Samuel Anthony Ettaro IP: 209.158.23.191 Oct 26, 06 - 10:28 AM	Waiting for a Response from Gant Daily Over this past weekend Dennis Biancuzzo and myself addressed our concerns about media coverage of the Landfill Summit as well as the omission of my presentations to Borough Council on this topic and the Sunflower Campaign from subsequent reporting directly to The Progress, the Courier and Gant Media. We received no reply from The Progress, but did note a very nice and factual report on the event yesterday to which we have publicly expressed a sincere thank you and kudos. The Courier got back to me pretty quickly basically stating that the only person they mentioned regarding the landfill summit angle was Marve Smith and that they have a policy in place of not writing about events that could be construed as political just before an election. Of course, I disagree with this notion and don't really accept it, but at least they got back to us quickly and answered our concerns and did say they would look at running a story a couple days before the event. I'm assuming that this is because it would be after the election. From Gant, we received no reply until yesterday morning and that came after I sent a simple email reminding them of our initial concerns and asking for a response by the end of the day. To this request I received and email from Gant's Editor that simply stated: "Help. I'm being harrassed. What do I do". I followed with a simple reply. "How about tell the truth and simply provide answers to the questions we've asked.... Why were my presentations omitted from your coverage of the Borough Council Meeting? Why is the Landfill Summit being presented with the slant that it has been? Why is no further contact information being offered?" I asked for a straight and honest answer to these very simple questions and suggested that if there is official policy in place with explains the coverage in question, I would gladly report that on this site. I received a brief response apologizing for the email that I received and that it "was meant for my aunt". She went on to promise that she would look into this and get back to us. Dennis Biancuzzo followed up with an email that would be classified as a bit more terse in nature and expressed more concern over the accusation and childish nature of the response. I don't know who Mrs. Wall's aunt is or why she was reporting to her that we are harrassing her by asking these questions, but to date, Thursday the 26th, neither myself or Dennis Biancuzzo have received a reply to our very simple and valid inquiry. Likewise, I had sent an email to Gant's sales staff asking for rates and statistics on banner advertising on the front page specifically for the Landfill Summit. I forwarded a concern to Mr. Biancuzzo as well as Mrs. Walls that I had sent this request for information and had not yet recieved a reply. Almost imediately I received and email from a sales rep at Gant, apologizing for being very busy and offering to meet with me to discuss options. I expressed to her a thank you, but declined to meet in person as I don't have time and simply asked for: 1.) Rates for a banner ad on the front page. 2.) Stats as to how many people will see the ad. TO date I've received no reply. So What Constitutes Harassment? From what I found on the web it is defined legally by: Harassment: General Under the United States Code Title 18 Subsection 1514(c)1. Harassment is defined as "a course of conduct directed at a specific person that causes substantial emotional distress in such a person and serves no legitimate purpose". Modern Penal Code Definition: The Modern Penal Code section 250.4(MPC) defines harassment as a petty misdemeanor if with purpose is to harass another, one: 1) makes a phone call without a legitimate purpose; or 2) insults, taunts or challenges another in a manner likely to provoke violent or disorderly response; or 3) calls at inconvenient hours or in offensive language; or 4) subjects another to offensive touching; or 5) engages in any other course of alarming conduct serving no legitimate purpose of the actor. I fail to see how asking these questions would constitute harrassment. Mr. Biancuzzo's request included a direct reply to just how they feel they are being harrassed and why? No response to this question either. And so the mystery continues. Is there policy that explains our concerns away, are we being black-listed, or is there something more happening? That's the story, folks. If the integrity of the local press matters to you and you have a concern over how CI.A. has been handled by this outlet, please involve yourself. Sincerely, Samuel Email: samuel@ettaro.com Website: http://www.ettaro.com
B. Smith IP: 4.239.180.171 Oct 26th, 2006 - 11:04 AM	Re: Waiting for a Response from Gant Daily Samuel, I don't know if this ties into anything or not, but I have noticed a major shift in reporting from Gant in the last several weeks. When first started Gant appeared to be cutting edge and reported facts, and didn't keep facts hidden. It seemed to be something good. In the last little while Gant has become a watered down version of it's former self. They seem afraid to ask the pointed questions, as in today's article on the RHJ Medical center. They showed only one side of the situation giving the article the tone of "our friend the medical center" making it sound like a wonderful thing. An issue such as this, having many opposed to it, needs to have both sides represented. They sang it's praises, but failed to acknowledge the founded fears and opposition of the many people of the county who do not want the center.
