular area are perennial underachievers?

IS IT TRUE that young professionals first concern in choosing a place to live is often the performance of the neighborhood schools?….that improving the schools, driving down the crime, promoting private investment, and raising the tax base are all supported by both Tom Barnett and Cheryl Musgrave?…..that Tom Barnett sees INNOVATION and PRIVATE INVESTMENT as the only ways that the City of Evansville will ever solve the BILLION DOLLAR problem?….that last night at the Evansville City Council meeting that Cheryl Musgrave disclosed at least three INNOVATIONS and paved the way to a PRIVATE INVESTMENT friendly set of rules?…..that both of these people are the kind of people who may just form the nucleus of a group that can develop and execute a plan to rid the City of Evansville of its BILLION DOLLAR ALBATROSS?

IS IT TRUE: November 23, 2010 (Barnett’s TIF Approved)

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Tom Barnett

IS IT TRUE: November 23, 2010

IS IT TRUE that Tom Barnett, Director of the Evansville Department of Metropolitan Development gave a very clear, truthful, and aware assessment of the housing stock of the City of Evansville before the Evansville City Council last night?….that Mr. Barnett stated that at least 20% of the housing stock in the City of Evansville is in such dilapidated condition that these houses need in excess of $100,000 of repairs and maintenance each?…that he stated that there are at least 8,400 such structures in Evansville?…that he also stated that it could cost over $1 Billion (yes that is with a B) to bring the housing stock of the City of Evansville up to snuff?

IS IT TRUE that Mr. Barnett backed up his numbers with picture after picture of ramshackle homes and shuttered businesses?…..that some City Council members seemed to be shocked at the magnitude of the problem?….that Barnett’s presentation was done to seek approval for an Art’s District TIF in a 50 block area of South Evansville that includes the historic district, Haynies Corner, and Goosetown?….that Councilmen Watts and Walker pointed out that vast areas of the Jacobsville neighborhood and the west side suffer from similar dilapidation issues?…..that Mr. Barnett told the City Council that the City of Evansville gets only $4M per year from the federal government with which to address this Billion Dollar Problem?….that Barnett also stated that there is NOT and there NEVER will be a MAGIC BULLET FROM THE GOVERNMENT to fix this dilapidation problem?…..that Tom Barnett admitted that PRIVATE INVESTMENT is the only real solution but also expressed the fact that the only businesses that are currently doing well in South Evansville are SLUMLORDS? ….that truth be told, even the SLUMLORDS are not prospering as is evidenced by the large number of homes that are shuttered and available at tax sales and sheriff’s auctions? ….that the term “Detroit Style Meltdown” was uttered as a possibility by at least one member of the Evansville City Council?

IS IT TRUE that awareness and realization of a problem is the first step to recovery?… that Tom Barnett showed much awareness and courage to stand before the City Council and call the City of Evansville out for having a BILLION DOLLAR problem with dilapidated housing stock?….that the same area of town disproportionally suffers from crime, drug trafficking, prostitution, and COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS? …..that the CSO problem has been estimated to cost over a HALF BILLION DOLLARS and has brought the wrath of EPA lawsuits and fines onto the City of Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that Mr. Barnett was questioned by City Councilman Dan McGinn, Cheryl Musgrave, and others about the need to declare some well developed properties in the Historic District to be in need of redevelopment?….that Barnett’s response was that those beautifully restored homes suffered depressed values because of their proximity to dilapidated neighborhoods and criminal activity?….that Barnett’s assessment that a $1 Million home may actually be a $3 Million home if the ghetto next door is rejuvenated as well?….that the BILLION DOLLAR dilapidation problem is costing the City of Evansville more than a BILLION DOLLARS in assessed tax base?….that Councilman Adams asked the question “if I have a wonderfully restored Victorian home that is a block from a crack house do I lose”?….that Tom Barnett simply answered that question with a YES?…that Tom Loesch the chairman of the Blackford Grove Neighborhood Association, used his own home as an example of a terrible investment?…that Mr. Loesch bought his home for about $53,000 and spent about $250,000 making improvements to it? …that his recent assessment of the house for tax purposes, the value came back at about $51,000? ….that as long as $50,000 houses are costing $300,000 that no investor based private money will even consider Evansville’s dilapidated South Side as a viable place to invest?

