Previously, we had started to see some minor improvements at both of the cemeteries as new road lines had received a fresh coat of paint, some graves were stood back up, and a few vases had been put back on top of a few grave markers.
I was hoping this new wave of progress would be just the beginning of our city starting to finally tackle this enormous issue of city cemetery neglect. When the 2013 Evansville City Budget passed, the cemeteries were really the only thing I was optimistic about. I fully understood that the funds in this year's budget would only be a drop in the bucket towards completely overhauling both cemeteries. Nevertheless, I fully expected these funds to be focused entirely on the graves themselves, not wasted on needless advertising expenses.
This past week, I was surfing the internet when I noticed an advertisement from Oak Hill and Locust Hill Cemeteries on the Evansville Courier & Press' website...
(click to enlarge)
If you sit on the site for just a few moments, the advertisement, which is known as a banner ad in the online marketing industry, flashes the following line...
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Given the conditions of both cemeteries, I am absolutely shocked and appalled that anyone would think their family members would be taken care of properly in a cemetery that decides to buy online advertisements when both of their cemeteries are in deplorable conditions. What makes this decision even more offensive is the fact that they chose to advertise with the only media outlet that didn't have the guts to investigate the conditions of these cemeteries.
As soon as I spoke in front of the City Council last summer about getting funds for Locust Hill and Oak Hill, I was approached by both news stations and 1 of the 2 newspaper organizations. Unfortunately, I was out of town when Lorilyn Prestidge from 14 News called to investigate the situation at both cemeteries, but I was able to show Jordan Vandenberge of Eyewitness News around Locust Hill Cemetery...
http://tristatehomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=536592
And of course, those who visit the City-County Observer frequently remember the initial article that got the wheels turning in the first place...
http://city-countyobserver.com/2012/07/16/evansvilles-grave-injustice-by-jordan-baer/
So why did the city advertise with the only news outlet that DID NOT give one ounce of energy towards getting these cemeteries corrected? Why reward an organization for not doing the right thing? Many people have asked me why the C&P is/was so hellbent on helping Winnecke knock down Roberts Stadium, helping the ECVB construct 8 dull, boring, and overpriced ball fields in the middle of nowhere, and helping the Chamber lobby to construct an interstate that is over budget, redundant, and an environmental nightmare. Well, consider this advertisement Exhibit A for why doing the wrong thing can be the rewarding thing to do in Evansville. Is this really how we want our city to conduct business?
When I spoke in front of the City Council in regards to these cemeteries, I heard the following responses from various members of the council...
" Where is the money tree going to come from?"
" Government can't be everything to everybody."
" I haven't heard any complaints yet from the dead."
What I would like to ask Evansville's nine council members is this- Do you believe the funds approved by your governing body should go towards buying online banner ads for hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, or do you think these funds should go towards rehabilitating, maintaining, and preventing further damage to both cemeteries? I know which option sounds better to me!
For those who don't believe that there still is a lot of work to be done, perhaps the photos taken this week at Oak Hill Cemetery will change your mind...
http://s1295.beta.photobucket.com/user/RailOverAuto/library/Oak%20Hill%20Cemetery%20Photos
Another problem that I have noticed with the grave sites has been the complete lack of leadership displayed by the city, in particular the mayor, towards getting these cemeteries going in the right direction. According to photos posted by Carol McClintock that were shared on Oak Hill's Facebook group, Lloyd was at the cemetery during Veteran's Day...
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4801572274388&set=a.1793336350370.2104220.1148512234&type=1&theater
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4801394629947&set=a.1793336350370.2104220.1148512234&type=1&theater
Since the conditions at the cemeteries has been made public, we have yet to hear even a whisper from the mayor himself about these cemeteries. Given the photo evidence of Winnecke at Oak Hill Cemetery on Veteran's Day, I have to wonder if he took the time to explore the grounds of Oak Hill or if he came just to pose for the convenient p.r photo shoot and then leave. I ask this because it would seem to me that if he genuinely saw the deplorable conditions of these cemeteries he would be more motivated to do something about them other than to go silent on the issue.
When I was walking through Oak Hill yesterday, I passed by a couple of ladies who were trying to fix up the grave of one of their family members. They told me they were embarrassed by the conditions of the cemetery and that they were tired of it getting worse year after year. It would seem to me that if our city is going to genuinely convince Evansville residents that "your loved ones will be cared for," they should try a new approach that involves actually cleaning up the cemeteries, not buying advertisements with the Courier & Press and only getting involved in the cemeteries when it's camera day.
