Free press needed for democracy

By: PAUL JACOBS - For The Californian | Saturday, January 12, 2008 7:42 PM PST ∞

One of the greatest experiences I have had since moving to Temecula in 1995 was serving on the public traffic/safety commission from 2004 to 2007. It was a fascinating education in municipal decision-making, but I was conflicted when it came to columnizing on city matters. Although it wasn't my choice, I find myself relieved to have been decommissioned.

Now, I'm back in the peanut gallery where I belong and free to be me as a citizen and columnist, which came in handy right off the bat at the first Temecula City Council meeting of 2008 last Tuesday.

Item 11 on the agenda proposed requiring the Press-Enterprise to submit inquiries to city staff and council in writing, except for police, fire and emergency services communications. The city's argument is over "concerns with respect to the accuracy and completeness of their news articles."

I found myself in the unenviable position of defending a competing newspaper in the interest of open government, which has become one of the themes of this column. It was a great relief to learn that the absent Councilman Ron Roberts submitted a substitute recommendation that the city resolve the issue with direct communication with the Press-Enterprise's editor. Roberts has been the backbone of many of Temecula's successes, and I know many residents join me in wishing him a speedy recovery from back surgery.

Some of the articles in question revealed business, banking and development transactions within the county involving employers of City Council members, just coming short of suggesting improprieties had transpired. It seemed to me that a lot of work went into the P-E's lengthy expose of innuendo.

Temecula officials were understandably upset at what they perceived as a series of hit pieces designed to question the integrity of city leadership.

The council used its bully pulpit to express its dissatisfaction with the newspaper's bully pulpit. Let's hope they talk things out and the bull ends here.

I maintain a level of discomfort when political and business interests run parallel, but with no proof of wrongdoing, it is unfair to fault a politician for their occupation. It's no crime to work in the world of banking and land development. Civic leaders often have a personal and professional investment in their community.

It is true that some on the council have enjoyed impressive advancement in new careers since becoming politically active. Quite possibly, the qualities of public leadership transcend well to the business community, and the crossover of careers between commerce and politics is a natural byproduct of a capitalist society.

A free press holds tremendous power in a democracy and I would rather put up with news articles that may be less than fair and balanced than to trust the government to decide what is fit for print. Let the free media flourish and the people will separate fact from fiction.

Tuesday's council meeting can be viewed at www.cityoftemecula.org and Item 11 provides 80 minutes of fascinating discussion on the balance of power between political bodies and the press.

I have been blessed to touch the branches of government and even shake the tree from time to time. Public meetings are the stage plays of democracy where audience participation is not only desired, but required. Don't let the show go on without you.

Paul Jacobs of Temecula is a regular columnist for The Californian. E-mail: TemeculaPaul@aol.com.