IS IT TRUE that the Evansville City Council approved the Art’s District TIF as Tom Barnett requested?…that as aware and courageous as Mr. Barnett’s presentation was that it was quite lacking in details of what would actually be happening to fix this BILLION DOLLAR problem?….that much more planning will need to be done before realization of any sustainable progress will be able to happen?….that the resources of the City of Evansville as severely limited when it comes to fixing a BILLION DOLLAR problem?….that at a rate of $4 Million per year it will take 250 years to fix this problem?…that $4 Million per year is not even enough to “stop the bleeding”?….that the amount of money available from government is the equivalent of trying to repair a $1,000 problem on a $4 budget?…that what is needed as Tom Barnett so clearly stated are INNOVATION and PRIVATE INVESTMENT?

IS IT TRUE that the City County Observer congratulates and thanks Tom Barnett for saying what so many senior government officials of the City of Evansville over many years have not had the courage or the awareness to say?….that Evansville has heard enough from public officials about “how great a place to raise a family and how the recession has not hit Evansville”?….if Goosetown was such a great place to raise a family that the Front Door Pride homes would not be sitting vacant?….that sometimes the truth hurts but that truth is always needed to fix problems?….that exposing a gaping wound for what it is takes courage, hard work, and a certain selflessness?….that Tom Barnett may have just shaken some sense into some elected officials and some of the people of Evansville with his graphic but accurate presentation?

IS IT TRUE that Cheryl Musgrave followed Mr. Barnett with a presentation of her own that brought up some new ideas about how to attract private investment to the area?….that some of her ideas certainly fit the term INNOVATION?….that Barnett and Musgrave have histories of creating positive action without worrying about being loved by all?…that dare we say the two of them might just have the potential to form the nucleus of a team that can solve BILLION DOLLAR problems?….that IS IT TRUE PART 2 will address some of Musgrave’s ideas?

Adams-McGinn Resolution Passes 7-2: City Council Says No More Projects Until Executive Inn Dilemma is Solved

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Dan McGinn

Dr Dan Adams

Sends a Strong Message to County Council and County Commissioners

After nearly a three hour meeting of the Evansville City Council that was filled with spirited debate about the Art’s District TIF the time to vote on the “Hotel before Ballfields” resolution that was co-sponsored by Dan McGinn and Dr. Dan Adams came to a vote a approximately 8:30 pm. The resolution while having no authority to act sends a clear message to the Vanderburgh County Council and the Vanderburgh County Commissioners that the Evansville City Council feels so strongly that Downtown Evansville needs a Convention Hotel that they are willing to vote overwhelmingly in favor of the resolution that expresses support for policies that put a moratorium on committing the Innkeeper’s Tax to any project at all until the Executive Inn Dilemma and its associated parking is solved.

Mayor Weinzapfel held a news conference after the resolution was introduced last Friday to announce that the Innkeeper’s Tax would not be needed to consummate a deal for a Downtown Hotel. It is widely believed that the news conference was called for the purpose of sending a message that the Adams-McGinn resolution was not necessary. During much of Monday efforts to remove the resolution from the City Council’s agenda for tonight were attempted. In the end the resolution was put to a vote and the result was a 7 – 2 affirmative vote. Whether it was necessary or not it has passed and is now a part of the public record.

Neighborhood leaders and supporters of Wesselman Woods Sherman Stevens and Martha Crosley came to the lecturn to urge the Council to adopt the resolution. Ms. Crosley suggested in the same spirit of County Councilman James Raben’s interview with the City County Observer that “the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau should be doing a better job of marketing the recreational facilities that we already have”.

