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Sent: Tue 9/13/2005 7:11 PM
To: Jon Costas
Subject: RE: The Popcorn Fiasco-val


Hello Jon,

OK, unlike the current evolution of our legal system, I DO believe that a man is innocent until proven guilty. So, if you say you had nothing to do with it, I will give you the benefit of the doubt until such a time as additional evidence surfaces to the contrary.

However, there are a few points that bear mentioning:

1. It is well known that you have long opposed the serving of alcohol at outside locations during Popcorn Fest and you have voiced this opinion on multiple occasions.

2. At least one Indiana Excise agent and two Valparaiso Police officers, when asked who/what was behind the rousts, uttered a single name. "Costas."

3. One would speculate that as the mayor of a town where a large annual festival was taking place, you would be on top of things, at least to the extent that when external influences entered and began breaking it up, you could and would mobilize whatever resources at your disposal (city attorneys, judges, state government contacts, etc.) in order to intervene on behalf of your community and constituency and put a stop to the interference.

4. I certainly would have expected you to deny to the rousting agency (IEP) the use and assistance of city police and fire department personnel. Given the large number of police officers and fire department officials present at some of the sites, it is fair to say that you did not do this.

Although I missed the activity in the afternoon at the numerous establishments where it occurred, I was present at The North Side Tap when it went down there and have many clear, high resolution photos of the incident, including the lead Excise Agent, several of the VPD officers and the multitude of police vehicles (lights flashing all over the place.)

It is my determined intention to get to the truth of this matter and hold those responsible up to public scrutiny. So if, indeed, you are innocent of the accusations that are flying all over town, I would suggest you get more than just a letter from the IEP. Right now you are not a very popular person in Valpo. If you wish to change that you need to find out who is setting you up, why and how, followed by a public release of that information.

Should you choose to pursue that option, I hope you will keep me informed of the results. You may be assured that I will pass it along to those with whom I communicate.

As to signing my name to my original message, I don't pay much attention to anonymous complaints or comments and I would not expect you to either. As such, short of an oversight, I always sign my name on communications I expect to have read.

In kind, I would like to thank you for your personal response. I don't get many of those.

Sincerely,

Eric

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