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Wednesday, June 18, 2008

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

Did you ever watch the Spiderman movies? I read the comic of that superhero all the time as a kid. He was one of my favorites. In the Spiderman movies that have been released, Spidey’s Uncle Ben tries to teach Spidey an important lesson; With great power comes great responsibility. That lesson has come home to us here at the Rumford Free Press as well.

Having a Website in town that releases information to the community is like having great power. We found that out when a member of the community was viciously attacked because people thought they were behind this website. This person suffered greatly due to these attacks. We really came to understand just how much what we do on this site could affect others.

The written word is a powerful tool. You have power to greatly influence the community that you are trying to serve. You can really affect people’s lives, a lot of people, in both positive and negative ways. You can affect the whole town. That’s great power. It should be used wisely.

The RFP believes that if you wield such power, you have a responsibility to make sure that the things you print are accurate. One of the reasons that we created this site is because we were aware that there were many inaccurate and at times irresponsible things being printed on the other website in town, The Rumford Reporter. Want some examples?

Take this quote from TRR about our Fire Department. “Members of the Union then moved to the high school driveway where several firefighters, who were on duty that night, helped pass out the union flyers to taxpayers as they arrived for the Annual Town Business Meeting.”

The members of the Fire Department that passed out flyers WERE NOT on duty that night. Here is the response from a member of the Fire Department. “This is a flat out lie! I can produce payroll sheets for that night and they where not on duty.” - Mark Tripp.

OK, so everyone makes mistakes. Let’s give TRR the benefit of the doubt and agree that this was just a mistake. It’s a mistake that has really hurt the reputation of the Fire Department and caused a lot of anger. Wouldn’t it be responsible for TRR to print a retraction and apologize? None has been printed to our knowledge. Instead we get a picture of a fire truck parked in front of the fire station with the ridiculous criticism about how the RFD blocks the sidewalk for our citizens. They have been saying for years that they need a new building and have been trying to do the best they can with what they have. Do we really need to criticize them because they have to park their vehicles on the sidewalk sometimes?

There are a lot of other examples of what we consider the misuse of power. What about attacking our Police Department for giving tickets? When town leaders that were “friends” of the TRR were caught not wearing their seatbelt, we were treated to a couple of TRR articles that told us there was a conspiracy that the RPD is out to get them. It didn’t matter that there is a state campaign to let the public know that the police across the state are going to enforce the seatbelt law and that you can now be pulled over for nothing more than not wearing it. It’s been all over the radio and we’ve all seen the “Click it or Ticket” campaign.

This “conspiracy theory” that blames the police honestly sounds pretty paranoid. They also told people how to get out of tickets. The worst thing they did though, was stir the community up towards the RPD. Our local Police force has an extremely difficult job. They put their life on the line every day to protect this community and are constantly dealing with difficult, high stress situations. Our town leaders and any responsible media outlet should be supporting them instead of trying to turn the town against them. That sort of writing is irresponsible in any aspect of the word.

While we talk of our Police Force and Fire Department, we want to add that we are extremely fortunate to have the high quality personnel we have working in these positions. How long do you think the really good ones will stick around in this environment? They will leave for places where they can concentrate on their jobs instead of fielding personal attacks and ridiculous criticism. We have already lost officers who publicly stated they were leaving due to the negative political climate around here. Who can blame them?

There are other examples we could cite. In fact, we could go on for awhile. Instead, we are offering a public challenge for the TRR to move towards more responsible and credible writing on their site. They have the opportunity to offer a great service to this community. We are simply asking that they use it responsibly.

22 comments:

T said...

The RFP has challenged TRR to move toward more responsible and credible writing. For TRR to do so, I feel it is important that all understand and appreciate TRR’s view of Rumford’s municipal agencies and employees. I understand that some might think posting these quotes from TRR qualify as personal attacks or unsubstantiated opinion. I don’t believe they do as they are taken directly from TRR website. It is a fact that TRR made these charges and allegations. At least one RFP blogger recently suggested that TRR's articles had been more neutral. I disagree. Go here [http://www.therumfordreporter.com/2008/06/controversy-over-computer-contents.html] for TRR’s latest, unsubstantiated, anonymous attack against one of its former political foes:

TRR should not be allowed a free pass.


