Times Useful


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Sun Feb 03, 2008 at 06:04:01 AM EST

I've been blogging away for a few years here in the city that the Albany Times Union takes its name from. In that time many of the commenters here have referred to our only local newspaper as the Times Useless. I have not. I have pointed out how their editorial board has no use for facts or the truth. I have pointed out how their editors like to write headlines that have nothing to do with the article's content but make the local corrupt politicians look good. I've criticized their comically biased reporting during the Soares Clyne campaign. But I've also been a supporter of some of their fine reporters when they actually do their jobs. I once gave Brian Nearing a "Reporter of the Year" award (I don't think he thanked me for it but since then he has contacted me several times about my writing. Let's just say he is in the Chartock school of thought when it comes to this blog). Brendon Lyons has done some stellar work. He reported the truth about the drunk cop who crashed and killed himself on the job. He has done a good job of informing us of the crimes committed by the APD regarding the purchase and resale of illegal machine guns. Tim O'Brien has reported some facts on the convention center industry. At times some of the naive among us have thought things like "hey, this will really make a difference! Once people see the facts, sanity will prevail". Naive people like me. But nothing happens. The police chief keeps lying. The mayor isn't even asked any questions about the issues. The lawyers from the city are not disbarred for lying about their reasons for denying FOIL requests. What happens? DeRosier does a cartoon, some idiot writes in and says they are offended by cartoons and the TU prints the response as if we needed to know there are idiots who are offended by cartoons. But we do. And that is the extent of it. The paper goes back to working at what they do. Protecting the powerful and advocating for the interests of the wealthy. Fourteen years ago they ran an article about the new Mayor Jennings and how he was going to deal with the vacant buildings in Albany. Yesterday they ran an editorial saying that we all should take notice because that same mayor has now, 14 years later, once again said he's going to do something.
THE ISSUE:Mr. Jennings' annual address targets neglected properties.

THE STAKES: The city's future, and the mayor's, hinge on removing blight.
Sure, let's believe him this time. Think positive thoughts. Ignore the past. And practice our disappointed and serious looks for when we say "well, I thought the honorable Mayor Jennings really meant it this time". Snicker. Snicker.

And today they outdo themselves with some outright lies. This is one of the most blatantly dishonest things I've seen in a newspaper in a some time.
But, yes, Albany has a huge stake of its own here. Governor Spitzer and the leaders and members of the Legislature need to hear anew about the impact that convention centers have had on Providence, R.I., and Hartford, Conn. It was barely two months ago that civic leaders from those two cities told a Times Union community forum how the convention centers there were built despite public doubt and concerns about rising costs.

Providence and Hartford resisted the temptation to retreat or even to scale back their plans. They gambled, in essence, but gambled shrewdly. The result is that building those facilities led to more housing construction and retail activity
I understand if these shills can't remember fourteen years ago. The pills and booze wear down the synapses. But something that they printed a few months ago? I don't believe they can't remember that. And what they hell? They are saying the city should not resist its urge to gamble your tax dollars. Say what? So, why are they lying? Here is what was printed in their paper about the Hartford center. See if these sounds like a shrewd gamble.
"It's a very tough business. It is highly competitive," said Oz Griebel, president and CEO of MetroHartford Alliance, the city's Chamber of Commerce. "The trade associations that hold conventions know that they are in the driver's seat."

While Griebel said Hartford's center has prompted new hotels to open, old ones to be refurbished and other businesses to open nearby, he is not sure Hartford would launch the project now.

The Front Street retail complex planned next to the center, considered a key component, has stalled, said Fred Carstensen, director of the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis.

"The pieces aren't yet in place. It's clearly not yet a success, and I'm not sure the convention center has paid off in the way it was hoped," Carstensen said.
Clearly not a success.

And let's be clear. If there is a new convention center that we pay for, it will have a new hotel in it. Hurrah! Of course, your tax dollars will pay to have it built and will pay the hotel to ensure their profits. Success!!

So, I've capitulated. I will now drop any thoughts of having some respect for this publication and out of that respect not refer to them with cheap insults. From now on it's the Times Useful. Useful for the local corporations and corrupt politicians. Useful for their own self interests. Skyways to the Times Useful Center!! Useful in the ongoing efforts to screw over the people of the city of Albany.

Times Useful - "We employ Fred Lebrun!"

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Times Useful | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 hidden)
DIA.. (none / 0) (#1)
by hawkny on Sun Feb 03, 2008 at 06:31:04 AM EST
All the more reson to keep this site operating and growing.... and, to keep it "agenda free" and as "truthful" as humanly possible.