Samuel Anthony Ettaro IP: 209.158.23.191 Oct 26th, 2006 - 11:11 AM	Re: Waiting for a Response from Gant Daily Hello B. Smith, I like you felt that same when Gant first started up and, again like you, have noted the same sort of change. One can speculate forever on this but it would be helpful for these folks to address this concern openly so we can hear it from them and not have to rely on our conjecture? I've also noted an enoromous drop in the Opinion pieces. At the beginning of this venture, they published quite a bit of local opinion and recently that has dropped significantly. I appreciate you keeping tabs on these issues as it does matter and simply illustrates the need for a real free-speech site like CI.A. that does not have business affilition concerns to deal with such as local investors and/or advertising revenue and/or subscription concerns. Encourage anyone that you can to get involved with this site and let's keep asking the questions that matter and presenting valid opportunities and plans for growth and addressing of the issues we all face! Change isn't going to come through a commercial news venture and it's not going to come through local politicians, it's going to come from the PEOPLE! Sincerely thankful for your diligence, Samuel Email: samuel@ettaro.com Website: http://www.ettaro.com
whoami? IP: 207.255.156.98 Oct 26th, 2006 - 6:46 PM	Re: Waiting for a Response from Gant Daily Mr. Ettaro if I am to be completely honest I think that this is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. You accuse Gant of shedding light on only 1 side of a story. Why don't you do the same. You assume your readers do not know the rest of the story. The other side of this story is that you harbor personal feelings of resentment and hostility against members of Gant. The success of Gant has made you ripe with jealousy and take note: the green eyed monster looks ugly on you. You take it personal that Gant has not given you the attention you demand. So you rant and rave like a 2 year old who's been told "no no" and you stomp your feet and scream real loud. Before you go any further Sammy perhaps you should step back and scrutinize not the policies and time schedules of Gant employees but rather your own journalistic integrity and passive aggressive nature. I now question the quality of all other work in your name. whoami? PS May I request a dignified response and not more toddler styled tantrums labled free press. Website: http://www.usgraffitiwall.com
..... IP: 71.240.213.203 Oct 27th, 2006 - 4:34 AM	Re: Waiting for a Response from Gant Daily You said it!!
Samuel Anthony Ettaro IP: 72.72.206.71 Oct 27th, 2006 - 5:05 AM	Re: Waiting for a Response from Gant Daily Hi Whoami, Well, seeing as you didn't sign your name I have to only assume that you are one of the many folk in this area who THINK that they know me and my motivations and what's in my heart. I'm not jealous of Gant. Get that straight. I think we need more of this sort of thing in this area and in the beginning of this venture even sent people there. Heck, Gant was the source that originally published my op-ed on the Nazi/Fair situation. If I were so resentful of this outlet and the people there and were SO jealous of them as you say, why would I have utilized the outlet? I wouldn't have. You are wrong, flat out, in your assertion there. Second, I'm not throwing a tantrum. The facts are the facts. The attention isn't about ME, it's about the facts of the story. YOU are making it about me, and that's your call. Second, I nor anyone here at CI.A. have never claimed to be "journalists". We're concerned citizens, business people and community leaders and organizers who are using our voices to address issues important to us. We never claimed to be balanced, fair, or otherwise be an official news outlet that gives the latest local news TODAY! So your comparisons to Gant on my behalf are wrong, as well. It's not calling the pot calling the kettle black, it's apples and oranges. Regarding the rest of my works, that's your opinion. No skin off my substantial nose. So, that all said.... Will we ever learn the truth about whether or not the slant and ommissions from these stories was due to policy or a blacklisting / moritorium that was placed on me and CI.A.? And if it was the later, why is that being done? Thanks for, again, trying to divert the real issue back to a personal slam on me, though. You guys just keep making my point. Samuel Email: samuel@ettaro.com Website: http://www.ettaro.com
whoami? IP: 207.255.156.98 Oct 27th, 2006 - 6:12 AM	Re: Waiting for a Response from Gant Daily By "you guys" you imply that I am a "Gant" person. That is an assumption. And, you have used your child like assumption to imply that I am Gant trying to make a point. On the contrary, I too am a simple citizen trying to get to the bottom of something. My apologies to Gant. I didn't realize my comments would be derailed and dumped on your lap. Website: http://www.usgraffitiwall.com
Samuel Anthony Ettaro IP: 72.72.227.253 Oct 27th, 2006 - 6:25 AM	Re: Waiting for a Response from Gant Daily Wrong again, whoever you are. By "you guys" I meant the people who refuse to address the issue that was brought up in my original complaint which is why the slant in the reporting and why the blatent omissions. 1.) By "you guys" I meant the people who then, after ignoring those questions and attempts to get questions to those answers, make an obvious attempt to divert attention AWAY fromo those questions and the underlying issues by making a personal attack upon me. 2.) "You guys" meant people who are doing those things. If the folks at Gant fall within those categories, that's up to them. My comment was not directed to them and I was NOT assuming that you worked for Gant. Again, you're putting words in my mouth and making assumptions regarding my intent. Again, see the above two points. Perhaps you might want to offer some insights into the original two points outlined above rather than continuing more of the same. Your call. I'm wide open to suggestions. S. Email: samuel@ettaro.com Website: http://www.ettaro.com

