FeedLocal: PJS finds a new way to criticize Mayor Ardis
May 12, 2008 in Local, Watchdog Tags: Ardis, Journal Star, race relations
The Peoria Journal Star couldn’t find a way to mention Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis’ name even once when it devoted four stories Sunday to how the murder rate has dropped (details avaialable here).
But when they ran a story today casting doubt on the success of a committee that’s just getting off the ground, this is the first paragraph:
As Mayor Jim Ardis’ Race Relations Commission begins its work, there are some black leaders in the community who are skeptical on how much the group can accomplish.
My two cents: Expect more of this bias the closer we get to municipal elections.
May 12th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Does anyone really think that a dude or dudette who murders someone really gives a damn who the mayor is? Who came up with this brilliant relationship? It’s every bit as idiotic to think that Ardis can lower the murder rate, as it is to blame him if the murder rate goes up.
The only thing that might have an effect on the rate (and it’s a damned large MIGHT) is if we put another 200 cops on the streets. Don’t think that’s gonna happen.
May 12th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Prego Man -
I have to slightly disagree…..more cops on the street is unlikely to reduce the number of murders - but they may increase the number of arrests. Unfortunately, police presence is not the panacea to reducing the proclivity to reduce crime……while it has an impact by making the criminals life more difficult, most crime is detered less from feet on the street than many other activities.
May 12th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Since when does a reporter have to contact the Mayor for a crime story? The Mayor is hard enough to get a hold of during the day for comment anyway since he’s “so busy” working on Water Street. He’s had a vendetta with the PJS ever since he publically made a stance that they should stop reporting negative news in the city and reported his son’s DUI.
Any Mayor that tries to convince the public to “boycott” their daily newspaper, which employs several hundred people, has a black mark in my book. Great idea Mayor, lets openly try to run a large business into bankruptcy because you lack a backbone. Go whine to someone who cares, meanwhile another building sits vacant. Great leadership.
May 12th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Oh, bull. I’ve documented enough instances of the PJS bias against the mayor. I’m not opposed to bias, as long as it isn’t cloaked in fake objectivity.
May 14th, 2008 at 11:10 am
The mayor don’t need the JS to be biased against him. One thing the man ran on to get elected was getting rid of the garbage tax. Where is his stand on that now? I want to know because he ain’t done what he has said. If anyone can correct me on this then I’ll take it but the man, Ardis, ain’t of his word today.