tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85723594096709238772024-03-13T07:15:22.278-05:00Evansville Moving ForwardA Blog created to explore and propose ideas to advance downtown Evansville. Bring your thoughts, visions, and ideas for Evansville.
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Feel free to email me any comments or suggestions at JordanBaer1@gmail.comJordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-83193766936002548522012-02-16T02:42:00.003-06:002012-02-17T01:45:06.441-06:00As Evansville Goes Up In Cigarette Smoke, It's Just Another Day In Paradise In OKC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="360" id="il_fi" src="http://janschroder.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/money_up_in_smoke_2.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></div><br />
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This past week, we learned first hand just how desperate, inefficient, and back wooded our local government is. While we have much to celebrate in our Evansville City Council passing a smoking ban that has only 1 exemption, we also have many reasons to feel disappointed. <br />
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This disappointment stems from the fact that Casino Aztar was granted an exemption not because they proved that cigarette smoke wasn't dangerous in their facility, rather because they convinced our government that they cannot afford to treat Aztar like everyone else.<br />
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<a href="http://www.courierpress.com/news/2012/feb/14/no-headline---ev_council/?partner=popular"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.courierpress.com/news/2012/feb/14/no-headline---ev_council/?partner=popular</span></a><br />
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- "Evansville City Council members said Tuesday a new ordinance banning smoking in bars was a step in the right direction, but city finances were too shaky to not exempt Casino Aztar from the ban."<br />
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- "Adams said the city should see its adoption as a step in the right direction and realize the city has grown dependent on casino dollars."<br />
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- "Third Ward Councilwoman <style>
a.inline_topic:hover {
background-color: #EAEAEA;
}
</style> Stephanie Brinkerhoff-Riley said the casino exemption was purely financial."<br />
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In earlier articles, city leaders said that the city would struggle to finance police and fire services without Aztar funds. So how did we get in this position? How did we go from welcoming Aztar to town as a luxury to needing them to stay just to remain financially solvent? Why and how have we mismanaged our funds so bad that we now are being held hostage by our own finances?<br />
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One of the main reasons that I decided to write this post, aside from the fact that the smoking ban is one of my 6 goals for getting Evansville Moving Forward, is because this week has summed up what I've been saying since the first day I began this blog. Who and what can we point the finger at for our financial woes?<br />
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- Those who support government services without looking at their financial impact. Our town loves to spend money on public schools. It seems that every time the EVSC comes to the city they get their way. A few years ago, voters even approved of a $149 million bond for the EVSC to build new schools such as New North High School. Now, property taxes have been capped and there is no money leftover from the bond initiative.<br />
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- Those who support or contribute to urban sprawl. Earlier, I talked about the fact that urban sprawl is killing Evansville...<br />
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<a href="http://evansvillemovingforward.blogspot.com/2011/06/evansville-is-killing-itself-with-urban.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://evansvillemovingforward.blogspot.com/2011/06/evansville-is-killing-itself-with-urban.html</span></a><br />
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Indeed, this is the main reason for our dependency on Aztar. In 2001, Mayor Russ Lloyd Jr. unveiled a master plan for Downtown Evansville. Quickly, city leaders struck in down citing financial costs as the main reason. Yet, the ballpark was $22.5 million while the Green River Road widening was $25 million. The team we were suppose to get to play in our ballpark, the South Georgia Waves, now account for over 1,500 hotel nights a year in Bowling Green, Kentucky.<br />
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While projects such as the canal, the marina, and government services/central park have fallen under $100 million combined in other cities, our Evansville MPO has spent over this amount on frivolous road projects like the Green River Road widening, like the road work done on Millersburg Road, like the road works done on Oak Hill Road, and like the road work done on several other projects that keep on expanding Evansville's infrastructure into Vanderburgh County. Even worse is the fact that our Evansville MPO is planning on doing this until at least 2035 (click on transportation plan)...<br />
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<a href="http://evansvillempo.com/home.htm"><span style="color: blue;">http://evansvillempo.com/home.htm</span></a><br />
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The following article sums it up best...<br />
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<a href="http://rustwire.com/2012/02/14/destined-to-fail-rust-belt-cities-without-rail/"><span style="color: blue;">http://rustwire.com/2012/02/14/destined-to-fail-rust-belt-cities-without-rail/</span></a><br />
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"Frankly, any major American city that solely relies on streets and highways for its transportation network will fail to remain competitive and will falter economically over time. That includes cities with bus transit systems that rely on the same streets and highways.<br />
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- The group I blame the most is those who look at taxes as being equal and then reject them all no matter what each tax funds. While our city leaders have given our local residents every reason under the sun to not trust them with their money, the truth is, we must come together as one to build our city correctly if we have any desire to get off of the Aztar money. How do I know this?<br />
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Remember when I talked about a program called MAPS that is now on its third round in Oklahoma City?...<br />
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<a href="http://evansvillemovingforward.blogspot.com/2011/05/large-capital-improvement-projects-can.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://evansvillemovingforward.blogspot.com/2011/05/large-capital-improvement-projects-can.html</span></a><br />
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<a href="http://evansvillemovingforward.blogspot.com/2011/08/if-next-mayor-wants-to-create-jobs-he.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://evansvillemovingforward.blogspot.com/2011/08/if-next-mayor-wants-to-create-jobs-he.html</span></a><br />
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I'm not going to go over how MAPS works as I've talked about it a thousand times, but I will give you some of the results.<br />
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- OKC invested over $1 billion in their downtown with MAPS temporary 1% sales tax and have received over $5 billion back from private investors.<br />
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- OKC was named the "most recession proof city" by Forbes Magazine.<br />
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- OKC did not go into debt with any of their MAPS projects. In fact, the interest drawn off of the tax revenue was over $50 million (basically a free ballpark and part of a canal).<br />
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- OKC is now a hotbed for young professionals in their 20s who want to create start-up businesses.<br />
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The amazing thing about OKC and their MAPS program is that they did it with a Republican mayor (Mick Cornett) in a conservative state. Yet, MAPS is widely popular in OKC and the surrounding suburbs who have approved MAPS, MAPS II, and MAPS III by referendum.<br />
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Last month, NPR caught up with Mayor Cornett and gave us the following quotes...<br />
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<a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/01/19/145437581/oklahoma-city-avoids-economic-pitfalls"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.npr.org/2012/01/19/145437581/oklahoma-city-avoids-economic-pitfalls</span></a><br />
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"<strong>INSKEEP</strong>: Why is it that you think that Oklahoma City is doing so much better than many other places?<br />
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<strong>CORNETT</strong>: Well, we've invested conservatively. We, for the last 20 years, have additional penny sales tax that we've invested in a lot of capital projects and we've improved the quality of life. And so with that increase of quality of life comes this incredible human capital. Highly educated 20-somethings are moving to Oklahoma City in large numbers. The Kauffman Foundation recently disclosed that we were the most entrepreneurial city in the country, most start-ups per capita. And so if you have the bright and the young and the talented moving to your city, that's a great labor pool that your entrepreneurs and job creators are going to be able to tap into.<br />
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<strong>INSKEEP</strong>: You're talking about attracting the so-called creative class, as the writer Richard Florida would call them, right?<br />
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<strong>CORNETT</strong>: Yeah. That's a good part of it, absolutely.<br />
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<strong>INSKEEP</strong>: And you say that you did that in part by raising taxes to make sure that services were adequate.<br />
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<strong>CORNETT</strong>: Well, it's not just services. It's amenities. You know, it's sports arenas, it's performing arts centers. You know, we put a canal through our entertainment district. We've built dams and built waterfronts, you know, for our river. There's a lot to the quality of life that a person is looking for. And we've been able to convince the people that live in the suburbs that the vibrancy of the core is directly proportionate to the quality of life in the suburbs. And so the people in the suburbs are willing to invest in downtown. And it's all paid for. You know, there's no debt on any of these items. So it's just a different culture. It's hard to necessarily explain unless you're in Oklahoma City and can see it. But you can feel it when you're here."<br />
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So while OKC enjoys a rejuvenated downtown, a downtown that is not in debt, and a city with a population that is on the rise with highly educated young professionals who are rapidly creating start-up companies, Evansville is going the other way. We are seeing a decline in population each time the Census comes out, our city is deeply in debt, and the main people we are trying to recruit are smokers who just want to have a good time.<br />
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If we have any true ambitions of turning Evansville around, we must develop practical, sensible, and innovative programs like OKC's MAPS. We must...<br />
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1. Install a green belt around the city which will prevent urban sprawl. Preventing urban sprawl will result in less infrastructure being needed, less government services being needed, and less environmental damage taking place.<br />
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2. Invest in our downtown. Until we give our residents and visitors a reason to go downtown they won't. If you think one arena and a casino is good enough, you are wrong. When you go to cities like Omaha, Indianapolis, Louisville, and OKC you will see that their entire downtown areas are vibrant and lively. We can do this with our own downtown and we can do it CHEAPER THAN INVESTING IN URBAN SPRAWL.<br />
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3. Approve a comprehensive smoking ban with NO exemptions. This will send a strong signal to young professionals that Evansville has finally arrived in the 21st century. It will also send a strong signal that Evansville is bigger than one person, group, or business.<br />
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4. Market Evansville to young professionals in their 20s. Some have suggested that we establish a fund that invests in start-up companies. But if you look at OKC, you will see that if we invest in Evansville itself by improving our amenities, these start-up companies will bring themselves to town. By building amenities similar to the ones in OKC, we will be marketing to young professionals in their 20s.<br />
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5. Invest in rail transportation. To learn more about this please visit my other blog EvansvilleRail.blogspot.com.<br />
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There's no doubt that this week's smoking ban is a drastic improvement in the right direction. However, in the process we have exposed just how flawed our way of life is financially. We must reform. We must be like OKC!<br />
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<img height="286" id="il_fi" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8kX340BXhV8/TnPJVa9lONI/AAAAAAAAAgU/IIGaADDZxZg/s400/OKC%2BMAPS.bmp" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" />Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-18219498680681064362011-12-25T23:55:00.001-06:002011-12-26T00:09:11.032-06:00It's Simple: No Vision, No Progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="300" id="il_fi" src="http://homebasedbusiness.escapeartist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/mission-and-vision-statement.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></div><br />
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This time next week, we will have a new mayor. Thankfully, Mayor-Elect Lloyd Winnecke promises to bring a wave of change to Evansville. He also promises to bring back the days when Evansville was on the right track by appointing people such as former mayor Russ Lloyd Jr. as Comptroller in his administration. <br />
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Earlier I talked about why government transparency is important to me...<br />
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<a href="http://evansvillemovingforward.blogspot.com/2011/11/why-is-government-transparency.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://evansvillemovingforward.blogspot.com/2011/11/why-is-government-transparency.html</span></a><br />
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Now, I will show you why it is. With the last few days of Mayor Weinzapfel's administration coming to an end, the Evansville Courier & Press decided to ask him why he chose to become mayor and why he made the decisions he made...<br />
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<a href="http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/dec/24/no-headline---ev_weinzapfel/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/dec/24/no-headline---ev_weinzapfel/</span></a><br />
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The title of the article is the following: "Opportunity, not agenda, charted course for Weinzapfel." <br />
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For those who don't speak the language of politics, let me translate that for you: He came with no vision. As I talked about on my Save Roberts Stadium blog...<br />
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<a href="http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2011/12/democratic-central-committees-last-move.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2011/12/democratic-central-committees-last-move.html</span></a><br />
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Our local Vanderburgh County Democratic Central Committee just loves to prey upon those who enter politics with weakened morals, ethics, and visions. Looking back on these past 8 years, you see what the byproduct of no vision will get you in a town like Evansville where political corruption runs rampant.<br />
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In 2007, I was chosen by an organization based in Arlington, VA/Washington, DC named the Leadership Institute to serve them as a Field Rep. For those who don't know, the Leadership Institute is responsible for training notable politicians and activists like Grover Norquist, Karl Rove, Senator Mitch McConnell, Congressman Mike Pence, and seven new members of the 112th Congress. Although I disagree with all of these people on most topics, I definitely strive to be like them in terms of political will power.<br />
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If you ever get time, do a little research on Grover Norquist, Karl Rove, and Mitch McConnell. What you will find is 3 political leaders who refuse to have their vision altered, refuse to be influenced by those who seek to destroy their vision, and refuse to be jaded by adversity. I am proud to not only have been one of 70 people in the country chosen to represent them, but also for the accomplishment of finishing in the top half of my class at L.I.<br />
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Indeed, the Leadership Institute has shaped me into this type of political activist as well. As soon as I got off the airplane in Washington, DC for training and arrived at the LI headquarters, this organization made sure they molded me into a leader of tomorrow which was their one and only goal. The following are things that LI trained me on...<br />
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1. Before you get into politics, establish a vision<br />
2. Never let political adversity affect your dedication to your vision<br />
3. If you change your vision make sure it is only your decision and not someone else's decision<br />
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And most important...<br />
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<strong>YOU OWE IT TO YOUR OWN POLITICAL BELIEFS TO FIGHT FOR THEM.</strong><br />
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After learning about various political tactics, strategies, and philosophies, the Leadership Institute flew me back to Evansville and then sent me by car all the way out to Seattle where I would be establishing political groups on college campuses such as the University of Washington (U Dub!).<br />
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As I drove across America, it quickly became obvious what I was fighting for. From Evansville to Seattle, this land, this country, is simply amazing. There's nothing like taking a road trip across the Pacific Northwest...<br />
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<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="300" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-ash1/v132/160/27/12913772/n12913772_34782769_5446.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="300" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-ash1/v121/160/27/12913772/n12913772_34796366_2442.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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For three months, I set up political groups on campuses in and around Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington...<br />
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<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="300" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-ash1/v170/160/27/12913772/n12913772_35609455_9455.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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I even participated in a protest in Downtown Seattle...<br />
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<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowboxCaption" class="spotlight" height="300" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-ash1/v128/160/27/12913772/n12913772_35152933_7170.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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Although most of my beliefs were Conservative at the time (they were Liberal before), my goals, beliefs, values, and vision are all now moderate and fall right in the middle of the Liberal, Conservative, Authoritarian, Libertarian graph. What are my values?<br />
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1. Respect for the environment: The United States (and Canada as well) are an amazing gift to us. There is no reason to degrade or eliminate this<br />
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2. Respect for life: In Seattle, I camped outside of a Planned Parenthood with a Pro-Life group. This wasn't the most popular thing to do in Seattle but it was the right thing to do.<br />
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3. Respect for animals and wildlife: This is a branch of my respect for life value. Too many times people think that if they can take advantage of another form of life such as an animal or a native habitat to make a dollar they should do it. I find this to be despicable and a disgrace to see such selfishness.<br />
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4. A commitment to improve the quality of life around me: Going from Evansville, to Lexington, KY, to Arlington, VA and Washington, DC, and then onto Seattle, WA taught me one important thing- there are answers out there to all of our problems. Since my journey to Seattle, I have now become a strong advocate for high speed rail and other forms of rail transportation, an advocate for environmental and historical preservation, and an advocate for innovative programs such as Earn and Learn in Louisville and MAPS in Oklahoma City. Innovation is the key to improving your city.<br />
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So with all of that being said, it is extremely important that once you set your goals, values, and vision you stick to it. Obviously, if you decide that you want to run for the mayors office in Evansville and you don't have any ideas, goals, or vision, you are in big trouble.<br />
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For this reason, Evansville is now becoming a dying town. Since the 1960s, Evansville has watched town after town steal its residents. These residents leave to go to other cities because they have lost all faith, will, and trust in Evansville's political leaders. After all, why live in a city whose only goal is to produce political careers and fortunes and not improve the lives of the local residents? There is no doubt that we need a change in political mindset and attitude here.<br />
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To me, that change starts by electing candidates who refuse to be a puppet to the Republican or Democrat Party. Currently, the Vanderburgh County Democrat Party has the mayor's office and an 8-1 advantage on the Evansville City Council. Although they have the power to make a tremendous difference here in Evansville, they have sacrificed this power for the comfort of group think.<br />
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If you watch and listen to our local candidates, you will notice the following...<br />
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1. Most of them don't stand for ideas. Instead they fight for whatever their political party wants them to fight for.<br />
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2. Most of them don't form their own opinion on issues. Rather, they follow their party leaders in order to advance their own political career.<br />
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3. Most of them don't even care about the issues , how to solve Evansville's problems, or any projects that can improve Evansville. The only reason they run for office is to advance their own political career ( which they call an "opportunity").<br />
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I don't know about you, but I refuse to fall victim to these fallacies. I refuse to throw my own beliefs, values, goals, and visions under the bus for a little comfort from the group think community. Sooner or later, we are all going to die. When that time comes, do you want your city to know that you stood up for what you believed in or what your party told you to believe in? <br />
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For those who want to advance their political careers, if you can't stand up for what you believe in here in Evansville, what makes anyone think you would stand up for yourself in Indianapolis or Washington, D.C?<br />
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My goals and vision for Evansville is the following...<br />
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1. Finally get the 2001 master plan complete<br />
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2. Support high speed rail and oppose I-69<br />
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3. Save Roberts Stadium<br />
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4. Completely overhaul Garvin Park & restore it to the days of Baseball's Golden Age<br />
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5. Fight for the strongest smoking ban possible.<br />
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6. Advance Evansville & the ideas that I have on my 3 blogs as well as set up a message board (which I'm doing right now) for Tri-State Tomorrow.<br />
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Here in Evansville, there is no doubt that I have ticked off just about everyone in town with one of these 6 goals. But the truth is, like Karl Rove, Mitch McConnell, and Grover Norquist, I don't care. I refuse to cave or compromise my vision to a bunch of bureaucrats or misinformed citizens who simply have no vision or no belief to fight for.<br />
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I also believe the day that all of our political leaders adopt this mindset is the day you will see the pall finally lifted from Evansville. The truth is, if we don't have any political leaders who are committed to getting any projects completed here in Evansville, how are we ever going to develop the will power to get anything done here?<br />
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If we want to see progress here in Evansville, we better start electing politicians who have a vision. It's that simple!<br />
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<img height="300" id="il_fi" src="http://www.brockmans.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/progress.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" />Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-13236369895368502052011-12-18T23:17:00.000-06:002011-12-18T23:17:06.764-06:00How Do We Beat Vectren? With A Unified National Smart Grid<img height="229" src="http://media2.myfoxtampabay.com/photo/2010/10/25/electric_20101025123507_320_240.JPG" style="height: 100%; width: 100%;" width="320" /><br />
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Lately, our city residents have been in an uproar over the proposed electric rate hikes from Vectren. A few weeks ago, I attended the regulatory hearing at the Centre to hear testimony from local residents.<br />
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At the hearing, almost all of the complaints centered around the basic same problems..<br />
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1. Vectren doesn't have competition.<br />
2. The EPA is finally gettting ahold on polluting coal plants which will drive up electrical costs.<br />
3. Not only does Vectren have a regulated monopoly, we are also only able to obtain energy sources in the Tri-State.<br />
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For those who fear that they will be dealing with Vectren forever, I'm here to tell you that it will get better because help is on the way. What is this help and how will it beat Vectren.<br />
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The solution to our electrical woes is something called a "Unified National Smart Grid." To be exact, this grid is two concepts in one. Let's examine both of them and then put the entire grid together.<br />
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First, it is important for us to understand what a "smart grid" is. From Wikipedia...<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_grid"><span style="color: blue;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_grid</span></a><br />
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"A <b>smart grid</b> is a digitally enabled electrical grid that gathers, distributes, and acts on information about the behavior of all participants (suppliers and consumers) in order to improve the efficiency,importance, reliability, economics, and sustainability of electricity services."<br />
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Translation: A smart grid is better than our current grid because it allows us, the customers of the power company, to communicate back to them with a smart meter. This allows for better efficiency, security, and communication. The main component of the smart grid is the smart meter which allows for the two way dialogue. The following video tells us about the smart grid...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwsfwSaslr3FmPFCXuw7ong7IeptrpNkBNTXuYfdG2b9u6cTj7pyD0laLG8iCpQyJ-zKA05hNizIrkry-r4DQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Converting all of America's electrical lines to smart grids would be a huge accomplishment for our country. However, it would still keep us dependent on Vectren. Therefore, we cannot stop there. The next step we must then take would be to set up a "Unified National" smart grid.<br />
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What is a smart grid that is unified and national? Just like its name, the grid is able to connect all of the grids in the U.S together. Why is this important? Because connecting all of our grids opens the door for competition from all parts of the U.S. From Wikipedia once more...<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Smart_Grid"><span style="color: blue;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Smart_Grid</span></a><br />
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"High capacity transmission such as current technology 800KV high voltage direct current lines would span the country providing linkages to local electric utilities and distantly located bulk power generation facilities. The national backbone would be intelligent in a similar way that local smart grid clusters are. As local electricity networks are upgraded to smart grids, interactions with the national backbone can become more coordinated. Examples given of the kinds of coordination are that hydropower from the northwest can be dispatched if wind is expected to temporarily subside in the Dakotas. Discretionary air conditioning in California can be turned on if there are strong winds blowing in Delaware."<br />
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Here is yet another great video from our Federal Government...<br />
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<a href="http://www.smartgrid.gov/the_smart_grid#smart_grid"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.smartgrid.gov/the_smart_grid#smart_grid</span></a><br />
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Here are the benefits identified by our government...<br />
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<li>More efficient transmission of electricity</li><br />
<li>Quicker restoration of electricity after power disturbances</li><br />
<li>Reduced operations and management costs for utilities, and ultimately lower power costs for consumers</li><br />
<li>Reduced peak demand, which will also help lower electricity rates</li><br />
<li>Increased integration of large-scale renewable energy systems</li><br />
<li>Better integration of customer-owner power generation systems, including renewable energy systems</li><br />
<li>Improved security</li><br />
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If completed, the Unified National Smart Grid would be one of America's greatest accomplishments. Imagine a grid that can bring wind energy from the plains to huge manufacturing states like Ohio. Imagine a grid that can identify its own problems and correct them quickly. Also, imagine a grid that allows you to tell Vectren to hit the road while you tap into America's wind, solar, and tide energy from various parts of the country. <br />
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According to political leaders such as Al Gore and T. Boone Pickens, it is estimated that the grid would cost $400 billion to construct but would quickly pay for itself with tariffs on transmission.<br />
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So while you may think that dealing with Vectren is a problem that will never go away, relax, the Unified National Smart Grid is on its way!<br />
