IS IT TRUE? September 4, 2011

IS IT TRUE the City County Observer is pleased to see that some of the other local media is awakening from their coma and starting to point their finger at the ugliness of this area?…that they of course avoid words like ugly and favor carefully chosen terms like “unattractive” which is not as likely to offend as terms like ugly, dirty, unkempt, distasteful, or disgraceful?…that using calming terms like unattractive reminds us of the politically correct yet universal excuse for poor performance “less fortunate”?…that it is right to point out that Evansville is stifling its own growth and eliminating opportunities by CHOOSING to be “unattractive” or shall we say “distasteful and repulsive” to outsiders?…that at least one editorial did use a term that was accurate enough to hopefully get some attention?…the term “SEA OF MEDIOCRITY” sends the right message about what Evansville seems to be to outside observers and furthermore is what it will continue to be unless it can first learn basic civic hygiene?

IS IT TRUE that this whole job creation through attraction of businesses and inspiration of growth is so much like dating that it takes one back to the days of youth?…that young men who are seeking young attractive women and young women who are seeking their ideal young men ALL seem to practice basic hygiene and even a little deception when they are in the “attraction game”?…that to attend a dance or another social event these youngsters routinely have the good sense to take a shower, put on deodorant, brush their teeth, comb their hair, use some cosmetics, and put on clothing that is carefully selected to send the message of whatever it is that they seek?…the bottom line is that people in “attraction mode” know how to look what they think is their best and go to great lengths to do so?

IS IT TRUE that a teenager that is a total and complete slob most of the time will switch into look good mode very quickly if the boyfriend or girlfriend is coming over to meet the parents?…that these kids will even clean the parents house and beg the parents to be on good behavior and looking good when “attraction” is on their mind?…that we wonder what it is that has caused the City of Evansville to lose this most basic of human personality traits?…that having travelled to many cities it is quite clear that Evansville from a main roads and gateways perspective does not live up to the “SEA OF MEDIOCRITY” description?…that the City of Evansville needs to make some serious improvements to show as mediocre to outsiders?…that mediocrity should be a first goal on an improvement program that eventually gets Evansville looking well groomed and ready for a date?

IS IT TRUE that we hope that this newfound enlightenment of the 2011 election year is not as fleeting as such efforts usually are?…that for the first time in many years there seems to be a reason to believe that there is actually sincerity and a pulse behind the cleanup efforts?…that with hardworking organizations like Keep Evansville Beautiful with its Joan of Arc like champion Ann Ennis who never takes her eye off of the ball do the basics to the best of their ability and economic development professionals like Greg Wathen finally connecting the perception of filth with failures to attract economic opportunity Evansville may just have one last ray of hope to join the cleansed cities of America?…that we are very encouraged that both candidates for Mayor of Evansville acknowledge the litter problem and have proposed actions to do something about it?…that the first step for a filthy dirty person to become clean is to look into the mirror and see themselves the way others see them?…that the second step is to be as repulsed by their own nastiness as others are and to vow to clean up and to stay that way?…that the final and most important step is to actually practice good grooming and hygiene on a daily basis?…that most people learn that in the 2nd grade and it is a joy to see the leadership of Evansville finally seems to be ready for the 3rd step as we begin our 165th year as a city?

IS IT TRUE? September 3, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the ownership of a long time Evansville business has finally made the jump not only out of Evansville but out of the United States altogether?…that the legacy Evansville business once known as Creative Press that was located in Downtown Evansville until INDOT bought their building is has been bought out by a British based business?…that just a few years ago that local ownership ceased to exist when Menasha Corp. bought Creative Press and placed it into a corporate entity known as Cortegra?…that when an out of town entity buys a locally owned business that the profits are no longer available to create local wealth?…that Creative Press was for many years an Evansville owned business that provided jobs, pride, and profits to the local economy an locally controlled wealth to the owners?…that when the company was sold to an American company outside of Evansville the local profit and wealth part of that equation evaporated except of course for the check that the owner got?…that now that a British company owned Cortegra that the profits will no longer serve to even add to the American wealth?…that this is just one more example of local wealth being acquired and all future wealth being relocated to some other place?…that recently there has been a whole string of companies many of which are in legacy industries that have been bought right out of Evansville?…that in a very short span of time Creative Press went from a locally owned business to a foreign owned subsidiary of a subsidiary?