In opposition to the resolution were Jacob Pendleton, President of the Hotel Association and Rita Bauer a General Manager of two hotels and a member of a family that owns several local hotels. The plea that they both made was basically to not use “their” Innkeeper’s Tax to fund a competitor, which was met with some disgust by City Councilman Curt John who corrected them by reminding them that they are simply the collectors of and not the owners of the Innkeeper’s Tax. Ms. Bauer stated that local hotels are currently struggling and that her family has declined investing in a Downtown Evansville Hotel because they do not believe that one is needed.

When it came time to call a vote after every speaker had spoken and every question was answered what was opposed, fought against, and actively blunted in private passed by a wide margin. Council members Adams, McGinn, Robinson, John ,Friend, Watts, and Mosby voted “aye”, with only Council members Bredhold and Walker voting “no”. Councilwoman Mosby was adamant that she was being true to her 2nd Ward constituents who had expressed their support for the resolution to her throughout the weekend. This is one vote that seems to reflect the will of the people of Evansville.

IS IT TRUE PART 2: November 22, 2010

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The Mole #??
IS IT TRUE PART 2: November 21, 2010

IS IT TRUE that the deal to sell the property at 1112 Parrett Street by the City of Evansville to the Boren LLC group for $135,000 under what the City of Evansville paid for it in exchange for refurbishment has fallen through?…..that this is still developing and details will be forthcoming?

IS IT TRUE that CCO Mole #3 says that there is a last ditch effort going on to remove the Adams-McGinn resolution commonly called “Hotel before Ballfields” from tonight’s Evansville City Council meeting?…..that Mole #3 says that the last ditch effort is being championed by members of the voting block of Evansville City Council members that typically vote as one solid block? …..that this block is comprised of the most loyal members of Team Weinzapfel?….that if the Mayor’s statement Friday about having such a sweet deal going for a Downtown Convention Hotel that innkeeper’s taxes will not be needed is true, the “Hotel before Ballfields” resolution is simply a formality?

IS IT TRUE that a vote for this resolution will be seen politically as financially responsible?….that a vote against this resolution may just be seen as a vote against the will of the people of Evansville?….that the Team Weinzapfel block would much prefer to not be asked to vote at all on this resolution?….that this will be a vote that has the potential to be used as a political weapon against the Team Weinzapfel block by their opponents in both the Democratic primary and the general election?

IS IT TRUE that at 12:39 PM on Monday November 22, 2010 that the City County Observer Reader’s Poll shows 179 votes against proceeding with the Ballfields now, 9 votes in favor, and 2 confused voters?….that by a 20 to 1 majority our readers support this resolution?….that our readers are the people of Evansville?….that the people of Evansville have spoken and that the Common Council of the City of Evansville needs to listen?

IS IT TRUE that Mole #3 tells us that the last ditch effort by the Team Weinzapfel block voters attempted to convince the attorney for the Evansville City Council John Hamilton to remove the “Hotel Before Ballfields” resolution from tonight’s agenda?…that they were not successful in that effort as they were told that it is appropriate and orderly for a roll call vote on this resolution to be held tonight as scheduled?

Former County Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave Challenges the Art’s District TIF

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Cheryl Musgrave

Cites Failure of City of Evansville DMD to Comply with Freedom of Information Act Request

Cheryl Musgrave has launched an effort opposing the City of Evansville’s proposal to establish an Art’s District TIF district that encompasses a full 50 square blocks of South Evansville. In a town hall style meeting called by Musgrave at the Oaklyn Library on Thursday November 18, 2010, she questioned not only the vastness of the proposed TIF District but the intent of the City of Evansville for this area through its Department of Metropolitan Development headed by Tom Barnett.

