WOWO’s ratings during the Pat White show in the coveted “Adults age 25-54) have dropped 31% in the last two years, (fall 2007 through fall 2009). Charly Butcher’s show is also tanking in the same demo, having lost 18% share in the same period. Rush Limbaugh is holding steady, and Glenn Beck’s number are very impressive. Click the image below to enlarge.

During Pat White’s 3pm – 6pm time slot, WOWO was 6th. WBTU, WBYR, WXKE, WQHK & WMEE all beat him.

I was told by several people that the removal of Pat White had been in the works for at least two weeks. I’m also told that his remarks regarding “Blacks” on Thursday caused station management to yank him off the air early.

If I were Charly, I’d be putting a little polish on the resume.

No related posts.

Henry hired Palermo Galindo as Fort Wayne’s Hispanic-immigrant liaison back in June. Palermo Galindo operates Centro De Dinero, one of those high-priced check cashing services whose target audience is the Hispanic market, and undoubtedly Fort Wayne’s illegal alien population.

Yesterday at the state of the city address Henry announced a new and exciting program to help people stay away from the leeches that operate payday loan sites.

Tonight I am also excited to announce my intent to create the “Bank on Fort Wayne” program. This new initiative will generate opportunities for any Fort Wayne residents who have relied on expensive check-cashing services and payday loan operations. This initiative will allow them to open bank accounts at local financial institutions while also receiving financial tools. Founded on the success of similar programs in Evansville and other cities, I see Bank on Fort Wayne as a win-win. It will allow some of Fort Wayne’s hardest working residents to keep more of the money they earn, save for the future, and establish relationships with local banks. I look forward to working with Councilman Hines with his banking experience, as well as the financial institutions here in Fort Wayne on this important project.

Henry’s not addressing the real problem here.

Galindo and his company, Centro De Dinero, are raking in annual percentage rates that the mafia would admire. While we could not get anyone on the phone at Centro, we did check online and it appears most all of the payday loan operators charge the same fees, the maximum allowed by the state.

Using a $500 loan amount, we used their online calculators and found the rates identical.

You Borrow: $500.00
You Payback: $567.00
Finance Charge: $67.00
APR: 349.36%

That’s for a two week loan.

By our count there are at least 27 payday loan locations in the city of Fort Wayne, with 8 concentrated on South Lafayette, South Calhoun and Broadway.

View Larger Map

Payday loans strap borrowers with triple digit interest rates, and it’s almost always families that are living on the financial edge. They generally locate in black and poor neighborhoods, preying on those that are financially weak.

Cities are now passing ordinances that restrict both the density of payday loan operations and the distance between them. A good start would be a a temporary moratorium on any new payday loan operations, with an eventual restriction on the number of operators. Many cities also require a special use permit. In DeSoto, KS they don’t allow payday loan operations at all.

Fort Wayne has an extensive ordinancelink governing the operation of pawn shops and those that deal in precious metals and stones. Just last week I received an email from someone that had been contacted by the Fort Wayne Police Department for offering to buy gold on Craig’s List. He was told it was illegal. I checked and indeed, without a license it is.

In Indiana Payday loan operators are regulated by the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. I’m not certain if the city of Fort Wayne can regulate the rates. Mitch?

Many cities have enacted ordinances that do, where allowed by state law. In 2007, several cities in Virginia passed resolutions asking their state General Assembly to cap payday interest rates at 36%. In 2008, it became state law.

Henry never explained any details about the “Bank on Fort Wayne” program. I suspect it’s just another feel-good gesture to give folks a warm fuzzy feeling.

Payday loan operators are supposed to be licensed . We did check the licensing databaselink for Centro De Dinero. We could not find them.

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I heard the other day about what seemed to be a real blatant bit of insider dealing.  It is a lesson in how Fort Wayne works and how rumors grow into something more.

The story was of a sweet-heart deal and conflict of interest.  It involved a leading citizen and one of his employees sitting on a board making the decision on the matter.

