Opinion by Matt Marquardt, NorthIowaToday.com Publisher –
First, let me thank a prominent local businessman for copying a blog post from the Globe Gazette’s John Skipper’s Facebook page and sending it to me in a screenshot. I don’t read the Globe – and least of all, Skipper – but NIT readers constantly keep me up to speed with his activities, so not much gets by me.
Today, this confidant informed me of Skipper’s latest blog post aimed at me and sent the proof to the NIT newsroom. Skipper apparently snuck away to his own Facebook page and blogged another hack job, attempting to justify Mayor Eric Bookmeyer’s and the city council’s secret activities – mostly connected to this year’s budget hearings with no public allowed. These so-called public officials (in reality, first-and-foremost, they are agents of the Chamber of Commerce and special interests, not for the common citizen) got turned into a state watchdog and are under investigation. “This case involves very complex issues that impact state, city, and school boards and needs to be handled in a deliberative manner,” said Charlie Smithson, Executive Director of the Iowa Public Information Board, who is in charge of the investigation.
In his blind rage to protect Bookmeyer and his cronies, Skipper left that quote out of his blog post. He blatantly mis-lead his readers by under-informing. Again.
Real journalists do not take kindly to secret governmental meetings, doctored emails, backroom deals, etc… the kind of behavior this mayor and council have resorted to in order to get their agenda past the watchful eyes of citizens, taxpayers and real watchdog media like NIT.
But to John Skipper, it’s all kosher, as long as he protects those he’s ordered to cover for – which begs the question: Is John Skipper a real journalist, or simply a paid lackey/blogger of the Chamber of Commerce and a top Globe Gazette advertiser/customer, namely city hall and Eric Boookmeyer (each of which has spent thousands on ads at the Globe)?
In his blog today, Skipper called me a “blogger” – the same reference that shows up in letters to my home that promise I will be shot and put out of business. Funny how Skipper called me a blogger today, even as he blogged a blog right to his own Facebook page this very morning.
He referenced an incident two years ago, where I attempted to cover a meeting at the Mason City Library called the “Mayor’s Luncheon”. Skipper attempted to discredit my coverage of that event.
As I wrote previously (wait a minute… seriously, Mr. Skipper. You are still mesmerized by my coverage of that public meeting. You are in awe of my performance. You can’t forget about it… and you read all about it in NorthIowaToday.com. Great to have you as a regular reader who is transfixed by my news coverage!) the “Mayor’s Luncheon” was brought to my attention by an agenda for the Cerro Gordo Supervisors, which was published to the county website. The agenda stated the activities of the supervisors for that day. The agendas only list their official business. Two supervisors attended Bookmeyer’s meeting… thereby creating a quorum. I went to the meeting because, I felt, a room full of elected officials from throughout the area just seemed newsworthy. I never felt that the meeting was “private” or “just a lunch” as Bookmeyer and Skipper and Brent Trout claimed. If the meeting was private, why did Bookmeyer use city hall stationary and postage (paid for by taxpayers) to set up the meeting? Why did he instruct city hall employees to call and reserve the room, even if he paid for it? Why did Trout say that Bookmeyer was acting in his official capacity as mayor when he attended the meeting? Why was the event listed as official business for the supervisors?
Skipper’s entire argument against my attempt to cover the meeting is baseless, flimsy and really an attempt to take a shot at me from his blog and justify the secretiveness that any real journalist would abhor.
Let’s break down Skipper’s words:
SKIPPER: “Two years ago, Bookmeyer hosted a luncheon of area mayors and other public officials and did not allow the media to attend.”
True, Bookmeyer hosted the meeting – but used public resources and a public venue to do so. There was no sign on the door or anywhere that said “private meeting”. Bookmeyer attempted to keep me out as soon as he spotted me. He sent Brent Trout to intimidate me and physically prevent me from doing my job. After Trout stood in my face, I suggested he call police, which he did. Chief Michael Lashbrook arrived ten minutes later and declared I had done nothing wrong. I left peacefully, but Trout followed me out to my car.
SKIPPER: A local blogger who was denied admittance complained to Smithson.
First, Mr. Skipper, grow some balls. You are too cowardly to write my name in your blog? What kind of a blogger are you? Everyone knows you are referring to me. True – Bookmeyer and Trout tried to deny me admittance – but through my perseverance and dedication to my business and desire to deliver news to my readers, I refused to allow Trout to be successful in his intimidation. He left the room and I walked all the way back in, and got my pictures, video and a story. Maybe you could learn a lesson about hard-nosed journalism by continuing to be a loyal reader of the news stories on NorthIowaToday.com. If only you had guts to go with your new knowledge.
SKIPPER: There was no basis for his complaint because those at the luncheon did not constitute a governmental board, there was no agenda and no public policy votes were taken.
There was a basis for my complaint. I have the supervisor’s agenda – published to the county website – as proof. The fact that Bookmeyer was acting in his capacity as mayor and used city staff and resources to set up the meeting is more proof. If it was truly a “private” meeting, he would (or should) have used only his own time and resources to set up and conduct the meeting – not the public’s. The fact that no votes were taken means nothing. Ever heard of a work session? The city holds those regularly. They are all discussion with no votes ever taken… but you ALWAYS attend. Get it now, Mr. Skipper?
SKIPPER: It would be no different than the mayor having a barbecue at his home and not inviting the press.
Well, Mr. Skipper, it would be different. Because I would have been trespassing on private property if I went to Eric’s wife’s house at 507 East State Street. The Mason City library is a public place – he does not own it, even if he thinks he does. Bookmeyer simply declaring that he didn’t want press at his “luncheon” after the fact was not enough to deter me – maybe it’s enough for you, a weak-spined old gizzard with no constitution who lies for a living. Bookmeyer also didn’t want the press (nor the public) at his secret budget hearings. That is why he is being investigated by state watchdogs, numbnuts.
