Dear Editor,
I am amazed and appalled that current Supt. Egbert Stang cites “that there was not sufficient evidence that this was an issue of public interest” and further he reasons that the Westlock News is the only one to request such information. What in the world does he think the function of a free press is all about? We are all busy people. We rely on our independent media to protect and research our interests. Put aside Facebook, Twitter and their ilk. They have no legal or moral obligations to tell the truth and much of that information is suspect. An investigative journalist is the watchdog for our community. The closer to home the issue, the more important it is.
We stay glued to Fox &CNN, but our ability to influence those reported events is practically nil. Our everyday lives and our pocketbooks are directly impacted by current events in our own back yard. To ask a newspaper to pay for public information is a travesty.
I could refer to many issues of graft and political misconduct uncovered by one or two diligent reporters, but I will remind you of one rather high-profile story. The Washington Post and Watergate. I wasn’t terribly interested in this story of Harvey’s departure until all this stonewalling from the board.
There seems to be a common theme in the attitude of people in ‘power’ in this municipal district and that is: “we are in charge, how dare you question us, even if you’re paying our salaries?”
BJ Smith,
Jarvie
