I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of investigative reporting & newspeople asking questions.
Reader Comments:
Today, I am an online subscriber to a newspaper that is not especially good at getting out and asking questions. Lately, they are posting more articles where there is no opportunity for readers to post comments.
No hate speech, insults, threats, foul language, attacking other commenters- these are rules that make sense.
Eliminating the opportunity for all to follow some basic rules and comment is information suppression. Elimination of reader comments may eventually lead me to cancel my online subscription.
What about TV news, news radio, public radio, etc. Where are they when questions need to be asked?
Two stories that cry out for news reporting:
Love to see updated reporting from newspeople anywhere on local water quality impacted by Whidbey sewage treatment plant outfalls.
As the months go by, we’ll watch and see how local conditions change. We’ll look for newspeople to ask public policy questions Re:
How long has Oak Harbor been an unsafe location for recreational shellfish harvesting?
If the state of the art sewage treatment plant went online more than 10 months ago- how was sewage being processed during the summer of 2018 or the year before?
When did the sewage treatment plant project begin?
If the old sewage treatment system was failing- when did it begin to fail?
Will the new sewage treatment plant allow for safe recreational shellfish harvesting at Oak Harbor? If not, why not?
How long will it take for recreational shellfish harvest conditions to become safe related to sewage treatment plant outfall?
My favorite public photography folks are polite, well-behaved, and tend to be quiet, or almost silent. Videos recorded at or outside of sites that are funded by the public seem to be best for documenting these issues.
Some people question post 911 protocols where everyone is seen as a suspect.
Some people question the idea that people are expected to yield the right of way Re: their peaceful/nonviolent and legal activities because terrorists might be planning to disrupt American culture. All the while thanking Troops for freedoms.
Positive interaction:
Single guy with a camera and early request to show ID and credentials:
Told to stop filming:
Independent/alternative media- out asking questions and told to stop filming at 2:46 and 5:12. Policy explained at 7:48. Entire video here:
The family friendly, hometown pride-oriented local small town papers and TV news folks are more welcome to do interviews related to public policy. Unfortunately, they seem to have moved away from asking questions.
If you run a government operation- these are the reporters you want to see on interview day:
When additional restrictions are placed on prescription drugs- what will prevent heroin-trafficking cartels from moving more product into local communities?
If the US Dept. of Homeland Security was a College Football or NFL team, we’d have all the stats all the time. Is there some sort of Hometown Pride that gets in the way of newspeople asking questions in these areas?
Has Port Angeles CBP been able to intercept any inbound heroin? Even one time?
Newspeople remain silent.
Has anyone ever seen the press question the Port Angeles Border Patrol/CBP on their role in keeping heroin out of the Puget Sound area?
The open attitude about sports reporting does not cross over to stories about the US Dept. of Homeland Security, big drug busts, The Troops, the War on Terror or local water quality.
“It was a risky play made by a desperate team that is well aware of its run-scoring issues over the past month and the current fight for a postseason spot that felt like an inevitability in June.”
Ever see a pro football coach or quarterback refer reporters to his press secretary for answers? Presidents do so on a daily basis. Professionals are hired to provide only the desired version of answers to questions.
Ever see a pro football coach or quarterback refer reporters to a public information officer for answers to questions?
The open attitude about sports reporting does not cross over to stories about the US Dept. of Homeland Security, big drug busts, The Troops, the War on Terror or local water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls.
The story is always reported as a big success. Zero questions asked about why cartels are somehow able to move product past National Guard Troops, strict post 911 security protocols and federal agents manning a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security- before the drugs end up in Hometown, USA.
Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs personnel during Operation Macho Swagger– a ride-along to let us know what is being done to keep the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca safe from B.C. incursions.
Has Port Angeles CBP been able to intercept any inbound meth or heroin? Even one time?
Newspeople, reporters and journalists are free to ask basic public policy questions and post updated reports at any time.
Has anyone ever seen the press question the Port Angeles Border Patrol/CBP on their role in keeping heroin out of the Puget Sound area?
US Border Patrol, Port Angeles, WA
Secret arrest statistics, denied FOIA requests, heroin in the community, no cross-border USBP arrest in more than 8 years, and zero questions from the press.
Are fraudulent overtime claims still the norm at Port Angeles?
Each year, at the Super Bowl, the US Dept. of Homeland Security promotes their own image Re: preventing criminal activity. Why do these impressive capabilities fail to keep meth and heroin trafficking cartels from moving product into the US?
