080915 Media Monday – Is News Really News in the Land of Barrie?

When you are so afraid of upsetting some special interest, is it possible to really report the news?  What about op-ed?  This is the quandary our local Daily Times finds itself in.

Admittedly, we no longer see opinion running on the front page as news, particularly when it comes to coverage of Salisbury city government.  For this, Executive Editor Greg Bassett and his folks should be commended.  However, I continue to hope for more from our local paper.

Two prime examples are given to us this morning.  On the “news” front, we are treated to a rather bland piece on Tuesday’s Wicomico County Council meeting.  With several potentially explosive items split between the legislative and work sessions, the expansion (or relocation) of the library main branch hardly seems worthy of a lead spot on the front page of the “Delmarva” section.

Tomorrow, the county council is due to vote on a resolution calling for the ouster of the current Wicomico County Liquor Control Board – for incompetence.  While I have not seen the actual legislation, this is what was requested at the last meeting.  Will a majority of our elected representatives stand up for the taxpayers, or will they continue to support theft of the taxpayers’ money by a group of arrogant, unelected appointees?

What does the Daily Times have to say?

The council will also discuss spending practices at the Wicomico
County Liquor Control Board that Councilman Joe Holloway has called
questionable, at best. (my emphasis)

State law created the WCLCB as an
independent agency that sells all the liquor in the county and then
donates the net profits to the county. Holloway said he is concerned,
among other things, that the WCLCB goes beyond the function of a
government agency by donating money to charity and overspending on some
employee expenses.

Actually, Mr. Holloway and Councilwoman Stevie Prettyman have been a bit more emphatic.  Of course we all have to love reporter Greg Latshaw’s spin on using taxpayer money for taking dispensary employees for stock car rides at Dover International Speedway – “overspending on some
employee expenses”.  Ya think?

Councilwoman Stevie Prettyman has put forward a proposal to provide Wicomico County homeowners with some property tax relief.  This would be accomplished by reducing the percentage by which our assessments could increase each year.  This will prove to be a hot topic as at least two members of council never seem to have enough money to spend.  Coverage by the Daily Times:

The council is also scheduled to discuss potential changes to the
Homestead Tax Credit. The credit determines how much of the assessed
value of a property can change.

Admittedly, we don’t know what will appear in tomorrow’s or Wednesday’s paper.  We only hope that this proposal will receive more coverage than Holloway’s proposal to lower the county income tax rate.

The proposed reorganization of PAC-14 is also on the agenda again.  This seemingly benign issue heated up to the point that the folks from PAC-14 had to dive for cover when it came before the Salisbury Council a few months ago.

On the editorial page we are being treated to the same bland rhetoric.  Rather than taking a hard stand on a given issue, the Daily Times likes to pussy foot around too much.  Personally, I find this especially disheartening.

Historically, the editorial page of a local paper represented the conscience of a community.  While I certainly wouldn’t expect Greg Bassett or Editorial Page Editor Susan Parker to take my point of view on most issues, I would still appreciate a more forthright stand on issues facing our community.  This is especially so given that both Parker and Bassett have provided us with editorials that are at least as well written as any you would find in the New York Times or Washington Post.  I seldom agree with those guys either.  However, they do take a stand.  Besides, op-ed is op-ed … and good writing is always enjoyable whether I agree with the writer or not.

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