The Musgrave family has lived in this area for many years and has every reason as expressed by former Commissioner Musgrave to want the area that they call home to be a favorable place to live. Musgrave also has extensive experience with TIF districts. In her role as President of the Vanderburgh County Commissioners she lead the establishment of the Burkhardt Road TIF and spearheaded the widening of Green River Road project that was recently lauded for being on time and under budget.

As a Vanderburgh County Commissioner and in her time as the Vanderburgh County Assessor, Musgrave was never one to shy away from a challenge or to shirk a task. Her leadership in the Assessor’s office led Vanderburgh County to have one of the first GIS based systems operational in the State of Indiana.

In a map of the proposed Art’s District TIF that was shown in Musgrave’s presentation the reach of this proposed district is clear to see encompassing an area that contains both blighted areas and some Historic District homes with values of over $1 Million near the Evansville Museum that is also in the proposed TIF District.

As part of her opposition to the proposal, Ms. Musgrave cites the financial failure of the Front Door Pride program that has to date built 14 houses at an average cost to build of over $200,000 that have only commanded market prices of around $100,000. Six of these Front Door Pride homes remain unsold constituting roughly a 2 year inventory at the current rates of sale. Musgrave was specific about opposing the issue of $2 Million in bonds part of which would be used to construct three more Front Door Pride houses bringing the inventory to three years. She also stated that two of the first Front Door Pride homes were sold to relatives of members of the Evansville City Council.

Musgrave also opposes the Art’s District TIF on the basis that four new layers of government are to be established with the proposed TIF. The specific new layers of government stated are the Redevelopment Area Project and Allocation Area, the Art’s District TIF, the Design Review Commission, and Zoning Overlay. As one of the goals that has been stated for the TIF by City of Evansville officials is to bring commercial enterprise into what is mostly a residential area, Musgrave expressed concern that some of the home based retailers may be the kinds of businesses that are not typically associated with “good neighborhoods” such as tattoo parlors or hookah dens. Several members of her audience were vocal in sharing their concerns over this issue.

The Art’s District without a TIF has been talked about and promoted for many years with minimal success. During the last few years nearly all of the Art Galleries that set up in the Haynies Corner District have ceased operations and many of the artists have left town. Musgrave stated that others are planning to do the same. A concern among the citizens that attended the meeting was that the term Art’s was basically in name only and that the entire proposal is more about extending the power of local government through calling a large residential area an Art’s District.

Musgrave went on to state that the proposed Art’s District TIF would also grant the City of Evansville more power to acquire property through condemnation and remove tax dollars from the general revenue creating sort of a buoyancy effect on property taxes where they would be held high as opposed to being able to fall at times when lowering taxes is possible.
Perhaps the most disturbing thing to Ms. Musgrave has been the secretive way that this proposal has made its way to tonight’s meeting of the Evansville City Council. She spoke openly of her diligent attempts to get information about the proposed Art’s District TIF including filing a Freedom of Information Act form only to be ignored. She told the crowd that the State of Indiana had cited DMDfor not responding to the FOIA request in a timely manner. A timely response for such requests is typically 48 hours.

Uncertainty and stonewalling on the part of the City of Evansville was what many of the attendees are most upset about. There are no details on the website about how much money is anticipated to be raised or when, what projects are being considered, what commercial enterprises are targeted, or even what the first priority is. In searching for answers the City County Observer has had the same experience as Musgrave stated. The answers are basically trust us, let us write ourselves a blank check, and things will be great.

The people of Evansville have seen this pattern of behavior before with recent projects like the Executive Inn, the Evansville Arena, the infamous Front Door Pride homes, and the proposed Roberts Stadium Ballfields. When things are planned and disclosed in detail they seem to go smoothly yet when projects are allowed to go forward in an unplanned and unmanaged manner they seem to get chaotic and uncertain as both the Ballfields and the Downtown Convention Hotel projects have.

