Fox fire
In recent weeks, many have argued Fox News is shilling for the Bush Republicans under the guise of fair and balanced journalism. Fox’s disappointing coverage of the Democratic convention couldn’t have proven the point any better.
For instance, Fox News only showed the first 45 seconds of Al Gore’s speech before Bill O’Reilly interrupted to attack him. Fox did the same during speeches by Jimmy Carter and Ted Kennedy.
A new study from watch group Media Matters for America finds Fox News covered far less of the convention than CNN or MSNBC. How they cover the Republican convention remains to be seen.
Real journalism is too vital for democracy to let partisans hijack it. Whatever our political affiliation, we’ll have to go elsewhere for election coverage this fall.
Jeffery A. Taylor • Grayling
You decide
Fox News says they’ll give you the news and let you decide for yourself. But during the Democratic convention, Fox shut out many of the speeches and showed their own pundits instead.
Watching Fox is like listening to a baseball game where the announcer only tells you when one team scores. Whatever team you’re rooting for, that’s not how the game is played. CNN and MSNBC gave a lot more coverage to the convention, allowing voters to decide who’s plan for America they prefer.
If you are baseing your decisions on information you have gleaned from Fox News, you are probably making bad decisions.
Shaun Johnson • Beulah
Where‘s Bush?
Over the past four months Northern Express has printed at least two anti-war or anti-Bush letters per issue. I understand that Northern Express is pushing its own anti-Bush agenda. I even understand that a large majority of your readers come from a liberal political perspective. But how many times are you going to print these letters that all represent the same issue? Enough is enough. Is it that your readers only have the ability to write negative letters about the current president and his policies? Or is it because the paper’s editors can only see has far as their own political views?
Dan Hellem • via email
(We run virtually every letter we receive from local readers, and frankly, we’ve received very few letters supporting Bush. This despite the fact that the Express is enjoyed by many conservative readers out of the 60,000 who read the paper each week in 13 counties. When we receive letters either opposing our views or a misguided government, we consider it a matter of pride and responsibility to run them. - ed.)
Out of context quote
Thank you again for an article that addresses both sides of this complex issue (“Sprawlbusters? 8/5). However, in order to maintain a factual base for “our side of the story,” I thought I would take a minute to clarify a few points.
1. I did not intent to imply that we met 21 out of 22 of the Governor’s Michigan Land Use Leadership Council’s (MLULC) recommendations, but rather 21 out of 22 of the design criteria found within the Grand Traverse Regional Development Guidebook.
2. In reviewing their final report we are meeting 22 out 23 of the “principles” identified under the Vision Statement found in the MLULC final report.
3. My quote in the Lansing State Journal is so out of context regarding this project Concerned Citizens of Acme Township (CCAT) is having a field day. It is akin to me saying, “the moon is not made of blue cheese!” and the Concerned Citizens for Blue Cheese saying, “look, this man obviously does not support the use of cheese, especially blue cheese in building satellites that will orbit the earth!”
Lansing Township’s plan and plight is to develop an area and create an urban village. The township’s intent is to implement the Regional Growth Study (which involved 78 units of government) by undertaking “urban infill” within the “core” area, while also adding tax base to replace the closing of a GM plant which is planned for 2005. This is not sprawl, but a calculated effort to add density of development in a nearly 600 acre area between the borders of Lansing and East Lansing. My quote was part of a discussion stating that the development community has embraced this effort faster than could have been imagined by anyone, which why a “good plan” is so important. That is the one consistent message I would share, however what that plan intends to accomplish can be drastically different while containing similar elements.
Think of a house blueprint vs. and office blueprint. They are both “plans” for a building containing 99% of the same materials and elements, however they result in different things. The same can be said for a development area plan and a smart growth plan. The key is knowing the intent, conveying it to the “builders,” and then monitoring it to make sure it goes as intended.
Thanks again for the great story. I hope my comments help, and you don’t see them as criticisms. I’m just so tired of CCAT’s use of unrelated material, and nonfactual information to substantiate their arguments.
Steven Hayward • Acme
A 24/7 nightmare
The Acme town center monstrosity developers must have missed a slide in their presentation on 7/26/04. Right after the slide attacking Todd Gokey’s integrity regarding his meetings with township superviser Dave Amon and the developers, there should have been a slide of Amon on Gokey’s doorstep dutifully delivering paperwork on behalf of the mall investors. Guess they didn’t want to own up to that.