You might recall newspaper accounts that the old Allen County/Dimension Ford site just west of Swinney Park may soon become the property of Sweetwater Sound owner Chuck Surack.  He is considering a Jaguar dealership there and has stated he will make significant improvements to the building and grounds, in exchange for a very good deal on the building and grounds.  The cost to Mr. Surack will be minimal, the value of the real estate is considerable. It seems a sweet-heart deal among political and business insiders.  Add to that the fact that Mr. Surack is the employer of one Chris Guerin who is the president of the Redevelopment Commission, the appointed board tasked with unloading the building and grounds.

It just looks, well, a bit oily.

After a number of calls and chats with those involved it seems only a matter of fact in a smallish town with an even smaller pool of potential players.

The plan is to put an upscale Jaguar dealership in the bland little building.  That appeals to the City which  wants the building to be put back into use and returned to the tax rolls.

A source in government tells me that a number of other people came forward to offer uses for the building, but Mr. Surack’s offer was the best by far. The other proposals, did not plan to substantially rehab the building, nor improve the grounds, nor increase the tax base nor create many if any new jobs.  Some of the offers were “okay,” according to my contact, but mostly just took the building as is and did little to improve the economic situation in the city.

At the commission meeting which I did not attend, I am told by two people that Mr. Guerin was surprised the matter was on the agenda and recused himself from the discussion and voting: “He did not speak or participate in the discussion.”  I was also told that the attorney for the commission, John Wernet, also recused himself because his law firm also occasionally represents Sweetwater Sound, the company Mr. Surack has built into an international musical instrument sales powerhouse.

So, that left the other members of the commission to decide whether to accept Mr. Surack’s offer.  They did.  One member added that the other candidates for the property “backed out” and that the whole deal was “above board.”  That member has an excellent reputation in Fort Wayne, so I take her word.

Fort Wayne is a small town.  I will guess there is one degree of separation between most of us; introduce two strangers and they are likely to have twenty contacts or friends in common.  When one moves to the more rarefied air of political of social leadership the links are immediate.  I know Mr. Surack and Mr. Wernet, I know Chris Guerin, I know Greg Leatherman, the Economic Development director for the city, and I know two other members of the Commission.  One is an old junior high buddy and we remain friends, even though he recently turned down my refinance request.  Tisk.

In Fort Wayne, it is hard not to know many of the players in deals that affect the public purse or the community well being.  On the surface this looks very much like a sweet-heart deal.  Dig deeper and it seems that Mr. Surack has offered to invest some of his considerable wealth in a dilapidated building that will soon yield a few jobs and return to the tax rolls.  He will certainly benefit, as well.  I should add that Mr. Surack is a major donor to many charities in the area and has a spotless reputation.  He has created a company, built it into a powerhouse and greatly benefits the city.

So, we have looked into the matter and it seems much worse than it turned out to be.  It seems to have been a fair dealing, but confused by the inherent problems of a city our size in a down economy.  I don’t think this is a conflict of interest.

No related posts.

Hal Barry of Barry Real Estate was at a hearing before a panel overseeing the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) held today at Georgia Tech. Mr. Barry had this to say about the banks.

“Finding a lender to finance these buildings has been a real joke,” Barry said.

[...]

“The recession hit us hard,” Barry said.

Atlanta developers and attorneys shared similar stories with the oversight committee of a banking reluctance to finance new developments or refinance existing deals with reasonable workouts, given the realities of metro Atlanta’s distressed market.

The fact is, the banks are right to hold back. Yesterday, Forbes’ Investopedia had this item:

Bad Commercial Real Estate Loans Now Coming Home to Roost

The numbers are pretty alarming. This year, about 36% of the $270 billion in commercial real estate loans maturing this year are underwater – a situation where the mortgage balance exceeds the value of the underlying property. And things will get worse before they get better. By 2011, 49% of the maturing loans will be underwater, rising to 63% in 2012 and 61% in 2013, before cresting at 57% in 2014.