Sammy, If I had comments about the topics to which you refer, I would post on a thread about those topics. This is a thread about your waiting for a reply from Gant. Which by the way I find childish and passive aggressive. Why don't you just pop in the office or give them a call? So many people try to use email for instances which require direct contact. Who

I don't know why your post ended so abrubtly. You may wish to try again.

Regarding your comments:
Passive-aggressive behaviour refers to passive, sometimes obstructionist resistance to authoritative instructions in interpersonal or occupational situations. Sometimes a method of dealing with stress or frustration, it results in the person attacking other people in subtle, indirect, and seemingly passive ways. It can manifest itself as resentment, stubbornness, procrastination, sullenness, or intentional failure at doing requested tasks. For example, someone who is passive-aggressive might take so long to get ready for a party they do not wish to attend that the party is nearly over by the time they arrive.

I'm not being subtle at all about this and I'm not being indirect whatsoever. Nor am I hiding my concerns or agenda. It's all out there in the open.

The purpose of this post is to present what has happened regarding this correspondence. The POINT is to show this openly, and make the orignal points, again, that everyone still seems to want to ignore.

Call me childish and psychoanalyze me if that makes you feel better. That's fine.

I've years worth of material on my various other sites as well that you may wish to go through and use as ammo to prove how dysfunctional I am. That's your call.

My point is my point regarding how Gant handled this story.

Regarding the use of email technologies for "instances that require direct contact", perhaps you should take your own advice and not attempt such a deep psychological profile without said direct contact.

Again, on we go. You can post anything you wish here regarding myself or your opinions. That's fine. But I'm not moving forward with argument with you about it.

S.

So I've been thinking a lot about our exchanges, whoami? and I've come to realize that it's pretty hard these days to stay focused on the positive. For me, anyway. So much is good in life, I've so many blessings, and yet frustration tends to get the best of me at times. Not the way to make friends and influence people I've heard. But alas, I am imperfect and rant from time to time.

And so it goes....