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<img height="500" src="http://www.heatingoil.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/power-lines.jpg" style="height: 100%; width: 100%;" width="500" />Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-49179826443120443732011-11-06T21:02:00.005-06:002011-11-06T22:00:14.386-06:00Why is Government Transparency Important To Me?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAcSbD66VDY/TWa9EF_ewyI/AAAAAAAAABQ/VoZxfZ0zfFs/s320/20091118_GovernmentTransparency.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 225px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAcSbD66VDY/TWa9EF_ewyI/AAAAAAAAABQ/VoZxfZ0zfFs/s320/20091118_GovernmentTransparency.jpg" /></a>(johnstewartuup.blogspot.com)<br /><br />Since the beginning of the mayoral election that is set to come to a climatic ending this Tuesday, government transparency has been one of the main topics due to the Homestead Tax Exemption being discussed behind closed doors.<br /><br />Luckily, Mr. Rick Davis, who is running for mayor, has promised to make government transparency a corner stone of his administration. This is good news for those of us who strive to get to the bottom of what the government is doing, how they plan on going about it, and what we can do to help.<br /><br />For most, government transparency strikes them as just one of those "political speak" terms that doesn't really mean anything specifically. Indeed, Evansville has fallen victim to "political speak" many times as political candidates would rather tell you what you want to hear and not what they actually plan on doing once elected. But government transparency, although quite vague, can be the difference between success and failure for activists like me.<br /><br />Since I began this blog almost 2 years ago, I have long sought to get Evansville's most difficult and controversial projects either completed or changed so that they make sense. This has proven to be quite the challenge in a town known as "little Chicago." I will tell you firsthand, the last thing city hall wants you to do is interfere with their power.<br /><br />One of the main projects that I have sought to see completed is the slack water port project in the Howell Rail Yards. Why is this project vital to my goals as well as the success of Evansville? For many reasons including the following...<br /><br />1. Once constructed, the slack water port will allow us to move IMI Concrete, Tekoppel Block, Mulzer Stone, and many more industrial companies that don't belong next to Casino Aztar. In turn, this will free up the land we need to complete the 2001 Downtown Master Plan.<br /><br />2. The slack water port is extremely vital to our railroad industry. Contrary to what city hall wants you to believe, it is the railroad industry that makes or breaks Evansville. More companies such as GBT choose US 41 or the proposed I-69 corridor because it has access to CSX, a Class I railroad.<br /><br />3. The slack water port will be one of the biggest job creators in Evansville. Not only will it re-establish Evansville as a "River City" it will also bring the shipping and port industries to Evansville. Also, if we can ever get high speed rail here, we will be able to manufacture the train sets right here in Evansville which will create jobs by the thousands (a test facility creates 1,500 jobs alone).<br /><br />With all of that being said, I decided to seek out the slack water port project to see where the city currently is with it. I was told time and time again that I needed to contact David Jones who is the City Attorney. Why a lawyer is in charge of this project I will never know.<br /><br />Nonetheless, I emailed Mr. Jones asking him to see the renderings, the plans, and the timeline for the project. I NEVER heard back from him. The one person with most of the data on the project has decided not to take time to involve the public in it. I find this to be quite ironic given that he has plenty of time to discuss it occasionally with the Courier & Press...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/jan/23/slack-water-port-the-issue-study-suggests-it-our/">http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/jan/23/slack-water-port-the-issue-study-suggests-it-our/</a><br /><br />And he also has time to play politics...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/may/04/no-headline---05a0xelection/">http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/may/04/no-headline---05a0xelection/</a><br /><br />Basically, if you want to know anything about the slack water port, you have to sit on the sidelines, wait for the occasional story in the newspaper about it, and then listen to the rumor mill on what the latest progress of the slack water port is. This process is nothing short of pathetic!<br /><br />If we are ever going to complete a project here in Evansville on time and without dividing our city, we must have open discussions, community approved goals, and opportunities for all citizens of Evansville to participate, not just the political insiders. Thankfully, if Rick Davis gets in, we will probably get a new attorney.<br /><br />Not only has the slack water port been handled poorly, several other projects have as well. As most people know, I have been working on saving Roberts Stadium. Each month, I'm finding out more and more information about the way this project has been handled before I got involved, and it is more than clear that it was identical to the slack water port project.<br /><br />Just like city hall did with David Jones and the slack water port, David Dunn and the Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau were put in charge of the project even though they never had to seek election. And like the slack water port, we were only allowed to view a few articles here and there about its status and weren't invited to participate.<br /><br />This process proved to be a failure once more as Dunn and company decided themselves that Roberts Stadium wasn't worth keeping and sought to build 8 dull and boring ball fields on the lot. Dunn never listened to the public who wanted to keep Roberts Stadium, he never listened to the public on what location they wanted for the ball fields ( The lot I have proposed- Kleymeyer Park, is much more popular than Wesselman Park), and he only hosted a small workshop for the public to offer their design ideas even though most of the project had been decided upon.<br /><br />Due to the lack of government transparency, the slack water port isn't even close to becoming a reality and the ball fields are as dead as dead gets at Wesselman Park. Is this really what we want for Evansville? Is this really the best plan for Evansville? I think we can do better.<br /><br />For those who don't know, I am a fierce advocate for an Oklahoma City program called MAPS (Metro Area ProjectS). This program, which is on its third time around, gathers ideas from the citizens, lets them vote on the ideas, and then lets the citizens decide if they want to construct them. As a result, MAPS has passed all 3 times. And as a result of the MAPS program, Oklahoma City has been named "The most recession proof town" by Forbes Magazine.<br /><br />So while some may think government transparency is just a cliche that means nothing, in reality, it means everything. It means the difference between having the opportunity to improve your town versus being complete shutdown by political insiders who are power greedy.<br /><br />I don't know about you, but I don't plan on sitting idle as our city continues to die. I also don't plan on sitting idle when I believe that I can help improve government projects. Although I volunteer my time and efforts as an activist, I find it to be most rewarding when I have the opportunity to leave my mark on projects that will still be in Evansville 40-50 years from now. There is no reason why activists such as myself can't be a part of the process just as much as a hotel owner or a city attorney.<br /><br />We always hear from political candidates that they want opportunities for their citizens. Well, you can only achieve that if you commit yourself to government transparency. So far, only Rick Davis has committed himself to this principle. Hopefully others will follow as we cannot afford another failed project.<br /><br />When you go to the polls Tuesday, think about government transparency and what it means to each and every one of us. Make sure you reward those such as Rick Davis who will fight for your government transparency.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dnz-ima0j94/TZUtN5_my9I/AAAAAAAAAQo/BdwCZTF7lN4/s1600/open_government.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 555px; height: 498px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dnz-ima0j94/TZUtN5_my9I/AAAAAAAAAQo/BdwCZTF7lN4/s1600/open_government.jpg" /></a>(politicoinstilettos.blogspot.com)Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-55913285316597524182011-10-09T14:31:00.007-05:002011-10-09T19:40:55.702-05:00Casino Aztar Invests In Us, What Are We Doing For Them?<a href="http://www.evvairport.com/images/casino_aztar_logo.gif"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 127px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.evvairport.com/images/casino_aztar_logo.gif" border="0" /></a> (photo credit: evvairport.com)<br /><br />2 months from this week, Casino Aztar will be celebrating their 16th anniversary in the River City. For some, it seems like just yesterday when they were waiting for the boat to come around the bend from Jeffersonville/New Albany, Indiana. For others, it seems like an eternity ago.<br /><br />However you feel about the duration of the past 16 years, one thing is for sure, our local government is failing Casino Aztar. There's no question that the arrival of Aztar has done many good things for our town, especially our failing downtown. As soon as the boat arrived, Evansville began asking Aztar, "What can you do for us?"<br /><br />Despite city government failing to build around Aztar, we have seen many great things come from the casino...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=61&ArticleID=57533"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=61&ArticleID=57533</span></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>"...Aztar has pumped almost $200 million into its host city's budget in taxes and lease payments and brought millions more in tourism dollars during its 15-year run. It has also given more than $60 million to the county and more than $320 million to the state in tax revenue, according to a 15-year impact study Aztar released earlier this week.<br /><br />According to an annual study commissioned by the <a href="http://www.evansvillecvb.org/"></a>Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau, visitors spent more than $356 million in 2009 while in the city. Without Aztar's presence, the study concluded that figure would drop more than $120 million."<br /></blockquote><br /><br />According to the article, some of those funds have gone to various projects such as...<br /><br />-Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden<br />-some funds for the new Downtown arena<br />-more police cars and other public safety initiatives<br />-$1.8 million for the LST 325 dock<br />-$2 million for the <a href="http://www.cmoekids.org/"></a>Koch Family Children's Museum of Evansville<br />-$1 million for the Evansville African American Museum.<br /><br />Right off the bat, we've got several problems with our use of Aztar Funds.<br /><br />1. Evansville only gets around 11% of Aztar's tax dollars. The rest is wasted on Vanderburgh County and the State of Indiana.<br /><br />2. Although some of the projects have been needed such as police safety and zoo compliance upgrades, none of these projects are anything to write home about. Tourists still go to Indianapolis for a children's museum, and they still go to Greensboro, NC, Montgomery & Selma, AL, and Memphis, TN for African American history. In other words, we picked projects we do not have a competitive advantage in.<br /><br />3. None of those projects are located next to the Aztar complex. The article above tells us that Casino Aztar is our number one tourist draw. Shouldn't that be the location of our investments?<br /><br />Last week, Ward Shaw, who is general manager of Casino Aztar, appeared on Newsmakers and gave us these quotes...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/oct/01/no-headline---ev_newsmakers/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/oct/01/no-headline---ev_newsmakers/</span></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>Shaw: Aztar is very unique compared to most local riverboat sort of gaming jurisdictions that you see throughout the Midwest and in the South and that most of these riverboat casinos are placed in locations to help with economic development. That is the main attraction for governments to allow them to come into their communities. A lot of these are in areas that are very industrial or there is a lot of economic blight.<br /></blockquote><br />Having Casino Aztar in downtown Evansville is a blessing we must take advantage of. It should no longer be acceptable to have Casino Aztar and Mulzer Stone as neighbors (I will talk about the solution in a minute). No one wants to visit a city that is a one-trick pony. If we want to recruit new visitors as well as retain the same visitors, we must upgrade our entertainment district. That is required to compete in a capitalist economy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>Compared to some of our other locations within our company or some of our competitors, we sit here in a really attractive, very visually-pleasing, easy-to-access location for our customers, guests and team members. We are in a beautiful little bend in the river right next to Downtown. It is a very scenic riverfront park walkway, and there a things to do within walking distance of Downtown. It makes our entertainment destination a little more well rounded than just a stand alone casino that is maybe five miles out in the middle of a very industrial area.<br /></blockquote><br />Mr. Shaw is correct about the location, but incorrect on the district around the casino. Casino Aztar and its restaurants are surrounded by a stone plant, an adult entertainment store, and a few high rise corporate offices. We can do better than that!<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>Kentucky is much more close to home for us. It is yet to be seen what the impact of the instant racing machines that look like will go in across the river here and later on this year will have on us. The concern there though is, what is the next step after that? Is that just a precursor to a more expanding gaming opportunity in Kentucky? With the proximity of Ellis Park, that would be a huge concern for our business.<br /></blockquote><br /><br />Further proof that we need to make plans for the surrounding district and we need to do it NOW. We cannot afford to have our casino lose business to Kentucky and Ellis Park. Time after time, Evansville has felt sorry for itself and refused to improve itself. If we let this happen again, we will be sacrificing our one point of light. Do we really want to do that?<br /><br />With all of that being said, what is the solution to fixing this problem? To me, that answer is one of the easiest answers to any of our problems here in Evansville. We must bring back the 2001 master plan. Why bring it back?<br /><br />1. A ballpark will bring in over a million visitors to the Aztar district. It will also account for 1,000 to 1,300 hotel room nights each season. The ballpark district around the ballpark will enhance and compliment the already existing Aztar district.<br /><br />2. A canal that will go parallel to John Street from Pigeon Creek to First Avenue will connect the Aztar district to the arena and convention center district.<br /><br />3. A marina will bring in tourists who want to take on the mighty Ohio River while enjoying the Aztar night life at the same time.<br /><br />4. Placing the LST at the Port of Evansville will bring in tourists to the area who will stay at Aztar's hotels. It will also pull the historic ship away from Ellis Park which will be a future competitor.<br /><br />5. Moving Ohio Street so that it connects with 1st street instead of 2nd street will bring motorists closer to the Aztar district while allowing us to fill in the area between the ballpark, the LST, and the canal with a ballpark village.<br /><br />The problem we have is that we are being selfish instead of working to build Evansville together. Our local government is only concerned about what they can get out of Aztar not what we can do to help Aztar and our city grow as one.<br /><br />If we are going to be successful, we need to ask what we can do for Casino Aztar and our downtown Evansville, not what they can do for us!<br /><br />Imagine a canal to the north of Aztar, a marina, LST, and ballpark to the west of Aztar, and a ballpark village in between. Can you name a city Evansville's size that could compete with that? I sure can't.<br /><br />Some of you may be saying, " Well that's great but our city is broke." Although our city is broke, this problem needs to be solved by spending our money wisely. When you take into account expanding Green River Road, Millersburg Road, Oak Hill Road, the Lloyd Expressway at Fulton, and a few other roads, the bill goes OVER $100 million.<br /><br />We need to spend our Aztar money to build around Aztar by doing the following...<br /><br />-$30 million ballpark<br />-$35 million canal<br />- $5 million Port of Evansville & LST<br /><br />The rest of the funds should be used to construct the marina and slack water port. By building the slack water port, which would have to come first, we will be able to clear Mulzer Stone, IMI Concrete, and Tekoppel Block off the land without losing their business. It will be a win-win for both sides.<br /><br />So instead of wasting money expanding roads that will just cause urban sprawl and increase government spending on city services, why don't we do the right thing and invest in our Casino Aztar district who has done so much for us these past 16 years?<br /><br />Do the right thing, INVEST AROUND CASINO AZTAR!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.englers.net/wedding/orig_page/aztar.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 492px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 292px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.englers.net/wedding/orig_page/aztar.jpg" border="0" /></a>Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-18946550404201659042011-09-21T18:29:00.011-05:002011-09-22T15:28:02.558-05:00Why A Windmill Tower Would Separate Evansville From The Rest<a href="http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/10088/windmill_closer.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 496px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 800px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/10088/windmill_closer.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As most Evansville residents know by now, Global Blade Technology, GBT, has announced that they will begin setting up shop at the old Whirlpool plant where they will be producing state-of-the-art windmills.<br /><br />The good thing about this latest piece of news is that just about everyone wins. I, myself, am excited about the opportunity from a historical preservation standpoint (saving the WWII big blue building), an environmental standpoint (windmills will replace coal and oil), an econonic standpoint (this will be great news for any future slack water port built), and from the standpoint as an advocate for rail technology...<br /><br /><a href="http://evansvillerail.blogspot.com/2011/09/another-day-another-company-chooses-us.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://evansvillerail.blogspot.com/2011/09/another-day-another-company-chooses-us.html</span></a><br /><br />Even better news came when GBT announced that they will be building a second plant by 2013. Hopefully, GBT will be successful in their qwest to add a total of 400 + jobs to the area. Not only will GBT be bringing in a significant amount of jobs, they will also be sustainable and good paying.<br /><br />Not only will these sustainable jobs have the opportunity to resurrect Evansville's economy, they will also have the opportunity to resurrect Evansville's image if we are successful in changing the thought process around city hall. I say this because last year we were dealt a setback in our efforts to convert Evansville to a green city when Mr. Frank Peterlin saw his petition to construct 3 windmills outside his business denied...<br /><br /><a href="http://tristatehomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=175845"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://tristatehomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=175845</span></a><br /><br />Obviously, we missed a golden opportunity when our city decided to play politics. Mr. Peterlin's petition was denied for two reasons...<br /><br />1. City hall hasn't updated some of their zoning laws since the Stone Age. Because of these outdated laws, Mr. Peterlin's windmills were placed in the same category as several thousand feet cell phone towers. Therefore, it was nearly impossible to get a variance from the highly regulated category Frank's windmills were placed in.<br /><br />2. The businessman next door did not like the idea of windmills at all (it was pretty obvious that jealousy was the main reason) and decided to fight it to the end. Unfortunately, he won as he took advantage of just about every law that he could apply to the windmills. The Board of Zoning Appeals proved to be no match for this businessman and gave in rather quickly.<br /><br />If we are ever going to move up the rankings and become one of America's greatest cities, we absolutely have to eliminate needless road blocks like the above 2. Mr. Peterlin offered Evansville a chance to begin entering the 21st century and become a green city moving forward. Yet our government threw him out in the cold. For that Mr. Peterlin, I would like to say I'm very sorry and am embarrassed as an Evansville resident that this happened to you.<br /><br />Although Evansville lost when Mr. Peterlin's petition was denied, we now have an opportunity to change all of this when GBT comes to town. Like Toyota, GBT will be a force in our town as one of our premier employers. They will bring a lot of benefits to the Evansville community and we owe it to both them and our community at large to promote their windmill initiatives.<br /><br />What can we do that will separate us from other cities in the windmill industry? If you recall, I wrote on this blog last year about a need to construct a "Windmill Monument"...<br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span><a href="http://evansvillemovingforward.blogspot.com/2010/01/build-windmill-monument.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://evansvillemovingforward.blogspot.com/2010/01/build-windmill-monument.html</span></a><br /><br />I even wrote into the Courier & Press with the idea...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/feb/20/windmill-monument-would-draw-tourists/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/feb/20/windmill-monument-would-draw-tourists/</span></a><br /><br />Why do I believe that a windmill monument would be a game changer for Evansville? After all, wouldn't it be just as easy and probably cheaper to build an ordinary building? Isn't this a want versus a need for our windmill industry?<br /><br />Sadly, many people here in Evansville feel that way. They say buildings lack an IQ, a soul, or a special purpose. They claim that a building will never be able to make a city any better, rather, it is the talent inside that makes the city. They don't believe any building or facility should be any different than the one next door. In their eyes, a perfect city would be one that is built with basic features and only necessary attributes. No flare, uniqueness, or perks would exist on any building. We would be living in a modern day "Whoville."<br /><br />But what these naysayers don't understand is that a cities building inventory tells the whole world just how competitive their city is. The vast majority of tourists, business investors, residents, and anyone else walking on the Earth are competitive. They want to go to a city that is better than any other city. This is where a windmill monument drastically improves Evansville's marketability, and I will show you why.<br /><br />Let's say that you are a tourist. You like traveling to cities where there are plenty of things to do, but most importantly you are interested in buildings that offer great views over a city. You are given 2 choices but can only pick one. You're two choices are "Building A" and "Building B." Let's take a look at each facilities basic description.<br /><br /><strong>Building A</strong><br /><br />Height: 630 feet<br />Built: 1965<br />Overlooks: 58th largest city<br /><br /><strong>Building B</strong><br /><br />Height: Top floor: 688 feet Antenna Top: 830 feet<br />Built: 1990<br />Over looks: 12th largest city (just moved up to 11th this year)<br /><br />Holding other things constant, which building do you think a tourist would choose? From what we are given, you would have to think that Building B would be choosen as it offers a view that is farther up in the air, over a much bigger city, and is newer. Those who don't believe in building architecturally inspiring buildings would tell you that Building B would get the job done. They are wrong.<br /><br />Take a look at what the two structures are...<br /><br />Building A<br /><br />St. Louis Arch<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5zLaikgpKYI/TIHM-tYqGeI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/nui2glrRnuY/s1600/StLouisArch.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 310px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5zLaikgpKYI/TIHM-tYqGeI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/nui2glrRnuY/s1600/StLouisArch.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Building B<br /><br />Chase Tower- Indianapolis<br /><a href="http://www.urbanspaceusa.com/Portals/0/images/Indy%20Pix/Chase-Tower-looking-south.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 308px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.urbanspaceusa.com/Portals/0/images/Indy%20Pix/Chase-Tower-looking-south.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The St. Louis Arch hosts over 4 million tourists each year who take the trip to the Arch's observation deck, while Chase Tower in Indianapolis offers no observation deck, only a law office...<br /><br /><a href="http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-01-21/news/17944311_1_hoosier-country-law-office-indianapolis-motor-speedway-hall"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-01-21/news/17944311_1_hoosier-country-law-office-indianapolis-motor-speedway-hall</span></a><br /><br />Chase Tower is so ineffective at drawing visitors and tourists that most skip the building completely and visit the shorter Soliders & Sailors Monument. Indianapolis missed a golden opportunity with their tall highrise that is the 138th largest building in the U.S.<br /><br />If we are going to maximize our efforts to convert Evansville to a green city, we have to follow the correct marketing steps with our buildings. There are tons of green companies we can recruit to come to our town not just windmills. SIREN is one of them...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sirensolar.org/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.sirensolar.org/</span></a><br /><br />A windmill monument would recruit tourists, investors, and visitors from all over the country. Many cities understand the benefits of building a monument...<br /><br />Toronto<br /><a href="http://www.isprogram.utoronto.ca/images/gallery/toronto/CN-Tower-and-Rogers-Centre-.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 667px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.isprogram.utoronto.ca/images/gallery/toronto/CN-Tower-and-Rogers-Centre-.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Niagara Falls<br /><a href="http://www.skylon.com/images/home-r2-c1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 406px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 730px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.skylon.com/images/home-r2-c1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />San Antonio<br /><a href="http://www.sunipix.com/Hemisfair%20Park-1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 450px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 600px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.sunipix.com/Hemisfair%20Park-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Knoxville<br /><a href="http://gate21.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/sunsphere1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 450px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 308px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://gate21.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/sunsphere1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Dallas<br /><a href="http://www.dallasarchitecture.info/reunion1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 421px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 640px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.dallasarchitecture.info/reunion1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Seattle<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_p594OAS-JoM/TO3r2XU7UwI/AAAAAAAAACw/cFILzpfAmlo/s1600/space_needle_night.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_p594OAS-JoM/TO3r2XU7UwI/AAAAAAAAACw/cFILzpfAmlo/s1600/space_needle_night.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />New York<br /><a href="http://img.ezinemark.com/imagemanager2/files/2010_re/2010-08-28-19-16-25-8-Statue-of-Liberty-Symbol-of-Freedom-for-the-Oppressed.jpeg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 600px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://img.ezinemark.com/imagemanager2/files/2010_re/2010-08-28-19-16-25-8-Statue-of-Liberty-Symbol-of-Freedom-for-the-Oppressed.jpeg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Gatlinburg<br /><a href="http://www.gatlinburgtennessee-attractions.com/images/SpaceNeedleGatlinburg2.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 500px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.gatlinburgtennessee-attractions.com/images/SpaceNeedleGatlinburg2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Tulsa<br /><a href="http://www.newson6.com/story/10893964/nations-tallest-derrick-erected-for-route-66-transportation-village?redirected=true"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.newson6.com/story/10893964/nations-tallest-derrick-erected-for-route-66-transportation-village?redirected=true</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"> </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>So where would a windmill monument go? In my opinion, there is one prime lot for it.<br /><br />If you look through the 2001 master plan, you will notice that Mulzer Stone, Tekoppel Block, and IMI Concrete were suppose to be relocated with their land redeveloped. If we can ever get our political leaders motivated, we can move these companies to a slack water port in the Howell Rail Yards. The 2001 master plan then called for these parcels of land to be redeveloped for urban living and recreational purposes.<br /><br />If we redevelop the area correctly, we will have the LST at the Port of Evansville (which is west of the the Joan Marchand Bridge), and we will have a ballpark and possibly a canal on the Mulzer Stone lots east of Pigeon Creek. This leaves one open lot that is north of Ohio Street, south of the Lloyd Expressway, east of the railroad tracks, and west of Pigeon Creek...<br /><br /><a href="http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.9770733&lon=-87.5877982&z=18&l=0&m=b"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.9770733&lon=-87.5877982&z=18&l=0&m=b</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span><br />There are many advantages to this site...<br /><br />1. A windmill monument would spur development all the way to Franklin Street which was the goal of the 2001 master plan.<br /><br />2. The site is close enough to the Ohio River to get a strong gust of wind.<br /><br />3. The site can be complimented by a river walk running parallel to Pigeon Creek.<br /><br />4. The site has an excellent view of both the Ohio River and downtown Evansville.<br /><br />5. The site has an excellent connection to railroad transportation for any products that would be produced next to the windmill monument.<br /><br />Make no mistake, I am not proposing building a windmill monument that is large enough to compete with structures like the Space Needle in Seattle or the CN Tower in Toronto. If you look at the photo of the Space Needle in Gatlingburg, you will see that it is much more practical yet effective at the same time. That is what we need here in Evansville.<br /><br />What should we surround the windmill monument with?<br /><br />1. There should be an observation deck on the top with a small gift shop.<br /><br />2. There should be a "wind plaza" at the bottom of the monument where Evansville's green companies such as GBT can market to visitors.<br /><br />3. Restaurants and retail should connect the monument to pigeon creek by running parallel to the creek.<br /><br />4. The land south of Franklin/ north of the Lloyd Expressway should be cleared and rebuilt with condos, recreational activities and room for green and tech manufacturing plants such as GBT.<br /><br />With the arrival of GBT, we have two choices. We can make the best of it by marketing our green image to the nation, or we can just let GBT be an ordinary quiet business on the outskirts of town. Let's take advantage of this golden opportunity. Let's build a windmill tower!<br /><br /><a href="http://windmillsusa.com/uploads/Image/windmill_parts.