IS IT TRUE: PART 2 August 28, 2011 “A Brick has an IQ of ZERO”

IS IT TRUE that the team of professionals lead by Mr. Mike Alley that took on the Herculean task of trying to rescue Integra Bank should be thanked and admired for their efforts even though Integra ultimately was taken over by the FDIC?…that this team could have taken the path of least resistance as humans routinely do and just found other jobs or even gone to the beach 2 years ago when this challenge crossed their paths?…that taking the easy road and never taking risks are par for the course in the Midwest and are among the biggest contributors to brain drain, shrinking population, and abandoned neighborhoods?…that for taking on this task, disrupting their own lives to pursue a noble but difficult effort, and for sticking it out until the end that the City County Observer salutes this fine group of professionals and wishes them well in the future?…that we hope their future is right here in Evansville as the value added and lessons learned from the Integra experience may have made them one of the best teams to handle future financial calamities available?…that one only improves by taking on the difficult or impossible task as opposed to sitting comfortably at the helm of a ship in a safe harbor?

IS IT TRUE that it seems as though that Evansville and every village in driving distance has been opening new and beautiful centers that are dedicated to entrepreneurship and training?…that has been over $100 Million invested in bricks, steel, and mortar over the last several years in hopes that these carefully placed inanimate objects will somehow become the catalyst through which economic transformation will occur?…that bricks, mortar, steel, wood, and other things like that have never ever transformed anything?…that once upon a time in Arizona a city called Lake Havasu they reconstructed the London Bridge in the desert in hopes of becoming a tourist attraction?…that they even built English Pubs and invested in places that sold fish and chips?..that Havasu City after all of these years is still not London and that it was the lake that attracted visitors before the London Bridge and after the London Bridge?…that on my last visit the Pub was closed and the fish and chips place was selling snow cones but the lake was still beautiful and the wave runners were still great fun?…that the stones of London Bridge were a flash in the pan?

IS IT TRUE that there are places in America that are consistently churning out entrepreneurs and the companies that they found that transform places and the way that we live?…that most (no all) of these places have active and vital sources of venture capital?…that all of these places have atmospheres that encourage risk taking and even reward failure when that failure was from taking on a monumental task?…that most entrepreneurial success in such places always seems to start in a garage or a dorm room as Apple, HP, Dell, Google, Facebook, and LinkedIn all did?…that each and every entrepreneurial business that has transformed the way people live has been about the spirit of the dreams of these entrepreneurs and their willingness and ability to “go for it”?…that the vital ingredients to such success are not bricks, mortar, or even a cool décor?…that critical business infrastructure like internet speed, availability of professional talent, access to capital, and a desirable lifestyle are what matters?…that all bricks have the same IQ and that is zero?

IS IT TRUE that one can reproduce Harvard University brick by brick and stone by stone on the banks of the Ohio River and it will do absolutely nothing unless the people, the intellectual curiosity, and the atmosphere can be reproduced?…that unless the professors, the staff, the “je ne sais quoi”, and the students that make Harvard what it is can be attracted that the bricks and stones will do nothing but look pretty and grow moss?…that bricks and stones are more expensive than talent?…that one can only wonder what could happen in a place like Evansville if several hundred million dollars were committed to doing what really matters in the economic transformational process?

IS IT TRUE that those persons who wish to attend this political action committee fundraiser are asked to respond directly to Lauren Jones, the wife of City ofthe Evansville City Attorney, at the Jones law firm? …that the City Attorney’s law firm has received rental income from the City of Evansville for the last 7 plus years? IS IT TRUE that none of the funds raised by this political event to be held on September 8th will go to Democratic Mayoral candidate Rick Davis’campaign? …we are interested for Mr. Jones to give us a legal opinion on what constitutes one being considered a “Mainstream Democrat”?

IS IT TRUE if Rick Davis is elected Mayor of Evansville, attorney David Jones’ days of doing legal work for the City of Evansville will be over? …that Mr. David Jones’ newly organized political group (“Main Stream Democrats”) will prove to be a major boost to the Davis for Mayor campaign because the majority of City employees, Fire Fighters and Police officers hold the City of Evansville Attorney in low regard?

IS IT TRUE that a real true to life liberal “Mainstream Democrat” is Pro Choice?… a real true to life liberal “Mainstream Democrat” would never pass up an opportunity to enact a comprehensive smoking ban?…a real true to life liberal “Mainstream Democrat” supports expanding the powers of government?… a real true to life liberal “Mainstream Democrat” is on board with the redistribution of wealth and earnings?… a real true to life liberal “Mainstream Democrat” would even consider holding closed door meetings to concoct schemes to subvert the will of the people?… a real true to life liberal “Mainstream Democrat” would never use SNEGAL but clever tactics to circumvent the referendum process for a massive public spending project?…that this list could take up the whole column?

