Huntersville, especially, owes a debt of gratitude to the "Big O," as we unworthy subjects refer to the Queen City's bastion of journalistic excellence and all things political.
In Huntersville, "several candidates said the construction of a new police department and fiscal responsibility are the top issues for this election season," the Observer reported as part of its comprehensive preview of Election Day in the Charlotte region.
Good to know, Big O! Thanks!
And thanks for noting that candidate Brian Sisson, who challenged Huntersville Mayor Jill Swain in 2009 and lost, was pushing for a new police station when he left the board two years ago.
"Today, the Huntersville Town Board is still talking about a new police department," the Observer quoted Sisson as saying. "They can spend $80,000 to widen a bridge to allow bicycles 30 years from now, but can't figure out how to create a safe environment for our civilian and sworn police personnel."
Great stuff! Except that (OOPS!) the town unveiled plans Oct. 17 to buy a vacant building in The Park-Huntersville and convert it into the long-awaited new police station, a proposal enthusiastically endorsed by Police Chief Phil Potter and, consequently, eliminated as a political piñata.
But, hey, Talkers reckon we should be grateful that the folks at the Big O pay us any mind at all. Maybe they'll stop by and get a few photos when Andy and Barney move into the new station!
Davidsonnews.notyet?
Talkers do like to talk, when they have something to talk about, and they rely on the news media to serve up a good bit of the fodder.
This week, though, Talkers were flummoxed by what a particular news outlet chose not to report for nearly a full week. The Town of Davidson was sued Nov. 2 over a September rezoning decision by the town board. The Citizen managed to get a copy of the lawsuit just before its deadline and ran a brief story in its Nov. 4 edition.
Being a curious bunch, Talkers were interested to see how the lawsuit would play among Davidsonians just days before a municipal election, so they monitored a certain online publication that bills itself as the daily news outlet of record in Davidson.
The same news outlet last year criticized this newspaper for printing the names of people arrested for crimes before they went to trial, and invited its readers to comment on that practice.
As for the lawsuit story, Talkers checked on Nov. 2. No story. Nov. 3. No story. Nov. 4. No story. Nov. 5. No story. Nov. 6. No story. Nov. 7. No story.
Finally, on Nov. 8 (also Election Day, after most voters had gone to the polls), the story appeared. Coincidence? Talkers have their opinion. What about you?
