Tuesday, December 20, 2016

The Sorry State of Local Media . . .

Quad-C was announced in 2009.  In 2012 when the lack of action had become apparent, we were told that was because the scope of the project had increased. In 2013 we were told that a consortium of 6 companies would spend $1.5 Billion on chip R&D at Quad-C. In 2014 rumors that a key player in the 6 member consortium at Quad-C had backed out were quickly pooh-poohed by local media, but by 2015 we were told that GE would be the "anchor tenant." No mention -- much less an inquiry -- was made of what happened to the 6 member consortium. In July, 2016, a report out of Albany surfaced that work had stopped on a GE facility there that would manufacture components to be used at the GE facility here.  Again, little mention and no inquiry were made by local media as to where that would leave the Utica facility. More than 7 years after Quad-C was announced, here we sit with an empty white elephant and no clear path to occupancy in sight.  Worse, taxpayers and water and sewer rate-payers are on the hook to at least partially pay for and maintain the additional infrastructure to support both Marcy Nano and Quad-C -- infrastructure that our declining population does not need for itself.

The process is playing out again with the Downtown Hospital, where excuses for ignoring every site other than Downtown are readily accepted (e.g. the "wetlands" at the St. Luke's site are minuscule and have already been partially built upon), while questions about Downtown are side-stepped.  We still do not know the name of the person who originated the idea of placing the hospital downtown. We do not know who told MV EDGE it was OK to offer MVHS a site that was already occupied by going businesses, taxpayers, and public thoroughfares. How can a Downtown site have been chosen without even a Draft Environmental Impact Statement to aid in the choice between sites?

The Utica-area public is not composed of snowflakes incapable of bearing bad news.  We have been hardened by years of public corruption (hopefully in the past), disappointment and being misled. But we are bearing costs, financial as well as emotional, that are attached to these large government efforts being allegedly made on our behalf but so far showing no return.  We are entitled to the facts so that if the costs become too burdensome to bear we will know where to make changes.

While our suspicions have been confirmed that local officials have been holding bad news back from us, that does not excuse the lack of reporting on these issues by the media -- unless they have ceased being journalists and become propagandists for our elected officials and Chambers of Commerce. Lacking the facts, how are voters supposed to made informed decisions when these officials seek reelection?

11 comments:

Rodger Potocki said...

There is no local media in the true sense of the word. Reporters and commentators are so inadequate in experience, knowledge and training that they do not even know what questions to ask local officials. Then there are those in bed with politicians who combine lack of knowledge with out right conflict of interest. The prime example is a Bill Keeler who masquerades as a radio talk/show news guy while making side money doing PR for political candidates. In days long gone by, reporters both at the newspaper and many radio stations were watchdogs of government, particularly the public purse. Today they are superficial cheer leaders who are a bigger problem than the political actors who play the local media like yo-yos. As a result, there is no accountability of performance, integrity or honesty. The taxpayer is both at their mercy and many have in various forms or another just given up.

Anonymous said...

If I ever see a certain WKTV newscaster grovel at the feet of Picente like I witnessed on air the other nite, I'll puke on my shoes. That what's passed off as reporting in CNY. No wonder they get away with robbing us blind.

Anonymous said...

One quick thought on the "downtown" hospital. Has anyone of the planners taken into consideration that area has the oldest sewer/water lines? Wait until they start digging and watch the cost skyrocket.

Anonymous said...

Two responses to previous comments; 1. There is a strong rumor of family type relations with Picente at WKTV. He even gets debate questions ahead of time. 2. Of course costs will skyrocket with a downtown hospital project. Infrastructure is just a part of it. Just wait until lawyers start getting rich with property claims.

Anonymous said...

Wouldn't it be good to include a nice, clear, relevant, timely, simple question for both Griffo and Brindisi. WKTV had them in the studio answering (lying about) their roles in the NANO fiasco (not our fault we did everything right!). To close out the interview, how about this:

This has been a lengthy and expensive project with little to show for the past 20 years other than empty promises, an empty building and an empty field so given that you both blame the State and you are our State officeholders - do either of you deserve a raise? Where do you stand on the special session and how will you vote if a raise is proposed?