According to the info the pro-mall lobby sent out they want to save us Acmeites from the nightmare of the cross-town commute to shop at Grand Traverse Mall. I’d rather endure that trip once every week or so than live 24/7 in the nightmare this mega project would create.
Also, how can the township limit commercial developement on M-72, as they claim they can, if the mall is approved? These property owners will still have a right to use their land to the max and the mall will attract peripheral businesses like flies.
Bill Hagan • Acme
Confused location?
Re: the “Sprawlbusters” piece in 8/5 issue.
As a long time resident of Lansing area, and with a long term interest in land use, I read the piece, looking for good information on this issue. I currently lean against the plan, but have been keeping an “open mind.”
However, I am concerned when I see several errors in print. Errors that I spot make me question other statements that I don’t know as much about.
With regards to East Towne Mall, is it East Lansing or Lansing Township?
Although I currently live in Leelanau County, I maintain a house in the Lansing area, and am there monthly for various ongoing business and other interests.
I guess my beef is not just the error in placing the complex in East Lansing, but the fact that this is contradicted within the article itself. The last couple of paragraphs state, “... Lansing Township project...” then “...a new mall in East Lansing did not act as a receiving zone but actually promoted sprawl.”
Blame it on Virginia Tegel, but it would be good to do some fact checking, and maybe some proof reading?
Frankly, I thought it was in Clinton County, Dewitt Township.
I use to live where the current Meijer’s (on Lake Lansing Road) is, and before that, commuted from the St. Johns area (over 30 years ago), so I have watched the area develop. This is not really new development, more of an extension of what had been happening, and, in fact, as alluded to in the Lansing State Journal piece, has revitalized the area.
I have not shopped this mall, but have used the restaurants. While “chain” themed restaurants, they have “raised the bar” in the Lansing area -- something which was sorely needed.
Bottom line, I don’t think that this is the best example of development gone bad.
J.T. Hoagland • Leelanau County
(As noted in a prededing letter by Steve Hayward, Lansing Township‘s director of development and planning, the project is located between Lansing and East Lansing in Lansing Township. We have no reason to doubt his word. The mention of East Lansing in the story was meant to help orient readers as to its general location. -- ed.)
Drug testing debate
I am writing in response to Andy Taylor’s Aug. 5 article on drug testing.
Dr. Lesoski stated “the controversy over drug testing has died down and most people are beginning to accept it.” That is not the conclusion reached in the October 2003 issue of “Workforce Management” (Drug Testing’s Negative Results) which stated “the drug-testing industry is coming under scrutiny, its value questioned as never before.” One example is electronics giant Hewlett-Packard which dropped “pre-empoyment” drug testing four years ago.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in “Chandler v. Miller” that elected officials cannot be tested for drugs because it violates their rights. In December 2003 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled that Michigan welfare recipients cannot be tested for drugs because it violates their rights (Marchwinski v. Family Indepedence Agency).
Politicians are going to have a hard time explaining why people who work for a living have to pee in a bottle.
The drug testing controversy has died down? It’s just getting started.
Randy Vizyak • Mukwonago, WI
Two of a kind
As we enter the presidential campaign of 2004, it is already evident that vicious partisanship will be the order of the day. Both sides will claim that their man is a paragon of virtue while the opponent is, at the very least, a poltroon.
If the last election is an accurate bellwether, one of the parties will tout their champion as being an intellectual giant compared to his opposite number who is, of course, a moron. In the interest of clarifying the issue, I have researched the backgrounds of both of the major candidates and offer here their resumes. This information was gathered, not from official party websites, but through the use of that versatile search engine, Google.
I hope this information will be of some use during the upcoming melee.
George Bush John Kerry
Secondary School: Phillips Academy St. Paul’s School
Undergraduate: Yale (BA, History) Yale (BA, Pol-Sci)
Yale Social Club: Skull and Bones Skull and Bones
Graduate: Harvard (MBA) Boston College (Law)
Military: Pilot (Texas ANG) Line Officer (USN)
Political Career: Gov. (Texas x 2) Sen. (Massachusetts)
President of U.S.
