I am completely mystified that the Ledger-Enquirer did not see fit to cover the Muscogee County Democratic Party’s 3rd Annual Jefferson-Jackson Gala on October 27. Perhaps you deemed the event not newsworthy, even though it attracted nearly 300 people, five Democratic candidates for governor, candidates running for state attorney general, secretary of state, state school superintendent and U.S. Senate. Not newsworthy even though the purpose of this gala is to honor citizens for service to the community with the Jack T. Brinkley Sr. Service Award.
This year’s awards went to Maretta Taylor, the first African-American female elected to the Georgia House, who sponsored or co-sponsored legislation that benefited children, health, education, and retirement; former Councilor and state Rep. Milton Hirsch, who provided the impetus for building Columbus’ first quality convalescent homes and contributed significantly to development of Uptown Columbus and the Trade Center; and former Mayor Frank Martin, whose vision drove construction of the Civic Center and Riverwalk and brought the 1996 Olympics to Columbus.
In contrast, you will cover a local Republican “convention,” provide serious column space to former Republican Chair Josh McKoon — but not to us on the same issues, and report the inflammatory remarks of Teabaggers with no rebuttals, and Congressman Westmoreland’s anti-healthcare reform propaganda event. Dare we say you are slanting the news, leaving the inaccurate impression that the local Republican Party is vibrantly alive while the active, vibrant local Democratic Party lay pitifully dead in the water?
All we ask is equal and fair treatment that accomplishes the goal of providing unfiltered news to our citizenry, leaving to them the job of interpretation. This, I have always believed, constitutes the rightful job of news media in a free country such as ours. In closing I say: Get with it, people!
Jeanne L. Dugas
Chair, Muscogee County Democratic Party
Council hedged
I am appalled that Columbus Council was hoodwinked by a lame-duck mayor and did not send him a strong message that the waste of funds he is recommending for a director of crime prevention office would not be approved. It is ludicrous to believe that a $2 million yearly budget on a crime prevention office would bring the desired results.
The city of Columbus, like all other cities of it size, is at a tipping point. Without job creation, crime will soar. This summer alone, because of a lack of jobs this city has created several additional criminals. In spite of jobs being plentiful, we will still have our share of crime due to the community’s education level, (excessive high school dropout rate, and the proximity of Columbus to other local areas with the same problem.) However, funds spent to create waste are not the answer.
To indicate that the mayor’s created office will stop crime before it happens is obviously absurd. Funds allocated to the mayor were not meant to be spent extravagantly or wastefully. Moreover, it is incumbent upon his office to insure that taxpayers’ funds are spent judiciously.
E-Mail
Print
@Nyx.CommentBody@