IS IT TRUE that the consolidation of Local 7 WTVW and News25 WEHT is progressing with timetables being set for Local 7’s move across the money saving bridge?…that these two stations through the years have had such distinctly different demeanors in presenting news, sports, and weather that choosing which one to watch was more about what kind of mood you were in as opposed to which team commanded ones loyalty?…that News25 has been a traditional style news source that seems to fancy itself as a mini-national news source with local stories?…that Local 7 (previously Fox 7) has really mixed it up with some zaniness and a more gloves off and jesters hat on presentation?…that both stations have filled the needs of the community and that the City County Observer hopes that both news teams can somehow continue to broadcast in their own styles?…that when this move is complete these stations like Creative Press will be out of state, out of local control, and subject to the financial management oversight of detached owners?…that we wonder what will become of the Local 7 studio in Downtown Evansville?

IS IT TRUE that Friday has passed and that there is no agenda available for next week’s meeting of the Evansville Redevelopment Commission?…that the expectation of all is that there will be some substantial discussion regarding the VETTING interviews that both the Kunkel Group and Prime Lodging have now subjected themselves to?…that any gut feelings or insider information that was developed in those meetings is a closely guarded box of secrets?…that not even Mole #3 has been able to get any tangible information about how these interviews have gone for the bidders?…that there have been a few pieces of info trickle out but that nothing has two source credible verification so the “Mole Nation” shall remain quiet?…that the other topic of interest that we are expecting to hear about is the intention of the ERC with respect to the McCurdy Hotel?…that while owning up to the financial reality may be the right thing to do our expectation is that either the word “McCurdy” shall not be uttered or that this albatross will be kicked down the calendar by another 3 months for the next administration to deal with?

IS IT TRUE? Part 2 September 2, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the manager of the Evansville Airport (EVV) that has been repeatedly identified as one of the vital needs to promote economic prosperity and even viability is coming out swinging to get the jetways that have been needed for years to make the EVV experience better and more competitive?…that Doug Joest is actually showing some leadership and publishing some pricing for these essential features of a modern airport?…that it seems as though the price is about $1.5 Million for 4 jetways?…that is only $375,000 each?…that is less than the area Ford dealers are paying per year to buy the naming rights for the Ford Center?…that all 4 jetways will cost $500,000 less than the CVB was wanting to pay for just one ballfield?…that each jetway cost about as much as the “art” for the Ford Center?…that all of the jetways cost as much as 7 Front Door Pride houses?…that given these comparisons we are seriously wondering about the sense of priority with respect to local government spending during recent history?

IS IT TRUE that if 6% bonds were issued with a 20 year term that the payment would be $10,746 per month?…that this is a sponsorship opportunity at less than the cost of a billboard with a captive pedestrian audience if there ever was one?…that you Mr. CEO can sponsor one jetway at the Evansville airport for a paltry $2,686 per month?…that this sponsorship would completely pay for the jetway in 20 years?…that if this can be done with some sense of urgency and without concerning ourselves with waiting around for years to get approved for federal reimbursement then we can have these jetways now while interest rates (and sponsorships) are low instead of waiting around for the federal government to subsidize them and attach a bunch of strings to the project?…that the CCO would jump at the opportunity to help Doug, Diana, and the team at EVV in trying to make something happen the old fashioned way to get some jetways?

IS IT TRUE that many years ago in the days of our youth that Channel 25 crossed the money saving bridge for a new headquarters in Henderson?…that back then it was Channel 50?…that it has been revealed that the recent changes at WTVW Channel 7 will now be changing locations from their longtime home in downtown Evansville and into the Henderson headquarters of WEHT News 25 in Henderson?…that there will be another building available in downtown Evansville when this move plays itself out?

IS IT TRUE that CCO “MOLE #3” is hearing that many political types are spinning the name of Evansville police officer Billy Bolin to replace the Honorable Chief of Police Brad Hill as the next Chief? …that the Billy Bolin supporters are making the following argument why he should be appointed as the next city of Evansville Chief of Police? …that they state that under Billy Bolin’s watch that the department morale shall improve quickly because the rank and file know that he is fair and not afraid to make tough decisions? …they also are saying that the African-American community has a great deal of respect for Mr. Bolin because of his street work on the South Side, Bosse High School as their Liaison Officer, and has experience as a South Sector Crime Prevention Officer? …that they say he not only enjoys an excellent relationship with the top brass of the Vanderburgh Sheriff’s Department but with the rank and file members of that Department? …that they state that Mr. Bolin enjoys an excellent personal relationship with Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Nick Hermann? …they also point out that Mr. Bolin’s leadership involvement with the “GUNS AND HOSES” fund raiser is also a major reason why their candidate should be appointed as the next Evansville Chief of Police?