Bill Mayer • Petoskey
Strength & wisdom
At the Democratic Convention, former President Clinton said eloquently what so many Americans have been thinking: “Strength and wisdom are not opposing values.” President Bush’s policies can seem strong, but they are terribly unwise. We simply can’t afford four more years of mistakes under the guise of strength. We need a president who will use both strength and wisdom as guiding principles. John Kerry is the president we need to restore our national pride and the respect of the world.
Janet & Walter Zerbel • Grawn
Rally for God‘s plant
Kudos to your paper and writer Eartha Melzer for the wonderful articles about Matthew and Laura Barber’s medical marijuana case. They are good Christian people and their story deserves to be heard.
To the judge who will rule on prosecutor Dennis LaBelle’s motion to suppress any talk of medical marijuana in their case, I say let the jury hear the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Matt and Laura are on the side of God and like all responsible marijuana users (who are around you every day) they will continue to commit their act of civil disobedience against this unjust law until it is changed at the governmental level.
I propose for the court to be filled to capacity with “REAL” Christians of every profession in support of Matt and Laura. You want “REAL” revival church? Then WAKE UP and take a stand for God’s plant and Jesus’ love! I also propose that the outside of the courthouse be surrounded by thousands of responsible marijuana users from around the state in support of Matt and Laura,committing their act of civil disobedience all together as one.
People like Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks broke laws with courage as they openly challenged societal assertions and beliefs that were unjust, and it is time for all responsible marijuana users to come out of their closet, unite and organize,and stand for tolerance and personal freedom. If we let Matt be put into jail, he will regress, or worse, die!
Rev. Steven B. Thompson
Director, Benzie County NORML
Stop the Wall
John Reese and Erica Kay of Seattle have organized the Stop the Wall tour and will travel 15,000 miles this summer and fall across the United States bringing information to countless communities on the Israeli Wall. The tour illustrates the Wall’s impact on the environment, Israelis and Palestinians and the peace process.
On Monday August 16t, a public forum on the Wall of Separation between Israel and Palestine, together with a model, pictures and presentation on the Wall will be held in Suttons Bay at St. Michael’s Social Hall, Elm and Broadway at 7 p.m., preceded by a potluck at 6. Consider attending and giving these folks some support for their awesome efforts for peace and justice.
Marian Kromkowski • Suttons Bay
In recent weeks, many have argued Fox News is shilling for the Bush Republicans under the guise of fair and balanced journalism. Fox’s disappointing coverage of the Democratic convention couldn’t have proven the point any better.
For instance, Fox News only showed the first 45 seconds of Al Gore’s speech before Bill O’Reilly interrupted to attack him. Fox did the same during speeches by Jimmy Carter and Ted Kennedy.
A new study from watch group Media Matters for America finds Fox News covered far less of the convention than CNN or MSNBC. How they cover the Republican convention remains to be seen.
Real journalism is too vital for democracy to let partisans hijack it. Whatever our political affiliation, we’ll have to go elsewhere for election coverage this fall.
Jeffery A. Taylor • Grayling
You decide
Fox News says they’ll give you the news and let you decide for yourself. But during the Democratic convention, Fox shut out many of the speeches and showed their own pundits instead.
Watching Fox is like listening to a baseball game where the announcer only tells you when one team scores. Whatever team you’re rooting for, that’s not how the game is played. CNN and MSNBC gave a lot more coverage to the convention, allowing voters to decide who’s plan for America they prefer.
If you are baseing your decisions on information you have gleaned from Fox News, you are probably making bad decisions.
Shaun Johnson • Beulah
Where‘s Bush?
Over the past four months Northern Express has printed at least two anti-war or anti-Bush letters per issue. I understand that Northern Express is pushing its own anti-Bush agenda. I even understand that a large majority of your readers come from a liberal political perspective. But how many times are you going to print these letters that all represent the same issue? Enough is enough. Is it that your readers only have the ability to write negative letters about the current president and his policies? Or is it because the paper’s editors can only see has far as their own political views?
Dan Hellem • via email
(We run virtually every letter we receive from local readers, and frankly, we’ve received very few letters supporting Bush. This despite the fact that the Express is enjoyed by many conservative readers out of the 60,000 who read the paper each week in 13 counties. When we receive letters either opposing our views or a misguided government, we consider it a matter of pride and responsibility to run them. - ed.)
Out of context quote
Thank you again for an article that addresses both sides of this complex issue (“Sprawlbusters? 8/5). However, in order to maintain a factual base for “our side of the story,” I thought I would take a minute to clarify a few points.
