Well, look who is here, partying with Aaron Proctor - at 2 separate parties. The top pic is from Aaron's Blogger Party - whose pics have mysteriously vanished from his blog (what? censorship in the land of Libertarian "Free Speech"), lucky I kept this one for my scrapbook.And here she is again, giving the camera a "Rose Queen wave" on the far right, a guest at his recent birthday party!
Who is "she"? None other than the Public Information Officer for the city of Pasadena, Ann Erdman (yes, she has a blog too).
She does not condemn him - her weak "give him a bar of soap" comment, is not near enough - as she should, in support of her City if nothing else! I say her being there is nothing less than a very real show of support from her.
Ann Erdman's job description is listed on the City of Pasadena website as:
The Public Affairs Division is the information link between city government, the community and the media. It produces the community newsletter Pasadena In Focus, prepares and distributes news releases, answers media inquiries, oversees all programming on 55 KPAS, develops and sells City Hall souvenirs, produces brochures, leaflets, flyers, posters, ads and other literature; plans press conferences; promotes special events; provides media relations and public relations counsel to city departments; and oversees the information kiosk at Pasadena City Hall.
We are in serious trouble at City Hall if their main media person, their "information link between the city...and the community", has so little scruples as to consort with the likes of this modern-day "Bircher" who is violently* attacking her own colleagues at City Hall! Oh yes, and he also sends our Mayor crudely-drawn comics to "rattle" him.
*"Violence of the tongue is very real, sharper than any knife." - Mother Theresa
Not to mention Proctor's profane, racist and savage attacks on our Public School district and his support of right-wing causes and candidates.
Forget W being Batman, Aaron Proctor is our Joker. ("The Joker", said the late Heath Ledger "is a person without empathy").
But how long does he get to run around "Gotham", a whole lot more? Our media (and the City of Pasadena's lead media official) seem to be enjoying him.
Why?
12 comments:
VH, I enjoy reading all viewpoints: left,right,middle, far left, far right. Makes me think - sumthing too many of us just don't have the time for. I barely have enuf time for keeping up one blog.
And, I'm open to the best of all sides. Too many of us automatically react to those with another label or if we hear/see certain buzzwords, instead of really trying to listen.
I especially love those who try to hold accountable our "representatives", our "leaders", better known as politicians & campaigners.
I admire that you VH, and AP, have the energy & concerns in this area & hope much good can result from it for the rest of us, but open to changing ones tact if the results aren't positive.
Criticism spiked with humor always holds my attention!
Anyway, continued blogging & enuf of me, I gotta work I gotta do!!
I think it must be so easy for them (our representatives) to forget that as a city leader, you have millions of people's "souls" attached to you (kind of like a super-SUPER-Mom/Dad)
and you had better be fair!
I'll just say this: those politicians who feel the greater the number of their followers (i.e., voters) who feel like "tax" dependants, the greater their own power & prestige, influence, etc. They are acting like the parents to their children (voters)
However, there are a small minority who try to treat their voters with respect. Treat them like adults.
Anyway, I don't know if I put my idea clearly in these words!
Editing comments again I see. It is your blog and you can do that, but you should at least have the integrity to admit you only post those comments that agree with you.
I have to disagree with regulating media. Never under any circumstance. I have said so in the past.
If you don't like what is said don't go there. If you totally disagree, believe it is truly harmful then you have legal recourse in many forms.
Govt should never be considered a parent. Those people are elected by us to continue to ensure our freedoms and society move forward based on our desires.
It is completely appropriate that the PIO have relationships with all the bloggers in the area. Officially, and unofficially. Bloggers are legitimate media. The PIO needs to be able to communicate both ideas and govt agenda with this group. No one has to agree with how how it used nor even how it is conveyed. Getting the information and facts correct to the media is her job.
Lastly, I note you are using copyrighted material without permission. Doesn't that expose you to legal action as well?
I am not saying she should not be associating with bloggers - of course, blogs are media, I am glad at least YOU recognize that! - she should be and she has a blog too.
BUT... this blogger is attacking her own cities government, her own city's schools etc. This is an outrage! - not the attacks because as you say, you can say ANYTHING on the Internet - but her support of them!
more importantly, Why?
Anyone in the media has the duty to monitor and be critical of what anyone in government is doing and report and comment as they see fit. Blindly believing that the govt officials tell you is folly.
That is importance freedom of speech and inter alia, freedom of the press. This is such a critical role in our society. Without it our government runs unchecked. Without it we as a society don't know if our desires and mandates, let alone the constitution are being protected.
I don't see anywhere in here where you have asked Ms Erdman why she attended these events. Did you consider that option before you attacked her and her motives here?
I met her at the functions. She was there as a private individual. She is a very nice, kind, matronly lady. She was there to meet all of us that are blogging in the area on a variety of topics.
The blogger picnics once organized wind up being opened to the public to come meet us. Those notices are published on a variety of blogs as an open invitiation to those who write them or just read them to come meet us. Its about making new friends with a common interest.
Whether you agree or not with the delivery everyone has the right
For a Civic Leader (of media, no less) to openly socialize with someone who is profanely attacking A) her colleagues B) her Mayor and C) her city's public schools
Is Outrageous!!
nothing less than.
She's not a civic leader. She isn't an elected official. She is simply an employee of the city providing information to the media at her employers request.
She is a very nice lady who has a personal life. She has every right to decide who she choses to meet and associate with. Just because you have a deep dislike for AP doesn't mean everyone else has to.
AP does a great job of raising issues regarding the performance of elected officials and govt institutions. You may not agree with the delivery, but he still has the right to question and more importantly communicate that to the rest of the citizens.
That is the role of the media. It is one of the constitutions garauntees that we never have to live in fear of our government.
Go ahead and keep hammering away at AP. It is your right, just remember every time you do so, you give him free publicity.
Ann Erdman IS a Civic Leader!
I am not saying she is not a nice lady, I am sure she is, but that she has no business - in her role as Media liaison for our city - offering support to one of the most hateful bloggers in town (sadly, a part of a crowd).
I see your are supporting these people as friends, and I respect that. I am sure privately, they ARE nice people.
You have to understand that people with Political lives (like the former candidate for Mayor, like Erdman) HAVE to be held accountable for their Actions (and Words).
Proctor's are hate-filled, profane and racist. He directs hate at our superintendent, liberal leaders and our schools - which then, by association, demeans and hurts our city's children. Not acceptable.
Erdman publicly attends Proctor's function. Not acceptable.
They can (and will, most likely) pal around all they want - but if they do it publicly, they are fair game.
And need to be called out for it, by anyone with a sense of justice and fairness for our city. Anyone who has no desire to return to the days of the John Birch Society (almost) running the town.
I think I have answered your questions, so if you want to discuss this issue more, email me privately.
By the way, I thought you were a Liberal?
Actually I am a GDI.
Very liberal on education and child issues, libertarian on some, conservative on others, and even a constitutionalist when it comes to any issue regarding our freedoms and basic rights.
Not that my politics should matter one whit to anyone but me.
As far as Ms Erdman goes, we will have to agree to disagree on her right to associate with whom she wishes on her own time.
Hey Virginia,
If Percy Clark, former superintendent, can ASSOCIATE with you, then why can't ANN associate with Aaron??
Ann Erdman is a current, salaried, Civic Leader. Her position is to: [be] the information link between city government, the community and the media.
By opening socializing with media-hound Aaron Proctor she is linking the city government to, um, him!
No way is this either fair or ethical.
I haven't seen Percy Clark in a long time, but when Ann Erdman retires, she is welcome to socialize with Aaron Proctor all she wants.
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