An Open Letter to Steve Kelly
Palm Springs, California. An Open Letter to Steve Kelly is a copy of one posted in my blog on MyDesert.com. It's intended for KPSI broadcaster Stephen Kelly who hosts the morning Desert Today program on that radio station.
Dear Steve:
I've been listening to your morning Desert Today program on KPSI NewsTalk Radio 920. This week the proposed Whitewater Prison Facility has been something of a hot topic for you. You've provided considerable publicity to Saturday's Town Hall Forum - a gathering sponsored by the Palm Springs Neighborhood Involvement Committee (PSNIC). That event has benefited from a number of media advertisements involving PSNIC, Mayor Steve Pougnet and former supervisorial candidate Gary Jeandron. It's occurring at the Camelot Theatre and in a community hostile to the proposed prison's location. It's being sponsored by an agency of the city most hostile to the proposal and the meeting is one in which prison location opponents are expected to outnumber supporters by more than 10 to 1. The Town Hall meeting may be more spectacle than productive conversation with viewing potential comparable to a ticketed sporting event.
Your live program interview with PSNIC representative David Carden made clear his, and possibly your own opposition to the prison location and to 4th District Supervisor Marion Ashley in whose district it's planned location sits. Although the Town Hall Forum is not being held in his district, you and Carden have strongly criticized Supervisor Ashley for not attending the meeting. Since the proposed prison location is in his district and he is supportive of that location, he appears to be the villain in this saga. Carden's announced intent to place an empty chair labeled with the supervisor's name (reminding all of his absence) on the forum's stage made clear he intends to personalize the prison location issue and make Ashley a target. I find it hard to condemn Supervisor Ashley for his lack of interest in being the lamb invited to the slaughterhouse.
It's often your practice to make open disclosure statements, and you routinely do this when mentioning the Camelot Theatre, reminding us it and KPSI share common ownership. However, I believe you've been less open when it comes to disclosure of KPSI ownership's opposition to the proposed prison facility location. As we both know, Ric & Rozene Supple, owners of KPSI and RR Broadcasting, oppose the Whitewater location and are active and committed leaders in the organized opposition movement. Since they are your employers and are so heavily involved, would it not be appropriate for you to report that in each instance during your discussion of the subject?
Here's my suggestion for a "canned" disclosure statement you might consider adopting.
We're still friends - aren't we?
Best regards,
Bond Shands
Palm Springs
Dear Steve:
I've been listening to your morning Desert Today program on KPSI NewsTalk Radio 920. This week the proposed Whitewater Prison Facility has been something of a hot topic for you. You've provided considerable publicity to Saturday's Town Hall Forum - a gathering sponsored by the Palm Springs Neighborhood Involvement Committee (PSNIC). That event has benefited from a number of media advertisements involving PSNIC, Mayor Steve Pougnet and former supervisorial candidate Gary Jeandron. It's occurring at the Camelot Theatre and in a community hostile to the proposed prison's location. It's being sponsored by an agency of the city most hostile to the proposal and the meeting is one in which prison location opponents are expected to outnumber supporters by more than 10 to 1. The Town Hall meeting may be more spectacle than productive conversation with viewing potential comparable to a ticketed sporting event.
Your live program interview with PSNIC representative David Carden made clear his, and possibly your own opposition to the prison location and to 4th District Supervisor Marion Ashley in whose district it's planned location sits. Although the Town Hall Forum is not being held in his district, you and Carden have strongly criticized Supervisor Ashley for not attending the meeting. Since the proposed prison location is in his district and he is supportive of that location, he appears to be the villain in this saga. Carden's announced intent to place an empty chair labeled with the supervisor's name (reminding all of his absence) on the forum's stage made clear he intends to personalize the prison location issue and make Ashley a target. I find it hard to condemn Supervisor Ashley for his lack of interest in being the lamb invited to the slaughterhouse.
It's often your practice to make open disclosure statements, and you routinely do this when mentioning the Camelot Theatre, reminding us it and KPSI share common ownership. However, I believe you've been less open when it comes to disclosure of KPSI ownership's opposition to the proposed prison facility location. As we both know, Ric & Rozene Supple, owners of KPSI and RR Broadcasting, oppose the Whitewater location and are active and committed leaders in the organized opposition movement. Since they are your employers and are so heavily involved, would it not be appropriate for you to report that in each instance during your discussion of the subject?
Here's my suggestion for a "canned" disclosure statement you might consider adopting.
- "In the interests of fair disclosure listeners need to know that my employers, Ric & Rozene Supple, owners of Camelot Theatre and KPSI, strongly oppose the proposed Whitewater prison facility location and are active in the organized opposition movement. That having been said, I'd now like to share my negative views of Supervisor Marion Ashley and the Board of Supervisor latest actions regarding this subject."
We're still friends - aren't we?
Best regards,
Bond Shands
Palm Springs
Posted by Desert Observer at 3/24/2011 8:25 AM 
Categories: Opinion, Politics
Tags: KPSI KPSI Newstalk 920 Whitewater Prison Facility
Categories: Opinion, Politics
Tags: KPSI KPSI Newstalk 920 Whitewater Prison Facility
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