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 362px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 325px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://windmillsusa.com/uploads/Image/windmill_parts.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-42004968716884858522011-09-16T15:40:00.007-05:002011-09-16T23:15:47.882-05:00Why Penny Pinchers Are Driving Us Into Debt<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__jlIGspWltY/TS8RucfIEYI/AAAAAAAAA70/NasJv-Oi5tE/s1600/CRI0035025_P.JPG"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 392px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__jlIGspWltY/TS8RucfIEYI/AAAAAAAAA70/NasJv-Oi5tE/s1600/CRI0035025_P.JPG" border="0" /></a>(eatwelleatcheap.blogspot.com)<br /><br />You won't have to walk more than a few blocks in Evansville to find them. They are loud, they are abundant, and most importantly, they are powerful. They will fight you tooth and nail until they have defeated you on every project.<br /><br />Yes, I'm talking about Evansville's most infamous residents: the penny pinchers. Some will tell you that if you raise taxes, you are for big government. Some will tell you that Evansville is too small to take on any capital improvement projects. Others will simply oppose projects just because they can. One thing we do know about the classic penny pincher is that they all are hypocrites.<br /><br />While their ideas may seem great and they may mean well with their intentions, their beliefs and practices are both hypocritical and counter intuitive, and I will tell you why.<br /><br />Obviously, the penny pinchers, who like to associate best with Evansville's naysayers, have never been consistent. They claim they are against entitlements, yet they support the EVSC taking on a $149 million bond to build a school in one of the last places you would find a needy student.<br /><br />They claim they are against rebuilding downtown with a ballpark and an arena because we don't have any money, yet they say nothing when roads like Green River, Oak Hill, and Millersburg are expanded for no reason at identical costs. <br /><br />They claim they are for Evansville fixing its sewer problems, yet refuse to consider city-county consolidation which would prevent urban sprawl that requires more sewers.<br /><br />But worst of all, Evansville's penny pinchers are fighting against their own cause with their tax policy. When they point the finger at someone, they have 3 fingers coming back at them...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.shelleytherepublican.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/pointing.gif"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 149px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.shelleytherepublican.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/pointing.gif" border="0" /></a>(shelleytherepublican.com)<br /><br />Here in Evansville, the average penny pincher will tell you that they want no new taxes and would prefer that government work with the funding it has already been given. Commissioner Winnecke appears to believe in this notion as well...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.courierpress.com/videos/detail/mayoral-candidate-lloyd-winnecke-q6/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.courierpress.com/videos/detail/mayoral-candidate-lloyd-winnecke-q6/</span></a><br /><br />On the surface, this seems to be both practical and reasonable. I, myself, can agree with the overall goal of this statement. I feel like our city and state governments have wasted way too much money on frivolous, inefficient, and pointless projects such as the EVSC bond, I-69, the downtown street reversal project, and moving the LST to a location that is believed to be in Kentucky.<br /><br />All of these projects have a counter project that can/could do more for our city while costing less. In this sense, government does need to work with their funds in a better way. The last thing we need to do is raise taxes to finance any of the above 4 projects that will just make matters worse. In that regard, I agree with the penny pinchers. I also don't believe that now is a good time to raise property taxes on homeowners when we are watching the very sad events of home foreclosures. Nothing is worse than losing your home, therefore, it is extremely unwise for government to increase foreclosures.<br /><br />But with that being said, there is one tax that our local penny pinchers need to embrace. I don't like taxes anymore than anyone else, but it is important to understand that there is actually a tax out there that has the power to lower taxes. Basically, we need to fight fire with fire.<br /><br />So what tax has the magical power to fight other taxes? I believe that tax to be none other than our local sales tax. I know this makes no sense right now but keep following me through this description.<br /><br />In a previous post, I talked about Oklahoma City and their MAPS program...<br /><br /><a href="http://evansvillemovingforward.blogspot.com/2011/05/large-capital-improvement-projects-can.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://evansvillemovingforward.blogspot.com/2011/05/large-capital-improvement-projects-can.html</span></a><br /><br />Basically it worked like this...<br /><br />1. The citizens come up with their own ideas and plans. They then can go around town lobbying for other citizens to support their ideas.<br /><br />2. The citizens then go to their local government's website and submit the ideas.<br /><br />3. The ideas with the most votes get implemented (OKC took as many ideas as they could afford).<br /><br />4. The final ideas are lumped into a program (MAPS).<br /><br />5. The program is put on the ballot where voters vote to temporarily increase the local sales tax by 1% for 7 years. After 7 years, the tax expires and can only be extended with another referendum.<br /><br />6. If approved, the 7 year 1% sales tax goes into effect and a committee to oversee the projects is assembled.<br /><br />7. After 7 years, if there is enough revenue collected, the projects can begin breaking ground. If there is not enough revenue, a temporary 2 year 1% sales tax increase can be voted on, some projects can be scaled down, or some projects can be eliminated completely.<br /><br />8. Repeat cycle<br /><br />Oklahoma City did what I am proposing, they temporarily raised the sales tax rate by 1% for 7 years. Yes, raising the sales tax isn't fun either, but it worked big time for Oklahoma City. In 2009, OKC ranked...<br /><br />#3 on BusinessWeek's Forty Strongest U.S. Metro Economies<br />#1 on Fortune Magazine's list of best places to start a business<br />Top 20% of all metro's in GDP growth, U.S. Dept of Commerce28 of the nation's 500 fastest-growing companies<br />Top Ten in BusinessWeek's Strongest Housing Markets in the U.S.<br />#1 on fastest-growing per capita income for a large MSA, U.S. Dept of Commerce<br />#2 for volunteer hours, #7 for overall volunteerism among major U.S. metros.<br />#4 Best Undervalued Place to Live, U.S. News & World Report<br />#8 for Indeed's Best Cities to Look for a Job<br />#2 on the Brooking's Institution's list of best-performing cities during the recession<br />#4 in ArtBistro's Top 25 Cities for Artists and Designers<br />#4 for WomenCo.com's Best Cities for Your Career<br />#1 on FDI's (Foreign Direct Investment) on list of most cost-effective large cities<br />#1 on BusinessWeek's most affordable major metros<br />Top Ten, Mat Hoffman Action Sports Park on National Geographic's Ten Best Things for Families<br />#37 on The Sporting News' Best Sports Cities (Toronto is #36, Austin is #38)<br />#28 on the Today Show's Best Places to Raise a Family<br />#7 on Forbes' Top Ten Cleanest Cities<br />#4 on Forbes' Best Cities for Commuters<br />#1 on Forbes' Most Recession-Proof Cities<br />#4 on BizJournal's 10 Least Stressful Metros<br /><br />(stats courtesy of <a class="bbc_link" href="http://www.downtownontherange.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.downtownontherange.blogspot.com/</span></a>)<br /><br />Now, there are many cities who have begun replicating what OKC did. One of those cities is Jacksonville, Florida...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-dec-moving-forward-oklahoma-city"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-dec-moving-forward-oklahoma-city</span></a><br /><br />As you can see from the above link, both OKC and Jacksonville have grown by double-digits since 2000. Jacksonville proved that these types of programs don't have to be entertainment venues only, rather, they can include infrastructure improvements as well. That is key to what we need to do here in Evansville.<br /><br />Although the main point of MAPS is that it works, it also shows us why our local penny pinchers are fighting against their own cause by opposing a temporary sales tax increase...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.maps3.org/maps.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.maps3.org/maps.html</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span><br /><br /><blockquote>"The tax expired on July 1, 1999. During the 66 months it was in effect, over $309 million was collected. In addition, the deposited tax revenue earned about $54 million in interest. That was used for MAPS construction, too."<br /></blockquote><br /><br />This is the most important part of MAPS. While Evansville will be paying millions in debt service for our new arena that needed a 30 year bond, OKC got $54 million in interest money from their temporary sales tax. Basically, they got a AAA size ballpark and a one mile canal FOR FREE.<br /><br />Yet here in Evansville, we cannot afford projects unless we space them out over a 30 + year bond. Our arena, our school project, our sewers, and many, many other projects have cost Evansville more because of the interest on our bonds we took out. Wouldn't it make more sense to make our taxes draw interest not cost us interest revenue?<br /><br />Of course, the most popular criticisms of this approach are...<br /><br />1. We aren't as big as OKC or Jacksonville<br />2. We have more basic problems than OKC or Jacksonville that need to be addressed first.<br /><br />Once again, these beliefs are the byproduct of our local penny pinchers and naysayers. These two beliefs fail for the following reasons...<br /><br />1. Of course we are smaller than OKC and Jacksonville but that is no reason not to implement a MAPS strategy. Yes we will take in less sales tax revenue than OKC but that just means that we build our projects to scale. While OKC built a 586,000 square foot Ford Center, we built a 278,000 square foot Ford Center. With or without MAPS, Evansville still needs to build infrastructure and quality of life structures that are built to Evansville's scale. MAPS is just a different formula for financing these projects.<br /><br />2. Yes we do have more problems with our basic infrastructure than OKC and Jacksonville. Sewers, water port jobs, US 41, our parks, and passenger rail all come to mind. These problems are reasons why we need MAPS, not reasons why we don't. All of our basic problems (especially sewers) must be addressed first in a MAPS program although it is our local citizens who will be making that decision. If you look at Jacksonville's BETTER JACKSONVILLE PLAN, you will see that they spent some of their funds on basic infrastructure as well.<br /><br />What kind of MAPS plan would I envision for Evansville? Well, I would personally vote for the following...<br /><br />MAPS I<br /><br />50% Sewers<br />20% Slack Water Port<br />10% Tech Park/ Revitalization of old US 41<br />10% Greenway<br />10% Parks Revitalization<br /><br />MAPS II<br /><br />20% Recruit a large employer to team up with UE, USI, and Ivy Tech to implement an Earn & Learn program<br />20% Ballpark on Mulzer lot (who would be in the slack water port)<br />20% Redig the Wabash & Erie Canal from First Avenue, down 5th street, and then wrap around to the Convention Centre.<br />20% High Speed Rail and Light Rail<br />10% Ball fields at Kleymeyer Park<br />10% Lloyd Expressway Upgrades<br /><br />Under the plan above, which is just a rough idea of the direction that I would like to see Evansville go in, it would take approximately 14-15 years to complete but would turn our city around 180 degrees for the following reasons...<br /><br />1. It would not disturb other government revenues like Casino Aztar which would continue to be used to run our already existing city services.<br /><br />2. In 15 years, Evansville would be building all of these projects while taking on ZERO extra debt and having earned interest revenue invested in our city.<br /><br />3. Evansville would now be ready to move into the upper echelon of mid-sized cities.<br /><br />4. Evansville would not need to raise any additional taxes to fix any of the above problems or fund any of the above capital improvement projects.<br /><br />5. These funds would draw federal and state matching funds which would mean more investment in Evansville.<br /><br />6. More jobs would be created by the 1,000s, the quality of life would be improved, tax revenue would be increased (resulting in lower taxes abroad), and Evansville would be on the same page.<br /><br />The truth is, our city needs to grow while fixing major problems at the same time. We cannot afford to wait another day to solve these problems. We need a solution NOW! We can build and fix our city in one of two ways...<br /><br />1. Raise a temporary 1% sales tax that would be monitored and improved by local residents. This temporary tax would draw interest revenue for the city.<br /><br />2. Don't raise the sales tax and instead take out 30 year bonds on our sewers, slack water port, and whatever else we need to do to create jobs and fix our infrastructure. Over time, this plan will cost Evansville millions from interest rates on the bonds.<br /><br />I'll agree that a temporary sales tax is no fun. I don't want the extra one percent either. But if you look at our two choices, you will see that it is clearly the direction we need to go in. One tax now will save us an abundance of tax increases down the road, and it will bring more funds into our city instead of a bank's bottom line.<br /><br />While taxes are very unpopular in Evansville, our local penny pinchers need to realize that we can fight our tax problem, our infrastructure problem, and our quality of life problem with just one tax. We need to invest in Evansville today, WE NEED MAPS!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8kX340BXhV8/TnPJVa9lONI/AAAAAAAAAgU/IIGaADDZxZg/s1600/OKC%2BMAPS.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 143px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8kX340BXhV8/TnPJVa9lONI/AAAAAAAAAgU/IIGaADDZxZg/s200/OKC%2BMAPS.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653083327132154066" /></a>(newsok.com)Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-45521633086751844652011-09-13T18:30:00.005-05:002011-09-13T20:29:52.579-05:00Commissioner Winnecke's Tech Park: Good Idea, Bad Location<a href="http://dudevondudenstein.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Rebuilding-America.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 480px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 319px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://dudevondudenstein.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Rebuilding-America.jpg" border="0" /></a>(dudevondudenstein.com)<br /><br />Although I am 110% behind Rick Davis for mayor (and I hope you are too), I must give credit where credit is due.<br /><br />At last week's mayoral debate, there were a lot of things I disagreed with Commissioner Lloyd Winnecke on such as Roberts Stadium, Omaha making a bad decision, building roads in the county, etc, etc ( I will be talking about these in a week or so). However, there is one project I have often wanted to see come to Evansville that Commissioner Winnecke appears to be interested in.<br /><br />At the debate, Commissioner Winnecke brought up the idea of a tech park. This part here is where I would like to see Commissioner Winnecke stick with whether he will be mayor or commissioner next year. But, like the ball fields project we just witnessed, I would like to see Commissioner Winnecke tweak his proposal and change the location.<br /><br />Commissioner Winnecke believes that the tech park should be built next to I-164 which is expected to be the future I-69. As those who read this blog know, I have talked about the I-69 boondoggle time and time again. So, I will not waste anymore time of that aspect of this debate other than to say that I-69 isn't going to be completed for some time and isn't worth building along.<br /><br />With that being said, there is one area that I feel fits the idea of a tech park perfectly. That area, is Old US 41 and New US 41 that surrounds the Lloyd Expressway to the north and south...<br /><br /><a href="http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/1061evansville.com/files/2011/08/Lloyd_and_US_41_N_and_US_41_S.png"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/1061evansville.com/files/2011/08/Lloyd_and_US_41_N_and_US_41_S.png</span></a><br /><br />Before I give the many reasons why I believe the tech park should be located along US 41 and the Lloyd Expressway, I would like to first introduce you to another tech park in the works here in Indiana.<br /><br /><strong>16 Tech- Indianapolis, Indiana</strong><br /><br />Deemed, " 16 Tech," Indianapolis has made it a priority to fix the dilapidated district around 16th street which takes you from downtown Indianapolis to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.developindy.com/redevelopment/16-tech.aspx"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.developindy.com/redevelopment/16-tech.aspx</span></a><br /><br />If you scrolled through the website above, you will see that Indianapolis is doing great things with their 16 Tech project. The renderings are great, but the planning is even better. One of my favorite things about the 16 Tech project is that it will convert historic Bush Stadium into an apartment complex without demolishing it...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.developindy.com/files/documents/Bush%20Stadium%20Rehab%20Site%20Plan.pdf"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.developindy.com/files/documents/Bush%20Stadium%20Rehab%20Site%20Plan.pdf</span></a><br /><br />The reason why Indianapolis will be successful with 16 Tech is because they are planning for the 21st century by implementing the following aspects into their tech park...<br /><br />1. Building the tech park within walking distance of downtown Indianapolis.<br /><br />2. Cleaning up, rebuilding, and enhancing a historic neighborhood that has been rundown for many years (urban renewal).<br /><br />3. Building their tech park within walking distance of arts and cultural districts.<br /><br />4. Committing to redevelopment instead of urban sprawl.<br /><br />Indianapolis is also incorporating these 4 basic beliefs into their plan to redevelop a downtown GM Stamping Plant...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.developindy.com/redevelopment/gm-stamping-plant-reuse.aspx"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.developindy.com/redevelopment/gm-stamping-plant-reuse.aspx</span></a><br /><br />Given these 4 basic planning principles, why does the land along US 41, Old US 41, the Lloyd Expressway, and the Front Door Pride district make sense?<br /><br />1. The old Hercules Motor Corporation plant, which is on the northwest corner of US 41 and the Lloyd Expressway, is both historic and dilapidated. This is our chance to fix that.<br /><br />2. Since I-69 has been selected as the preferred route to Indianapolis, US 41 has fallen into an unacceptable state of disrepair. US 41, from the Lloyd Expressway to Veterans Memorial Parkway cannot remain in its current form. It simple isn't sustainable or affordable ($30 million just to take two stop lights off the Lloyd/41 interchange). This project starts the debate on what to do with US 41. Here are just a few links that talk about the future of freeways...<br /><br /><a href="http://citytoriver.org/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://citytoriver.org/</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2010/08/16/daily35.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2010/08/16/daily35.html</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.okc.gov/planning/coretoshore/index.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.okc.gov/planning/coretoshore/index.html</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.preservenet.com/freeways/FreewaysPlansProposals.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.preservenet.com/freeways/FreewaysPlansProposals.html</span></a><br /><br />3. Old US 41 is historic. In fact, it is even older than Route 66. Oklahoma has redeveloped their old Route 66 (I talk about this below), while Evansville has let old US 41 fall into disrepair along Fares Avenue and Kentucky Avenue. This project can fix that<br /><br />4. This project would be within walking distance of Haynie's Corner.<br /><br />5. This project would be within walking distance of Deaconess Hospital which could be a potential partner for medical research at the tech park.<br /><br />6. This project is within walking distance of the University of Evansville which would form a tremendous opportunity for both the university and tech park to gain significant grants and funds for various research initiatives.<br /><br />7. Unlike the I-69 corridor, this project would have a strong connection to rail transportation which runs between the Lloyd Expressway and Franklin Street.<br /><br />8. This project would compliment the announcement made today that our old Whirpool plant will soon be making windmill turbines.<br /><br />9. This project would connect downtown Evansville to the east side.<br /><br />10. This project helps solve our urban renewal problems where over 8,000 houses are either rundown or abandoned.<br /><br />11. This project takes advantage of the newly repaved Oak Hill Road.<br /><br />12. This project has access to US 41 northbound (and southbound if kept as is) as well as the Lloyd Expressway which connect to any and all interstates that surround Evansville.<br /><br />Like I said earlier, Oklahoma has embraced their old Route 66 road, why won't Evansville do the same with old US 41?....<br /><br /><a href="http://www.travelok.com/Route_66"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.travelok.com/Route_66</span></a><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.newson6.com/story/10893964/nations-tallest-derrick-erected-for-route-66-transportation-village?redirected=true"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.newson6.com/story/10893964/nations-tallest-derrick-erected-for-route-66-transportation-village?redirected=true</span></a><br /><br />Many residents probably don't realize this, but old US 41, which started out as an "auto trail," is actually older than Route 66...<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_trail"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_trail</span></a><br /><br />Factoring in all of this data, what are some design elements I would like to see incorporated into "41 Tech?"<br /><br />1. As southbound motorists travel US 41 past the entrance to old US 41, they are greeted with a state-of-the-art entrance and sign.<br /><br />2. The tech park is placed along the current US 41, old US 41, the Lloyd Expressway, and the Front Door Pride district.<br /><br />3. A pedestrian bridge is built over the Lloyd Expressway to connect old US 41 as well as both sides of 41 Tech. This bridge could have a restaurant with a nice view of Evansville like Winnipeg has...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.planetware.com/i/photo/winnipeg-cdn1245.jpg"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.planetware.com/i/photo/winnipeg-cdn1245.jpg</span></a><br /><br />4. The old Wabash & Erie Canal is redug in a very small portion in the northwest corner of 41 and the Lloyd. In time, this small canal will eventually connect Wesselman Park to downtown Evansville.<br /><br />5. Old US 41 is redeveloped in a fashion that is similar to Route 66 in Oklahoma.<br /><br />6. The current US 41 is scaled down to a large boulevard so that students at Bosse High School are safer, and neighborhood residents can take their neighborhood back ( I will be talking about this as well in a post later this week or next, email me about details if you really want to know).<br /><br />If we don't consider placing a tech park in this corridor, we will be making a huge mistake. This is why I believe that if both mayoral candidates live up to their promises we would be best served with Mr. Rick Davis as mayor and Mr. Lloyd Winnecke as commissioner or higher position. What do I think this fusion of talent could lead too?<br /><br />1. The ball fields are placed at Kleymeyer & Garvin Park.<br /><br />2. The tech park is placed along the current US 41, old US 41, the Lloyd Expressway, and the Front Door Pride district.<br /><br />3. Front Door Pride is reformed so that it benefits Haynie's Corner and the "41 Tech" district.<br /><br />4. Roberts Stadium is saved, renovated, and enhanced by future projects at Wesselman Park such as a rewatered canal, a completely new Hartke Pool complex, and a botanical garden.<br /><br />5. Our downtown arena serves as a catalyst for downtown development.<br /><br />If you look at these 5 concepts on a map, you will see that if implemented, they would turn around Evansville around 180 degrees and they would all feed off of each other.<br /><br />1. The downtown arena would connect to the ball fields.<br /><br />2. The ball fields would connect to 41 Tech.<br /><br />3. 41 Tech would connect to Roberts Stadium and Wesselman Park as well as the FDP and Haynie's Corner Districts.<br /><br />4. FDP and Haynie's Corner would connect to the downtown arena.<br /><br />That is how you do urban renewal, and the time to undergo urban renewal is now. Instead of spending money on roads and projects on the far east side, why don't we take care of the neighborhoods that already exist? Why don't we reconnect our downtown with its surrounding neighborhoods?<br /><br /><br />We have the funds to build projects like this tech park, we just have to be willing to commit our funds to urban renewal instead of urban sprawl. Commissioner Winnecke, I urge you to reconsider your proposed location for your proposed tech park. Instead of more urban sprawl along I-164, why don't we rebuild our US 41 corridor and connect our downtown to our east side?<br /><br /><a href="https://caf.democracyinaction.org/o/11002/images/Rebuild-America.gif"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 212px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://caf.democracyinaction.org/o/11002/images/Rebuild-America.gif" border="0" /></a>(caf.democracyinaction.org)Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-4089781813669749992011-08-15T23:21:00.010-05:002014-05-02T12:39:11.271-05:00If The Next Mayor Wants To Create Jobs, He Will Replicate Oklahoma City<img src="http://www.stadiumtravelguide.com/basketball/images/okc201.jpg" height="234" width="400" /><br />
(Stadiumtravelguide.com)<br />
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Tonight, our two candidates for mayor of Evansville met with our local groups Tri-State Jobs With Justice and the NAACP. You can read about it here....
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<a href="http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/aug/15/no-headline---ev_electionnaacp/"><span style="color: #3333ff;">http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/aug/15/no-headline---ev_electionnaacp/</span></a>
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Since the beginning of this mayoral race, both candidates have made it clear that jobs are their number one priority. In their eyes, nothing is more important than creating jobs. It is no secret that Evansville has a brain drain and most good jobs are finding their way to another city. In my opinion, this is the byproduct of one thing: Evansville's failure to build.
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Last year, Courier & Press writer John Lucas wrote about a "pall" over Evansville...
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<a href="http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/jan/24/im-convinced-theres-a-pall-over-evansville/"><span style="color: #3333ff;">http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/jan/24/im-convinced-theres-a-pall-over-evansville/</span></a>
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I agree 110% that there is indeed a pall over Evansville. I also believe this pall has existed for well over 50 years. Why and how has it lasted for so long?
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If you get a chance, go downtown and make sure you visit each city block. As you visit each city block, count the number of buildings that have been built in your lifetime and then count the amount of buildings that are older than you and count the number of empty parking lots. You will find that not much, if anything, has happened in Evansville in quite a while.
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Although there is a pall now, it didn't use to be like this. Back in the day, Evansville thrived with a vibrant downtown, a booming Franklin Street, and a view that everything made in Evansville should be known around the nation. Simply put, Evansville built things and these things prospered.
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So how do I know that building large capital improvement projects is the solution to Evansville's jobs problem? Two words: Oklahoma City.
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For those who have not been to this blog before, it is important to understand the main program going on in Oklahoma City right now that I am fan numero uno of. This program is called MAPS...
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<a href="http://evansvillemovingforward.blogspot.com/2011/05/large-capital-improvement-projects-can.html"><span style="color: #3333ff;">http://evansvillemovingforward.blogspot.com/2011/05/large-capital-improvement-projects-can.html</span></a>
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Like I said in the link above, MAPS is very simple because it works like this...
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1. The citizens come up with their own ideas and plans. They then can go around town lobbying for other citizens to support their ideas.
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2. The citizens then go to their local government's website and submit the ideas.
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3. The ideas with the most votes get implemented (OKC took as many ideas as they could afford).
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4. The final ideas are lumped into a program (MAPS).
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5. The program is put on the ballot where voters vote to temporarily increase the local sales tax by 1% for 7 years. After 7 years, the tax expires and can only be extended with another referendum.
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6. If approved, the 7 year 1% sales tax goes into effect and a committee to oversee the projects is assembled.
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7. After 7 years, if there is enough revenue collected, the projects can begin breaking ground. If there is not enough revenue, a temporary 2 year 1% sales tax increase can be voted on, some projects can be scaled down, or some projects can be eliminated completely.
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8. Repeat cycle
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Why do I believe that MAPS is the key to creating jobs in Evansville? Because MAPS proved in Oklahoma City that large capital improvement projects, when done correctly, will always cause your town to grow and will always keep unemployment levels down. MAPS has worked perfectly in Oklahoma City. In 2008, Forbes magazine named Oklahoma City the most "recession proof city in America".
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During the 1980s, Oklahoma City had one of the worst job and housing markets due to the bankruptcy of Penn Square Bank in 1982 and then the post-1985 crash in oil prices. After MAPS, the city has had a falling unemployment rate, one of the strongest housing markets in the country, and solid growth in energy, agriculture and manufacturing. Take a look at all of the great things going on in Oklahoma City...
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<a href="http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2011/04/01/as-promised-cnn-visits-oklahoma-city/"><span style="color: #3333ff;">http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2011/04/01/as-promised-cnn-visits-oklahoma-city/</span></a>
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Wouldn't that be nice to live in a city where your town is growing because large capital improvement projects are underway everywhere you go? Wouldn't it be nice if the citizens of Evansville got to pick these projects? And wouldn't it be nice if unemployment was at an all-time low because Evansville residents were busy building Evansville back to the level it should be?
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That's what MAPS does, and I'm calling on both mayoral candidates to give this program more than just a serious look. I want both of these candidates to call and/or go to Oklahoma City, talk to the citizens and city leaders, and investigate the facts about MAPS. Both candidates will see that Oklahoma City isn't called "boom town" for no reason. Both candidates will also see a city with a positive attitude, not a dark pall over the entire city.
