Tuesday, February 16, 2016

[A LOOK BACK] One of the ways you know it's getting close to election day in Lake Worth

[A Look Back to mid-January: The "curfew" nonsense has dwindled somewhat since mid-January, although one local TV news station (the always bottom-dweller in the ratings), is trying to keep the misinformation alive. Some editor(s) at The Palm Beach Post clearly employed an unethical tactic called loaded language. In the article by the Post reporter Kevin Thompson the word "curfew" is not used one single time (the word Thompson uses is "ordinance"). The word "curfew" (the definition understood by nearly everyone) is a way for the authorities and governments to keep you inside your home and not free to go about your life. The City of  Lake Worth IS NOT suggesting that or considering that as an option.
The definition of the word "curfew" understood by most in the public. It's a loaded word used to elicit a negative reaction.
The Post was clearly, and cleverly, trying to manipulate the public. I could go on but won't—except for this: Remember this when it comes time for their editorial board to begin their election endorsement process. Not just in Lake Worth but everywhere in Palm Beach County. The Post would never endorse an Anarchist for a City Commission seat but in a de-facto way they already did by showing their willingness to push forward this mis- and disinformation in the community.

Continue reading below the blog post from January 22nd after the "curfew", errrr, the debate over the City's new ordinance to control park hours began. . .]
In the article by reporter Kevin Thompson the word "curfew" is not used one single time.
Curfew? Here is one of the definitions of the word curfew that most people think of when they hear the word:
regulation requiring a person to be home at a certain prescribed time
I know a lot of people in Lake Worth and elsewhere got angry as hell when they saw the headline this morning, above the fold on the first page. But this is Free Speech and what happens when you have a newspaper without competition.

It's a very clever headline and hope you all had a good hard laugh when you settled on the word curfew. But did you know The Palm Beach Post paper you read today wouldn't have happened if it weren't for the Sun Sentinel in Broward County? That's right. The Post needs the Sentinel to print their papers and then all those bundles of papers are shipped by big trucks north to Palm Beach County. Just think of all the fossil fuels that have been wasted over all these years.

Anyhow, now the City and PBSO and a whole lot of other groups like the NAPC, for example, that are working so hard to make this City a better place to live woke up today to discover their jobs became a little bit harder because of a few people at our paper of record. They're going to have to explain to the public there is no curfew and they are still free to leave their homes at night.

You can get mad or, if you get the paper delivered, you can call this number (800-926-7678) and tell the Post you don't want their paper any more. Or you can call the Managing Editor, Nick Moschella (561-820-4441), and ask him why the word 'curfew' was used. There might be a few businesses like a major car dealership that will become very unhappy that it's been reported, falsely, that a curfew will be enforced in Lake Worth. Will any restaurants lose customers or will the Lake Worth Playhouse sell a few less tickets? It's hard to tell.

Don't get angry. Do something. Like make a few phone calls. And if you want to learn more about what the Lake Worth City Commission really did to help clean up areas like the Cultural Plaza of criminal activity pick up a copy of The Lake Worth Herald.