Just bein' silly

| | Comments (5) |

What part of "public property" does this man not understand?
Talk to the hand

Access to information -- for all -- has long been under assault. We have to fight more than ever for access to meetings, public records from City Hall, the school district, the police department, the federal government ... and with fewer resources with which to do so.

As reporters we're not entitled to any privileged status, but exercising the legal entitlements held by every citizen is part of our job. This is the fundamental stuff of democracy here -- how to know what the hell your government and the people in it are doing.

Yet we grow increasingly indifferent to these notions and shrug off our Duty to exercise our Rights. We are to blame for allowing it to happen. Freedom is like that novice writing advice: Show me, don't tell me. Talkin' about ain't no substitute for doin' it.

If you don't like it, move to Myanmar.

In that vein, my first ever Banana Republic Award goes to this security guard, who works at Indymac on Lake Avenue between Colorado and Union, who took it unto himself to prevent Star-News photographer Sarah Reingewirtz from taking a picture from the sidewalk today as a fire crew searched for the source of a fire inside.

Sarah tried to explain the concept of a public street to the man. "Now you're just being silly," was the scofflaw's reply.

5 Comments

martin said:
http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf I always thought this was an interesting guide for photographers.
Jill said:
Grrr. Reading about this incident makes me mad, and not a lot makes me angry, so that's saying something. Here's a link to another blog post by a photographer harassed for taking pictures on a public street in Pasadena earlier this year: http://thomashawk.com/2007/04/anto-kamarian-of-cigars-by-chivas-in.html
Anonymous said:
I have seen Sarah. Sarah is a tough looking chick...she always looks like she should be in Iraq or something shooting pics of dead bodies. I'd like to see a photo of Sarah with her face all screaming and yelling fighting with this person who is harrassing her and attempting to coerce her just because she is a woman and he is a bully.
Anono, at least pick a name that shows off your wild personality. What you write here, Todd, is of very great import to all of us that want to know e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. Maybe we should band together our raspkallion crew and follow you beat reporters around. Show your struggle, maybe that would help. At the very least, it would keep you safer. Do we need to call Ralph Nader for crying out loud? http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Nader/Knowledge_FOIA_RNR.html
I could kick Todd's ass at reporting. :-)

Leave a comment

UNDER THE DOME

Dan Abenschein
Pasadena -- news, politics and gossip. Send tips, rumors, rants to Dan Abendschein dan.abendschein@sgvn.com.

About this Entry

This page contains a single entry by Todd published on August 17, 2007 1:54 PM.

900 seats was the previous entry in this blog.

Most popular (non-sports) blog! is the next entry in this blog.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.

Recent Comments

Aaron Proctor on Just bein' silly: I could kick Todd's ass at reporting. :-) ...

Miss Havisham on Just bein' silly: Anono, at least pick a name that shows off your wild personality. Wha ...

on Just bein' silly: I have seen Sarah. Sarah is a tough looking chick...she always looks l ...

Jill on Just bein' silly: Grrr. Reading about this incident makes me mad, and not a lot makes me ...

martin on Just bein' silly: http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf I always thought this ...

Powered by Movable Type 4.1

Links

Our SGVN blogs

Hallway Monitor
Caroline An's experiences the Pasadena Unified School District.
The Public Eye
SGVN Public Editor Larry Wilson muses on life, newspapering and the Velvet Underground.
Scott Galetti Talks Prep Sports What else is there to say? Scott's a cool guy who posts about local prep sports.
Crime Scene
Tribune crime guy Frank Girardot wants to know where the bodies are and what they're stuffed into.
Editors' Corner
Edward Barrera and Kate Kealey, las editors libres, reflect on the news in general with a dash of newsroom insidering.
Leftovers from City Hall
More city hall news and tidbits from around the Valley, brought to you by reporters Jennifer McLain and Tania Chatila.
Fred Robledo Talks Prep Sports
Tribune sports dude Fred Robledo's monster prep sports blog.

Advertisement

Headlines

Other blogs

CIF-SS preseasonTop 10s: Only five locals acknowledged in Roger Murray talks Prep Sports
Blogging from the RNC in Hallway Monitor
Thanks for reading in Under the Dome
NFL, ABC-7 honors San Gabriel coach Keith Jones in From the sidelines with Miguel Melendez
Have a great Labor Day in A View from the Heights