If You Can't Say Anything Good...

That seems to have afflicted the AJC yesterday in their weekly page on Sandy Springs and Dunwoody. Given what has been exposed, by other outlets, regarding some pretty odious goings-on in Dunwoody, the AJC was in bind. They could discuss these issues, which don't look good, or they could continue with their pollyannish PR pieces or they could just keep quiet. They chose the latter. 

What is even more interesting is the coverage by the local rags of the outrageous legal costs we've incurred due to bureaucrats at city hall. The Reporter and the Blue Bag Rag (originally the city's official legal organ, but the city doesn't seem to be printing notices much of late) have been sussing out the legal costs of the hijinks in the Dunwoody Police Department. Best as they can tell, from $115 worth of heavily redacted documents, is the tab, so far, amounts to about $407,000. It is particularly interesting that this appears on the front page of the Blue Bag Rag, since if they still are the official legal organ it would not be surprising to find out that some bureaucrats down at city hall are drawing up the dismissal paperwork for council to rubber-stamp. This is either a courageous act by the BBR, or since we're well past the Dick Williams era, it may just be loss of the rose-colored glasses. Or...could it be...journalism?

As for the legal costs, it is time for the mayor and council to stiffen their collective spines and make some changes. Since they are somewhat hamstrung by the city charter and are left with only the nuclear option, they need to fire the city manager and replace him with someone who will clean out the upper ranks of bureaucrats. The chief of police must be the first to go. Certainly some foot dragging can be attributed to letting him skate into retirement, but this is really beyond the pale. Clearly the rot has spread and many of the top level bureaucrats are past their sell-by date and need to be binned. There are some areas where entire groups need to go. Will the mayor and council do anything? Hard to say, but increasing numbers of folks are ready for them to go all Major Kong on this fiasco.

It's Baaaaack!

Just cannot keep that Blue Bag Rag down. Or out.

Seems another local outfit, Appen Media Group, scooped up the Dunwoody Crier just before its expiration date. Perhaps out of nostalgia, new owners have stepped up to the plate, maintaining the operation. What they have not maintained is the preachy propaganda of Dunwoody, Dunwoody, uber alles and the George Will wannabe obsession with sports. Instead it looks as if we may be treated to the Joe Friday treatment: the facts ma'am, just the facts. Objective. Refreshing. And worth giving a try.

Can't Keep It Up

Despite being the City's Official Organ the Blue Bag Rag cannot be maintained, set to cease print production leaving only a rather weak online presence where competition for eyeballs and click-thrus will surely favor other, better established outlets.

Some say it is the end of an era. Perhaps. Or maybe it is a new day dawning. In any event there is no viagra for old newspapers.