IS IT TRUE? September 2, 2011

IS IT TRUE that it was pointed out to us by several readers who spend time reviewing the police reports posted daily in the City County Observer that the number of meth related arrests seem to be increasing?…that meth related arrests are reported sometimes as much as 5 per day and rank right up there with shoplifting and domestic disturbance on the frequently reported crimes?…that today is Friday before a three day weekend and we expect that the lines of meth heads will be forming at every pharmacy in town to legally purchase the maximum allowed amount of pseudoephedrine that the law allows?…that the CCO, law enforcement, and the pharmacies that are profiting from these sales know full well that much of this medicine is not going to be used to treat an allergy?…that the exploding house phenomena is now by our count up to 28 houses in Evansville this year?

IS IT TRUE that if a terrorist had been buying illegal or controlled explosives like dynamite, lesser forms of dynamite like M-80s or cherry bombs and using them in some way to blown up houses that the authorities would have Evansville on lock down and it would be a nationally publicized case?…that the Unabomber took 20 years to kill three people and cause 24 injuries and that earned him national attention and an extended manhunt?… that the Unabomber was one of the first people to be designated as a “domestic terrorist” by the FBI?…that the Unabomber in his 20 years of creating mayhem did just about the same amount of damage to life and property that Evansville’s “Meth Head Population” has done since New Year’s Day 2011?…that there are good reasons that enriched uranium, dynamite, plastique, and cluster bombs are not made available in retail outlets to the general public?…that as unfortunate as it is these same reasons apply to the pseudoephedrine based allergy medicines?…that the reason that the CCO supports following Oregon’s lead in making these chemicals prescription based is not about keeping meth heads from getting meth?…that our reasons for supporting this are so the meth heads do not blow up houses and cause injury and death while cooking it?

IS IT TRUE that as much as patience is a virtue that too much patience leads to laziness and complacency?…that Evansville has been “patient” with regard to demanding a solution to the Combined Sewer Overflow problem for over 50 years?…that the result is a fine and a federal order to get off of our patient-complacent butts and repair this?…that the EPA is being patient by allowing Evansville 20 years to find a way to design, implement, and pay for this problem?…that if the people of Evansville and the government had been as patient as the EPA back in 1960 that this problem would have already been solved?…that patience in many cases leads to complacency, which leads to settling for less than the best, which leads to being uncompetitive, which leads to low wages, which leads to poverty, which leads to dilapidated housing, which leads to the breakdown of civic pride, which leads to crime, which leads to the flight of wealth, which leads to brain drain, which leads to the situation that Evansville is experiencing RIGHT NOW?…that it is complacent places that pay $260,000 to an outside firm to validate their obvious problems with a “study”?…that in most cases endemic complacency leads to study after study with the same conclusions followed by no action?

IS IT TRUE that the scores in the recent report card for our schools make it obvious that there needs to be some sense of urgency about repairing them so that our public schools can get A’s by both state and federal standards?…that to be asked to have patience when the future of our children and grandchildren in being fiddled away by Nero like administrators is not acceptable?…that as much as the City of Evansville needed an outside intervention to tell it what to do to become competitive that the public schools need an outside intervention to tell them that C’s, D’s, and F’s are not acceptable and the time to raise those grades is RIGHT NOW?…that Evansville does not have the luxury of wasting another generation of our children as we have wasted the best and brightest of the last 50 years of generations?

IS IT TRUE that studies like the one that Greg Wathen just published depend on execution to achieve results?…that execution depends on having capable and energetic people on the executive teams to get it done?…that patience and complacency in the area of education binds the hands of well meaning people with good plans and makes our community unattractive?…that if we can’t keep the most capable people that we grow and we are not able to attract capable people from the outside world that this little corner of Indiana will really become a lost cause?…that if patience and complacency continue to rule the day in Evansville that those who are left in 2020 will need to appeal to St. Jude, the patron saint of lost causes for help because the capable people will all be gone?

IS IT TRUE that we are finally beginning to see some good plans now all we need is a sense of urgency to implement them and 117,400 people to buy into making them happen?