Quotes from The Rumford Reporter: "RPD Targets Board of Selectman Member for a Seatbelt Violation" *** "The Rumford Reporter predicted that the Rumford Police Department would start targeting the Rumford Finance Committee for decreasing their budget." *** "they [the Rumford Police Department] are going after our Rumford Board of Selectmen who support the decrease in their bloated budget" *** "This is exactly the kind of corruption that our town has been beat down with for years. And, if anyone stands up to the corruption, they are targeted by the very same police officers that WE pay for with OUR taxes. We say BRING IT ON!!!" *** “You [the Rumford Fire Department] are not above the law in other towns like you are here in Rumford." *** "once again you [the Rumford Fire Department] are lying to the public when you tell us that only the Rumford firefighters, not our volunteers, can drive those trucks." *** "The leaders (and past leaders) in our community use the Sun Journal and Rumford Falls Times to manipulate the citizenry" *** "This blanket statement can be applied to the River Valley Growth Council, Med-Care, the Rumford Fire Department, and especially the Rumford Police Department." *** "the Rumford Police Department supported a groundless allegation by a "shady" person and seized the opportunity to not only add another number but to go after a citizen who has been calling them out for quite some time." *** "it appears that the RPD doesn't like Mr. Carey because he has been questioning the police department budget since he has moved back to the area" *** "they [the Rumford Police Department] often in general harass people and charge people with things to justify their million dollar departmental budget" *** "the Rumford Police Department will find any way they can to pull you over or charge you with a trumped up charge if you have been targeted" *** "No wonder we hardly have any young people in Rumford. They are instant targets and because our police officers are determined to pad their statistics to justify their budgets" *** "Don't be surprised if they find ways to come after you in an effort to pad their statistics and fight the $100,000 decrease in their budget"

flat broke said...

I just read the River Valley section of the Sun Journal. There seems to be a sudden increase in crime. Maybe a precursor to what may come because of the cuts to the poice department?

Anonymous said...

The newspapers don't usually print all of the crimes. Before the election they were working the premise of budget cuts equating more crime. Now, they print more detail of the events that have been occurring to show that they were right. Hmmmm...

Anonymous said...

Or maybe there just happened to be a series of burglaries in Mexico that was newsworthy.

Not everything that occurs in town is a conspiracy against your agenda JC.

T said...

I am not of the belief that a smaller police force results in more crime. A smaller police force makes it more difficult to deal with crime (and certainly an increase in crime). More crime goes unsolved leaving a frustrated and angry community. Often, that anger is then directed at the PD as evidence of incompetence and more reason to cut its budget.

Anonymous said...

What agenda?? In small town politics it is called an agenda, in national politics, it called a platform. Call it what you want, the SJ is still biased.

Anonymous said...

I think they call all issues that you take a stand on your platform if you are running for office.

The TRR has an agenda and they use the site to drive that agenda. They pretend it's about providing some kind of public service but it is clearly to try to drive the agenda of the select few who think that their way is the only way and they know best. Unfortunately, some of their methods of driving the agenda have severely hurt the town, in my opinion and continues to hurt the town. They may soon rule the town of Rumford but I wonder how they will feel ruling a own ghost town. We have already lost some good people due to what I perceive as harassment. Now that their men control the selectboard and their town manager is in place, I wonder what witch hunt will be coming along next.

Anonymous said...

How is the SJ reporting on a string of burglaries and vandalism in the area being biased? You do sound paranoid.

T said...

"The TRR has an agenda and they use the site to drive that agenda."

There is nothing wrong with having an agenda provided what you publish is accurate and when it's found not to be, a retraction is posted. That would show integrity, which in my opinion, The Rumford Reporter lacks. The Rumford Reporter doesn't realize (or they don't care) that not doing so puts everything else they publish into question. Interestingly, The SunJournal, of which The Rumford Reporter has been extremely critical, has a page devoted to exactly that. The Rumford Reporter should follow The SunJournal's example. The Rumford Reporter might earn some credibility.