The City County Observer supports and commends former County Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave for taking a leadership role in trying to force the City of Evansville to disclose the details of the plan for this massive proposed Art’s District TIF. She lives in the targeted area, knows how TIF districts work, and has a fully vested interest in promoting any program that will make her own neighborhood a better place. She and the other residents of the 500+ homes in that area have both a need and a right to know what the City of Evansville has in store for them.
We hope Ms. Musgrave and her neighbors achieve success in forcing fair disclosure from the Department of Metropolitan Development and in having the opportunity to influence whatever plan actually materializes. We also encourage the City of Evansville and DMD to produce these plans in a comprehensive form for public scrutiny. There is nothing wrong with government being truthful and that is what we expect to see even if the truth turns out to be that there is no plan at all.

IS IT TRUE: November 22, 2010

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The Mole #??

IS IT TRUE: November 21, 2010

IS IT TRUE that Evansville City Councilmen Dr. H. Dan Adams and Dan McGinn have teamed up to craft a resolution for vote that if passed would put the Evansville City Council on record as favoring a “Downtown Convention Hotel BEFORE Ballfields or other Capital Projects” approach to the near future?…..that the use of the Innkeeper’s Tax for the resurrected Roberts Stadium Ball Fields proposal by County Councilman Tom Shetler Jr. is responsible for City Councilmen Adams’ and McGinn’s resolution? ….that public disclosure of this proposed resolution sparked a statement from Mayor Weinzapfel hailing a pending deal with a Convention Hotel developer that is so favorable that the Innkeeper’s Tax will not be needed?…..that if the Mayor is correct the proposed “Hotel Before Ballfields” resolution will be a moot point in the very near future when the big announcement is made of the pending Hotel Deal?…..that if the Mayor is correct that passing the resolution will only create a time for the Vanderburgh County governing bodies to pause and think the future plans for Roberts Stadium through before embarking on an obviously evolving and unfinished plan?…..that the City County Observer truly hopes that Mayor Weinzapfel is correct in his assertion about a favorable development agreement with a well financed reputable business to eliminate the Executive Inn Dilemma?

IS IT TRUE that there are now 720 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 that the resolution to issue $2 Million of bonds to do $500,000 of routine maintenance on the City of Evansville’s parking garages, to refinance some existing debt, and build three more Front Door Pride houses has been removed from tonight’s Evansville City Council agenda?…..that this post election period is a better time to think things through than it is to JAM THINGS THROUGH that have thin public support at best?….that there is no shortage of available Front Door Pride homes in Goosetown?…. that borrowing approximately $750,000 to spend on houses that will only command at combined market price of half of the construction cost is a formula for a failed program?….that much like the “Hotel Before Ballfields” resolution above that a similar resolution along the lines of “Sell the FDP Houses you have Before Building More”, would be viewed as wise cash management?

IS IT TRUE that the City of Evansville’s parking garages suffer from the same kind of deferred maintenance issues that the existing ballfields do?….that what is really needed is a resurrection and maintenance plan for the existing tourism related facilities that are in the City of Evansville?….that County Councilman James Raben told the City County Observer exactly that in an interview that was published last Friday?…. that a good marketing effort of existing facilities may just result in more tourism per dollar than any set of ballfields ever will?….that the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau is still seeking a replacement for Executive Director Marilee Fowler?….that the marketing of the City of Evansville has suffered for nearly a year from the disruption of the day to day operation from the void left by Ms. Fowler’s sudden departure?…..that someone and maybe even someone that many of us know is needed in that position?

