I Wasn't Going to Get Involved, But...

EDITORIAL by Jim Albert - Thursday, October 22, 2009 - I didn't want to get involved in the "Steve Frank Pride or Prejudice Editorial" debate, however, I feel there is a need, in the interest of fairness, to point out that Ironwood Public Service Director Bob Erspamer has been in regular contact with the Chronicle -- attempting to find out why Mr. Frank's 911 complaint went unanswered.

Erspamer wrote, "when a person calls the police, they certainly expect a response. At times, that response may not be made immediately but there should have been a response nonetheless."

He went on to say, "It concerns me that someone called 911 and did not receive ANY response. I have just started to look into the matter and can assure that it appears the officers on duty at IPSD did not receive this report. Negaunee Regional Dispatch records all of their calls and radio traffic. I have asked them to review the records regarding this incident.

I want to make it perfectly clear that I have the utmost respect for Bob Erspamer and the officers of Ironwood Public Safety. Although I cannot speak for Steve, I don't believe his intent was to be critical of the work they do.  Steve's pet peeve is litter and senseless blight. I believe his photos were meant to show that tossed out garbage can easily be identified by checking receipts, reading note scraps and even identifying people in discarded photos.

The very fact that someone identified the girl in the photo within hours of its posting proves Steve was right. Was she the girl who discarded the trash on the street? Maybe, maybe not. Nobody ever made that claim -- at least, I know Steve didn't. But, I'm sure if the young lady was shown the picture, she'd have a pretty good idea who had the Polaroid in their possession prior to littering it on our City streets.

Was it wrong to show closeup photos of some one's discarded rubbish online? Well, the way I see it... whoever tossed the trash didn't seem to care who saw it lying out on the street. Was showing the girl in the photo wrong? My question is this... was she hurt by it? Will she miss out on a job opportunity because of her appearance in the Chronicle? "Mam, you were either the litterer in Steve Frank's editorial or the an accessory to the litterer... we can't possibly hire you!"

It's important to remember that the Globe is what it is -- and so too is the Chronicle. I started this online publication because I was unhappy with the way the Globe twisted facts and misreported the news. From the very beginning our focus has been honesty. Sometimes I think the people of Ironwood have been spoon fed lies for so long, that they are incapable of handling the truth.

Have we made mistakes? Certainly. Have we learned from them? Hopefully. Will we make mistakes in the future? Absolutely. But there is one stark difference between what we represent to our readers and what the Globe represents to theirs. The Globe could receive hundreds of complaints, thousands of opposing viewpoints, and you will never see a single one published in their pages. We have yet to refuse to post a single letter to the editor submitted to us. We appreciate and respect the honesty of our readers, just as they demand honesty from us.

I don't always agree with what is posted on our site. Believe it or not, Steve Frank and I don't see eye to eye on many issues. But, I would never dream of trying to stop him or anyone from expressing themselves.

Mr. Gramith is obviously upset with my decision to post Mr. Frank's editorial and the pictures that accompanied it.  He makes some very valid points -- points that are well taken. However, I take exception to what he calls Steve Frank's "self-congratulatory style and his constant, vague cries of victimization." Mr. Gramith -- like many of our readers -- is making judgements against Mr. Frank and myself without full knowledge of the facts. In January 2010, the Chronicle will begin its third year of online publication. Prior to the launch of our site, with the exception of the About_Ironwood web-group, the public was in the dark when it came to City affairs.

What may people don't realize is that both Mr. Frank and myself have been attending City meetings for many years. Although we have both witnessed many wrongdoings over the years -- malfeasance; misfeasance; corruption; nepotism; unequal treatment; discrimination; conflicts of interest; violations of City Ordinances, the City Charter, State law, and breaches of Constitutional Rights -- there was virtually no venue to let the public know the truth.

Mr. Frank has never been vague in his complaints. He's been brutally honest. Honesty is the light that makes rats scatter. Steve has exposed many wrongdoings within City government, and for that, he deserves our praise and our respect. Earlier this summer, on the very day the City Commission commended the "good citizens" of Ironwood who participated in the City-wide Downtown Clean-Up, Steve Frank cleaned up filth and garbage on the trail near the Little League field. To demonstrate the volume of materials he gathered along the trail, he neatly piled them near the rear exit of Memorial Building. Instead of praising his efforts, our City Attorney ordered the Public Safety Director to arrest Steve if he didn't clean up the junk he picked up off the trail. In telling that story, is he being self-congratulatory? Or is he trying to point out injustice?

I urge our readers to read through the archives of the About_Ironwood web-group. Then, go to the Library and pull up back issues of the Globe and see how that paper constantly maligned us and did all they could to discredit our actions.

If you believe it's okay for government officials to lie; cheat; steal; break the law; use their influence to tend to the needs of special interests; use their power to line their own pockets or to better their situation in life; violate people's rights and refuse them the opportunity to challenge their actions; and do everything in their power to cover up their wrong doings -- if you believe it's alright for City officials to repeatedly ignore the wishes of the people -- then Steve Frank is whining. Otherwise he's been the good citizen we all should be.

Oh yeah, and there's one more thing I almost forgot... IPSD Director Bob Erspamer pointed out one more thing in his correspondence. This is something that people need to know. "Also, it was pointed out to me that a resident was upset that Mr. Frank called 911. As you know, unlike most of the country, 911 in Gogebic County is not only for emergencies, but ANY reason someone needs police, fire or EMS. If you call IPSD in the evening or on weekends, chances are you will not receive an answer." he said.

Jim Albert