Factual data dismissed as “fake news”? Doublespeak “tweets” posing as policy? George Orwell novels from 70 years ago (Animal Farm, 1984) selling like hotcakes? Through the looking glass we go, my friends. But amid the clouds of unreality and uncertainty, a ray of sanity shines through in the person of intrepid professional investigative reporters whose job it is to follow the evidence wherever it may lead, no stone unturned—a la All the President’s Men—enduring threats and demonization from on high, such as the Trump administration’s shameful vilification of world-class journalists as “enemies of the people”—an Orwellian epithet recalling Stalin’s heinous purge trials of the ’30s. Truth is, investigative journalism is an indispensable godsend for this or any democracy, providing the watchdog scrutiny necessary for exposing abuses of power at the highest levels. Anyone in doubt need only flip the coin to view life in Putin’s Russia, Xi’s China.
But how is this relevant to a modest little newsletter like ours?
After all, a 12-page bimonthly publication is light years away in scope and resources from heavyweight dailies like the New York Times and Washington Post. That said, our all-volunteer team prides itself in striving for quality journalism and offering up an eclectic array of topics, some requiring at least a modicum of investigative reporting.
Three such examples can be found in this issue: a profile on advertiser St. Rose School, investigating the school’s demographics and contributions to the community; a story tracing the legislative path of two impactful bills with local implications, investigating efforts to legislate demolition/infill requirements on a statewide level; and an update on an article a couple issues ago on two local traffic signal projects, investigating why it took PBOT so much longer to complete one than the other). Not journalism that saves democracy, but illuminates nonetheless.
Speaking of which, Beaumont-Wilshire has had no shortage of issues in need of investigating over the years and residents motivated to investigate them. Working in tandem with BWNA, neighborhood activists have successfully made the case for transportation improvements (i.e., speed bumps for accident-prone Wistaria Drive), parking congestion relief (i.e., diagonal parking spaces adjacent to Fremont Street), beautification (i.e., graffiti removal and preservation treatment for the Wilshire Park pavilion mural), and livability (i.e., preventing construction of a cell tower adjacent to residences, where Fire & Stone is located today). Current neighborhood issues include the need for improvements in Wilshire Park, preservation of viable homes from demolition, and crime/vandalism concerns—especially car break-ins—just to name a few. So let me suggest getting the ball rolling on issues of interest to you with some investigative reporting of your own for publication in this newsletter, either in the form of a news article or editorial commentary. Your contribution is not only an appreciated assist for our team, but a service to us all.
Additional note: for those considering submitting an article, “Letter to the Board” editorial, or ad for the next issue, note on this issue’s “BWNA Calendar of Events” that the article/ad submission deadline falls a week earlier than usual, Friday, October 6.