Dear Editor: Reader Takes Exception to Political Coverage

Dear Editor:

Your last few issues of The Arcadia Weekly have developed into a disturbing trend. To wit: You continually run pictures showing “Save Arcadia” yard signs – two on the front page of your last issue. Clearly, you must be aware that this debacle was settled by the sponsoring attorney: April Verlato, months ago, and is a dead issue … let alone has been news.

Also in your current issue, in your front page article “Arcadia Election Heating up …”, on the continuation on page 12, you quote in this “feature article” much of what Mr. Fasching wrote to you in his Letter To The Editor which you printed on page 6. Just where does editorial integrity begin and end in your paper? Many of your readers whom I’ve talked to are quite aware that your paper endorses Ms. Verlato while being opposed to Mr. Harbicht. Where’s fairness in reporting? Your support of candidates/propositions belong in a Opinion column. The accompanying editorial photo in that article not only shows Ms. Verlato’s campaign yard sign, but also a yard sign of the potential disaster to the City of Arcadia: the ill conceived Yes on Measure “A.” A coincidence? Are you aware of what will happen to the City and the citizens if this poorly thought out measure pass’s [SIC]? Have you bothered to inquire and responsibly print all the needed services that will be cut out for us if this mere $8 average monthly cost per home is cut from the City budget?

You have been such a “must read” and talked about newspaper reporting on Arcadia in the past.

Many, many of us hope you’ll do the right thing: report on both sides of a story. We expect more from you. As a medium of delivering information to your readers, we expect truth, accuracy and responsibility in delivering the news.

– James McKellar
ARCADIA
Editor’s Note:

 In the first instance, we do not “continually run pictures showing ‘Save Arcadia’ yard signs. Additionally, we do not and never have taken a position nor endorsed a candidate. This is speculation on the reader’s part. Your statement, “Many of your readers whom I’ve talked to are quite aware that your paper endorses Ms. Verlato while being opposed to Mr. Harbicht …” is purely conjecture on your part and bears no merit whatsoever. We give each candidate a fair chance to set their record straight. In fact, in next week’s issue, all candidates will be allowed to share their views on Arcadia’s future. Keep an eye out for this issue. We also offer point–counterpoint debate in these editorial pages called Community Feedback.

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