IS IT TRUE that given the voting record and stated positions on national issues of the supposed “Mainstream Democrats” that this fundraiser is referring to, that we wonder if the organizers of this event would recognize a real “Mainstream Democrat” if one was sitting in their living room?…that while Evansville has been “RULED” by people who are members of the Democratic Party for nearly all of the last 60 years, it is obvious by examining the ideological tenants of the National Democratic Party that the registered Democrats that have “RULED” Evansville have not really embraced the ideology of the Democratic Party at all?

IS IT TRUE that in the context of this fundraiser that the term “Mainstream Democrat” simply means registered Democrats running for office who are loyal to the Weinzapfel administration.

IS IT TRUE the all eyes of the alleged “non-stream” Democrats are on 1st Ward City Councilmen Dan McGinn’s call for Mr. Jones to make public all the monies he and his Associates have receive from all sources for doing legal work for the City of Evansville this year and last year? …that Councilman McGinn has asked the City Controller provide him with this information for almost a year now? …that we hear Councilman McGinn will be meeting with the Evansville City Controller this week to get answers on his questions about the total legal income Mr. Jones and his Associates have received from City controlled boards, insurance liabilities fund, par-legal expenses for work done for the City of Evansville “Housing Court”, water and Sewer funds, etc.? …we hope that Councilman McGinn will keep his word by making public all the legal expense information with respect to Mr. Jones and his Associates on behalf of the City of Evansville for 2010 and 2011?

Click on Invitation to Enlarge and see just who the so called “mainstream democrats” are.

IS IT TRUE: Part 2 August 27, 2011

IS IT TRUE that Mole #7 tells us that VenuWorks has hired a relative of University of Evansville athletic director John Stanley?…that this relative will be relocating back to Evansville from Florida to work for VenuWorks?…that attracting an educated professional to Evansville is a good thing but that VenuWorks hiring a relative of one of their biggest tenants makes one go hmmmmm?…that we wish this person good fortune and success but wish that there were less things happening with nearly everything the City of Evansville touches that make one go hmmmmm?

IS IT TRUE sometime in September the Evansville Redevelopment Commission will have to start coming to grips with the reality of the financial situation with the McCurdy Hotel?…that the contract between the ERC and Centre City Properties is not extended nor has it been rescinded?…that some would describe the state of the agreement, the ERC, and CCP as in “limbo” or parked in purgatory?…that sooner or later push will come to shove and a decision will need to be made?…that the meltdown scenario that could be accelerated by rescinding the agreement will not be pretty?…that we bet this can will be kicked down the road perpetually unless of course Centre City Properties decides to just punt?

IS IT TRUE that the meltdown scenario at the McCurdy is one in which the financing to proceed with all of the refurbishment work is never secured and that CCP decides to hand the keys to the property over to the first mortgage holder 5th 3rd Bank?…that banks in general do not wish to own real estate?…that in such an event that 5th 3rd will most likely liquidate the McCurdy Hotel for whatever the market will bear?…that unless the market would bear an amount that has net proceeds in excess of $1,663,862 that the City of Evansville will lose all of their investment of $1,403,000 and will not have anything at all to show for it?…that this scenario is a driving factor in not wanting to rescind the agreement with CCP as was done with Woodruff Hospitality LLC when they were unable to find financing in a timely manner?

IS IT TRUE that it has now been 1,581 days since the announcement was made on May 14, 2007 that the McCurdy Hotel was to be refurbished into luxury apartments?…that it has now been 1,434 days since the Evansville Redevelopment Commission at the request of Mayor Weinzapfel approved the spending of $603,000 to purchase the parking lot?…that City Centre Properties and Scott Kosene the developers of the McCurdy project are both listed as contributors to the Weinzapfel for Mayor committee for 2010?

IS IT TRUE that in a short 71 days we will all know whether it will be Lloyd Winnecke or Rick Davis who will become the Mayor that will assume responsibility for executing the decisions that are playing out right now?…that that there are 124 days remaining in the Weinzapfel Administration?

