Before taking that mandated four-day break, Mayor Tom's chief of staff, Chris Heinbaugh, sent to media a copy of the mayor's coming-week schedule. And, on February 24, was this note: "2:00 PM -- News Conference (Not what you think)." Meaning, of course, Leppert won't be announcing that he's stepping down to run for Senate on Thursday. Now, see, I thought it might have something to do with this. But Heinbaugh waved me off and said, nope, try again. No need:
Moments ago, the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation sent word that at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday it'll be hosting a press conference at the Hunt Oil Building "to announce significant progress in the capital campaign" for the deck park. The current amount needed to cover the amenities and park operation for the first three years is $26 million -- a number that will shrink, of course, following Thursday's announcement.
Slated to speak: Jody Grant, chairman of the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation, along with mysterious "new donors" and city officials, among them Mayor Tom, I should think. Also on deck: "new renderings." OK, now I'm interested.