You’re right about the Chamber’s pronounced entry into local politics, and your coverage of it (yep, read every word) was valuable, important, unmatched by any other media outlet (daily or otherwise) and critical in every good sense of the word.

What’s dismaying to me about your coverage of school board politics to date is any balance about the California Teachers Association’s entry into our local politics. It is, and was, massive. The 2006 elections in which two CTA-backed candidates made the board, and a third narrowly missed (which would have given CTA control of our local schools) came about with massive CTA infusions of cash and an avalanche of outrageously deceptive campaign literature of a slickness and mendacity never before seen in Iowa by the Sea.

The CTA local here is still mired in financial doo-doo over this (and why hasn’t the local district attorney looked into the financial mismanagement of the Long Beach teacher’s union? The CTA babysitter comes here, orders up an audit, says there’s nothing wrong here, and everyone believes it? and isn’t it time by now for the babysitter to go home?)

Just frustrated with what looks from these seats like a blind spot in coverage. And I think it would make a fascinating Wielenga-type story. Are alternative weekly writers eligible for Pulitzers?

You’re right about the Chamber’s pronounced entry into local politics, and your coverage of it (yep, read every word) was valuable, important, unmatched by any other media outlet (daily or otherwise) and critical in every good sense of the word.

What’s dismaying to me about your coverage of school board politics to date is any balance about the California Teachers Association’s entry into our local politics. It is, and was, massive. The 2006 elections in which two CTA-backed candidates made the board, and a third narrowly missed (which would have given CTA control of our local schools) came about with massive CTA infusions of cash and an avalanche of outrageously deceptive campaign literature of a slickness and mendacity never before seen in Iowa by the Sea.

The CTA local here is still mired in financial doo-doo over this (and why hasn’t the local district attorney looked into the financial mismanagement of the Long Beach teacher’s union? The CTA babysitter comes here, orders up an audit, says there’s nothing wrong here, and everyone believes it? and isn’t it time by now for the babysitter to go home?)

Just frustrated with what looks from these seats like a blind spot in coverage. And I think it would make a fascinating Wielenga-type story. Are alternative weekly writers eligible for Pulitzers?

Your articles on this issue remind me of the story of the late night drunk (not a school board member) looking for his car keys under the streetlamp — not because he lost them there, but because that was where the light was better.

Would a California Teachers Association-backed takeover of Long Beach schools be inconsequential for area families and children? It’s a big union, Dave, far vaster in scope and power than the LB Chamber. Are our schools good? Bad? Based on your reporting, I have no idea. I don’t think you do, either, and your articles suggest the topic doesn’t interest you. Shouldn’t it? Shouldn’t you actually investigate whether or not Randy Gordon has a valid point, and either validate it or invalidate it?

Please stop with the sideman’s easy riffing on spotlight hogs like Randy Gordon and start spreading some journalistic light on the sunshine-averse waterbugs who aren’t nearly as forthright. If I haven’t misjudged you, you’re good enough to do stories on people and organizations who WON’T return your calls. (If you need a model, Steve Lopez in the L.A. Times does this routinely, and well.)

I luv ya, Dave, and I’ll continue to read every word you write. But honestly . . .

Your articles on this issue remind me of the story of the late night drunk (not a school board member) looking for his car keys under the streetlamp — not because he lost them there, but because that was where the light was better.

Would a California Teachers Association-backed takeover of Long Beach schools be inconsequential for area families and children? It’s a big union, Dave, far vaster in scope and power than the LB Chamber. Are our schools good? Bad? Based on your reporting, I have no idea. I don’t think you do, either, and your articles suggest the topic doesn’t interest you. Shouldn’t it? Shouldn’t you actually investigate whether or not Randy Gordon has a valid point, and either validate it or invalidate it?

Please stop with the sideman’s easy riffing on spotlight hogs like Randy Gordon and start spreading some journalistic light on the sunshine-averse waterbugs who aren’t nearly as forthright. If I haven’t misjudged you, you’re good enough to do stories on people and organizations who WON’T return your calls. (If you need a model, Steve Lopez in the L.A. Times does this routinely, and well.)

I luv ya, Dave, and I’ll continue to read every word you write. But honestly . . .

Whiner: Schipske also won with tens of thousands of dollars of support from TALB–for whom she still draws a paycheck.

Whiner: Schipske also won with tens of thousands of dollars of support from TALB–for whom she still draws a paycheck.