Between 2010 and 2014, a whopping $770 billion in maturing commercial real estate loans are expected to be underwater. The situation is so grim that even long-time players in the commercial real estate game are predicting that we are facing something akin to a “lost decade” for the U.S. commercial real estate market.

Things have been going so swimmingly well for Barry Real Estate that Lance Patterson, Barry Real Estate’s president and chief operating officer quit back in July. Patterson came from First Fidelity Mortgage Corp in 2005 where he held the role of chief operating officer. In his four short years at Barry Real Estate Patterson was instrumental in bringing in over $1 billion in debt for Barry’s projects.

Back in 2001 the FDIC was issuing warnings to local banks they were vulnerable to downturn in the real estate market. Lance trudged on.

“I don’t think there’s any danger that vacancies are going up or that we’re going to have some problem loans,” said Lance Patterson, chief operating officer of The First Fidelity Mortgage Corp. “We’ve had a fairly decent and consistent amount of building over the past five or so years. It’s fluctuated a little bit, but our take on it is that’s its in equilibrium right now.”

He noted that Atlanta was experiencing a near record level for leasing and net absorption of properties. In addition, over the past several years it has been difficult for builders to obtain money for new buildings.

“It doesn’t mean that people won’t in some cases find money to do their deal, but it sure puts a big lid on it,” Patterson said.”

A few years later Lance was at Barry Real Estate borrowing money like there was no tomorrow.

Poor planning on Barry’s part does not constitute an emergency for others.

Why haven’t we bailed yet?

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Or as City Controller Pat Roller called it, a “fill-in public information officer.”

Click below to continue reading.

From a local rag:

“We, at the time, were without a public information officer, and we’re currently without a public information officer, so she has helped us out on many things,” Roller said. “As in the case of Renaissance Square, which is a big, ongoing … thing, we’ll use her for specific, strategic projects.”

Boerger, who is paid $90 an hour through her $50,000 contract fee, performs general duties of a public information officer, including working with the media and managing city projects to assist the city in staying “committed to open, ongoing, interactive communication with the public as an inherent principle of good government…,” as the contract reads.

No, we’re not without a PIO. Mike Joyner replaced Vince Robinson. Mike’s a nice guy, too nice. The propaganda machine needs an aggressive and finely tuned propagandist.

Henry must have studied Dr Joseph Goebbels’ art of influencing the attitude of the servile constituency. Goebbels main job was to to ensure the citizens of Germany would not read or see anything that was hostile or damaging to the Nazi Party. To make sure everyone was on the right page, Goebbels set up the Reich Chamber of Commerce. Henry has the office of the Public Information Officer.

Goebbels Chamber of Commerce decided if you had the right credentials to receive and publish information from the party, not unlike King Henry’s office of the Public Information Officer. Under Goebbels oversight you could only read and hear what the Nazis wanted you to read and hear. They thought that if you believed what you were told, opposition to their rule would be minuscule at best. Sound familiar?

Henry said that buying and renovating Renaissance Square would cost $14.5 million. He also stated:

“With a new city hall, we are charting a new course for Fort Wayne,” said Mayor Henry. “In these difficult economic times, I am doubly committed to getting the most out of every taxpayer dollar and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective services to every citizen. This is a decision that will help us do both, now and long into the future. Consolidating operations will save money and increase efficiencies. It will also foster new opportunities for cooperation with our county partner, something I am determined to pursue on behalf of all taxpayers.”

“We explored all the options,” observed Henry. “Our space needs demand action. 200 East Berry Street represents a unique and inclusive solution, a one-of-a-kind opportunity that will allow us to bring together all city departments and make the best use of our resources. The time is right. The price is right. And the long-term benefits for both the city and county are outstanding.”

Conveniently, the King Henry administration left out $4 million and slipped it in at the last moment.