The Troops
Local paper in a military town-
About two years ago, hometown pride was running high when they posted:
“Last year, signs went up closing the waters around Penn Cove to any shellfish harvesting because testing revealed high levels of paralytic shellfish poison. The biotoxin can potentially lead to fatal paralytic shellfish poisoning in humans if consumed.”
JFK speaks about the role of the press in a free society:
Sports has tended to be a more honest part of American culture. Lately, well known players are involved in a marketing campaign featuring Salute to Service TV ads to fix the glorification of military service messages in our minds.
Undeclared/unwon wars that never end?
0:24
The purpose is to protect our freedoms:
Don’t miss our companion blog- found here: Old Man Blog
Is anything like a Public Records Request needed to learn more about how your favorite team is doing this season?
Ever see a pro football coach or quarterback refer reporters to his press secretary for answers? Presidents do so on a daily basis. Professionals are hired to provide only the desired version of answers to questions.
Ever see a pro football coach or quarterback refer reporters to a public information officer for answers to questions?
Maybe there would be less in the way of conspiracy theories related to government, if there was an attitude change about keeping people properly informed.
“Police said they found a large amount of drugs and two rifles inside the vehicle.”
Sorry- no time for newspeople to ask what sort of drugs were involved here.
Why does it matter?
The Drug War is based on public policy.
What methods are working? What methods are failing?
Some “drugs” are domestic, such as marijuana and maybe meth.
Some drugs, like heroin or cocaine must get past strict post 911/War on Terror security protocols, a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security, and verification of passports/enhanced & Real IDs before they arrive in local communities.
Welcome Home Troops
Accurate reporting allows people to learn how to prevent future incidents.
Anytime there is a plane crash- a thorough investigation takes place. Lessons learned are used to prevent future accidents.
Was the aircraft fueled with opioids before it crashed? Was it running on heroin?
“Funding for the boat was issued through the Homeland Security Grant Program under Operation Stonegarden.”
If public meetings were held on Whidbey Island & people were asked to state their top law enforcement priorities- would a Homeland Security-funded patrol boat show up anywhere on the list?
If the Sheriff was interviewed & asked for his wish list- is there any possibility that it would include a Homeland Security-funded patrol boat?
Took a quick look on the web to see if there is a post 911 history of maritime “cross-border activity” on Whidbey & could not find anything. If anyone has info, please post in comments.
Recommendation-
Let the Sheriff & the people he serves set funding priorities for the Island County Sheriff’s Department.
Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been able to intercept any inbound heroin?
Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been involved in any arrest or seizure related in any way to the US/Canada border?
Recovery, rehab, treatment, & addiction are important parts of this story.
What part of the story is missing?
Has anyone ever seen the press question the US Dept. of Homeland Security/CBP on their role in keeping heroin away from the Puget Sound area?
If the State Patrol was awarded many additional millions of dollars each year to go after drunk drivers- & the problem got worse- would newspeople ask questions?
Would any investigation take place?
Any word on how heroin continues to move past strict post 911/War on Terror security protocols, a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security, and verification of passports/enhanced & Real IDs- then, on into local communities?
Newspeople remain silent.
Welcome Home Troops
2014-
Island county to purchase new patrol boat to help with Puget Sound security:
“Funding for the boat was issued through the Homeland Security Grant Program under Operation Stonegarden.”
If public meetings were held on Whidbey Island & people were asked to state their top law enforcement priorities- would a Homeland Security-funded patrol boat show up anywhere on the list?
If the Sheriff was interviewed & asked for his wish list- is there any possibility that it would include a Homeland Security-funded patrol boat?
Took a quick look on the web to see if there is a post 911 history of maritime “cross-border activity” on Whidbey & could not find anything. If anyone has info, please post in comments.
Recommendation-
Let the Sheriff & the people he serves set funding priorities for the Island County Sheriff’s Department.
Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been able to intercept any inbound heroin?
Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been involved in any arrest or seizure related in any way to the US/Canada border?
As the decades of undeclared/unwon wars stack up (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.) the greater the cultural urge to glorify people who do, or did time in uniform.
Left the above comment here and here. Both comments have been deleted- though they contained no hate speech, insults, threats, foul language, attacks on other commenters, etc.
A new, $11.9 million, 50 agent facility, secret arrest statistics, denied FOIA requests, heroin in the community & a Border Patrol whistleblower investigation Re: fraudulent overtime that resulted in further suppression of information- keep the focus on asking questions in these areas.