1. I did not intent to imply that we met 21 out of 22 of the Governor’s Michigan Land Use Leadership Council’s (MLULC) recommendations, but rather 21 out of 22 of the design criteria found within the Grand Traverse Regional Development Guidebook.
2. In reviewing their final report we are meeting 22 out 23 of the “principles” identified under the Vision Statement found in the MLULC final report.
3. My quote in the Lansing State Journal is so out of context regarding this project Concerned Citizens of Acme Township (CCAT) is having a field day. It is akin to me saying, “the moon is not made of blue cheese!” and the Concerned Citizens for Blue Cheese saying, “look, this man obviously does not support the use of cheese, especially blue cheese in building satellites that will orbit the earth!”
Lansing Township’s plan and plight is to develop an area and create an urban village. The township’s intent is to implement the Regional Growth Study (which involved 78 units of government) by undertaking “urban infill” within the “core” area, while also adding tax base to replace the closing of a GM plant which is planned for 2005. This is not sprawl, but a calculated effort to add density of development in a nearly 600 acre area between the borders of Lansing and East Lansing. My quote was part of a discussion stating that the development community has embraced this effort faster than could have been imagined by anyone, which why a “good plan” is so important. That is the one consistent message I would share, however what that plan intends to accomplish can be drastically different while containing similar elements.
Think of a house blueprint vs. and office blueprint. They are both “plans” for a building containing 99% of the same materials and elements, however they result in different things. The same can be said for a development area plan and a smart growth plan. The key is knowing the intent, conveying it to the “builders,” and then monitoring it to make sure it goes as intended.
Thanks again for the great story. I hope my comments help, and you don’t see them as criticisms. I’m just so tired of CCAT’s use of unrelated material, and nonfactual information to substantiate their arguments.
Steven Hayward • Acme
A 24/7 nightmare
The Acme town center monstrosity developers must have missed a slide in their presentation on 7/26/04. Right after the slide attacking Todd Gokey’s integrity regarding his meetings with township superviser Dave Amon and the developers, there should have been a slide of Amon on Gokey’s doorstep dutifully delivering paperwork on behalf of the mall investors. Guess they didn’t want to own up to that.
According to the info the pro-mall lobby sent out they want to save us Acmeites from the nightmare of the cross-town commute to shop at Grand Traverse Mall. I’d rather endure that trip once every week or so than live 24/7 in the nightmare this mega project would create.
Also, how can the township limit commercial developement on M-72, as they claim they can, if the mall is approved? These property owners will still have a right to use their land to the max and the mall will attract peripheral businesses like flies.
Bill Hagan • Acme
Confused location?
Re: the “Sprawlbusters” piece in 8/5 issue.
As a long time resident of Lansing area, and with a long term interest in land use, I read the piece, looking for good information on this issue. I currently lean against the plan, but have been keeping an “open mind.”
However, I am concerned when I see several errors in print. Errors that I spot make me question other statements that I don’t know as much about.
With regards to East Towne Mall, is it East Lansing or Lansing Township?
Although I currently live in Leelanau County, I maintain a house in the Lansing area, and am there monthly for various ongoing business and other interests.
I guess my beef is not just the error in placing the complex in East Lansing, but the fact that this is contradicted within the article itself. The last couple of paragraphs state, “... Lansing Township project...” then “...a new mall in East Lansing did not act as a receiving zone but actually promoted sprawl.”
Blame it on Virginia Tegel, but it would be good to do some fact checking, and maybe some proof reading?
Frankly, I thought it was in Clinton County, Dewitt Township.
I use to live where the current Meijer’s (on Lake Lansing Road) is, and before that, commuted from the St. Johns area (over 30 years ago), so I have watched the area develop. This is not really new development, more of an extension of what had been happening, and, in fact, as alluded to in the Lansing State Journal piece, has revitalized the area.
I have not shopped this mall, but have used the restaurants. While “chain” themed restaurants, they have “raised the bar” in the Lansing area -- something which was sorely needed.
Bottom line, I don’t think that this is the best example of development gone bad.
J.T. Hoagland • Leelanau County
(As noted in a prededing letter by Steve Hayward, Lansing Township‘s director of development and planning, the project is located between Lansing and East Lansing in Lansing Township. We have no reason to doubt his word. The mention of East Lansing in the story was meant to help orient readers as to its general location. -- ed.)
