TAB in a Strange Orbit.
By Jim Conley • April 26th, 2007 • Email This Post to a Friend •
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As forecast, the Brookline TAB has thrown its endorsement to Selectman’s candidate Jesse Mermell. Not that it matters; this election was decided a long time ago.
I had posted previously that I couldn’t imagine on what grounds a newspaper could see their way clear to endorsing Mermell, expecting that the editors might take a view that extends beyond their meeting with the candidates. I was wrong. Apparently young Jesse was just awesome! in her meeting with them.
Here’s an excerpt:
“We asked her what, if anything, could be done to help those people that made too much money to qualify for “affordable housing” or special subsidized loans, but not enough to live in Brookline on their own paycheck. This is an issue that we believe is important to preserving economic diversity in town, but one which doesn’t seem to have a solution, at least on a local level.
She offered up a suggestion: Better publicizing the town’s residential tax exemption. This was notable — not because her idea is going to help many, if any, priced-out homebuyers, and she admitted as much. It stood out because she is the first candidate for any office, local or state, we have ever heard actually take a stab at that question.”
That’s the first they’ve heard of a candidate taking a stab at that question? And the answer is to publicize the residential exemption? And it’s notable because it won’t really matter?
What the…?
This analysis assumes the problem is that people can’t afford to buy in Brookline (and a little publicity will convince them otherwise). Purchase affordability is a problem (as detailed in the post below).
But the bigger problem is that many people can’t afford to live here. The residential exemption makes no difference in their plight; it’s been factored into income/affordability. Brookline is the second most expensive Massachusetts municipality in which to own a home - the result of taxes, fees and insurance on overvalued property. (Not to mention the rents charged.)
The cost of living in Brookline is where the affordability question ought to center. And it’s why a Proposition 2.5 over-ride would be disastrous to Brookline. Mermell takes no stand on that question.
With this deep thinking added to a board of lightweights, we’re screwed.
Update: Oh and let’s not forget what happened the last time the TAB upset the political establishment with an endorsement. Out came the Scream Team, with their full page ad blasting the paper for not endorsing Deb Goldberg. Seeing as how a lot of the names listed in the ad are Mermell supporters, maybe intimidation does work.
Jim Conley is publisher of On Brookline.
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The TAB has occasionally editorially featured its “Thumbs Up”, “Thumbs Down” awards for certain actions or inactions in our Town. The TAB’s editorial today appears to have the TAB’s Thumb heavily on the Mermell side of the butcher scale when it is obvious, based upon the respective qualifications of Mermell and Levine, that all the weight is on Levine’s side. The TAB editorial says more about Mermell than Mermell says about herself. What does the TAB editorial say about Levine?
“But Levine’s many talents, while clear on paper and in his writings, do not translate as well to public speaking and live debate, a significant disadvantage for a selectman.”
Yes, the TAB editorial said this just after saying of Levine:
“And he is an intellectual superstar, as evidenced by his resume.”
Perhaps the writer of this TAB editorial was sucking his/her “Thumb” and thinking of advertisers and the “usual suspects” supporting Mermell that the TAB relies upon for whatever news it may produce from time to time. I would suggest that the writer of this TAB editorial read the transcript of the BOS hearing on whether or not there should be an investigation of the DPW to see for him/herself how well Mermell’s Selectmen endorsers (Allen, Hoy and Daly) performed with their “public speaking and live debate.” Better yet, get the video.
Did the TAB editorial address the fact that Mermell has the endorsements of three out of the five current Selectmen? Does the TAB ignore the fraternal order treatment by these sitting Selectmen? Perhaps Mermell fits their molds. But how successful have their molds been for our Town? Besides, by Allen, Hoy and Daly supporting Mermell, they knock off potential competition when they come up for reelection - Hoy and Daly next year, and Allen the year after.
I give the TAB editorial my “THUMB SUCK UP” seal. Perhaps it is not only the Town that needs responsible adults.
By the way, I hope that the TAB’s staff watched Bill Moyers’ PBS special last night for a lesson on the need for real journalism. It is a lesson to be heeded. Just keeping TABS on the TAB.
The TAB was taken to the woodshed last year by advertisers and the “usual suspects” for its editorial support of someone other than local favorite Debbie (I still can’t call her Deb) Goldberg in the Democratic primary for Lt. Gov. The TAB may have learned its lesson in coming up with its editorial endorsement of Jesse Mermell, who has described herself as a one trick pony. That one trick was apparently successful with the TAB editorial staff. But will the TAB be there to do the clean-up? Some of us will remind the TAB from time to time. Perhaps the TAB may now assign a reporter to attend ENTIRE BOS meetings to report on Jesse’s superior skills at “public speaking and live debate.”