Mr. Didier is learning not to trust the administration. His comment concerning the rising cost of buying Renaissance was an indication of his progress: “why didn’t you just tell us,” about the other costs as he faced three lawyers from the ninth floor. The other costs added $4 million to the $14 million. One of the lawyers tried to wave off Didier’s comment by saying these are normal and customary, but Didier added that he just wanted to know the bottom line, not be repeatedly surprised. “Why didn’t you just tell us?” Mr. Didier will be a tougher sell on the next frenzied deal Mayor Henry brings to council.

Henry later formed a task force to explore the options “before” the actual purchase. But King Henry avoided a checkmate and closed on the purchase before the group met, leaking it to a select group of media members that would insure a proper and extensive written discourse that favored the crown. The king’s plans for a new palace would not be interrupted by some silly task force.

“The essence of propaganda consists in winning people over to an idea so sincerely, so vitally, that in the end they succumb to it utterly and can never escape from it.” Goebbels.

And so it rolls.

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Down in Tennessee, Barry Real Estate doesn’t seem to have any problem developing property and spending money.

From the Tennessean.com.

Tower Investments and Barry Real Estate Companies have reached a deal to develop property adjacent to the proposed downtown convention center site, Tower announced today.

[...]

Atlanta-based Barry recently finished developing the Pinnacle at Symphony Place, a 29-story office building a few blocks south of the convention center site. The company’s senior director of development, Jimmy Barry, said the site they now plan to develop is ideal for a mixed-use commercial development, which could include office and retail space.

Meanwhile, Harrison Square continues to be left with a gapping hole.

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I just got a release from Mayor Henry’s office, and it flies in the face of every news report I’ve read today. Here’s the first paragraph.

The Gaming Study Committee report released today contained good news for Fort Wayne. It affirmed the right of the public to be heard on this important issue, something I have championed all along with my call for a referendum on gaming. The report also highlighted the significant economic potential in the Fort Wayne market, possibly $20 million to $30 million of new revenue each year.

Huh?

Here’s Sylvia Smith’s spin on it at the JG.

INDIANAPOLIS – Legislators on a key gambling study committee believe a report completed Tuesday deals a blow to the prospects of casino gambling in Fort Wayne, including a preliminary referendum sought by Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry.

“It’s a setback for Fort Wayne. There is no other way to read the work,” said Rep. Matt Bell, R-Avilla

[...]

One finding in the report specifically says the “committee believes an expansion of gaming to new cities or counties where gaming currently does not exist is not in the best interests of the state or the gaming industry at this time.”

Okay, that’s pretty clear in my mind, how about you? Tom, it says, it’s not in the best interest of the state or gaming industry. Let’s take a look at the lead-in from a story from WIBC in Indianapolis.

A study committee on gambling has said yes to Gary, but no to Fort Wayne.

A legislative panel has unanimously recommended letting Majestic Star Casino combine its two gaming boats on Lake Michigan into a single land-based casino off I-80/94.

[...]

The study committee rejected pleas from Fort Wayne and Steuben County for a casino license. The committee says expanding gambling into new counties “is not in the best interests of the state or the gaming industry.”

What’s the Mayor smoking reading these days? Here’s more from Sylvia Smith at the JG:

A second paragraph says the committee believes a city or countywide referendum “should be required for casino gaming in that city or county.”

But Rep. Jeff Espich, R-Uniondale, said that is simply a restatement of past practice when other areas in the state were awarded a casino, not a recommendation for a Fort Wayne referendum.

And more from the Mayor King.

Gaming is such a significant employer and source of revenue for the state of Indiana. I applaud the committee for its thoughtful examination of this issue and its determination to sustain the gaming industry to the benefit of all Hoosiers. The finding that a viable, untapped market exists in Fort Wayne should be especially encouraging to lawmakers and every citizen. What is equally heartening is that the report reinforces the outcomes of the City of Fort Wayne’s own research on this matter.

Honestly, I think Tom Henry is living in fairytale land.

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Haffner gave $5,000 to Henry’s campaign on Sept., 5, 2008.

