... our daily paper. Our readers know that, in the past, we have criticized the paper for its failure to ask questions - to investigate. It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to go the other direction for a change.
That occasion arises with the publication in yesterday’s paper of the story about the strange "economic development" situation of a company called Litebox.
The story reports a broad, persuasive investigation which uncovers multiple areas of financial problems for the head of the company. And as a side effect, it discloses the probability that both the governor and the mayor (and the Economic Development people generally?) did little or no inquiry before heading out for the photo-op announcing the "coup."
Both public officials are quick to claim "no blood - no foul" on the basis that no public funds have been spent to date. We simply raise the question as to how long that period would have continued without the paper having turned on the "slo-mo replay" spotlight.
We sincerely hope that this effort is the beginning of a change in policy at the paper. All incentives and subsidies allegedly needed to jumpstart private business activity could, and should, be the target of such penetrating investigations.
We believe this particular situation seems to justify our earlier contention that there are reporters capable of doing their job very well, if the apparent "Don’t rock the downtown, political boat" policy is eliminated.
As an aside, this morning’s paper tells us the Pacers are about to make more money under the new labor agreement. May we hope that the investigative action demonstrated in the above discussion will apply to any future claims on the taxpayer by that organization?
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