This Is Journalism?
Here, in its entirety, is the in-depth analysis by the L.A. Slimes about the potential disadvantages of Proposition H, which it blithely describes as "the $1-billion affordable housing bond issue:""Opponents of the measure say the bond issue isn't necessary, that it unfairly would tax all property owners, and that some of the housing would be for people who make enough money and don't need the government's help."
That detailed analysis follows three paragraphs of press release happy talk about the many benefits and low cost of Measure H, which is essentially welfare for millionaires and six-figure income yuppies, and funding for more and more high-density housing.
Here's the article: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-guidecity15oct15,1,686701,full.story?coll=la-headlines-california
In stark contrast, the Slimes actually published a very detailed, thoroughly researched article on school boards that have hired superintendents without education experience. The high quality of that article illustrates how slipshod the quickie article on Measure H is. To see what real journalism looks like, go here: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-outsiders15oct15,1,3081501.story?coll=la-headlines-california
Posted by Walter Moore @ 10/15/2006 04:53:00 AM
11 Comments:
Because of this shody journalism is it any wonder why the LA Slimes is losing readers everyday??
Walter, why does Measure R need a simple majority to pass yet Measure H (housing bond) need 2/3 vote to pass? It seems getting the 2/3 vote is harder.
Also, another gushy puff piece by Gregory Rodriguez on Antonio's Asia trip. All these reporters have to say is that Antonio has tons of energy. That's it!! All he's done is open an office. Big f--king deal. Why aren't they reporting what he hasn't done in LA??
good picture
MEMO TO THE "DER ARNOLD" TIMES
"JOURNALIST BAQUET", I am worry for you Dean, why?. Today upon opening up the "CURRENT" section to the OP-Ed page. What do I find? A "KENNEDY REPUBLICAN" for RE-ELECTION EDITORIAL!!!!. What are you mixing in the "KOOL-AID"??. We know that "BIG TRIBUNE" is putting pressure on you and "RIGHTY HILLER", to improve the "bottom line". But watch the "GROPING" for new readers!!! BTW, those editorial writers in "ZEE BUNKER", err, editorial room must be rewarded with "WRITE TO PLAY" time at the "ZEE BONEABUNKER" It is amazing what a groping massage can do for creative writing. Another candidate for time at the "ZEE BONABUNKER" is Op-Ed writer Gregory Rodriguez. His column titled "ANTONIO'S EGO TRIP" is a must read. Rodriguez does a counter balance to the "P.R. RELEASES" of Scribe Helfand. After reading this penetrating discertation on the "CULT OF EGO" that is "HIS POLLONESS", don't expect Rodriguez to get invited to any "HIS POLLONESS", "IT ALL ABOUT ME TOURS", again.
"WASTE OF A SPACE AWARD"
Today's award goes to the "GREEN SHEET" for letting "POLLONISTA" David Fleming write a P.R. release on the "HIS POLLONESS" DOES ASIA TOUR. Please refrain from printing these myopic diatribes on the news page.
"POLLORAIGOSA OBSERVATION OF THE DAY"
"At home and on his trade route through China, Villaraigosa's voracious ego is keeping company with a benign political agenda, but you have to wonder exactly what motivates him and how far he'd go for approval."
from "ANTONIO's EGO TRIP"
To 7:45 a.m.
The California Constitution, as a result of Proposition 13, requires a two-thirds majority for any tax increase.
Measure H, although marketed as a "bond measure," call not just for the issuance of $1 billion in bonds, but a new tax hike on property owners for 30 years to repay the $1 billion, plus an unspecified amount of interest that could easily double that figure.
One thing that makes this so obscene is that the City took in $717 million more last year than the year before -- which means you could leave spending at the same levels as before and pay for the first seven years' worth of bonds with the extra money we got this year.
Instead, the Mayor and Clowncil quickly expaned spending by -- you guessed it -- $717 million, while falsely claiming to be "fiscal conservatives" who had miraculously solved a "structural deficit."
Alas, since the "reporters" in this town aren't reporters at all, they never bothered to compare the actual budgets, and instead slavishly repeated the career politicians' press releases as gospel.
You see how this works? Crooked politicians + lazy reporters = apathetic voters.
Funny how Gregory Rodriguez in his piece on Antonio's Ego Trip states he has all this energy more then anyone else in the group and "eats very little."
Am I the only one who guessed what Rodriguez is referring to??????
Walter, aren't you a real estate salesman and a former/future candidate for Mayor?
your own analysis is hardly objective.
you attack LA Times but you don't tell anyone about the fact that you are a special interest.
Who is dumb?
The lame haters on this blog.
What part of this will be a HUGE VICTORY for the Mayor don't you idiots understand?
Brewer comes in -- improves LAUSD on the Mayor's watch -- guess what -- Mayor Wins.
Brewer comes in and falls flat -- Mayor Wins - your LAME LAUSD hired him when he was in China in a pure political move that was not in the interest of students. MAYOR WINS.
And of course the cluster schools will show improvement because of the way the bill is written.
No matter how you slice it -- the MAYOR won and played out all the chess moves and went to ASIA because it was GAME OVER.
You guys are just getting all tickled about the district moving their pond.
Look 20 moves into the future and its CHECKMATE no matter what the district does.
LAME.
Walter, why do you chide the Times for pointing out the benefits or Prop H? I understand you're against it, but the fact that the paper analyses the possible gains is not valid reason for you to attack them, IMHO.
Also, why do posters on this blog (or maybe it's just one poster) keep saying that the LA Times is loosing readership? Is this even true, and if so, where are you guys (or fellah) getting your data from?
PS, just why the heck is Walter blogging at 4 in the morning anyway???
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
LOL. I was in another time zone, to the east, when I posted the story.
I'm not a special interest. I'm a taxpaying high school teacher. I'm licensed as an attorney and broker, but I make my money -- if you'd call it that -- teaching.
As for having run for mayor, that's disclosed fully at my website. Time will tell whether I run again. I grow less optimistic daily about the odds of this city ever recovering. At the rate it's going, the "eject" lever looks better and better.
10:57am groupie Villaraigosa fan don't insult us with your comments. Even the media were stating this was a great move on LAUSD board. Pleaseeeeee Antonio left the country because he didn't want to be embarrassed that no one listened to him. He thinks he can control everyone and everything. Antonio now looks like an idiot because of his stupid comments after the appointment. Now he says he was disappointed because the board didn't allow parents in on the discussions. Didn't he do the same thing? Didn't Antonio make back room deals and do everything HIS way without consulting the very people he should have "parents.?? Why didn't he allow the people to vote? Because he knew damn well he would have lost. Antonio looks like the idiot on this one because Brewer will turn LAUSD into a winning situation for students. Antonio only has power over 3 schools.
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