IS IT TRUE that former President of the Vanderburgh County Commissioners Cheryl Musgrave is questioning the wisdom of the City of Evansville’s intention to establish an Art’s District TIF (Tax Increment Finance)?…..that Ms. Musgrave has requested details about the proposed TIF using the Freedom of Information Act and has still been ignored by the City of Evansville’s Department of Metropolitan Development headed by Tom Barnett??…..that the reach of the proposed TIF is long and wide and that the details about the proposed TIF are short?…..that Ms. Musgrave has asserted that the proposed TIF will create multiple new layers of government?…..that the City County Observer commends Cheryl Musgrave for taking the lead in this effort to extract clarity and honesty from the City of Evansville?…..that Ms. Musgrave is a long time resident of the proposed Art’s District TIF, has worked creatively with the Burkhardt TIF as a Vanderburgh County Commissioner, and is most qualified as well as personally invested in making this proposed Art’s District TIF into a positive thing?….that this clarity, honesty, and a comprehensive plan that Ms. Musgrave has been denied by the City of Evansville is the first step to a successful Art’s District in this endeavor?

Esther Uduehi, Reitz Graduate Named Rhodes Scholar

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November 20, 2010

News Release

Elliot F. Gerson, American Secretary of the Rhodes Trust, today announced the names of the thirty-two American men and women chosen as Rhodes Scholars representing the United States. Rhodes Scholarships provide all expenses for two or three years of study at the University of Oxford in England, and may allow funding in some instances for four years. Mr. Gerson called the Rhodes Scholarships, “the oldest and best known award for international study, and arguably the most famous academic award available to American college graduates.” They were created in 1902 by the Will of Cecil Rhodes, British philanthropist and African colonial pioneer. The first class of American Rhodes Scholars entered Oxford in 1904; those elected today will enter Oxford in October 2011.

Rhodes Scholars are chosen in a two-stage process. First, candidates must be endorsed by their college or university. Over 1500 students each year seek their institution’s endorsement; this year, 837 were endorsed by 309 different colleges and universities. Committees of Selection in each of 16 U.S. districts then invite the strongest applicants to appear before them for interview.

Gerson said, “applicants are chosen on the basis of the criteria set down in the Will of Cecil Rhodes. These criteria are high academic achievement, integrity of character, a spirit of unselfishness, respect for others, potential for leadership, and physical vigor. These basic characteristics are directed at fulfilling Mr. Rhodes’s hopes that the Rhodes Scholars would make an effective and positive contribution throughout the world. In Rhodes’ words, his Scholars should ‘esteem the performance of public duties as
their highest aim.'”

Applicants in the United States may apply either through the state where they are legally resident or where they have attended college for at least two years. The district committees met separately, on Friday and Saturday, November 19 and 20, in cities across the country.

Each district committee made a final selection of two Rhodes Scholars from the candidates of the state or states within the district. Two-hundred nine applicants from 88 different colleges and universities reached the final stage of the competition, including eight that had never before had a student win a Rhodes Scholarship.

Gerson also reported, “in most years, we elect a winner from a college that had never before had a Rhodes Scholar, even after more than a century. This year we are pleased to announce first-time winners from Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and from the University of California, Irvine.”

The thirty-two Rhodes Scholars chosen from the United States will join an international group of Scholars chosen from fourteen other jurisdictions around the world. In addition to the thirty-two Americans, Scholars are also selected from Australia, Bermuda, Canada, the nations of the Commonwealth Caribbean, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, Pakistan, Southern Africa (South Africa, plus Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi,
Namibia and Swaziland), Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Approximately 80 Scholars are selected worldwide each year, including several non-U.S. Scholars who have attended American colleges and universities.

With the elections announced today, 3,228 Americans have won Rhodes Scholarships, representing 312 colleges and universities. Since 976, women have been eligible to apply and 441 American women have now won the coveted scholarship. And for the third time since 1976, more women (17) than men (15) were elected. Men constituted 54% of the applicant pool. More than 1,800 American Rhodes Scholars are living in all parts of the U.S. and abroad. For the first time ever, South Dakota had two Rhodes Scholars elected in
the same year.

The value of the Rhodes Scholarship varies depending on the academic field and the degree (B.A., master’s, doctoral) chosen. The Rhodes Trust pays all college and university fees, provides a stipend to cover necessary expenses while in residence in Oxford as well as during vacations, and transportation to and from England. Mr. Gerson estimates that the total value of the Scholarship averages approximately US$50,000 per year.

