Occasionally we pass along letters we receive for your consideration. Here's one about the ongoing debate between the City Of Astoria and the D.A. On the DUII issue which now is extending to the city's designated municipal prosecutor. Enjoy and do comment. tf
The quality of reporting has reached lows never seen here in Astoria, with the Editor and Publisher Steve Forrester adding to his own newspapers demise. In a recent editorial, which he continues to use in attempt to destroy peoples livelihood, he makes false claims and outright lies to his readers, this time about Attorney Mary Ann Murk.
In this edition, he has crossed the line-of-no -return and justice needs to be turned in his direction. As much as Attorney Murk must follow a certain Canon of Ethics, so to as to the accountability of an Editor in Journalism.
In Mr. Forrester's continued attempts to strengthen the District Attorney’s argument against the City of Astoria and its position with the public, he now has destroyed his paper's credibility by making false acquisitions against a local attorney.
It is no secret that Mary Ann Murk as an efficient attorney as she can be in Astoria is highly critical of Josh Marquis as DA, but there is no reason that the Daily Astorian should lie in an attempt to strengthen the District Attorney’s argument. In my world, we call this psychological warfare, and unfortunately to the credibility of once a fine newspaper, Mr. Forrester owes it to the people of Astoria to apologize for his gross negligence and poor quality control as editor and publisher of the Daily Astorian, and resign as editor.
It is no secret that the recent turn over in reporters, the internal complaints and decreasing add sales are challenging to any newspaper business, but to stoop to lies and personal attacks is not acceptable, anywhere. Our community and businesses should expect better from our local paper.
The Board of Directors of the East Oregonian should call for his resignation as Editor and CEO Immediately and replace him as fast as it could.
Floyd E. Holcom
The quality of reporting has reached lows never seen here in Astoria, with the Editor and Publisher Steve Forrester adding to his own newspapers demise. In a recent editorial, which he continues to use in attempt to destroy peoples livelihood, he makes false claims and outright lies to his readers, this time about Attorney Mary Ann Murk.
In this edition, he has crossed the line-of-no -return and justice needs to be turned in his direction. As much as Attorney Murk must follow a certain Canon of Ethics, so to as to the accountability of an Editor in Journalism.
In Mr. Forrester's continued attempts to strengthen the District Attorney’s argument against the City of Astoria and its position with the public, he now has destroyed his paper's credibility by making false acquisitions against a local attorney.
It is no secret that Mary Ann Murk as an efficient attorney as she can be in Astoria is highly critical of Josh Marquis as DA, but there is no reason that the Daily Astorian should lie in an attempt to strengthen the District Attorney’s argument. In my world, we call this psychological warfare, and unfortunately to the credibility of once a fine newspaper, Mr. Forrester owes it to the people of Astoria to apologize for his gross negligence and poor quality control as editor and publisher of the Daily Astorian, and resign as editor.
It is no secret that the recent turn over in reporters, the internal complaints and decreasing add sales are challenging to any newspaper business, but to stoop to lies and personal attacks is not acceptable, anywhere. Our community and businesses should expect better from our local paper.
The Board of Directors of the East Oregonian should call for his resignation as Editor and CEO Immediately and replace him as fast as it could.
Floyd E. Holcom
Bravo Floyd.
ReplyDeleteAs a former target of his tabloid assault, I know first hand what you are talking about.
I wish he would turn his editorials against the real problem - The new facebook news feed.
Regarding Floyd Holcom’s letter on Astoria’s Muni Court DUII problem:
ReplyDeleteMr. Holcom writes a spirited, but factually barren letter.
First, he failed to state how livelihoods have been destroyed by the Daily Astorian’s reporting and editorials. Secondly, Holcom did not provide support for his claims that Steve Forrester has made “false claims” and “outright lies” to readers of the Daily Astorian. Thirdly, Holcom failed to explain how the creditability of the Daily Astorian has been destroyed “by making false acquisitions [sic] against a local attorney”. What was false, and what was acquired? [smile]
Holcom’s theatre of the absurd gets more bizarre when he hurls unsubstantiated charges at Forrester: “psychological warfare” and “gross negligence”.
One has to wonder about Holcom’s underlying agenda on this issue, and about skeletons in Holcom’s closet.
g ......
ReplyDeletePlease tell how the Daily Astorian assulted you.
Floyd, you nailed this. It is too bad we do not have a community newspaper that builds bridges instead of tearing them down. Most community newspapers really devote a lot of editorial effort to community building. Ours, unfortunately, does not.
ReplyDeleteSorry, River Bear, but perhaps you have not been here long enough to see the damage Steve Forrester has done.
