Thursday, November 19, 2009
Trend story one sentence
Pullman's nuisance ordinance is still a focus for police because of the large amount of litter from parties on College Hill and officers are attempting to better educate the community on how to properly follow the ordinance.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
update
http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/30081
Vigilante justice is not justice
Abortion doctor’s killer was not acting out God’s will
Chris Johnson
The Daily Evergreen
Published: 11/13/2009
This is an opinion piece published in the Daily Evergreen. It discusses the idea of vigilante justice in relation to the murder of Dr. George Tiller. Although it is opinion, I thought the article was interesting. It involves my beat in both the crime and safety areas. I was just curious as to how people would respond. Do people in Pullman believe that it is right to take the law into their own hands? Is this particular murder justified?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010284960_flood17m.html
The wind storms in the Seattle area caused a number of problems for residents Monday. In Pierce county, power was out for two hours. Flood warnings have also been issued. The power outages and other weather related incidents may also cause traffic backups. In relation to Pullman, a number of students will be traveling home to the Seattle area for Thanksgiving break.
Vigilante justice is not justice
Abortion doctor’s killer was not acting out God’s will
Chris Johnson
The Daily Evergreen
Published: 11/13/2009
This is an opinion piece published in the Daily Evergreen. It discusses the idea of vigilante justice in relation to the murder of Dr. George Tiller. Although it is opinion, I thought the article was interesting. It involves my beat in both the crime and safety areas. I was just curious as to how people would respond. Do people in Pullman believe that it is right to take the law into their own hands? Is this particular murder justified?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010284960_flood17m.html
The wind storms in the Seattle area caused a number of problems for residents Monday. In Pierce county, power was out for two hours. Flood warnings have also been issued. The power outages and other weather related incidents may also cause traffic backups. In relation to Pullman, a number of students will be traveling home to the Seattle area for Thanksgiving break.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Jim West Video
I had never seen this video or really heard anything about Jim West before this class. After watching the video I was torn between understanding why the media wanted to publish a story and doubt over their lack of judgement.
Obviously in journalism, everyone wants to break a big story. Most will do just about anything to get one. However, there is a line where people move from describing events to speculation. I felt that the story was stretching to find some wrong doing. I felt that if they had serious belief and proof that West was involved in sexual conduct with underage boys then it would be a different story. My problem is that the story came out after West was discovered to have engaged in sex with a legal adult.
Therefore, I do not think anyone can claim is was not a story about sexual orientation. It was based on the fact that West was gay. That is where it started and ultimately ended.
I do disagree with Jim West's use of office to give out internships. It is an unfair advantage even if they are not paid. Positions should be earned, not just given out.
Obviously in journalism, everyone wants to break a big story. Most will do just about anything to get one. However, there is a line where people move from describing events to speculation. I felt that the story was stretching to find some wrong doing. I felt that if they had serious belief and proof that West was involved in sexual conduct with underage boys then it would be a different story. My problem is that the story came out after West was discovered to have engaged in sex with a legal adult.
Therefore, I do not think anyone can claim is was not a story about sexual orientation. It was based on the fact that West was gay. That is where it started and ultimately ended.
I do disagree with Jim West's use of office to give out internships. It is an unfair advantage even if they are not paid. Positions should be earned, not just given out.
trend
Red plastic keg cups usually represent a good time at parties, but in Pullman it could represent a minimum fine of $150.
John Sherman, Pullman city supervisor, and other members of Pullman City Council consolidated the previous nuisance guidelines and added additional provisions involving city regulations to form the nuisance ordinance, he said.
It also aimed to make the city more proactive in cleanup by asking for officers to monitor and actively look for violations, Sherman said.
According to the Nuisance Housing Ordinance Discussion Memo by Laura McAloon, Pullman city attorney, the nuisance ordinance helps regulate noise levels and hold landlords responsible for property cleanup. It incorporates everything from party cleanup to limitations on overhanging plants.
On April 4, 2007, Pullman City Council members passed the nuisance ordinance in an effort to consolidate the numerous community disturbance codes. Yet still, two years later, it is listed on the Pullman Police department's website under 2009-2012 long term goals.
Commander Chris Tennant of the Pullman Police Department understands the hardship of implementing such a broad ordinance. Educating people takes time and enforcingthe ordinance will not happen overnight, he said.
