Not Montgomery County's controversial budget that uses the sale of Parkhouse and 220 acres of open space to fill a budget hole. No, this hard hitting investigative report is about ergonomic chairs purchased by BUCKS County.
Believe it or not, this story was one of the lead stories on NBC10's morning broadcast. NBC10's intrepid reporters even went to other counties to "investigate" how much other counties spent on ergonomic chairs. Meanwhile, Montgomery County residents can't get the details of the sale that "pervades every aspect" of Montgomery County's 2014 budget.
(Also, as an aside: It's a little curious that the title of the Montco Memo post I linked here last night was changed from "Sale of Parkhouse pervades every aspect of Montco's 2014 budget" to something more innocuous and "pragmatic." Seems like controlling that spin is pretty important, hmmmm?)
And lest you think that our local reporters are incapable of filing an RTK request themselves, behold this story from yesterday's Times Herald:
WORCESTER — When the Methacton School Board meeting was opened up for public comment Tuesday night, Winnie Hayes, a former board member and president, called for the resignation of current board president Joyce Petrauskas. Hayes’ request stemmed from information that surfaced on the Internet regarding DUI charges filed against Petrauskas in February 2013 in Clearwater, Fla. The information can be found on http://mugshots.wtsp.com/profile/1538079/joyce-petrauskas. Hayes said she has sent a right to know request for the arrest record from the Clearwater Police Department. The Times Herald has also filed right to know request for the criminal complaint against Petrauskas.
We can argue about the newsworthiness of Joyce Petrauskas' alleged DUI in Florida in another conversation. But isn't the sale of Parkhouse at least AS NEWSWORTHY AS THAT?
Can some reporter SOMEWHERE start asking questions about this sale before the County jams it through?
Maybe the news folks don't care?
ReplyDeleteit's easier to "write" press releases than it is to do actual research. And I believe some of them are concerned if they ask uncomfortable questions or make someone look bad their 'access' to an institution such as a school board or the commissioners will be cut off. But if you're the only "newspaper of record' in an area, don't they think that said boards and commissions usually need them to publicize an issue more often than not? They need the press, it doesn't serve them to cut off a reporter or news outlet.
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