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With that being said, some residents are STILL buying into the belief that MAPS cannot happen here because, " That's Oklahoma City. They have over a million people there. We don't have enough people to pull off MAPS." These people couldn't be any further from the truth and I will tell you why.
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If you look closely, we are already replicating MAPS here, we just aren't doing it correctly. Let's break it down...
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<strong>Oklahoma City</strong>: Passed MAPS I (a 7 year 1% sales tax) in 1993. MAPS I involved...
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-renovations to the Civic Center Music Hall, The Myriad (Now Cox Convention Center) and Oklahoma State Fairgrounds;
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-construction of the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark
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-construction of the Ford Center, an indoor multipurpose sports arena.
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-construction of the "Bricktown Canal"
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-construction of a riverfront and recreational dams for the North Canadian River
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-the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library, a four-story main library to replace a facility that had been built in 1951
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-a new Library/Learning Center
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-development of the Oklahoma Spirit Trolleys, a trolley-replica bus network
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<strong>Evansville</strong>: Passed a 1% Food & Beverage Tax in 1985. This tax involved...
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- Constructing the current Evansville Airport
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- Renovating Mesker Park Zoo in 2003
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- Constructing the new arena
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- Many other capital improvement projects
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<strong>Oklahoma City</strong>: Passed MAPS II or MAPS For Kids on November 13, 2001. This plan included...
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-70 new and renovated schools
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-$52 million for technology projects
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-$9 million for bus fleet replacement
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<strong>Evansville</strong>: Passed a referendum on November 4, 2008 to issue $149 million bond for the EVSC. This included...
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- A new North High School
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- A new middle school to go with the new North High School
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-Various other EVSC capital improvement projects
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<strong>Oklahoma City</strong>: Passed MAPS III on December 8, 2009. This included...
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-$280 million new 200,000 sq ft (19,000 m2) Convention Center
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-$130 million 70-acre (280,000 m2) downtown park similar to Houston's Discovery Green to be located south of current I-40
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-$130 million for mass transit including a downtown 5-6 mile modern streetcar system
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-$50 million for health and wellness aquatic centers to be located throughout the city
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-$60 million for improvements at the Oklahoma State Fair
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-$60 million for improvements to the Oklahoma River
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-$40 million to extend trails throughout the city
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-$10 million to build sidewalks around the city
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<strong>Evansville</strong>: ?
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That is where we currently stand. Oklahoma City has begun to take their third step to improve their city. What is our next step?
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It is important to remember that Mayor Russ Lloyd Jr. gave us one hell of a master plan in 2001. This master plan included a ballpark, a redug Wabash & Erie Canal, a marina, a new civic center connecting Main Street, two downtown "Central Parks", a rejuvenated Main Street, and a cleaned up Pigeon Creek. Keep in mind, these ideas were put on the master plan because they were ideas from our local citizens just like MAPS.
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Of all the ideas on the master plan, only the opening of Main Street and the new arena were ever built (and the arena is in a different location). It is vitally important that Evansville's next mayor gets back to our 2001 master plan. I believe that we need to make sure that the core ideas such as the ballpark, canal, marina, and parks are kept while updating it with these ideas...
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- A slack water port in the Howell Rail Yards
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- Light rail or street cars in downtown Evansville
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- High speed rail in downtown Evansville
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If our two mayoral candidates are genuinely concerned about creating jobs, they must give MAPS a shot. Oklahoma City has proven that MAPS can and will be a success, and our city is already following MAPS in baby steps.
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We need a brand new downtown Evansville... We need to replicate OKC's MAPS... WE NEED JOBS!
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<a href="http://propertymanagementjobsguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/job-search.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://propertymanagementjobsguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/job-search.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 317px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 500px;" /></a>
Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-20017286672348742612011-07-24T12:39:00.008-05:002011-07-24T15:04:06.584-05:00My Thoughts On Rick Davis' Parks Plan<a href="http://wattersautoland.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/person-thinking.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 359px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 537px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://wattersautoland.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/person-thinking.jpg" /></a> (wattersautoland.files.wordpress.com)<br /><br />Yesterday, Mr. Rick Davis, who is running for mayor of Evansville, released his vision for our local parks. You can view the plan and some additional comments here...<br /><br /><a href="http://city-countyobserver.com/2011/07/23/rick-davis-releases-plan-to-improve-evansville-parks/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://city-countyobserver.com/2011/07/23/rick-davis-releases-plan-to-improve-evansville-parks/</span></a><br /><br />First of all, I really like this plan. Even if nothing at all were to come from this plan, it would still be a step in the right direction as it will serve as a wake-up call to those in elected positions that it is time to get serious about our parks.<br /><br />Like everything else not on the far west or east sides, our parks have gotten into an unacceptable and unimaginable state of ruin. This cannot be allowed to continue if we are going to have any desire at building our downtown back and putting the rest of our city under an urban renewal process.<br /><br />I would like to dig into just a few quotes from the plan because I feel like there are just a few things missing from the plan that I would like to add.<br /><br /><a href="http://city-countyobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Rick_Davis_Plan_for_ImprovedParksRecreation.pdf"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://city-countyobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Rick_Davis_Plan_for_ImprovedParksRecreation.pdf</span></a><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>Sadly, for the health and well-being of our citizens, the City of Evansville recently was listed as the No. 1 most obese city in America. Evansville is rightly proud of many of its achievements and resources, but being ranked the No. 1 most obese city in America is not one of them.<br /></blockquote><br />Correct. Like the rest of the cities in the US and around the world, Evansville must convert from an auto friendly community to a walkable and livable community. To do this, we must look at our parks from a whole new perspective. We cannot look at our parks as designated areas on a defined plot of land. Rather, we must begin the process of connecting our entire town, our transportation mode, and our way of life with the parks system. They must be a bigger part of our life than just recreation.<br /><br />For instance, instead of driving to Garvin, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Wesselman</span>, or Sunset Park for a few minutes of recreation and then leaving, you should be able to walk through park like settings on your way to your transportation source and on your way around town. Atlanta's new <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Beltline</span> Project executes this theory perfectly...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.beltline.org/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.beltline.org/</span></a><br /><a href="http://beltline.org/Portals/26/Images/materials/blp_map_packet_dld.pdf"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://beltline.org/Portals/26/Images/materials/blp_map_packet_dld.pdf</span></a><br /><br />Once complete, MARTA, high speed rail, and Atlanta's parks system will all be connected.<br /><br /><br /><blockquote>Under my plan, the Evansville Parks & Recreation Department would receive an infusion of at least $150,000 and an additional summer workforce of about 50 school-aged summer workers.<br /><br />The Parks & Recreation Department maintains 65 parks and four other facilities on a $10.31 million budget in 2011. But the amount of acreage is simply too much for our overworked and hard-working full-time staff to maintain. An additional 50 high school and college-aged students would comprise a Community Service Corps under the umbrella of the Evansville Parks & Recreation 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.<br /><br />The Community Service Corps would help give teen-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">agers</span> their first job, teach them discipline and encourage community spirit.<br /></blockquote><br /><br /><br /><p>This part of Mr. Davis' Parks Plan is the part that I desperately want to see changed and upgraded and I will tell you why.<br /><br />Back when I attended the University of Kentucky, I too worked in the lawn care industry to make enough revenue for college. This is not easy work. One time, it ended up with me dehydrating and having to take an ambulance ride to the hospital. Granted I was working 2 other jobs with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fedex</span>, giving Plasma, going to UK, and walking to polls for political candidates at the same time, but this is the type of job that can certainly cause negative health consequences.<br /><br />Because of this level of hard work, it is my strong belief that these students should not be relegated to minimum wage pay. Last year, I talked about a program that the city of Louisville, the state of Kentucky, UPS, UPS Teamsters, Jefferson Community & Technical College, and the University of Louisville created for students needing money for college...<br /><br /><a href="http://evansvillemovingforward.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-to-recruit-large-manufacturing.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://evansvillemovingforward.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-to-recruit-large-manufacturing.html</span></a><br /><br />The program is called Earn & Learn and it works like this...<br /><br />1. A student signs up to work the night shift at UPS.<br />2. UL & UPS assign this student a special dorm that is away from noise during the daylight hours.<br />3. The student receives free tuition and books.<br />4. The student gets a fair hourly rate to live on.<br />5. The tuition expense is split between <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">UofL</span> and UPS.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.metro-college.com/default.aspx"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.metro-college.com/default.aspx</span></a><br /><br />Simply put, this program works. It is the byproduct of the Chamber of Commerce, the Teamsters, the state of Kentucky educational department, and the city of Louisville all coming together to work as one.<br /><br />Can we bring in a big company like UPS to work on our parks? Maybe, maybe not. Is our parks program going to be as large as <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">UofL's</span> Earn and Learn? Doubtful.<br /><br />However, this system will be a vast improvement over the proposed minimum wage system for a number of reasons...<br /><br />1. It will reallocate our local educational funds to students who actually want to work.<br />2. This program will allow the Chamber of Commerce/ business community, the Teamsters/ organized labor, and the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">EVSC</span>/<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">USI</span>/<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">UE</span>/Ivy Tech education community to work together as one for the students and the parks.<br />3. Although small, this Parks Department initiative would send a strong message that we are serious about Earn & Learn and want to expand it should any business be open to relocating to Evansville.<br />4. This program will improve both our educational system and parks system at the same time.<br /><br />Of course, opponents to this plan will argue that we shouldn't spend any tax dollars on our parks or an Earn & Learn program. First of all, anyone who believes that the parks do not need more investment isn't looking at the same parks that I am. Allowing our parks to rot to save a buck IS NOT an option. Also, we just spent $149 million on an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">EVSC</span> bond. It's time we started supporting those students who want to work for their college degree especially given the fact that this program is pocket change compared to the bond.<br /><br />Luckily, we don't have to spend that much more to implement this Earn & Learn program. If you look at the city budget, you will notice many departments have a teamsters scholarship attached to it...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.evansvillegov.org/Index.aspx?page=2333"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.evansvillegov.org/Index.aspx?page=2333</span></a><br /><br />Who do these scholarships go to?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/local-215-awards-65000-scholarships"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.teamster.org/content/local-215-awards-65000-scholarships</span></a> </p><br /><blockquote>The scholarships are awarded to sons and daughters of Local 215 members whose employer contributes to the fund.<br /></blockquote><br /><br /><p>It is my opinion that this program needs to be reformed immediately. Instead of giving these funds to students who aren't even on the city payroll themselves, why don't we give these funds to those students who are out there busting their butt so that we can have an improved parks system?<br /><br />If those sons and daughters of Teamster employees want to retain their scholarships, they would be more than welcome to come out and give some service to our parks. If not, they should forfeit the money.<br /><br />With this additional funding, we would be able to give 15 students over $4,000 for college and then tack on additional funding for the other 35 students, or we could give each student over $1,000 for college. All of this would be in addition to the proposed funding for their basic salary.<br /><br />With this program, I am confident that we can bring the unions, the chamber, the city, and the educational community together to find sponsors and to find additional funding so that we can expand this program over time. </p><br /><blockquote>I propose re-visiting our Park Ranger program. Public safety is the No. 1 role of government and we should allow our highly trained Police Department officers to patrol our streets while also having a specialized Park Ranger or similar program to protect the City’s investment in our extensive parks system.<br /></blockquote><br /><br /><p>Absolutely. The best parks in the U.S are those with Park Rangers. With a quality Park Ranger program, we wouldn't just be providing additional safety, we would be providing more jobs, a higher quality park system, and a change of perception about where our parks belong on the priorities list. Adding Park Rangers back to the parks system is a must if we are going to integrate the parks into our daily life and commute. </p><br /><blockquote>I would encourage our neighborhood associations to "Adopt A Park" and work in conjunction with our Parks Department to help make improvements in parks located in or near their neighborhood boundaries.<br /></blockquote><br />Once more, this is both essential and affordable to implement. If we are ever going to expand our parks system with our <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">greenway</span> like Atlanta is doing with their <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Beltline</span> Project, we MUST get the community involved. Otherwise, we simply will not have the funding to implement a full connector of parks that will turn Evansville into a walkable and livable community.<br /><br />We also need to reach out to the business community. Last year, I talked to the Otters about bringing back the festival that opened up <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bosse</span> Field back in 1915. They said they liked the idea but I have not heard back unfortunately. If we are ever going to get our citizens involved in our parks, the business community has to be a part of the plan.<br /><br />If implemented, both business and community can prosper with Mr. Davis' plan.<br /><br /><br /><blockquote>Social Networking sites like <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span>, Twitter, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">LinkedIn</span>, not to mention mass email services, make marketing our Parks & Recreation Department extremely cost effective. Linking the Parks Department to sites like these in the electronic world will allow us to market our programs with our local businesses, schools and universities more effectively. These initiatives will help improve our participation levels as well.<br /><br />The City’s Parks & Recreation Department does not currently have a roster of every park in the city on its web site. We need to list and map every park so the public can have a better sense of pride and ownership in these parks, no matter how large or small they are.<br /></blockquote><br />I am thrilled beyond thrilled at the idea of making our parks more marketable. Lack of marketing is the main problem our parks face. If we do not make our parks personal, how can we expect to integrate them into our daily life? The answer is we cannot. While our parks, trails, and recreational facilities have great assets that will naturally attract some visitors, the truth of the matter is that you have to reach out to the community yourself if you truly expect your parks system to be a success. Otherwise, they will not feel like they have anything invested in the parks themselves and will not participate. We have to make our parks system personal!<br /><br />Lastly, one thing that I did not see in Mr. Davis' plan is a list of park priorities. This is the most important thing to me. I want to make sure parks such as Garvin and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> get their due first before parks such as the 4-H Center, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Burdette</span>, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Wesselman</span> which are in much, much better shape because they have received the most attention over the years.<br /><br />Garvin Park was the crown jewel of our parks system back in the day. It's about time that notion came back. We have a historic ballpark, a district with the opportunity to replicate the early 1900s and reconnect to downtown, and a park (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span>) that has the capacity to be the home of the future softball fields project. Fix Garvin and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span>, then move onto the other parks!<br /><br />Overall, I felt like Mr. Davis did an EXCELLENT job with this plan (which is yet another reason why I am endorsing him). I'm glad that he took it upon himself to come out and demand that we change our attitude towards our parks system. For too many years, our parks have been left to sit in ruin. It's about time that changed. If we are ever going to convert to a walkable/livable community, if we are ever going to join the green movement, and if we are ever going to make our parks system personal, we MUST begin the lengthy but necessary process of rebuilding them.<br /><br />Thank you Rick Davis!<br /><br /><blockquote><br /><blockquote><br /><br /><br /><p></p><a href="http://city-countyobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Rick-Davis-Vanderburgh-County-Treasurer2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 467px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 700px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://city-countyobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Rick-Davis-Vanderburgh-County-Treasurer2.jpg" /></a> (city-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">countyobserver.com)</blockquote></blockquote></span>Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-2645801407219281862011-07-22T19:26:00.002-05:002011-07-22T19:49:42.328-05:00Why Are There No Covered Bridges In Evansville?<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/203/469318899_c2f6529752.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 335px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/203/469318899_c2f6529752.jpg" /></a> (flickr.com user Corey Ann)<br /><br />One of the greatest works of architecture in the state of Indiana as well as the rest of the Midwest is the covered bridge design.<br /><br />Back in 1937, Indiana had 202 covered bridges. Today, only are still standing. You can locate these 90 covered bridges on this website...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.countyhistory.com/coveredbridge/start.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.countyhistory.com/coveredbridge/start.html</span></a><br /><br />To me, the covered bridge design is both timeless as well as practical. While it is great to build modern steel bridges for main roads such as interstates, building covered bridges makes more sense for smaller roads and trails.<br /><br />Where could we build a covered bridge in Evansville?<br /><br />1. On The Greenway: Next month, we will get a brand new pedestrian bridge next to Lamasco Park. Unfortunately, it will not be a covered bridge. Why don't we make our next bridge on the Greenway a covered bridge?<br /><br />2. Wesselman Park: Wesselman Park has a great nature image. Why don't we build a covered bridge between Wesselman Park and the Wesselman Park Golf Course?<br /><br />3. Between Kleymeyer & Garvin Park: Back in 2002, city hall came up with a master plan that called for connecting Kleymeyer Park and Garvin Park. A bridge connecting these two parks cannot come quick enough. Why not build a covered bridge over Pigeon Creek?<br /><br />4. Over the Lloyd Expressway between Wesselman Park & the State Hospital: Currently, there are plans to construct a pedestrian bridge over the Lloyd Expressway. Why don't we build a massive covered bridge over the Lloyd Expressway? This would be a great image for the area.<br /><br />Although a covered bridge can be as large as a two lane highway or as small as a pedestrian path, I think we should first concentrate on building a covered bridge the size of a pedestrian path and then slowly expanding to our goal of building a covered bridge the size of a two lane highway.<br /><br />What would be some advantages of building a covered bridge?<br /><br />1. It would bring people to the area.<br /><br />2. Each bridge can be unique.<br /><br />3. You can design the side of the bridge to pay tribute to the people, events, and land that it surrounds.<br /><br />4. Covered bridges keep road repairs to a minimum.<br /><br />5. Covered bridges can be constructed to allow great viewing areas for pedestrians.<br /><br />Lately, it seems like we waste millions upon millions of dollars on our bridges and don't get anything special in return. It's time that we got away from cookie cutter bridge designs and started exploring unique designs such as a covered bridge.<br /><br />Will Evansville ever embrace covered bridges? I honestly do not know. But one thing I do know, it's time to pay tribute to Indiana's covered bridge history!<br /><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2655/3911736239_364c550b5b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 350px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2655/3911736239_364c550b5b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> (flickr.com user crayolamom)Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-44944643941469597712011-07-10T16:14:00.003-05:002011-07-10T17:06:31.890-05:00Evansville Needs More Road Diets<a href="http://tadiillinois.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/road-diet.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 315px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://tadiillinois.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/road-diet.jpg" border="0" /></a>(tadiillinois.files.wordpress.com)<br /><br />A few years back (2007 to be exact), I lived in Seattle. One of the greatest road designs the city of Seattle has implemented has been their "road diets."<br /><br />What are road diets?<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_diet"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_diet</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span><br /><br /><blockquote>A typical road diet technique is to reduce the number of lanes on a roadway<br />cross-section. One of the most common applications of a road diet is to improve<br />safety or provide space for other users in the context of two-way streets with 2<br />lanes in each direction. The road diet reduces this to 1 travel lane in each<br />direction. The freed-up space is then used to provide any or several of the<br />following features:<br />(Wider) footpaths/<a title="Sidewalk" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidewalk">sidewalks</a><br />(Wider)<br />landscaping strips<br /><a class="mw-redirect" title="Cycle lane" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycle_lane">Cycle lanes</a>, on one or both<br />sides of the road<br />Wider lane widths on remaining traffic lanes (if<br />previously unsafely narrow to allow four lanes)<br />A <a class="mw-redirect" title="Center left-turn lane" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_left-turn_lane#Turn_lanes">two-way<br />turn lane</a> / flush traffic median for turning traffic<br />A <a title="Reversible lane" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reversible_lane">reversible centre lane</a> </p></blockquote><br /><a href="http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/MacombsRoadDiet.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 464px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 401px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/MacombsRoadDiet.jpg" border="0" /></a> (streetblogs.com)<br /><br />If you look at the diagram above, you will notice that a road diet in its simplest form is basically nothing more than a reduction in travel lanes. Once the lanes are reduced, you can basically put anything you want on the side or in the center of the road.<br /><br />Here's another great article and video on road diets...<br /><a href="http://www.streetfilms.org/mba-road-diet/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.streetfilms.org/mba-road-diet/</span></a><br /><br />Basic road diets simply add a turn lane in the middle or place small bike lanes on the side. Even Evansville has managed to put these two types of road diets in place. What are the benefits to these types of road diets?<br /><br />1. Improved safety: Road diets force drivers to go slower through an area.<br />2. Increased parking: Road diets create additional street parking from previous lanes. Look at our downtown Main Street.<br />3. Increased business: Road diets force drivers to drive slower speeds which in turn allows them to see signs for businesses better.<br />4. Increased Environmental benefits: Road diets increase bicycle riders while decreasing motorists.<br /><br />Road diets have become very popular around the U.S in the past decade. In an era where Seattle and Boston are demolishing their downtown freeways and building them underground while Portland is eliminating their downtown freeway completely, many other cities are beginning to wonder if maybe they just might be better off without a few traffic lanes themselves.<br /><br />These cities include...<br /><br />Orlando<br /><a href="http://greentopics.blogspot.com/2009/09/road-diet.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://greentopics.blogspot.com/2009/09/road-diet.html</span></a><br /><br />Seattle<br /><a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/transportation/2010/08/24/study-road-diets-good-for-drivers-health/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://blog.seattlepi.com/transportation/2010/08/24/study-road-diets-good-for-drivers-health/</span></a><br /><br />Los Angeles<br /><a href="http://ladotbikeblog.wordpress.com/2011/01/05/safety-traffic-and-you-the-case-for-road-diets/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://ladotbikeblog.wordpress.com/2011/01/05/safety-traffic-and-you-the-case-for-road-diets/</span></a><br /><br />And Even Detroit<br /><a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20100912/NEWS01/9120451/A-road-diet-car-hungry-Motor-City"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.freep.com/article/20100912/NEWS01/9120451/A-road-diet-car-hungry-Motor-City</span></a><br /><br />While basic road diets are good, it is my opinion that they do not go far enough. If you drive down some of our streets that have bike lanes painted on them, you will notice that they do not leave very much room for bicycles to squeeze between motorists and parked cars. Also, you will notice that most of these roads still lack high quality medians in the middle.<br /><br />If we are ever going to be truly successful at placing road diets on our streets, they need to contain the majority of the following characteristics...<br /><br />1. A light rail or street car system in the middle<br />2. A bike lane that is separate from the traffic lane and not simply next to the traffic lane<br />3. A nicely designed plaza in the middle of the medians where local residents can relax and take in the area<br />4. Development around the roads that is close to the sidewalk instead of set back behind a sea of parking lots<br /><br />As you read this post, you probably have a few roads in mind. What are the roads I have in mind?....<br /><br />1. Franklin Street: We need to bring light rail back to Franklin Street. We also need to do a better job with the area in the middle of the median. Lastly, we need to make sure we promote the small businesses that have been on Franklin Street for quite awhile.<br /><br />2. Main Street: Main Street needs to be closed back off. This will allow space for arena patrons to walk after games and concerts. It will also be an incentive for them to walk down Main Street once they leave the new arena. We also need to bring light rail back to Main Street so that it can connect Main Street with the rest of the city once more.<br /><br />3. Riverside between Casino Aztar and the Pagoda: Many people think that Riverside should be a place where motorists can fly at excessive speeds to get into or out of town. I disagree. I also disagree with the removal of parts of the median in favor of turn lanes. As it stands, the huge flood wall in front and the developed lands behind Riverside have put us in quite a mess to truly make our riverfront a nice place for those who want to walk around the river. If we place road diets on Riverside, this will create more land to develop along the river, while keeping the automobile a little bit further from activities. We also need to do a better job with the medians in the middle.<br /><br />Make no mistake, Evansville has done some good things with their roads. The idea to convert Wabash Avenue to Wabash Avenue of Flags was a great idea. It was also a great idea to block traffic completely on Main Street back in the day.<br /><br />If we are ever going to make our city one that is friendly to walkers, joggers, bikers, and light rail riders, we must keep our traffic lanes in check. Until we do that, it is going to be nearly impossible for development to build around any road here in town.<br /><br />We have a great opportunity to bring downtown Evansville back to life with our new arena. Now let's make sure residents can bike, walk, relax, or ride the light rail in downtown Evansville!<br /><br /><a href="http://cache.alttransport.com/uploads/2010/07/RoadDietFall.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 375px; height: 500px;" src="http://cache.alttransport.com/uploads/2010/07/RoadDietFall.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> (alttransport.com)Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-62052549362367763522011-06-15T15:52:00.006-05:002011-06-15T21:18:25.805-05:00A Salute To Joe Wallace<a href="http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2009/07/10/20090710-232355-pic-550852755_t300.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 421px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2009/07/10/20090710-232355-pic-550852755_t300.jpg" /></a> (photo credit: courierpress.com)<br /><br />Yesterday, a reader of the Evansville Courier & Press decided to write-in to the paper claiming to be tired of reading the articles written by Joe Wallace.