The Police Department focuses on two main goals in regards to the nuisance ordinance, he said.
"One you have to get the officers used to enforcing it and two you need to get the public informed," Tennant said.
It is pointless to write someone a ticket who does not understand what they are being ticketed for or how to solve the problem, he said.
Officers write tickets to those who do not comply with the ordinance regulations, especially for litter infractions. Fine for the first offense is $150 and can increase to $500 if the person fails to clean up, Tennant said.
Although the nuisance ordinance is in place a lot of people are not ticketed, Tennant said. Most people comply when they are told to pick something up so we do not fine them, he said.
“If they decide not to be good neighbors then we can give them tickets,” he said.
Yet, the biggest nuisance Pullman police deal with is party regulation including clean up and noise, Tennant said.
“Obviously College Hill is party central,” he said.
When contacted during a party, police try to inform the residents about the nuisance ordinance so they know that the police will be back to check in on clean up, Tennant said.
Additionally, officers work with Dabco Property Management to aid enforcement of the nuisance ordinance.
Officer Scott Kirk is the College Hill beat officer. His jurisdiction stretches from college Hill to Merman apartment complexes, Tennant said.
A large portion of Kirk's job involves working with Dabco's management to make sure they understand how to properly follow nuisance codes, Tennant said.
However, little police involvement is necessary on Dabco properties.
"They really don't have much of a problem in general because the managers do a lot of the nuisance type work. They maintain their property pretty well so we don't have to get involved," he said.
Carol Ann Andrufski, Dabco office manager for Birch Hills Apartments, agrees with Commander Tennant's description.
“Sometimes people just automatically call the police with complaints instead of us or the police will just hear about a disturbance. Mostly though the resident managers handle it,” Andrufski said.
Resident managers are given cell phones connected to the main office so they can take all calls after the offices close, she said.
“The resident manager’s job is to patrol the area. They basically work a real graveyard shift, from 5 p.m. till 8 a.m.,” Andrufski said.
Dabco tenants are given two warnings before being fined for noise complaints, she said. The third complaint results in a fine of $100, she said.
“Usually if someone gets one noise complaint they will get another one because it’s the party spot or just a certain crowd,” Andrufski said.
Noise infractions are complaint based but litter is strictly monitored, she said. Managers scan the property and write down which tenant has litter, she said. The tenant is then given a notice asking them to clean up their area. After the second drive by if the trash is not gone, it is $10 per item, Andrufski said.
“To stay with city regulation we follow the guidelines in our memo book. It has about 200 pages about Dabco rules, city codes, laws and regulations,” she said.
Sources:
Carol Ann Andrufski
(509) 334-6266
John Sherman
(509) 338-3212
Chris Tennant
(509) 334-4555
Documents thanks to: Michol Ann JensenExecutive Assistant 338-3208
Laura McAloon
(509) 338-3209
John Sherman, Pullman city supervisor, and other members of Pullman City Council consolidated the previous nuisance guidelines and added additional provisions involving city regulations to form the nuisance ordinance, he said.
It also aimed to make the city more proactive in cleanup by asking for officers to monitor and actively look for violations, Sherman said.
According to the Nuisance Housing Ordinance Discussion Memo by Laura McAloon, Pullman city attorney, the nuisance ordinance helps regulate noise levels and hold landlords responsible for property cleanup. It incorporates everything from party cleanup to limitations on overhanging plants.
On April 4, 2007, Pullman City Council members passed the nuisance ordinance in an effort to consolidate the numerous community disturbance codes. Yet still, two years later, it is listed on the Pullman Police department's website under 2009-2012 long term goals.
Commander Chris Tennant of the Pullman Police Department understands the hardship of implementing such a broad ordinance. Educating people takes time and enforcingthe ordinance will not happen overnight, he said.
The Police Department focuses on two main goals in regards to the nuisance ordinance, he said.
"One you have to get the officers used to enforcing it and two you need to get the public informed," Tennant said.
It is pointless to write someone a ticket who does not understand what they are being ticketed for or how to solve the problem, he said.
Officers write tickets to those who do not comply with the ordinance regulations, especially for litter infractions. Fine for the first offense is $150 and can increase to $500 if the person fails to clean up, Tennant said.
