Hello, Yupette,
Like many other Arlington residents, I was shaken by the letter that appeared on this week's Arlington Sun Gazette opinion pages. Obviously, Sun Gazette Editor Scott McCaffrey has a massive conflict of interest between being Managing Editor of the SG and his position on the Executive Committee of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.
Scott has ignored any criticism about this matter and the only response he's published on his blog stated that the SG is "not a reputable newspaper" but a real estate supplement with Scott's news and views attached.
You sure could have fooled me, and I'm a former Civic Federation Delegate. The CivFed and all the political candidates have taken Scott and his civic news and political endorsements very seriously over the years.
It is time for Mr. McCaffrey to immediately resign from the Arlington Chamber's Board of Directors. Moreover, if the Sun Gazette's parent corporation, American Community Newspapers, had any pretense of actually being "for the community" it would have not allowed Mr. McCaffrey to pursue his real estate and chamber of commerce interests against the community's interests, and would have brought in a new Managing Editor for the Sun Gazette when American Community Newspapers shed it's irresponsible managers and emerged from bankruptcy last year.
Westover Resident
16 comments:
I HOPE any candidates who are running for office in Arlington read the above.
If McCaffrey categorizes the Sun Gazette as a real eastate supplement with news attached why does he make such a big deal about endorsing candidates and handing out Thumbs Ups and Thumbs Downs every week?
While you're at it, how about thread that reads something like: "The Arlington Chamber of Commerce Serves the Interests of Its Big Business Board Members"?
I own a small business and won't join the Arlington Chamber of Commerce unless and until the Chamber becomes small business friendly.
Does a majority of the Arlington Chamber's Board of Directors even live in Arlington?
This unethical behavior didn't start with McCaffrey, it started with Nick Benton, publisher and editor of the Falls Church News-Press, who served as President of the FC Chamber of Commerce for several years 15 years ago.
Insofar as I can determine, meetings of the Arlington Chamber's Executive Committee are closed to the public and minutes are not available to the public.
Another non governmental organization that governs our lives.
Well, small businessperson, you shouldn't wonder why both the Chamber and the Sun Gazette allowed the anti-small business Ballston BID to be formed by "Reitsfuhrer" Von Zimmerman.
Supposedly, General Electric and the other Fortune 100s who own the Sun Gazette's parent installed responsible corporate management after the company emerged from bankruptcy.
So, you can try e-mailing the CEO, Richard Franks: dfranks at acnpapers dot com.
The American Community Newspapers Management in Dallas are all Bush Republicans.
They are ALL anti small business, whether it's Von Zimmerman, McCaffrey, O'Leary, etc. We are nothing but a source of income / revenue for their own interests.
No they are a damn flock of vultures.
McCaffrey now admits that the Chamber Executive Committee meetings are secret and the Chamber is only accountable to itself. Some "journalist".
Why doesn't the Chamber find McCaffrey another job, in real estate news, for example? A win-win-win, for them, him, and us. I do not appreciate McCaffrey imposing the Arlington Chamber's agenda on us via his newspapers news and editorial columns. I agree he should not endorse candidates and offer editorial opinions if he is going to continue to manage the Sun Gazette..
The Sun Gazette's offices are in Springfield so it's pretty outrageous for McCaffrey to support imposing a BID on Ballston businesses.
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