Media Monday - 20070129
The “Tilghman Times” had an atypical week, even for the worst newspaper in the People’s Republic of Maryland. The reporters and editors of the Tilghman administration house organ were in rare form; showing that they will go to any length to promote the agenda of Barrie Tilghamn, Mike Dunn and Gary Comegys.
On Tuesday, we were treated to one of Laren Hughes Hall’s typical tomes of no research and print whatever the Tilghman administration claims. Ms. Hughes article starts off by claiming that the proposed rezoning of the old Salisbury mall was pulled at the last minute, moments before the meeting. It is true that the public, and Councilwoman Debbie Campbell, were notified only moments before the meeting started. However, the rest of the city council, the developers and Ms. Hall knew all about the matter hours earlier. By her own admission, the developers called Ms. Hall several hours before. Councilwoman Lynn Cathcart was seen with an email informing her of the change, along with her instructions to move to amend the agenda.
If Ms. Hall were a journalist, rather than a a PR person for the Tilghman administration, she might have asked some hard questions about why the item was pulled from the agenda. The legality of the proposed ordinance had already been called into question. While the Planning Commission had permitted a total residential density of 688 units, the draft legislation called for 823 units. Commercials uses far exceeded what was permitted under the city’s zoning code for a Planned Residential District. Of course Ms. Hall appears to be capable of only doing one job well, and her hands are full hawking the wares of Mayor Tilghman, Mr. Dunn and Mr. Comegys. She might also have questioned why the Mayor deliberately chose not to notify Mrs. Campbell. What happened to all of that civility that we were promised by the Mayor and her “council leadership”?
To compound matters, Ms. Hall reprinted what were in fact gross misstatements (shall we say the “l” word) offered by the developers, Mayor Tilghman, Mr. Dunn and Mr. Comegys.
Since the PRD was proposed, the project has
changed significantly. Residential units have been reduced from 811 to
688 and commercial space has increased by 50,000 — 40,000 of which is
consumed by acreage along Mount Hermon Road — that has already been
approved for development. The remaining 10,000 lie in three commercial
buildings opposite the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center.
This is simply not true. If Ms. Hall had bothered to do some basic research and looked at the draft legislation she would have clearly seen that the number of residential units was up to 823. Of course we would never expect a loyal member of the “Tilghman Times” staff to question anything stated by Queen Barrie or her court.
In another bold stroke, the editors attacked the Town of Berlin for refusing to provide minutes to several executive sessions of the town council. While I never questioned that the editors of the “Tilghman Times” were hypocrites, I was not aware that their hypocrisy knew no bounds.
On January 9 the paper published an article that applauded the Salisbury Council’s adoption of new rules which the paper claimed promoted “open government”. What the paper did not print was that the new rules, proposed by Messrs. Dunn and Comegys would have made it a crime for any councilperson to even discuss the existence of “confidential” memoranda from the city attorney or to discuss anything discussed in executive session (regardless of whether those items fell under the Maryland Open Meetings Act). Only due to a bizarre combination of public pressure, threats of legal action and Mr. Comegys re-election campaign did an amended version put forth by Mrs. Campbell pass.
When is the “Tilghman Times” going to demand minutes of Salisbury executive sessions? After a new city council is sworn in. Maybe.
Part II of “Media Monday” will cover the front page “Ode to Mike Dunn”.
Technorati Tags: Salisbury, Worcester, Berlin, politics, media, TilghmanTimes, Gannett, GaryComegys, DunnDeal, BarrieTilghman
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