I also believe there is always a reason that people come into one another's lives and I certainly don't want to miss out on any of the good that may come of our meeting simply because I may have overstepped the acceptable boundaries of decorum by my pointed writings of late and have offended you, or that I may find myself disagreeing with you fervently on certain points.

With that thought in mind, I'm revisiting this post and looking at it from a different angle. Looking at you from a different angle. Looking at your post as no a reason to feel bad, attacked, or put down. But as reason to be glad that somebody thought enough of me as a person to take time to try and offer me guidance when thinking that I was wrong. And for that I am grateful.

We could talk for years about me and my foibles, that much is clear. Most certainly my trying to pick apart your would end in the same result. How how 'bout YOU?

What is it that you focus on to feel good? Maybe you can give me some insight as to how to deal with frustration by explaining your view of life and shining light out there for myself and the rest of the viewers to this site to warm them?

That might be helpful.

To the folks at Gant, you know, I really don't want anything big. Just straight honesty and a couple of answers.

That's not much to ask, but these days it's really hard to come by.

Have I some bad feelings for these folks? Sure. Not for the reasons you may think, however. Do I want to feel bad feelings toward them? No. Nor anyone for that matter. I don't suppose tha

...(continued) anyone likes to feel bad or frustrated. It's certainly not something I enjoy. But sometimes we get put into situations, willingly and/or unwillingly that pokes our sensibilities of right and wrong and the censorship and blacklisting that does, undeniably, go on in Clearfield is a real sore spot. It's one of the core reasons why this area is where it is I believe. To bring attention to this sort of thing happening is always risky in an environment like this. That's part of being honest and putting it out there.

That said, you seem to know more about me than I do you? Calling me by "Sammy", making reference the the "other" side of the story that you say you know about?

I'm curious as to why you know so much about me and I don't know much about you? Shall we both be as honest and upfront with each other?

What is it that in mind, tell me if you will what makes you happy and joyful? Perhaps your story will shed some positive on a situation that could use some.

So a challenge to you, dear sir/maddame! Now tally ho!!!!

Peace and out for now.
Samuel

Sam,
I received the following from a young my space user last evening -

N.I.M.B.Y.'s (Not In My Backyard) disgust me. I bet you wouldn't have a problem with them moving the landfill plans to another town. I bet you would even say that the jobs created would be good too.

You talk about unity yet when it comes to the people that would need the jobs that the landfills would provide you ignore them. Have you looked at unemployment for Clearfield County at all? Every time an election is coming up poverty takes a backseat to abortion and government spending. Lynn Swan has strong opposition to welfare while the elderly freeze in their homes every winter because LIHEAP doesn't help enough. How about if you focus less on tourism and more on the fact that people are losing their homes because they can't afford the hikes in property taxes every year because of needless spending and the massive debts of our schools.

I say bring in the landfills. They can even put one behind my house if it means a stable job for a needy family in the area...

Good Day Sir.

It is important to wieght the possibly 20 jobs that this project will create against the Health, Economic and social impact such landfills will have on the community. This is an important message, some of the younger unemployed persons of the community see this as a job opportunity, and it would be for 20 people compared to how many others who are out of work, is it worth the 20 jobs?

It is important to wieght the possibly 20 jobs that this project will create against the Health, Economic and social impact such landfills will have on the community. This is an important message, some of the younger unemployed persons of the community see this as a job opportunity, and it would be for 20 people compared to how many others who are out of work, is it worth the 20 jobs?

Dear Sam,

I fear that my link appearing on your site is an ethical barter I'm unwilling to make. Why if I am opposed to your obvious slam of Gant would I allow you to link my site. I do appreciate your killing me with kindnness. And, traffic and links are priceless. However, I will not place my integrity on the line in this instannce. I must request that you remove my link. It's mere presence implies that I support your treatment of Gant Daily and it's employees. Please at your earliest convenience remove said link.

Graciously ,

WhoamI

Wow, now people are really talking like they are in eight grade. Whoami, I'm the one who visit the Graffiti Wall and asked Sam to post the link to your site.
Dennis