I predicted yesterday (11/08) in my response to Woof Blog: “Election: The Day After”, that the Herald would devote ink to the run-off in district 2. And there it was: the article today.
Had the Herald only given half as much ink to the county commission races, we might be looking at some new commissioners. The Herald’s biggest blunder: they endorsed BEFORE having ANY news articles about the candidates. How arrogant.
The challengers didn’t have the advantage of bundles of lobbyist/developer dollars that sitting commissioners raised. And worse, most of the sitting commissioners voted to tack unreasonable restrictions on the campaign finance reforms (voters had passed previously) a few months before the election - putting challengers at a further disadvantage. They didn’t have a chance in hell, it was no surprise they all lost.
The very least the Herald could have done was raise the issues in news reports to help even the playing field. They have reported over and over that the county management of our tax dollars has been inept, even corrupt. The county budget is two volumes totaling in the multi-billion dollar range with a whopping $5 billion dollars of needed but unfunded infrastructure. In light of what was at stake, you would think these races would be reported on with vigor. Nope. The Herald reported nada and endorsed the status quo -- all the sitting Commissioners except for one. Over and over again, the Herald said the Commissioners are good in their district. That was never enough. Anyone can fill potholes. That shouldn't give them a free ride.
And worse, the Herald put their crack NEIGHBORS reporters on these important assignments – reporters who have gotten chummy with the incumbents over the years. These reporters do not do hard-hitting, researched articles as a matter of course. One Neighbors reporter reported from the Candidate’s home. Ick.
Here is a copy of my groveling email that I wrote to the Herald in August about the County Commission coverage:
Your news coverage of the county has been incredible these last two or three years. Haggman, Cenziper, Figueras, Hiaasen, Schwartz et al are doing in depth, hard hitting coverage of the corrupt politics at county hall. Yet, the all important election that might clean up the politics in Miami Dade County is getting no play in the Herald? We have 6 districts up for grabs. Astounding — with no coverage in the great metro section.
I am hoping the endorsements don’t come out before you have done a NEWS story on EACH of the county commission candidates. Please have news coverage before the Editorial Board speaks.
And, these races are not just neighbors material. God help us --- we need to know what is going on in all the commission districts. Commissioners fill potholes in their districts to get elected and then impact all of us in Miami Dade County. I.e. what Katy Sorsenson votes for in South Dade effects me in North Dade. We need NEWS profiles of these candidates as hard hitting as your news stories have been. THEN YOU CAN DO YOUR ENDORSEMENTS and I will be happy.
This never came to pass dear readers. The endorsements came first. And, the Herald endorsed all the incumbents except one. What a putz paper.
6 comments:
Watch now that the Democrats control Congress, the mainstream media begin to cover issues it glossed over while threatened by Republican machinery. Maybe not the Miami Herald, though, scared to touch its real estate advertising revenues. Have to hang on to that revenue stream. Damn the public.
I, too, despair at the Herald sometimes. They have some good people. But they also have some local reporters who are very amateurish.
I wrote to the editor, after the editorial appeared chastizing the Republicans in the legislature for not having reined in Ralph Arza sooner. I reminded them of their role in digging up the truth on powerful people and that they had certainly known about Ralph for a long time and had they been more forthright with editorials and reporting, it might have fortified the effort to expose him for the vile person he is.
I attended the Children's Trust awards luncheon yesterday and stood and cheered for Gus Barreiro, who received an award for being a champion of children. I had no idea of all the things he has done in his life to benefit kids.
Maybe not the Miami Herald, though, scared to touch its real estate advertising revenues. Have to hang on to that revenue stream. Damn the public.
I agree anonymous -- There are a few articles they have backed off on that I know of.
The District 2 Commission Runoff election on Nov 21st is the last race this year. The Herald is lightly covering this race. The Herald endorsed one of the 7 candidates seemingly without doing any due diligence. Miami SunPost and Miami New Times both came up with dirt in her background. The most impressive candidate is Marc Sarnoff who is running a grass roots campaign. Sarnoff has knocked on over 9,000 doors. Sarnoff finished 1st of 7 candidates but now he needs another great turnout to win on Nov 21st. If Sarnoff wins the public will have access to City Hall.
I have met Marc Sarnoff. I think he would make a great Commissioner. Runoff Nov 21st.
The Herald reporters are lazy or scared or both. They make many mistakes and they miss so many great stories. Maybe it is budget cuts or maybe the Herald just has its own agendas. We saw the Herald agenda as they pushed to get zoning changes to allow them to get $190 Mil for some parking lots they own. Public be damned.
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