Drug testing debate
I am writing in response to Andy Taylor’s Aug. 5 article on drug testing.
Dr. Lesoski stated “the controversy over drug testing has died down and most people are beginning to accept it.” That is not the conclusion reached in the October 2003 issue of “Workforce Management” (Drug Testing’s Negative Results) which stated “the drug-testing industry is coming under scrutiny, its value questioned as never before.” One example is electronics giant Hewlett-Packard which dropped “pre-empoyment” drug testing four years ago.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in “Chandler v. Miller” that elected officials cannot be tested for drugs because it violates their rights. In December 2003 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled that Michigan welfare recipients cannot be tested for drugs because it violates their rights (Marchwinski v. Family Indepedence Agency).
Politicians are going to have a hard time explaining why people who work for a living have to pee in a bottle.
The drug testing controversy has died down? It’s just getting started.
Randy Vizyak • Mukwonago, WI
Two of a kind
As we enter the presidential campaign of 2004, it is already evident that vicious partisanship will be the order of the day. Both sides will claim that their man is a paragon of virtue while the opponent is, at the very least, a poltroon.
If the last election is an accurate bellwether, one of the parties will tout their champion as being an intellectual giant compared to his opposite number who is, of course, a moron. In the interest of clarifying the issue, I have researched the backgrounds of both of the major candidates and offer here their resumes. This information was gathered, not from official party websites, but through the use of that versatile search engine, Google.
I hope this information will be of some use during the upcoming melee.
George Bush John Kerry
Secondary School: Phillips Academy St. Paul’s School
Undergraduate: Yale (BA, History) Yale (BA, Pol-Sci)
Yale Social Club: Skull and Bones Skull and Bones
Graduate: Harvard (MBA) Boston College (Law)
Military: Pilot (Texas ANG) Line Officer (USN)
Political Career: Gov. (Texas x 2) Sen. (Massachusetts)
President of U.S.
Bill Mayer • Petoskey
Strength & wisdom
At the Democratic Convention, former President Clinton said eloquently what so many Americans have been thinking: “Strength and wisdom are not opposing values.” President Bush’s policies can seem strong, but they are terribly unwise. We simply can’t afford four more years of mistakes under the guise of strength. We need a president who will use both strength and wisdom as guiding principles. John Kerry is the president we need to restore our national pride and the respect of the world.
Janet & Walter Zerbel • Grawn
Rally for God‘s plant
Kudos to your paper and writer Eartha Melzer for the wonderful articles about Matthew and Laura Barber’s medical marijuana case. They are good Christian people and their story deserves to be heard.
To the judge who will rule on prosecutor Dennis LaBelle’s motion to suppress any talk of medical marijuana in their case, I say let the jury hear the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Matt and Laura are on the side of God and like all responsible marijuana users (who are around you every day) they will continue to commit their act of civil disobedience against this unjust law until it is changed at the governmental level.
I propose for the court to be filled to capacity with “REAL” Christians of every profession in support of Matt and Laura. You want “REAL” revival church? Then WAKE UP and take a stand for God’s plant and Jesus’ love! I also propose that the outside of the courthouse be surrounded by thousands of responsible marijuana users from around the state in support of Matt and Laura,committing their act of civil disobedience all together as one.
People like Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks broke laws with courage as they openly challenged societal assertions and beliefs that were unjust, and it is time for all responsible marijuana users to come out of their closet, unite and organize,and stand for tolerance and personal freedom. If we let Matt be put into jail, he will regress, or worse, die!
Rev. Steven B. Thompson
Director, Benzie County NORML
Stop the Wall
John Reese and Erica Kay of Seattle have organized the Stop the Wall tour and will travel 15,000 miles this summer and fall across the United States bringing information to countless communities on the Israeli Wall. The tour illustrates the Wall’s impact on the environment, Israelis and Palestinians and the peace process.
On Monday August 16t, a public forum on the Wall of Separation between Israel and Palestine, together with a model, pictures and presentation on the Wall will be held in Suttons Bay at St. Michael’s Social Hall, Elm and Broadway at 7 p.m., preceded by a potluck at 6. Consider attending and giving these folks some support for their awesome efforts for peace and justice.
Marian Kromkowski • Suttons Bay