The Indianapolis law firm of Bingham McHale has been paid $14,881 for their efforts and there’s plenty more to come, since Bingham McHale is the lead law firm representing Fort Wayne.

J. Richard Kiefer gave Henry $500 on Jan., 31st, 2008. Mary Solada gave Henry $500 in the same year. Amy Stewart, $250. All of them work for Bingham McHale.

We’re just saying..

It’s a bit surprising that Carson Boxberger wasn’t involved, they gave Henry $15,000 last year.

One thing we’ve been told, but have not actually nailed down as fact is the city had a major FAIL in their notification to I&M that they wanted to terminate the lease. We’re told they missed the deadline by one day. Once we verify that, we’ll report it here.

Henry made this statement on August 26th.

“Fort Wayne’s electric utility is a potential $100 million community asset,” stated Mayor Henry. “Our utility was leased, but never sold, to I&M. For 35 years, I&M has had access to that asset and enjoyed the privilege of serving our customers.”

[...]

“What is important to note is that when the lease ends, I&M must return a viable electric utility system to the City. What troubles me is that I&M is not ready to do that, and the clock is ticking.”

However, if you look at Article XXVII, 27.2 on page 23 of the agreement, it states the following:

27.2 Upon reversion of the Leased Property to the city, upon termination of the agreement and the end of its original term or extended term, as the case may be, all revenue, incomes, accounts receivable, profits and rents in any way relating to the Leased Property prior to such reversion and all property of any kind and nature acquired and owned by the company, (I&M) relating to the leased property, including Betterments, Enlargements and Extensions by the company, shall be shall be and remain with the company, and the city shall execute all instruments and papers required by the company for effecting the company’s receipt, ownership and possession of same.

We have no clue as to where Henry is coming up with the $100 million number, but that aside, isn’t the section above all I&M is asking? For the record, I&M cannot just name an arbitrary price for the betterments. In article XXV, it states:

The city shall have the option to acquire all such betterments… The price to be paid by the city shall be the original cost depreciated to the Company of all such Betterments, Enlargements and Extensions made by the company.

[...]

“Original cost depreciated to the Company,” for the purposes of this paragraph will be determined by the Uniform System of Accounts as adopted by the Public Service Commission of Indiana for electric utilities at the time of such entries.

I&M has spent $86 million on improvements. Those improvements have replaced 95 percent of the infrastructure since 1974. It’s pretty clear what the agreement says, you can view it here [PDF file].

Why have we spent close to 1/2 million dollars on this? If it moves to litigation, it will certainly cost that again, or likely more.

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David Wilmott, president of Penn National says all four casinos should be built in a little over two years.

Click below to take a poll.

Poll

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Dean’s was nice enough to send us the file of his podcast, entitled, “The Black Robinsons: A Summit City Soap Opera.” Dean’s site is here.

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It looks like someone from WANE decided it wasn’t right for Emily Marini to essentially “lift” a story from this site for their use, (see here).

They decided to delete it and post a new story.

Below shows some of the traffic coming here as a result of some of their readers linking to this site. It also shows the now “dead” story’s page.

Here’s their original story, which is essentially just a plagiaristic version of what we ran.

Update: Finally, one MSM outlet has picked up on the story we posted at 3:49 p.m. Not long after WANE accessed our web site and read about it, they reported this at 6:42 pm.

911 Comm. Dir. on administrative leave
Tina Taviano

Updated: Monday, 12 Oct 2009, 6:42 PM EDT
Published : Monday, 12 Oct 2009, 6:42 PM EDT

Emily Marini
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE)– – Fort Wayne’s 911 Communications Director has been placed on administrative leave.

Tina Taviano has held this position since January of last year. The position oversees the 911 call center, the radio shop and records division.

Taviano ran for sheriff against Ken Fries in 2006 on the democratic ticket and lost. The city is being very tight lipped as to why she’s been placed on leave, as well as for how long.

