Stop, Drop and Roll

03 August 2007 | Alameda City Council, Alameda Community Development Forum, Alameda Truthiness | John Knox White

Today’s Alameda Journal announces a number of awards that the paper has recently won. Including Editor Jeff Mitchell for his story which uncovered the issue the AP&T inter-agency fund loans last fall. Recently, there appears to be a growing drumbeat, growing out of the place called “Action Alameda” (which I use to indicate a state of mind, rather than the actual organization). The mantra goes “nobody reads the Alameda Journal.” And it’s starting to catch on I think, this idea that the Journal is not worth reading.

Having nothing to do with my writing a monthly column for the paper, I’ve been pretty impressed with the coverage the paper has been giving local issues. Fewer “Ah look at the puppy” type stories, and more stories that actually break the news (aka scoop). (This isn’t just true for the Journal, the Alameda Sun has been making great strides as well recently). Part of the perception is the Tuesday Edition, which is often heavy on ads with only 2 or 3 real stories, but people need to get beyond the quantitative and appreciate the qualitative.

Which, it being Don and Babs week, brings us to Alameda Daily News, who announced having “scooped” the Alameda Times Star for breaking the story that Don Roberts’ copy of the Times-Star was not delivered on Wednesday. I kid you not! This is where things have come to? As the Alameda Daily Noose points out in their great parody today, ADN doesn’t even attempt to find out what was wrong with Alameda’s delivery of the Times Star (it appears to have happened to more than just Don).

So the current Alameda Journal has now won meaningful awards, while the “daily news” continues to crow about some vague award won years ago from a meaningless source. Interesting, to say the least. (a bit embarassing, to say a bit more).

At the Alameda Democratic Club, former councilmember Barbara Kerr made the claim that the current City Council had decided to ignore the General Plan and to stop trying to create a public park on the Estuary at what is currently called the “Collins Property.”

Anyone who’s been paying attention knows that this is absolutely untrue. Those same people (the ones who are paying attention) know that at the last council meeting on the subject, the council made it clear that the park was a priority for the city and that now Mr. Collins, is suing the city. One of the issues? That the city wants to build a park on his property. (I believe his claim is not “no park” but more “buy it from me, or shut up” but I need to learn more).

Which brings us back to the Alameda Journal and “journalism” (which is not blogging). Today’s issue has good information on both the Collins lawsuit/Esutaury Park, as well as a brewing “fight” amongst former allies, over what kind of park should the Beltline become. Today’s ADN announces movie times for Central Cinemas and accidentally runs tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) Post as well (under a heading “Saturday, August 4″) announcing some family information (my sincere condolences to the Roberts family for their loss).

Have a great weekend, and I hope to see you at the Locals, the new art show opening at Rhythmix Cultural Works tonight from 6-8.