C: I am writing to you about your biased reporting on the gamblers that your paper has crucified. Their names have appeared in your paper so many time you make them sound like thugs. They are good people who didn't pay enough taxes. They never forced anyone to bet and yet their names have appeared more than any murderer, any rapist, any drug dealer. - A.C.
A: Believe it or not, we stock no crosses and nails here. And we don't have the power to charge and arrest people, or try them in court. In this case, it was the state police and the Internal Revenue Service who filed the charges, and the federal court that did the sentencing, which, by the way, fell a little short of crucifixion.
We report the activities of the police and courts. We have suggested before in editorials that the enforcers of the law might spend a little more energy pursuing murderers, rapists and drug dealers, rather than concentrating their efforts on crimes in which the victims, if you can call them that, are at least willing. Nevertheless, these are the criminals they choose to pursue, and so we report that.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
21 comments:
Your paper clearly is ignoring murders and robberies in favor of reporting on the oh-so-interesting antics of gamblers. It's a witch hunt.
*rolls eyes*
The funny part is that your paper has argued the point you stated. It also the reason that many who understand the relationship that illegal gambling has with drugs, crime and political corruption have been upset with your newspaper LACK of reporting on the issue. Those that complain should realize that the racketeers should have been happy over the years with you.
Anonymous 1 and Anonymous 2,
The obvious fact, which seems to be going unnoticed here, is that there are infinitely more Bookies than there are murderers, rapists or drug dealers. Also, Bookies are racketeeers.
Yrs truly,
Anonymous 3
And at least the organization in question was connected to an alleged attempted homicide that was dismissed by old Johnny Pettit. But Racketeers are not big bad criminals at least according to the O-R.
Oh, by all means! People who bet on football games deserve the death penalty.
That is the point Park, people that run organized crime (racketeering) that:
avoid tax laws that the rest of us have to follow
That have been allegedly involved in attempted homicides and possibly homicides (Somerset Inn anyone?) and more.
Besides the corruption of public officials and the donations that these individuals have done through the years.
This is the reason that those interested in a new clean Washington County know that the O-R under your leadership has been part of the problem.
It makes the Northup boot camp seem like a joke btw.
Also if you don't believe there are ties, maybe come out of glass tower and spend some time in the homeless shelters or D&A counseling centers. You might actually learn what really happens on the streets of Washington.
It is time to end the slap on the wrists sentences and culture of corruption in Washington county. It took brave men and women in Youngstown to start the process. They also faced ridicule from the local newspaper. What a surprise. Enjoy your drink at the Union Grill.
Al Capone was a Racketeer. Park, it sounds to me as though you are throwing your pearls before swine.
I think the drinking at the Union Grill is the problem. Better time spent there, then out doing investigative reporting.
Do they teach a course in that at the Northrop Boot Camp? They would rather hang out with the racketeers and support their habits at their establishment, the observer reporter crew as usual.
Have you all over there ever considered following through on a story instead of leaving us hanging?
Like we are still to believe piegons started the fire in the upper court house where old files were kept. Gee and who ran for office shortly after that fire? If it weren't for being born and raised in Washington County and knowing the players one could never connect the dots if they were waiting to read it in the Observer Reporter.
"We report the activities of the police and courts. We have suggested before in editorials that the enforcers of the law might spend a little more energy pursuing murderers, rapists and drug dealers, rather than concentrating their efforts on crimes in which the victims, if you can call them that, are at least willing. Nevertheless, these are the criminals they choose to pursue, and so we report that."
Your answer is laughable. Maybe now without John Pettit letting all his buddies go, the police may start arresting murderers, rapists and drug dealers knowing that the charges will stick. I have noticed we finally have an active Drug Task Force at work. Can't expect Tropani to clean up in a week, month or year what Pettit let go for decades, while you at the Observer Reporter twiddled your thumbs, turning a blind eye!
Sounds like a pigeon dropped a cigarette down Cody's shorts.
What will be interesting is how those that have defended or looked the other way on the corruption in Washington County will be able to explain when John Pettit finally goes down.
But hey, the truth is the public spoke loud and clear and disagreed with the insiders at the courthouse and the O-R and voted John Boy out. But hey everything is the fault of Cody Knotts. No one can blame the cleaning up of Washington County on the O-R that is for sure.
Way off base it wasn't Cody it was me, Rebecca. You owe Cody an apology. At least you can read some truth in his paper. Hey what does the "A" stand for in A. Parker. Does it end in a "hole".
This is fun on a cold day! lol's
Let's talk corruption in Washington County. Who was Retos's law partner? Oh but he did that all alone!
Let's talk corruption in Washington County. Why do we need all of these outdated row offices? Oh, How else would all the law firms in Washington County make money if not by playing solicitor to them, same as with all the townships in Washington County!
Let's talk corruption in Washington County. Why do we need all these authorities and agencies at our county level? Well how else would the inside people be able to keep their family and friends employed.
Did you ever check them out! They are repetitive. Recently one authority voted to approve another authority over one million dollars and the same people serve on both authorities...GO FIGURE!
Wanta play "name" game next....I was born and raised in Washington County bet I would win in that game!
I grew up watching the players! These people didn't find a home they made a home!
No one's closet is free of dirt! Go check out your own!
Does anyone know whatever happened to the check for $500,000 that Piatt collected before he even build the building, for bringing jobs into Washington County?
It was so much a head, but can't remember the exact figure per head just remember reading in your Dr. Suess Chronicles a while back that he was given that amount for doing what now????
I will just drop a first name...TODD...boy that name played out in court before he was even named in 1968!
Oh but mercy me a fire came along...hmmm those darn pigeons!
Maybe with this latest sin tax they will quit smoking or take up maryjanes since that is probably cheaper now!
One last name before I must leave. I saved the best for last. I wanted to know if "A." Parker still has his "Letter To The Editor" he wrote himself, to his employer newspaper, taped to his bedroom dresser mirror on how "great and a "big welcome" to McGuffey's (former) Superintendent Anthony E. Burger?
Anon 3,
Sarcasm. Do you know it?
Anon 1
Anon 1
No idea.
Anon 3
*How about you self?*
Post a Comment