Esther O. Uduehi, Evansville, is a senior at Indiana University, Bloomington, where she majors in biochemistry and mathematics. She was also a visiting student at Oxford. A Wells Scholar, Presidential Intern and Senator Richard Lugar Scholar, and a member of Phi Beta Kappa, she is president of the IU Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students. She has won several awards for her research in organic chemistry, and has participated in a U.S.-Russia global health care study program and done research at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Esther plans to do the D.Phil. in chemistry at Oxford.

Source: The Rhodes Trust

West Virginia’s Senator Jay Rockefeller Suggests Eliminating MSNBC and FOX

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Senator Jay Rockefeller

The City County Observer as a promoter of good public policy was not surprised to see the first punch from the United States Senate thrown at the widely viewed networks MSNBC and Fox News. As we are for open and honest dialog on the local, state, and national levels. We support the right to free speech and encourage people to think for themselves.

Increasingly it seems that both MSNBC and Fox News play to the audience as opposed to reporting the news in an unbiased manner. These two networks on the contrary cloak themselves as credible news agencies while bombarding the public with biased and opinionated rhetoric. The public seems to eat it up as is evidenced by the high viewer ratings.

When cigarettes were discovered to be damaging to the public’s health, the government stepped in and forced a health disclaimer to be printed on each pack. Perhaps such a disclaimer should appear in the tag lines on television entertainment that masquerades as news.

The disclaimer:

“the contents of the show you are watching are not news and have been known to cause people to make illogical and incorrect conclusions based on thin or fabricated evidence”

seems to be a first step worth considering.

So, O’Reilly and Mathews, Scholtz and Greta, Rachel, Kieth, Beck, and Hannity had better be on their toes. Senator Rockefeller seems to see the lot of them as similar and hazardous to the public’s mental health and in many cases the Senator is probably correct. In their defense, none of them claim to be journalists. They know what they are and they are quite pleased and well paid for the entertainment they sell to society as news.

Here is a link to the full story with a video.

http://www.westernjournalism.com/sen-rockefeller-suggests-eliminating-fox-msnbc/

Vanderburgh County Councilman James Raben Announces Opposition to Roberts Stadium Ball Fields Project at this Time

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Vanderburgh County Councilman Jim Raben has made his intentions to vote no on the proposed Roberts Stadium Ballfields project that was resurrected this week in a last ditch effort lead by County Councilman Tom Shetler Jr. to form a coalition of public investors to go forward with the Ballfields Project with a lower bond issue to be serviced by the Innkeeper’s Tax. This coalition of the willing was made up of the City of Evansville that was financing the demolition and associated tasks, the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC) that expressed a willingness to contribute to the project in exchange for one of the softball fields being designated as Bosse’s home field, and the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau. Some adjustments were discussed in reducing the scope of the Ballfields Project to do less of the deferred maintenance to existing facilities within Wesselman Park.

Councilman Raben’s declaration will make passage of this project in the short run extremely difficult. When interviewed by the City County Observer for this announcement, Councilman Raben stated the following.

“I spent much time and effort reviewing and analyzing the feasibility of the Roberts Stadium Ballfields project during the last couple of weeks, I spent more time in deliberative thought on this project than I need to on most projects that the County Council is tasked with considering. My conclusion is that the ECVB should concentrate its resources on getting the underutilized facilities suffering from deferred maintenance issues that we already have up to acceptable standards. Numerous reliable sources have told me that the Goebel Soccer Complex is already in need of maintenance. During times like this as a businessman, my conclusion is that the economics are not right to go forward with the Roberts Stadium Ballfields project as proposed at this time”.

Councilman Raben also expanded on the number of existing entertainment venues within the City of Evansville that are either underutilized, in dire need of maintenance, or both. He included the following facilities on his list of properties with unused capacity and in need of routine maintenance.