<br /><br />First of all, I would just like to say how great of a guy Joe is. These past few years, Joe has helped me get my foot in the door in the Evansville community whether it be serving as the Vice-President in my group Tri-State Tomorrow, posting my ideas for Roberts Stadium and Kleymeyer Park on the City-County Observer, or simply giving me advice on who I should talk to about my different projects.<br /><br />There is no doubt that Joe is a HUGE asset to the Evansville community, and this just frustrates the heck out of city hall. If we can ever get people like Joe Wallace into office, we might just get somewhere.<br /><br />In an effort to pay tribute and thanks to Joe Wallace, I have compiled the following list of attributes about Joe Wallace. Enjoy.. (Note: These jokes were obtained from <a href="http://www.thechucknorrisfacts.com/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.thechucknorrisfacts.com/</span></a> . They are based on the jokes from that site but replaced with the words Joe Wallace for Chuck Norris)..<br /><br />- Joe Wallace counts to infinity.... Twice.<br /><br />- Death had a near Joe Wallace experience.<br /><br />- Superman wears Joe Wallace pajamas to bed.<br /><br />- Joe Wallace has already been to Mars; that's why there are no signs of life there.<br /><br />- If you can see Joe Wallace, he can see you. If you can't see Joe Wallace you may be only seconds away from death.<br /><br />- Joe Wallace doesn't have to look both ways before he crosses a street.<br /><br />-They once made a Joe Wallace toilet paper, but it wouldn't take crap from anybody.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace is 1/8th Cherokee. This has nothing to do with ancestry, the man ate a freaking Indian.<br /><br />-There is no chin behind Joe Wallace' beard. There is only another fist.<br /><br />-In fine print on the last page of the Guinness Book of World Records it notes that all world records are held by Joe Wallace, and those listed in the book are simply the closest anyone else has ever gotten.<br /><br />-The chief export of Joe Wallace is pain.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.<br /><br />-The Great Wall of China was originally created to keep Joe Wallace out. It failed miserably.<br /><br />-Crop circles are Joe Wallace' way of telling the world that sometimes corn needs to lie the heck down.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace is ten feet tall, weighs two-tons, breathes fire, and could eat a hammer and take a shotgun blast standing.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace is a man of few words. Joe Wallace is not a man of few roundhouse kicks to the face.<br />-The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse actually live in Joe Wallace's fist.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace made Ellen Degeneres straight.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace kicked Neo out of Zion , now Neo is "The Two"<br /><br />-Joe Wallace' iPod came with a real charger instead of just a USB cord<br /><br />-Joe Wallace knows where Carmen Sandiego is.<br /><br />-Rudolph has a red nose because he got lippy and Joe Wallace roundhouse kicked him across the face several times<br /><br />-China was once bordering the United States, until Joe Wallace roundhouse kicked it all the way through the Earth.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace is what Willis was talking about<br /><br />-If you have five dollars and Joe Wallace has five dollars, Joe Wallace has more money than you.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace sent Jesus a birthday card on December 25th and it wasn't Jesus’ birthday. Jesus was to scared to correct Joe Wallace and to this day December 25th is known as Jesus' birthday.<br /><br />-When Joe Wallace had surgery, the anesthesia was applied to the doctors.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace once broke the land speed record on a bicycle that was missing its chain and the back tire.<br /><br />-Multiple people have died from Joe Wallace giving them the finger.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace once tried to wear glasses. The result was him seeing around the world to the point where he was looking at the back of his own head.<br /><br />-If Joe Wallace is late, time better slow the heck down<br /><br />-Joe Wallace sleeps with a night light. Not because Joe Wallace is afraid of the dark, but the dark is afraid of Joe Wallace<br /><br />-Joe Wallace can touch MC Hammer.<br /><br />-A Handicap parking sign does not signify that this spot is for handicapped people. It is actually in fact a warning, that the spot belongs to Joe Wallace and that you will be handicapped if you park there.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace frequently donates blood to the Red Cross. Just never his own.<br /><br />-There is no such thing as tornados. Joe Wallace just hates trailer parks.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace never cries, because of this when he's sad he roundhouse kicks himself and it makes him feel better since he knows he is the only one who can survive the roundhouse.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace does not procreate, he breeds<br /><br />-When asked what type of vehicle he drives, Joe Wallace responded slyly with "Don't you mean what kind of vehicle drives me?"<br /><br />-Joe Wallace doesn't worry about changing his clock twice a year for daylight savings time. The sun rises and sets when Joe tells it to.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace was the fourth Wiseman. He brought baby Jesus the gift of “beard”. Jesus wore it proudly to his dying day. The other Wisemen, jealous of Jesus’ obvious gift favoritism, used their combined influence to have Joe omitted from the Bible. Shortly after all three died of roundhouse kick related deaths.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace used live ammunition during all shoot-outs. When a director once said he couldn’t, he replied, “Of course I can, I’m Joe Wallace,” and roundhouse kicked him in the face.<br /><br />-If paper beats rock, rock beats scissors, and scissors beats paper, what beats all 3 at the same time? Answer: Joe Wallace.<br /><br />-When his martial arts prowess fails to resolve a situation, Joe Wallace plays dead. When playing dead doesn’t work, he plays zombie.<br /><br />-Although it is not common knowledge, there are actually three sides to the Force: the light side, the dark side, and Joe Wallace.<br /><br />-Scientists used to believe that diamond was the world’s hardest substance. But then they met Joe Wallace, who gave them a roundhouse kick to the face so hard, and with so much heat and pressure, that the scientists turned into artificial Joe Wallace.<br /><br />-God offered Joe Wallace the gift to fly, which he swiftly declined for super strength roundhouse ability.<br /><br />-When Joe Wallace was denied a Bacon McMuffin at McDonalds because it was 10:35, he roundhouse kicked the store so hard it became a KFC.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace drinks napalm to quell his heartburn.<br /><br />-A duck’s quack does not echo. Joe Wallace is solely responsible for this phenomenon. When asked why he will simply stare at you, grimly.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace once tried to defeat Garry Kasparov in a game of chess. When Norris lost, he won in life by roundhouse kicking Kasparov in the side of the face.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace’ roundhouse kick is so powerful, it can be seen from outer space by the naked eye.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace doesn’t believe in Germany.<br /><br />-If you want a list of Joe Wallace’ enemies, just check the extinct species list.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace has never blinked in his entire life. Never.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace doesn’t need to swallow when eating food.<br /><br />-If Superman and The Flash were to race to the edge of space you know who would win? Joe Wallace.<br /><br />-Ironically, Joe Wallace’ hidden talent is invisibility.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace owns the greatest poker face of all-time. It helped him win the 1983 world series of poker despite him holding just a joker, a 2 of clubs, a 7 of spades, and a green number 4 from Uno and a monopoly ‘get out of jail free’ card.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace invented water.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace invented a language that incorporates karate and roundhouse kicks. So next time Joe Wallace is kicking your tail, don’t be offended or hurt, he may be just trying to tell you he likes your hat.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace went looking for a bar but couldn’t find one. He walked to a vacant lot and sat there. Sure enough within an hour an a half someone constructed a bar around him. He then ordered a shot, drank it, and then burned the place to the ground. Joe Wallace yelled over the roar of the flames, “always leave things the way you found em!”<br /><br />-Joe Wallace is Luke Skywalker’s real father.<br /><br />-Contrary to popular belief, Joe Wallace, not the box jellyfish of northern Australia, is the most venomous creature on earth. Within 3 minutes of being bitten, a human being experiences the following symptoms: fever, blurred vision, beardrash, tightness of the jeans, and the feeling of being repeatedly kicked through a car windshield.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace does not use spell check. If he happens to misspell a word, Oxford will simply change the actual spelling of it.<br /><br />-In the original pilot for Star Trek Next Generation, Joe Wallace can be seen powering the USS Enterprise warp drive with his roundhouse kicks.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace isn’t lactose intolerant. He just doesn’t put up with lactose’s crap.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace doesn’t eat. Rather he kicks tail until he’s full.<br /><br />-Scientists in Washington have recently conceded that, if there were a nuclear war, all that would remain are cockroaches and Joe Wallace.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace once threated to sue Burger King because they refused to make it his way. When asked what “his way” detailed, he replied: “with barbed wire and nails, of course”. He then roundhouse kicked the reporter for even asking.<br /><br />-Helen Keller’s favorite color is Joe Wallace<br /><br />-When you open a can of whoop-ass, Joe Wallace jumps out.<br /><br />-There are no disabled people. Only people who have met Joe Wallace.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace got a perfect score on his SAT's, simply by writing Joe Wallace for every answer.<br /><br />-Aliens do exist. They're just waiting for Joe Wallace to die before they attack.<br /><br />-After much debate, President Truman decided to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima rather than the alternative of sending Joe Wallace. It was more "humane".<br /><br />-Joe Wallace doesn't see dead people. He makes people dead.<br /><br />-Joe Wallace doesn't have normal white blood cells like you and I. His have a small black ring around them. This signifies that they are black belts in every form of martial arts and they roundhouse kick the crap out of viruses. That's why Joe Wallace never gets ill.<br /><br />Thanks for all you do Joe!<br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3330/4624589370_903d74ef72.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3330/4624589370_903d74ef72.jpg" /></a> (photo credit: U of E's flickr.com account)Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-51152194969197497812011-06-13T22:16:00.006-05:002011-06-13T23:27:46.512-05:00We Should All Be Like Shirley James<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H9XXjz3AVUI/Tfbgni7nMDI/AAAAAAAAAbU/HQqFnukwE0k/s1600/shirley%2Bjames.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 154px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 198px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617924555187630130" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H9XXjz3AVUI/Tfbgni7nMDI/AAAAAAAAAbU/HQqFnukwE0k/s200/shirley%2Bjames.jpg" /></a><br /><br />A few days ago, construction crews placed one of the main and final bridges at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lamasco</span> Park which will connect our entire Pigeon Creek <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Greenway</span> from the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heidelbach</span> canoe launch to the Evansville riverfront later this year.<br /><br />There is no doubt that this success would not be possible without the heroic and passionate efforts from Shirley James. Very few people do I feel have the same views I do towards urban planning, the environment, and progress, but Shirley James bucks this trend as well.<br /><br /><strong>Who is Shirley James?</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://alumnisandstorm.com/Obits/pics07/RIP49WattsShirleyt07.htm"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://alumnisandstorm.com/Obits/pics07/RIP49WattsShirleyt07.htm</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>"This community and its environment became her passion. She helped organize the West Side Improvement Association in 1976 and served as its president for all but two of the next 20 years, waging wars against urban sprawl, drainage problems, litter and junk yards, creek debris and other pollution.<br /><br />She led development of the Howell Wetlands, was a force behind restoration of the Pagoda and volunteered her time and expertise in many other projects. But it was her tireless commitment to the Pigeon Creek <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Greenway</span> for which she was best known. She served as chairman of the advisory committee for the past 18 years, as a volunteer working often full time to help plan and gain funding for the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Greenway</span> Trail, that she was convinced would add tremendously to the quality of life in Evansville.<br /><br />She received many honors for her leadership, including the prestigious Rotary Club Civic Award in 2000. Shirley once told a newspaper reporter that her life had been filled with adventures similar to those in novels she read by flashlight beneath the covers late at night as a child.<br /><br />She became a student of urban planning, zoning, drainage, sewage, grant-writing and other such topics, and she became known for her persistence. She was a formidable foe of commercial developments and rezoning that she believed would damage the environment. Although she often disagreed with politicians, her approach was to offer assistance rather than criticize. Glenn <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Boberg</span>, chief planner for the Evansville Department of Parks and Recreation, said of Shirley, "She influences the quality of life. It can be felt.""</blockquote><br /><br />There are 4 core beliefs that Shirley held that I myself try to replicate in my own political, business, and urban planning career...<br /><br />1. Respect the environment.<br /><br />2. Encourage Smart Growth where downtown development is strongly supported while urban sprawl is strongly opposed.<br /><br />3. Form your own beliefs no matter how popular or unpopular they may be with local residents, politicians, or city officials. Don't let others influence you.<br /><br />4. Always promote ideas that you feel are right and always make sure you give a counter proposal against ideas you oppose.<br /><br />Shirley didn't just preach these beliefs, she didn't just practice them when it was convenient, she lived by these beliefs.<br /><br /><strong>Shirley James Taught Us To Respect The Environment.</strong><br /><br />Shirley was a fierce defender for our environment, and we ALL have benefited from it. One of the areas Shirley especially fought for was Garvin Park and Pigeon Creek. Back in 1995, she stood strong against a developer who wanted to put an auto salvage yard next in the area to go with the already nasty, dirty, and ugly salvage yards we already have there...<br /><br /><a href="http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=743864"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=743864</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /><br /></span>Shirley stood strong against this project, and we are still reaping the benefits today. As walkers, bikers, and joggers take a stroll down the Pigeon Creek <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Greenway</span>, they will not have to look at this development and they will not have to look at a Pigeon Creek being polluted by this development.<br /><br /><strong>Shirley James Introduced Us To Smart Growth</strong><br /><br />While most politicians here in Evansville couldn't care any less that we have an out of control urban sprawl with a dying downtown at the same time, Shirley fought against these problems.<br /><br />In a 1981 article in the Evansville Press, Shirley laid out the vision we must have for the west side if we are going to be success in developing it while not destroying our environment...<br /><br /><a href="http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=859799"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=859799</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span><br />Unfortunately, city hall hasn't been practicing the vision Shirley gave us and know we have out of control urban sprawl with a damaged environment on our west side.<br /><br /><strong>Shirley James Formed Her Own Views</strong><br /><br />As most of you remember, we made a terrible mistake in Evansville by developing the land that is south of the Lloyd Expressway and west of Red Bank Road. The worst thing about it is that many politicians and city leaders who were truly against it caved in to peer pressure. Not only was Shirley against it, she also strongly believed that at least 25 acres of the land should be set aside for the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Greenway</span>. Shirley stood firmly behind her beliefs in a zoning hearing about the project...<br /><br /><a href="http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=757264"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=757264</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span><br />The ironic thing about it is that if Gene Hahn would have listened to the vision Shirley gave him 17 years before about Smart Growth, the problem wouldn't even have existed. Instead, he insisted on building an urban sprawl nightmare we know as Pearl Drive which resulted in a tight land design. Luckily, there is still room to build our <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Greenway</span> out to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">USI</span> thanks to Shirley James!<br /><br /><strong>Shirley James Stood Up For Her Beliefs</strong><br /><br />For those who live on the west side, Shirley James went to battle for you many, many times over the years. After forming the West Side Improvement Association in 1976, she made sure the west side had sufficient representation at city hall. You can read about all of her west side efforts in this article...<br /><br /><a href="http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=859770"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=859770</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /><br /></span>There's not one single person on the west side, or in the city of Evansville for that matter, who hasn't benefited from Shirley James' leadership. Today, we all enjoy our parks, our trails, our environment, and our community fellowship thanks to Shirley. She fought hard for these ideas, and when she opposed something, she always made sure she gave a counter proposal.<br /><br />Unfortunately, Shirley lost her battle with cancer in 2007. To honor her, the Shirley James Gateway Plaza, which is the Pigeon Creek <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Greenway</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">trail head</span>, pays tribute to her and the history of transportation in Evansville. While I don't believe that city hall had to sacrifice our historic Robert Orr Building to get the monument, nonetheless, I am THRILLED TO DEATH that our city built this monument and placed her name on it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.prlog.org/10620777-shirley-james-gateway-plaza-evansville-indiana-designed-by-rhodesworks-ltd.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 356px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.prlog.org/10620777-shirley-james-gateway-plaza-evansville-indiana-designed-by-rhodesworks-ltd.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Shirley is the kind of person I want to be like as I fight to get Evansville moving forward. Shirley had several beliefs that I am committed to fighting for today. Some of these beliefs are...<br /><br />1. Preservation of historic buildings<br />2. Preservation and respect for our environment<br />3. Standing up for Smart Growth<br />4. Volunteering for anything and everything that I can to promote Evansville<br />5. Working fiercely and tirelessly to get new projects built in Evansville<br />6. Introducing you the residents of Evansville to new progressive ideas and technology<br />7. Always giving a counter proposal when I oppose something<br />8. Making sure all Evansville residents get a fair chance to participate in government<br />9. Making sure Evansville is on the same page and united<br />10. Forming my own beliefs based on my own core values rather than what is popular at the time<br /><br />While I could go on and on about all the great beliefs Shirley held throughout her entire life, the important thing to take from this post is the fact that we are blessed to have had a living legend among us all these years.<br /><br />In an era of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">political</span> corruption, incompetence, and apathy, one person stood up to fight for what is right, what is just, and what is fair. That one person is Shirley James.<br /><br />We should ALL be like Shirley James!<br /><br /><a href="http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2011/05/24/20110524-182932-pic-357363451_t300.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 373px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2011/05/24/20110524-182932-pic-357363451_t300.jpg" /></a> (photo credit: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Courierpress</span>.com)Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-29902296316661232942011-06-07T17:55:00.005-05:002011-06-07T22:18:37.205-05:00Evansville Is Killing Itself With Urban Sprawl<a href="http://www.glogster.com/media/5/15/36/27/15362764.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 449px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 360px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.glogster.com/media/5/15/36/27/15362764.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Well, I finally have gotten around to the post I've been wanting to do for some time now: The effects of urban sprawl on the city of Evansville.<br /><br />I really want to hit this topic hard because I believe this issue is the root of all of our problems. If we can ever solve the problem of urban sprawl, we will solve just about all of our problems, whether it be health, finances, jobs, the environment, and safety.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Wikipedia</span> gives us a general outline of what urban sprawl is...<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_sprawl">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_sprawl</a><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a multifaceted concept, which includes the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs to its outskirts to low-density and auto-dependent development on rural land, high segregation of uses (e.g. stores and residential), and various design features that encourage car dependency.</blockquote>Already, most of you can see just how easy Evansville fits into this description. The pall of 50 + years over Evansville is largely due to our failure to plan. Most people don't plan to fail, they just fail to plan. Let's take a look at some of the effects of urban sprawl from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">wikipedia</span>...<br /><br /><br /><blockquote>High car dependence<br />Inadequate facilities, e.g.: cultural, emergency, health, and so forth<br />Low public support for sprawl<br />High per-person infrastructure costs<br />Inefficient street layouts<br />Inflated costs for public transportation<br />Lost time and productivity for commuting<br />High levels of racial and socioeconomic segregation<br />Low diversity of housing and business types<br />High rates of obesity<br />Less space for conservation and parks<br />High per-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">capita</span> use of energy, land, and water</blockquote>If you didn't believe that Evansville was a victim of urban sprawl before, this list definitely should convince you. Let's break down each of these effects...<br /><br /><strong>High Car Dependence</strong><br /><br />Quite possibly the worst effect on Evansville. Currently, we have no light rail and a very basic <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">METS</span> system. We are told that mass transit is too expensive, but we just watched the most expensive road project in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Vanderburgh</span> County history with the $25 million Green River Road expansion. We're also seeing our local planners willing to waste money on I-69 and then complain that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">INDOT</span> doesn't have enough funds left over for the US 41/ Lloyd Expressway renovation. We need drastic change here in Evansville. We need a new city hall and a change of community goals if we're ever going to stop wasting massive amounts of money on roads and the automobile.<br /><br /><strong>Inadequate facilities, e.g.: cultural, emergency, health, and so forth</strong><br /><br />In the past decade or so, we just watched our downtown <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Welborn</span> Hospital close its doors with a new Deaconess Gateway Hospital opening way out on the I-164 Bypass. This puts our downtown residents, who are abiding by good smart growth principles, at a higher risk to their health and wellness. It also puts those who live on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">west side</span> at a high risk as well. Yes, we have Deaconess Hospital, but it can not handle both Deaconess and old <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Welborn's</span> amount of patients.<br /><br />Although we have the Pagoda, Angel Mounds, and the museum, we are sorely lacking in the cultural department. I'll ask you this simple question: How big of an uproar do you think this community would be in if there was a China Town established in Evansville? Simply put, it would never happen. Unfortunately, most cultural events here quickly turn into drinking events.<br /><br />In regards to facilities in general, how many facilities of any kind can you mention that are state-of-the-art? Just about all of Evansville's facilities could use a major upgrade. The new arena sticks out like a sore thumb in downtown Evansville.<br /><br /><strong>Low public support for sprawl</strong><br /><br />Just about all development projects on the east and west sides of town have faced stiff opposition. For example, Pearl Drive and the new development across from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">USI</span> faced off against many neighborhood groups who did not want the developments (One group was called Wake Up West Side). The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">USI</span> development failed while Pearl Drive managed to win approval.<br /><br />On the east side, the current Target complex received such high opposition from neighbors that a fence taller than most houses in the area was constructed.<br /><br /><strong>High per-person infrastructure costs</strong><br /><br />Like I said earlier, the Green River Road project was the costliest road project in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Vanderburgh</span> County history. We're also seeing massive problems with our sewer system which has gotten so bad that the EPA has had to step in and force Evansville to come up with a solution to its sewer problem. We have built sewer line after sewer line out to the east and west sides but have not updated most of our sewers in the downtown core. Our sewer problem is estimated to be in the $500 million range!<br /><br /><strong>Inefficient street layouts</strong><br /><br />If you've ever been to Pearl Drive, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Burkhardt</span> Road, the Lloyd Expressway, or even the newly renovated Green River Road, you will see just how inefficient the street layouts are here in Evansville. Urban planning is severely lacking in Evansville, and it has cost us most of our urban forests.<br /><br /><strong>Inflated costs for public transportation</strong><br /><br />Some say <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">METS</span> is affordable, some say it's way too expensive. One thing we do know: Our mass transit system cannot compete with those in smart growth cities such as Portland, Seattle, and Austin. You can't really have inflated costs when you have no costs for rail at all. Meanwhile, the bill to renovate the Lloyd Expressway, Green River Road, and build a whole new I-69 is increasing by the day due to the expanding of our city with the decreasing of our population in the city.<br /><br /><strong>Lost time and productivity for commuting</strong><br /><br />There use to be a bumper sticker "Of course I'm late I took the Lloyd." Very few, if any, locals walk or ride their bike to their job due to the fact that they live on one side of town and have to commute to the other side of town. As a result, high road construction costs, long road construction delays, and a fair amount of wrecks have resulted in both high costs and lost productivity for Evansville residents.<br /><br /><strong>High levels of racial and socioeconomic segregation</strong><br /><br />How many African-Americans, Chinese, Europeans, or any other non-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Caucasian</span> residents can you name that live on the far west side or in the affluent east side neighborhoods? How many rich or even working class <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Caucasians</span> can you name that live on the southeast side? While we celebrated a huge milestone in abolishing segregation many years ago, Evansville still hasn't gotten the message. Our urban sprawl has brought both racial segregation as well as socioeconomic segregation where our rich elitists only live in privileged subdivisions.<br /><br /><strong>Low diversity of housing and business types</strong><br /><br />I was thinking about this just yesterday. It seems like every house we have here looks exactly like the house on Roseanne. It doesn't help that our Front Door Pride program will be rebuilding houses that look just like it as well. If you drive between <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Burkhardt</span> and Green River Roads, you will notice few differences between the buildings.<br /><br />Before urban sprawl took over, we had great architects such as Ralph <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Legeman</span> who designed his house to replicate his design for Roberts Stadium. Now, every house in every subdivision is cookie-cutter. We have become <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">Whoville</span> from the Dr. Seuss cartoon.<br /><br /><strong>High rates of obesity</strong><br /><br />Now THIS is Evansville. Recently, we were just named the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">most obese</span> city in America which also happened to be mentioned on Jay Leno's Tonight Show. Evansville is becoming obese at an alarming rate and we must convert from an automobile friendly community to a walkable and mass transit friendly community.<br /><br />For those who don't believe obesity is connected to urban sprawl, think again...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/09/050909220354.htm"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/09/050909220354.htm</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/research/measuring-the-health-effects-of-sprawl/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/research/measuring-the-health-effects-of-sprawl/</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.organicconsumers.org/Toxic/obesity_urban_sprawl.cfm"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.organicconsumers.org/Toxic/obesity_urban_sprawl.cfm</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.nber.org/papers/w15436"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.nber.org/papers/w15436</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /><br /></span><strong>Less space for conservation and parks</strong><br /><br />The parks we do have in Evansville have been neglected for many, many years largely due to the fact that many residents haven't cared enough to demand change from our Parks Department.<br /><br />As more of our development moves out to the northeast side, more of our forests, open space, and environment is lost. Why would we want to expand to an area we know is going to have these negative consequences?<br /><br /><strong>High per-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">capita</span> use of energy, land, and water</strong><br /><br />Think about how much cheaper our sewer problem would be if we would have taken care of our downtown and then branched out as each section was completed. Think about how low our taxes would be if we would have only built sewers in high density areas. Just like in the categories above, our politicians, business community, and even some of our residential community have turned a blind eye to the urban sprawl problem we have built up. Now, our environment, our health, our wallets, and our future are all paying dearly for it now.<br /><br />Thankfully, there is a solution. We have to adopt the beliefs of a philosophy called Smart Growth. Here are the ten basic principles of Smart Growth...<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_growth"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_growth</span></a></strong><span style="color:#3333ff;"> </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>1.Mix land uses<br />2.Take advantage of compact building design<br />3.Create a range of housing opportunities and choices<br />4.Create walkable neighborhoods<br />5.Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place<br />6.Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas<br />7.Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities<br />8.Provide a variety of transportation choices<br />9.Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective<br />10.Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions</blockquote><br />That right there is what we MUST DO if we are going to turn our town around. We need to get serious about smart urban planning and we need to do it fast. Here are a few things we need to fix.<br /><br />1. Stop building in the county. Expanding Green River Road and building the new <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">EVSC</span> high school were terrible decisions. People follow development. Follow through with the downtown master plan and then expand out.<br /><br />2. Build up before we build out. We currently only have three decent sized buildings in Evansville, the old Old National Bank building, the 5/3rd building, and the Old Courthouse. That is completely unacceptable. Instead of building one and two story building after building, let's build some nice <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">high rises</span>. It will give us a great skyline with a cheaper infrastructure system around it.<br /><br />3. Merge the city and county. If we are ever going to rebuild our downtown, we have to prevent residents from taking advantage of downtown while not contributing to downtown. Our city should be improved for good quality urban life while our county should be kept rural and free of out of control development.<br /><br />4. Build efficient transportation. We cannot keep wasting dollar after dollar on the automobile road system. All we end up getting is lost land, grid lock, fatalities, and wasted gas that damages our environment. Rail, whether it be light rail, high speed rail, commuter rail, or street car rail is cleaner, greener, faster, cheaper, safer, and smarter.<br /><br />5. Change city hall. Let's be honest, our current crop of political leaders as a whole (certainly not everyone!) aren't concerned about urban sprawl. They just look at the bottom line which is blind of the negative effects of urban sprawl.<br /><br />6. Improve our parks. With an improved park system, we can have both the joys of urban life with the peace of rural life which will bring residents back into our city limits. Our parks should be the pride of the region, not another hassle we have to maintain.<br /><br />While urban sprawl has left a pall over Evansville that is easily twice my age, things can and will get better. But, we have to commit to change. We cannot complain about urban sprawl without willing to change ourselves. We must demand our city follow the 10 basic rules of Smart Growth.<br /><br />Is Evansville ready for Smart Growth? Honestly, I do not know. But I do know one thing for sure: Let's build a smart Evansville of tomorrow!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.epa.gov/ne/ra/sprawl/smartgrowth-logo.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 186px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 172px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.epa.gov/ne/ra/sprawl/smartgrowth-logo.gif" /></a>Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-28072653448545405222011-06-04T22:45:00.002-05:002011-06-04T22:51:10.229-05:00Please Support My Latest Blog Evansville Rail<a href="http://www.electronici9.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/all_aboard.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 296px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.electronici9.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/all_aboard.gif" /></a> (photo credit: electronici9.com)<br /><br />After many emails from you the viewers of this blog and my other blog SaveRobertsStadium.blogspot.com asking me to create a rail only blog, I have decided to do just that. For 50 + years, there has been a pall over Evansville. This pall is mainly due to the terrible decision our local leaders made to rip up our light rail and trolley systems and replace them with roads.<br /><br />If Evansville is ever going to lift the pall, we must join the rest of the world in the 21st century with our transportation. It is time to shed the old ways of the automobile and get on the rails of tomorrow.<br /><br />Unlike my Save Roberts Stadium blog where I support both the new arena and Roberts Stadium, I will taking the position of supporting high speed rail, light rail, freight rail, commuter rail, cable car rail, maglev rail, and personal rapid transit but will be opposing the construction of I-69. While many believe that high speed rail and I-69 would co-exist, this simply isn't true for a number of reasons...<br /><br />1. There isn't enough money to go around.<br />2. I-69 will destroy any environmental benefits we will gain with high speed rail.<br />3. High speed rail is best served by using the land adjacent to the existing track's Right-of-Way.<br />4. Building I-69 encourages Southern Indiana to remain shackled to the automobile.<br />5. High speed rail needs to be in the planning stages now, not when I-69 is completed.<br /><br />I can't thank you the viewers of my blogs for all of your support. When I started Evansville Moving Forward and Save Roberts Stadium, I never dreamed how popular they would be. Although building rails in Evansville will take a lot more time than it will to save Roberts Stadium or get Evansville Moving Forward, I believe that if you the viewers support this blog as much as you have supported the other two we will be successful.<br /><br />Evansville has a lot of work ahead of it to bring rails of all kinds to town, so let's get to work!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vistadome.com/postcards/amtrak_rr/all_aboard.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 317px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 480px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.vistadome.com/postcards/amtrak_rr/all_aboard.jpg" /></a> (photo credit: vistadome.com)Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-19478225911542171332011-05-30T20:37:00.013-05:002011-05-31T12:50:43.835-05:00Days Like Yesterday Are Why We Don't Need I-69<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CePA_opsfOQ/TZp0wSO_rEI/AAAAAAAAAWU/AURg4y_j7kw/s1600/How+to+Diagnose+Car+Trouble.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 350px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CePA_opsfOQ/TZp0wSO_rEI/AAAAAAAAAWU/AURg4y_j7kw/s1600/How+to+Diagnose+Car+Trouble.jpg" /></a> (photo credit: skyhi-usedcar.blogspot.com)<br /><br />Yesterday morning, I woke up extremely excited due to the fact that I had tickets to the Indianapolis 500, the greatest racing spectacle in the world. I've been to Indianapolis Motor Speedway several times but this was the first time I would be going to the race itself.<br /><br />As most of you know, Evansville is stuck in regressive mode so we haven't been able to get any form of passenger rail transportation here whether it be light rail, high speed rail, or even AMTRAK. Therefore, I was forced to take my automobile to Indy. So I did figuring it would be no big deal.<br /><br />I began the trip early at 5 am and was at least fortunate to reach my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">roommates</span> hotel where he would be riding with me to the race. For those who haven't been to Indianapolis recently, take a ride to the Indianapolis Bypass (I-465) where it meets I-70 and you will see what kind of mess I-69 is going to be. You will see trees plowed over, concrete roads going all over the place, orange barrels galore, and dried up waterways that use to flow.<br /><br />Anyways, as we were finally leaving the hotel, I drove just two roads away from the hotel before my car decides it's going to take the day off. Right in the middle of the road, I was forced to push my vehicle across three lanes of traffic (of course all the drivers were so friendly about it!). The only good thing about it was that it decided to die before I got in the middle of race traffic in Speedway. That could have gotten very ugly.<br /><br />This car trouble has been no fluke or one-time <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">occurrence</span>. This has been the third time I have had a car quit on me while I was out of time. The two other times were....<br /><br /><strong>2008</strong><br /><br />Back in 2008, I decided to take a road trip with a couple of my old <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">roommates</span> to New York City to say good-bye to Shea and Yankee Stadiums. My uncle has an apartment in downtown Manhattan so I decided to make the 15 hour trek all the way into the center of NYC. By the time I made it to the enormous steep grades in the West Virginia mountains, my car had already been giving small signs that it wasn't going to stay running for the whole trip. The transmission was going sooner or later. Naturally, I made it all the way to the middle of Manhattan when the transmission decided to finally bite the dust.<br /><br />I found a mechanic over in New Jersey who gave me the wonderful news that my car wasn't going anywhere for good. During the whole week I was up there waiting for my car to be diagnosed, I didn't miss it at all. I went to Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, Brooklyn (future <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Barclays</span> Center site), Harlem, and Ground Zero on the New York City subways. There wasn't one spot in the whole region I couldn't get to.<br /><br />Once it was time to leave, I had to make the decision to send my old car (a Mercury Mystique) to the Jersey junkyard and buy another one (a Ford Contour). While I got lucky that I found a car that is basically the same style as my old one, it still cost me several thousand dollars that I had to borrow instantly. And it certainly wasn't easy explaining to the New Jersey or Kentucky (where I lived at the time) <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">BMV's</span> that I needed to switch plates. Both were just concerned with hitting me with as many taxes as possible.<br /><br /><strong>2009</strong><br /><br />I used to take one road trip with my old <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">roommates</span> from college and in 2009 we decided that we were going to take AMTRAK to Chicago where we would watch both a White <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sox</span> and a Cubs game on the same day. Since Evansville doesn't have AMTRAK, we had to drive all the way over to St. Louis to get on the train which we did.<br /><br />On the way to St. Louis, I decided to stop in Illinois for gas. That was a huge mistake because when I shut the engine off, the starter went out. My buddy and I sat there for hours trying to get the car to work. Finally, after about two hours of just standing around wondering what we were going to do, the starter clicked over. We were then running behind schedule to catch the AMTRAK but we went flying into St.Louis to catch it (Thankfully some of those turns on I-64 have banking).<br /><br />Naturally, right as we were pulling up the AMTRAK train was pulling out with the next train arriving 12 hours later. The only chance we had was to beat the train to its next stop in Alton, IL. We decided to try it (don't ask me why), and right as we're arriving the train is pulling out again.<br /><br />However, AMTRAK has such great customer service. Already down the line a little bit, the conductor sitting in the back rail car sees us pulling up and stops the train. We were able to board the train outside of the station. I can't get over how incredibly nice that was of AMTRAK. That's how close I came to being stuck in the middle of nowhere due to the automobile.<br /><br />Just like in NYC, we were easily able to get around Chicago without the car. In fact, Wrigley Field and US Cellular Field are on the same subway line. When we got back, we were very fortunate that the starter in the car started up one last time to get us back home to Evansville where I was able to round up a mechanic.<br /><br />So, while building I-69 may look great to some on paper, the truth is, I-69 will just cause more headaches. If you're filthy rich, you may be saying, "No big deal, I got plenty of money to call a tow truck and take it to a mechanic." What you don't realize is that it's not that easy. Yesterday I was stuck in Indy on a holiday weekend. No mechanics and probably limited tow truck drivers, not to mention the fact that I didn't have a hotel up there as it was just a drive up/drive back trip.<br /><br />When everything was said and done, I ended up spending over $200 borrowing my aunt's truck, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">gassing</span> it up, putting a U-Haul tow-bar on it, and dragging it back home to the shop. I am now down to peanuts in my wallet. How many other people who drive to the Indy 500 will be in the same position as I was if they had car trouble?<br /><br />Insurance companies, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">BMVs</span>, gas prices, and car trouble are just a few of the many reasons why we do not need to be building anymore interstates. The whole ironic thing about it was the fact that while I was stranded on the side of the road, the C&P decides to produce another terrible pro-I-69 article...<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/may/29/interstate-69-the-issue-star-supports-roadblock/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/may/29/interstate-69-the-issue-star-supports-roadblock/</span></a></strong><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span><br /><br /><blockquote>Folks in Southwestern Indiana have long understood that any number of influential voices in Indianapolis don't give a whit what happens in this corner of the state. That attitude was best demonstrated in 2000 when the Indianapolis Star, the state's largest newspaper, called the then-proposed Interstate 69 highway between Evansville and Indianapolis the "highway to nowhere."</blockquote>First it was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bloomington's</span> fault now it's Indianapolis' fault that I-69 supporters aren't having their greedy way? Even Tom Brokaw put I-69 in his Fleecing of America segment on the NBC News. When you build a highway that trims less than 13 minutes off your total trip, that is indeed a highway to nowhere.<br /><br /><blockquote>No surprise there. The attitude thing with Indianapolis has never been a secret, plus The Star has opposed the proposed highway for years, stating on occasion that the existing U.S. 41/Interstate-70 route would be preferable to them to a direct, new terrain route through <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bloomington</span>. </blockquote>Isn't it funny how this interstate is suppose to be the best thing since sliced bread, yet Indianapolis and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bloomington</span> are both against it? At least the rest of Indiana is looking at this project with some common sense.<br /><br /><blockquote>We would expect no less nonsense from the jokers in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bloomington</span>, but not from The Star newspaper. And yet, this past week, an editorial in the newspaper suggested the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bloomington</span> delaying tactics offer the Daniels administration an opportunity to save $400 million, the cost of the highway between Crane and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bloomington</span>.</blockquote>Wait a minute. If Indianapolis has always been out to get Evansville, then why would we expect anything different? The truth is, no matter if you're in a college town or a major urban city, wasting money on a road from the 1950s doesn't make sense, especially when it will end up costing well over $5 billion.<br /><br />And what is it with the C&P calling groups jokers and clowns? No wonder other cities don't care about Evansville. I still don't understand why we should be calling <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bloomington</span> clowns and jokers when we have stoplights on the Lloyd, destroyed our light rail system, and have let our downtown turn to ruins.<br /><br /><blockquote>They point out that the new terrain route is opposed by city councils in Indianapolis, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bloomington</span> and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Martinsville</span> and by thousands of petitioners concerned about property loss, environmental damage and sheer expense.<br /><br />Do you suppose those same concerns were raised when Interstates 65, 70, 69 north, 74, and 465 were being planned through and around Indianapolis?</blockquote>I'm starting to wonder if the C&P just copies and pastes the quotes in the comments section from those whose post under masked screen names. There are several problems with this comment....<br /><br />1. Most of those interstates were built back when technology wasn't as great. This is like saying, "No one protested the Oregon Trail or Route 66 so why don't we build them now?"<br /><br />2. A lot of interstates have been protested here in Indiana. Back in 2006, Mitch Daniels proposed an Indiana Commerce Corridor which would have been another loop around Indianapolis. Strong opposition from local residents and the then Democrat-controlled House of Representatives forced Governor Daniels to abandon the ICC plan on March 24, 2007. I-69 itself has been protested as well with the southern point originally being near the I-65/I-70 junction (it would have been I-165). As a result, I-69 ends 11 miles <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">further</span> north.<br /><br />3. There's no question that we have a few duplicate interstates elsewhere so why didn't the C&P protest those? We can talk all we want about how one city is getting an interstate over another but the truth is, other cities wanted it more back in the 1950s just like they are wanting high speed rail more now. The C&P is setting us back 50 more years fighting for I-69.<br /><br />4. There are already two roads you can use for I-69. They are US 41 and I-70. NOBODY would fight upgrading 41.<br /><br /><blockquote>The editorial points out that direct route opponents still believe there is time to switch to U.S.41/I-70, that that route presents none of the concerns about direct I-69 going into Indianapolis, it believes that the economic case for the new terrain roadway over U.S. 41/I-70 never has been made, and that freeway construction has lost its favor over "the decades the I-69 extension has been hashed over."<br /><br />If favor for freeways really had been lost, then why did they need to modernize I-465 in Indianapolis these past few years to the tune of $800 million, twice what the Crane to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bloomington</span> leg would cost?</blockquote>As I said earlier, I'm not happy about the I-465 renovation either, and I wish it would have been scrapped too, but lets be honest, the I-465 renovation is still better than building completely new terrain for I-69 and the Indiana Commerce Corridor which would have duplicated routes and destroyed much more of the environment. The Indy Star is right on the money: THE INTERSTATE ERA IS OVER!<br /><br /><blockquote>With Major Moves, Daniels has given this state the opportunity for millions in infrastructure construction and modernization, at a time when many other states are paralyzed to do anything.</blockquote>This is where the C&P and me are 180 degrees different. What good does it do to sell an interstate in northern Indiana for less that what it would have brought in in tolls, and then build more interstates that will make Indiana dependent on the automobile. You see, if we were to use our gas tax revenue smartly, building high speed rail would be very quick and easy. When you pay a gas tax or a toll, it should go towards improving your commute, not building more roads to keep you stuck with the auto system of the 20<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> century.<br /><br /><blockquote>And he need not explain to the people of Southern Indiana the extraordinary steps he has taken to see that they are finally getting a modern highway to their state capital.</blockquote>Modern highway? That's like clean coal or a healthy cigarette. It just doesn't exist. My story from yesterday is a perfect example of that!<br /><br /><blockquote>One final point: Do they actually support the idea of building I-69 only as far as Crane, there to dead end, and then, we presume, to shift the project over to U.S. 41-I-70?<br /><br />How utterly ridiculous that would be.</blockquote>Sounds good to me. That would only save a few billion dollars, can't be having that. Didn't the C&P say that they wanted a safe commute for students going to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">IU</span>? Well, now they will have that with State Road 37 going to Indianapolis as well. How is that any worse than the death trap that will be left for those going to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">Vincenness</span> and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">Terre</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error">Haute</span>? It's bad enough these first three segments have destroyed a lot of our environment, but let's not let it get any farther than that.<br /><br />Overall, I am so sick and tired of seeing dollar after dollar going to interstates that aren't dependable when we can be investing in dependable high speed rail for the future. Yesterday's debacle would have NEVER happened if we had high speed rail or AMTRAK here. But if we build I-69, we can expect to see more residents broke down on the side of the road with no hope in sight. We can also expect to see crosses, wrecks, animals that have been run over, flooded farmland, loud semis, and a state still addicted to oil.<br /><br />We simply cannot trust the automobile. We need RAILS NOT ROADS!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/media/inline/blog/Image/HSR-350x.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 375px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.scientificamerican.com/media/inline/blog/Image/HSR-350x.jpg" /></a> (photo credit: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-error">scientificamerican</span>.com)<br /><a href="http://microcosmpublishing.com/catimages/image_2459_lg.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 389px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 390px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://microcosmpublishing.com/catimages/image_2459_lg.jpg" /></a> (photo credit: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-error">microcosmpublishing</span>.com)Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-49151817914421790472011-05-22T21:25:00.021-05:002011-06-02T21:44:46.523-05:00More Hot Air From I-69 Supporters<a href="http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/blowinghotair.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 384px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 209px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.inquisitr.com/wp-content/blowinghotair.jpg" /></a> (photo credit: inquisitr.com)<br /><br />I woke up today with the full intention of making a post about the many negative affects that urban sprawl is having on Evansville. However, that post will have to wait another day as I feel that we need to take a deep, deep look at the new editorial produced by the Courier & Press.<br /><br />Whoever the masked man is behind the C&P editorials is desperate beyond desperate to spread as much I-69 propaganda as humanely possible despite the obvious facts that this road is nothing more than a boondoggle.<br /><br />Today, they produced another pro-I-69 editorial that just makes you want to shake your head. Let's take a look...<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/may/22/another-roadblock-the-issue-bloomington-tries-to/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/may/22/another-roadblock-the-issue-bloomington-tries-to/</span></a></strong><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /><br /></span>First of all, the fact that this editorial is even being written is due to the great leadership shown by the city of Bloomington in making the correct decision of leaving I-69 out of their budget. My hat's off to the city of Bloomington, the Hoosier Environmental Council, and Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads. There are some battles you shouldn't fight even if you win, but there are some battles you should fight even if you lose. That battle is I-69 and it takes quite a bit of courage for these groups to step up to all the pressure from INDOT, Evansville, Indianapolis, and interstate supporters all across the land. This type of leadership is what you have to have if you are ever going to get your city moving forward. I'm thrilled beyond thrilled that Bloomington rejected I-69.<br /><br />Let's take a look at some of the editorial's comments...<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>"OK guys, if you are going to try and prevent the state from running Interstate 69 through the Bloomington area, then you are going to have to give back the state's university — you can't have one and not the other.<br /><br />We're kidding, of course, but this seems an appropriate response to the latest antics by the clowns who do transportation planning in Bloomington."</blockquote>I take them at their word that they are kidding about proposing the relocation of IU from Bloomington, but the fact that that even crossed their mind shows you just how off base I-69 supporters are. This is an idea you would find in the comments section under an unknown screen name.<br /><br />If an interstate is so crucial to the viability of a college/university, than how is Indiana University continuing to grow by leaps and bounds? And if I-69 bypasses Bloomington, how would that be any different than I-69 bypassing downtown Evansville and western Evansville where our fastest growing university (USI) is located?<br /><br />I really don't think it's wise to call another town's planners clowns when our very own city has stoplights all over the Lloyd Expressway and U.S 41 (which would have been fixed with an upgraded U.S 41). And let's not forget that our very own town had a nice light rail system on Franklin Street, a grand L&N Station, and a vibrant Main Street. While other cities have turned their buildings and light rail systems into crown jewels of their regions, our local "clowns" destroyed every thing we had with little regard for our city. We have a major pal over Evansville and until we lift this pal, it isn't wise to label any other town's planners clowns.<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>"According to the Associated Press, Bloomington City Council member Andy Ruff, also a member of the planning group, said Monroe County residents have unresolved questions on the road's funding, the location of interchanges and the environment. (Don't forget, Indiana conducted one of the most comprehensive environmental studies ever done anywhere before launching this vital project"</blockquote>Well let's see, I-69 planners have raised the estimated cost of the interstate from a billion and change to now $3.31 billion (doesn't include Ohio River bridge(s), maintenance, or costs to replace inferior materials), they have finally admitted that they will have to purchase almost 6,000 acres of farmland that will flood, it will destroy a total of 3,741 acres of farmland, and 1,815 acres of forest will be lost. Over 7,000 acres will be paved over by construction ( <a href="http://www.hecweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/I69_white_paper.pdf"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.hecweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/I69_white_paper.pdf</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"> </span>). Wouldn't you say that is quite an environmental impact for a road that is expected to only save you 15 minutes or less of drive time?<br /><br />It gets even worse. Due to the fact that INDOT does not have enough funding to complete the entire I-69, they have had to start making drastic cuts. INDOT has announced that it will pursue various cost-cutting measures – delayed/cancelled overpasses and rest stops, narrowed shoulders and medians, steeper grades, and thinner surface materials. Any city that is wise, should be concerned about I-69's lack of funding, cheap construction designs, and environmental impact.<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>"There's more: Ruff said, according to The Herald Times, "There comes a time when you stand up to a bully. it is time to stand up for ourselves."<br /><br />Readers of the Courier & Press should take note: When Ruff talks about "the bully," he is talking about the people of Southwestern Indiana who want and need this highway."</blockquote>No, Mr. Ruff is talking about those who truly are bullies, and that is those who support I-69. I-69 supporters are desperate to build their boondoggle and will throw anyone under the bus (no pun intended). So far they have...<br /><br />- Taken $700 million from Major Moves which was acquired through the selling of a toll road in Northern Indiana. In other words, Northern Indiana pays the toll while Southern Indiana reaps the benefits.<br /><br />- Ignored almost all of the environmental impacts of the interstate.<br /><br />- Refused to upgrade the death trap that is US 41 from Evansville to Terre Haute, leaving those who commute to Vincennes University and Indiana State University exposed to a highly dangerous road.<br /><br />- Refused to consider high speed rail for Southwestern Indiana.<br /><br />- Cheapened the design of the interstate so that future taxpayers will be stuck with a hefty bill to properly upgrade the interstate in the future<br /><br />That is the bullies Mr. Ruff is referring to. What really is frustrating about the whole process is that everyone could have won out of this project if the I-69 supporters would not have been greedy. Washington, Indiana, Petersburg, Indiana, and most other areas that are on the proposed New Terrain I-69 are within 20-30 miles of US 41....<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.carri69.org/facts/maps.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.carri69.org/facts/maps.html</span></a></strong><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /><br /></span>Depending on where you live here in Evansville, it will take you a good 15-20 miles minimum to reach I-64. We could have upgraded U.S 41 all the way to Terre Haute and then built a side spur from Vincennes or Sullivan to Bloomington. That would have eliminated almost all of the new terrain in the first 3 segments which run parallel to U.S 41 only 20-30 miles away.<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>"He is talking about Indiana University students and their parents who must worry each time they make the trip to Bloomington on narrow, curvy roads they share with coal trucks and slow-moving farm equipment.<br /><br />He is talking about the folks in Petersburg and Washington who may need to see a medical specialist in Indianapolis and are concerned about getting there safely.<br /><br />He is talking about high school band members from Newburgh or Evansville who travel by bus for competition in Indianapolis and hope to make it there without accident."</blockquote>Again, what about those traveling to Vincennes? What about those traveling to Terre Haute? If the C&P is genuinely concerned about safety, why are they proposing to build an interstate which will make us dependent on the automobile? The automobile kills over 30,000 people a year. Building an interstate from the 1950s isn't the solution to safety, High Speed Rail is!<br /><br />High Speed Rail is the answer to all of our problems we face with the automobile. It's quicker, cleaner, greener, safer, cheaper, nicer, and produces many,many more jobs while raising property values around it. High speed rail is the transportation solution of the 21st century. Not only will it get you there safely, it will also get you there fast at over 220 mph. If we build high speed rail, we will have people living in Bloomington while working in Evansville. With I-69, very few will be able to do that.<br /><br />We also have a fair amount of tracks already laid that can be paired with High Speed Rail Right-Of-Way...<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.in.gov/indot/files/MAIN-RR-08.PDF"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.in.gov/indot/files/MAIN-RR-08.PDF</span></a></strong><span style="color:#3333ff;"> </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>"Remember this: INDOT is building Interstate 69 at the request of people who for more than 50 years pleaded for a modern highway to Bloomington and Indianapolis."</blockquote>This right here tells us exactly why we shouldn't build I-69. This project is well over 50 years old. We don't lay down horse and buggy trails anymore and we shouldn't build 1950s infrastructure, it's time to move on. We need to pay tribute to our 1950's and later history and heritage by saving great buildings and artifacts from those time periods that are already built such as Roberts Stadium, the Old Greyhound Bus Station, and the Old Courthouse and Jail. We need to preserve history not live in history!<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>"In the meantime, the first three sections of the highway between Evansville and Crane are under construction. The fourth section is the one threatened by Bloomington."</blockquote>Like I said earlier, this is not something to be proud of. We just spent several million dollars and ended up with an interstate that is within, at the very farthest, 20-30 miles of U.S 41. We have destroyed a good chunk of the environment in Southern Indiana, we have uprooted many farms and families, and we still have yet to see any significant economic impact. By far and away, this has been a boondoggle of epic proportions. If we don't stop it now, it will go from a multi-million dollar boondoggle to a multi-billion dollar boondoggle.<br /><br /><blockquote><br /><p>"INDOT officials say they will take their time and consider their options. That's wise, as long as INDOT continues the rapid construction pace set by Gov. Mitch Daniels. In other words, don't stop now."</p></blockquote><br /><p>For those who believe we should keep going with I-69, consider this...<br /><br />1. Why is a "direct route" to Indianapolis seen as necessary, yet Kentucky is upgrading their Western Kentucky Parkway and Pennyrile which isn't a direct route?<br /><br />2. How will an I-69 bypass (I-164) provide a better economic impact than U.S 41 which goes right through the middle of Evansville?<br /><br />3. Why is it okay to take $700 million from a Northern Indiana toll road, yet it is not okay to toll I-69 to give the money back and make the road self-sustaining?<br /><br />4. If an interstate is such a great driver for economic development, than why aren't Terre Haute, Anderson, and Marion huge metro areas?