Thursday, September 23, 2010

Yolo Sun rises again, editorial blasts city duo for manipulating RDA

View the editorial here. Please note the unidentified sources.

Posted by Dino at 6:57 AM

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have signed up as a friend of the state theater. The way I read this report is that the city has slowed the process to the advantage of the Petrovich project. I just don't understand who the city leaders are in place for? They may not be doing some of the things that the city of Bell were doing. But to me, it is not much different.

No one can seem to get information from the city staff or council members. How can we trust them when they do all these sneaky things behind closed doors?

And Dino, I did not have a problem with the un-identified sources. I post on here anonymously for fear of retaliation. I can not imagine working in a corrupt city and speaking out. They would ruin your life if they could. I would not take that chance. I am just glad to hear that we do have good people working in the city, even if it not the ones in charge.

9/23/10 2:12 PM
dino said...

2:12

I'm glad you don't have a problem with the unidentified sources. I do since many of the quotes don't accurately reflect facts. They might represent the mindset of a city staff person (or persons), but it is clear to me the source(s) - based on quotes as reported - lack significant information. For one, the lot next to the State has not been sold. It is in escrow, but the sale is not complete. I heard this directly from Eileen Leveckis, JPMorgan Chase Media Relations. As stated in the new WR article, the State team has continued its negotiations with Chase. The escrow may, or may not, be allowed to lapse. Another thing, Petrovich will not be able to "fairly quickly" tear down the Electric Garage... according to cultural resource specialist Carol Roland, of Mead & Hunt, a plan to demolish the highly significant building will trigger an automatic EIR. That cannot be done fairly quickly. Those are just two examples that discredit unspecified sources.

9/25/10 11:06 AM
Anonymous said...

I get what you are saying, Dino. But the article is quoting staff that are as secure in their "facts" as you. The Yolo Sun is reporting from a different angle. That's all.

When the staffer says the lot was "sold" to Chase, from a certain perspective open escrow might be considered "sold", as the deal was approved by both parties. From Your perspective, the escrow can possibly lapse. That has not happened either. So, splitting hairs on that one.

On the second issue you had about "fairly quickly", again, this was the perspective of the city staffer. You lay out a potentially longer process. Neither your nor Yolo Sun's report says how long the process would take to tear down the Electric Garage building.

Seems like a bit of journalistic differences. I think you BOTH gave us (the general public) a ton of information that we just can't seem to get from our city leaders.

Thank you BOTH. :}

9/25/10 1:22 PM
dino said...

1:22

The difference isn't in writing styles... the difference is having a credible source.

As you noticed, I put names and credentials with my "facts." But I agree with the problem you identified with the city - it is not transparent and because of that it is perceived as untrustworthy. So given that, how can there be credibility when a source within that institution is not named? How do you know the source(s) are "secure?" You can call my sources and verify the information. I think the comparison of "fairly quickly" and "delays due to an automatic EIR" in this context is pretty straightforward and can be easily understood as a vastly different timeframes.

There are no journalistic differences because I'm not a journalist, but I also agree with you on something else... at least Bobby has painted a good impressionistic picture of the banter within city hall. I think the general feel of Bobby's piece - that of rumors floating in and out of city hall - got some people's attention and the Friends of the State will have their day on Oct. 5.

9/25/10 6:38 PM

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