Part II: Herald’s Livernois – Censoring, Slander and Bullying?

This is Part 2 of a report on HOPE’s first meeting with the Gary Omernick, President of The Herald, Monterey’s local daily newspaper.

A primary subject on our agenda is the Herald’s 7 year long Blackout; complete news and editorial blackout (censorship) of our Water Management District’s “Right-Sized” Water solution.

After sitting down with Herald’s Omernick and chatting amiably for a while about newspapers losing readers, the Herald’s City Editor and Executive Editor, Joe Livernois joined us. The City Editor has responsibility for all local stories.

He can block stories if he wants. (Livernois is known for his admitted disgust with the public speaking at government meetings.)

When I raised the issue that the Herald’s Letter editor was refusing to allow letters or commentaries on the “Right-Sized” water project, Livernois asked if I was referring to the Water Management District’s project. I said yes, and Livernois responded – (as though it were true) “we’ve written about that.”

(A subsequent Internet search of the Herald’s articles shows that Livernois was “mistaken.” The Herald has never written about the Primary project by our Water Management agency in the 7 years since the project was created.)

I continued with my point about the refusal to print our commentary when Livernois interrupted with – but “you are known for getting your facts wrong.”

Stunned, I turned to Livernois and asked him to name one.

He stammered … and eventually said he didn’t have any at his fingertips, but insisted there were plenty.

I followed up – “Just name a single instance in any of the hundreds of issues I’ve worked on that I got a single fact wrong.”

Livenoise just mumbled and stayed quiet from the remainder of the meeting.

Of course Livernois couldn’t come up with anything because:

1. I take pains to make sure I get my vital facts right, and

2. If I do make an error – I admit it and make corrections.

(For example: In preparing this article I did make a mistake and called the Herald Publisher and President “Eric Orme.” His correct name is Gary Omernick. I also have this correction listed below.)

Soon after, the meeting concluded, I left HOPE’s Commentary on “Right-Sized” water supply solution with Herald President Omernick asking that it be published.

In the two years since, HOPE has never heard back from President Omernick, or anyone at the Herald about the commentary. The Herald has never reported or even mentioned that Water Solution; it remained censored until after the Public Utility Commission approved a far more expensive, and pro-growth “solution.”

_________________________I write this in hope that enough elected officials will understand how they and the public have been prevented from learning about better solution to our community’s water problems.

Notes:
Article: “Right-Sized” Water Solution for Monterey Peninsula beats the ‘Regional’ Water Supply (which is yet Another Giant Growth-Forcing, Violently Expensive, Anti-Democracy Water Project)

HOPE’s Commentary “Greed is The Enemy of Enough”

Part I: Herald’s Letter-Editor Royal Calkins Caught Censoring & BlackListing, then Lying to Cover it up

Correction:
In an earlier version of this story I had referred to the Herald Publisher and President as “Eric Orme.” His correct name is Gary Omernick.

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