Although they pretend otherwise, the principles involved at the TU, at City Hall and the NYS Legislature sneak a peak at your blog, on a regular basis..They will never admit it...but they do. Their egos demand it.

Shock and Awwwwwwww. (none / 0) (#2)
by alfrednewman on Sun Feb 03, 2008 at 07:43:09 AM EST
DIA:

I think you are being overly harsh. The Times Union was just selectivly editing a story. All of the newspapers do it.

Building the Convension Center is good business for the TU. It will provide hundreds of stories and help circulation.

Too bad the Schenectady Gazette was unable to get a foothold in Albany.  Nice politicians- publications need competition.
"What? Me worry? " "whatmeworry.alfred@gmail.com"

Things that make you go Hmmmmmmmm (none / 0) (#3)
by Corruptany on Sun Feb 03, 2008 at 08:18:46 AM EST
OK, here is a fun little thing about the TU. Why in gods name do they have a blog about Boston with someone named McNulty. Why do people in the Capital Region care what someone from BU thinks. Also, I remember a few children of reporters of the TU at UAlbany who always seemed to be picked for all of these leadership councils, awards, etc. None of their kids were anything to brag about, but somehow they beat out thousands of students. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[ Parent ]
DIA (none / 0) (#4)
by fineagedwine on Sun Feb 03, 2008 at 04:16:14 PM EST
   I agree with your assesment of the TU.  I also agree that they have some fine reporters like Lyons, etc.  Those reporters that have an ability to be ethical seem to get frustrated by the editorial restraints put on them. Many of those reporters leave to go onto more honest pastures.
  I was at the TU forum and noticed how Mayor Jennings was seated right next to the microphone that was set up for the public to make comments.
Rewind back to the 1993 camppaign: "They Day's of Fear and Intimidation Are Over".
  Things that make you go hmmmmmm.

T-Useless (none / 0) (#5)
by Roscoe on Sun Feb 03, 2008 at 06:02:00 PM EST

First of all, DIA, no one calls the Times-Union the Times-Union.  They call it the T-U, or the T-Useless.  Presumably that is why they have this branding thing going on with the Coyne-Zumbo-Knickerbocker-Times-Union Center.  They are trying to get a name instead of an acronym. The hell with journalism, lets start with the basics, boys: what's our name?  Times-Union.  Say it again? Times-Union.  Now all together: Times-Union.

"Say honey, can you pick me up a copy of the T-Useless when you go out, I need to clip an obit."

Anyways, it's a profound waste of paper pulp, and some night when one of those tree hugging Greenies gets really stoned and depressed, there'll be hell to pay, you betcha.

Or would there?  Nah.  With its spindly shoulders pressed against the ditzy wheel of modern-day liberalism and statism, the T-Useless gives the very few people who read it just the sort of synaptic disconnect they need to get through the day fooling themselves.

Late Breaking News! (none / 0) (#6)
by Dan Van Riper on Sun Feb 03, 2008 at 07:43:17 PM EST
Whatta headline!  The corporate owned Hearst publication is full of lies!!

Okay, okay DIA, you've tried to be fair.  I'll give you credit for that.  But we are all in a desperate situation here.  If all of us don't wake up fast and realize that fascism cannot exist without control of the information channels, then we are done for.  It may already be too late, but you have to cling to hope.

You want to read a community newspaper, read the Altamont Enterprise.  They're online now with archives, which makes them currently more technologically advanced than the Daily Gazette.  With almost no resources they put out award winning copy which is eagerly read by an ever expanding readership that mostly lives outside of the City of Albany, and by quite a few of us who live inside Albany.  I mean, their excellent police blotter is how I find out which one of my neighbors has been shoplifting at Crossgates.

And most important, they print letters from literally anybody about almost anything.  No "editing for content" like the Hearst Rag always does.  No wonder the Enterprise is expanding readership, while the Times Union steadily declines.

http://www.altamontenterprise.com/

Oh, and Fred LeBrun is, and always will be, an idiot.

-dwvr

Speaking of Lebrun (none / 0) (#7)
by Corruptany on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 08:03:54 PM EST
This is kind of off topic, but its a funny Lebrun story. I met him about 11 years ago when I was at event for my high school. He was supposed to give a speech about the importance of getting involved in civic life, instead he spent 20 mins talking about how his real name is Feron and how he is French Canadian.

I don't quite know to this day what that has to do with a talk on civic life, then again most of his articles lack independent thought and ideas so go figure. No wonder everyone I went to high school with cares little about Politics, thanks Feron.

[ Parent ]

Times Useful | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 hidden)
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