"Smooches" heard round the valley

If this story doesn't represent remind you of a wet kiss on the back side... well them maybe you never had one. Bill O'Boyle must have been pressured to write a feel-good story for Leighton. I say this because I don't think he would independently commit such journalistic malpractice. Please see by-laws (Diamond City Partnership) at very bottom where it indicates that Leighton and the Times Leader are supposed to be board members.

TIMES LEADER ARTICLE: "Survey good news for Downtown WB" Link is Here 

Interviewed: Larry Newman of Diamond Valley Partnership    

The web site has not been updated in 5 years!

Some information is 11 years old! (See for your self HERE. )

The Times Leader printed this drivel despite knowing (and not knowing) the following. 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Larry Newman (interviewee; Diamond City partnership) said:

(A) He is only releasing LIMITED DETAILS

(B) He cannot give SPECIFICS.

(C) The analysis of data is UNFINISHED

THEN WHY DO A STORY?

(A) Are we getting only the GOOD DETAILS and not the BAD?

(B) When will the entire results be in?

(C)  Is there a quid quo pro and what is i? 

DID THE REPORTER DO AN AUDIT OF THE SURVEY? OR 

DID HE TAKE 'PARTIAL RESULTS' AND RUN A STORY?

This is like a CPA telling a business: "We will just take your word for everything."

(A) Newman said 824 people were surveyed... 326 were from downtown.

(B) Did Newman cherry pick who received the surveys? These were e mails so they likely were not random generated.

(C) Were the the surveys even completed? His lack of disclosure is very telling.

(D) It appears that no "random sampling techniques" went into this which the reporter should have asked and disclosed. It is lazy and sloppy journalism to not vet the sources.

Basically, Newman gets to do his own performance evaluation where he hides the data. Does this seem fair or ethical to anyone?

I cannot find an article where his salary is listed.
Goals for this year? Hang baskets

It appears this is another "do nothing" job as these jokers split the loot. 

- Downtown WB Business Association

- Diamond City Partnership

- VP of Planning, Policy, and Development for Chamber
- President of Planning, Policy, and Development for Chamber

- President Chamber of Commerce (basically any job within it)

- Downtown Business Improvement District

- City Spokesman (covers for those who are too drunk to speak)

- City Administrator

- Asst City Administrator

- Mayor (who works 3 hours per day according to past city Mgr JJ Murphy)

To the TL: The article and the gift you are giving Leighton and/or Newman is very transparent. I consider it to be a serious breach of ethics. How can you do an article on a survey when material information is withheld? It is an abomination. You have absolutely no confidence that the survey is legitimate.

Trust me when I tell you this... the integrity of your paper is fading fast. Is there a quid pro quo? Some very dark questions are being asked. And rightfully so.

From by-laws, Leighton and TL are supposedly on the board together. This was not disclosed in news article. 

The following members shall be appointed by as the Board of Directors and shall be:
The Mayor of the City of Wilkes-Barre or his representative;
One (1) representative chosen by WB City Council;
The State Representative from the District within which the City of WB is located or his representative;
The State Senator from the District within which the City of WB is 
located or his representative;
The United States Congressman from the District within which the City of Wilkes-Barre is located or his representative;
The President of United Way of Wyoming Valley or his representative;
The Chairman of the Luzerne County Commissioners or his representative;
536200.2 3The President of Wilkes University or his representative;
The President of King’s College or his representative;
The President of Luzerne County Community College or his representative;
The President/CEO of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business & Industry 
or his representative;
The Superintendent of the Wilkes-Barre School District or his representative;
The President of the Luzerne County Historical Society or his representative;
One (1) representative of the Council of Presidents;
Three (3) representatives, one from each of the major print and television media whose headquarters are based in the City of Wilkes-Barre; 
Two (2) representatives from the Downtown Ministerium;
Two (2) representatives of the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Association;
One (1) representative of the Fine Arts Fiesta;
One (1) representative of the F. M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts;
Two (2) representatives of the Downtown Residents Association;
One (1) representative of the Luzerne County Medical Society;
Two (2) representatives of the Wilkes-Barre Metropolitan Development Corporation; and 

One (1) representative of CityVest