Readers blast, praise school board coverage
The Corona-Norco Unified school board, you may recall, said at its well-attended Aug. 3 meeting that, despite what critics contended, masks are mandated by the state and critical race theory isn’t part of K-12 education.
If the district wanted attention, as I joked in my column about the meeting, putting two hot-button topics on one agenda was the way to do it. It follows that a column about the meeting would likewise get attention, both in my inbox and on the Press-Enterprise’s Facebook page, where it got more than 130 comments, a majority of them negative.
To be fair, the way my columns are presented online doesn’t make it clear that I’m a columnist, which led to some of the pushback. Also, P-E readers aren’t used to something I did all the time
before my expansion into their territory, which was to cover public meetings via my column. And — crucially — some commenters have no sense of humor.
As I did after my Temecula anti-masking columns, let's look at what people had to say. To quote sports columnist T.J. Simers when he excerpted his own reader feedback: “These people live among you.”
• Jennifer Marie: “That wasn't a news report, that was someone's ill-written blog post basically containing their opinion. So PE isn't a real news outlet anymore but a place for woke liberals to share their blog posts? Ew. News should report the facts unbiasedly. Get better writers.”
That wasn't an ill-written blog post, it was an ill-written column. Know the difference!
• Mark Nicklas: “You have abandoned any integrity of journalism by mocking almost every parent there. I don't even think you have a bit of non-bias objectivity left in your soul. It is just sad.”
Would you like to borrow a hanky?
• Mike Taber: “You refer to yourself as a reporter? Seriously, no one thinks of you as a reporter … at least anyone who has ever read what you write.”
I'm going to need that hanky back, sorry.
• Toni Sandell: “As a retired CNUSD teacher and frequent board meeting attendee, I was amused by your article on the meeting and your description of the commentators. Par for the course for any even mildly contentious issue. My only regret is that the children seem to be infected with the same idiocy as their parents.”
Infection was definitely a theme of the meeting.
• Elizabeth McCreary: “Wow. The writer of this article mocked the children who spoke. This reads like a disgruntled editorial piece vs. an actual news story. Shame on you, PE. Canceling my subscription.”
Gee, and just when you got your name in the newspaper!
• Tracy Olguin: “I am a secondary English teacher for the Corona-Norco district, and I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed the comedic relief employed in your writing. I'm going to share your piece in the PE with my colleagues in case they missed it.”
I hope at least one person subscribes so we can balance our ledgers.
• Joe Vasquez: “I can't even read the (expletive) story without it blasting the ad for a subscription even after I said ‘No thanks!!'”
I can't even eat in this gosh-darned restaurant without them demanding I pay, even after I said I wouldn't. Outrageous!
• Jesse L. Gonzalez: “Horrible ‘journalism' clearly biased and malicious in your stupid article.”
I'm imagining Jesse stomping around the room as he typed this.
• Brad Morris: “Good luck with your audition to join CNN. Your failed understanding of the issues are just a little less than your journalistic style.”
Shall we talk next about your failed understanding of sentence structure?
• Kelli Shapiro: “I'm a conservative, and I've enjoyed his columns for years. And I agreed with this one, as I normally do.”
See, I appeal to everyone (except those who can't stand me).
• Dennis Wortham: “Great article! I love your sense of humor and tongue in cheek remarks. Your writing is quite refreshing and is really appreciated by my friends and I. Thank you. I will look for your byline in the future.”
Thanks, I'm here Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.
• Tanya M. Figueroa: “In all fairness, he did have a point with regards to the child being ‘too shy' to participate in class but was OK (speaking) in a crowded room with masked adults. Nonetheless, kids need to be back in person, and a mask is a small price to pay.”
In America A.D. 2021, even a small price is too much to pay.
• Elaine Alosi: “Well now that we heard the ‘journalist' opinion I wonder what happened at the meeting.”
Everyone praised masks and vaccines, embraced critical race theory and sang “Kumbaya.” Look for my upcoming correction.
• Priscilla Millsap: “Wowwwww what horrendous journalism, if you can even call it that.”
You and I both used the five W's, we just did it differently.
Kim Faubion Copeland: “I thought the article was fine. Obviously, most of these people don't understand his writing style which I enjoy. But I get sarcasm.”
Oh do you now? Sorry, just testing you.
• Leah Amico: “Parents will speak up, no matter how funny you think it is, and we will work to unmask our children for their own health. Journalism is dead, nobody in mainstream media is ever believable any more — COVID thankfully exposed all of this. Our kids come first, and we will all do our best to fight anything that will cause harm to our children, including exposing propaganda media.”
If any children come within 6 feet of a newspaper, unlikely as that is, they should immediately wash their hands for 20 seconds in warm, soapy water.
Jesse Ybarbo: “Whoever wrote this sounds horrible.”
You have no idea.
brIEfly
Neil who? Chino Councilman Christopher Flores, who was born in the 1990s, admitted at a recent council meeting that until encountering the tribute band Hot August Night at a concert in the park event, he'd never heard of Neil Diamond. Sweet Caroline! According to an item in the Chino Valley Champion newspaper, a stunned Mayor Eunice Ulloa said she'd loan Flores a CD to catch him up. This prompted Councilwoman Karen Comstock to quip: “He doesn't have a CD player, mayor.” Are we all feeling old yet?