Local journalism more important now than ever

JIM RIDOLPHI

Contributing Columnist

It’s hard not to cringe when you hear continuing details emerge regarding George Santos, newly elected House of Representative member from New York.

Now, Long Island is a long way from Richmond, but the implications of poorly vetted candidates has the potential to affect every election held in the United States.

Like many, I am astounded at the extent of deception uncovered regarding Santos’ biography and finances, but I was also surprised that some media commentators attributed that failure to reveal those potentially damaging details on local newspapers and news outlets.

While thorough research is essential to effective and accurate journalism, truth be known, few local outlets have the staff, time or money to conduct extensive background searches on local candidates. Even with those limitations, in Santos’ case, some local news outlets did question some of his claims.

Perhaps, media should have screamed louder when Santos’ story didn’t seem viable, and details didn’t seem to add up. But, what about New York GOP officials who also didn’t catch the red flags and continued to support what some knew was a flawed candidate?

Nor did a detached Democratic local organization who assumed the race would not be close, refusing to supply funds for opponent research, and ignoring warnings of Santos’ fraudulent claims.

While some may point to the failure of local media to expose Santos, I welcome the apparent realization that local media is vital to transparency in government, and local reporters play a vital role in monitoring proceedings that are too often ignored by public eyes. It’s not a new concept, witnessed by our founding fathers’ desire to include protections for a fourth estate, established as a watchdog to the first three.

According to Northwestern University, more than a fourth of newspapers have ceased operations since 2005, and 7% of counties in America have no local news outlet. Studies have confirmed and common sense reaffirms that communities with strong local media presence enjoy an increased citizen involvement in all aspects of local government. Conversely, communities who are underserved by local news often incorporate less inclusive government and limited citizen participation in their processes.

Dedicated media coverage and an informed citizenry ensures the system in which we place our trust daily operates in full sunlight and voters have all the information to make well reasoned choices.

As the Santos saga continues, it’s hard to imagine how this candidate cleared the lowest of moral hurdles to gain his party’s endorsement, and I , for one, think many knew of these impending problems long before the press broke the story after his election.

Some of those party officials claim they simply believed that Santos was telling the truth when he claimed his mother had died in the Sept. 11 attacks in New York, or his 3.9 GPA at schools he never attended.

Newly elected Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy likened Santos’ claims to the usual embellishments often found in the resumes of political candidates. I hope not.

If that’s the case, the mission of local journalism continues as demands on its services increase and resources continue to dwindle; and good local reporting is still the best oversight to ensure transparent and responsible government. Is the work important? I suggest that answer may best be found in an angry group of Long Island voters who when polled recently voiced a decided majority to remove Santos from office.

1. Remember that my first and greatest concern is the educational welfare, academic growth and achievement, of all students attending Goochland County Public Schools;

2.Resolve to affirm the division’s commitment to an inclusive school environment where equal educational opportunities are available for all students, without regard to sex, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, disability, ancestry, marital or parental status or any other unlawful basis;

7. Place the welfare of the children and the School Division as a whole above any loyalty to individuals, voting districts, particular schools or other interest groups;

8. Be fair, open and honest, and exercise integrity in all matters;

12. Communicate and act in a manner that will encourage and facilitate an open, two-way communication process with all segments of our community;

15. Recognize that as an individual Board Member I have no authority to speak or act for the board unless authorized to do so;

16. The board delegates authority for the administration of the schools to the Superintendent to establish a process for accountability;

17. Continually improve my ability to serve as a Board Member by engaging in the studying of educational issues and participating in appropriate professional development;

19. Respect the confidentiality of privileged and confidential information and refrain from discussion of confidential matters in public or to anyone not privy to such information;

22. Have integrity in all matters and bring about desired changes through legal and ethical procedures upholding and enforcing all laws, state regulations, and court orders pertaining to schools. Therefore, I will always strive to demonstrate appropriate behavior/conduct as a public school board member. (Each member of this school board voting to adopt this Code should sign.)

The purpose of this posting was purely to stoke controversy and incite distrust in school leaders, not to improve outcomes for students. Allen campaigned on political talking points and continues to repeat them now while in office, (as evidenced by this post) placing students, teachers, and staff in the cross hairs of culture wars. The timing of this post, with the legislative session and other national headlines, shows me she is doing nothing more than trying to bring national headlines here –to our peaceful town – not solve real problems from the ground up. While citizens of Goochland have wide-ranging political viewpoints, student safety and belonging should not be politicized. Every community member should want this for every child. The belief that every child is “our” child is something I love about living and raising children in Goochland. Ostracizing vulnerable students is not the Goochland way. As an elected official, she is bound by the policies of the board on which she sits, and has failed to do so, acting unbecoming of her office, breaking the oath she swore. Further, her be- havior is antithetical to our school division’s mission, to “maximize the potential of every learner.” Beyond breaking School Board policy and acting counter to our mission, we know this public shaming and targeting of transgender students causes real and measurable harm. Research tells us, loudly and clearly:

„ All youth require the support and acceptance of their family, peers, and communities to thrive. Transgender and gender-nonconforming youth are no exception; their health and well-being is heavily influenced by the institutions and communities that surround them. Although youth who identify as a gender other than the one assigned to them at birth have among the highest rates of suicide, depression, and self-harm, a supportive and safe environment can significantly reduce these risks.

„ A recent study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health demonstrates the power of affirming transgender youth’s identities: For each additional context (i.e., at home, school, work, or with friends) in which a transgender youth’s chosen name is used, their risk of suicidal behavior is reduced by more than half.

„ Another study, published in the journal Pediatrics, finds that transgender youth who have fully socially transitioned to their identified gender, and have been supported in doing so, do not have elevated depressive symptoms compared to the broader population. And in an era in which overall youth suicide rates have significantly increased over the last decade, it is critical to take steps to reduce risk for suicide. Ms. Allen’s behavior is transparent, ill-intentioned, unbecoming, and an embarrassment to the school board, our stellar school division, and all her constituents, of which I am one. Zero tolerance to hate in all its forms is what we expect of students, and elected officials of the schools in which they learn should be held to the same if not higher standard. No one should stand in the way of our staff finding safe, common-sense, affirming solutions on a case-by-case basis to support our most vulnerable students. Regretfully submitted, Laura Kassner Goochland