I don’t normally make it a practice to write letters to the editor, but I would be remiss if I did not state that the Santa Maria Sun’s decision to pose its Streetwise question about “Who is your least favorite Santa Maria City Council member?” was not only disappointing and unprofessional, but unbecoming of a print media outlet, for it served no other purpose than to create sensationalism, spark controversy, and provide an open forum for character assassination. There are numerous opportunities for the public to express their opinion about the job our City Council is doing, whether it be through the public comment portion at our City Council meetings, through letters to the editor, or at the ballot box. But the question you posed in your Oct. 1 edition was inappropriate, and if your goal is to truly be a well-respected media outlet in this area then you missed the mark with your Streetwise question.
This article appears in Oct 15-22, 2015.