Anonymous said...

"I think they call all issues that you take a stand on your platform if you are running for office.
" How is that different than the issues I take a stand on???

T said...

Guess What Sun Journal? The "Tree Cutters" Are in Charge!

According to The Rumford Reporter, THEY (DiConzo and Boivin) ARE IN CHARGE NOW!

[http://www.therumfordreporter.com/2008/06/guess-what-sun-journal-tree-cutters-are.html]


I don't understand this group (TRR). Apparently they have the support of a majority of the citizens of Rumford. I hope they realize that Mr. DiConzo and Mr. Boivin, apparently alone (they are in charge), will be deciding their future.

RFP, it looks like The Rumford Reporter IS NOT accepting your challenge.

BTW, who are these people The Rumford Reporter keeps referring to?

The Sun Journal reporting and editorializing has negatively impacted our precious democracy because they sided with the squeaky wheels who behind the scenes have attempted to maintain the control they have held for over twenty years. Simply put, these are the same people who do not want to involve the community in the process. Unfortunately, our apathy has allowed these people to run things the way they saw fit for all these years. They have grown so comfortable with that role that they literally have been fighting to keep what they have grown so accustomed to: a lack of accountability.

flat broke said...

"Guess What Sun Journal? The "Tree Cutters" Are in Charge!" This is a headline from The Rumford Distorter. It speaks volumes by itself. The article goes even further to divulge, if you will, their agenda. It all seems to be about control and power.

flat broke said...

Apparently, The Rumford Distorter just found out that Barrack Obama's middle name is Hussein. How to be informed.

Anonymous said...

I disagree with t: I don't think TRR has the support of the majority. It may seem that way when you read their blog because they use words and phrases that make it seem they are speaking for the entire town. But, truly, I think they are only speaking for themselves, a handful of paranoid agitators. Their "reporting" is juvenile.

T said...

If The Rumford Reporter does not have the support of a majority of the people, why is there not more criticism of it? There seems to be very little. Is it apathy? I do agree, their reporting is juvenile (Guess What Sun Journal? The "Tree Cutters" Are in Charge!). Can you imagine the Sun Journal leading with such a headline?

T said...

HOLD THE PRESSES, BARACK OBAMA’S MIDDLE NAME IS HUSSEIN!!

Please….

From The Rumford Reporter: “We checked out the website [www.exposeobama.com] and the first thing we noticed is that there was a distinct similarity between this particular site and the Rumford Reporter. The blog authors actually are approaching issues in the same way that we have.”

This quote says it all. “The blog authors actually are approaching issues in the same way that we have.” This is true. In today’s politics, it’s called “swift boating”. The Rumford Reporter staff must be proud. They’ve brought “swift boating” to the River Valley.

I have a question. In the interest of fair and balanced reporting, why didn’t The Rumford Reporter include this link [http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/fightthesmearshome/] along side the “swift boating” link [www.exposeobama.com]?

For the record, I am not an Obama supporter.

flat broke said...

Amazing. I read some of the comments on taxes. They actually make Obama seem like a good choice. I am no supporter of Obama myself, but if I wanted to promte him, those are the comments I would use. And the Rumford Distorter likens itself to that site. Typical. Making statements without really looking for the facts.

flat broke said...

The Rumford Distorter has a new attack on Brad Adley. It seems that they have taken difference to him supporting candidates at his business. Apparently, he is not allowed to endorse candidates as a business person whom he thinks will serve his business best. They may be right that he shouldn't make endorsements as a selectman functioning in a selectmans position, but that sign they have in the photo is a business sign. As such, functioning as a businessman, he should be able to endorse whomever he chooses.
The same as any other business can. Nobody likes sore losers, but everybody likes a sore winner even less. The Distorter got their way with the election, but they still can't let things go. Sad.

T said...

Given that The Rumford Reporter will not publish anything I submit, I’d like to respond here to this recent “letter to the editor” of The Rumford Reporter.

BTW, who is The Rumford Reporter editor?

