A couple weeks ago as I was out planting rhubarb along my retaining wall on 21st a neighbor walked by and told me about the letter to the editor she had sent in to the Trib. It supported Art Johnston but never saw the light of day. She told me she was surprised when Chuck Frederick, the Chief editor, had called her up to argue with her about the letters contents. She told me that when she mentioned this to her friends they were all surprised. They told her that usually a lower ranked employee simply called to verify the identity of the writer lest a fake name was attached. This does happen as it did in the case of the spouse of one of our sitting school board members. She asked me if Chuck’s actions were usual.
I told her, between spadefulls of dirt, that I was a little surprised. I acknowledged that I have often argued with the Trib’s editors, Chuck and Jim Heffernan before him, about the details my letters contained. I’ve frequently had to negotiate alterations in the past. I asked her if there was any negotiation in this case and she said no. She was simply led to believe the letter was not acceptable.
I have no idea how many people who have weighed in on one side or the other have run into this immovable obstacle. Art, who feels that most Trib stories are weighted against him by mentioning the rigorous investigation that found him to be a scumbag, naturally suspects that such obstacles are only directed at his supporters. When I told him about this instance he mentioned two other letter writers who reported back to him that their letters of support were rejected.
I get occasional comments like the spurned letter writers while out in my yard. Two weeks ago as I was out pruning trees along 21st I turned to the street as an SUV stopped beside me. The driver wore a baseball cap and looked for all the world like his kid’s little league coach. As I caught his face he said, “please resign” and drove off leaving me desperate to hear his rationale for overturning the city-wide election that put me onto the School Board.
If the Trib is being one-sided in its letter publishing this might help explain some of the animus that has been directed at Art and me. I prefer to think it happens to the other side as well.