BUT WAIT A MINUTE! JULIUS LEVINE MAY JUST WIN OUT. AFTER ALL, THE TAB’S SELECTION FOR LT. GOV. DID NOT PREVAIL IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY (NOR DID DEBBIE). THERE MAY BE MANY VOTERS WHO WILL SEE THROUGH THE YOUTHFUL TAB EDITORIAL STAFF SUPPORTING YOUTH AS NOT SO RESPONSIBLE. THIS EDITORIAL INSULTED AN ACCOMPLISHED CANDIDATE. MICHAEL SHER’S VOICE WAS SILENCED. THIS EDITORIAL MAY DISCOURAGE CREDENTIALED CIVIC MINDED PERSONS FROM RUNNING FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE IN BROOKLINE.
The Brookline TAB’s editorials are generally unsigned. Until last Fall’s election campaigns I had been under the impression that the Brookline TAB’s Editor wrote its editorials, perhaps with staff discussion. I thought the Brookline TAB had autonomy. But last Fall, it seems that Greg Reibman, the TAB family of weeklies’ Editor in Chief, authored (or directed) the Brookline TAB’s editorial supporting a Lt. Gov. candidate in the Democratic primary other than Brookline’s own former BOS Chair Debbie Goldberg. There may have been some concern at that time on the part of the then Brookline TAB Editor Lesley Mahoney and her staff. But Greg was (and remains) the Boss. Greg came out of the closet to defend his endorsement quite vocally. After all, he’s the boss.
The Brookline TAB’s endorsement editorially of Jesse Mermell yesterday was apparently authored by Greg. He seems to step in on the really, really big decisions at the Brookline TAB. So much for autonomy at the Brookline TAB. Greg is the wizard behind the curtain. But I note that in other TAB weeklies in the area, there is much greater autonomy for editors and staff covering their communities. Perhaps this accounts for the revolving door of editors and reporters at the Brookline TAB. Just why does Greg maintain such a tight rein over the Brookline TAB’s stafff? TAB weeklies for areas surrounding Brookline seem to report much more news.
So perhaps for purposes of full disclosure, the Brookline TAB should have its editorials signed or at a minimum provide a clear statement that might explain its editorial policy. We want Town government to be transparent; why not the Brookline TAB as well?
My advice to the current Editor, staff and reporters of the Brookline TAB is to read and reread with care the May 18, 2005, graduation speech delivered by the late David Halberstam to the Columbia University School of Journalism class of 2005 which had bestowed upon him its Columbia Journalism Award. The speech is available at:
Click to read article
This should stiffen the spines of those who wish to become journalists as well as serve to let readers know what to expect from a real journalist.
Hey Archie: Just as its preferable to know a thing or two about a candidate before you endorse them, its always good to ask someone about something you know nothing about. Our editorial process is not a secret. If you or the other person who reads this blog would like to discuss this with me, give me a call.
Greg, wouldn’t it be appropriate for the policy or process to be in writing, as sort of an editorial mission statement, and then made available to the readers, not just those who might ask? (Frankly, I would be surprised if the TAB’s policy or process is not in writing.) Perhaps when I get some time this afternoon I can “google” “editorial policy” to get an idea as to what well established newspapers/periodicals have to offer in this regard. But putting the TAB’s in writing and publishing it should be a simple matter for such a huge weekly, unless it changes according to moods of editors.
I watched Bill Moyers last night on PBS with his guests Jon Stewart and Josh Marshall. Journalism is not dead. Moyers paid tribute to the late David Halberstam, describing him as a mentor even though only a few months separated them by age. A few minutes ago I came up with this article by Halberstam in the Nov/Dec issue of the Columbia Journalism Review that should be of interest to budding journalists and those of us who rely upon the good journalism promised by the Speech clause of the First Amendment:
Click to read article
Good journalists are not the enemy; they are our heroes.
Frank Rich’s NYTimes column today titled “All the President’s Press” pulls together some of the thoughts I have commented on recently pertaining to journalism. Good journalism doesn’t trickle down from the top; it starts from the bottom up. It’s clear that in the past 6 years the national press has failed us. The movement, including in particular via the Internet, has stirred the grassroots to action. This action is starting to work up towards the top. Now if only the grass would take root in Brookline.
[...] Last week the Editor in Chief of the Brookline TAB Greg Reibman took to their blog and this one to say that readership at On Brookline was so low it consisted of only two people. You can read the comments here and here. [...]
[...] TAB in a Strange Orbit.As forecast, the Brookline TAB has thrown its endorsement to Selectman’s candidate… [...]