No cross-border USBP arrest has happened here in more than 6 years.
Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs personnel during Operation Macho Swagger– a ride-along to let us know what is being done to keep the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca safe from B.C. incursions:
What role do 1,200-horsepower Border Patrol Interceptor boats play in keeping heroin away from Port Angeles?
Why are we told that Port Angeles Border Patrol arrest statistics must be kept secret? This is not standard protocol for American LE agencies.
Secret arrest statistics and denied FOIA requests do not enhance agency credibility.
Newspeople,
Please do a story describing the working relationship you have with the Washington State Patrol, local sheriffs departments and city police departments. Any denied FOIA requests generated by these agencies? Please compare to the Border Patrol at Port Angeles.
Alternative/independent media- out asking questions:
Popular culture is constantly thanking The Troops for defending American rights and freedoms. The video above is another of many examples where freedoms may come & go- completely unrelated to military operations in distant lands.
Will the Joint Chiefs of Staff send The Troops to safeguard American freedoms?
JFK speaks about the role of the press in a free society-
Is it because newspeople set the tone by not asking questions? Too often- what we see are the posting of press releases from whatever agencies are involved in local events and incidents.
If you run a government operation- these are the reporters you want to see on interview day:
Several times over the past month I have had comments deleted from news sites.
My comments/questions contained no hate speech, foul language, threats of violence, insults towards others, etc.
Why did MyNorthwest.com remove their article titled: Heroin epidemic at root of Seattle’s homeless crisis? Evidence of the original article can be seen here and here.
A quote from that article:
“Another element is a flood of high-potency heroin pouring in from Mexican cartels.”
Imagine a good discussion about public schools, a political race, foreign policy, equal rights, liberty, the economy, freedom of expression, etc. If 10 people don’t like a comment- it’s gone.
Things could get pretty one-sided in comments Re: gun control, flying a rebel flag, or serving gay customers over at the bakery.
No problem at all with the thumbs down button- but as a tool to eliminate comments? No thanks.
No hate speech, threats, foul language, attacking other commenters- these are rules that make sense.
In 2008, the US Border Patrol came to Jefferson County, WA and set up suspicionless checkpoints and bus boardings- away from border crossings and ports of entry.
At a local Border Patrol forum a lady asked:
“What is the penalty for not identifying oneself to federal agents at an internal, suspicionless checkpoint?”
US Border Patrol said they would call in the Sheriff when a person refused to identify themselves.
Sheriff says they will not respond to a non-emergency situation involving a person peaceably refusing to interact with federal agents.
Question about providing ID is at 0:35
Olympic Peninsula immigration checkpoint-
At a checkpoint- the US Border Patrol stopped a legal medical marijuana user with a legal amount of medical marijuana. He was a passenger in a car:
Secret arrest statistics, denied FOIA requests, heroin in the community & a Border Patrol whistleblower investigation that resulted in further suppression of information- keep the focus on asking questions in these areas.
In many cases- newspapers seem to post a press release from whatever agency was in involved in various operations. Stories related to The Drug War and Super Bowl security are a great example of this.
Paywalls mean less people will read, share and discuss news articles.
Our free and independent press recently informed us on Olympic Peninsula US Border Patrol operations.
The article reads like paid advertising or something produced by US Border Patrol public relations.
Most of the photos used in the article were provided by the federal government.
JFK speaks about the role of the press in a free society-
The people of Erie, PA did not have to submit a FOIA request to find out what justified the expansion of their local Border Patrol station-
No public information/security conflict at the U.S. Border Patrol station (not sector) in Erie, PA.
Erie Station- similar to Port Angeles in that it is separated from Canada by water.
Note: reports of the expansion at Erie include numbers of arrests out of that station:
“The Border Patrol operations in Erie, nearly six years old, include more than 30 agents who apprehended 588 illegal immigrants in fiscal year 2008-09.”
“The Border Patrol’s apprehensions in the Erie area have grown steadily, from 332 in fiscal 2006-2007 to 588 in 2008-09 to 305 so far in 2009-10.
Of those apprehended so far this fiscal year, 136 were individuals found by other law enforcement agencies and turned over to the Border Patrol.”
As always- the big law enforcement success story comes with zero reporting or questions from newspeople about why the proud War on Terror is unable to keep heroin out of the US.
Welcome Home Troops
Thanks for your service
Port Angeles Border Patrol secret arrest policy instantly lifted when a local drug bust goes down.
Several Island County beaches are closed for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.