Although the nuisance ordinance is in place a lot of people are not ticketed, Tennant said. Most people comply when they are told to pick something up so we do not fine them, he said.
“If they decide not to be good neighbors then we can give them tickets,” he said.
Yet, the biggest nuisance Pullman police deal with is party regulation including clean up and noise, Tennant said.
“Obviously College Hill is party central,” he said.
When contacted during a party, police try to inform the residents about the nuisance ordinance so they know that the police will be back to check in on clean up, Tennant said.
Additionally, officers work with Dabco Property Management to aid enforcement of the nuisance ordinance.
Officer Scott Kirk is the College Hill beat officer. His jurisdiction stretches from college Hill to Merman apartment complexes, Tennant said.
A large portion of Kirk's job involves working with Dabco's management to make sure they understand how to properly follow nuisance codes, Tennant said.
However, little police involvement is necessary on Dabco properties.
"They really don't have much of a problem in general because the managers do a lot of the nuisance type work. They maintain their property pretty well so we don't have to get involved," he said.
Carol Ann Andrufski, Dabco office manager for Birch Hills Apartments, agrees with Commander Tennant's description.
“Sometimes people just automatically call the police with complaints instead of us or the police will just hear about a disturbance. Mostly though the resident managers handle it,” Andrufski said.
Resident managers are given cell phones connected to the main office so they can take all calls after the offices close, she said.
“The resident manager’s job is to patrol the area. They basically work a real graveyard shift, from 5 p.m. till 8 a.m.,” Andrufski said.
Dabco tenants are given two warnings before being fined for noise complaints, she said. The third complaint results in a fine of $100, she said.
“Usually if someone gets one noise complaint they will get another one because it’s the party spot or just a certain crowd,” Andrufski said.
Noise infractions are complaint based but litter is strictly monitored, she said. Managers scan the property and write down which tenant has litter, she said. The tenant is then given a notice asking them to clean up their area. After the second drive by if the trash is not gone, it is $10 per item, Andrufski said.
“To stay with city regulation we follow the guidelines in our memo book. It has about 200 pages about Dabco rules, city codes, laws and regulations,” she said.
Sources:
Carol Ann Andrufski
(509) 334-6266
John Sherman
(509) 338-3212
Chris Tennant
(509) 334-4555
Documents thanks to: Michol Ann JensenExecutive Assistant 338-3208
Laura McAloon
(509) 338-3209
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
update
I read Nellie Bly's article about her stay in the BlackWell Island Insane Aslyum. Reading the article I was struck by her intense dedication to the story. She had to fake insanity on multiple occasions to merely enter the Island, assume a new identity, and avoid numerous reporters. After the conditions she encountered a lot of people would have probably just quit. She stuck with it and in return she was able to get $1,000,000 more to assist the mentally ill. Not only was her writing informative but it was also interesting. She connected with her reader by giving her own thoughts. Overall, she was able to keep her work light hearted while also exposing the disturbing facts for patients on the Island.
It was a long article, now published in book form as well, but it was not boring. I also liked her writing style. She made everything clear when, with her subject, she could have easily done the opposite.
It was a long article, now published in book form as well, but it was not boring. I also liked her writing style. She made everything clear when, with her subject, she could have easily done the opposite.
This is journalism...not math class
1. $7885
2. 17% failed 83% passed
3. mean: $67,500
median: $40,000
median is more accurate
4. 20% increase
5.a. 25% decrease
b. 33% increase
6. 11%
7.mean: 790,600
median: 207,000
8. 3 slices
9. Someone is more likely to be assaulted in Pullman.
spokane: .0025 pullman: .0073
pullman: 73.2 per 10,000 spokane: 25 per 10,000 ppl
10. $150,000
2. 17% failed 83% passed
3. mean: $67,500
median: $40,000
median is more accurate
4. 20% increase
5.a. 25% decrease
b. 33% increase
6. 11%
7.mean: 790,600
median: 207,000
8. 3 slices
9. Someone is more likely to be assaulted in Pullman.
spokane: .0025 pullman: .0073
pullman: 73.2 per 10,000 spokane: 25 per 10,000 ppl
10. $150,000
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