************************************************************************

If the Fire & Police Department Can't Do It, Then the Rumford BOS Shouldn't Either

Submitted by JSN at 6/23/2008 06:00:00 AM

Dear Editor,

After learning that the Rumford Police and Fire Department are not allowed to engage in political activity, I feel that this rule should also apply to our Rumford Board of Selectmen. This year Brad Adley, openly advocated for Rumford voter's to choose both Rob Cameron and Greg Buccina. And, he and his wife also paid for ads in both the Rumford Falls Times and the Sun Journal advocating for the Rumford voter's to elect Cameron and Buccina as well. I do not think that is fair, ethical, or appropriate.

The Rumford Board of Selectmen should be held to the same standards that they are holding the Department Heads and employees to. Whether Brad Adley meant to or not, it gave the appearance that he was trying to stack the Board with people who support his ideals and agendas. When in fact, we need a diverse group of people on the Rumford Board of Selectmen to ensure that all the perspectives are heard and acted upon.

This year I would like to suggest that we create a new ordinance that ensures that future Rumford Board of Selectmen members be held to the same standards as the Police and Fire Department and that they not be allowed to engage in political activity of any kind or be allowed to influence an appointment of any kind.

Jennifer Norris
Rumford Citizen


************************************************************************

Jennifer Stowell-Norris has one thing right. The rules should be applied equally. Where she is dead wrong is restricting anyone from engaging in political activity and their right to free expression. I was amazed to learn a while ago that municipal contract language restricts municipal employees from engaging in political activity. It would appear to me that such contract language abridges one’s constitutional rights. I would urge all union members make this an issue during their next round of contract negotiations and remove this repressive language from all contracts.

I stated previously that I felt The Rumford Reporter has the support of a majority of Rumford’s citizens. At least one disagreed with me. Evidence of that support would be if Jennifer Stowell-Norris is successful in enacting an ordinance preventing any citizen of Rumford from engaging in political activity and exercising their right to free speech.

T said...

Do these people really believe what they publish?

Quotes from The Rumford Reporter:

"For Mr. Buccina to deny Shurtleff and the Moontide Festival Committee the $8,000 for a fireworks show that not only entertains us as a community but entertains many, many other people from out of town is just plain criminal."

"For Mr. Buccina to state that he would not give Mr. Shurtleff the money because of "budgetary constraints" is reprehensible (just plain wrong)."

"This is the same guy (Mr. Buccina) who wanted the municipal budget to go in front of the voters with a ZERO so that they could decide how much they think each department should get because he didn't want to cut his (Mr. Buccina) friend's budgets at the Fire Department and Police Department. This is the same guy (Mr. Buccina) who also has consistently voted to spend money unnecessarily, i.e. infrastructure in the business park that has no businesses even interested, the white elephant town hall project, paying Eldridge the remainder of his salary despite an illegal contract, etc."


For what purpose does The Rumford Reporter include these statements as part of an article [http://www.therumfordreporter.com/2008/06/loss-of-moontide-festival-this-year-is.html] published by TRR Staff on 6/22/2008? Mr. Buccina is no longer a member of the Rumford Board of Selectmen. How long will Mr. Buccina, or any former board member for that matter, have to be subjected to public ridicule? The Rumford Reporter criticizes the Sun Journal for the very same behavior. Is this the pot calling the kettle black? Is it simply juvenile payback? Mr. Doar was and continues to be subjected to the same public ridicule.

I laughed out loud at the statement "Out of a roughly 7 million dollar municipal budget, $8,000 is a drop in the bucket" considering The Rumford Reporter's motto is "Integrity, Accountability, & Fiscal Responsibility".

flat broke said...

T, have you noticed that the Rumford Distorter seems to be implying that if Rumford puts benches here and there and plants a few shrubs, Rumford will be saved? I'm not seeing where that train of thought is coming from. The way I see it is you have to attract business to attract employees who will want to settle here. Then maybe the benches will be a good idea. They seem to be pushing that idea as a field of dreams. I see it as a field of far-fetched fantasies.

Anonymous said...

Howdy

It is my first time here. I just wanted to say hi!