Tabloid Journalism
by Jesse J. Lewis, Sr.
I have deep concerns about the commentary in your April 8th publication called ‘A changed man?’ written by Mark Kelly, Publisher of Weld for Birmingham.
The first five paragraphs were written regarding William Bell’s entire political life. Incidentally, I have written a similar article in the past, where at the end of the article, I complimented Bell on his resilience. Here’s a man who wanted to be Mayor of the city for almost 30 years. Finally, he reached his dream. To me this person should be commended.
My concerns are that you stated in your article, when you privately met with two businessmen, and the one of them stated, “Given William’s history, I just hope he gets through the next four years without doing something to screw it up.”
To me this is tabloid journalism. If you can not name the person speaking, it should not be written.
The article also alluded to a cost overrun at Regions Park. A cost overrun on any project is due, for the most part, to changes after the fact. In other words, there were several construction additions to the original architectural plans; thus the cost overrun.
The article went on to say, ‘Bell is running full-speed in the wrong direction. Rather than dedicating himself to the hard work of becoming a great mayor in his own right, he has made, or attempted to make, a series of deals that are good for cronies and bad for taxpayers, and engineered, or attempted to engineer, several heavy-handed power plays that would institutionalize the mechanisms of graft.’ Which is totally, completely asinine. In the event the writer has proof of this, it should be presented to legal authorities.
The article also stated: (Bell) wants to gain control of the boards and alter the employment practices of the Birmingham-Jefferson Transit Authority, the Birmingham Housing Authority and the new Land Bank Authority.
There is no such evidence. Every mayor and every governor always attempt to assign board and agency positions to people who are qualified, worked in their campaigns and their friends.
Again stated in the article ‘And to top it off, according to sources inside City Hall, the upshot of all of this bad dealing – and the general lack of either competence or ethics (or both) on the mayor’s senior staff – the possibility that the city soon will be shown to be running a deficit of somewhere between $12 million and $18 million.’
There’s nothing wrong with anyone in the media reporting on politicians, as it relates to any phase of their life, but there is something wrong with the media making unsubstantiated accusations.
What they should have reported on are the awards won over the past several years under the tutelage of William Bell:
1. The opening of Birmingham’s Uptown Entertainment District.
2. Birmingham, an All-American City.
3. Birmingham becomes a destination.
4. A return to downtown Birmingham
5. The Birmingham City School system is headed in the right direction.
6. Birmingham Crossplex becomes an International Sports Venue.
7. Celebration of 50 years – Empowerment Week.
8. The return of baseball to Birmingham with the new Regions Field.
Everyone knows, and has known for many years, that Mark Kelly has never been a fan of William Bell, and my guess is, he never will be.
email: jjlewis@birminghamtimes.com
