The editorial in this past Monday’s Courier-News (11/29) left me with the feeling that the editor of the paper reached deep down into the cesspool where some newspaper editors find their material. This editorial was nothing more than a journalistic lynching of a private citizen. At best, it was disparaging and, at worst, it was slanderous to the former Corporation Counsel, Jackie Drakeford.
First of all, for the Courier to opine that “The City Council has hired an old ally of the late former mayor, Al McWilliams” and that by choosing her “guarantees that the probe will be tainted, regardless of the outcome” is just plain wrong. It suggests that all appointees of a chief executive are allies of the chief executive and are therefore incapable of being objective and impartial. If one were to swallow such twisted logic, one might arrive at the conclusion that the current Corporation Counsel, Dan Williamson, is an ally of Mayor Briggs, who appointed him, and that, therefore, any opinion he renders to the City Council pertaining to her would be tainted by his allegiance.
Furthermore, for the editor to insinuate that the probe of the $20,000 expenditure is about “New versus Old Democrats” is a conclusion that has been reached through a pair of myopic lenses. The idea for a probe into the expenditure in question came from Councilor Rashid Burney, who has disavowed any and all connections he has had to the New Democrats; he did so way back in 2005 and has been a loyal disciple of Assemblyman Green and the “Old Guard” ever since.
This probe is about actions that are questionable and the council’s desire to get to the facts so that decisions can be made in the best interest of the tax payers of Plainfield.
Finally, the editor’s conclusion that “What Plainfield needs is someone without any agenda” is an unfair presupposition about Mrs. Drakeford and her politics. Here again, the editor besmirches Mrs. Drakeford by insinuating that she has an ax to grind and would therefore use it to pin the Mayor against a wall.
This kind of journalism that attacks the reputation and credibility of a private citizen who has a stellar reputation must be seen for what it is, an "Evil Knievel" leap of monstrous proportions fraught with danger. It’s a leap that sullies the name of a decent private citizen who has stayed clear of politics for as long as I have known her. She does not deserve to be tarred with the brush of political affiliation.
Mrs. Drakeford deserves an apology from the editor of the Courier-News.
Regards,
Adrian
The only reputation injured here is that of Councilman Burney. He is far too serious a citizen to be fairly characterized as a "loyal disciple of Assemblyman Green." The insult is unjustified.
ReplyDeleteAs for Ms. Drakeford, the Council should have appointed an investigator who is apolitical and without ties to the former administration.
Notes from Underground
Mr. Mapp:
ReplyDeleteWhy take umbrage over what Mr. Burey did in the past. He will not be on the Counsel after January; Apples to Oranges. Right now, it seems to the unbiased eye that you should have considered the ramifications of appointing Ms. Drakeford and approving such an appointment with clear vision as to the ramifications of such. But you also voted for Dunn and the Incubator grant; so I think vision and the appearance of such, may be a problem for the Counsel. Pobre Plainfield. Que Loco!
Wait a minute: Rashid Burney is "a loyal disciple of Assemblyman Green" but Sharon is suppose to be a Green pawn, so if Burney called for the investigation of the Mayor then the house is divided against itself and cannot stand. Or maybe your analysis is skewered.
ReplyDeleteseveral times the editorial stressed the "perceived" conflicts of interest. IE: even a whiffof a conflict of interest shouldnt be as if deliterious results come out of the "inquisition" then the old guard can easily pounce on the perception sullying the inquest and still raising questions as to the objectivity. You appeared to have gone overboard on the interpretation of the editorial.
ReplyDeleteYou can't be serious Adrian. Apology for what? This is a case where perception is as important as reality. Regardless of who suggested Ms. Drakeford it was a poor choice and you should have understood that at go!
ReplyDeleteThen to attack Burney was just wrong. Unless you are on the record suggesting that her appointment could be problematic you don't really have a leg to stand on.
You are way off on this. You cannot even get an appointment right? All those policitcal contributions?
ReplyDeleteI also heard she had filed a lawsuit and walked away with another $60,000 from taxpayers.
Now you want to appoint her again?
This reeks of pay-to-play and it reeks of cronism.
Burney was the one who recommended Mrs. Drakeford to the Council President and to the Council.
ReplyDelete