Editor:

[Regarding your story, "Mayor Elect Patterson reflects on tomorrow's Council Meeting", 11/19/07]  The problem with the Willow Glen Skate park is that many youngsters there are doing drugs. I don't know how many times we interviewed the skaters and found them high. And these kids were in their mid teens.

Of course, drug use is not exclusive to Willow Glen Skate park, and I can only wonder if the problem has just transplanted itself to the new skate park.

Les Mahler
Livermore, CA
former editor, Benicia Herald

Editor:

[Regarding your story, "Benicia Emergency Response Training Teams, 300 strong and ready", 11/19/07, by Constance Beutel]  Good going, Constance. Good article. On a side note....

The Benicia Herald has never been better since a new editor took over. And it gets better every day. We're seeing so many more community related items. They've brought back the clubs and groups activity notices, it's finally showing how active the city really is. Even the layout of the paper has improved. The best thing that happened in this election is we got rid of the editor. In my opinion, he was not very good at his craft and the paper as a whole, suffered.

How is the Independent distributed? What are its goals? How will it be supported? Is it going to be a true news source? And will it be a neutral and balanced publication, or will it be pro-Patterson, delivering what basically will be just the views of her and her supporters? Do we have another "Fox News Channel" here or something a bit more balanced?

After checking out www.beniciaindependent.com/, I think I have my answer.

Art Mayoff
// hopes dashed
Benicia

Editor's note:  Art - Thanks for your thoughtful note. You may be surprised to learn that I agree with you about the Benicia Independent's disappointing tilt to the left. My goal is to be a more balanced publication with regard to news and opinions, although we will take strong editorial stands.

The Independent is indeed in its infancy. The momentum of recent events and the people who have supported the start-up are mostly in a certain "progressive camp," and I've had very little time to cultivate the variety of views and news stories that I hope to cover.... I am chomping at the bit for improvement, and must lecture myself to be patient. I'll not lecture you. But I will invite you to send contrary opinions or news stories, and HELP me make the Independent a second source of information for ALL Benicians.

I do not personally disparage the coverage or content of the Benicia Herald -- the Independent has a long ways to go to even come close to competing. I'd say at this point in time, competition isn't my focus. But I truly believe a town should have more than one news source, as we did in the "old days."

One last comment - although I was very much a Patterson supporter in the campaign, today's article about her reflections as Mayor-elect should not be taken as a pro-Patterson piece. She is, after all, OUR mayor-elect now, and her thoughts and agenda will be of interest to all Benicians.

Roger Straw

Editor:

Congratulations on your effort at providing responsible news to the citizens of Benicia!

During the past few years it has been quite frustrating to me that many people in the community, who might otherwise become involved in some of the issues that concern us all, don't have a clue about what is happening in town because they find the Benicia Herald so ridiculous as a newspaper that they can't be bothered subscribing to it and reading it. Some people even send letters to the editor but don't ever follow up to find out if their letters have been published.

At this time, I would be interested if someone could write up a brief history of the Herald, focusing on the various owners/publishers - past and present - so that we can all see how it has evolved into such an exceptionally lousy paper. The quality of the Library and the Bookstore in Benicia suggest that there are a substantial number of literate, reflective people in town. But the Herald and the Magestic as a theater are hardly representative of who we are as a community - are they!

The other thing I have been hoping for is some sort of follow-up regarding Les Mahler. Indeed his weekly columns, especially regarding his illness, were a bit unusual. But he was forthright and courageous in his discussions about what was unfolding in respect to his health, and I wonder if there is some way we can include him and offer him support in the coming months.

I think you are establishing an appropriate vehicle for delivering the local news, and I hope people catch wind of it quickly and use it respectfully.

Ruth Pierce
Benicia