Mirror should keep columnist on shorter leash | Letter
Published 4:15 pm Friday, September 26, 2014
In a recent piece by Bob Roegner, he allowed his imagination to go wild as he went “behind the scenes” (well, in his mind anyway) to get to the bottom of some political skullduggery in Federal Way. (Reference the Doherty departure.)
Of course, no such skullduggery existed; Mr. Roegner created it. This was simply another of these columns short on facts but full of supposition and innuendo. He even had the nerve to point out that he was guessing at some issues and offering up what “probably happened.” Ah, yes, he does claim to be an “insider,” doesn’t he? He must know all.
Mr. Roegner used his next column to explain why he writes what he writes, by answering some example questions from (allegedly) the readers. Perhaps he was responding to the criticisms of that previous column.
He took this opportunity to revisit the Performing Arts and Conference Center, saying that this issue has “divided the community.” I’ve not been a Performing Arts and Conference Center supporter myself, but wasn’t the expert Blue Ribbon Panel brought together to provide a realistic analysis of this issue — and therefore unite the city?
And sorry if I anger anyone here, but that project has been a done deal for a long time. What would a vote have done? It wasn’t going to be a vote that decided anything. It was about consensus. A Mirror poll showed that 55 percent of those polled supported the project — and a similar 55 percent said a vote should be taken.
Face it, the citizens were split on the issue before, and that hasn’t changed much since the panel made its findings. Neither side had a truly winning position. The mayor ended up doing something rather than nothing.
But back to the issue at hand. You’re right, Mr. Roegner, it’s not your job to “get on board” with the new administration. But neither is it your job to spin and embellish the facts. I’m sure I’m not the only one who wonders what it is the Mirror wants from the former mayor and now so-called political “expert.” This is no longer journalism. Your column has turned into a gossip column.
Instead of giving this political writer carte blanche, the Mirror needs to at least keep him on a much shorter leash.
David McKenzie, Federal Way