<br /><br />5. Why is safety an issue for Bloomington, Washington, and Evansville residents but the safety of those residents in Princeton, Vincennes, Sullivan, and Terre Haute is being ignored by the failure to upgrade U.S 41?<br /><br />6. Why do we need a completely new terrain for the first 3 segments of I-69 when they run parallel to U.S 41 within 20-30 miles?<br /><br />7. Which would you rather Evansville be: A crossroads of America rail station or a truck stop full of minimum wage jobs?<br /><br />8. Why are we building an interstate when gas prices continue to rise, are expected to continue to rise, and driving amongst teenagers is becoming less popular?<br /><br />9. How many people will be able to commute daily to Evansville from Indianapolis and Bloomington on an interstate where the speed limit is 70 mph versus High Speed Rail where speeds reach 220 mph and greater?<br /><br />10. While I-69 is safER than state road 57, why is an automobile dependent interstate being pitched as a safety necessity when the auto kills over 30,000 Americans each year?<br /><br />11. What are the true costs when I-69 is completely totaled up (Evv-Indy, Ohio River Bridge, maintenance costs, interchanges that will need to be added eventually)?<br /><br />12. Why are we sacrificing thousands of acres of farmland, several hundred homes, and the habitats of all of our wildlife just to save a handful of minutes drive time?<br /><br />13. If I-64 is at least 10-15 miles outside of Evansville, why can't all those cities on the first three segments thrive with an upgraded U.S 41 only 20-30 miles away?<br /><br />14. If I-69 is bypassing the vast majority of Evansville, why can't it bypass Bloomington?<br /><br />15. Why is I-69 only projected to create 4,600 jobs when I-69 supporters themselves have been claiming that 47,000 jobs are created for every $1 billion spent on infrastructure?<br /><br />16. Of the jobs projected to be created by I-69, how many of those are jobs that will simply move from U.S 41-I-70 over to I-69? How many are quality jobs versus minimum wage jobs?<br /><br />As I've been saying for some time now, there is a pal over Evansville. Unfortunately, it is going to keep getting stronger until we change our thought process. We absolutely have to start innovating.<br /><br />We need to look at cities such as Chattanooga for our vision. Chattanooga, which only has 167,674 residents is thinking like the big cities. A few years ago, the Federal Railroad Administration released a vision for High Speed Rail that contained 11 corridors for development...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.fra.dot.gov/Pages/203.shtml"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.fra.dot.gov/Pages/203.shtml</span></a><br /><br />As you can see, Chattanooga was left off the list. Instead of going back to old methods of transportation such as the interstate, Chattanooga didn't give up. Not only did they not give up, they are aiming even higher than High Speed Rail.<br /><br />Currently, high speed rail usually runs 110-220 mph. But, there is also another new rail technology called Maglev (Magnetic Levitation) where the train has no steel wheels and levitates over the track by magnets which power it. Maglev is capable of going over 310 mph. The only downside to Maglev is that it is double the price of High Speed Rail.<br /><br />Maglev's price tag (which is still very competitive with the interstate construction costs) and being left off the High Speed Rail list hasn't kept Chattanooga down. No, they are planning on building a Maglev line from Chattanooga's airport to downtown Atlanta where it would connect with the rest of the high speed rail grid...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.transrapid-usa.com/main.asp"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.transrapid-usa.com/main.asp</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.transrapid-usa.com/images/route_USA.jpg"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.transrapid-usa.com/images/route_USA.jpg</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"> </span><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/sep/25/maglev-money-will-be-raised-official-says/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/sep/25/maglev-money-will-be-raised-official-says/</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span><br />Instead of wasting billions after billions after billions of dollars on an interstate from the 1950s that will give us little to no benefits, we need to think like Chattanooga. We need to push for High Speed Rail and Maglev Rail to come to Evansville! They will be cleaner, greener, cheaper, faster, safer, more luxurious, and will raise property values through the roof. We need RAILS NOT ROADS!<br /></p><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2714280530_fe3ca6be91.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 333px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2714280530_fe3ca6be91.jpg" /></a> (photo credit: flickriver.com)Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-54588886255590001022011-05-16T21:53:00.002-05:002011-05-16T21:54:08.593-05:00Take The Kleymeyer Park Sniff Challenge<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5YmCjXVUpyg/TdHeNmZo7jI/AAAAAAAAAZY/ldV1w7AOQlY/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B054.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607507336280731186" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5YmCjXVUpyg/TdHeNmZo7jI/AAAAAAAAAZY/ldV1w7AOQlY/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B054.JPG" /></a><br />A few weeks ago, I was talking with a prominent official in one of our two local parties about the prospects of placing 8 softball fields that replicate vintage <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">MLB</span> fields at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> Park, which is my alternative to demolishing Roberts Stadium.<br /><br />To recap, there already is a group that does this very thing. Take a look at their website and their ballparks: <a href="http://bigleaguedreams.com/"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">bigleaguedreams</span>.com</span></a>. If you click on the PARKS DEVELOPMENT tab you will notice they build this parks taxpayer free. They also maintain them taxpayer free.<br /><br />While I can't <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">guarantee</span> you that this organization would come here to Evansville, I firmly believe that it makes sense for both the cities economics and layout. I believe that building 8 fields to replicate Tiger Stadium, Yankee Stadium, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ebbets</span> Field, The Polo Grounds, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Crosley</span> Field, Wrigley Field, Sportsman's Park, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fenway</span> Park on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> Park grounds will allow us to connect the park to Garvin Park where the championship games could be played at historic <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bosse</span> Field.<br /><br /><a href="http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2010/11/saving-history-by-bringing-back-history.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2010/11/saving-history-by-bringing-back-history.html</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span><br />As I was talking to this official, he said, " I can tell you right now there will be no baseball fields at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> Park." I reminded him that there are already 3 fields on the site and then asked him why the site is not a good idea. He replied by saying that the site was formally a dump. Nobody would want to go there because it would smell, you couldn't put anything in the ground, and there is debris from the dump on the site which isn't a good area for baseball. He also said that this current problem exists with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Motoux</span> Park on St. Joseph Avenue.<br /><br />For those of you who visit this site frequently, you know that I have talked about the fact that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> Park is a formal dump is a good thing not a bad thing. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> Park produces methane gas which we can convert to electricity. In the following post, I talked about the program the EPA has for dealing with this...<br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"><a href="http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2010/11/red-rover-red-rover-please-send-epa-on.html">http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2010/11/red-rover-red-rover-please-send-epa-on.html</a><br /></span><br />The reason why I believe that the methane gas would be a positive for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> Park is because this procedure is already done at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Motoux</span> Park (which the official talked about). This official also said that parents were pulling their kids left and right from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">Motoux</span> Park because the smell from the old dump was just too unbearable. In an effort to seek the truth, I decided to pay <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Motoux</span> Park's a visit today.<br /><br />First, I started with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">Motoux</span> Park (click on images to enlarge)...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nDSrsNzJbyE/TdGzq6SKNVI/AAAAAAAAAWA/Euu3LiVPHkI/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B028.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607460560834278738" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nDSrsNzJbyE/TdGzq6SKNVI/AAAAAAAAAWA/Euu3LiVPHkI/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B028.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Today was a perfect day to pay <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">Motoux</span> Park a visit. The weather was good and it would be easy to smell anything from the dump if it was possible.<br /><br />Upon entering <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">Motoux</span> Park, you will be able to see, clear as day, the methane gas pumps all around the site hard at work. These pumps convert methane gas to electricity (as the EPA post I did above says)...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GSolTFQFCZA/TdG0fUpijiI/AAAAAAAAAWI/BjcTfc8H9GE/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B029.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607461461264862754" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GSolTFQFCZA/TdG0fUpijiI/AAAAAAAAAWI/BjcTfc8H9GE/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B029.JPG" /></a><br /><br />While some of these pumps were off to the side, there were also some in the middle of the soccer fields....<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NoV8GKPUld0/TdG1Syx9qGI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/uUKdHUl3ZS4/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B034.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607462345526585442" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NoV8GKPUld0/TdG1Syx9qGI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/uUKdHUl3ZS4/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B034.JPG" /></a><br /><br />But what about the smell? To check for this wild, unbearable smell, I sniffed high...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J1vgXjSzees/TdG2RUa94aI/AAAAAAAAAWY/E_bkYJK5q14/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B032.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607463419708826018" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J1vgXjSzees/TdG2RUa94aI/AAAAAAAAAWY/E_bkYJK5q14/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B032.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I sniffed low...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sk9s2Wo3M3w/TdG2u78nZcI/AAAAAAAAAWg/wW-4dnoE8xk/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B036.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607463928535147970" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sk9s2Wo3M3w/TdG2u78nZcI/AAAAAAAAAWg/wW-4dnoE8xk/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B036.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I sniffed everywhere...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TD1XLTIz6t8/TdG3GpTjmeI/AAAAAAAAAWo/fMFrNpYkh0k/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B042.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607464335847954914" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TD1XLTIz6t8/TdG3GpTjmeI/AAAAAAAAAWo/fMFrNpYkh0k/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B042.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-icbf5SNhHyk/TdG3UHiA9ZI/AAAAAAAAAWw/Q7FD779nr9c/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B041.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607464567299962258" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-icbf5SNhHyk/TdG3UHiA9ZI/AAAAAAAAAWw/Q7FD779nr9c/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B041.JPG" /></a><br /><br />NOTHING! No smell whatsoever! In fact, I would like to thank the Evansville Parks Department for doing such a good job keeping <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">Motoux</span> Park clean and safe. Although the recent complaints by local residents about the Parks Department may be valid, we also need to thank them when they do good a job with our parks. Here are some other great photos of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">Motoux</span> Park...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--iHONb7nf6Y/TdG4ErITC2I/AAAAAAAAAW4/ELRbFkLEOzA/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B043.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607465401489492834" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--iHONb7nf6Y/TdG4ErITC2I/AAAAAAAAAW4/ELRbFkLEOzA/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B043.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8napqzbFaBQ/TdG4TWUAgGI/AAAAAAAAAXA/b3OccW3_Cq0/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B044.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607465653599502434" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8napqzbFaBQ/TdG4TWUAgGI/AAAAAAAAAXA/b3OccW3_Cq0/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B044.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cML29vQSEnk/TdG4hyoru_I/AAAAAAAAAXI/uu14KPHs_Zc/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B045.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607465901720583154" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cML29vQSEnk/TdG4hyoru_I/AAAAAAAAAXI/uu14KPHs_Zc/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B045.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SK3Zxd6_z2Y/TdG4yH4uwyI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/JzI39A5lOgc/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B047.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607466182302941986" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SK3Zxd6_z2Y/TdG4yH4uwyI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/JzI39A5lOgc/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B047.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LjF4_grE46A/TdG5CeB2QpI/AAAAAAAAAXY/ib1kwyY3m6Y/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B050.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607466463124669074" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LjF4_grE46A/TdG5CeB2QpI/AAAAAAAAAXY/ib1kwyY3m6Y/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B050.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gTwkogjLg8c/TdG5Rg__wnI/AAAAAAAAAXg/iQZF_u11lQg/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B052.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607466721620247154" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gTwkogjLg8c/TdG5Rg__wnI/AAAAAAAAAXg/iQZF_u11lQg/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B052.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Well done Parks Department. But what does <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> Park look like? Are there any land obstacles that would prohibit 8 ball fields? Is the smell too bad for people to walk on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> Park land? I decided to head to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> Park next...<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kgQZssK0VUs/TdG6S-eVDgI/AAAAAAAAAXo/wHPk3WRXTk8/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B053.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607467846223597058" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kgQZssK0VUs/TdG6S-eVDgI/AAAAAAAAAXo/wHPk3WRXTk8/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B053.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bHBM-hl_0Fg/TdG6h_NWMMI/AAAAAAAAAXw/5MtHNut_vbI/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B055.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607468104118841538" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bHBM-hl_0Fg/TdG6h_NWMMI/AAAAAAAAAXw/5MtHNut_vbI/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B055.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Overall, the front entrance looks decent at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> Park, but it is the back part of the park that is in bad shape. Interestingly enough, there are already 3 ball fields on the site and there's also this cool pyramid building (reminds me of the Memphis Pyramid)...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ur9YEZaEPDU/TdG7JRMxYMI/AAAAAAAAAX4/e1hPWyURud8/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B057.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607468778963165378" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ur9YEZaEPDU/TdG7JRMxYMI/AAAAAAAAAX4/e1hPWyURud8/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B057.JPG" /></a><br /><br />There's also a cool canopy which has some nice architectural flare to it...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EZ53pM-BW8Y/TdG8Kps07GI/AAAAAAAAAYA/NkJn5TocwqA/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B058.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607469902231563362" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EZ53pM-BW8Y/TdG8Kps07GI/AAAAAAAAAYA/NkJn5TocwqA/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B058.JPG" /></a><br /><br />If we are ever able to convince city hall to build the ball fields at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span>, I'd like for them to incorporate those two structures into the plan!<br /><br />Once more, to seek out this toxic, unbearable, overwhelming, and unsustainable smell, I sniffed high...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9qUHzjdp2j4/TdG-dIo_pTI/AAAAAAAAAYI/rbdA_gApMzI/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B067.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607472418797888818" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9qUHzjdp2j4/TdG-dIo_pTI/AAAAAAAAAYI/rbdA_gApMzI/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B067.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I sniffed low...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R-DzM3Wn7pc/TdG-zXsVORI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/4pcLaz_N1sQ/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B063.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607472800795539730" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R-DzM3Wn7pc/TdG-zXsVORI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/4pcLaz_N1sQ/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B063.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MpaauiLNWsw/TdG_QgbrizI/AAAAAAAAAYY/uE8QYgYLdXA/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B072.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607473301357824818" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MpaauiLNWsw/TdG_QgbrizI/AAAAAAAAAYY/uE8QYgYLdXA/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B072.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I sniffed all over the park...<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xt6rFZRVaRY/TdG_s63F6VI/AAAAAAAAAYg/s_UOT_HK8sA/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B073.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607473789488458066" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xt6rFZRVaRY/TdG_s63F6VI/AAAAAAAAAYg/s_UOT_HK8sA/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B073.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Just like <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_28" class="blsp-spelling-error">Motoux</span> Park, NOTHING! You can not see, smell, or touch the underground landfill anywhere on the site!<br /><br />Unfortunately, we will need to clean up <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_29" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> Park from the trash and neglect it has collected from the current batch of vandals, polluters, and park officials who have refused to keep the park in a presentable fashion. These people have gotten away with it for quite a few years lately...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8AKyvLYjTEo/TdHBAoHbpjI/AAAAAAAAAYo/ODD54eHazBw/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B060.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607475227565729330" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8AKyvLYjTEo/TdHBAoHbpjI/AAAAAAAAAYo/ODD54eHazBw/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B060.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JjAOWHQ3_q8/TdHBVuaMIhI/AAAAAAAAAYw/ZhRRvU-JoFQ/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B066.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607475590032269842" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JjAOWHQ3_q8/TdHBVuaMIhI/AAAAAAAAAYw/ZhRRvU-JoFQ/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B066.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z9hNIyaKFl4/TdHBlcXTCZI/AAAAAAAAAY4/t-6KzuwSfGc/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B079.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607475860066208146" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z9hNIyaKFl4/TdHBlcXTCZI/AAAAAAAAAY4/t-6KzuwSfGc/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B079.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IstW1qaiYVA/TdHByZttcvI/AAAAAAAAAZA/GgX7oCz9t-I/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B080.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607476082693206770" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IstW1qaiYVA/TdHByZttcvI/AAAAAAAAAZA/GgX7oCz9t-I/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B080.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MlvBkuhaFAw/TdHB_NPpt2I/AAAAAAAAAZI/XawKTtUr7ug/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B081.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607476302684206946" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MlvBkuhaFAw/TdHB_NPpt2I/AAAAAAAAAZI/XawKTtUr7ug/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B081.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ifw8_XcGhck/TdHCQy_vs0I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/uC9DX1ZWPvw/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B082.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607476604875813698" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ifw8_XcGhck/TdHCQy_vs0I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/uC9DX1ZWPvw/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B082.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Luckily, we can fix all the damage that has been done recently. We can remove the trash that has been dumped, we can level the dirt mounds that have been overgrown for many years, and we can clear out the weeds that block the awesome view <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_30" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> Park has of Pigeon Creek.<br /><br />In fact, Mayor Lloyd Jr. wanted to connect <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_31" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> Park with Garvin Park in 2002. He commissioned a study to be done on the area with 13 projects recommended for the area. The 13<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_32" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> idea was to build a bridge from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_33" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> Park to Garvin Park. If our city truly wants to grow this area, we must connect the two parks with a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_34" class="blsp-spelling-error">greenway</span>, a bridge, and hopefully 8 fields that replicate vintage <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_35" class="blsp-spelling-error">MLB</span> ballparks.<br /><br />Here is a video I made for this project...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.watchevansville.com/play/NonProfits_and_Activisim/Save_Roberts_Stadium_Build__Kleymeyer_Park"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://www.watchevansville.com/play/NonProfits_and_Activisim/Save_Roberts_Stadium_Build__Kleymeyer_Park</span></a><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /></span><br />We have great potential with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_36" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> Park, and for that reason I am asking you the viewers of this blog to take the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_37" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> Park sniff challenge. When you get some free time, go to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_38" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> Park (and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_39" class="blsp-spelling-error">Motoux</span> Park if you want too) and take a look around and take a sniff around. Then, answer these simple questions...<br /><br />1. Did you see any debris that can be traced back to the old 1950's landfill?<br />2. Did you smell anything that can be traced back to the old 1950's landfill?<br />3. Did you see plenty of trash and debris from today's generation that needs to be removed immediately?<br />4. Do you believe that building 8 vintage <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_40" class="blsp-spelling-error">MLB</span> style ball fields on the site with a connecting bridge to Garvin Park and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_41" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bosse</span> Field is much better than building 8 dull and boring ball fields on the historic Roberts Stadium site?<br /><br />If you would like, you can send me your answers (<a href="mailto:JordanBaer1@gmail.com"><span style="color:#3333ff;">JordanBaer1@gmail.com</span></a>), and I will publish them with your name.<br /><br />It's time that we took the ball fields project and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_42" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kleymeyer</span> Park seriously.<br /><br />TAKE THE <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_43" class="blsp-spelling-error">KLEYMEYER</span> PARK SNIFF CHALLENGE!<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fo-1O7ZHM5E/TdHfOb2PBqI/AAAAAAAAAZg/YS6kHtGJ5yo/s1600/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B055.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607508450139375266" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fo-1O7ZHM5E/TdHfOb2PBqI/AAAAAAAAAZg/YS6kHtGJ5yo/s200/KleyMeyer-Motoux%2B055.JPG" /></a>Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-77515043851207434302011-05-08T15:02:00.008-05:002011-08-15T23:36:27.816-05:00Large Capital Improvement Projects CAN Work In Evansville<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DNGkR8bO_ek/TccI8MPtWZI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/t5b3_OFCLNQ/s1600/maps_logo.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 195px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604458091458156946" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DNGkR8bO_ek/TccI8MPtWZI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/t5b3_OFCLNQ/s200/maps_logo.gif" /></a> (photo credit: okc.gov/maps)
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<br />Today, the Courier & Press published an article dealing with the high risks Evansville mayors face when they take on large capital improvement projects for the city...
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<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;color:#3333ff;" ><a href="http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/may/07/no-headline---08a0xelection/">http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/may/07/no-headline---08a0xelection/</a></span><span style="color:#3333ff;">
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<br /></span>First of all, it is important to understand that not all capital improvement projects are the same. Opening up traffic on Main Street was a horrible idea (the only bad idea on Mayor Lloyd's 2001 master plan), and the Wesselman ball fields would have destroyed one of our greatest capital improvement projects ever built, Roberts Stadium.
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<br />On the other hand, Mayor Lloyd's ballpark was a fantastic idea. The only problem I had with it was that it wasn't on the Mulzer Stone lot where baseballs would fly into the river and into the hands of those with kayaks and canoes which is done at AT&T Park in San Francisco and PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Mayor Lloyd's 2001 master plan also called for re digging the old Wabash & Erie Canal, opening up the civic center, building a marina, revitalizing Main Street, and redeveloping the land around Pigeon Creek. All of those ideas are EXCELLENT ideas and, in my opinion, MUST be in any master plan this city decides to implement.
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<br />The projects I just mentioned as well as a few other ideas that Evansville has replicated (such as the new arena) have been successful in other cities . Let's take a look...
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<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Louisville, KY</span>
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<br />- Closed off 4th Street to traffic and built 4th Street Live
<br />- Built the KFC YUM! Center (and saved Freedom Hall)
<br />- Built Louisville Slugger Field
<br />- Revitalized Old Louisville
<br />- In the process of converting the Big Four Bridge to a pedestrian bridge
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<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Omaha, NE</span>
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<br />- Constructed a canal north of Farnam Street in the heart of downtown Omaha
<br />- Revitalized Omaha's Old Market into a shopping destination
<br />- Constructed TD Ameritrade Park
<br />- Constructed the Qwest Center (and saved the Omaha Civic Auditorium)
<br />- Constructed the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge
<br />- Constructed a Lewis & Clark Trail Center which is run by the National Parks Department
<br />- Built the Lauritzen Botanical Gardens
<br />- In the process of expanding the Omaha Zoo
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<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Indianapolis, IN</span>
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<br />- Constructed Conseco Fieldhouse
<br />- Constructed Lucas Oil Stadium
<br />- Built the Central Canal District
<br />- Built Monument Circle
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<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Oklahoma City</span> (under the MAPS program)
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<br />- renovations to the Civic Center Music Hall, The Myriad (Now Cox Convention Center) and Oklahoma State Fairgrounds;
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<br />-construction of the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark
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<br />-construction of the Ford Center, an indoor multipurpose sports arena.
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<br />-construction of the "Bricktown Canal"
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<br />-construction of a riverfront and recreational dams for the North Canadian River
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<br />-the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library, a four-story main library to replace a facility that had been built in 1951
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<br />-a new Library/Learning Center
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<br />-development of the Oklahoma Spirit Trolleys, a trolley-replica bus network
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<br />(the following are in the process of being built under MAPS 3)
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<br />$280 million new 200,000 sq ft (19,000 m2) Convention Center.
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<br />$130 million 70-acre (280,000 m2) downtown park similar to Houston's Discovery Green to be located south of current I-40.
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<br />$130 million for mass transit including a downtown 5-6 mile modern streetcar system.
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<br />$50 million for health and wellness aquatic centers to be located throughout the city.
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<br />$60 million for improvements at the Oklahoma State Fair.
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<br />$60 million for improvements to the Oklahoma River.
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<br />$40 million to extend trails throughout the city.
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<br />$10 million to build sidewalks around the city.
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<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">What Can We Do To Change The Local Mindset?</span>
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<br />In an earlier post, I talked about the MAPS program that Oklahoma City implemented...
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<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;color:#3333ff;" ><a href="http://evansvillemovingforward.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-should-evansville-finance-these.html">http://evansvillemovingforward.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-should-evansville-finance-these.html</a></span><span style="color:#3333ff;">
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<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Area_Projects">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Area_Projects</a></span>
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<br />Now cities such as Pittsburgh and Jacksonville have begun replicating OKC's plan...