RiverBear: They accused me of witchcraft and burned me at the stake. I have to admit, I haven't read that liberal rag in years. When I need a dose of Krugman and Dowd, I tune into the NYT.
ReplyDeleteBob: You and Holcom speak in generalities. Specifics and facts are needed to make & prove your points of view. If you think Holcom made his point, you are lacking the ability to critically think. "All we want are the facts ....." -- Sergeant Joe Friday.
ReplyDeleteg: Love to read the Daily Astorian article about you and witchcraft. Please post URL for the article or the date the article was in the paper. BTW: Do you deny practicing witchcraft?
ReplyDeleteRiverBear, does Cindy Price know about you?
ReplyDeleteRiverBear, Does Cindy Price know about you?
ReplyDeleteInteresing, River Bear, that the editorial attacking Mary Ann Murk, the subsequent retraction in the 9/23 edition of the Daily A and Floyd's pointed comments are not sufficient for you.
ReplyDeleteDid you read these things, or are you an apologist for Steve Forrester, just like you are, on another website, for Josh Marquis?
Bob:
ReplyDeleteThe Murk error was retracted and apologized for. If Murk’s, or anyone’s, livelihood has been destroyed by Daily Astorian “lies” and “false claims”, they have a great lawsuit.
As I reread the September 20th editorial, I wondered if English your second language. The editorial was in no way an attack on Murk, but rather focused on role reversals of lawyers. In fact, the editorial called Murk a “competent lawyer”. You failed to mention that, plus that in addition to retracting that portion of the editorial, the paper apologized for the error.
If you and Holcom consider what was said about Murk, and then retracted, to be “psychological warfare” and “gross negligence”, then you are in need of a Funk & Wagnalls and a law dictionary. You might also read some case law regarding gross negligence. Using Holcom’s unconventional definitions for theses concepts, Holcom and the Astoria mayor, city council, city attorney & city manager are “grossly negligent” and engaging in “psychological warfare” as a result on their comments and actions regarding the DUII problem in Astoria.
If I am an “apologist” for Forrester, then you Holcom and the other proponents of leaving DUII cases in municipal court are apologists for a court and city government that verges on gross negligence (using Holcom’s term).
BTW: That I agree with Marquis on the Astoria DUII problem, does not mean I agree with him on other issues, such as the death penalty. And yes, quality control could be better in the Daily Astorian.
Too bad Holcom doesn't defend his own letter. After reading it, and seeing how his mind works, I have concern for the already historically inept Board of Commissioners for the Port of Astoria.
"... and good old boys were drinking whisky and rye..."
Merci, gracias and falemdne'rit River Bear. Now I get it.
ReplyDeleteWhen a person who has assumed the responsibility of informing a community, due to political motivation, anger and really poor research, says a local lawyer was unfair to her client (strongly implying a Bar Code violation)in big type in an editorial, and a few days later, after being threatened with a law suit, writes the equivalent of oops, sorry in tiny type on another page, that is OK in the USA.
I hope you apply the same gentle standard to the Astoria City Council (but not to your kids).
Hey Bob:
ReplyDeleteWow … trilingual. I am impressed. I do love your comments ... they bring a smile to my face. Regarding, the Astoria City Council, I will make all efforts to point out any of their irresponsible and stupid actions.
You seem to be on a first name basis with Holcom, how about asking him to join the blog. His silence is deafening! Such a shy man, or maybe he realizes his letter was out-of-line.
... and good old boys were drinking whisky and rye...
And, River Bear, why should Floyd defend his letter. It speaks for itself, even in English.
ReplyDeleteBTW, "River Bear" is a place in Nevada or a very big dog. Which are you (I'm betting on the latter)?
You can always tell the newcomers and non locals around here by the way the fawn over Josh Marquis and Steve Forrester. But this River Bear must be married to one of them.
ReplyDeleteIt seems obvious River Bear is in bed with Josh. According to her facebook page River Bear is a UCLA Bruin fan, (Cindy Price's alma mater) BUT, River Bear claims to be a 10th generation Astorian, and a shutterbug but puts up no pictures.
ReplyDeleteHey Bob & Jerry:
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your setting up Blogspot accounts to chat with me. That was sweet! Since “g” and the Elder Guy dropped out of the discussion, I get the feeling that there are, in reality, only two of us are chatting. It really doesn’t matter, this is a fun discussion, and has been a learning experience, but kind of scary, to get into the heads of locals like you.
Holcom really needs to defend his letter because, as previously pointed out, the letter has more holes in it than a fishing net.
Try to stay on-point with the discussion thread. It is sad that after Holcom’s, and other’s, baseless generalities, the two of you have resorted to child-like name calling. Commenting on whether I am a “newcomer”, “non-local”, “married” to Marquis or Forrester, “a place in Nevada” and a “big dog” is childish at best.