*The Centre

*New Stadium Arena

*Mesker Zoo

*Amazonian

*Mesker Amphitheatre

*Victory Theatre

*The Museum

*The Children’s Museum

*LST 325

*Goebel Soccer Complex

*Burdette Park

*Vanderburgh 4-H Center

*Swonder Ice Arena

*Angel Mounds

*Lloyd Pool

*Reitz Home

The City County Observer would like to commend Councilman Raben for his thoughtful consideration and for making his position known well in advance of the December 1st meeting where this issue is scheduled for discussion. We hope that the members of the Vanderburgh County Council that have not yet announced their intentions will do so in the near future so as to spare us another two weeks of posturing on behalf of this much discussed proposal.

Evansville City Councilmen McGinn & Adams Team Up to Propose a Hotel and Arena Before Ballfields Resolution

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Dr Dan Adams

Dan McGinn

Two members of the Evansville City Council have teamed up to propose a resolution that would send a message to the Vanderburgh County Commissioners and the Vanderburgh County Council that the Evansville City Council does not support going forward with the Roberts Stadium Ballfields project as currently proposed by the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau. The specifics of the resolution basically proposes that the City of Evansville has enough money committed right now to the ongoing Evansville Arena project and a looming response from Downtown Hotel Developers that will certainly require some incentives to secure a binding development agreement for a Convention Hotel to support the Centre that has suffered this year since the closing of the Executive Inn and the Evansville Arena that is slated to open in less than a year. The full text of the proposed resolution is below.

RESOLUTION C-2010- 22
SPONSORED BY McGinn, Adams

DOWNTOWN HOTEL AND ARENA PARKING BEFORE BALLFIELDS

Whereas: the City of Evansville is currently engaged in a major building project, a multipurpose facility hereinafter referred to as the Arena, and

Whereas: It is of the utmost importance, to insure the success of the Arena, and to insure the success of a County owned and operated facility known as the Centre, that a hotel and parking facilities be built in conjunction with the Arena, and

Whereas: The Evansville Visitors and Convention Bureau has available to it, as a method to promote tourism, the ability to utilize certain monies raised by an Innkeepers tax, and

Whereas: The Evansville Visitors and Convention Bureau desires to utilize said tax source to build certain facilities, to wit, baseball and softball diamonds and related facilities, and,

Whereas: the Visitors and Convention Bureau has also advanced a plan to utilize a portion of the aforementioned Innkeeper’s tax to demolish a City of Evansville facility known a s Roberts Stadium, and

Whereas: the Common Council of the City of Evansville believes it is more important to the success of the area that the aforementioned hotel and related parking facilities be built utilizing available funds, including the Innkeepers tax, and that the completion of the hotel should take precedence over the aforementioned baseball and softball project and demolition of Roberts Stadium, and

Whereas: It is the desire of the Common Council of the City of Evansville to encourage all governmental agencies within the County of Vanderburgh and the City of Evansville to delay any plans to utilize any portion the Innkeepers tax for any project until completion of the hotel and parking facilities needed to insure the success of the Arena and the Centre, and

Whereas: the Common council of the City of Evansville believes that a better use of the Innkeepers tax would be to utilize it, if needed, to complete the aforesaid hotel and parking facility.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that, the Common Council of the City of Evansville respectfully asks all governmental agencies and officials within the City of Evansville and within the County of Vanderburgh, including but not limited to The Vanderburgh County Commissioners, the Vanderburgh County Council, the Evansville Visitors and Convention Bureau, the Board of Parks Commissioners and all other agencies and officials to place a moratorium on the use of any Innkeepers tax for any project within the County of Vanderburgh until such time as the plans and financing arrangements for a hotel and parking facilities are completed and to utilize said funds, if needed, to complete the hotel and parking facilities so as to insure the success of the Arena project and the subsequent success of the Centre.

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