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<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;color:#3333ff;" ><a href="http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-dec-moving-forward-oklahoma-city">http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-dec-moving-forward-oklahoma-city</a></span><span style="color:#3333ff;">
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<br />Basically, MAPS works like this...
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<br />1. The citizens come up with their own ideas and plans. They then can go around town lobbying for other citizens to support their ideas.
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<br />2. The citizens then go to their local government's website and submit the ideas.
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<br />3. The ideas with the most votes get implemented (OKC took as many ideas as they could afford).
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<br />4. The final ideas are lumped into a program (MAPS).
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<br />5. The program is put on the ballot where voters vote to temporarily increase the local sales tax by 1% for 7 years. After 7 years, the tax expires and can only be extended with another referendum.
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<br />6. If approved, the 7 year 1% sales tax goes into effect and a committee to oversee the projects is assembled.
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<br />7. After 7 years, if there is enough revenue collected, the projects can begin breaking ground. If there is not enough revenue, a temporary 2 year 1% sales tax increase can be voted on, some projects can be scaled down, or some projects can be eliminated completely.
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<br />8. Repeat cycle
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<br />So far, there have been three MAPS programs and all three have passed voter approval. Not only has MAPS been successful, but it has been successful in Oklahoma, which is the heart of deep conservative country just like Evansville. If they can do it there, we can do it here.
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<br />Here are my top 10 reasons why MAPS would be a better success than the current plan...
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<br />1. The projects wouldn't be piece mealed. We'd have to get voter support only once to get at least 5-7 projects going. Currently, every project we do is a battle to the bitter end.
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<br />2. If MAPS is voted down, the voters can only point the finger at themselves given that MAPS is their own ideas not city hall's.
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<br />3. MAPS would gather ideas from everyone not just a select few. With the ball fields project, only one man and his group were ever heard from despite the fact that the majority of residents did not want the project. We were forced to wait until the project died a natural death after many, many, many dollars were wasted.
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<br />4. MAPS would give Evansville momentum. With 5-7 projects being constructed at the same time, many young professionals and residents would clearly be able to see the progress we would be making. Evansville would have a "great renaissance" image.
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<br />5. Voters couldn't complain that any project wasn't liked. If Evansville didn't like the projects, they would have the chance to vote against them on the website and then vote them down at the polls.
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<br />6. MAPS would give our master plan a source of funding. The problem we had with the 2001 master plan was lack of funding. In order to build the 2001 plan, we would have to go to all ends of the earth to find funding. With MAPS it is simple, a temporary 1% sales tax.
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<br />7. MAPS would inspire debate. When we did the 2001 master plan, we brought EVERYONE together. We listened to our Chamber of Commerce, city hall, our development agencies, and, most importantly, we listened to the people. For that reason, we inspired debate about everything currently in downtown. We debated the future of the Aztar area, Main St., First Avenue, and everywhere else at the same time. Currently, only one area is ever debated (such as the new arena spot).
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<br />8. MAPS will save money. If we do our projects in bunches, we can get bulk discounts on construction work and architectural design. Currently, we do a project and then use more money to renovate it if we decide to add another project to it later. look at the arena/hotel situation. Why not build them together as one building?
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<br />9. MAPS will not bankrupt our town. After 7 years of the 1% sales tax, we build what we can with the money we get or do a temporary extension. We would not be taking out a 30-year loan to build a project that may or may not succeed. This would also save us a TREMENDOUS amount of money by avoiding interest rates. Furthermore, while MAPS is being collected during the 7-year tax, it is generating revenue. OKC generated $52 million from interest. Basically, they got a FREE ballpark built.
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<br />10. MAPS is personal. Like I said earlier, you and I can come up with an idea and then go around gathering up people's votes ourselves. Instead of having to latch onto another person's project, we can control our destiny. For instance, if I supported building a ballpark, I would go around telling everyone I know to go onto the cities website and write-in "ballpark." If I really wanted the idea to get passed, I could do ads, post signs, and knock on doors. MAPS makes capital improvement projects personal for every single resident.
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<br />Unfortunately, there is one obstacle we would have to overcome to get a MAPS program here in Evansville. Currently, Oklahoma is a referendum state and Indiana is not (like almost every other eastern state minus Ohio). This means that we could not put together a MAPS plan and then have a binding vote at the polls on it. To get around this law, I have compiled a few ideas...
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<br />- Lobby your state legislators to change the law
<br />- Have a non-binding vote where we would adopt the Yes or No majority vote but it wouldn't be binding
<br />- Skip the vote ONLY if we are confident that the majority of local residents came to the website to give us their idea
<br />- Lobby for a special exemption to the law
<br />- Use local funding instead (ex. Aztar, food and beverage, etc) that could get around the state law
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<br />I am very disappointed that Mayors Roberts, Lloyd, and Weinzapfel have taken a significant amount of heat for building or trying to build Roberts Stadium, a new ballpark, and the new downtown arena respectively, although I will be disappointed if Mayor Weinzapfel demolishes Roberts Stadium.
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<br />We absolutely have to undertake large capital improvement projects, and I hope you will join me in the effort to bring MAPS to Evansville!
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<br /><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4286064234_a31c248991.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4286064234_a31c248991.jpg" /></a> (photo credit: flickr/caseycornett)
<br />Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-35817403929753795782011-04-27T00:37:00.003-05:002011-04-27T02:05:43.388-05:00You Might Be From Evansville If...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Evansvilleskyline.jpg/300px-Evansvilleskyline.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Evansvilleskyline.jpg/300px-Evansvilleskyline.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />- You think Jeff Lyons is your hero<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.weatherbrains.com/graphics/jeff-lyons.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 157px;" src="http://www.weatherbrains.com/graphics/jeff-lyons.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />- You think the Civil War was fought on highway 41 and Pigeon Creek<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/US_41.svg/120px-US_41.svg.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 120px; height: 120px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/US_41.svg/120px-US_41.svg.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />- When someone calls you bossy you say, " How did you know where I went to high school?"<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://timage2.prepsportswear.com/getimage.iaspx?type=1&p=238&pc=red&dc1=white&scale=37.0&SchoolID=45145&d=7766&useid=1&up_ss=m&up_pp=||"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 148px; height: 192px;" src="http://timage2.prepsportswear.com/getimage.iaspx?type=1&p=238&pc=red&dc1=white&scale=37.0&SchoolID=45145&d=7766&useid=1&up_ss=m&up_pp=||" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />- You have a favorite stoplight<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.6westbarandgrill.com/stoplight.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 372px; height: 443px;" src="http://www.6westbarandgrill.com/stoplight.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />- You think an STD was an old wooden ship that Evansville built during WWII in the Mead Johnson's parking lot<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cmh.net/~jpvsr/lst325.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 456px; height: 329px;" src="http://www.cmh.net/~jpvsr/lst325.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />- You eat at McDonald's because you like what he did as Mayor<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cdC-O5uHUxA/TbfAGp5yUfI/AAAAAAAAAUw/TdQ-5nD8ZV0/s1600/mayor%2Bmcdonald.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 122px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cdC-O5uHUxA/TbfAGp5yUfI/AAAAAAAAAUw/TdQ-5nD8ZV0/s200/mayor%2Bmcdonald.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600155882218476018" /></a><br /><br />- Your most famous neighbor is Roseanne<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/612/21037ccd71.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 480px; height: 295px;" src="http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/612/21037ccd71.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />- You remember where your favorite downtown landmark is by which tree the street is named after<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.thetinfish.net/images/www.thetinfish.net/evansville-map.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 461px; height: 379px;" src="http://www.thetinfish.net/images/www.thetinfish.net/evansville-map.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />- You don't go to Red Bank for a loan<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://evansvilleindianajewelers.com/var/as/36033/1372227-map.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 140px;" src="http://evansvilleindianajewelers.com/var/as/36033/1372227-map.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />- You don't get the locations of Central and North High Schools mixed up<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.evansville.net/school/schoolpages/north/img.gif/nhs.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="http://www.evansville.net/school/schoolpages/north/img.gif/nhs.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://schooldesigns.com/Portals/0/SD_Images/Projects/082-exterior.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 480px; height: 315px;" src="http://schooldesigns.com/Portals/0/SD_Images/Projects/082-exterior.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />and my favorite...<br /><br />- You think an arena is a stadium<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.glerb.net/Roberts_Stadium.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 425px; height: 270px;" src="http://i.glerb.net/Roberts_Stadium.png" border="0" alt="" /></a>Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-1130020218840351662011-04-18T19:16:00.008-05:002011-04-19T01:33:17.317-05:00I-69 Supporters Are Grasping At Straws<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2382/1574576278_842b8978b1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 334px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2382/1574576278_842b8978b1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Just when you think you've heard it all, I-69 supporters, led by the Courier & Press editorial board, draw up another article that makes you shake your head.<br /><br />This week, the C&P editorial staff released this article...<br /><br /><strong>http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/apr/17/finishing-i-69-the-issue-legislature-will-be-our/</strong><br /><br />It seems pretty apparent that I-69 supporters such as the C&P are finally starting to realize that this road isn't as affordable as once believed. I-69 supporters and INDOT refused to listen to organizations such as the Hoosier Environmental Council and Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads when they said loud and clear that the price tag for this road would be around $3.31 billion, not the billion and change that once was projected. <br /><br />Not only has the price of I-69 itself risen dramatically, it does not include the price of the new Ohio River bridge which is estimated to be around $1.2-$1.4 billion, it does not include a cost estimate to replace the inferior materials that will need to be replaced in a shorter time span, and it does not include price estimates to put the interchanges in that will need to be eliminated. This road will come very close to costing $5 billion.<br /><br />The ironic thing about this article where the C&P finally admits that this road may be too costly to build in the next few years, is that it comes just a few months after they wrote this article about high speed rail...<br /><br /><strong>http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/oct/03/high-speed-rail-the-issue-amtrak-looks-to-our-we/</strong><br /><br />In that article, the C&P claimed that high speed rail is not an alternative to highways due to their high costs. This couldn't be any farther from the truth. In fact, high speed rail on average costs 1/4th the price of interstates ( <strong>http://www.indianahighspeedrail.org/whyHSR.htm</strong> ). Now we are seeing the truth that I-69 is NOT cost effective.<br /><br />While southwestern Indiana has fallen 60 years behind trying to build an interstate from the 20th century, the rest of the region around us has begun planning for high speed rail...<br /><br /><strong>http://usa-presidents.org/barack-obama-news/kentucky-indiana-in-obamas-8-billion-request-for-high-speed-rail-study-louisville-courier-journal</strong><br /><br />Why didn't we see that in the C&P? All across the U.S, state governments are realizing the benefits of high speed rail, Virginia being one of them...<br /><br /><strong>http://www.vhsr.com/system/files/roadvsrail.pdf</strong><br /><br />I-69 supporters have gotten so desperate to deny the environmental impact of this interstate that they are now claiming the Muscatatuck Bottoms and Wabash River & Sugar Creek conservation projects are being undertaken to offset the impact of I-69...<br /><br /><strong>http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/feb/13/interstate-69-the-issue-foes-move-to-block-our/</strong><br /><br />Once more, this article couldn't be any farther from the truth. Those two areas that the Courier & Press brought up as areas that are being reforested from I-69’s damage, well...<br /><br />1. They are NOWHERE NEAR the proposed I-69<br /><br /><strong>http://www.in.gov/dnr/files/MuscatatuckRiverFacts.pdf (Page 2)</strong><br /><br /><strong>http://www.in.gov/dnr/files/Wabash_Area_Flood_Plain_Map.pdf</strong><br /><br />2. The Wabash River and Sugar Creek replanting is right next to…. you got it… the 41/I-70 corridor… NOT the I-69 corridor.<br /><br />How they can claim this is being done to mitigate the environmental disaster I-69 will cause I will never know. I could just as easily claim that these two projects are being undertaken to offset the trees lost to print off that editorial.<br /><br />The last part on the DNR's website sums it up best...<br /><br /><strong>http://www.in.gov/dnr/6057.htm</strong><br /><br /><blockquote>Q. If I decide not to sell, will you take my land?<br />A. No. This program is for willing sellers only. DNR will not use eminent domain to take land. You do not have to sell if you choose not to.</blockquote><br /><br />In other words, this program is completely volunteer, not a state mandate to offset the environmental damage I-69 will cause.<br /><br />Lastly, if the I-69 supporters would have just been realistic with their interstate demands, we could be doing both high speed rail and upgrading 41/ I-70. For those who say we need a route to Bloomington regardless, we could have used Alternate Routes 2 or 4 to the existing Alternate Route 3 which would have gone from an upgraded 41 in Vincennes over to Bloomington along state roads 67 and 231 which would have greatly reduced the land needed for new terrain...<br /><br /><strong>http://deis.i69indyevn.org/DEIS/Summary/summary.html</strong><br /><br />Unfortunately, I-69 and it's supporters are taking us back to the 50's. It will be many years, if ever, before funding is ever obtained for I-69. In the meantime, other states and regions are getting even farther ahead of us in the race to build high speed rail. It's time to get serious about 21st century transportation.<br /><br />As always, high speed rail would be cheaper, faster, greener, cleaner, and most importantly SAFER! Call your elected officials and tell them to scrap I-69. We need rails not roads!<br /><br /><a href="http://sitfu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/high-speed-rail-line.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 413px;" src="http://sitfu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/high-speed-rail-line.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-43867413818399555772011-03-29T23:14:00.008-05:002011-03-30T11:36:28.088-05:00Where Do We Go Next With The Greenway?<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3k5TocxWvic/TZLNcDfXuqI/AAAAAAAAATo/ahfuUGIysQo/s1600/greenway.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 128px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3k5TocxWvic/TZLNcDfXuqI/AAAAAAAAATo/ahfuUGIysQo/s200/greenway.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589755969377122978" /></a><br /><br />After many years and many battles to secure funding, we are getting very close to completing our Pigeon Creek Greenway Trail. In fact, the city expects to have all but one corridor completed by December of this year (2011). <br /><br />Here is a link to a map that shows you the current progress of the Greenway as future planning for it out to Angel Mounds.<br /><br /><strong>http://evansvillegov.org/Index.aspx?page=589</strong><br /><br />While, I am glad that city officials have laid out a future plan to expand the trail all the way out to Angel Mounds (where it will hopefully meet the Newburgh Trail), you will notice that there seems to be one thing missing in the future plans: a west side link.<br /><br />The map in this link here <strong>http://www.indianatrails.org/PCG.htm</strong> does show a few future plans that I find interesting (such as going parallel to the Lloyd Expressway and going back through the old Wabash & Erie Canal) but so far a clear plan for these paths has not been established<br /><br />Last year, after I spoke in favor of a stricter smoking ban in front of the Evansville City Council, a lady from the Greenway Foundation spoke. She asked the council to continue their support of the Greenway and that the west side is wanting in on the action too.<br /><br />This makes perfect sense to get the west side involved too due to the fact that a trail from Burdette Park to the University of Southern Indiana has been recently completed. It seems pretty safe to say that most locals would support expanding the Greenway to the west side, but where should it go? I believe I have the answer for that.<br /><br />First of all, we need to look at the big picture with this opportunity. This means...<br /><br />1. Build off of the current Greenway Trail to encourage unification of both sides of Evansville<br /><br />2. Connect Evansville to its western and southern neighboring communities such as Mt. Vernon and Henderson, KY<br /><br />3. Connect the west side of Evansville without having to eminent domain any existing neighborhoods and businesses <br /><br />4. Take advantage of Evansville's open lands next to the river<br /><br />5. Incorporate as much of the west side into the Greenway as possible<br /><br />Given these five guiding principles, I believe the current route should go as follows.<br /><br />1. Extend the Greenway down Ohio Street from the Joan Marchand Bridge<br /><br />2. From Ohio Street, negotiate with Mead Johnsons (a Greenway sponsor) to acquire a small amount of riverfront land to connect to Dixie Flyer Road.<br /><br />3. From Dixie Flyer, connect to Old Henderson Road which would take the Greenway all the way down to Nurrenbern Road.<br /><br />4. At Nurrenbern Road, split the Greenway. One trail goes to Burdette where it will go on to connect to USI, while the other trail keeps going down Old Henderson Road.<br /><br />5. Take the Greenway all the way down Old Henderson Road to the CSX train bridge.<br /><br />Once we get the Greenway all the way down to the CSX train bridge we will be directly across the Ohio River from downtown Henderson, Kentucky who are improving their downtown as well.<br /><br />We would also have the opportunity to design a pedestrian bridge that would draw tourists and young professionals from all over.<br /><br />By far and away, the best pedestrian bridge that I have been on is the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge which connects Omaha, Nebraska with Council Bluffs, Iowa...<br /><br /><strong>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Kerrey_Pedestrian_Bridge</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3415/4625277771_57c0daae83.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3415/4625277771_57c0daae83.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge has done a great job attracting visitors to the riverfront, connecting Nebraska with Iowa, and recruiting young professionals to relocate to Omaha. Pedestrian bridges connecting downtown Henderson and/or downtown Evansville with the other side of the Ohio River can do the same. <br /><br />Here are some more interesting pedestrian bridge designs (I decided to include one bridge not over water as well)..<br /><br />Sundial Bridge- Redding, CA<br /><strong>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundial_Bridge_at_Turtle_Bay</strong><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lcjkD47ORzA/TZLCHMyrQPI/AAAAAAAAATY/4LT6AQYLWxA/s1600/sundial%2Bbridge.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lcjkD47ORzA/TZLCHMyrQPI/AAAAAAAAATY/4LT6AQYLWxA/s200/sundial%2Bbridge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589743516468855026" /></a><br /><br />Lincoln Park Pedestrian Bridge- Chicago, IL<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BTDKk3HFeOU/TZLDdzdFGwI/AAAAAAAAATg/6-2tXur52Eo/s1600/lincoln%2Bpedestrian%2Bbridge.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BTDKk3HFeOU/TZLDdzdFGwI/AAAAAAAAATg/6-2tXur52Eo/s200/lincoln%2Bpedestrian%2Bbridge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589745004316007170" /></a><br /><br />Newcastle Millennium Bridge- Tyne, UK<br /><strong>href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateshead_Millennium_Bridge</strong><a href="http://www.theboatsideinn.com/images/blinkingEye.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.theboatsideinn.com/images/blinkingEye.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Coming Soon! Big Four Pedestrian Bridge- Louisville, Kentucky<br /><strong>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Four_Bridge</strong><br /><a href="http://brokensidewalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/waterfront_construction_31-150x150.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://brokensidewalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/waterfront_construction_31-150x150.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />As you can see, pedestrian bridges have the capacity to define not just a city but a whole region too. <br /><br />And, if we extend the Greenway down the west side riverfront and then over to Henderson, we will be taking the Greenway to a whole new level. The Greenway would go from being an Evansville exercise path to a regional icon attraction like Atlanta is attempting with their Beltline Project <br />( <strong>http://www.beltline.org/</strong> ).<br /><br />With that being said, we need to finish the current Greenway plan which is a 42 mile trail going from downtown to Garvin Park. That needs to be the immediate concern. After that is complete, then we should focus on this 10-15 year master plan for extending the Greenway to the west side.<br /><br />We have a great opportunity with the Pigeon Creek Greenway, now we need to take advantage of it!<br /><a href="http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/display/3113a8e9-b265-49ac-96f9-306f5acb1768.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/display/3113a8e9-b265-49ac-96f9-306f5acb1768.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-88622902315361756502011-02-24T15:36:00.002-06:002011-02-24T15:50:05.974-06:0010,000 People Have Visited Evansville Moving Forward!<a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/luxurysociety/assets/articles/1398_10000thmember_medium.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 327px;" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/luxurysociety/assets/articles/1398_10000thmember_medium.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Today, the 10,000th visitor clicked on Evansville Moving Forward today. All I can say is WOW! When I started this blog last year, I never dreamed that it would be this successful but indeed it has.<br /><br />In my opinion, Evansville Moving Forward has already played a key role in getting the word out about the Save Roberts Stadium movement, the High Speed Rail movement, as well as the Downtown Revitalization movement in such a short amount of time.<br /><br />Most importantly, EMF has inspired debate. One of the main reasons that I started this blog was my belief that since the 2001 downtown master plan came out Evansville has failed to propose ideas, unite as one city, and discuss issues that plague our town.<br /><br />I hope you the readers of this blog have taken time to look over all the ideas that I have put on this blog and will do some research yourselves to compile a list of your own ideas. I hope this blog motivates you to look at other cities and see what has made them successful(such as OKC, Indianapolis, Louisville, and Omaha).<br /><br />Lastly, I hope you will continue to support EMF and my group Tri-State Tomorrow (<strong>http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=10150104705160244</strong>) as well as my other blog SaveRobertsStadium.blogspot.com. Without your support, we won't be able to get a single thing accomplished. With your support, we will be able to get Evansville moving forward and take it into the upper echlon of great American cities.<br /><br />THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://farcef.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/10000.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 476px; height: 361px;" src="http://farcef.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/10000.png" border="0" alt="" /></a>Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572359409670923877.post-49599113749174627222011-02-22T18:42:00.004-06:002011-03-04T14:06:08.804-06:00Support Roberts Stadium With A Save Roberts Stadium Shirt<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wE2wfd0bqd8/TXFGJceAbqI/AAAAAAAAASA/ZU6I5Dl1yfk/s1600/Save_Roberts_Stadium.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 106px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wE2wfd0bqd8/TXFGJceAbqI/AAAAAAAAASA/ZU6I5Dl1yfk/s200/Save_Roberts_Stadium.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580318541363572386" /></a><br />(Click on image to enlarge)<br /><br />Although several people in the community understand that Roberts Stadium is an Evansville icon, I am not convinced that we have gotten the message out loud and clear to everyone in the city, including our elected officials.<br /><br />For this reason, I have teamed up with local t-shirt maker Ad-Vision Screen Graphics to help get the word out about this blog's effort to save Roberts Stadium. As a part of my "Paint The Town Roberts Stadium Brown" mission, I am buying and then selling at cost "Save Roberts Stadium" t-shirts.<br /><br />For only $8 (sizes available: kid's medium to adult XL, for 2XL and 3XL add $1.50), you can have your very own "Save Roberts Stadium" t-shirt. The t-shirt is brown (to commemorate the brown color of Roberts Stadium), and on the front it says in bold, " Save Roberts Stadium," with the blog URL underneath it. On the back it says, "Built by H. O Roberts-1956."<br /><br /><br />A couple of things about the shirt...<br /><br />1. I am selling these shirts AT COST. This blog is about making the effort to save Roberts Stadium personal not profitable. I will not be making one dime off this project, and I believe that is the way it should be. My love for Roberts Stadium and desire to see her stick around for another 55 years are why I want you to purchase at least one shirt.<br /><br />2. The two main goals of this t-shirt project are to 1. Get the word out about saving Roberts Stadium & 2. To recognize, respect, and pay tribute to H.O Roberts who gave up his political career so that Roberts Stadium would be built.<br /><br />3. Although I would like to have these shirts made by the time the Aces play their last game Saturday, they simply will not be ready by then. However, I want you the people to wear these shirts everywhere you go so that every man, woman, and child in this town is aware of the Save Roberts Stadium movement.<br /><br />4. With your t-shirt purchase, you will be supporting Ad-Vision Screen Graphics, a local small business (http://www.advisionscreengraphics.com/index.php?page=home).<br /><br />If this project is successful, city officials will have no choice but to respect the wishes of the people and save Roberts Stadium, so I hope you will decide to participate in this project.<br /><br />The t-shirt purchasing process is going to work like this:<br /><br />* Ad-Vision must make all t-shirts at the same time while the printing machine is up and running. For this reason I must compile a list of who all wants to purchase a shirt(s). Please sign up to purchase a shirt(s) ONLY if you plan on actually buying them.<br /><br />* To sign up to purchase a t-shirt, please send me your name, how many t-shirts you want, shirt size(s) and a contact phone number to JordanBaer1@gmail.com. <br /><br />* If you would like for me to deliver this shirt to you please let me know the address where I can drop it off (For delivery you must live in the Evansville area). If you would like for me to mail the shirt(s) please give me a shipping address as well. I will have to charge an at cost shipping fee which will be calculated on usps.com.<br /><br />* I must have everyone's order by March 16. Shirts should be ready within one week.<br /><br />Again, let's "Paint The Town Roberts Stadium Brown," and let everyone know that we want Roberts Stadium Saved.<br /><br />I thank you the readers of this blog greatly for your support throughout this whole process and would appreciate any t-shirt you buy to SAVE ROBERTS STADIUM!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.robertstadium.com/images/stadiumphoto.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.robertstadium.com/images/stadiumphoto.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Jordan Baerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566215547828201810noreply@blogger.com0