I guess we didn’t speak to anyone with “tight lips.” We were told she was fired, and we’re expecting her resignation tomorrow or Wednesday. Note the bold red portion of their story against the same below in our story. Hey WANE, you’re welcome!

End of update ~~

Tina Taviano, who ran an expensive, yet failed bid for sheriff in 2006 was suspended Friday from her position as Fort Wayne’s director of communication, which oversees the police 911 call center, radio shop and records division. She was appointed to the position in January, 2008.

And here’s the new story [link], go there and comment

Figures, eh? We’ll see how long my comment lives on their article.

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For the record, Dean is the brother of Vince Robinson, Fort Wayne Public Information Officer.

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Barney Niezer is the brother of Tom Niezer, an attorney with Barrett & McNagny. Barney is a board member of the Fort Wayne Board of Zoning Appeals. Tom Niezer represents many of the largest real estate developers in this part of the state, including Barry Sturges, the mega-commercial/retail developer in Fort Wayne of CB Richard Ellis/Sturges. If you look at Barney’s voting record, he’s rarely seen a zoning appeal his brother represented that he didn’t like.

Barney’s brother Tom sat on the top-secret board of the Downtown North River Task Force, which looked into the development of the OmniSource property on Clinton Street. As a matter of fact, the mayor’s new Public Information Officer, Vince Robinson, also sat on that board. We never did get to look at the environmental impact study.

Tom Niezer also represented the “Come As You Are” church and their attempt to develop South Anthony Pointe. I’m not sure how that’s working out. Tom’s brother Barney liked that development as well and voted for its approval. One other member of the Board of Zoning appeals is Mike Bynum, chairman of the Allen County Democratic party. Bynum is also the president of the Southeast Area Partnership, and South Anthony Pointe is smack dab in the middle of it. Bynum also voted to approve Tom Niezer’s zoning appeal.

Not only does Bynum sit on the Board of Zoning Appeals, he’s also on the board of the Fort Wayne City Plan Commission. As a matter of fact, so is Barney. If you look at the county’s web site, you’ll find this.

The five members of the City of Fort Wayne Board of Zoning Appeals are appointed by the Mayor, the City Council, and the City of Fort Wayne Plan Commission.

Do they get to vote for themselves? Just saying..

Remember Canyon Cliffs? Tom Niezer actually filed a lawsuit against the three board members that voted against the development. The lawsuit did not include Bynum, or his brother Barney. Of course.

Ken Neumeister, owner of Liberty Construction Co. is also a member of the Fort Wayne Board of Zoning Appeals [PDF file]. While not relevant, Ken owns a substantial interest in the building that houses the Allen County Republican party’s headquarters. Neumeister was also one of three members of mayor Tom Henry’s transition team. Neumeister is a former member of the Allen County Republican Party executive committee. Neumeister also voted for the approval of Canyon Cliffs and was one of the “Republicans for Henry” supporters.

Mike Bynum and Tom Niezer also sat on the board that did the feasibility study for the mixed-use stadium, now called Parkview Field.

Tom Niezer was a Steering Committee Member for the BlueprintPLUS initiative, which recommended the 60 proposed residential condominium units along with 30,000 square feet of new street level retail space at Harrison Square. We should mention the condo construction has never happened. Also, the retail space is being managed by Tom Niezer’s biggest client, CB Richard Ellis/Sturges.

Tom and Barney have another brother, William Niezer. William is on the board of directors at Tower Bank along side Jerome Henry. William Niezer works as a Managing Director for Wells Fargo Insurance Services. Remember Canyon Cliffs? Mr. Bodenhafer is the owner of the real estate, and Tom Niezer represented the developers. Bodenhafer was president of the plan commission at the time and also works for, take a guess, Wells Fargo Insurance Services.

We’re not implying anything by this. You can decide for yourself. Some might say, Fort Wayne’s such a small town with so many boards and commissions, an overlap here and there is bound to happen.

Well, with that said, it’s time for a little entertainment from Moe Bandy & Joe Stampley. Enjoy!

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