FLOYD HOLCOM: SPEAK UP! ….. YOU ARE QUIET AS A CHURCH MOUSE!
... and good old boys were drinking whisky and rye...
Welcome back Elder Guy! I am curious, Cindy Price has nothing to do with this discussion thread, but you mention her in all three of your comments. What is the story? BTW .... RiverBear is a Cal Bears fan, but likes all ursine team mascots.
ReplyDelete... and good old boys were drinking whisky and rye...
One of my comments is an accidental repost. Cindy Price may have nothing to do with this unless she concocted River Bear to pose as a 10th generation Astorian in love with all things Josh. River Bear is a pretty good writer so is Cindy, River Bear who on FB claims to be 10th gen Astorian asks others if KAST had as much dead air 20-30 years ago as they do today. A 10th gen would probably not need to ask that, but Cindy does Radio shows on KMUN,(good ones I might add) and is familiar with terms like "dead air" would notice such things today. Then there is the UCLA thing. It's all circumstantial. You could blow it out of the water easily by ripping off your mask. C'mon blow me away, tell us about yourself and your 9 preceding generations.
ReplyDeleteOK river bear, what would it take to convince you that Steve Forrester condemns people in his newspaper without sufficient evidence? That he recently made such inaccurate statements about Mary Ann Murk that he had to publically retract them does not appear to convince you that he has not only done harm to Murk but, likely, to others. That he sued a person who called him a nasty name and lost the suite because the jury said his reputation could not be further tarnished does not convince you. Indeed, if you are Cindy Price, do you agree that Forrester's editorial about your candidacy as a county commissioner is accurate?
ReplyDeleteSo, what would someone have to do to prove to you that Steve Forrester should be removed?
Even with the accidental post, 100% of Elderly Guy’s (EG’s) posts are fixated on Cindy Price. Believe me, I am not Cindy Price, a concoction of Ms. Price’s, nor have ever met her. I hate to say it, but EG seems like a conspiracy nut with no sense of humor.
ReplyDeleteI am flattered that EG reads my FaceBook page. Does he want to be FaceBook friends? Message to EG: Regarding life’s unknowns, keep looking and you will see the light.
Unless EG’s parents (Mr. & Mrs. Guy) named him “Elderly”, he should consider “ripping off” his own “mask”. Also, why isn’t EG curious about the identities of the other members of Tom Freels’ crew (“g”; Bob and Jerry Flavel) who also use pseudonyms?
Let’s get back on track with the original discussion point (Holcom’s ridiculous letter) or end this tedious discussion.
FLOYD HOLCOM: SPEAK UP! …. CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE?
... and good old boys were drinking whisky and rye...
Now that you have said all that river bear, could you answer my question? What would it take?
ReplyDeleteAnd, by the way, you do know the last line of your song, right?
Conspiracy nut eh? Now who's calling names. You claim not to be the DA's better half. Took you long enough. I would have thought you may have at least met seeing how you wrote about going to the hearing in Salem with Josh's little entourage recently. Sorry. My mistake won't mention the C word again. Know what you get when you cross a Grizzly with a Harp? A bear faced lyre. Thats a joke heh heh -peace out. I'm taking the vow of silence for a while.
ReplyDeleteDO YOU KNOW WHO I AM???
ReplyDeleteI always wanted to say that.
Riverbear, unless you have been living in a cave for the past 10 generations, you would completely understand what Floyd is talking about. Quit being dense.
Again, Cindy---er, I mean "River Bear" (snnuurrk) lets us know just what the newly arrived and new monied Southern Californian wannabe elitist rabble really thinks of the local or native population. We get it, Cin.. . uhh, I mean "RiverBear" (*wink wink*). We figured that out decades before you ever heard of Clatsop County.
ReplyDelete"Seems it never rains in Southern California..."
Sorry, Floyd. I guess big Steve didn't like your letter very much.
ReplyDeleteHowever, in my mind, he made your point even stronger. We do not have a community newspaper, we have a tabloid run by a manic.
Sorry, Floyd, It appears Steve did not like your letter.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if, rather than sue you like he did the poor guy several years ago, he will try to dig up all the dirt he can about you.
Good you could care less and so could we.
Congrats.
The First Amendment lives with you even if it does not with the Daily A.
I always appreciated Ms. Mary Ann Murk as a public defender.
ReplyDeleteHer ability to provide strong advocacy / meaningful representation for her clients was never an issue for me while serving as a law enforcement officer there on the North Coast.
She, as the saying goes, comes from good wood.
Good to know she continues on there Clatsop County/Astoria.
Greg Walker (Detective, Retired)
DCSO - Bend, Oregon