By Scott Sullivan
Editor
All Things Pass
Ah, joys of being a weekly print paper. We go to press on election Tuesdays long before polls close, so our Thursday-dated issues come out sans outcomes.
Of course, readers who care can learn them on our webpage as soon as posted or hear results from still more-immediate media. You don’t read an encyclopedia to learn the latest about Beyoncé, nor a weekly for last night’s news.
After 18 years as editor, I’m resigned to it. The lag at least allows more time to research for depth and context. Plus there’s local news, features and pictures here that you’ll find enowhere else
Tuesday, Oct. 29, posed another challenge. For two week’s I’d known about a campaign finance complaint filed with the Michigan Board of Elections concerning the entity EPIC — Empowering People to Invest in Communities — supporting three Saugatuck City Council candidates.
But allegations are only that. Anyone can claim anything, as we’ve seen for months nationwide in campaign fliers, ads amd speeches leading up to Nov. 5.
Absent word that the state was taking action on this complaint, and knowing our Halloween-dated issue would be our last before the election, editorially we held on it.
I love my country and hate seeing people, no matter their views, torn down. But free speech — which includes criticisms, sometimes justified, even constructive — also helps make America great, not “again” but always.
Hence, write a letter to the editor, buy an ad which allows more leeway such as use of passive voice, not directly attributing one’s sources, and we will print it — if:
- It stops shy of libel or slander,
- The letter is not written by an active candidate. We’re a business; The Commercial Record has bills to pay, same as you. Let seekers of paid public office campaign on their own time and dime; and
- Endorses named individuals seeking said positions.
We’d debase our own ad base if we did either of the latter. Discussion of issues is welcome and encouraged, stopping shy of that.
This year’s Saugatuck hot-button issue has been short-term rentals. Candidates’ stances were known — this-year active candidates Helen Baldwin, Scott Dean and Lauren Stanton joined Holly Anderson voting this summer for 20-percent caps in the R-1 Residential district.
Another incumbent candidate, Gregory Muncey, joined peer Russ Gardner (whose term like Anderson’s, will not expire till next year) voting “no.”
Nov. 5 challengers Joe Leonatti, Chris Peterson and Sherry Tedaldi joined the latter contending that an independent economic-impact study, and possibly referendum, should have preceded a decision affecting so many people.
Given that, the question was, “Do we allow letters to the editor about STRs as long as they stop shy of naming candidates’ names? We decided yes, which too might be argued. It is the democratic way.
Many newspapers years ago ceased printing letters to the editor. Who has time to fact-check all allegations some writers make? It would take more staff and time than these days we have.
Social media has allowed what was once civil discourse to become a largely anonymous, accusation-slinging Wild, Wild West. With free-speech rights go responsibilities.
The state acting to investigate complaints about EPIC triggered this week’s Page A1 story being printed. In a small town we hear rumors and unconfirmed allegations all the time. It’s not ours to judge.
In other All Things Pass news last week, the late R.J. Peterson’s home was razed. There is a story about that elsewhere this week too.
The land’s new owner no doubt has newer and better plans for it. R.J.’s Tower Marine is in good hands with Safe Harbor, and I’m confident his former home’s owners will do something beautiful on that property as well.