Never asked, so never answered.

WKTV "Where the news comes first" It's both laughable and sad how pathetic they are.

Rodger Potocki said...

12/23 Today's OD smug, self righteous editorial condemning those of the community who dare question how things are done in the public arena simply confirms their ineptitude and falling way short of being a legitimate newspaper. The OD hailed the "NANO miracle" as the most important development here for at least a generation and promoted it a transformative. In their editorial today, they quote Steve DiMeo concluding that he wanted the project taken over by locals as long ago as last May. Who knew? Did the OD? Steve was probably correct but what was done or wasn't done about his warnings? If the OD really had its finger on such an important project its pipeline to Steve should have been used on a weekly basis to monitor and report when necessary. That's what a real newspaper does. If Steve was alarmed, the OD could have played a key role in helping him achieve control by pressuring politicians and informing the public of the issues jeopardizing the project as sensed by Steve. Where was the OD? Did they know of problems and sit on that knowledge? Was their ignorance bliss? Did Steve quietly come to them? Did the County Executive or local state officials? These are real questions that need answering. Instead we get Santa Clause, hope and criticism of those who have their community at the heart of their concerns by the newspaper that is supposed to be serving our collective good. The editorial and attitude at the OD is both disgusting and destructive.

Anonymous said...

The recent New York Times story featuring the collapse of NANO illustrates both the inept and virtually non existent local media and the pathetic local politicians. It appears that everyone on the inside knew the project was both risky and on the verge of collapse some time ago. Well, that is everyone except the financer of the hundreds of millions being spent, the taxpayer. Either the media had no clue or remained silent. And, those sworn to protect our dollars sure remained silent. When you have a community of inept, clueless political leaders in bed with an equally inept, clueless media the recipe of disaster always looms.

Too Funny said...

The "fake news" has been around for years it's only of late that more people are speaking up about the poison effect it has. The pols and the "journos" support eachother and they socialize and live together.

All of the comments above are very encouraging - for the longest time I've had pretty much all of these realizations.
Re Bill Keeler I think he's just a go along get along guy who does what he has to make a living. Despite the complaints he is a very kind and generous man. Alas, he knows damned well he helps pump the poisoned sunshine, but I tend to think he really sees the local media's role in the downfall. He could come around some day if he doesn't just move away whenever the kids grow up etc. Just like Boehlert. (Remember how for like 20 years they ran the same exact b&w picture of him next to the usual "non news" a few times a month in the OD?

I am not from the area and always noticed the way the media played upstate. It's extremely light and Pollyannish. I'm definitely no shrink but I also noticed that culturally the people from the region are hypoallergenic to bad news and the very first reaction to unfortunate events or circumstances is to condescend or outright attack the person stating the obvious. It's frustrating because it makes people not want to help or get involved with an issue.
They yell "You are being very negative!" and that's sometimes true but it's not a solution to a problem or another view. It's used as a defensive club in a lot of ways I can't be the only one to see this no? I'm sure that's "all over" but the heightened level up this way sticks out to outsiders. A lot of things do but that's for another day.

I have no idea how the region can create a true, real turnaround but I agree that fixing the very fundamentals and making the region competitive to everyone would help along with somehow applying accountability in media not just the people who support the local one-party corruptocrats.

All these posts were so refreshing all this time I've thought people were all still asleep.

Anonymous said...

Coping with the downright backwardness of the media and politics of the area may be assisted by another step all can take without or prior to moving. Stop reading the Observer Dispatch. This can accomplish several very positive improvements. One, your blood pressure will go down. Two, you will not be contributing in any way to the OD's harmful effect on the area. Three, a drop in subscriptions may actually reform the paper or encourage another one o start. Follow that by turning off Keeler. Nice man or not, he has no idea what he is talking about.

Anonymous said...

The local media are no different than our local entrenched politicians. They ride the gravy train. Why upset the apple cart when the stays quo ensures that their bank accounts & wallets aren't empty?

Anonymous said...

Yes, Anonymous, always follow the money. The power structure around here which includes the media controls the allocation of public dollars which in this area is a very big deal. Combine this with the Indian casino influence and you have a rigged, decaying, negative to change political and business climate.