IS IT TRUE that there are now 428 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 names of two unopposed candidates for the Evansville City Council will not even be on the ballot in the 2011 election?…that 1st Ward City Councilman Dan McGinn is running unopposed and with therefore not have his name on the ballot?…that 4th Ward City Councilwoman Connie Robinson will not have her name on the ballot either?…that candidates for office in the State of Indiana are prohibited by law from having their names on the ballot?…that our esteemed Vanderburgh County Clerk Susan Kirk and the election board checked this out very intently and were advised that under Indiana codes IC 3-14-4-3 and IC 5-8-1-35 that they could all face Class D felony charges if they placed the names of unopposed candidates on the ballot?…that we guess that supporters of Councilman McGinn and Councilwoman Robinson will need to take a pen to the polls with them so they can write in their name?…that the City County Observer encourages the people of the 1st and 4th Wards to make a special effort to vote in the at-large, City Clerk, and Mayoral elections?

IS IT TRUE that there are finally beginning to be a large number of fundraisers organized by the local candidates for office?…that some of the more eager candidates have been raising funds for a month now but that the lion’s share of the money will roll in during the next two months?…that the issues for the candidates for Mayor of Evansville are taking shape but that attention is just beginning to be paid to the City Council issues of importance?…that two of the most important outcomes of the election will be the ideological make-up and party affiliations of the new City Council?…that if the Evansville City Council is indeed balanced to begin 2012 that it will be the first time in most people’s lives that this has been the case?…that it will be refreshing if we have a City Council that does not have a rubber stamp majority for our future Mayor?…that the CCO really desires to retire the words puppetmaster and blockheads from discussions regarding the Evansville City Council after January 1, 2012?…that we always reserve the right to bring these words out of retirement if back door meetings and groupthink take over the City of Evansville again?

IS IT TRUE that high school football is now in full swing and that if any of our readers are looking for an enjoyable Friday evening at a good price that high school football is one of the best values around?…that the only football playing high schools in all of Indiana that do not have their own stadiums are both in Evansville?…that in the next couple of weeks both Harrison and North will be opening their new stadiums?…that from an outside perspective both of these stadiums have a very good look about them?…that those seats need to be filled so get out and support your team?…that if you do not have a team then please find one?

IS IT TRUE that we are saddened to see that the Black Buggy restaurant in Washington, IN has become the latest casualty of the Great Recession?…that all indications are that the Evansville Black Buggy is completely independent of the flagship in Washington?…that we hope things are good with the Evansville Black Buggy since the City of Evansville has made a loan to them and it would be quite favorable if that loan is repaid so some other expanding business can use borrow those funds in the future?

IS IT TRUE: Part 2 August 26, 2011

IS IT TRUE that the downtown street direction changing project is nearing completion and that on September 14th the big switch will take place?…that City of Evansville engineer Pat Keepes is on record as saying that “for those people who didn’t see it on TV or read it in the newspaper, we’ll still have signs up,”?…that Mr. Keepes should be aware that as an up and coming tourist destination and an attractor of major entertainment events that downtown Evansville will soon be filled with people who do not watch Evansville TV stations or read the Evansville news?…that the fact that Evansville will STILL HAVE SIGNS UP to indicate the direction that traffic is expected to flow is quite comforting?…that we have to wonder if there was ever a serious conversation held that gave thought to NOT PUTTING UP SIGNS?…that the obliviousness to the outside world and the deer in the headlights looks are certainly not confined to the City Council with this kind of logic?…that after over 10 years with the current set up downtown that even locals that drive downtown weekly have to rely on signs to navigate the randomness of direction that has been the rule here for as long as most of us remember?…that we predict some fender benders from left turns on new two way streets that have been one way streets?

IS IT TRUE that a thief or two have taken it on themselves to drive up the price of textbooks for local college students?…that the thief in the night busted in the back door of TXT BookRentals on the West Lloyd Expressway and stole the safe and all of its contents?…that these thieves were not interested in knowledge as no books were taken?…that the safe and some cash in it were the only things of interest to this thief?…that TXT BookRentals was started in Evansville by a graduate of the University of Evansville?…that this business hires students, pays them more for textbooks and rents them out for less as a matter of policy?…that this business exists for the sole purpose of reducing the cost of college textbooks?…that we hope this thief and any accomplices are apprehended quickly and that TXT BookRentals can get back to the business of driving down the cost of a college education?

IS IT TRUE that in 1776 a man by the name of Thomas Paine started publishing a small paper called “Common Sense”?…that Common Sense challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy?…that the language that Paine used spoke to the common people of America and was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain?…that the City County Observer is pleased to make an attempt to replicate the spirit of Thomas Paine in the articles that we write and publish?…that some select quotes from Thomas Paine that we particularly identify with are as follows:

“Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.”

“A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.”