http://www.northernstar.info/article/9191/
DeKalb Commission should focus on city business, not newspaper's online comments
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Last updated on 11/16/2009 at 10:02 p.m.
DeKalb’s Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission decided during its September 21 meeting that the city needs to talk with DeKalb’s local newspaper, the Daily Chronicle.
According to the minutes from the meeting, the reasoning behind this talk is to limit the “untruths and personal attacks on the City and its employees.” The committee also discussed having members of the community and members of the committee write letters to the Chronicle “to counteract this and look to the Chronicle for accountability.”
The Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission is concerned that those who comment on the Chronicle’s Web site will sway the vote of council members on city projects. However, couldn’t the city government monitoring comments and peoples’ opinions on city business be considered unlawful based on the First Amendment? When citizens are stating their personal opinion on a matter discussed by the city council, the City of DeKalb should not have the authority to say their opinion is wrong by asking the Chronicle to take down a comment that it does not like. The Chronicle has guidelines for those who are posting, one of which is “do not post potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.”
The city should have trust in the Chronicle and its ability to monitor comments. Committee member Lisa Small said “the Chronicle may be motivated to take action if they are pressured by their advertisers,” according to the meeting minutes.
Chapter 65 of DeKalb’s Municipal code, titled “Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission,” states that the commission was created to “prepare, analyze, recommend and implement a plan to further enhance the appearance, quality of life and reputation of the city of DeKalb.”
The comments on the Chronicle seem trivial when the city is looking at a tremendous shortfall in revenue. At the DeKalb City Council meeting on Oct. 27, Rudy Espiritu, DeKalb assistant city manager, projected the city might see a $2 million to $3 million shortfall in revenue.
Perhaps the commission should have used its time to discuss possible ways to help the city find a way out of said shortfall. Even discussing projects able to be put on hold to save the city money would have been more beneficial.
The city should have greater concerns than anonymous people screaming at each other on the Internet.
DeKalb Commission should focus on city business, not newspaper's online comments
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Last updated on 11/16/2009 at 10:02 p.m.
DeKalb’s Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission decided during its September 21 meeting that the city needs to talk with DeKalb’s local newspaper, the Daily Chronicle.
According to the minutes from the meeting, the reasoning behind this talk is to limit the “untruths and personal attacks on the City and its employees.” The committee also discussed having members of the community and members of the committee write letters to the Chronicle “to counteract this and look to the Chronicle for accountability.”
The Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission is concerned that those who comment on the Chronicle’s Web site will sway the vote of council members on city projects. However, couldn’t the city government monitoring comments and peoples’ opinions on city business be considered unlawful based on the First Amendment? When citizens are stating their personal opinion on a matter discussed by the city council, the City of DeKalb should not have the authority to say their opinion is wrong by asking the Chronicle to take down a comment that it does not like. The Chronicle has guidelines for those who are posting, one of which is “do not post potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.”
The city should have trust in the Chronicle and its ability to monitor comments. Committee member Lisa Small said “the Chronicle may be motivated to take action if they are pressured by their advertisers,” according to the meeting minutes.
Chapter 65 of DeKalb’s Municipal code, titled “Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission,” states that the commission was created to “prepare, analyze, recommend and implement a plan to further enhance the appearance, quality of life and reputation of the city of DeKalb.”
The comments on the Chronicle seem trivial when the city is looking at a tremendous shortfall in revenue. At the DeKalb City Council meeting on Oct. 27, Rudy Espiritu, DeKalb assistant city manager, projected the city might see a $2 million to $3 million shortfall in revenue.
Perhaps the commission should have used its time to discuss possible ways to help the city find a way out of said shortfall. Even discussing projects able to be put on hold to save the city money would have been more beneficial.
The city should have greater concerns than anonymous people screaming at each other on the Internet.
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